Do-Yeon Cho

Histopathologic characteristics of chronic sinusitis with bronchial asthma.

Conclusion These findings suggest that patients with both sinusitis and asthma present the histopathologic characteristic of a marked chronic inflammatory reaction, and that eosinophil infiltration may play a significant role in this marked inflammation of the sinus mucosa. Objective Chronic sinusitis and bronchial asthma are known to be closely related. However, the appearance of the mucosa in chronic sinusitis patients with asthma is somewhat different from that in patients without asthma. Material and methods We compared the sinus mucosal histopathologies of asthmatic patients with those of non-asthmatic patients. Fifty-three sinusitis patients with a diagnosis of asthma and 54 sinusitis patients without asthma, who served as controls, were enrolled in the study. All of these patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. The following seven light microscopic findings were compared in the asthmatic and non-asthmatic groups: the thickness of the basement membrane, goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial edema, submucous gland formation, eosinophil infiltration, lymphocyte infiltration and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration. In addition, we explored a possible link between asthma and sinusitis by comparing the following factors in asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients: the presence of allergy, the degree of preoperative polyposis and the extent of preoperative disease as scored by means of ostiomeatal unit CT findings. Results No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the presence of allergy, the degree of preoperative polyposis or the extent of preoperative disease. Basement membrane thickening, goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophil infiltration were more prominent in the asthmatic compared to the non-asthmatic group (p<0.05).

Clinical usefulness of extratympanic electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Ménière's disease.

Objective: Electrocochleography has been introduced to aid the diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of extratympanic electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Ménière’s disease. Study Design: The medical records of patients diagnosed as having Ménière’s disease at the department of otolaryngology were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-seven healthy ears were included to calculate the upper level of the 95th percentile range of the extratympanic electrocochleography variables. Setting: Tertiary referral university hospital. Patients: One hundred fifty-eight patients (97 women and 61 men) diagnosed as having Ménière’s disease without previous treatments were included. A retrospective analysis of their medical records, electrocochleographic results, audiograms, and follow-up records was performed. The mean age was 48.6 years. Main Outcome Measures: The upper level of the 95th percentile range of the extratympanic electrocochleography variables of normal subjects were calculated. Electrocochleography recording results were compared with the diagnostic scale and stage, presence of fluctuating hearing loss, and duration of symptoms. Results: The 95% upper limit for baseline summating potential and action potential ratio was 0.34. Sensitivity and specificity of electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Ménière’s disease were 71% and 96%, respectively. The results statistically correlated with the Ménière’s current diagnostic criteria and did not correlate with the stage of disease, presence of fluctuating hearing loss, or duration of symptoms. Conclusion: Extratympanic electrocochleography may play an important role, especially in patients with less definite symptoms, but the diagnosis should also be anchored in the patient’s clinical history, symptoms, and audiogram.

Cochlear pathology of the circling mouse : a new mouse model of DFNB6

Conclusion. The circling mouse (cir/cir) has phenotypes which follow the pattern of neuroepithelial defects of deafness from 10 days after birth. The cir mouse is defective in Tmie gene, the function of which should be further elucidated. Objectives. We previously reported a recessive mutation of deafness called circling mice (cir/cir). The present study focused on investigating phenotypes and histological findings of the cochlea in circling mice with respect to age. Materials and methods. In order to analyze cochlear pathology over time, five different age groups of circling mice were examined (10, 18, 21, 35, and 90 days old). The organs of Corti and spiral ganglion neurons in basal and middle turns were evaluated. Results. The pathology of the organ of Corti followed the pattern of neuroepithelial defects. Hair cells in organs of Corti had degenerated in circling mice at 10 days old, in a time-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that stereociliary bundles were irregular in size and had shortened at 10 days, and that this degeneration was complete at 21 days. The number of spiral ganglion neurons significantly reduced with age. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the transmembrane inner ear gene (Tmie) was absent in various organs in circling mice.

Influence of Upper Airway Narrowing on the Effective Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Level

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration level and upper airway variables in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Computed tomogram findings of mucous recirculation between the natural and accessory ostia of the maxillary sinus

Background The phenomenon of recirculation involves the circulation of mucous secretion between the natural ostium and other openings and is observed mainly after surgery when the surgical opening is not connected. Methods Seven patients with a mucous stream transporting into an accessory ostium, as found during endoscopic examination, were entered into study. The coronal computed tomogram findings of the mucous recirculation were analyzed at three levels: anterior, middle, and posterior portion of it. Results The anterior portion was visualized at the level of the natural ostium in five patients. The middle portion inside the maxillary sinus was visible in six cases. The posterior portion was visualized at the level of the accessory ostium in five patients. Among the axial scans, mucous rings were visible in two patients. Conclusions The primary mucous recirculation between the natural and accessory openings is shown as a ring structure in coronal computed tomogram scans.

Waveform reliability with different recording electrode placement in facial electroneuronography

Electroneuronography (ENoG) has become a useful test for estimating the degree of facial nerve degeneration and predicting the prognosis in patients with facial nerve palsy. Test results may be influenced by several factors, including the electrode positions, skin resistance, stimulus magnitude, and possible artifacts. Regarding recording electrode positions, different groups have used two different locations, the nasolabial fold and nasal ala. The authors compared the waveforms recorded from these two locations in ENoG recordings to obtain the optimal waveform. Twenty healthy volunteers and 25 patients with unilateral facial nerve palsy were included in this study. Recordings were carried out with the recording electrode placed on the nasolabial fold, followed by placement on the nasal ala after 10 minutes. The following parameters were assessed: (1) the supramaximal threshold, (2) amplitude and shape of the waveform, (3) interside difference, and (4) test-retest variability. There was no significant difference in the amplitude of the waveform, interside difference, and test-retest variability between the two groups. However, when the electrode was placed on the nasal ala, the threshold was significantly lower, an ideal biphasic configuration was present in almost all cases (97.5 per cent) of normal volunteers and it was easier to identify the waveform. Placement of the recording electrode on the nasal ala would be the preferred method.