Geon Choi

Clinical Analysis of Voice Change as a Parameter of Premenstrual Syndrome

We have evaluated the relationship between voice change and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by comparing acoustic measurements made during the follicular phase and the premenstrual phase. Twenty-eight women were followed for 2 months for this study. Each participant was asked to produce an /a/ sound for 5 seconds at the midfollicular phase of the menstrual cycle and then 2-3 days before menstruation. Each voice sample was stored and analyzed by the Dr. Speech Science program. The voice data collected from all subjects during the two phases were compared. After that, the subjects were divided into a PMS-positive and PMS-negative group according to the criteria cited in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV); the voice data from each group were compared separately between the two phases. There was no significant difference in the acoustic parameters between the two phases in all subjects (N = 28). In the PMS-positive group (N = 16), jitter was significantly increased during the premenstrual phase compared to the follicular phase (p = 0.048). The patients PMS score was not correlated with the severity of voice change. We conclude that the change of voice parameter was objectively identified in the PMS-positive group, therefore more careful voice habituation is required during the premenstrual phase in that group.

Expression of Human β-defensin 1 mRNA in Human Palatine Tonsil

Defensins are a newly delineated family of effector molecules whose contribution to host defense, inflammation and cytotoxicity may be considerable for humans. Beta-defensins are cationic peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that are produced by epithelia at the mucosal surface. Tonsillar epithelium, which is constantly exposed to microorganisms, may express these natural antibiotic peptides as part of its protective function. In this study we searched for the expression of hBD-1 mRNA in palatine tonsillar epithelium without signs of infection, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Total RNA was isolated from non-infected tonsil and hBD-1 mRNA was identified in these tissues. From in situ hybridization, the expression of hBD-1 mRNA was seen to be localized in the surface epithelia of palatine tonsil. These data suggest that hBD-1 of the palatine tonsil may also play an important role in innate defense against microorganisms.

Fibrous histiocytoma of the lacrimal sac

Fibrous histiocytoma is a slow‐growing tumor that most commonly occurs in the superficial and deep soft tissue, with an occasional occurrence in the orbit. However, fibrous histiocytoma of the lacrimal sac is very rare.

Intraductal papilloma of the parotid gland in a child.

Intraductal papillomas of the salivary glands are rare benign solitary tumors arising from the excretory duct; they are usually found in minor salivary glands and are presented as a cystic mass.1,2 Intraductal papillomas of the parotid gland are extremely rare. To date, only 3 cases arising in the parotid gland have been reported in the literature.3-5 There is 1 report of an intraductal papilloma of the parotid gland, which was regarded as the possible origin of an adenoid cystic carcinoma.5 All cases of the previous reports were documented in adults but not in a child. Here, we present a child who was found to have intraductal papilloma as a cause of a parotid mass.

Intrasaccular detachable platinum coil embolization for traumatic pseudoaneurysm treatment of a cavernous carotid artery

Posterior epistaxis that originates from traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the intracavernous portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a life-threatening clinical situation. An effective modality of treatment for these potentially life-threatening lesions is endovascular embolization utilizing detachable coil and/or detachable balloon occlusion of ICA.1 There is a debate as to the safety of endovascular occlusion of an aneurysmal sac with preservation of the parent artery. Crow et al2 suggested this technique may be hazardous in the treatment of psuedoaneurysm due to the fragile nature of the wall of the aneurysm that may not support the embolic device. However, some authors3,4 have proposed a new device and technique for intrasaccular aneurysm occlusion with preservation of parent artery flow. This report describes the endovascular obliteration of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the cavernous ICA with Guglielmi Electrolytically Detachable Coils (GDC) (Target Therapeutics Inc, Fremont, CA) in a 54year-old man at our hospital. At first, the pseudoaneurysm was completely obliterated with GDC coils. This obstructed pseudoaneurysm was recanalized on postembolization day 15, so the total occlusion of ICA was performed utilizing the detachable coil and balloon. CASE REPORT