Jung Je Park

A clinical study of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease) in children

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEnHistiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL) is a cervical lymphadenitis that occurs rarely in children. This study was conducted to identify the clinical characteristics of lymphadenitis in children and compare the clinical characteristics observed in children and adults.nnnSUBJECT AND METHODSnThe clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the 20 patients 18 years of age or younger who were diagnosed with HNL based on histological tests conducted at Gyeongsang University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2006 were analyzed.nnnRESULTSnHNL affected males and females at a 1:1 ratio, but HNL was more common in boys (8:3) among the children and HNL affected more girls among the adolescents (2:7). Cervical lymphadenopathy was the main symptom. The antinuclear antibody test was positive in three patients. Two relapse cases were reported, but both patients recuperated within several months without complications.nnnCONCLUSIONSnHNL affected males and females at an equal incidence (1:1). But HNL occurred more often in male children than in female children, and more often in female adolescents than in male adolescents. Relapse occurred in 10% of the cases. HNL could progress into systemic lupus erythematosus in the three cases that were ANA-positive. Thus, a long follow-up period is important.

Peroxiredoxin IV Protects Cells From Radiation-Induced Apoptosis in Head-and-Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSEnHuman peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are known as a family of thiol-specific antioxidant enzymes, among which Prx-I and -II play an important role in protecting cells from irradiation-induced cell death. It is not known whether Prx-IV also protects cells from ionizing radiation (IR).nnnMETHODS AND MATERIALSnTo evaluate the protective role of Prx-IV in IR, we transfected full-length Prx-IV cDNA into AMC-HN3 cells, which weakly express endogenous Prx-IV, and knocked down the expression of Prx-IV with siRNA methods using AMC-HN7 cells, which express high levels of endogenous Prx-IV. Radiosensitivity profiles in these cells were evaluated using clonogenic assay, FACS analysis, cell viability, and TUNEL assay.nnnRESULTSnThree Prx-IV expressing clones were isolated. Prx-IV regulated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and made cells more resistant to IR-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the knockdown of Prx-IV with siRNA made cells more sensitive to IR-induced apoptosis.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe results of these studies suggest that Prx-IV may play an important role in protecting cells from IR-induced apoptosis in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after tonsillectomy

Many patients and their families regard tonsillectomy as a minor operation because it is performed so commonly. However, although tonsillectomy is indeed a relatively safe surgical procedure, in extremely rare cases, it can be complicated by subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. Although these complications resolve spontaneously in most cases, a few conclude in tension pneumothorax and other fatal complications. The mechanism by which subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum develop after tonsillectomy is poorly understood. We experienced a case in which subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and a deep defect in the tonsillar fossa were observed. The passage of air was shown by radiology and histopathology. Consequently, the case is reported here.

Colocalization of 5-HT1F receptor and calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat vestibular nuclei

The aim of this study was to determine whether calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) colocalizes with 5-HT(1F) receptor in rat vestibular nuclei using a double immunohistochemical staining procedure. The frequent co-occurrence of migraine and balance disorders suggests a pathophysiologic link between the two. However, the mechanism of migrainous vertigo has not been elucidated, though serotonin (5-HT) and its receptors are believed to involve in the pathogenesis of migrainous vertigo. Furthermore, 5-HT(1F) receptor agonists and CGRP receptor antagonists have recently attracted attention as potential treatments for migraine, and CGRP release from trigeminal neurons has been associated with migraine. This study demonstrates the colocalization of 5-HT(1F) receptor and CGRP in the rat vestibular nuclei, which suggests that 5-HT(1F) receptor regulates the release of CGRP from vestibular nuclei. This finding indicates that 5-HT(1F) receptor agonists may ameliorate migrainous vertigo by attenuating elevated levels of CGRP release from vestibular nuclei.

Analysis of Clinical Feature and Management of Laryngeal Fracture: Recent 22 Case Review

Purpose Laryngeal fracture is rare, but complications are frequent and severe. Controversy still exists in regards to its proper management. The aim of this study was to present the clinical findings and management of laryngeal fracture in Korea. Materials and Methods We analyzed the medical records of 22 patients with laryngeal fracture at a tertiary care trauma center from 2000 to 2010 retrospectively. Results In total, 22 patients (19 men and 3 woman) presented with laryngeal fractures caused by blunt (n=13) or penetrating (n=9) injury. Pain (68.1%), odynophagia (68.1%), hoarseness (18.1%), hemoptysis (13.6%), and subcutaneous emphysema (9%) were the common presenting symptoms and noncomminuted fracture was common. High velocity blunt trauma (mostly traffic accidents) patients had more extensive injury and poor voice outcomes. Penetrating trauma patients due to physical assault or suicide attempt demonstrated more frequently injuries on the left side. Conclusion In driver-caused traffic accidents, where injuries in a wide area within the larynx occurred, poor voice results were seen, and these injuries required aggressive treatment. When endotracheal intubation was performed at experienced emergency centers with fiberoptic laryngoscopes, airway management was safely achieved. In addition, if the fractured laryngeal framework was corrected at appropriate times, voice results were good.

Surgical management of intraoral ranulas in children: An analysis of 17 pediatric cases

OBJECTIVEnThe preferred treatment of pediatric intraoral ranulas remains controversial. We present our experience with ranulas at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital and review the literature.nnnMETHODSnThe study involved 17 children under 15 years of age who visited our hospital from 2001 to 2008 and were diagnosed with a ranula exceeding 2 cm in diameter. The age and gender of the patients, the surgical procedures, presurgical observation period, postsurgical follow-up period, and complications of each case were determined. The unruptured specimens were all subjected to detailed pathological analysis.nnnRESULTSnThe patients were on average 9.3 years and there were 10 girls and 7 boys. Spontaneous resolution was not detected in any of the cases during the presurgical observation period. Indeed, in two cases, the ranula had increased in size. The ranula and sublingual gland (SG) were resected in all cases. The average operation time was 1h. Recurrence and complications were not detected in any of the cases. Pathological analyses revealed that there was no communication of the ranula with the SG in any of the cases.nnnCONCLUSIONSnOur experiences suggest that the presurgical observation period need not be longer than 3 months and that the resection of ranulas along with the ipsilateral SG is a safe and effective primary treatment for symptomatic pediatric intraoral ranulas that exceed 2cm in diameter.

Clinical characteristics and natural course of recurrent vestibulopathy: A long-term follow-up study†‡

To investigate the clinical characteristics and the natural course of recurrent vestibulopathy (RV).

Quantitative Analysis of Myosin Heavy Chain Expression Change in Laryngeal Muscle after Irradiation in Rats

Purpose Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer does not impair the voice quality as much as laser treatment or surgery, but it can induce muscle wasting and fibrosis and symptoms of dry mouth. We investigated the effect of irradiation on the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression in laryngeal muscles. Materials and Methods Rats were irradiated with one dose of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 Gy and other rats were irradiated with 20 Gy. The thyroarytenoid (TA), posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), and cricothyroid (CT) muscles were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Two weeks after irradiation with 10, 15, or 20 Gy, all the MyHC type expressions had decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the TA, PCA, and CT muscles, and especially the expression of MyHC IIa decreased much more than the expressions of the other MyHC isoforms in all muscles. In the 20 Gy-irradiated rats, almost all the MyHC isoform expressions declined over 12 weeks in the TA, PCA, and CT muscles, except for the MyHC I expression in the PCA and CT muscle. The MyHC IIa expression was markedly decreased in all the muscles. Conclusion The laryngeal muscles responded differently to radiation, but they showed a time-dependent and long-lasting decrease in the expressions of all the MyHC isoforms in the TA, PCA, and CT muscles. In particular, the expression of the MyHC IIa isoform in all the muscles may be more sensitive to irradiation than the expressions of the other MyHC isoforms.

Sensation recovery of auricle following chronic ear surgery by retroauricular incision.

The aim of this prospective analysis was to objectify and quantify the sensory loss in the auricular area that occurs following surgery for chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma, and to assess the exact recovery time of the auricular sensation. Till now, no study has yet been conducted on the sensory loss that is developed after retroauricular incision is performed for chronic ear surgery. Forty-eight patients underwent surgery via retroauricular incision for chronic otitis media or for chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma between March 2009 and January 2010. The skin around the auricle was divided into six areas. The sensation of each area was assessed before the surgery and 3xa0days, 7xa0days, 1xa0month, 3xa0months, and 6xa0months after the surgery, using the Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments. The patients were also asked to record the sensation that they felt using the visual analog scale (VAS). In the objective sensory assessment, only area 5, which corresponds to the retroauricular area, showed significant sensory loss. Threexa0months after the surgery, the sensation was recovered to a level comparable to that before the surgery in most of the patients. The mean subjective VAS score was 10 prior to the surgery, 8.56 (±1.08) 3xa0months after the surgery, and 9.32 (±0.74) 6xa0months after the surgery, respectively. In conclusion, following chronic ear surgery, the sensation of the auricle was recovered to the previous level within 3xa0months. Therefore, patients who are to undergo retroauricular incision should be informed that they will experience temporary sensory loss for approximately 3xa0months after the surgery.

A rare case of pontomedullary infarction presenting with peripheral-type facial palsy

Ipsilateral facial palsy (FP) of the peripheral-type can result from lesions involving the inferomedial tegmentum of the pons. However, cases of a medullary lesion with peripheral-type FP have rarely been reported. The authors experienced an 83-year-old man with a pontomedullary infarction who presented with ipsilateral peripheral-type FP. Brain diffusion MRI revealed a hyper-intense signal on the left dorsolateral portion of the upper medulla and pontomedullary junction. This case suggests that clinicians should take into account the possibility of a central lesion and brainstem infarction, even when patients present with peripheral-type FP.