BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic approach to the neck is more widely used since it was first reported by M.Gagner in 1996, because of its low invasiveness and better cosmetic result. In this article, we introduce a surgical technique of video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via cervical approach and assess its efficacy for patients with thyroid nodule. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eleven patients hospitalized in our department from May to September 2004, underwent video-assisted thyroidectomy with cervical approach. The subjects were 9 women and 2 men with ages ranging from 23 to 62 year old (mean 40.9 years). Inclusion criteria for the subjects were having benign solitary tumor that is less than 30 mm in longitudinal diameter, low risk micropapillary carcinoma that is less than 1 cm, confined to one lobe, within the thyroid gland, and without lymph node swelling on ultrasonography or computed tomography, and follicular neoplasm that is without evidence of any malignancy or with suspicious and indeterminate cytology among patients with no prior neck surgery or previous radiotherapy. Most patients (82%) had thyroid mass less than 2 cm. Nodular hyperplasia was 7 cases and papillary carcinoma was 4 cases. RESULTS: Hemithyroidectomy with or without isthmusectomy was performed in 10 patients. Video-assisted thyroidectomy was converted into conventional thyroidectomy in only one case because of the uncontrolled intraoperative superior thyroid artery bleeding and large thyroid volume. The operation time was 80+/-12 minutes. Temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in one case. The average postoperative hospital stay was 5.0+/-1.8 days. Operative scars were small and most patients were satisfied with the cosmetic result. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the video-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy with cervical approach is feasible, practical, and has safe procedures, and has greater cosmetic benefits than the conventional one. We hope that video-assisted thyroidectomy will become another surgical option for small nodular thyroid diseases.
Arteries ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Cicatrix ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hope ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Radiotherapy ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy* ; Ultrasonography ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the otolithic effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation on the perception of subjective visual vertical in normal subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifteen normal subjects were selected on the basis of medical history and neurological examination. We measured subjective tilt of a central vertical line during galvanic vestibular stimulation (0, 1.0, 2.5, 4.0 mA). Binaural and monaural electric current was applied to each subject's mastoid and forehead for vestibular stimulation. RESULTS: Anodal stimulation of the right mastoid led to clock-wise subjective visual vertical. Anodal stimualtion of the left mastoid led to counter clock-wise subjective visual vertical. There was a correlation between the amount of the measured parameter and the strength of the applied current. More consistent parameters were obtained from the binaural stimulation than the monaural stimualtion. CONCLUSION: Galvanic vestibular stimulation had effects on the vestibular functions, making changes in the subjective visual vertical. Since the galvanic stimulation had consistency with the direction of the stimulation and was proportionate to the intensity, it is thought to be a useful method for assessing otolith functions.
Electric Stimulation ; Forehead ; Mastoid ; Neurologic Examination ; Otolithic Membrane

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In general, for surgical treatment of septal perforation, a suture repair method is necessary for at least unilateral intranasal mucosal flap with the interposition of a connective tissue graft. However, autologous graft material is sometimes insufficient when septal perforation repair is combined with other surgery such as rhinoplasty. The aims of this study were to introduce a new repair technique of septal perforation using silastic sheet and to assess the usefulness of the new method. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Between March 2003 and September 2004, 5 patients underwent septal perforation repair using silastic sheet with open rhinoplasty at the same time. Size and causes of septal perforation, symptoms, and complication were evaluated by endoscopic examination and questionnaires pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: The causes of septal perforation were previous septoplasty (3 cases), syphilis (1 case) and unknown (1 case). Preoperative symptoms including nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, epistaxis and dryness were all improved postoperatively. The perforations of all patients were 1.0 cm sized or more in diameter. Four of five patients (80%) achieved complete closure and one patient had an incomplete closure after a mean follow up of 16 months. CONCLUSION: The repair of septal perforation using silastic sheets is a very useful technique when the size of septal perforation is more than 1 cm large in diameter or when the autograft material is insufficient.
Autografts ; Connective Tissue ; Epistaxis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septal Perforation* ; Nasal Septum ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinoplasty ; Sutures ; Syphilis ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Colon ; Neoplasm Metastasis

For the purpose of prenatal diagnosis of CAH, genetic linkage analysis by HLA genotyping with lymphocytes and cultured amniotic cells were performed in a family at risk in which two consecutive children had been affected with SW CAH. In addition, the response of serum 17-OHP to intravenous ACTH was determined in obligate carrier parents, and 17-OHP concentration of amniotic fluid was also measured at 16 weeks of gestation. As might be expected, the baseline levels of 17-OHP in obligate parents were significantly higher than that of normal control. Although the post stimulation response of 17-OHP to ACTH in the mother (I-2) was significantly higher than that of normal control, the post stimulation levels of 17-OHP were in normal range in the father (I-1). The 17-OHP level (5.7 ng/ml) in the amniotic fluid showed intermediate value compared to Pang's report (normal less than 30 ng/ml, CAH greater than 12.0 ng/ml) suggesting heterozygote of the fetus. Genetic linkage analysis by HLA genotyping with cultured amniotic cells revealed heterozygote in their fetus (II-3) who has received one chromosome No,6 containing HLA haplotype A24, B40, Cw3 (normal allele for 21-OH) from the father and the other chromosome No,6 containing HLA haplotype A2, Bw62, Cw4 (mutant allele for 21-OH D) from the mother. In conclusion, attempts to detect heterozygote for 21-OH deficiency by ACTH stimulation test were partially successful and prenatal diagnosis of CAH by the hormone studies in ammiotic fluid requires reliable values in normal, heterozygotes and patients group, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
*Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital/*diagnosis/enzymology/genetics ; Adult ; Amniocentesis ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fetal Diseases/*diagnosis/enzymology ; HLA Antigens/analysis ; Heterozygote Detection ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; *Prenatal Diagnosis ; Steroid Hydroxylases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We assessed olfactory function change in patients with chronic sinusitis who received endoscopic sinus surgery. By comparing the olfactory test results of two different age groups, we determined whether age affected postoperative olfactory function. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twenty patients with chronic sinusitis (2 age groups, with 10 patients in the forties and 10 patients in the seventies), who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were selected. We used preoperative OMU CT and nasal endoscopy examination to evaluate the severity of sinusitis and polyp. Preoperative and postoperative nasal symptoms were assessed by questionnaires. The improvement of olfactory function after endoscopic sinus surgery was evaluated by olfactory function tests (T & T olfactometer and CCCRC test) preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the severity of chronic sinusitis in both groups. Significant improvement of olfactory function was seen in both groups. There was no significant differences in the improvement of olfactory function between younger and older groups. CONCLUSION: Though old aged patients with chronic sinusitis have olfactory dysfunction, active surgical treatment is effective in the improvement of olfactory function.
Aged ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Olfaction Disorders ; Polyps ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sinusitis

Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.

Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.

Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.

Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.