We studied the usefulness of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as well as prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) as marker of prostatic cancer in twelve cases of advanced prostatic cancer including 4 or stage C and 8 of stage D, 50 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 50 cases of nonprostatic diseases as normal control. The positive rates of PSA were 100% for prostatic cancer, 20% for BPH and O% for nonprostatic diseases, and those of PAP were 75% for prostate cancer, 8% for BPH and 2% for nonprostatic diseases. These results indicated hat PSA is more sensitive than PAP but less specific than PAP in diagnosis of prostatic cancer. Serum PSP level was correlated with the weight of prostate in BPH patients. Serum PSA level determined during the follow-up after endocrine therapy for prostatic cancer reflected the clinical course of the patients. Because of its relatively low specificity, PSA alone may not be useful for early diagnosis of prostatic cancer. If in combination with other diagnostic modalities, it may be useful in early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of prostatic cancer within restricted limits.
Acid Phosphatase ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrocochleography (ECoG) is a sensitive evoked-response test for evaluating changes in cochlear function. We investigated the extratympanic ECoG in noise-induced temporary and permanent threshold shift to evaluate the usefulness of ECoG in the early detection and monitoring of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifteen healthy ears were exposed to noise to induce temporary threshold shift (TTS). Pure-tone audiometry and ECoG were performed before (control-group), immediately after (TTS-group), and 24 hours after the exposure. And ECoG was measured in 27 ears with noise-induced permanent threshold shift (PTS-group). RESULTS: The mean amplitude of SP (summating potential) was greatest in the TTS-group. The largest increment in the SP/AP (action potential) ratio was also observed in the TTS-group. The mean ratios of control-, TTS-, and PTS-group were 0.22+/-0.11, 0.46+/-0.18 and 0.37+/-0.10, respectively. The PTS-group showed the smallest mean amplitude of AP. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that SP, AP and the SP/AP ratio might be sensitive parameters reflecting the changes of cochlear function in NIHL.
Audiometry, Evoked Response* ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Ear ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced* ; Noise

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Early detection and monitoring are the most important measures in the prevention of development and progression of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Electrocochleography (ECoG) is known as a sensitive evoked-response test to evaluate changes in cochlear function. Through the investigation about the changes of ECoG in development of noise-induced temporary threshold shift (NITTS), we intended to evaluate the usefulness of ECoG on early detection of NIHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy adult participants (20 ears) were exposed to 90.3~105.0 dB broad-band noise for 3 hours in a computer-game room. Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and ECoG were performed before the exposure, immediately after and 24 hours after the exposure. RESULTS: Before the exposure, mean PTA threshold was 6.1+/-2.6 dB, which was significantly increased to 12.0+/-3.2 dB immediately after the exposure, and recovered to 5.5+/-2.4 dB at 24 hours later. Marked increment of SP/AP (summating potential/action potential) ratio was observed simultaneously with the development of TTS and was normalized after its resolution. The mean ratio was 0.23+/-0.17 before the exposure, 0.43+/-0.16 on TTS phase, and 0.24+/-0.18 on resolution. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggest that SP/AP ratio of ECoG might have applicability for early detection and monitoring of NIHL.
Adult ; Audiometry, Evoked Response* ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Noise

No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate and approximate the prevalence of paranasal sinusitis in the Korean general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The initial sample group included 586 patients referred for cranial computed tomography (CT) for the evaluation of head injuries and post-traumatic headache. Of 586 subjects, 73 patients showing cranial fracture lines on CT were excluded from the statistics. The subject population was made up of 316 (61.6%) men and 197 (38.4%) women. The sample group had the age range of 1-83years (median age: 27years). Any mucosal thickening of sinuses on CT was regarded as radiologic sinus abnormality. The degree of opacification in each sinus group was classified either as mild (the opacification of less than a third of a sinus cavity), moderate (a third to two thirds), or severe (more than two thirds). RESULTS: Radiologic abnormality in one or more sinuses were found in 186 (36.3%) of the 513 subjects. The male predominence was noted since 43.4% was the male population as opposed to 24.9% (p<0.001) of the female population. Children (40.9%) were more frequently involved than adults (34.6%); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Sample groups were identified according to three different degrees of abnormality, such as mild (15.4%), moderate (11.3%) and severe (9.6%). Ethmoid sinus (26.7%) was most commonly involved, followed by the maxillary sinus (22.8%), sphenoid sinus (9.0%), and frontal sinus (6.9%). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that there is a high prevalence (36.3%) of radiologic abnormalities of the paranasal sinus in the general Korean population. The authors suggest to correlate the radiologic findings with the clinical symptoms and signs when deciding on the final diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis.
Adult ; Child ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Diagnosis ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Frontal Sinus ; Head* ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; Post-Traumatic Headache ; Prevalence* ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinus

Background and Objectives: Tinnitus frequency-filtered music therapy aims to restore lateral inhibition to reverse tonotopic reorganization in the auditory cortex. Although the tinnitus-relieving effect of this therapy has been investigated, the results remain controversial. We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled double-blind study to determine the tinnitus-suppressing effect of tinnitus frequency-filtered music therapy. Subjects and Methods: The study included 90 participants who were randomly categorized into an experimental group that listened to tinnitus frequency-filtered music and a control group that listened to music from which a random frequency was removed. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score and measures of tinnitus loudness, daily awareness, and tinnitus-induced annoyance were evaluated at the initial visit and at 3 and 6 months (final follow-up). The rates of improvement in THI scores in the two groups were also recorded. Results: All measured variables showed significant improvement in both groups, except the matched tinnitus loudness and minimal masking level. However, no significant intergroup differences were observed in the amount of improvement in THI scores and any other variable. The rates of improvement in THI scores were higher in the control group at 3 and 6 months. Conclusions Listening to tinnitus frequency-filtered music reduced tinnitus-induced handicaps; however, this approach was not significantly better than listening to music from which a random frequency was removed.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence of complications accompanying tracheostomy, and in addition, to suggest ways to prevent serious complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed tracheostomy in 168 patients and their data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty one patients (12.5%) had complications directly related to tracheostomy. The most common complication was postoperative bleeding which accounted for 11 cases (6.7%). Others complications included pneumothorax which claimed 3 cases (1.8%) with reduced morbidity, cannula dislodgment claimed 3 cases (1.8%), cannula obstruction 2, wound infection 2 and tracheal stenosis 2. Among them, two patients died of tracheostomy complications. Decannulation was tried in 44 patients, but it fell short since only 11 patients were decannulated without difficulty. The rest of patients could not be decannulated because of various reasons including death, underlying disease, subglottic stenosis, tracheal stenosis or vocal cord palsy. CONCLUSION: In order to avoid complications of tracheostomy, it is important to treat preoperatively the tendency to bleeding, and meticulously control it during the operation as well. Also, the use of longer cannulas and tracheal fenestration technique is helpful for patients with short and stocky neck. Positive pressure applied through the cannula can make serious complications such as pneumothorax when cannula-obstruction or cannuladislodgment is suspected and the high volume-low pressure cuff is useful to prevent the decannulation difficulties by longterm cannulation, especially in patients using ventilator.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheal Stenosis ; Tracheostomy* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate aging and smoking effects on acoustic characteristics of voice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty men and sixty women representing two chronological age Groups(young and elderly, i.e. 20-35 and over 60). A computerized acoustic analysis program(CSL-MDVP) was used to measure mean fundamental frequency(Fo), jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonics ratio(NHR) from voice samples of sustained phonation of vowel /a/. RESULTS: The elderly females showed lower Fo than young females, but produced similar jitter, shimmer and NHR. In male groups, the elderly had about 10Hz higher voice than young males and produced more jitter and shimmer. And multiple regression analysis showed both aging and smoking had significant correlation with increase of jitter and shimmer. The values of NHR showed no significant difference between any groups. Intersubject difference was larger in elderly groups, and was most apparent in the elderly-smoking group. CONCLUSION: While chronological aging is undoubtedly a contributor to such changes in the characteristics of voice, these results suggest that the onset of vocal aging could be different between the subjects of same age and the effect of smoking must be considered in the acoustic analysis of voice.
Acoustics* ; Aged ; Aging* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Noise ; Phonation ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Voice*

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play key roles during T cell-dependent humoral immune responses by allowing antigen-specific B cells to survive, proliferate, and differentiate within the FDC networks of secondary follicles, i.e., germinal centers (GC). METHODS: A novel monoclonal antibody, 3C8, was generated by immunizing with an FDC line HK, in order to understand the molecular signals involved in the FDC-B cell interactions in the microenvironment of the GC. RESULTS: The 3C8 antibody did not bind to mononuclear cells, including T cells, B cells, and monocytes. Murine L929 and human skin fibroblasts exhibited no or little reactivity to 3C8. However, 3C8 specifically recognized HK cells by flowcytometry. Furthermore, the antigen recognized by 3C8 was restricted to the GC of the human tonsil. Dendritic networks of the GC were intensely stained by 3C8, but cells out side the GC were not. CONCLUSION: Our result s suggest that the antigen 3C8 may play some unique role on FDCs during the GC reactions.
B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Communication ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular* ; Fibroblasts ; Germinal Center ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Monocytes ; Palatine Tonsil ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVE: Although MRSA has been considered as a nosocomial pathogen, it is the most prevalent causative agent in COM (chronic otitis media) patients recently, even community-acquired cases in Korea. To evaluate the effect of MRSA infection on the surgical outcome of COM, we compared the surgical outcome of MRSA-isolated patients with those of patients infected by other bacterial agents. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred and ninty-eight COM patients operated by same surgeon from January 1997 to December 1998 were reviewed for the bacterial cultures and their operation procedures. Among them, we analyzed the patients operated by using canal wall-up (CWU) procedures retrospectively, including 78 patients of MRSA group and 132 patients with other bacterial agents, to study the incidence of post-operative otorrhea and re-perforation, the duration of dressing period, and the degree of hearing improvement according to tympanoplasty types. The mean follow-up period was 9.1 months (5-26 months). RESULTS: MRSA was most frequently isolated, in 88 (29%) of 298 patients, followed by MSSA (Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus) in 42 (14%), Pseudomonas sp. 31 (10%). Post-operative otorrhea and re-perforation were significantly more frequent in MRSA-group as 9 (11.5%) vs. 10 (7.6%) and 4 (5.1%) vs. 2 (1.5%). There was no significant difference of the duration of post-operative dressing and the degree of hearing improvement. CONCLUSION: The MRSA-group showed higher incidence of post-operative otorrhea and re-perforation compared to the control-group, even though there was no difference in the results of hearing improvement and the duration of dressing period.
Bandages ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Pseudomonas ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty