No abstract available.
Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Thymidine*

No Abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: By assessing unilateral utricular function at the acute unilateral vestinuloneuritis (Acute UVN), we sought to determine the ability of the subjective visual vertical (SVV) during eccentric rotation (dynamic SVV) in localizing the site of the lesion in unilateral vestibular neuritis (UVN). METHODS: The static SVV and dynamic SVV of fifteen patients diagnosed with acute UVN were enrolled within 10 days of onset (average 7 days). First, the static SVV was measured in a dark booth without rotation. The dynamic SVV was measured during rotation with an eccentric displacement of the head to 3.5 cm from the vertical rotation axis during a constant velocity of 300 degrees/s. RESULTS: In the acute stage of UVN, the static SVV showed an increase in deviation to the side of the lesion compared to those of normal subjects. Also, we found 73% of abnormal findings in Acute UVN patients by assessing static conventional SVV. The dynamic SVV had a statistically significant increase in deviation to the side of the lesion compared to those of normal subjects and 93% patients showed beyond normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic SVV would be an effective method in the diagnosis and localization of acute unilateral vestibularneuritis.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Head ; Humans ; Vestibular Neuronitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To introduce the endoscopic posterior lacrimal sac approach in dacryocystorhinostomy with its success rate and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior sac approach was performed on 10 patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction from March, 1996 to May, 1997. To compare the accessibility to the lacrimal sac of anterior and posterior approach, bone thickness was measured in the anterior and posterior portion of the maxillary line on computed tomography of paranasal sinuses. Microvascular density (MVD) of the anterior ethmoid sinus mucosa and lateral nasal wall mucosa was measured to compare the degree of intraoperative mucosal bleeding. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative complications, and this technique led to complete relief of lacrimal obstruction in 9 patients (90%) with a follow up of 13 to 30 months. Bone thickness was significantly thinner in the posterior portion of the maxillary line (p<0.001). MVD was higher in the ethmoid sinus mucosa than in the lateral nasal wall mucosa, but it was not significant statistically (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Posterior lacrimal sac approach has many advantages such as better assessibility to the sac, saving the operation time, and high success rate. Therefore, attempted by those who are experienced in endoscopic techniques, posterior lacrimal sac approach appears to be useful procedure in the surgical treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Paranasal Sinuses

Congenital middle ear cholesteatoma is a keratinizing squamous epithelial cyst that classically presents as a white "pearl" in either the anterosuperior or posterosuperior quadrants behind an intact tympanic membrane. The presenting features of congenital cholesteatoma depend upon the initial site of the disease. The most common presentation of this disease is a conductive hearing loss or a facial palsy of gradual onset. Other presentations include incapacitating vertigo with nystagmus, a feeling of fullness in the ear, frequent otalgia, an abnormal eardrum noted at physical examination for an unrelated condition and meningitis. Recently, we experienced a case of congenital cholesteatoma that was presented as a post-auricular fistula. In considering the management of such a fistula, it would be important to recognize the possibility that the disease may present in this way.
Cholesteatoma* ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; Ear ; Earache ; Facial Paralysis ; Fistula* ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Meningitis ; Physical Examination ; Tympanic Membrane ; Vertigo

Pilomatricomas are rare, usually benign and solitary, asymptomatic, calcifying tumors of the hair matrix cell, which mostly appear in the first and second decade of life. However, they may occur in adulthood. The most prevalent sites of pilomatricomas in children are the head and neck but they may occur anywhere. The typical presentation is a firm, slowly enlarging, freely mobile, well-circumscribed subcutaneous nodule, measuring 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter. The tumors are generally solitary, often adherent to overlying skin. Multiple pilomatricoma is relatively rare. Spontaneous regression is never observed, complete surgical excision is a treatment of choice. We present two cases of pilomatricoma arising from the right posterior auricle and the left posterior neck, which were treated with simple excision.
Child ; Hair ; Head ; Humans ; Neck* ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Skin

We report a case of 15-year-old man with beneficial effects of short term growth hormone treatment presenting with cardiomyopathy combined with neuromuscular dystrophy. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed that LV chamber was markedly dilated and global LV systolic function was severely reduced. The findings of electromyography were compatible with neuromuscular dystrophy. Under the impression of cardiomyopathy combined with neuromuscular disease, maximal medical treatments such as inotropic agents, diuretics and ACE inhibitor were tried but we could not attain remarkable clinical improvement. Finally, we started growth hormone injection and after treatment for 3 months, we could attain remarkable clinical and hemodynamic improvement without any side effect.
Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Diuretics ; Echocardiography ; Electromyography ; Growth Hormone* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate that the cross-sectional area of the air space in the Eustachian tube (ET) on computed tomography (CT) images could be useful for predicting the postoperative aeration of the middle ear. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 80 patients (80 ears) with chronic otitis media and who underwent middle ear surgery from 2006-2007 and who were followed up for more than 1 yr. The control group consisted of 100 ears of 50 individuals with normal tympanic membranes and who underwent CT for other causes (such as tinnitus or hearing loss). The largest cross-sectional areas of the aerated ET were measured on the coronal images of the temporal bone CT by a single otologist using the computer-based "Region of Interest" picture archiving and communications system. The patient group was divided into two subgroups, 1) those with good postoperative aeration and 2) those with poor postoperative aeration. The largest cross-sectional areas of the aerated ETs were compared between the patients and the controls, and between the patients with good aeration and the patients with poor aeration. RESULTS: The mean cross-sectional areas significantly differed between the patient group and the control group, and between the good and poor aeration subgroups (P<0.05 each). The mean area of the poor aeration subgroup was smaller than that of the control group (P<0.05), but the mean area of the good aeration subgroup did not significantly differ from that of the controls. CONCLUSION: The cross-sectional area of the aerated ET, as measured on the preoperative coronal images of temporal bone CT scans, may be useful for predicting the postoperative condition of the tympanic cavity.
Ear ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Hearing ; Humans ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Temporal Bone ; Tinnitus ; Tympanic Membrane

OBJECTIVES: FOS-like antigen-2 (FOSL-2), a member of the FOS gene family, encode leucine zipper proteins that can heterodimerize with proteins of Jun family. Thus, activating protein (AP)-1 transcription factor is formed, has a crucial role in proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of normal tissue as well as oncogenic transformation and progression. We performed an association study of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FOSL-2 with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We also estimated the relationships between the SNPs and the clinicopathologic characteristics of PTC. METHODS: One promoter SNPs (rs925255) of FOSL-2 gene were genotyped with direct sequencing method in 94 PTC and 213 controls. PTC patients were dichotomized and compared with respect to clinical parameters of PTC. Genetic data were analyzed using Helixtree, SNPAnalyzer, SNPStats. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was fulfilled to evaluate the genetic effect with adjustment for age and sex. RESULTS: SNP (rs925255) in FOSL-2 showed a significant association (codominant 1 model [G/G vs. A/G]: odds ratio [OR], 0.531, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.293 to 0.96, P=0.036; dominant model: OR, 0.50, 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.89, P=0.015) with PTC. The frequency of allele G in rs925255 was also significantly associated with PTC (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.91; P=0.02). But we fail to prove significant association between this polymorphism (rs925255) and clinico-pathological parameters. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the rs925255 SNP and its allele G show significant association with the PTC in Korean population.
Alleles ; Apoptosis ; Genes, fos ; Humans ; Leucine Zippers ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure motivation to improve Internet addiction. Motivation is known to be important to treat Internet addiction successfully. The reliability of the scale was assessed, and its concurrent validity was evaluated. METHODS: Ninety-two adolescents participated in this study. The basic demographic characteristics were recorded and the Korean version of the Stages of Readiness for Change and Eagerness for Treatment Scale for Internet Addiction (K-SOCRATES-I) was administered. Subsequently, the Internet Addiction Improvement Motivation Scale was developed using 10 questions based on the theory of motivation enhancement therapy and its precursor version designed for smoking cessation. RESULTS: The motivation scale was composed of three subscales through factor analysis; each subscale had an adequate degree of reliability. In addition, the motivation scale had a high degree of validity based on its significant correlation with the K-SOCRATES-I. A cut-off score, which can be used to screen out individuals with low motivation, was suggested. CONCLUSION: The Internet Addiction Improvement Motivation Scale, composed of 10 questions developed in this study, was deemed a highly reliable and valid scale to measure a respondent's motivation to be treated for Internet addiction.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Internet ; Motivation ; Smoke ; Smoking