OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the current management status of the vestibular function test laboratories in Korea. METHODS: Questionnaire about the management status of the vestibular function test laboratories was sent by email to the entire members of the Korean Balance Society. The contents of questionnaire included situation of employees who perform the tests, the types of vestibular function tests and equipment, frequency of the test and types of dizziness related questionnaires. RESULTS: Forty-nine hospitals and clinics responded. All the 49 respondents answered that they have videonystagmography. Spontaneous nystagmus analysis by videonystagmogrphy was the most frequently tests for patients with dizziness. Questionnaires for dizziness were used by 27 respondents (55.1%) for initial evaluation of the dizziness patients. The Korean version of dizziness handicap inventory was the most frequently used dizziness related questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: We analyzed the current management status of vestibular function test laboratories to comprehend the present condition of the vestibular function test. We think that these results will help to provide a standard for laboratory operations and prepare for the education, focusing on high-demand tests.
Dizziness ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Function Tests

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a relatively new diagnostic tool that is in the process of being investigated in patients with specific vestibular disorders. In this study, we examed the responses of VEMP in patients who complained of dizzines. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Eighty-six patients with complaint of dizziness and ten normal volunteers are included in this study. Among these patients, forty-six patients were diagnosed as unilateral vestibulopathy (A), five patients were bilateral vestibulopathy (B), nine patients were sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo (C), fifteen patients were benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (D) and eleven patients were Meniere's disease (E). We compared VEMP parameters in each group. RESULTS: In each group, abnormal response in VEMP was 33%(A), 0%(B), 11%(C), 12%(D) and 36%(E) respectively. and there was no absent VEMP formation, and there was no abscent VEMP formation. CONCLUSION: VEMP is a promising method for diagnosing and following patients with many vestibular disorders.
Dizziness ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; Vertigo

Malignant tumor originated from external auditory canal (EAC) is very rare with an annual incidence of around 1 per million. Pathologically, squamous cell carcinoma is incidentally most common, and adenoid cystic carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma follow in decreasing order. Due to the rarity of malignant tumor of EAC, there is no widely accepted treatment modality yet. But basal cell carcinoma, known to be less aggressive tumor, can be removed with a minimal safety margin and have better treatment results. Recently we experienced a case of basal cell carcinoma in the EAC, confined in the cartilaginous portion of EAC, presenting with intermittent otorrhea for several years. The patient was treated with a sleeve resection of the EAC with a safety margin reconstructed with a split-thickness skin graft. No tumor recurrence or complication was noted in the first postoperative year.
Aminocaproic Acids ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Ear Canal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Melanoma ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Transplants

This study was conducted to identify the factors for serum cholesterol level among Korean Air Force pilots. We obtained risk factors for 408 pilots examined during period from January 1996 through March 1997. The associations between total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and age, body mass Index(BMI), smoking, drinking, blood pressure, flight time and fat intake were analyzed. The mean serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were 161.8+/-31.0 mg/dl, 475+/-11.0 mg/dl, 93.1+/-30.2 mg/dl, and 106.5+/-61.3 mg/dl respectively. Possible risk factors were total flight time, BMI, smoking, drinking, exercise, flight, and fighter or not. Total flight time and BMI were statistically significant factors In serum cholesterol level while controlling for the effect of the remaining factors. The longer the total flight time, the higher the level of serum total cholesterol. Total flight time, BMI, and drinking amount were statistically significant factors in serum HDL-cholesterol while controlling for the effect of the remaining factors. The higher the BIM, the lower the level of HDL-cholesterol. BMI was a statistically significant factor in seurm LDL-cholesterol while controlling for the effect of remaining factors. Total flight time, BIM, and flight were statistically significant factors in serum triglyceride while controlling for the effect of the remaining factors. Conclusively, BIM was a only significant factor in all four lipid levels, and total flight time took an affect to total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

Pleomorphic adenomas arise most commonly in the major salivary glands. It has rarely been described arising in the nasal cavity. A 65-year-old woman presented with a 9-month-history of left sided nasal obstruction. Endoscopic examination and computed tomographic scan revealed a lobulated tumor mass arising from the left bony nasal septum and clivus. It was removed endoscopically with endonasal approach. Histologic examination showed a lobular and duct-like structures consisting of a loose myxoid stoma consistent with characteristics of a pleomorphic adenoma. There was positive immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin and S-100 protein which confirmed earlier histopathological diagnosis. We report a very rare case of pleomorphic adenoma originating from the nasal septum and clivus with a review of literature.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic* ; Aged ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum* ; S100 Proteins ; Salivary Glands

Cartilaginous choristoma of bony external auditory canal is very rare. Appearing as a horny sha-ped hard mass, cartilaginous choristoma can be found in the medial portion of anterior wall of external auditory canal. Histologically, it consists of adult-type hyaline cartilage without neoplastic features. If cartilaginous choristoma shows growing tendency or ear symptoms, surgical excision would be the treatment of choice. Here, we report a case of cartilaginous choristoma that occurred in the external auditory canal in an 8-year-old boy.
Cartilage ; Choristoma ; Ear ; Ear Canal ; Hyaline Cartilage

Angiomatous nasal polyps are a rarely reported subtype of inflammatory sinonasal polyps that are characterized by extensive vascular proliferation and ectasia. The blood vessels present in these sinonasal polyps may be subjected to compromise at certain areas within the nasal cavity, leading to venous stasis, thrombosis and infarction. Recently, we experienced a case of angiomatous nasal polyp that caused significant diagnostic difficulty at the time of her presentation in a 12-year-old girl. Although entirely benign, angiomatous nasal polyps may simulate neoplastic process, thus awareness of their existence is of considerable importance. Especially, differential diagnosis between angiomatous polyp and angiofibroma is important for evaluation and treatment. In the present paper, the clinical, radiological and pathological features of angiomatous nasal polyps is also discussed.
Angiofibroma ; Blood Vessels ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps ; Thrombosis

Glechoma longituba is a common medicinal plant that is common in wet and sunny land. This plant is used to treat various illnesses including jaundice and edema. But, ingestion of the plant can cause severe pain and swelling on lip and mouth. We experienced three cases that had oral pain and sensory change after ingestion of G. longituba, which we report with a literature review.
Eating ; Edema ; Jaundice ; Lamiaceae ; Lip ; Mouth ; Paresthesia ; Plants ; Plants, Medicinal

Niemann-Pick disease, type C (NP-C), is caused by NPC1 or NPC2 gene mutations. Progressive neurological, psychiatric, and visceral symptoms are characteristic. Here, we present cases of a brother (Case 1) and sister (Case 2) in their mid-20s with gait disturbance and psychosis. For the Case 1, neurological examination revealed dystonia, ataxia, vertical supranuclear-gaze palsy (VSGP), and global cognitive impairment. Case 2 showed milder, but similar symptoms, with cortical atrophy. Abdominal computed tomography showed hepatosplenomegaly in both cases. NPC1 gene sequencing revealed compound heterozygote for exon 9 (c.1552C>T [R518W]) and exon 18 (c.2780C>T [A927V]). Filipin-staining tests were also positive. When a young patient with ataxia or dystonia shows VSGP, NP-C should be considered.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics ; Carrier Proteins/genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic/etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics ; Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C/*diagnosis/genetics ; Psychotic Disorders/etiology ; Republic of Korea ; Siblings ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:The present study aimed to determine whether there is a regulatory mechanism exerted by endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of aquaporin (AQP) water channels in the kidney. METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were divided into 4 groups: 1) L-NAME group was treated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg/L drinking water) for 1 week, 2) indomethacin group was treated with indomethacin (5 mg/kg, twice a day, i.p.) for 2 days, 3) L-NAME/ indomethacin group was treated with L-NAME for 1 week in which indomethacin was cotreated for the last two days, and 4) control group was kept untreated. The abundance of AQP2 and AQP3 proteins was determined in the inner medulla of the kidney. RESULTS:The expression of AQP2 and AQP3 proteins was significantly decreased by indomethacin. L-NAME abolished the indomethacin-induced decreases of AQP channels, although it did not significantly affect the expression of AQP channels by itself. CONCLUSION:These results suggest that endogenous NO system, when stimulated, may downregulate the expression of AQP2 and AQP3 channels in the kidney.
Animals ; Aquaporin 3 ; Aquaporins* ; Down-Regulation* ; Drinking ; Indomethacin ; Kidney ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley