No abstract available.
Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Hoarseness*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many tools are available for the evaluation of facial motion. They run the gamut from the gross scale proposed by House and May, the regional scale preferred by Adour and Yanagihara and the personal computers used by Neely and Isono. However, more objective and accurate tools of evaluation are still in need. With the aim of establishing a simple, objective evaluation method of facial motion, we devised a computerized image-difference analysis system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Facial motions of 14 normal volunteers were analyzed utilizing the computerized image-difference analysis system. Techniques such as image capturing, subtraction and thresholding were used to anlayze resting, smiling and eyeclosing motions of face. RESULTS: The subtracted image of a resting-face from an eye-closing face showed a greater movement in the eye area than in the mouth area. The subtracted image of a resting-face from a smiling face showed a greater movement in the mouth area than in the eye area. But there were no statistical differences between the right and the left side of the face of the same subject(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is possible to use the image analysis system to access facial motion of subjects with or without the normal facial motion.
Healthy Volunteers ; Microcomputers ; Mouth ; Smiling

No abstract available.
Ifosfamide*

This study was conducted to investigate the clinical application of three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images in detecting and gaining information on esophageal foreign bodies (FBs). Two patients with esophageal FBs were enrolled for analysis. In both cases, 3D reconstructed images were compared with the FB that was removed according to the object shape, size, location, and orientation in the esophagus. The results indicate the usefulness of conversion of CT data to 3D images to help in diagnosis and treatment. Use of 3D images prior to treatment allows for rapid prototyping and surgery simulation.
Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Orientation

Previous studies have shown that the cancer cell lines secrete multiple cytokines, such as macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF), interleukin-l(IL-1), interleukin-2(IL-2), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha). We evaluated the levels of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in the ascites of 23 patients with ovarian cancer. These levels were then compared with cytokine concentration found in 10 patients who had benign ascites and also studied the relation between levels of cytokines and clinical parameters. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine the levels of cytokines in ascitic fluids. The median age of the group was 56, and the median follow-up time was 24 months. The levels of IL-2 was not elevated in ascites of ovarian cancer(30.5 vs 37.2 pg/ml, p=0.083), 1 he levels of TNF-alpha in the ascites with ovarian cancer were higher when compared with ascites of benign disease and was nearly approached statistically significant(91.0+/-20.7 vs 440.2+/-117.9pg/ml, p=0.058). Significantly higher IL-6 levels were detected in patients ascites compared with ascites with benign disease(354.3+/-42.9 vs 5,605+/-1,137pg/ml, p=0.006). IL-6 and TNF-a levels in ascites did not correlate statistically with tumor volume, histologic type or with survival time. IL-6 levels did not correlated statistically with volume of ascites. IL-6 and TNF-a levels did not correlated either. Circulating platelet counts in patients with ovarian cancer were significantly higher than in patients with benign conditions (282.6+/-5 vs 388.4+/-21.2x-10(9)/l, p=0.003). Thrombocytosis(platelet counts>400x10(9)/l) occured in 35%(8/23) of the cases with ovarian cancer. IL-6 levels in ascites correlated signi-ficantly with circulating platelet counts(R=0.427, p=0.042). This study showed that the patients with ovarian cancer have elevated levels of IL-6 in ascites. IL-6 levels were not correlate with disease status in patients with ovarian cancer. However, the correlation was found between IL-6 levels and thrombocytosis. This observation suggest a role for IL-6 in the development of tumor-associated thrombocytosis. A larger study would help in evaluating the potential biological roles and use of cytokines as tumor markers in ovarian cancer.
Ascites* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Blood Platelets ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Necrosis* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Platelet Count ; Thrombocytosis ; Tumor Burden ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Hysterectomy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perichondritis or chondritis after salvage vertical partial laryngectomy is a rare but serious problem. Usually perichondritis is caused by contamination of oral and bronchial secretion to exposed cut surface of thyroid cartilage. We report about a new closing method which has posterior and inferior based perichondrial flap positioned to laryngeal surface of thyroid cartilage, which can be used follwoing a salvage vertical partial laryngectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven salvage vertical partial laryngectomy patients were studied. We used conventional D shaped perichondrial flap closure for the three patients, while a news flap closure was used for the other four. RESULT: One of the three patients who recieved conventional flap closure showed severe perichondritis which resulted in laryngectomy. The other two patients and all others who received new flap cases healed without any problem. CONCLUSION: This preliminary result shows that the new flap could be used as a closing method following a heavily irradiated vertical partial laryngectomy.
Humans ; Laryngectomy* ; Thyroid Cartilage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, medical recording by digital photography has become a useful tool in every field. Developments in digital techonology have enabled digital X-ray techniques as well as three-dimensional imaging tools such as CT and MRI. Digital data are processed to form three-dimensional images of the patient body and to provide virtual endoscopy. This study aims to widen the application of 3D images for medical recording. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: CT data from five patients with neck mass were used to make gross 3D images showing the lesion site with the aid of 3D-doctor 4.0 and RAPIDIA 3D ver. 2.8 (INFINITT healthcare , Seoul, Korea). Surface rendered images and volume rendered images were compared with the medical photos regarding identification, visibility of lesion, measuring, multidirectional view and reproducibility. RESULTS: 3D images could show real surface contour of the patients, including lesion sites. Shapes shown by the 3D images are exactly the same as the medical photographs, thus it was possible to measure the length and angles and view the image in any directions by rotating. CONCLUSION: Surface rendered and volume rendered images can be used as pre-operative recording tools.
Delivery of Health Care ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Photography

Epiglottic cyst are relatively uncommon and account for about five percent of benign laryngeal lesions. The most common location is the epiglottis. We experienced two cases of congenital epiglottic cysts, one in an infant who showed dyspnea at birth and was incubated and the other in a 1-month-old infant with increasing stridor during the first month of life. In both cases, each cysts were completely removed under suspension laryngoscopy under general anesthesia with satisfactory results. We reviewed the clinical characteristics, diagnostic modalities, treatments, and prognosis of the epiglottic cyst.
Anesthesia, General ; Dyspnea ; Epiglottis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Laryngoscopy ; Parturition ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Sounds