OBJECTIVES: Odors used in an odor identification test should be familiar to the subject, but there are some unfamiliar distracters in Korean version of Sniffin' stick (KVSS) II identification test. In this study, we used the results of the original version of KVSS II identification to modify the KVSS II identification test. METHODS: Eighty-three participants took an original version of KVSS II identification test and a visual analogue scale of subjective odor function. KVSS II identification which has 16 items was performed to choose one out of four odors items. And visual analogue scale was checked from 0 to 10 points of their subjective olfactory function. Two weeks later they took the modified version of KVSS II identification test. Hyposmic or anosmic patients were excluded. RESULTS: The mean score of the original version of KVSS II identification and modified version of KVSS II identification were 11.3 and 12.5, respectively (P<0.05). The KVSS II identification test and subjective olfactory function were positively correlated (r=0.247, P<0.05), as were the modified KVSS II identification test and subjective olfactory function (r=0.329, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: After modification of distracters, KVSS II identification test appears to be suited for assessment of olfactory function.
Humans ; Odors

Routine urinalysis is a simple, economical, and useful test that facilitates the detection of urinary system diseases and monitoring of renal disease progression. It consists of 4 parts of specimen evaluation, gross examination, a dipstick urinalysis, and a sediment microscopic urinalysis. Urine specimens should first be evaluated in terms of acceptability, and thereafter, the gross appearance is examined for color, turbidity, and odor. In particular, a dipstick urinalysis is an easy and rapid test that provides information on the multiple physicochemical properties of the urine sample. Moreover, although a sediment microscopic urinalysis is time-consuming, it provides information on the cells, microorganisms, casts, and crystals. In the present report, the clinical significance of the routine urinalysis and the problems concerning interpretation are summarized.
Disease Progression ; Odors ; Urinalysis*

There are many variables that can be manipulated in the study of olfactory thresholds. They include the choice of odorant, the way to bring the stimulus to the subject's nose, number of trials, interval between trials, dilution method, environmental conditions, as well as psychophysical method. The focus of this study lay on how much differences were made by the psychophysical method, the sequence of presentations of stimuli that led to calculation of an index of sensitivity and how reliable the result of step method in olfactory threshold testing is. The olfactory threshold tests entailed comparison of procedures: 1) a procedure of two-alternative forced-choice(2AFC) testing by an ascending method of limits(CCCRC test), 2) a two-alternative forced-choice(2AFC) version of step method that used a computerized algorithm to calculate threshold on an ongoing basis throughout testing. As a result, mean concentration difference of 7.6-fold was achieved in the thresholds by the two procedures and inter-test correlation coefficient was 0.46. Estimation of threshold in the step method remained relatively constant after 10 trials to the end of the 30 test-trials without biases, which meant step method showed coherent data. Accordingly step method is suitable for olfactory threshold test despite of relatively long testing time.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Nose ; Odors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: KVSS (Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks) identification test using 16 odorants familiar to Koreans is used for evaluation of olfactory function. We analyzed the correct-answer rate of the odor identification test among KVSS test to validate the reliability of these odorants. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From April 2004 through August 2006, 720 patients underwent an odor identification test and from these, 441 patients who scored more than 9 were included. The score groups were divided into 4 groups: more than 9, 10, 11 and 12 score group. The age groups were divided into 4 groups: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60 and more than 60 year-olds. The differences in the correct-answer rates of the odorant were investigated according to the score groups, age groups and sex were calculated using SPSS software. RESULTS: The odorant 6 (lemon), 7 (licorice), 8 (pine resin), and 11 (apple) showed low correct-answer rates than other odorants. Especially the correct-answer rates of odorant 7 and 11 were significantly lower than other odorants except odorant 6 and 8 in all score groups, in all age groups and both sex (p< or =.001). CONCLUSION: In the odor identification test, odorants 7 and 11 had low reliabililty for evaluation of the olfactory function, maybe due to unfamiliar odorants to Koreans or test pen failure and they had better be changed into more reliable odorants. For that, we need further investigations about KVSS test before widely used.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Odors*

OBJECTIVE: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is effective in treating not only palmar hyperhidrosis, but also axillary hyperhidrosis. But studies for axillary hyperhidrosis accompanying osmidrosis are few. We report the outcome of six axillary hyperhidrosis with osmidrosis with literatures review. METHODS: Using a minimally invasive technique, thoracoscopic T3-4 sympathicotomy was performed. The results of sympathicotomy of third and fourth sympathetic chains of six patients from January 1999 to August 2003 for axillary hyperhidrosis with osmidrosis were reviewed. RESULTS: All patients had a successful outcomes, their profuse sweating ceased. Two patients suffered from compensatory hyperhidrosis. Three patients disappeared or diminished foul odor but three patients complained remained osmidrosis. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis, the sympathicotomy of T3 and T4 chain is an effective method but osmidrosis must be treated according to its cause.
Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Odors ; Sweat ; Sweating

The high variability of measured olfactory thresholds in humans reflects very broad range of sensitivity within and among individuals. This can be derived from the strongly compressive nature of olfaction, which makes it relatively hard to compare the size of two stimuli in odor sensation. However, we know that some portion of the variation is the result of extrinsic factors e.g. the method used to measure the olfactory threshold. For this reason, in order to address the bias and reliability of a psycophysical method, we combined the use of the CCCRC (Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center) test with the step method in 40 normal Korean adults twice a week for the evaluation of threshold. The measured thresholds showed high test-retest reliability and the threshold estimates remained consistent during the testing without trial-biases. Based on the results, we can conclude that a combined test using the CCCRC test and step method can be used in the measurement of olfactory threshold in a clinical context.
Adult* ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Humans ; Odors ; Sensation ; Smell

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery(FESS) is now the surgical procedure of choice for treating chronic sinusitis in patients of all ages. We performed the olfactory threshold test after FESS and assessed its clinical value. From Feburary 1996 through July 1966, fifty bilateral sinusitis patients had received FESS and butanol threshold test and odor identification test were performed pre-operatively, at post-operative 1 month, and at post-operative 2 months. We analyzed preoperative computed tomography to determine the grade of sinusitis and status of olfactory fissure. The status of olfactory fissure significantly influenced the preoperative olfactory threshold score(p<0.001). At post-operative 2 months, the subjective symptoms of the patients were improved in 96% of patients and objective olfactory threshold were improve in 68% of patients. There was no correlation between subjective symptoms and olfactory threshold improvement. Our study suggests that the olfactory threshold test may predict the result of FESS, however for more accurate and reliable assessment, we should consider other objective methods like anterior rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, ciliary beat frequency test, and post-operative endoscopic findings.
Humans ; Odors ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sinusitis ; Smell

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The olfactory identification test has been used in clinical assessment of olfactory ability for the following reasons: it is fast, it yields results compatible to a threshold test, and it gives a picture of how well the patient can deal with odors of everyday life. However, items in UPSIT (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test)and CCCRC (Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center)identification test which are widely used in the world are selected for western people. Accordingly, these items in the tests are not appropriate for Koreans of different cultural background. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the selection of proper items for the olfactory identification test, 42 natural odors familiar to Koreans were applied to 40 normal subjects and 40 patients with decreased sense of smell without sinonasal diseases. Among 42 items, 16 items with high identifiability and familiarity were chosen according to the results of test-retest in normal subjects. RESULTS: The results of olfactory identification test using 16 selected items showed high correlation with olfactory threshold. CONCLUSION: These 16 items can be used for an olfactory identification test for Koreans.
Humans ; Odors ; Pennsylvania ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Smell

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The odor identification tests use natural and synthetic odorants as stimuli. Synthetic odorants span a smaller qualitative range than natural ones, however, they eliminate the need for preparation, preservation and have improved familiarity owing to the improved development techniques. The aim of this study is whether we can use synthetic odorants in odor identification tests by comparing the results of tests using natural odorants and synthetic ones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two natural and 21 synthetic odorants familiar to Koreans were applied to 40 normals and 20 patients with decreased sense of smell without sinonasal diseases. Percent-correctness shown by the controls and patients smelling natural and synthetic odorants were compared with those patients showing over 95% identifiability and in 11 corresponding natural and synthetic odorants. RESULTS: Percent-correctness of odor identification test using synthetic odorants was highly correlated with that using natural ones and there was no problem in discriminating patients from the control. CONCLUSION: Synthetic odorants can be used in odor identification tests for Koreans in a clinical context.
Humans ; Odors* ; Olfaction Disorders ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Smell

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the patients' perception, acceptance, and preference of the difference between a conventional impression and digital impression through questionnaire survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen (6 male, 7 female) subjects who experienced both digital and conventional impression at the same day were enrolled in this study. Conventional impression were taken with polyvinylsiloxane and digital impression were performed using a newly developed intra-oral scanner. Immediately after the two impressions were made, a survey was conducted with the standardized questionnaires consisting of the following three categories; 1) general dental treatment 2) satisfaction of conventional impression 3) satisfaction of digital impression. The perceived source of satisfaction was evaluated using Likert scale. The distribution of the answers was assessed by percentages and statistical analyses were performed with the paired t-test, and P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were significant differences of the overall satisfaction between two impression methods (P < 0.05). Digital impression showed high satisfaction in less shortness of breath and odor to participants compared to conventional impression. The use of an oral scanner resulted in a discomfort of TMJ due to prolonged mouth opening and in lower score of the scanner tip size. CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that the preference for the digital impression using intraoral scanner is higher than the conventional impression. Most survey participants said they would recommend the digital impression to others and said they preferred it for future prosthetic treatment.
Dyspnea ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Odors ; Temporomandibular Joint