Background: Conventional diagnostic approaches for adrenal tumors require multi-step processes, including imaging studies and dynamic hormone tests. Therefore, this study aimed to discriminate adrenal tumors from a single blood sample based on the combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and machine learning algorithms in serum profiling of adrenal steroids. Methods: The LC-MS-based steroid profiling was applied to serum samples obtained from patients with nonfunctioning adenoma (NFA, n=73), Cushing’s syndrome (CS, n=30), and primary aldosteronism (PA, n=40) in a prospective multicenter study of adrenal disease. The decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boost (XGBoost) were performed to categorize the subtypes of adrenal tumors. Results: The CS group showed higher serum levels of 11-deoxycortisol than the NFA group, and increased levels of tetrahydrocortisone (THE), 20α-dihydrocortisol, and 6β-hydroxycortisol were found in the PA group. However, the CS group showed lower levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate derivative (DHEA-S) than both the NFA and PA groups. Patients with PA expressed higher serum 18-hydroxycortisol and DHEA but lower THE than NFA patients. The balanced accuracies of DT, RF, and XGBoost for classifying each type were 78%, 96%, and 97%, respectively. In receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis for CS, XGBoost, and RF showed a significantly greater diagnostic power than the DT. However, in ROC analysis for PA, only RF exhibited better diagnostic performance than DT. Conclusion The combination of LC-MS-based steroid profiling with machine learning algorithms could be a promising one-step diagnostic approach for the classification of adrenal tumor subtypes.

OBJECTIVES: The post-tonsillectomy pain and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage are the two main problems after tonsillectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of water soluble ethanol extract propolis on post-tonsillectomy patient. METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were randomly divided into the control and propolis groups, each including 65 patients. The propolis group was applied with propolis orally immediately after surgery and by gargle. The pain scores were assessed on post-tonsillectomy 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th–10th day using a visual analogue scale score. Postoperative wound healing was evaluated by scoring pinkish membrane of tonsillar fossae on postoperative days 3 and 7–10. The incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding was examined in each group. RESULTS: Post-tonsillectomy pain was significantly less in propolis group compared to control group on postoperative days 3 and 7–10. Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage was significantly less in the propolis group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The wound healing was significantly better in the propolis group compared to the control group on postoperative day 7–10 (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Applying the propolis to post-tonsillectomy wound showed beneficial effect of reducing postoperative pain, preventing hemorrhage, and accelerating of wound healing of tonsillar fossae.
Ethanol ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Membranes ; Pain, Postoperative ; Propolis* ; Tonsillectomy* ; Water ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: ZLow frequency hearing loss is known to be the most common hearing loss form in Meniere's disease (MD) and episodic dizziness with low frequency sensorineural hearing loss is considered a very crucial symptom for the diagnosis of MD. However, flat or high frequency hearing loss is also commonly encountered in the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in clinical manifestation between episodic dizzy patients with low frequency hearing loss (LFHL) group and non-low frequency hearing loss (non-LFHL) group. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We reviewed medical records of 78 patients (36 of LFHL group and 42 of non-LFHL group) who had episodic dizziness with unilateral hearing loss and analyzed clinical characteristics according to hearing loss pattern. RESULTS: The clinical features of LFHL include a predominance of female sufferers, high incidence of tinnitus and short duration of dizziness. There was no significant difference in frequency, nature of dizziness, and results of vestibular function test. Although the proportion of patients diagnosed with definite MD was higher in LFHL group at initial and final diagnosis, there were no statistically significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: Therefore, when episodic dizziness is accompanied with unilateral hearing loss, not only low frequency but flat or high frequency hearing loss could be considered as a critical sign for possible progression to Meniere's disease and careful observation should be taken.
Diagnosis ; Dizziness* ; Ear ; Female ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Meniere Disease ; Nose ; Pharynx ; Tinnitus ; Vestibular Function Tests

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined the characteristics of sleep disturbances and sleep patterns in the caregivers of patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and dementia. METHODS: We prospectively studied 132 patients (60 with aMCI and 72 with dementia) and their caregivers, and 52 noncaregiver controls. All caregivers and controls completed several sleep questionnaires, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The patients were administered neuropsychological tests and the neuropsychiatric inventory to evaluate their behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD). RESULTS: The PSQI global score was 6.25+/-3.88 (mean+/-SD) for the dementia caregivers and 5.47+/-3.53 for the aMCI caregivers. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-S) predicted higher PSQI global scores in aMCI caregivers, and higher scores for the ISI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and GDS-S in dementia caregivers. BPSD, including not only agitation, depression, and appetite change in dementia patients, but also depression, apathy, and disinhibition in aMCI patients, was related to impaired sleep quality of caregivers, but nighttime behavior was not. Age and gender were not risk factors for disturbed sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Dementia and aMCI caregivers exhibit impaired quality of sleep versus non-caregivers. ISI, GDS-S, and ESS scores are strong indicators of poor sleep in dementia caregivers. In addition, some BPSD and parts of the neuropsychological tests may be predictive factors of sleep disturbance in dementia caregivers.
Alzheimer Disease ; Apathy ; Appetite ; Caregivers* ; Dementia* ; Dementia, Vascular ; Depression ; Dihydroergotamine ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caloric test and rotatory chair test have been adopted in diagnosing bilateral vestibulopathy. However, most of patients who were confirmed by the diagnostic testing not complained typical symptoms of bilateral vestibulopathy such as ossilopsia and ataxia. Patients who do not have typical symptoms of bilateral vestibulopathy, were often diagnosed with bilateral vestibulopathy by caloric test and slow harmonic acceleration test (SHA). The aim of this study is to assess the clinical features between groups classified according to the caloric test and SHA test, and possibly to investigate the representative test in the diagnosis of bilateral vestibulopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients were divided into three groups: (A) patients diagnosed with the caloric test only, (B) patients diagnosed with SHA test only, (C) patients satisfying the diagnostic criteria of both tests. Clinical characteristics, the results of physical examination, hearing test and vestibular function test (VFT) were compared among three groups. Results: There was no difference in clinical characteristics and results of physical examination among three groups. Regarding VFT results, only in step velocity test, The proportion of patients who showed low gain value on both sides were higher in group C than that of group A and B. No difference was observed in the other VFT results among three groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in clinical characteristics and results of physical examination among three groups. Regarding VFT results, only in step velocity test, The proportion of patients who showed low gain value on both sides were higher in group C than that of group A and B. No difference was observed in the other VFT results among three groups. CONCLUSION: We could not predict the clinical features of bilateral vestibulopathy by the results of VFT, and could not find preferable test in diagnosing bilateral vestibulopathy.
Acceleration ; Ataxia ; Caloric Tests ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Vestibular Function Tests

Otosclerosis typically starts around stapes footplate presenting conductive hearing loss initially. However, otosclerosis may involve cochlea and vestibule causing sensorineural hearing loss and dizziness. We report a case of cochleovestibular otosclerosis without conductive hearing loss featuring Meniere's disease.
Cochlea ; Dizziness ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Meniere Disease ; Otosclerosis ; Stapes ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rectified vestibular evoked myogenic potential (rVEMP) is a relatively new method that simultaneously measures the muscle contraction power during VEMP recording and corrects the difference of contraction power afterwards. Several studies showed rVEMP is more reliable than non-rectified VEMP (nVEMP). However, those studies evaluated usefulness of rVEMP in patients with normal vestibular function. Thus, we evaluate the effect of rectification to predict lesion side in unilateral vestibulopathy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred nine acute unilateral vestibulopathy patients whom VEMP were performed in were included retrospectively. We regarded hearing loss side as lesion side in sudden hearing loss (n=33), meniere's disease (n=29) and in vestibular neuritis (n=45), the side of positive head thrust test with canal paresis >30% was regarded as a lesion side. We excluded bilateral vestibulopathy. The inter-aural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio was calculated by the nVEMP and rVEMP. RESULTS: Mismatch rate between nVEMP and rVEMP was 36.61%, match rate was 49.54%, opposition rate was 13.76%. rVEMP predicted lesion side on 15 patients of mismatch group correctly, while nVEMP predicted lesion side on 25 patients of mismatch group. There was no significant difference in IAD ratio between nVEMP and rVEMP in patients who showed lesion side weakness on both nVEMP and rVEMP. But, the younger the patient was, the more chance of mismatch was significantly (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: There was no more corrective role in determining lesion side by rectification in unilateral vestibulopathy. Thus rVEMP might not be helpful for predicting lesion side in unilateral vestibulopathy.
Head ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; Methods ; Muscle Contraction ; Paresis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vestibular Neuronitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the adverse effect of long term steroid usage is well known, the adverse effect of short term high dose steroid usage has not been studied thoroughly. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of the adverse effects when using a high dose steroid for a short term. We also compared the adverse effect of steroid between in- and out-patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The medical record of 500 patients, who were treated with methylprednisolone 48 mg/day for 1-2 weeks, was retrospectively reviewed. Steroid was prescribed due to SSNHL, Bell's palsy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and herpes zoster oticus. The incidence of each adverse effect was analyzed, and also the time point of detection was analyzed. The 500 patients were composed of 250 in-patients and 250 out-patients. The adverse effect was compared between these two groups, as well. RESULTS: Adverse effect of steroid was found in 33.0% of the patients. Among these adverse effects, abdominal discomfort (26.8%) was most common, followed by skin rash (14.7%), swelling (13.4%), and hot flush (6.9%). Abdominal discomfort and hot flush was mostly detected on the first week. Meanwhile, the skin rash was usually detected on the third week. The incidence of adverse effect was significantly higher in the out-patient group. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of high dose short term steroid treatment may be very high. The patients should be warned about these adverse effects. Monitoring should be performed until 3-4 week, since some adverse effects may not be detected until this time point.
Bell Palsy ; Exanthema ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Methylprednisolone ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Meniere's disease (MD) is a clinical cluster of common symptoms by various causes rather than a single disease entity. Many causes such as autoimmune, allergy, vascular insufficiency have been thought to be related with Meniere's disease. We assumed that different pathologic mechanisms have contribution in each gender. With this premise, we compared clinical characteristics between male and female patients to determine if there is any difference indicating heterogeneous underlying pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 61 patients (43 female, 18 male) who were diagnosed as unilateral definite MD and underwent vestibular function test and audiologic evaluation (more than two times of pure tone audiometry during the follow-up period) from October 2005 to December 2011. RESULTS: The average duration of dizziness in females was longer than in males. In the worst ipsilateral pure tone audiometry, low frequency thresholds were lower in females than in males. Female had lesser hearing difference at all frequencies between the sides and showed more hearing fluctuation than male. There was no significant difference between male and female in the vestibular function test. CONCLUSION: These results are insufficient to suggest that the pathogenesis of MD differs between the genders. However, some differences between the genders prompt a need for future studies involving more patients.
Audiometry ; Dizziness ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Medical Records ; Meniere Disease ; Vestibular Function Tests

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare the outcome between cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and ocular VEMP (oVEMP) in the patients with definite vestibular dysfunction. Also, the subjective discomfort level was compared between cVEMP, classic oVEMP and head positioned oVEMP (a new method designed by the authors). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with dizziness associated with unilateral vestibular hypofunction were included in this study. Vestibular neuritis, Ramsay-hunt syndrome and sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo were included in unilateral vestibular hypofunction disease. cVEMP, classic oVEMP, and head positioned oVEMP were assessed and compared. To compare the subjective discomfort during the tests, visual analogue scale on discomfort was checked. RESULTS: There was a discrepancy between the cVEMP and classic oVEMP in 31.3% of the cases. The classic oVEMP were associated with more discomfort than the cVEMP. But, there was no difference between the classic and head positioned oVEMP. CONCLUSION: Since a substantial discrepancy was identified between the cVEMP and oVEMP, the pathways involved in cVEMP and oVEMP are likely different even with the same air conduction tone stimuli. The head positioned oVEMP may be an alternative to the classic oVEMP which has similar results and subjective discomfort levels.
Dizziness ; Head ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; Vestibular Neuronitis