Azoospermia ; Cysts ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Diseases ; Saccule and Utricle ; Urethra

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Considering important role of vitamin D in many physiological processes including vestibular system in the ear, aim of present study is to evaluate saccule function via cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), in patients with vitamin D deficiency. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After routine audiological tests, cVEMP were recorded in 15 patients with vitamin D deficiency and 16 normal subjects. The short tone burst (95 dB nHL, 500 Hz) was presented to ears. cVEMP was recorded with surface electromyography over the contracted ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle. RESULTS: Mean of p13, n13, interpeak latencies and amplitude ratios were measured in both groups. Statistical analysis did not show differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maybe serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was not low enough to have effect on saccule in the patients in present study or saccule have had low susceptibility to effects of vitamin D deficiency. For better judgment about effect of vitamin D deficiency on saccular function planning studies with high sample size is recommended.
Ear ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Judgment ; Physiological Processes ; Saccule and Utricle ; Sample Size ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) testing is a strong tool that enables objective determination of balance functions in humans. However, it remains unknown whether cVEMP correctly expresses vestibular disorder in mice. OBJECTIVE: In this study, correlations of cVEMP with scores for balance-related behavior tests including rotarod, beam, and air-righting reflex tests were determined in ICR mice with vestibular disorder induced by 3,3'-iminodipropiontrile (IDPN) as a mouse model of vestibular disorder. METHODS: Male ICR mice at 4 weeks of age were orally administered IDPN in saline (28 mmol/kg body weight) once. Rotarod, beam crossing, and air-righting reflex tests were performed before and 3-4 days after oral exposure one time to IDPN to determine balance functions. The saccule and utricles were labeled with fluorescein phalloidin. cVEMP measurements were performed for mice in the control and IDPN groups. Finally, the correlations between the scores of behavior tests and the amplitude or latency of cVEMP were determined with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Two-tailed Student's t test and Welch's t test were used to determine a significant difference between the two groups. A difference with p < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: After oral administration of IDPN at 28 mmol/kg, scores of the rotarod, beam, and air-righting reflex tests in the IDPN group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The numbers of hair cells in the saccule, utricle, and cupula were decreased in the IDPN group. cVEMP in the IDPN group was significantly decreased in amplitude and increased in latency compared to those in the control group. cVEMP amplitude had significant correlations with the numbers of hair cells as well as scores for all of the behavior tests in mice. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated impaired cVEMP and correlations of cVEMP with imbalance determined by behavior tests in a mouse model of vestibular disorder.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hair Cells, Vestibular ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitriles ; adverse effects ; Postural Balance ; drug effects ; physiology ; Saccule and Utricle ; pathology ; Sensation Disorders ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Diseases ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; drug effects ; physiology ; Vestibular Function Tests

OBJECTIVES: A saccular cyst is defined as a dilated saccule of the larynx, filled with mucus, and is located between the false vocal cords and the thyroid cartilage. Although this uncommon laryngeal condition is benign in nature, it could lead to dyspnea, stridor, and airway obstruction, depending on its size and location. Furthermore, some saccular cysts have been associated with laryngeal carcinoma. This study aimed to characterize this rather uncommon laryngeal condition to aid in determining the proper management of this pathology. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed of all patients with saccular cysts diagnosed and treated between 2006 and 2017 at a tertiary otolaryngologic care center. RESULTS: Seven patients with saccular cysts were identified (male:female=2:5; mean age, 34.1 years); two were pediatric patients. Surgical intervention was performed in all patients by laryngo-microsurgery using CO2 laser. There was no recurrence after the initial surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Saccular cysts can be managed endoscopically using CO2 laser, without requiring an external approach. Therefore, an endoscopic approach should be actively considered for an optimal treatment outcome.
Airway Obstruction ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Larynx ; Lasers, Gas ; Medical Records ; Mucus ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Saccule and Utricle ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Treatment Outcome ; Vocal Cords

Cystic enlargement of prostatic utricle, a vestigial remnant of mullerian duct, is a rare condition in males. The prostatic utricle distends with urine during voiding and then passively drains. Poor emptying leads to urine retention and stasis. Stone formation may result from obstruction. Patients present clinically with chronic urinary tract infection, hematuria, urethral discharge, epididymitis, and voiding dysfunction. We present a case of multiple stones in the enlarged prostatic utricle associated with hemospermia.
Epididymitis ; Hematuria ; Hemospermia* ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Saccule and Utricle* ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) is thought to be assessing the function of the saccule and inferior vestibular nerve. Therefore, cVEMP indirectly reflects the function of the posterior semicircular canal. Recently, the video head impulse test (vHIT) is considered as useful clinical tool to detect each semicircular canal dysfunction. Goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the results of cVEMP with posterior canal plane of vHIT (p-vHIT). METHODS: Retrospectively, we compared the results of cVEMP with p-vHIT in 43 patients who visited with dizziness. We analyzed the inter-test agreement of cVEMP with p-vHIT. RESULTS: Positive asymmetry of cVEMP was present in 37.2% (16/43), and no responses of both ears were identified in 16.3% (7/43). In p-vHIT analysis, unilateral positive was 27.9% (12/43), bilateral positive was 11.6% (5/43) and negative in both sides was 60.5% (26/43). The inter-test agreement between cVEMP and p-vHIT was 75.8% (25/33) as we considered even in lesion side. And, Fleiss's kappa value showed a fair to good agreement (kappa value=0.559). In bilateral no response group (7 patients) in cVEMP, variable additional information could be obtained using p-vHIT. CONCLUSION: cVEMP and p-vHIT showed relatively lower inter-test agreement than expected. But, p-vHIT could be easily performed, and give additional information for differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Dizziness ; Ear ; Head Impulse Test ; Head ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Saccule and Utricle ; Semicircular Canals ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; Vestibular Nerve

OBJECTIVES: Aim of the present study was to define the relationship between petrous apex pneumatization and the nearby major anatomical landmarks using temporal bone computed tomography (CT) images. METHODS: This retrospective, Institutional Review Board-approved study analyzed CT images of 84 patients that showed normal findings bilaterally. Pneumatization of the petrous apex was classified using two methods. Eight parameters were as follows: angle between the posterior cranial fossa and internal auditory canal, Morimitsu classification of anterior epitympanic space, distance between the carotid canal and jugular bulb, distance between the cochlear modiolus and carotid canal, distance between the tympanic segment and jugular bulb, high jugular bulb, distance between the vertical segment and jugular bulb, and distance between the lateral semicircular canals and middle cranial fossa. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in Morimitsu classification of the anterior epitympanic space between the two classification methods. Poorly pneumatic upper petrous apices were distributed uniformly in three types of Morimitsu classification, but more pneumatic upper petrous apices were found more often in anterior type. Lower petrous apex was well pneumatized regardless of the types of anterior epitympanic space, but the largest amount of pneumatization was found more frequently in the anterior type of anterior epitympanic space. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was no reliable anatomic marker to estimate petrous apex pneumatization and suggests that the pneumatization of the petrous apex may be an independent process from other part of the temporal bone, and may not be influenced by the nearby major anatomical structures in the temporal bone. In this study, the anterior type of anterior epitympanic space was found to be closely related to more well-pneumatized petrous apices, which implies that the anterior saccule of the saccus medius may be the main factor influencing pneumatization of the petrous apex.
Classification ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Petrous Bone ; Retrospective Studies ; Saccule and Utricle ; Semicircular Canals ; Temporal Bone

BACKGROUND: Cervical (cVEMP) and ocular (oVEMP) vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials are short-latency manifestations of vestibulo-ocular and vestibulocollic reflexes that originate from the utricle and saccule. The aim of this study was to determine whether simultaneously recording cVEMP and oVEMP more reliably detects the reflex responses than when making separate recordings. METHODS: Both simultaneous recordings and conventional separate recordings of the cVEMP and oVEMP responses to air-conducted tone bursts were obtained in 39 healthy subjects. p13 and n10 latencies, and p13-n23 and n10-p16 amplitudes of cVEMP and oVEMP waveforms were measured, respectively. The asymmetry ratios (ARs) of the amplitudes were calculated. RESULTS: In cVEMP testing, the p13 latencies and p13-n23 amplitudes did not differ significantly between simultaneous and conventional separate recordings. In oVEMP testing, the n10 latencies measured in simultaneous recordings showed a small but statistically significant prolongation compared to the results in separate recordings. Moreover, the n10-p16 amplitudes were significantly larger in the simultaneous recordings. The AR of simultaneous recordings of cVEMP and oVEMP did not differ between the two recording methods. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneously recording cVEMP and oVEMP provides a reliable test and could be a clinically useful and simplified diagnostic tool for evaluating dizzy patients.
Humans ; Reflex ; Saccule and Utricle

BACKGROUND: Cervical (cVEMP) and ocular (oVEMP) vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials are short-latency manifestations of vestibulo-ocular and vestibulocollic reflexes that originate from the utricle and saccule. The aim of this study was to determine whether simultaneously recording cVEMP and oVEMP more reliably detects the reflex responses than when making separate recordings. METHODS: Both simultaneous recordings and conventional separate recordings of the cVEMP and oVEMP responses to air-conducted tone bursts were obtained in 39 healthy subjects. p13 and n10 latencies, and p13-n23 and n10-p16 amplitudes of cVEMP and oVEMP waveforms were measured, respectively. The asymmetry ratios (ARs) of the amplitudes were calculated. RESULTS: In cVEMP testing, the p13 latencies and p13-n23 amplitudes did not differ significantly between simultaneous and conventional separate recordings. In oVEMP testing, the n10 latencies measured in simultaneous recordings showed a small but statistically significant prolongation compared to the results in separate recordings. Moreover, the n10-p16 amplitudes were significantly larger in the simultaneous recordings. The AR of simultaneous recordings of cVEMP and oVEMP did not differ between the two recording methods. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneously recording cVEMP and oVEMP provides a reliable test and could be a clinically useful and simplified diagnostic tool for evaluating dizzy patients.
Humans ; Reflex ; Saccule and Utricle

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) test has been widely used to assess the function of the saccule and inferior vestibular nerve. Electrode location and stimulating sound are important factors which might affect the test results. Today those parameters are usually selected to maximize the waveform response. In this study, we tried to find the optimal condition to minimize the range of normal value of cVEMP. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirteen normal subjects (26 ears) were included. We placed electrodes at five different locations over the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and used four different stimulation sounds. Variances of parameters, including interpeak amplitude, interaural difference (IAD) and normal value were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: When using the classical condition (mid point of SCM and 500 Hz) without rectification, IAD ratio was 20.8+/-14.2% and the range of normal value was 39%. When we used 2000 Hz tone burst sound at the classical electrodes site, IAD ratio and normal value were minimized, resulting in 18.7+/-14.3% and 31% respectively. After the rectification, when using the classical condition, IAD ratio was 26.4+/-22.3% and the range of normal value was 49%. The minimum IAD ratio was measured as 17.4+/-13.7% when we used click sound at SCM at the level of mandibular angle. And the minimum normal value of 32% was measured when we used 1000 Hz tone burst sound at SCM at the level of mandibular angle. CONCLUSION: Although the condition was not optimal for maximizing the interpeak amplitude, we could alternatively use the condition to minimize the normal value.
Electrodes ; Reference Values ; Saccule and Utricle ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials* ; Vestibular Nerve