Evaluation of Vertical Level Differences Between Left and Right Vocal Folds Using Artificial Intelligence System in Excised Canine Larynx.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) system to classify vertical level differences between vocal folds during vocalization and to evaluate the accuracy of the classification.

Methods: We designed models with different depths between the right and left vocal folds using an excised canine larynx. Video files for the data set were obtained using a high-speed camera system and a color complementary metal oxide semiconductor camera with global shutter.

Diagnosis of Early Glottic Cancer Using Laryngeal Image and Voice Based on Ensemble Learning of Convolutional Neural Network Classifiers.

Objectives: The purpose of study is to improve the classification accuracy by comparing the results obtained by applying decision tree ensemble learning, which is one of the methods to increase the classification accuracy for a relatively small dataset, with the results obtained by the convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm for the diagnosis of glottal cancer.

Methods: Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH) dataset were used to establish classifiers and Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) dataset were used to verify the classifier's performance in the generated model. For the diagnosis of glottic cancer, deep learning-based CNN models were established and classified using laryngeal image and voice data.

Preparation of Decellularized Kidney Scaffolds in Rats.

Tissue engineering is a cutting-edge discipline in biomedicine. Cell culture techniques can be applied for regeneration of functional tissues and organs to replace diseased or damaged organs. Scaffolds are needed to facilitate the generation of three-dimensional organs or tissues using differentiated stem cells in vivo.

Evaluation of Voice and Vocal Fold Vibration after Thyroidectomy Using Two-Dimensional Scanning Digital Kymography and High-Speed Videolaryngoscopy.

Objective: Vocal dysfunction is one of the major factors that affect the health-related quality of life of patients after thyroidectomy. Conventionally, voice changes after thyroidectomy have been evaluated by videostroboscopy and acoustic analysis. Recently, two-dimensional scanning digital kymography (2D DKG) and high-speed videolaryngoscopy (HSV) have been developed and have shown usefulness in accurately evaluating vocal fold vibration.

Extratympanic Observation of Middle and Inner Ear Structures in Rodents Using Optical Coherence Tomography.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides useful information about the microstructures of the middle and inner ear via extratympanic approach and thereby could be utilized as an alternative diagnostic technology in ear imaging.

Methods: Five rats and mice were included, and the swept-source OCT system was applied to confirm the extent of visibility of the middle and inner ear and measure the length or thickness of the microstructures in the ear. The cochlea was subsequently dissected following OCT and histologically evaluated to compare with the OCT images.

Clinical Application of Two-Dimensional Scanning Digital Kymography in Discrimination of Diplophonia.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of diplophonia using an auditory perception and multimodal simultaneous examination, which included sound waveform analysis, electroglottography (EGG), digital kymography (DKG), and 2-dimensional scanning digital kymography (2D DKG). Additionally, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of each method using a binary classifier in confusion matrix and convenience of discrimination, based on the time required for interpretation. Method One normophonic male, 12 patients with diplophonia, and 12 dysphonia patients without diplophonia were enrolled.

The Feasibility of a Prototype Thyroidoscope for Gasless Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy: A Preclinical Cadaver Study.

: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the gasless transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) using the Thyroidoscope, developed to maintain the surgical working space without CO insufflation. : To prevent a potentially fatal CO-related complication, we developed a retractable device, named the Thyroidoscope, which could maintain the surgical working space without CO insufflation. We conducted a preclinical cadaver study to evaluate its use in gasless TOETVA.

Preoperative serum VEGF-C but not VEGF-A level is correlated with lateral neck metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A or VEGF-C levels and lymph node metastasis (LNM) status in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: The study enrolled 150 patients with pathologically proven PTC who underwent surgery: PTC without LNM, PTC with central neck metastasis, and PTC with lateral neck metastasis.

Results: Preoperative serum VEGF-A levels were 300.

Voice Recovery in a Patient with Inhaled Laryngeal Burns.

Introduction: Laryngeal burns cause long-term voice disorders due to mucosal changes of the vocal folds. Inhalation injuries affect voice production and result in changes in the mucosal thickness and voice quality.

Case Report: A 47-year-old woman was transferred to our department with laryngeal burns sustained during a house fire.

Validation of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index in the Korean Language.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the concurrent validity of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) in a Korean population. We investigated the feasibility of its cutoff values and diagnostic accuracy in discriminating between normal and dysphonic voices.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,524 native Korean subjects with normal voices (n = 113) and with voice disorders (n = 1,411) were asked to speak and sustain the vowel "a" and to read the Korean text "Walk" aloud.

Usefulness of Two-Dimensional Digital Kymography in Patients With Vocal Fold Scarring.

Objective: Although laryngeal videostroboscopy is widely utilized in the analysis of vocal fold vibrations, it is often difficult to identify patterns of vocal fold vibrations in patients with aperiodic voice signals due to failure of synchronization during laryngeal videostroboscopy examination. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the usefulness of simultaneous two-dimensional digital kymography (2D DKG) and traditional DKG for the detection of changes in the pattern of vocal fold vibrations in patients with vocal fold scarring (VFS).

Methods: Seven patients with VFS and one normal subject underwent high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV).

Acoustic Characteristics in Epiglottic Cyst.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the acoustic characteristics associated with alternation deformation of the vocal tract due to large epiglottic cyst, and to confirm the relation between the anatomical change and resonant function of the vocal tract.

Methods: Eight men with epiglottic cyst were enrolled in this study. The jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and first two formants were analyzed in vowels /a:/, /e:/, /i:/, /o:/, and /u:/.

The cut-off analysis using visual analogue scale and cepstral assessments on severity of voice disorder.

The aims of this study were to: (1) determine the visual analogue scale (VAS) and cepstrum peak prominence (CPP) cut-off points on the ratings of numerical scale (NS) related to the severity of voice disorder ratings and (2) verify the discriminative power of these cut-off points for distinguishing between different severities of voice disorder. Auditory-perceptual severity assessments (VAS and four-point NS) of 214 voice samples were performed by three speech-language pathologists and CPP parameters were used for the acoustic analysis. Both VAS and CPP cut-off points were obtained using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, based on their correspondence with NS ratings.

Evaluation of decellularized xenogenic porcine auricular cartilage as a novel biocompatible filler.

Fillers are products that fill the space in soft tissues of the human body and actively used in the various medical fields. Unfortunately, most of the cost-effective commercially available fillers are synthetic and have limitations in terms of their biocompatibility. Here, we evaluated the possible application of decellularized xenogenic cartilage as a long-lasting material for soft tissue augmentation and compared it with two commercially available fillers Artesense (polymethylmethacrylate microspheres) and Radiesse (calcium hydroxyapatite [CaHa]).

Efficacy of Two-dimensional Scanning Digital Kymography in Evaluation of Atrophic Vocal Folds.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional scanning digital kymography (2D DKG) in patients with vocal cord atrophy before and after treatment.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the characteristics of vocal fold vibration in five patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and five patients with presbyphonia. In patients with vocal cord paralysis, the status before and after intracordal injection was compared.

Clinical Practicability of a Newly Developed Real-time Digital Kymographic System.

Background: A digital kymogram shows real images of vocal fold vibration. However, DKG is difficult to use in clinical practice because the recorded image cannot be seen instantaneously after examination, as considerable encoding time is required to visualize a digital kymogram. In addition, frame-by frame analysis should be implemented to evaluate high-speed videoendoscopy data, but is time- and labor-intensive.

Prognostic implication of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with recurrent papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT ( F-FDG PET/CT) has been widely accepted as an effective method for detecting recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in patients with increased serum thyroglobulin (Tg) or Tg antibody (TgAb) levels and negative whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) results. The role of WBS as a diagnostic tool in detecting recurrence has relatively decreased recently. However, only a few studies have examined the usefulness of F-FDG PET/CT for evaluating patients with recurrent PTC, regardless of the WBS results.

Differential Prognostic Value of Metabolic Heterogeneity of Primary Tumor and Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Patients with Pharyngeal Cancer.

Background/aim: We aimed to explore the prognostic value of metabolic heterogeneity of F-FDG uptake in chemoradiotherapy-treated pharyngeal cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: This study included 52 consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent F-FDG PET/CT before definitive chemoradiotherapy. The heterogeneity factor (HF) was defined as the derivative (dV/dT) of a volume-threshold function for primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes.

Some posterior branches of extralaryngeal recurrent laryngeal nerves have motor fibers.

Objectives/hypothesis: Anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), such as extralaryngeal branching, are a well-known risk factor for RLN injury during thyroid surgery. This study aimed to analyze the surgical anatomy and to investigate the existence of posterior branch motor fibers of extralaryngeal RLNs.

Study Design: Prospective consecutive observational study.

Real-time Simultaneous DKG and 2D DKG Using High-speed Digital Camera.

Introduction: For the evaluation of voice disorders, direct observation of vocal cord vibration is important. Among the various methods, laryngeal videostroboscopy (LVS) is widely used, but it was not a true image because it collects images from different cycles. In contrast, high-speed videoendoscopy and videokymography have much higher frame rates and can assess functional and mobility disorders.

Office-based biopsies for laryngeal lesions: Analysis of consecutive 581 cases.

Objectives/hypothesis: Office-based biopsy (OBB) is widely used to diagnose suspicious laryngeal lesions. However, its routine use is still controversial and the algorithm for clinical strategy is not concrete. We tried to evaluate the accuracy of OBB as a diagnostic tool for laryngeal malignancy.

Liquid-type Botulinum Toxin Type A in Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Objectives: Botulinum toxin (BTX) has been widely used to treat adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD). Most commercially available forms of BTX require reconstitution before use, which may increase the risk of contamination and requires careful titration. Recently, a liquid-type BTX type A (BTX-A) has been developed, which should simplify the procedure and enhance its efficacy.

Real-time dual visualization of two different modalities for the evaluation of vocal fold vibration - Laryngeal videoendoscopy and 2D scanning videokymography: Preliminary report.

Objective: Currently, various tools have been introduced for the assessment of vocal fold vibration: laryngeal videolaryngoscopy (LV), videokymography (VKG), high speed videoendoscopy (HSV), digital videokymography (DKG), and 2D scanning videokymography (2D VKG). Among these, the authors have recently designed a dual modality examination system using LV and 2D VKG for more detailed information regarding the vibrations of the vocal folds. The clinical availability of this hybrid system offers medical imaging departments a range of potential advantages in the evaluation of vocal fold vibration.

Histopathologic Evaluations of the Lingual Artery in Healthy Tongue of Adult Cadaver.

Objectives: To clarify the anatomical distribution of the lingual artery in normal adult subjects through histopathologic evaluations.

Methods: Eighteen healthy cadaveric tongues were used to produce 8 paraffin-embedded tissue sections each. Length from midline raphe, depth from dorsum of tongue and the whole transverse length tongue were measured.

Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor-5 on the Proliferation of Human Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising tool for therapeutic applications in cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine, and MSCs from the human palatine tonsils have recently been used as a new tissue source. However, the understanding of the proliferation and differentiation capacity of tonsil-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) is limited. In this study, we compared the proliferative potential of T-MSCs with those of bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue-derived MSCs (A-MSCs).