Predictors of Early and Late Response to Esomezol and Lifestyle Modification in Adults With Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease: A Prospective, Multicenter, Open-Label Cohort Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess predictors of the response to varying durations of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and lifestyle modification treatment for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD).

Methods: Between October 2014 and June 2016, a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-cohort, intention-to-treat, observational study was conducted at eight referral hospitals across the Republic of Korea to examine predictors of early and late response to treatment in adult patients (age ≥19 years) with LPRD. Participants underwent standard treatment (PPI [Esomezol] and lifestyle modification) for 3 months.

The association between serum concentration of thyroid hormones and thyroid cancer: a cohort study.

The impact of serum thyroid hormone levels on thyroid cancer risk is unclear. Some studies reported that elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is associated with higher risk for incidence of thyroid cancer, but other studies reported no relationship. We conducted a large cohort study in 164,596 South Korean men and women who were free of thyroid cancer at baseline and underwent health examination with hormone levels of thyroid function.

Guidelines for the Management of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis From the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics.

The Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics appointed a task force to establish clinical practice guidelines for the management of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). These guidelines cover a comprehensive range of management-related factors, including the diagnosis and treatment of UVFP, and provide in-depth information based on current, up-to-date knowledge. Detailed evidence profiles are provided for each recommendation.

Favorable vocal fold wound healing induced by platelet-rich plasma injection.

Objectives: To introduce a new injection material for vocal fold diseases, which could be readily translated to clinical practice, we investigated the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection on the injured vocal fold in terms of histological recovery.

Methods: Blood samples were drawn from New Zealand White rabbits and PRP was isolated through centrifugation and separation of the samples. Using a CO2 laser, we made a linear wound in the 24 vocal fold sides of 12 rabbits and injected each wound with PRP on one vocal fold side and normal saline (NS) on the other.

Plasma gel as a new augmentation material for injection laryngoplasty in rabbit model: histologic analysis.

Objectives: Currently, a variety of materials are available for the treatment of glottal insufficiency. Ideal injection materials should be inexpensive, easily obtainable, nontoxic, and biocompatible. Plasma gel has recently been developed as an injectable, autologous material used in plastic surgery.

Morphological and histological changes of rabbit vocal fold after steroid injection.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological and histological change of vocal folds (VFs) after steroid injection in a rabbit model.

Study Design: Prospective animal study.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

Effect of endoscopic marsupialization of paranasal sinus mucoceles involving the orbit: a review of 27 cases.

Paranasal sinus mucoceles (PSMs) can involve the orbit because the topographic anatomies of the paranasal sinuses and orbit are interrelated. We encountered 27 patients with PSMs involving the orbit that caused orbital symptoms. In this study, we evaluated the frequent symptoms and signs of PSMs involving the orbit, and report postoperative changes of orbital symptoms including the effects on visual acuity.

Relationships between Lymph Node Metastasis and Expression of CD31, D2-40, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors A and C in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the relationships between lymph node metastasis (LNM) and expression of CD31, D2-40 and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-A and -C in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: Paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues of 72 patients were evaluated, which included 25 patients with thyroid nodular hyperplasia (TNH), 24 PTC patients without LNM, and 23 PTC patients with LNM. Three pathologists, who were blinded to the patient's clinical information, assessed the immunohistochemical staining results.

Diagnostic value of only 18F-fluorodeocyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography-positive lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The role of (18)F-fluorodeocyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in only PET/CT-positive lymph nodes (LNs) is not well elucidated yet. This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of only PET/CT-positive LNs without correlating positive findings on conventional imaging modalities (CT, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and ultrasound [US]) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Local steroid injection via the cricothyroid membrane in patients with a vocal nodule.

Objective: To analyze the usefulness and safety of a steroid injection into vocal nodules via the cricothyroid membrane. Local administration of steroid directly into the larynx has been reported in many laryngeal diseases with different methods.

Design: Prospective case series at an academic tertiary care hospital.

Vocal fold wound healing after injection of human adipose-derived stem cells in a rabbit model.

Conclusion: Injection of injured rabbit vocal folds with human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) led to improved wound healing and fewer signs of scarring as demonstrated by a decreased collagen content in the treated folds compared with the untreated folds. hADSCs remained viable for up to 12 weeks in rabbit vocal folds.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphologic and histologic properties of scarred rabbit vocal folds following injection of hADSCs.

Loss of heterozygosity of tumor suppressor genes (p16, Rb, E-cadherin, p53) in hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Microsatellite alterations, especially those that cause loss of heterozygosity (LOH), have recently been postulated as a novel mechanism of carcinogenesis and a useful prognostic factor in many kinds of malignant tumors. However, few studies have focused on a specific site, hypopharynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between LOH and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC).

Expression of cell-cycle regulators (cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27kip1, p57kip2) in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of cell-cycle regulators in papillary thyroid carcinoma in relation to lymph node metastatic features, and to determine whether immunohistochemical staining of cell-cycle markers can predict lymph node metastasis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study of prior surgical specimens.

Setting: Academic tertiary referral center.

Anatomical variations of the spinal accessory nerve and its relevance to level IIb lymph nodes.

Objective: This study was conducted to identify anatomical variations of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) in the upper neck, the landmark of the anterior and inferior border of level IIb, and to evaluate the nerve's effect on the border and the number of lymph nodes (LNs) in level IIb.

Study Design And Setting: Case series with planned data collection.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 181 neck dissections (NDs) were prospectively enrolled in this study.

Adenomatous hyperplasia arising from dual ectopic thyroid.

Ectopic thyroid tissue is an uncommon embryologic aberration characterized by the presence of thyroid tissue in a site other than its usual pre-tracheal location. Single ectopic thyroid tissue is the most common variant, and the base of the tongue is the most frequent ectopic location. Dual ectopic thyroid is extremely rare, and only eleven cases have been reported in the English literature.

Sclerotherapy of branchial cleft cysts using OK-432.

Objectives: OK-432 has been widely used to treat lymphangioma and ranula; however, there are few studies for its use in treatment of branchial cleft cyst (BCC). We conducted this study to evaluate the effectiveness of sclerotherapy using OK-432 in treatment of BCC.

Study Design And Setting: Case series with planned data collection.

The singer's formant and speaker's ring resonance: a long-term average spectrum analysis.

Objectives: We previously showed that a trained tenor's voice has the conventional singer's formant at the region of 3 kHz and another energy peak at 8-9 kHz. Singers in other operatic voice ranges are assumed to have the same peak in their singing and speaking voice. However, to date, no specific measurement of this has been made.

Vocal analysis related to changes in frequency of pure tone auditory feedback.

Purpose: Many studies have shown that subjects show a change of vocal fundamental frequency (F0) when phonating subjects hear their vocal pitch feedback shifted upward or downward. This study was performed to demonstrate whether vocal parameters [F0, intensity, jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR)] in normal males respond to changes in frequency of pure tone masking.

Materials And Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated in this study.

Surgical treatment using an allograft dermal matrix for nasal septal perforation.

Purpose: Numerous methods have been utilized to repair nasal septal perforation with varying degrees of success; however, no consensus has been reached on nasoseptal perforation repair. Here, the authors describe a surgical method based on human dermal allograft (Surederm, Hans Biomed Corp. Korea) for the repair of nasal septal perforations.

Paper-patch myringoplasty with CO2 laser for chronic TM perforation.

Chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforations are a common problem in otolaryngology. However, there are controversies of how best to treat TM perforation. Recently, we successfully managed TM perforation with paper patch after trimming the perforated TM margin with the CO2 laser.

Predictive factors for central compartment lymph node metastasis in thyroid papillary microcarcinoma.

Objective: We examined the incidence of nodal involvement and attempted to determine the predictive factors for central compartment lymph node (LN) metastasis in thyroid papillary microcarcinoma (PMC).

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective study of 52 patients treated between January 2000 and December 2005 for PMC by total thyroidectomy and elective central compartment LN dissection with or without comprehensive lateral neck dissection (n = 9).

Investigation into psychological correlates of patients with vocal nodules using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychological characteristics of patients with vocal nodules and to establish the relationship between these characteristics and the development of vocal nodules.

Setting: A tertiary medical centre.

Design And Method: The patient group consisted of 41 housewives with vocal nodules, and the control group consisted of 35 housewives who did not have any vocal pathology.

Transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty through the cricothyroid space in the sitting position: anatomical information and technique.

A variety of approaches have been introduced to perform injection laryngoplasty under local anesthesia. Among these reported methods, transcutaneous injection through the cricothyroid space offers many advantages, but it possesses some technical difficulties during access to the vocal fold. The aim of this study was to assess the anatomic references related to transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty through cricothyroid space using 3-dimensionally reconstructed computed tomography to provide guidelines and to achieve higher efficacy during the procedure.

Glycerol pure tone audiometry and glycerol vestibular evoked myogenic potential: representing specific status of endolymphatic hydrops in the inner ear.

This prospective study attempts to explore the effect of glycerol on vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in patients with definite unilateral Meniere's disease (MD) and to investigate whether the test reflects different pathologic states of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in the inner ear by comparing the results of glycerol pure tone audiometry (PTA). Twenty-eight patients with definite unilateral MD were studied. As a control group, 11 patients with vestibular neuritis were selected.