Advances in Box Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Genioglossus Advancement, Hyoid Suspension, and Maxillomandibular Advancement.

Box surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients consists of mandibular surgery, including genioglossus advancement, hyoid suspension, and maxillomandibular advancement, as an airway reconstruction. This surgery was developed in the early 1980s. Thereafter, techniques were modified in each surgery for the enhancement of outcome and prevention of complications.

Ultrasound, CT and MRI Appearances of a Rare Symptomatic Laryngeal Chondrometaplasia: A Case Report.

Symptomatic laryngeal chondrometaplasia is rare. To the best of our knowledge, there are only few case reports on laryngeal chondrometaplasia. The imaging appearance of this uncommon disease is even more rarely described.

Evaluation and validation of four translated Chinese questionnaires for obstructive sleep apnea patients in Hong Kong.

Background: The present study validates and evaluates the sensitivity and specificity of four internationally popular questionnaires, translated into Chinese, for assessing suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, namely, the Berlin questionnaire, the ASA checklist, the STOP questionnaire and the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Their predictive values in OSA risks in patients presenting with OSA symptoms are examined. Questionnaires may be helpful in prioritizing polysomnography (PSG) and in treatment for the more severe cases.

Sleep endoscopy with midazolam: sedation level evaluation with bispectral analysis.

Objective: This study examines subjects' level of consciousness with bispectral analysis in sedation endoscopy of the upper airway.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Setting: University hospital.

Otitis media with effusion and hearing loss in Chinese children with cleft lip and palate.

Objective: To determine the incidence of otitis media with effusion and the associated hearing loss, the rate of ventilation tube insertion, and complications of ventilation tube insertion in Chinese cleft palate patients.

Design: Retrospective review in a tertiary care hospital in Hong Kong.

Patients: A total of 104 consecutive patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate who were born between January 1996 and January 2006.

Epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in Chinese children: a two-phase community study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in Chinese children using a two-phase community-based study design.

Methods: Children from 13 primary schools were randomly recruited. A validated OSAS screening questionnaire was completed by their parents.

Laryngopharyngeal sensory deficits and impaired pharyngeal motor function predict aspiration in patients irradiated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: To assess the contribution of laryngopharyngeal sensory deficits and impaired pharyngeal motor function to aspiration in patients irradiated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Study Design: A retrospective study at a tertiary referral university teaching hospital.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients who underwent radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma referred to a dysphagia clinic underwent sensory testing of their laryngopharynx and endoscopic evaluation of their swallowing.

High-level expression of early growth response-1 and association of polymorphism with total IgE and atopy in allergic rhinitis adults.

Background: Early growth response-1 (Egr-1) is expressed in human airways and its polymorphisms have been associated with total IgE and atopy in asthmatic patients. We investigated the effects of Chinese-tagging single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Egr-1 and its mRNA expression on allergic rhinitis (AR) traits.

Methods: Among 214 Chinese AR adults and 259 controls, tag SNP -4071 A-->G was genotyped and mRNA expression in peripheral blood was quantified by real-time PCR.

Leukotriene receptor antagonist in the treatment of childhood allergic rhinitis--a randomized placebo-controlled study.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the hypothesis that leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) would provide additional symptom relief in asthmatic children with persistent AR already taking regular antihistamine. The effects of 16-week treatment of LTRA in addition to fexofenadine (FEX) on persistent AR in asthmatic children were examined.

Study Design: Consecutive children with stable asthma and persistent AR were invited in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The combined olfactory test in a Chinese population.

Objective: To establish an olfactory test in the Hong Kong Chinese population.

Study Design: Prospective analysis of the results of a combined olfactory test (COT) for patients with olfactory dysfunction and for normal subjects attending a secondary and tertiary ear, nose and throat centre.

Method: Our COT was based on and modified from the Connecticut Chemosensory Research Centre test.

Autograft ossiculoplasty in cholesteatoma surgery: is it feasible?

Objective: To investigate whether autologous ossicles can be safely used in ossicular reconstruction in cholesteatoma surgery after attempting cholesteatoma removal under the operating microscope.

Study Design: A prospective fine-section histological study of formalin-stored ossicles, harvested from cholesteatomatous ears, to evaluate for existence of residual cholesteatoma after surface disease clearance under the operating microscope.

Methods: One hundred four ossicles were harvested from 76 patients with cholesteatoma for the study.