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Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for T1 glottic carcinoma using longitudinal voice analysis.Study Design: Retrospective analysis of medical records.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 57 patients (50 T1a, seven T1b) who underwent TLM for T1 glottic carcinoma, and longitudinal voice analysis was performed before surgery, during the early postoperative period (within 3 months), and during the late postoperative period (more than 6 months). Acoustic, perceptual (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain scale), and subjective voice analysis using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was conducted.Results: Voice quality deteriorated in the early postoperative period in terms of several parameters. However, no significant differences in voice quality were observed in the late postoperative period, whereas Grade (from 1.85 ± 0.83 to 1.50 ± 0.90) and Roughness (from 1.74 ± 0.73 to 1.48 ± 0.87) had improved significantly. Patients who underwent lesser-extent cordectomy (type I, II) showed improvement in VHI-Physical (from 12.93 ± 11.10 to 6.07 ± 8.69) and Grade (from 1.60 ± 0.68 to 0.98 ± 0.83), whereas improvement was not identified in those who underwent larger-extent cordectomy (type III, IV, V). Improvement in Grade (from 1.70 ± 0.80 to 1.23 ± 0.91) and Roughness (from 1.77 ± 0.73 to 1.25 ± 0.76) was identified in patients who had unilateral tumor without involvement of anterior commissure. However, those with involvement of the anterior commissure or bilateral vocal cord showed a tendency toward deterioration in voice quality.Conclusions: Voice quality of patients following TLM for T1 glottic carcinoma may improve significantly over time in cases with lesser-extent types of cordectomy or unilateral tumor without involvement of the anterior commissure.Level Of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2051-2056, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: Endoscope-assisted transoral removal of a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) has been introduced to clinical practice. However, the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of this procedure have not been studied. Herein, we conducted a prospective clinical trial to evaluate endoscope-assisted transoral removal of a TGDC.Study Design: Prospective cohort study.Methods: Thirty patients were included. We performed endoscope-assisted transoral removal of TGDCs and evaluated the clinical results and complications over more than 2 years.Results: Endoscope-assisted transoral resection was successful in all cases. However, transient morbidity was noted in one patient. The mean operation time was 67.33 ± 17.26 minutes. Surgery was not required for recurrence or revision during a follow-up.Conclusions: Endoscope-assisted transoral resection of a TGDC is a potentially safe and effective procedure leading to excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes. Additionally, considering the embryological development of TGDCs, the transoral approach can open a new access route to these cysts.Level Of Evidence: 2b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ethanol ablation has been known as an effective, easy, and safe treatment of cystic thyroid lesions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate efficacy of ethanol ablation as a minimally invasive management of thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC). Methods: Between January 2012 and July 2013, 9 TGDC patients were diagnosed and treated with ethanol ablation. We evaluated the treatment outcomes with the change of volume reduction and the improvement of symptomatic and cosmetic complaints and complications. Results: Initial mean tumor volume was 8.9 mL (range, 0.2-36.9 mL) in ultrasonography. The mean number of the treatment sessions was 1.7 (range, 1-3 sessions). At last follow-up, the mean volume of the treated thyroglossal duct cyst decreased significantly from 8.9 mL to 1.9 mL (P = .019; volume reduction rate = 76.6%). Treatment success rate was 77.8% (7/9). Mean symptoms and cosmetic-grading scores improved from 5.2 to 3.1 and from 5.3 to 3.1 (P = .062). No significant complications were observed during follow-up. Conclusion: Ethanol ablation is a feasible and convenient procedure without surgical scars and hospitalization for TGDC patients. Favorable outcomes can be achieved without significant complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis A study was undertaken to determine the oncologic outcomes in a consecutive series of early glottic carcinomas treated with transoral CO2 laser microsurgery (TLM) as a one-stage single-modality therapy, without any postoperative radiation therapy or retreatment with laser. We further evaluated correlations between the oncologic outcomes and clinicopathologic factors including tumor location and surgical margin. Study Design Retrospective analysis of medical records. Methods The medical records of 118 consecutive patients with early stage (T1, T2) glottic carcinoma who underwent TLM by a single surgeon as an initial treatment from 1997 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The oncologic outcomes were evaluated, and correlations to clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Results The 5-year disease-free survival, ultimate local control with laser alone, disease-specific survival, overall survival, and organ preservation rates were 87.9%, 94.2%, 99.0%, 92.2%, and 96.2%, respectively. Neither the reported surgical margin nor the extension of tumor to the anterior commissure, arytenoid, subglottis, and ventricle showed any significant impact on local control or survival. Conclusions Transoral CO2 laser microsurgery as one-stage single-modality therapy resulted in a high rate of local control and a high survival rate in selected cases of early glottic carcinoma, regardless of the location of tumor and histopathology report on the surgical margin. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 123:2670-2674, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A micro-fuel processor system integrating steam reformer and partial oxidation reactor was manufactured using low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC). A catalyst and Pt-based catalyst prepared by wet impregnation were used for steam reforming and partial oxidation, respectively. The performance of the LTCC micro-fuel processor was measured at various operating conditions such as the effect of the ratio of the feed flow rate, the ratio of and the operating temperature on the LTCC reformer and the CO clean-up system. The hydrogen concentration and the methanol conversion were high and stable as a durable micro-fuel processor from the feasibility test which was operated continuously for 12h. The product gas was composed of 75% hydrogen, 25% carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide at , respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Energy saving potential and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction potential of boiler technologies in the Korean industrial sector up to 2035 were analyzed using The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System (TIMES) model based on bottom-up optimization. Final energy consumption by industrial indirect heating boilers in 2013 accounts for 7% of Korea's industrial energy consumption and 8% of the manufacturing sector's consumption. Energy consumption of industrial indirect heating boilers is expected to increase about 25% in the baseline scenario between 2013 and 2035. Technical potential against the baseline scenario by deploying only the most efficient technologies in new installation demand is 7.9% for energy saving and 20.7% for CO 2 reduction by 2035. The most efficient technologies by boiler technology types were gas-fired super boilers. Economic potential against the baseline scenario through market competition between existing and high efficient technologies is 5.6% for energy saving and 6.1% for CO 2 reduction by 2035. CO 2 reduction potential is higher than energy-saving potential because fuel substitution toward gas was added to the energy-saving effect due to efficiency improvement. Research and development, information disclosure, regulation, and incentives for high-efficiency boiler technologies are necessary to realize technical potential as well as economic potential in industrial indirect heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]