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The purpose of this study is to establish a simpler way to assess cardiopulmonary function in handball athletes whose continuous aerobic ability is vital in games using field tests, as well as to provide basic data on changes in lactic acid concentration. A total of 8 youth elite male handball athletes participated in this study. Participants visited three times in total. The first was assigned to graded exercise test and body composition measurements. Participants were then randomly assigned to a 20-meter shuttle ride or Yo-Yo Intermediate Recovery. All participants measured the lactic acid concentration after each exercise test. There were no significant differences in the VO2max (ml/kg/min) results in each test. There was no significant difference immediately after exercise of each test, after 5 minutes, after 10 minutes, and after 20 minutes. Compared to the golden standard GXT, there is no difference in maximum oxygen intake and lactic acid concentration after the two field tests, so both tests are expected to be efficiently used to evaluate the aerobic ability and develop training programs in the field.

Background Athletes need to maintain the necessary physical conditioning for sports performance with wearing face masks to reduce the risk of virus transmission during training and competition during the COVID-19 situation. The quantitative and physiological (i.e., heart rate, PRE, lactate) effects of face masks on exercise capacity needs to be reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate elite athletes’ sports performance and body composition during the COVID-19 in 2020, and to quantify in detail the effect of KF94 on changes in lactic acid during recovery after high-intensity aerobic exercise. Methods The 13 athletes who participated in December 2019 and December 2020 were surveyed and matched by age, gender, and sports categories to evaluate their body composition and sports performance (lower limb strength test, anaerobic power test). In addition, a crossover design was used to examine the effects of using a disposable KF94 face mask during exercise. Results The 2020 group (16.29 ± 3.25 kg) was lower in the leg muscle mass than the 2019 group (16.72 ± 3.24 kg). The right knee extensor strength (p = 0.005) and power (p = 0.003) were lower in the 2020 group’s isokinetic muscle function than in the 2019 group. In the Wingate anaerobic test, peak power (p = 0.001) and average power (p = 0.006) of the 2020 group were also lower than those of the 2019 group. Resting state blood lactate level were 1.35 ± 0.14mM/L without a mask, 2.50 ± 0.49mM/L with an KF94 mask (p p p = 0.407), at 5 (p = 0.671) and 10 minutes (p = 0.313) of recovery. The rate of lactic acid removal in the post-exercise recovery period were 53.56 ± 6.77 (%) without a mask, 45.5 ± 9.9 (%) with a KF94 mask (p p p = 0.118). Conclusions The main results of the study show that anaerobic peak power, average power, and extensor muscles of the lower-limb were significantly lower than before the COVID-19 situation by wearing masks in training and normal daily living, and the KF94 mask-wearing group had lower performance in high-intensity aerobic exercise and recovery rate than non-mask group.

The gap-prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex has been widely used as a behavioral method for tinnitus screening in animal studies. The cortical-evoked potential gap-induced inhibition has also been investigated in animals as well as in human subjects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of age on the cortical N1-P2 complex in the gap-prepulse inhibition paradigm. Fifty-seven subjects, aged 20 to 68 years, without continuous tinnitus, were tested with two effective gap conditions (embedded gap of 50- or 20-ms duration). Retest sessions were performed within one month. A significant gap-induced inhibition of the N1-P2 complex was found in both gap durations. Age differently affected the inhibition, depending on gap duration. With a 50-ms gap, the inhibition decreased significantly with the increase in age. This age-inhibition relationship was not found when using a 20-ms gap. The results were reproducible in the retest session. Our findings suggest that the interaction between age and gap duration should be considered when applying the gap-induced inhibition of the cortical-evoked potential as an objective measure of tinnitus in human subjects. Further studies with tinnitus patients are warranted to identify gap duration that would minimize the effects of age and maximize the difference in the inhibition between those with and without tinnitus.

공매도(空賣渡)란 보유하고 있지 않은 자산을 매도하는 거래를 의미한다. 향후 주가가 하락할 것으로 예상되는 경우 그대로 혹은 주식을 빌려서 매도한 뒤 차후 실제로 주가가 하락하면 같은 종목을 하락한 주가로 되사는 방법으로 차익을 얻는 매매기법이다. 공매도에 대해서는 찬반 양론이 존재하나, 기본적으로 주가에 하락 압력을 가하는 요인이 됨을 이유로 규제당국은 대체적으로 부정적인 입장을 취해왔고, 사회적인 여론 또한 다르지 않았다. 하지만 공매도는 시장 가격 형성을 원활히 하고, 투자자들에게 새로운 투자수단을 제공하며, 위험회피 수단으로 활용될 수 있다는 장점 또한 가지고 있다. 따라서 공매도 규제의 프레임은 이러한 공매도의 이점을 고려하여 공매도의 순기능은 살린 채 그 역기능은 최소화하고자 하면서 전면 금지에서 선별적 허용 및 포지션 관리와 공시규제로 변화해왔다. 이를 위해 공매도 규제체계가 정립되고 있고, 우리나라의 경우에도 증권거래법 시절을 지나 자본시장법이 제정되고 개정되어 오면서 나름의 체계를 갖추고 있다. 그리고 그 체계는 차입공매도의 예외적 허용을 통한 공매도의 결제불능위험의 최소화와 공매도 포지션 보고, 공시를 통한 시장보호 및 예외적인 금융당국의 시장개입유보로 정리할 수 있다. 하지만 이러한 체계 하에서도 여러 문제점이 남아 있다. 차입공매도의 기준은 여전히 모호한 점이 있고, 공매도와 다른 거래를 연계한 투자기법에 현 제도는 규제의 공백을 가지고 있다. 또한 총수익스왑과 같은 새로운 파생상품의 등장으로 공매도 포지션 규제도 역시 한계를 노정하고 있으며, 과태료 처분만으로 공매도 규제의 실효성 확보도 쉽지 않은 것이 현실이다. 공매도 규제에 대해서는 그 규제의 방향이 타당한지, 수단이 적정한지에 대해 논의가 계속 중이고, 우리나라의 공매도 규제 역시 완성형이라기보다는 현재 진행형에 가깝다. 본고는 이러한 문제의식 하에 공매도의 의의와 기능에서 시작하여 기존 논의의 정리 · 분석을 통해 우리나라의 공매도 규제체계를 들여다보고, 외국의 규제들과 비교한 다음 현행 공매도 규제체계의 문제점과 개선방향에 대해 논의하였다. 본고가 향후 공매도 규제의 정책방향을 정립하고, 법규화하는데 있어 하나의 참고가 될 수 있기를 기대한다.

Correction of caudal septal deviation with a batten graft has been popularized recently. However, few reports have documented the surgical outcomes of this technique, especially the use of bony batten grafts in septoplasty.To evaluate the surgical outcomes of bony batten grafting for the management of caudal septal deviation in endonasal septoplasty.This retrospective cohort study evaluates the medical records of 141 patients with caudal septal deviation who underwent septoplasty using bony batten grafts from September 1, 2011, through February 29, 2016, at a tertiary referral hospital. Patients were divided into primary and secondary surgery groups. Patients were also divided into the septoplasty plus turbinate surgery and the septoplasty only group. Endoscopic assessment of deviation correction was performed, and postoperative complications were analyzed.Patient satisfaction and symptom improvement were evaluated via telephone interviews by using the Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation (NOSE) scores.Of the 141 patients (24 women [17%] and 117 men [83%]; mean [SD] age, 32.8 [12.9] years), 86 (61%) rated their symptoms in the postoperative survey as much improved; 50 (35.5%), improved; 4 (2.8%), no change; and 1 (0.7%), worse. All patients had significantly improved mean (SD) postoperative NOSE scores (28.7 [22.0]; 95% CI, 25.0-32.4) compared with preoperative scores (70.5 [26.7]; 95% CI, 66.0-75.0; P .001). No significant intergroup differences were observed in surgical outcome between the 116 patients undergoing primary surgery (mean [SD] NOSE score, 28.2 [21.9]) and 25 undergoing secondary surgery (mean [SD] NOSE score, 30.8 [24.3]; P = .34). No significant difference in surgical outcome was found between the 102 patients in the turbinate surgery group (mean [SD] NOSE score, 28.1 [20.8]) and 39 in the septoplasty only group (mean [SD] NOSE score, 30.4 [23.7]; P = .65). On endoscopic examination for surgical outcome, 128 patients (90.8%) had a straight septum and 13 (9.2%) had improved but residual caudal deviation. Postoperative complications included septal hematoma in 4 patients, hyposmia in 2, and chondritis in 1; all patients were treated successfully. Four patients required revision surgery because of incomplete functional correction or a desire for rhinoplasty.Septoplasty using bony batten grafts is useful for correcting caudal septal deviation with favorable surgical outcomes and an acceptable complication rate.3.

The present study aimed to investigate whether gap-prepulse inhibition (GPI) deficit in patients with tinnitus occurred in the N1-P2 complex of the cortical auditory evoked potential. Auditory late responses to the intense sound of the GPI paradigm were obtained from 16 patients with tinnitus and 18 age- and hearing loss-matched controls without tinnitus. The inhibition degrees of the N1-P2 complex were assessed at 100-, 50-, and 20-ms gap durations with tinnitus-pitch-matched and non-matched frequency background noises. At the 20-ms gap condition with the tinnitus-pitch-matched frequency background noise, only the tinnitus group showed an inhibition deficit of the N1-P2 complex. The inhibition deficits were absent in both groups with longer gap durations. These findings suggested that the effect of tinnitus emerged depending on the cue onset timing and duration of the gap-prepulse. Since inhibition deficits were observed in both groups at the same 20-ms gap condition, but with the tinnitus-pitch-non-matched frequency background noise, the present study did not offer proof of concept for tinnitus filling in the gap. Additional studies on the intrinsic effects of different background frequencies on the gap processing are required in the future.

Juvenile psammomatoid ossifying fibroma (JPOF) is a rare tumor that occurs in maxillary sinus or orbit. Complete removal is required due to the aggressive and locally destructive nature. It is hard to distinguish from psammomatoid meningioma in cranial lesion and to remove completely. The authors are presenting a case of 26-year-old male with JPOF on skull base and report this case with review of literature.

Lim, C.; Park, S.-H.; Kim, D.-Y.; Woo, S.-B., and Jeong, K.-Y., 2017. Influence of steric effect on the rapid sea level rise at Jeju Island, Korea. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 189–193. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. According to a report by the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA), the sea level rise in west coast (1.31 mm/yr), east coast (2.69 mm/yr) and south coast (2.05 mm/yr) of Korea are different. Especially, the seas around Jeju Island show one of the most rapid increase of sea level rise in recent years. This investigation on the data from Jeju and Seogwipo tidal station indicated that the sea level rises around Jeju and near Seogwipo were 5.63 mm/yr and 3.75 mm/yr, respectively. This shows that the northern and southern parts of the island have different temporal rates of sea level rise. The purpose of this research is t...

Kim, D.-Y.; Park, S.-H.; Woo, S.-B.; Jeong, K.-Y., and Lee, E.-I., 2017. Sea level rise and storm surge around the southeastern coast of Korea. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 239–243. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The sea level rise around the Korean peninsula has become a significant factor that can have a catastrophic impact on low-lying coastal regions. The risk of storm surges can be intensified by rising sea levels, which will create more damaging flood conditions in coastal areas. This study focused on the long-term variations of the mean sea level (MSL) and the annual maximum surge heights (AMSH), which were influenced by global warming and strengthening typhoons. The trends of MSL and AMSH were estimated using the sea level data at eight stations along the southern and eastern coast of Korea over the past 40 years (~2014). The trend was ...

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of various commercial pectin enzyme treatments on juice yield from Aronia fruits (Aronia melanocarpa) as well as changes in physicochemical properties such as pH, total acid, reducing sugar, soluble solid, total anthocyanin, total phenolic compounds, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Different types and reaction conditions of pectinase were also investigated in order to improve extraction yield of Aronia juice. The optimal conditions of enzyme treatment were 0.1% of concentration (w/w) at 50°C for 120 min. Among enzymes used in this study, extraction yield with Rapidase Press L treatment from Aronia juice was the highest and resulted in a significant increase in juice from 51.0 to 69.1%. Rapidase C80 MAX showed 68.83% extraction yield while Plantase TCL showed 66.70% extraction yield. Reducing sugar and soluble solid contents increased after enzyme treatment. Total acids also slightly increased after enzyme reaction. No significant difference was observed in pH regardless of pectin enzyme treatment. However, enzyme treatment resulted in an increase in total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanin, and DPPH radical scavenging in Aronia juice compared to the juice prepared juice.

Revision rhinoplasty in Asian patients is associated with problems related to the use of grafts or implant materials. Moreover, the septal cartilage of Asian individuals is generally weak and small, which makes it particularly vulnerable to injury or secondary deformity during primary surgery. Hence, there is an increased demand for major reconstruction of the septal cartilage framework during revision surgery in Asian patients. In revision rhinoplasty of the nose in Asian patients, appropriate management of the graft or implant is vital. The common problems resulting in the need for revision surgery include displacement, malposition, extrusion, recurrent inflammation, and infection of dorsally implanted alloplastic material. A short-nose deformity following silicone rhinoplasty is also a common problem that is difficult to manage. Furthermore, residual or recurrent deviation of the deviated nose, undercorrection of the convex nasal dorsum, and tip graft-related complications are frequently encountered problems that require revision. In revision rhinoplasty for Asian patients, autologous tissues, such as conchal cartilage and costal cartilage, play a pivotal role for use as a new dorsal implant or building block for major septal reconstruction. Therefore, it is imperative for surgeons to familiarize themselves with the appropriate use of autologous tissues, particularly costal cartilage.

Background and Objective To document the effect of adenotonsillectomy on prepubertal growth in children according to preoperative growth status and follow up period. Methods The clinical records of 161 prepubertal children with sleep breathing disorder who underwent adenotonsillectomy between 1998 and 2007 were assessed. The height, weight and body mass index (BMI) was converted to z-score (standard deviation scores) for their ages. Preoperative growth status was divided to three groups (less than 25th percentile, 25–75th percentile, and more than 75th percentile). The changes of weight, height and BMI were evaluated according to follow up periods and preoperative growth status. Results The slopes (Δz-score/year) of general parameters (height, weight, BMI) were not significant statistically. For height-for-age, < 25th percentile group had significant increase of z-score by 0.155 per year (p = 0.009), but the other groups did not. For weight-for-age, z-score of 25–75th percentile group was increased by 0.119 per year (p = 0.010) and z-score of > 75th percentile group was decreased significantly by 0.096 per year (p = 0.039). But for BMI-for age, the slopes of all groups were not significant statistically. Conclusions Adenotonsillectomy could make constant increase of height during prepubertal period for < 25th percentile children. Also adenotonsillectomy make constant increase of weight for 25–75th percentile children, and make decrease of weight for > 75th percentile children during prepubertal period. Adenotonsillectomy might have different effects on growth indices of children with sleep disordered breathing according to initial growth status.

Many Internet of Things (IoT) devices have special and demanding design requirements, including limited energy, size, storage and processing capabilities. In addition, many IoT devices may be deployed in public places, making them vulnerable to physical attacks and replication attacks. Therefore, IoT devices are required to provide a solid security against duplication and counterfeiting even with these restrictions. To solve this problem, we propose a low-power physical unclonable function (PUF) for IoTs. The proposed low-power PUF at 0.5 V supply voltage (in near-threshold voltage region) achieves an energy efficiency of 36.7 pJ/b by lowering the bias voltage extremely and operates stably from −20°C to 60°C. In this paper, PUF for low-power IoTs is implemented in a 28-nm CMOS process and occupies 10801μm2 area.

Background One of the key issues in electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring is accurate signal acquisition with less cumbersome electrodes. In this study, the L2 phase electro-deposited nanoporous platinum (L2-ePt) electrode is introduced, which is a new type of electrode that utilizes a stable nanoporous platinum surface to reduce the skin-electrode impedance. Methods L2-ePt electrodes were fabricated using electro-deposition technique. Then, the effect of the nanoporous surface on the surface roughness and the electrode impedance were observed from the L2-ePt electrodes and the flat platinum (FlatPt) electrode. The skin-electrode impedances of the L2-ePt electrodes, a gold cup electrode, and the FlatPt electrode were evaluated when placed on the hairy occipital area of the head in ten subjects. For the validation of using the L2-ePt electrode, a correlational analysis of the alpha rhythms was performed in the same subjects for simultaneous EEG recordings using the L2-ePt and clinically-used EEG electrodes. Results The results indicated that the L2-ePt electrode with a roughness factor of 200 had the lowest mean impedance performance. Moreover, the proposed L2-ePt electrode showed a significantly lower mean skin-electrode impedance than the FlatPt electrode. Finally, the EEG signal quality recorded by the L2-ePt electrode (r = 0.94) was comparable to that of the clinically-used gold cup electrode. Conclusion Based on these results, the proposed L2-ePt electrode is suitable for use in various high-quality EEG applications., Graphical Abstract

Background Early stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) has many treatment options including core decompression with implantation of a tantalum rod. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes and potential complications during conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA) in such patients. Methods Six male patients (8 hips) underwent THA subsequent to removing a tantalum rod (group I) from April 2010 to November 2011. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of these patients. We enrolled 12 age- and sex-matched patients (16 hips) during the same period, who had undergone primary THA without a previous operation as the control group (group II). All patients were followed for at least 3 years. We checked the Harris hip score (HHS), operative time, and volume of blood loss. Radiological results, including inclination, anteversion of the acetabular cup, presence of periprosthetic osteolysis, and subsidence of femoral stem were checked at the last follow-up. Results The mean preoperative HHS values were 56.5 (range, 50 to 62) and 59.1 (range, 42 to 70) in groups I and II, respectively. The HHS improved to 96.0 (range, 93 to 100) and 97.6 (range, 93 to 100), respectively, at the 3-year follow-up (p = 0.172). Mean operation time was 98.8 minutes (range, 70 to 120 minutes) in group I and 77.5 minutes (range, 60 to 115 minutes) in group II (p = 0.006). Total blood loss volumes were 1,193.8 mL (range, 960 to 1,360 mL) and 944.1 mL (range, 640 to 1,280 mL) in groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.004). No significant differences in inclination or anteversion of acetabular cup and no evidence of osteolysis or subsidence of the femoral stem were reported in either group in radiological follow-up results. However, one case of squeaking occurred in group I during the follow-up. Conclusions The two groups showed no clinical or radiological differences except extended operative time and increased blood loss. However, the incidence of squeaking (1 of 8 hips) was higher, as compared to the control group or previously reported values.

The activities of mammalian DNA and histone methyltransferases are regulated by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and sumoylation; however, it is unclear how the activities of these enzymes are regulated at the post-translational level in plants. Here, we demonstrate that the DNA methylation activity of Arabidopsis CHROMOMETHYLASE 3 (CMT3) is positively regulated by the E3 SUMO ligase AtSIZ1. The methylation level of the Arabidopsis genome, including transposons, was significantly lower in the siz1-2 mutant than in wild-type plants. CMT3 was sumoylated by the E3 ligase activity of AtSIZ1 through a direct interaction, and the DNA methyltransferase activity of CMT3 was enhanced by this modification. In addition, the methylation levels of a large number of genes, including the nitrate reductase gene NIA2, were lower in siz1-2 and cmt3 plants than in wild-type plants. Furthermore, the CHG methylation activity of CMT3 was specific for NIA2and not NIA1 (the other nitrate reductase gene in Arabidopsis), indicating that CMT3 selectively regulates the CHG methylation levels of target genes. Taken together, our results indicate that the sumoylation of CMT3 is critical for its role in the control of gene expression and that AtSIZ1 positively controls the epigenetic repression of CMT3-mediated gene expression.

Three compact microwave radiometers are developed for a lightweight solar-powered HALE UAV (High-Altitude, Long Endurance; Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or pseudo-satellite. The platform aims to operate at UTLS, i.e. altitude of 16~20 km, where air becomes thin enough to prevent operation of a conventional fossil fuel engines. Despite atmospheric science community has long been attracted in its potential scientific and operational value as an observation platform, only limited opportunities were available. The payload aims to obtain vertical temperature profiles and column-averaged water vapour for entire troposphere where most weather system takes place. Given total weight (< 3 kg) and maximum power (< 50 W) constraints are not the only challenges for design of the CHAISR. It requires nominal operation in thermal range between −75 and +43 °C and from 1013 to 50 hPa. Along with optical cameras and in situ sensors in the CHASIR, three microwave radiometers with 16 channels from 18 to 60 GHz are to fit in 130 mm diameter and 290 mm length with total weight less than 1.5 kg for cross-track scan unit. Maximum power consumption of less than 15 W does not allow conventional internal blackbody calibration facility onboard, and alternative methods has been developed. This study represents calibration of miniature microwave radiometer followed by preliminary results of a series of test flights conducted in 2017. While CHAISR has reached 2/3 of its target altitude, data from test flight showed effective performance of tipping curve calibration with altitude as expected. On the contrary, pre-flight calibration with liquid nitrogen indicates there are rooms to improve method of lab-based characterisation of the CHAISR. The result suggests feasibility of in situ cold reference for microwave radiometer and better than 1°K of total RMSE can be achievable once accuracy of warm reference is available from noise diode or ambient temperature readings. Continuous improvement of quality of instrument is currently explored at the same time, researching way of improving current specification of microwave radiometer in CHAISR.

Background The development of other primary cancers in patients with lung cancer is unfortunate and uncommon, although the frequency is increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features and prognosis in patients with multiple primary cancers (MPC) involving lung cancer. Methods After a retrospective review of 1644 patients who were newly diagnosed with primary lung cancer between 1998 and August 2012 at a tertiary hospital, 105 patients were included. Results The median age at the time of lung cancer diagnosis was 67 years, and 68 patients were male. Synchronous primary cancers occurred in 47% of the study population (49/105). Among those with metachronous cancer (56/105), the median interval between the diagnosis of lung cancer and another malignancy was 47.1 months; 21 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer as the first primary tumor. The most frequent type of other malignancy was urogenital (30%), followed by gastrointestinal (30%) and thyroid malignancies (16%). Advanced stage of lung cancer (hazard ratio (HR), 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8–5.7; P < 0.001), supportive care only as treatment for lung cancer (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.3–6.0; P = 0.006), and head and neck cancer as another malignancy (HR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.4–10.8; P = 0.010) were independent predictors of shorter survival from the time of diagnosis of the second primary cancer. Conclusion Advanced lung cancer stage, symptomatic supportive care only without antitumor therapy for lung cancer, and head and neck cancer as another primary malignancy were poor prognostic factors in patients with MPC involving primary lung cancer.

Objectives Regenerative treatment using stem cells may serve as treatment option for empty nose syndrome (ENS), which is caused by the lack of turbinate tissue and deranged nervous system in the nasal cavity. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in the treatment of ENS. Methods In this prospective observational clinical study, we enrolled 10 ENS patients who volunteered to undergo treatment of ENS through the injection of autologous SVF. Data, including demographic data, pre- and postoperative Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-25 (SNOT-25) scores, overall patient satisfaction, and postoperative complications, were prospectively collected. Nasal secretion was assessed using the polyurethane foam absorption method, and the levels of biological markers were analyzed in both ENS group and control group using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The SVF extracted from abdominal fat was diluted and injected into both inferior turbinates. Results Among the 10 initial patients, one was excluded from the study. Subjective satisfaction was rated as "much improved" in two and "no change" in seven. Among the improved patients, the mean preinjection SNOT-25 score was 55.0 and the score at 6 months after injection was 19.5. However, the average SNOT-25 score of nine participants at 6 months after injection (mean±standard deviation, 62.4±35.8) did not differ significantly from the baseline SNOT25 score (70.1±24.7, P>0.05, respectively). Among the various inflammatory markers assessed, the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and calcitonin gene-related peptide were significantly higher in ENS patients. Compared with preinjection secretion level, the nasal secretions from SVF-treated patients showed decreased expressions of IL-1β and IL-8 after injection. Conclusion Although SVF treatment appears to decrease the inflammatory cytokine levels in the nasal mucosa, a single SVF injection was not effective in terms of symptom improvement and patient satisfaction. Further trials are needed to identify a more practical and useful regenerative treatment modality for patients with ENS.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of retroauricular hair line incision (RAHI) in partial superficial parotidectomy by comparison with modified Blair incision or facelift incision. Methods Medical records of 73 patients with benign parotid tumor who underwent partial superficial parotidectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Size and location of tumors, operative time, occurrence of facial nerve paralysis and Frey's syndrome, and cosmetic outcomes were compared among RAHI, facelift incision (FLI), modified Blair incision (MBI) groups. Results RAHI group showed better cosmetic results than FLI group or MBI group compared with other type of incisions (P0.999), occurrence of temporary or permanent facial nerve paralysis (P=0.745) and Frey's syndrome (P=0.940). Conclusion Partial superficial parotidectomy can be done safely by RAHI in most cases of benign parotid tumor. Compared with MBI or FLI, RAHI has better cosmetic outcome with no increase of operative time or postoperative complications.

The leaves of Peatasites japonicus are a traditional oriental medicine with diverse biological activities. A simple and specific analytical method for the quantitative determination of bakkenolide B constituents from methanolic extract of the leaves of P. japonicus was developed. Bakkenolide B was isolated from the leaves of P. japonicus, and its structure was elucidated based on 1D, 2D NMR, and GC-MS spectral data. A liquid chromatographic method was developed to evaluate the quality of P. japonicus through determination of major active compound, bakkenolide B. The wavelengths at 254 and 215 nm were chosen to determine bakkenolide B. The recovery of the method was in the range of 98.6 to 103.1%, and bakkenolide B showed good linearity (r 2 =0.999) within test ranges. The developed method was applied to the determination of bakkenolide B in the plant part and seasonal changes. The results showed that the content of bakkenolide B in the leaf was higher than in the petiole and rhizome. In this study, a simple, rapid, and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the percentage and composition of bakkenolide B in P. japonicus procured from different Petasites species plants in South Korea. The method can be employed in routine quantitative analysis and quality control of different products in the market.

Objectives This study evaluated the risk factors for anastomotic leakage (AL) and survival outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods Patients with HNSCC who underwent surgery carrying potential AL from 2003 through 2009 were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed and patient survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Of 232 eligible patients, 25 (10.8%) developed AL. Univariate analyses revealed that primary tumor site, salvage surgery, perineural invasion, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and blood transfusion were significantly associated with the occurrence of AL (P0.1). Conclusion Patients who received salvage surgery and blood transfusion may require careful surveillance for development of AL, which has a tendency toward decreased survival.

Purpose It is assumed that preoperative use of a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) test-band will give a patient lower gain compared to real post-operative gain because of the reduction of energy through the scalp when using a test-band. Hearing gains using a BAHA test-band were analyzed in patients with unilateral hearing loss. Materials and Methods Nineteen patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss were enrolled. A test-band, which was connected to BAHA Intenso with full-on gain, was put on the mastoid. Conventional air-conduction (AC) pure-tone averages (PTAs) and sound-field PTAs and speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were obtained in conditions A (the better ear naked), B (the better ear plugged), and C (the better ear plugged with a test-band on the poorer mastoid). Results Air-conduction PTAs of the poorer and better ears were 91 ± 19 and 18 ± 8 dB HL. Sound-field PTAs in condition B were higher than those in condition A (54 vs. 26 dB HL), which means that earplugs can block the sound grossly up to 54 dB HL through the better ears. The aided PTAs (24 ± 6 dB HL) in condition C were similar to those of the better ears in condition A (26 ± 9 dB HL), though condition C showed higher thresholds at 500 Hz and lower thresholds at 1 and 2 kHz when compared to condition A. The hearing thresholds using a test-band were similar to the published results of BAHA users with the volume to most comfortable level (MCL). Conclusion Our findings showed that a BAHA test-band on the poorer ear could transmit sound to the cochlea as much as the better ears can hear. The increased functional gain at 1 and 2 kHz reflects the technical characteristics of BAHA processor. The reduction of energy through the scalp when using a test-band seems to be offset by the difference of output by setting the volume to full-on gain and using a high-powered speech processor. Preoperative hearing gains using a test-band with full-on gain seems to be similar to the post-operative gains of BAHA users with the volume to MCL.

Objective To assess palatine tonsil size relative to degree of obesity in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Study Design Case-control study. Setting Tertiary care rhinology clinic. Subjects and Methods We compared the subjective and objective tonsil size, including tonsil height (TH), tonsil width (TW), tonsil thickness (TT), tonsil weight (TWt), and tonsil volume (TV), in 26 obese children and 26 age- and gender-matched control children with SDB, and in 29 overweight children and 29 matched controls with SDB. Results Despite similar subjective tonsil size in obese and control children, the objective tonsil size, including TH, TW, TT, and TWt, was larger in obese than in control children, and the mean TV was significantly greater in obese than in control children with SDB (8.53 ± 3.30 mL vs 6.90 ± 2.05 mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] of the difference 0.03-3.25; P = 0.019). In contrast, mean TV (7.38 ± 3.43 mL vs 7.65 ± 1.97 mL; 95% CI −1.92 to 1.37; P = 0.320) as well as the other parameters of objective palatine tonsil size, including TH, TW, TT, and TWt, did not differ significantly between overweight children and controls. Conclusion Obese children with SDB had larger palatine tonsils than did normal-weight children with SDB. This finding suggests that larger palatine tonsils may have a greater effect on upper airway obstruction in obese than in normal-weight children with SDB.

The purpose of this study was to compare Chinese-Korean adolescents' with Korean adolescents's academic achievement motivation, parental expectation, teacher expectation, self-efficacy. The object is 492 students in the middle school 2th and high school 2th grade who are from Chinese-Korean school and Korean school in Seoul and Incheon. The major results of findings were as follows: First, Chinese-Korean adolescents were more high than academic achievement motivation in Korean adolescents. Second, juniors in middle school were more positive than parental expectation in high school. Third, Chinese-Korean adolescents were more positive than teacher expectation in Korean adolescents, and juniors in middle school are more positive than ones in high school. Forth, Chinese-Korean adolescents were more high than self-efficacy in Korean adolescents.