Application of the Mandarin Chinese version of the Voice Handicap Index.

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics and clinical application of Mandarin Chinese version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

Methods: A cross-culture adaptation was used to develop the Mandarin Chinese version of the VHI. The translated version was then administered to 1766 dysphonic patients and 120 control subjects; 210 of the patients were treated with phonosurgery or BOTOX injection.

[Transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and curative effects of transoral CO2 laser in treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: The retrospective analysis included 24 cases of hypopharyngeal carcinoma from 1994 to 2005 in the Department of Head and Neck. All cases were treated with endoscopic laser surgery and adjuvant selective neck dissection or radiotherapy.

[Study on multi-area universal newborn hearing screening in countryside of China].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of universal newborn hearing screening in countryside in order to provide reliable evidence in launching this program all over the countryside of China.

Method: Subjects were 12,638 infants who were born in 9 counties from Jan 2004 to Dec 2005. TEOAE was used for the fast hearing screening.

Expression of the Foxp3 gene in spleen mononuclear cells of a mouse model with allergic rhinitis.

Objective: There is growing speculation that the impairment in regulatory-T-cell (Treg)-mediated dominant tolerance may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the changes in the forkhead transcription factor 3 (Foxp3) gene expression may aggravate nasal mucosal inflammation in allergic mice, and whether or not these features result from the loss of Tregs.

Methods: AR was induced by both intraperitoneal injection and intranasal administration of ovalbumin in BALB/c mice, while the control mice were treated with saline.

Genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 genes are associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx in a Chinese population.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether functional polymorphisms in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme genes affect the risk of developing larynx and hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We investigated CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 polymorphisms in 278 patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal SCC and 278 control subjects by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Subjects with the CYP1A1 3798CC or TC genotype had an odds ratio (OR) of 3.

[Evaluation of the safety of aluminium adjuvant in the preparation of allergic rhinitis animal model].

Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of the formulation and dosage of aluminium adjuvant, Al(OH)(3), in the preparation of allergic rhinitis animal model.

Methods: Sixty health BALB/c mice were divided randomly into 6 groups. Al(OH)(3) powder (5 mg) was used in one group, Al(OH)(3) colloid gel of different concentration (0.

[Treatment of allergic rhinitis with nasal mometasone furoate].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of nasal mometasone furoate on moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.

Methods: Patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis were enrolled and received mometasone furoate nasal spray 200 microg once daily for four weeks. Four hundreds and sixty-three patients completed the study.

Mometasone furoate nasal spray reduces symptoms and improves quality of life in Chinese patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis: a multicenter open-label study.

Conclusion: Mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) can reduce the symptoms and improve quality of life in Chinese patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis (AR).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of MF on symptoms and quality of life in Chinese patients with moderate to severe AR.

Patients And Methods: In a multicenter and open-label study, 500 patients with moderate to severe AR were enrolled and received MFNS 200 microg once daily.

[Resection of frontal ethmoid sinus osteomas with nasal endoscopy].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of resection of frontal ethmoid sinus osteomas with nasal endoscopy.

Method: Eighteen cases of frontal ethmoid sinus osteoma from 2005 to 2008 were enrolled in our study, including 8 cases of frontal sinus osteomas, 6 cases of ethmoid osteomas and 4 cases of frontal sinus osteomas extending to ethmoid sinus. Seventeen cases were treated by an endoscopic approach alone, and one case treated by a combined endoscopic and an external approach.

A modified septoplasty with three high tension lines resection.

Unlabelled: The modified septoplasty with three tension lines resection is an effective and well-tolerated procedure, which can improve the objective and subjective outcomes, and provide a good approach that is applicable for various septal deviations, especially caudal deviation.

Objectives: According to the biomechanics of the septal deviation, a modified septoplasty with three high tension lines resection was redefined. The purpose of this study was to review the surgical technique and objective and subjective outcomes.

Value of nasal mucosa congestion index in choosing treatment strategies for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Conclusion: The mucosa compliance in lesions is determined by the congestion index, enabling us to determine whether the patient is sensitive to pharmacotherapy and to choose surgical management rationally.

Objective: To explore the correlation between the nasal mucosa congestion index and tissue remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and to provide objective evidence for clinical choice of therapeutic methods.

Patients And Methods: Forty-four patients with CRS who underwent nasal endoscopic surgery were enrolled in the study.

Development of Mandarin monosyllabic speech test materials in China.

In this study, monosyllabic Mandarin speech test materials (MSTMs) were developed for use in word recognition tests for speech audiometry in Chinese audiology clinics. Mandarin monosyllabic materials with high familiarity were designed with regard to phonological balance and recorded digitally with a male voice. Inter-list equivalence of difficulty was evaluated for a group of 60 subjects (aged 18-25 years) with normal hearing.

The effect of myrtol standardized on human nasal ciliary beat frequency and mucociliary transport time.

Background: This study was designed to observe the effects of myrtol standardized (Gelomyrtol forte), a secretomucolytic phytomedicine, on both ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in vitro and mucociliary transport time (MTT) in vivo.

Methods: Changes in cultured human nasal CBF in response to immediate treatment with 75, 150, or 300 ng/mL of myrtol standardized and prolonged treatment (12 or 24 hours) with 300 ng/mL of myrtol standardized were quantified by using high-speed digital microscopy. In addition, MTT before and after oral application of myrtol standardized (three times a day, 900 mg/day, 10 days) was determined using the saccharine test, and the effects of this treatment regime on nasal patency was measured by acoustic rhinometry and active anterior rhinomanometry in 22 patients with nonallergic chronic rhinitis.

Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of larynx in myasthenia gravis.

Objectives: We investigated the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of the larynx in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: Thirty-two cases of MG were analyzed. The laryngeal behaviors and characteristics of laryngeal electromyography were evaluated, and voice assessment and repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) tests were conducted.

Biofilms and mucosal healing in postsurgical patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) often remain symptomatic after technically proficient functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Current hypothesis indicates biofilms may contribute to the persistence of infection. However, few studies showed biofilms in postoperative patients.

Role of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta 1 in otitis media with effusion.

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a disease with complicated pathogeneses which are not clearly known. Increasing interest has been focused on immunological cells, cytokines and their roles in chronic inflammatory states. This study was designed to disclose the existence and roles of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the cause of OME in adults, and to investigate the probable role of Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in OME.

[Expression of NR2A in rat auditory cortex after sound insulation and auditory plasticity].

Objective: To study the changes of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 2A (NR2A) expression at local synapses in auditory cortices after early postnatal sound insulation and tone exposure.

Method: We prepared highly purified synaptosomes from primary auditory cortex by Optiprep flotation gradient centrifugations, and compared the differences of NR2A expression in sound insulation PND14, PND28, PND42 and Tone exposure after sound insulation for 7 days by Western blotting.

Result: The results showed that the NR2A protein expression of PND14 and PND28 decreased significantly (P<0.

[Comparison of two specific immunoglobulin E test systems in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the AllergyScreen system from Mediwiss An alytic GmbH and the Pharmacia CAP system from Pharmacia Diagnostics for the detection of four inhalant allergens in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.

Method: All 35 serum samples were collected from patients who were referred to the allergist for a suspected allergic rhinitis between January to March in 2007. Patients were classified as study diagnosis-positive for inhalant allergy if they both had a positive clinical examination/history and a related positive skin test for the suspected inhalant allergen.

Reverse multidrug resistance in laryngeal cancer cells by knockdown MDR1 gene expression.

Background: Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is one of the major obstacles in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Upregulated expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), the MDR1 gene product, confers multidrug resistance (MDR) to laryngeal cancer cells. In this study, we reversed the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in human laryngeal cancer cells (LSC-1/TAX) by using the lentivirus-based small hairpin interference ribonucleic acid (shRNA) technique.

Characteristics of experimental recurrent laryngeal nerve surgical injury in dogs.

Objectives: We characterized various recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injuries in dogs.

Methods: Sixteen dogs were classified as having complete injuries (transection) or incomplete injuries (ligation, half-section, and crush). The characteristics of nerve injuries were evaluated by endoscopic examination, laryngeal electromyography (LEMG), and histopathologic examination at 0 to 12 months after the injury.

Rigid bronchoscopy for inhaled pen caps in children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to present the clinical findings and treatment of pen cap inhalation with emphasis on the importance of managing aspirated foreign bodies by rigid bronchoscopy.

Methods And Patients: Of 1280 patients with foreign body inhalation treated from 1997 to 2007, 34 (2.65%) were because of pen cap inhalation.

The effects of age at cochlear implantation and hearing aid trial on auditory performance of Chinese infants.

Conclusion: Most of the infants demonstrated rapid improvement in the three different auditory skills within the first year after switch-on. Infants undergoing hearing aid trial and habilitation demonstrated a significant positive effect on the development of auditory skills in comparison with infants without trial and habilitation.

Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the auditory performance of infants of different age at cochlear implantation, emphasize the importance of the hearing aid trial and habilitation before implant, and provide baseline data of auditory development.