Can Osteopenia Induce Residual Dizziness After Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between osteopenia and residual dizziness after successful treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). METHODS: In all, 62 patients with canalolithiasis-type BPPV were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of residual dizziness after resolution of BPPV. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with residual dizziness. Patients were analyzed based on age, sex, affected semicircular canal, affected side, BPPV duration, and presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and osteopenia. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, BPPV duration and osteopenia showed a relatively significant association (p < 0.20) with the development of residual dizziness. On subsequent multivariate analysis using these factors, osteopenia remained a statistically significant factor in association with residual dizziness (p = 0.012, odds ratio, 9.916). CONCLUSION: Osteopenia is associated with the development of residual dizziness. BPPV patients with osteopenia more frequently suffer from residual dizziness after successful treatment of BPPV than those without osteopenia.

Olfactory Function Test for Early Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia.

Olfactory impairment occurs in patients with Alzheimer's disease, and olfactory function tests are performed for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the diagnosis and patient status are not currently outlined for vascular dementia, and many physicians do not consider concurrent vascular dementia in patients complaining of olfactory dysfunction. Here, we report a case of vascular dementia with no symptoms of dementia other than olfactory dysfunction. This case suggested that the olfactory function test is helpful not only for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease but also for the early diagnosis of vascular dementia.

Dysphagia Induced by Nasal Septal Chondroma: A Case Report.

Chondromas rarely occur in the nasal area and are usually found in the metaphyseal area of the phalanges and metacarpals of the hands, as well as the pelvis, sternum and scapula. The authors present an unusual case of dysphagia induced by histologically confirmed chondroma arising from the nasal septum. Treatment is to completely remove the mass with adequate margins of normal tissues to prevent recurrence and malignancy. Intranasal endoscopic removal of tumor with an adequate margin of normal tissue. After one year of treatment, there was no evidence of recurrence. We present a case of nasal septal chondroma in 18-year-old male. Keywords: chondroma; dysphagia; septum.

Clinical utility of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in predicting residual dizziness after benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the value of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) as a predictive factor for residual dizziness after recovery of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was evaluated. METHODS: The present study included 65 patients who had BPPV and underwent cVEMP testing. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of residual dizziness after recovery of BPPV. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with residual dizziness using age, gender, affected semicircular canal, affected side, BPPV duration, and cVEMP parameters. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, cVEMP-modified interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio and p13 latency showed a relatively significant association (p < 0.20) with residual dizziness. Based on multivariate analysis, increased cVEMP-modified interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio at the affected side (≥25%; p = 0.018, OR 6.623) remained as an associated factor. CONCLUSIONS: Increased cVEMP-modified IAD ratio at the affected side is associated with residual dizziness. BPPV patients with increased cVEMP-modified IAD ratio at the affected side are more likely to have residual dizziness after recovery of BPPV. SIGNIFICANCE: cVEMP testing could be used for the prediction of residual dizziness. An increased cVEMP-modified IAD ratio at the affected side may be used as a predictor of residual dizziness.

Cytoplasmic HMGB1 and HMGB1-Beclin1 complex are increased in radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Cytoplasmic high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an autophagy regulator, and autophagy is important in the radioresistance of various solid cancers. We evaluated the degree of autophagy and cytoplasmic HMGB1 in radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by culturing the SCC15 and quasiliquid layer 1 (QLL1) SCC cell lines that originate from cancer of the oral tongue and a metastatic lymph node, respectively, and then delivered radiation to induce radioresistance to cells. We then compared the degree of autophagy between non-irradiated control and radioresistant cancer cells using a western blot assay. We also compared the total and cytoplasmic concentrations of HMGB1 between the non-irradiated control and radioresistant cancer cells by western blot assay, and extracellular concentrations of HMGB1 with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Formation of an HMGB1-Beclin1 complex was evaluated by immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Autophagy increased in the radioresistant SCC15 cells (compared with non-irradiated control SCC15 cells) but not in the radioresistant QLL1 cells. The total amount of HMGB1 expression within cells did not differ; however, the degree of cytoplasmic HMGB1 expression was higher in radioresistant SCC15 cells than in non-irradiated control SCC15 cells. The HMGB1-Beclin1 complex, which is a main regulator of autophagy, was also increased in radioresistant SCC15 cells compared with non-irradiated control SCC15 cells. Autophagy flux and cytoplasmic HMGB1-Beclin1 increased after the acquisition of radioresistance in oral SCC.