Type I Thyroplasty or Fat Injection Laryngoplasty Versus Arytenoid Adduction: Effects of Surgery on Voice Recovery in Patients With Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis.

Type I (medialization) thyroplasty (MT), fat injection laryngoplasty (FIL), and arytenoid adduction (AA) are the 3 most common surgical treatments for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). While MT and FIL involve medialization of the paralyzed vocal fold, the goal of AA is to reduce the glottal-level difference. The current study compared the effects of these surgical treatments on voice quality in patients with UVFP.

Surgical effects of type-I thyroplasty and fat injection laryngoplasty on voice recovery.

Objective: Type-I thryroplasty, also known as medialization thyroplasty (MT) and autologous fat injection laryngoplasty (FIL) are one of the main surgical treatments for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Both procedures have the same concept of completing the glottal closure by medializing the vocal fold, although the surgical approaches are quite different. In order to assess these surgical effects, we examined the treatment outcomes and benefits of the two surgeries.

[Docetaxel (TXT) and irinotecan (CPT-11) as a second-line chemotherapy for platinum-pretreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck].

Cisplatin(CDDP), combined with 5-fluorouracil, is considered one of the most active chemotherapeutic combinations in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN)and is accepted today as a standard regimen. But second-line chemotherapy for platinum-pretreated patients has not yet been established. Eighteen patients with recurrent SCCHN were treated using docetaxel (TXT) and irinotecan (CPT-11).

Primary sensory neurons containing choline acetyltransferase of the peripheral type in the rat trigeminal ganglion and their relation to neuropeptides-, calbindin- and nitric oxide synthase-containing cells.

We have previously demonstrated that a variant form of choline acetyltransferase (pChAT) is expressed in rat trigeminal neurons. To assess the significance of pChAT in sensory functions, we characterized immunohistochemically pChAT-positive trigeminal neurons in the rat. pChAT-immunoreactivity was observed in a rather uniform pattern in about half of all trigeminal neurons throughout the trigeminal ganglion.

[Epidemiological survey of allergic diseases in first-year junior high school students in Wakayama Prefecture in 2003].

Allergic diseases have been increasing in prevalence in developed countries, including Japan. The aim of the present report was to determine the prevalence of allergies in Wakayama prefecture using an epidemiological study. In total, 759 first-year students attending junior high school in Hidaka country, Wakayama prefecture, were surveyed.

Effect of antihistamine eye drops on the conjunctival provocation test with Japanese cedar pollen allergen.

Background: Approximately 16.2% of the Japanese population suffer from cedar pollinosis, with various manifestations such as ophthalmic, laryngo-pharyngeal and skin symptoms in addition to nasal symptoms. Thus, the annual pollen season is an agonizing period for patients.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty decreases levels of C-reactive protein in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: C-reactive protein is a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies demonstrated that in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), levels of this protein elevate dependently on the degree of upper airway obstruction. However, it has not been determined whether the surgery for OSAS reduces the levels of C-reactive protein by restoring the airway opening.

Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in newborn infants: Effects of ear asymmetry, gender, and age.

Our aim was to examine the effects of gender, ear asymmetry, and age of infants on various parameters of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Three hundred thirty-two infants (181 males, 151 females) were tested using the ILO292 Otodynamics Analyzer (Otodynamics Ltd, England) as a screening procedure. The subjects were divided into two age groups: group 1, newborn infants prior to hospital discharge (mean age of 4 days), and group 2, infants at the 1-month-old health checkup (mean age of 35 days).

[A comparative study between real time monitor KH-3000 and conventional Durham sampler measuring airborne pollen].

Real time monitoring of airborne pollen has gradually increased because monitoring is laborsaving and provides better real-time information. A problem arose, however, due to differences between the KH3000 (Yamato Co. Ltd) monitor and the conventional Durham sampler pointed out in results of airborne pollen monitoring in Wakayama in 2004.

Innervation of rat iris by trigeminal and ciliary neurons expressing pChAT, a novel splice variant of choline acetyltransferase.

We have recently discovered a splice variant of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA and designated the variant protein pChAT because of its preferential expression in peripheral neuronal structures. In this study, the presence of pChAT in rat iris was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot using a pChAT antiserum, in combination with RT-PCR analysis and ChAT enzyme assay. For comparison, the conventional ChAT (cChAT) was studied in parallel.

[Epidemic study of pet allergy in Wakayama Prefecture].

In Japan, the number of households who have pets has gradually increased, together with the number of people who have pet allergies. Many reports exist on pollen and mite allergy, but few on pet allergy. We conducted an epidemic study in 531 first-year junior high school students in Wakayama prefecture in 1999.