Efficacy of Intratympanic Steroid on Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: An Analysis of Cases With Negative Prognostic Factors.

Purpose We retrospectively studied the efficacy of intratympanic steroid administration in comparison with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with negative prognostic factors. Method We enrolled 301 patients (302 ears) with ISSNHL (average hearing level at 250-4000 Hz ≥ 40 dB; time from onset to treatment ≤ 30 days). From August 2002 to March 2009, 174 patients (174 ears) received systemic steroid plus HBO therapy (HBO group), and from June 2015 to January 2018, 127 patients (128 ears) received systemic plus intratympanic steroid (IT group).

Expressions of TRPVs in the cholesteatoma epithelium.

Objective: We have recently proposed a hypothesis that acid leakage through the cholesteatoma epithelium mediates bone resorption in middle ear cholesteatoma. In the present study, we investigated the expressions of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels, which have been shown to play roles in the regulation of epidermal barrier function, in the cholesteatoma epithelium in comparison with the normal skin.

Methods: Cholesteatoma epithelium and postauricular skin were collected from 17 patients with primary acquired middle ear cholesteatoma who underwent tympanomastoidectomy.

Acetylcholine-induced ex vivo ATP release from the human nasal mucosa.

Objective: The present study aimed at investigating ATP release in response to acetylcholine (Ach) and pharmacologically elucidating the intracellular signal transduction pathway of this reaction in an ex vivo experiment.

Methods: The inferior turbinate mucosa was collected from 21 patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis who underwent endoscopic turbinectomy. The mucosa was shaped into a filmy round piece, and incubated with chemical(s) in Hank's balanced salt solution for 10min.

Presence of osteoclasts in middle ear cholesteatoma: a study of undecalcified bone sections.

Conclusions: Osteoclasts are unlikely to be involved in bone resorption in middle ear cholesteatoma.

Objective: The authors searched for osteoclasts in undecalcified bone sections in patients with middle ear cholesteatoma to determine whether and to what extent these cells are involved in this disease.

Methods: Twelve patients, eight men and four women, aged 30-87 years, who underwent tympanomastoidectomy were enrolled.

Hemolysis caused by titanium dioxide particles.

Washed human erythrocytes were incubated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles at 37 degrees C for 1 hr and hemolysis was determined by the percentage of hemoglobin released (optical density at 540 nm; OD540) from the cells. Effects of TiO2 on OD540 were corrected and dose-response curves were analyzed by the Hill plot. Judging from the estimated dose to cause 50% hemolysis, the anatase form of micron-scale (<5000 nm) particles was 73 and 11 times more potent than the amorphous (<50 nm) and rutile (<5000 nm) forms, respectively, whereas it was 1.