Clinical course of five patients definitively diagnosed with idiopathic perilymphatic fistula treated with transcanal endoscopic ear surgery.

Objectives: An idiopathic perilymphatic fistula (PLF) can be difficult to diagnose because patients present with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and/or vestibular symptoms without any preceding events. In such cases, we currently test for cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) to confirm the diagnosis of idiopathic PLF because CTP is only detected in the perilymph. In this study, we report the clinical course of five patients definitively diagnosed with idiopathic PLF who underwent PLF repair surgery using transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES).

The use of basic fibroblast growth factor to treat intractable Bell's palsy administered via transcanal endoscopic ear surgery.

Purpose: Facial nerve decompression surgery is an invasive procedure which has hitherto been the main option for patients with severe intractable Bell's palsy which is resistant to drug treatment. We have developed a new salvage treatment for such patients by using minimally invasive transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) to deliver the biological regenerative agent, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), to the damaged facial nerve.

Materials And Methods: An endoscopic salvage treatment group was studied prospectively and was made up of severe intractable Bell's palsy patients who did not respond to high dose steroid treatment and had an ENoG value of 5 % or less.

Benefits of High-Dose Corticosteroid and Antiviral Agent Combination Therapy in the Treatment of House-Brackman Grade VI Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

Objective: Few large-scale investigations have been conducted on treatment of House-Brackmann grade VI (HB grade VI) Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) patients. We compared recovery rates among patients receiving a normal-dose corticosteroid (prednisolone [PSL] 60 mg/d) or high-dose corticosteroid (PSL 200 mg/d), both with or without an antiviral agents. Recovery rates were also examined based on the order of presentation of herpetic vesicles versus facial palsy.

The Feasibility and Treatment Results of Transcanal Endoscopic Myringoplasty.

Objective: We reported on transcanal endoscopic myringoplasty in 25 cases preliminarily in 2014. Now our number of transcanal endoscopic myringoplasty reached to 209 ears and allowed us to adequately investigate the visibility, necessity of canalplasty, treatment results, and multivariate analysis.

Study Design: A prospective case series.

Multicenter Study of Congenital Middle Ear Anomalies. Report on 246 Ears.

Objectives/hypothesis: Congenital middle ear anomalies represent a relatively rare condition. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and the surgical outcomes for patients with middle ear anomalies.

Methods: A multicenter study was conducted of consecutive patients with congenital middle ear anomalies who underwent primary surgical treatment between January 2008 and December 2017.

Measurement of the Pediatric and Adult Osseous External Auditory Canal: Implications for Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery.

Objective: To develop a method for measuring the diameter of the osseous external auditory canal (OEAC) in pediatric and adult patients.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of imaging data from patients with a cholesteatoma who underwent transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) to remove the cholesteatoma by analyzing preoperative sagittal cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using ImageJ.

Methods: Pediatric and adult patients were included who underwent TEES for a cholesteatoma between December 2011 and March 2015 and had available preoperative CBCT scans.

The effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 on the recovery of facial nerve function in a guinea pig model of facial palsy.

The efficacy of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the treatment of peripheral facial nerve palsy was investigated using an animal model. The facial nerve within the temporal bone was exposed and compressed by clamping. The animals were treated with either IGF-1 or saline which was topically administered by a gelatin-based sustained-release hydrogel via an intratemporal route.

Facial nerve and chorda tympani schwannomas: Case series, and advantages of using non-rigid registration of post-enhanced 3D-T1 Turbo Field Echo and CT images (TURFECT) in their diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Objective: Facial nerve schwannomas (FNSs) and chorda tympani schwannomas are very rare. Diagnosis of these tumors is sometimes difficult, and treatment consensus has not yet been reached. We report here a series of cases of FNS and chorda tympani schwannoma and highlight the usefulness of our newly developed technique of non-rigid registration of post-enhanced 3D-T1 Turbo Field Echo and CT images (TURFECT) in their diagnosis and treatment.

Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Congenital Middle Ear Anomalies.

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) for congenital middle ear anomalies.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Comparison of Postoperative Pain in Patients Following Transcanal Endoscopic Versus Microscopic Ear Surgery.

Objective: To compare levels and causes of postoperative pain after cholesteatoma removal by transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) versus microscopic ear surgery (MES).

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Benefits of High-dose Steroid + Hespander + Mannitol Administration in the Treatment of Bell's Palsy.

Objective: Large-scale investigations have not been recently conducted on the efficacy of high-dose steroid administration of prednisolone (PSL) for Bell's palsy. We compared treatment results between normal-dose steroid (PSL 60 mg/d) and high-dose steroid (PSL 200 mg/d) + Hespander + Mannitol administration. We also investigated the recovery rate for antiviral agents.

Safety of heat generated by endoscope light sources in simulated transcanal endoscopic ear surgery.

Objective: To determine whether heat generated by endoscope light sources during ear surgery is safe.

Methods: Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) was simulated using 2.7-mm or 4-mm endoscopes coupled to xenon or LED light sources and a 3D model of human temporal bone.

Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery for pediatric population with a narrow external auditory canal.

Objectives: To retrospectively determine the size of the external auditory canal (EAC) in a pediatric population and to describe our experience with transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) in this pediatric population which had been successfully treated for middle ear disease using TEES.

Methods: We analyzed 31 patients ranging in age from 2 to 13 years old (median: 7.6 years) with middle ear disease who underwent TEES between November 2011 and August 2014.

The Efficacy of Color-Mapped Diffusion-Weighted Images Combined With CT in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cholesteatoma Using Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a color-mapped diffusion-weighted image combined with a computed tomography scan (CMDWI-CT) in preoperatively evaluating the anatomical location of cholesteatomas and determining whether a patient is indicated for transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) to reduce intraoperative switching to microscopic ear surgery (MES).

Study Design: Prospective case study.

Setting: A single university hospital.

The efficacy of color mapped fusion images in the diagnosis and treatment of cholesteatoma using transcanal endoscopic ear surgery.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of color mapped fusion images (CMFIs) in preoperatively evaluating the anatomic location of cholesteatomas and determining whether a patient is indicated for transcanal endoscopic ear surgery.

Study Design: Prospective case study.

Setting: A single university hospital.

Feasibility and advantages of transcanal endoscopic myringoplasty.

Objective: When performing transcanal myringoplasty under a microscope, the total circumference of the perforation can be difficult to confirm in patients where the external ear canal is narrow and/or protruded. In such patients, a retroauricular incision approach is usually used. However, we have developed a transcanal endoscopic myringoplasty procedure, and the microscopic and endoscopic views are compared herein for the first time.

Safety of ultrasonic bone curette in ear surgery by measuring skull bone vibrations.

Hypothesis: Mastoidectomy using an ultrasonic bone curette (UBC) is as safe for the inner ear as a mastoidectomy using a high-speed drill.

Background: Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) is a minimally invasive, secure, and functional technique, which has been performed using high-speed drills. We have started to use a UBC instead of the high-speed drill because a UBC allows for simultaneous bone cutting, irrigation, and aspiration.

Roles of TGF-beta and periostin in fibrosclerosis in patients with IgG4-related diseases.

Conclusion: These results suggest that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and periostin could be useful as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in IgG4-related disease.

Objectives: IgG4-related disease is an uncommon fibrosclerosing and inflammatory mass-forming disease that can be systemic or can affect single organs. To clarify the roles of TGF-beta, periostin, and interleukin (IL)-13 in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease, we studied a total of 36 serum and 11 tissue samples from patients with IgG4-related disease.

Extension of indications for transcanal endoscopic ear surgery using an ultrasonic bone curette for cholesteatomas.

Background: One-handed endoscopic procedures have, up until now, limited the indications for transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) in cholesteatoma surgery. However, the development of electrically powered instruments has opened the door to such one-handed endoscopic procedures in restricted surgical spaces.

Objective: We examined the feasibility of using one such powered instrument, the ultrasonic bone curette (UBC) in TEES for cholesteatoma surgery.

Roles of IL-17, Th1, and Tc1 cells in patients with IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis.

Objectives/hypothesis: Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing sialadenitis is a recently recognized disease entity characterized by high serum IgG4 concentration and IgG4-producing plasma cell expansion in affected organs, which show fibrotic or sclerotic changes. However, little is known about the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells or interleukin (IL)-17 in this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and IL-17 in patients with IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis.

Clinical and pathological characteristics of IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis.

Objectives/hypothesis: A new concept of IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis characterized by high serum IgG4 levels and tissue infiltration of IgG4-expressing plasmacytes has recently been proposed. To determine appropriate serum levels of IgG4 for monitoring disease activity, a total of 36 serum samples and eight tissue samples from patients with IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis were studied.

Study Design: A retrospective clinical study at Yamagata University School of Medicine.

Palmitoylation of CM2 is dispensable to influenza C virus replication.

CM2 is the second membrane protein of influenza C virus. The significance of the posttranslational modifications of CM2 remains to be clarified in the context of viral replication, although the positions of the modified amino acids on CM2 have been determined. In the present study, using reverse genetics we generated rCM2-C65A, a recombinant influenza C virus lacking CM2 palmitoylation site, in which cysteine at residue 65 of CM2 was mutated to alanine, and examined viral growth and viral protein synthesis in the recombinant-infected cells.

Role of the CM2 protein in the influenza C virus replication cycle.

CM2 is the second membrane protein of influenza C virus. Although its biochemical characteristics, coding strategy, and properties as an ion channel have been extensively studied, the role(s) of CM2 in the virus replication cycle remains to be clarified. In order to elucidate this role, in the present study we generated CM2-deficient influenza C virus-like particles (VLPs) and examined the VLP-producing 293T cells, VLPs, and VLP-infected HMV-II cells.