The Caloric Test Is More Consistent With the Presence of Endolymphatic Hydrops Than the Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Test in Meniere's Disease.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation between enhanced inner ear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and vestibular and cochlear function test results in patients with definite Meniere's disease and confirmed endolymphatic hydrops. Methods Among 70 consecutive patients diagnosed with definite Meniere's disease, 49 underwent contrast-enhanced 3-T inner ear MRI. The patients also underwent pure-tone audiometry, glycerol, caloric, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) tests.

High Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index Values in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Patients Indicate Better Prognosis.

Objective: Vascular disorders and viral infections are the presumed etiologies of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and acute sensorineural hearing loss, with no identifiable cause. However, no clinical test for estimating the extent of vascular involvement in ISSNHL has been reported despite its potential impact on prognosis and treatment. We investigated the correlation between the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), which reflects arterial stiffness and elasticity, and hearing improvement to ascertain its usefulness as an additional indicator of ISSNHL prognosis and etiology.

Higher Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index Values in Patients With Vestibular Neuritis May Indicate a Better Prognosis.

Background: The presumed etiology of vestibular neuritis (VN), a sudden onset of spontaneous vertigo without auditory or cranial nerve symptoms, includes viral infections and vascular disorders. However, no clinical test for estimating vascular disorders in VN has been reported. Moreover, estimating the etiology of VN is important to predict the prognosis and select appropriate treatment.

Comparative Studies on Local Barrier Field Variations Above Field-Adsorbed Helium and Neon with a Micro-Probe Hole Field Ion Microscope.

The local field ion emission properties of helium and neon around a step edge atom of W(112) were examined at liquid nitrogen temperature using a micro-probe hole field ion microscope combined with a pulse-counting analysis. We have analyzed the mapped field ion densities obtained for both imaging gas atoms at their respective best local image voltages based on the formula for tunneling barrier strength and have evaluated the dipole moment of polarized adatom as well as the local field enhancement factor at the adatom site. We found that the dipole moments of helium and neon adatoms showed the same value, although the best local image field acting on the helium adatom is much higher than that on the neon adatom.

[Two cases of MPO-ANCA-positive otitis media associated with facial palsy].

We report two cases of otitis media positive for antimyeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated with facial palsy. Case 1: A 73-year-old man treated for 3 months for bilateral otitis media with effusion had left facial nerve palsy and deteriorated bone conduction hearing in both ears. Blood analysis showed elevated MPO-ANCA to 134 EU.

Eosinophilic inflammation in the middle ear induces deterioration of bone-conduction hearing level in patients with eosinophilic otitis media.

Objective: Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is characterized by the extensive accumulation of eosinophils in the middle ear mucosa and middle ear effusion and is usually associated with bronchial asthma. Eosinophilic otitis media patients show gradual or sudden deterioration of hearing. In our previous study, we reported that high-tone loss was more frequently found and more severe in EOM patients than in control patients with chronic otitis media.

The morphological change of supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium after bulbectomy.

Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the responses of the supporting cells of the olfactory epithelium at 1-5 days after surgical ablation of the olfactory bulb (bulbectomy). In intact olfactory epithelium, lamellar smooth endoplasmic reticulum and rod-shaped mitochondria were distinctly observed in the supporting cells. On the first day after bulbectomy, bending of the microvilli and an increase in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were observed.

Glucocorticoids enhance regeneration of murine olfactory epithelium.

Conclusion: Glucocorticoid (GC) administration enhanced apoptotic changes in mature olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). GC administration may enhance regeneration of olfactory epithelium (OE).

Objectives: The mechanism underlying olfactory epithelial cells turnover involves apoptosis replaced by new ORNs.

Bone conduction hearing level in patients with eosinophilic otitis media associated with bronchial asthma.

Objective: Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is characterized by the extensive accumulation of eosinophils in the middle ear mucosa and middle ear effusion and is usually associated with bronchial asthma. EOM patients show gradual deterioration of hearing and sometimes become deaf suddenly. However, there have been no systemic studies of bone conduction hearing level (BCHL) of patients with EOM.

[Significant factors affecting the operation time for benign parotid tumor].

Tumors of the parotid gland are fairly frequent among head and neck tumors. Parotidectomy for benign tumors is necessary for diagnosis and therapy. Furthermore, acquiring the skill for this operation is a significant step in the training course of an otolaryngologist Thus, it is useful to analyze the operation time and determine the factors affecting it to evaluate the progress in the operation skill.

Interleukin-6 directly influences proliferation and invasion potential of head and neck cancer cells.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional regulator of immune response and hematopoiesis. Recently, it has been reported that expression of IL-6 is correlated with prognosis in various cancer patients. In this study, we investigated whether the proliferation and invasion potential of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) were influenced by IL-6.

[Fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray for the treatment of chronic sinusitis with eosinophil].

Chronic sinusitis with eosinophils easily recurs after endoscopic sinus surgery. The condition is usually complicated by asthma, and many eosinophils are present in the sinus mucosa. One conservative treatment method is the administration of glucocorticoids locally or systematically.

[Systemic effects of intranasal steroid drops in patients with dysosmia].

Purpose: To evaluate the systemic effects of intranasal steroid drops in patients with dysosmia.

Cases And Methods: Intranasal steroid drops were administered for 12 weeks to 23 patients with dysosmia, and their plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) values were measured before and after treatment. Improvement in dysosmia was judged based on the standerd olfactory test and the patients' symptoms.

Evaluation of recurrent nerve paralysis due to thoracic aortic aneurysm and aneurysm repair.

Objectives: We sought to clarify the relationship between the outcome of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis with the characteristics of the thoracic aortic aneurysm and the surgical procedure used in each patient.

Methods: Nine patients who developed recurrent nerve paralysis (nonsurgical paralysis) due to a thoracic aortic aneurysm alone and 14 patients who underwent artificial vessel replacement for thoracic aortic aneurysm and developed recurrent nerve paralysis postoperatively (surgical paralysis) were evaluated.

Results: In the patients with nonsurgical paralysis, the aneurysms were similar in size to those of other patients who underwent surgery of the thoracic aorta and were invariably located near the aortic arch.

High-dose glucocorticoids inhibit proliferation of rat olfactory epithelium.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly prescribed for treatment of olfactory dysfunction. However, the effects of GCs on olfactory epithelium are not well known. We investigated the effects of high-dose GCs on proliferating cells of olfactory epithelium.