Treatment of scarring alopecia from trauma and surgical procedures in young patients using follicular unit hair transplantation.

Introduction: Hair loss due to scarring as a consequence of surgical procedures and trauma can impact young patients socially and emotionally. Recently follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplantation has been applied to scar treatment.

Patients And Methods: This report included four patients with scarring alopecia.

[Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) as an initial manifestation in HIV infection].

A 21-year-old man admitted for idiopathic fever and sore throat was diagnosed with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) when bone marrow aspirate showed hemophagocytosis. ELISA for HIV antibodies was negative, although HIV RNA was positive. VAHS is extremely rare as an initial manifestation in HIV infection, being reported, to our knowledge, in only 4 subjects in Japan.

Development of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in C57BL/6J mice.

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) have been used to examine the development of hearing in the rat and gerbil. However, no reports of DPOAE measurement from the onset of hearing in mice are available. Commercially-available components were assembled and adapted to provide a suitable probe microphone and sound delivery system for measuring DPOAE in developing C57BL/6J mice.

Bacterial contamination of multiple-use atomizers commonly used in Japan.

Before performing transnasal fiberscopy to observe the nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx in outpatient clinics, nasal anesthetics and vasoconstrictive agents are routinely sprayed into the nares in order to improve patients' comfort. Bacterial contamination of the nozzles of Venturi principle atomizer barrels and their solutions after being used for multiple patients over a long-term period without cleaning is controversial. We evaluated the potential risk of atomizer-associated cross-infection by using atomizers commonly available in Japan that use compressed air to atomize medication.

Clinical effectiveness of ototopical application of mupirocin ointment in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus otorrhea.

Objective: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) otorrhea has become an increasing problem with regard to infection through the tympanic membrane perforation and postsurgical infection. In particular, dry ear, at the preoperative stage, is considered to be a crucial factor in surgery. We evaluated how to control MRSA otorrhea before and after ear surgery.

Noninvasive in vivo delivery of transgene via adeno-associated virus into supporting cells of the neonatal mouse cochlea.

There are a number of genetic diseases that affect the cochlea early in life, which require normal gene transfer in the early developmental stage to prevent deafness. The delivery of adenovirus (AdV) and adeno-associated virus (AAV) was investigated to elucidate the efficiency and cellular specificity of transgene expression in the neonatal mouse cochlea. The extent of AdV transfection is comparable to that obtained with adult mice.