Polyglycolic acid sheet attached with fibrin glue can facilitate faster epithelialization of the mastoid cavity after canal wall-down tympanoplasty.

Objective: This study retrospectively investigated whether polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet attached to the bone surface using fibrin glue facilitate faster epithelialization of the mastoid bowl after canal wall-down (CWD) tympanoplasty compared to a simple dressing using poly-N-acetyl-glucosamine (Kichin) sheet.

Materials And Methods: After completion of the CWD tympanoplasty, PGA sheet (n=16, PGA group) with fibrin glue or Kichin sheet (n=38, Kichin group) were placed on the bone surface of the mastoid bowl.

Results: Postoperative epithelialization of the mastoid cavity was significantly (p<0.

[Validity of "the risk index" to predict the infectiousness of tuberculosis patients].

It has been proposed that "the risk index" obtained by multiplying the score of sputum-smear examination (Gaffky number) by the duration of symptomatic period in months is useful for the prediction of the infectiousness of a tuberculosis patient. To verify this theory, contacts examination of 498 index cases, who were newly registered by the Kochi Chuo Health Center from 1986 to 1988 as pulmonary tuberculosis patients, was carried out. Of the index cases, 58 cases (11.