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Copyright of Acta Oto-Laryngologica is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Oto-Laryngologica is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Oto-Laryngologica is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Detailed studies have not been conducted on sound localization and speech perception in noise in patients with unilateral congenital aural atresia (UCAA). To evaluate the benefits of the use of the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) for UCAA by performing audiometric and sound localization tests. Four children with UCAA underwent VSB (VORP 503) implantation from 2018 to 2019. Speech perception tests in noise were conducted using the Japanese monosyllable test. The spatial configuration for speech testing consisted of speech presented from the front and noise presented into the normal ear (S0N90). The sound localization test was conducted using nine loudspeakers equally distributed in a semicircle. The children's speech perception in noise 6 months after VSB activation was significantly better than before activation (p <.05). Additionally, the children's sound localization ability after VSB activation was significantly better than before VSB activation. The benefits of VSB use in children with UCAA were revealed using audiometric and sound localization tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Oto-Laryngologica is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The mastoid air cells are considered to develop better in children with congenital cholesteatoma but only a few quantitative studies have examined. Aims/objectives: The present study was undertaken in order to clarify the relationships between the development of the mastoid air cells in children with congenital cholesteatoma and clinical factors. Materials and methods: Mastoid air cell development was evaluated in 53 children with congenital cholesteatoma. The sizes of the mastoid air cells were measured on computed tomography scans of the temporal bone, and clinical factors, including age, the extent of invasion, and whether it was located close to the eustachian tube were evaluated. Results: The cross-sectional area of the mastoid air cells was significantly smaller on the affected side than on the unaffected side, especially in the older patients. The cases involving invasion into the mastoid portion also had smaller mastoid cells. Whether the cholesteatoma was located close to the eustachian tube had no effect. Conclusions and significance: The mastoid air cells on the affected side were less well developed. Our findings indicate that a high age and the presence of cholesteatoma in the mastoid region might be associated with suppressed mastoid pneumatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mastoid development, tympanic sinus depth, and residual disease after surgery for congenital cholesteatoma are probably related, but these relationships have not been examined in detail. Aims/objectives: This study aimed to clarify the relationships between the abovementioned factors. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 31 patients with congenital cholesteatoma (stage III or IV in Potsic's staging system) that underwent mastoidectomy. The cross-sectional area of the mastoid air cells was measured as described previously. Tympanic sinus depth was classified into A–C using Marchioni et al.'s system. Results: Patients with deep tympanic sinuses or residual disease exhibited significantly greater mastoid air cell development. However, little residual disease was found in the mastoid air cells. Conversely, residual disease was observed more frequently in the patients with deep tympanic sinuses. Conclusions and significance: After surgery for congenital cholesteatoma, residual disease is more likely to occur in patients with marked mastoid growth, possibly because they have deep tympanic sinuses. Cases in which congenital cholesteatoma spreads to the mastoid air cells are classified as stage IV in Potsic's system, but our findings indicate that invasion into a deep tympanic sinus is more important than invasion into the mastoid air cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Japan Otology Society (JOS) proposed the classification and staging system for middle ear cholesteatoma. However, there was little analysis of the pathology of cholesteatoma using this staging system. Aims/objectives: To analyze the pathology of pars flaccida cholesteatoma using the staging system by JOS. Material and methods: A total of 183 cases of fresh pars flaccida cholesteatoma treated between January 2009 and December 2015 were included. We used the staging system recommended by JOS (2015). The association of the following variables in each stage of pars flaccida cholesteatoma was examined: age, gender, preoperative hearing level, staging, statuses of mastoid cell growth and stapes, tympanic sinus invasion. Results: Stage II disease showed the highest degree of progression, and peak incidence was observed in the third and fourth decades of life. Stage III significantly increased after the age of 40 years. The progression of the disease stage was significantly associated with deterioration of hearing level. Cholesteatoma invasion to tympanic sinus was recognized in 14.2% of cases. The state of the stapes is increasingly likely be to fracture as stage progresses. Conclusions: The JOS Staging System appropriately reflects the disease state, and it was found to be clinically meaningful in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The preservation of residual hearing after conventional cochlear implantation (CI) is frequently observed when atraumatic soft surgery is adopted. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the predictive factors for residual hearing preservation after atraumatic CI. Patients: This study included 46 patients who underwent CI based on an atraumatic technique using a standard-length flexible electrode implant through a round window approach. Main outcome measure: Cochlear volume was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cochlear duct length (CDL) was taken as the length of the scala media measured using computed tomography (CT). The association between residual hearing preservation and cochlear volume/CDL was then examined. Result: Cochlear volume and CDL were significantly larger in patients with complete hearing preservation than in those with hearing loss. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cochlear volume was a significant predictive factor for residual hearing preservation. Conclusion: Residual hearing preservation after conventional CI was observed in patients with a larger cochlear volume and longer CDL. Cochlear volume could be a predictive factor for residual hearing preservation after conventional CI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GJB2gene mutation is the most common cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss worldwide. MostGJB2gene mutations have been associated with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (DFNB1), but some are also associated with autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss (DFNA3). In addition, this gene is also associated with skin homeostasis and some mutations in this gene cause autosomal dominant syndromic hearing loss with skin disorders (Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome, Hystrix-like icthyosis-deafness syndrome, Palmoplantar keratoderma with deafness syndrome, Vohwinkel syndrome and Bart–Pumphrey syndrome). Herein we report a Japanese sensorineural hearing loss patient with palmoplantar keratoderma who carries a rare compound heterozygote of autosomal dominant and autosomal recessiveGJB2gene mutations. This is the first report ofGJB2-associated hearing loss with palmoplantar keratoderma caused by compound heterozygous autosomal dominant and autosomal recessiveGJB2gene mutations in a Japanese patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Few cases of bisphosphonate-associated ear canal osteonecrosis (BPECO) have been reported, and there are no established management strategies for the diagnosis or treatment of BPECO. Patients:A 71-year-old female who was taking alendronate for osteoporosis was initially diagnosed with left-sided otitis externa. However, a mass and wide-ranging destruction of the temporal bone were subsequently found on a computed tomography scan. The patient’s biopsy findings were suggestive of inflammatory granulation tissue and osteitis, but there was no evidence of malignancy. So, we diagnosed her with BPECO. After surgical debridement and the cessation of the alendronate treatment, the patient’s symptoms improved rapidly. Conclusions:BPECO is not a very well-known condition and so is often misdiagnosed. Diagnostic methods and treatments for BPECO should be established in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of the number of chiral mesogenic units and their spatial arrangement in dopant molecules on the induction of blue phases (BPs), and widening the temperature ranges of these phases, six benzene derivatives possessing (cholesteryloxycarbonyl)pentyloxy groups (monosubstituted (1), 1,2-disubstituted (2), 1,3-disubstituted (3), 1,4-disubstituted (4), 1,2,3-trisubstituted (5) and 1,3,5-trisubstituted (6) compounds) were prepared. Their helical twisting powers (HTPs) in 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) were proportional to the number of the chiral mesogenic units in each molecule. Furthermore, the minimum amount of the chiral dopant necessary for the induction of BPs was almost inversely proportional to its HTP value in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective. Depression is common in old age, and is treatable with antidepressants. However, antidepressants use can increase the risk of falls. Thus, we assessed the effects of antidepressants on equilibrium function using posturography. Methods. This study recruited 10 healthy male volunteers (35.3 ± 3.7 years). In this double-blinded, three-way crossover trial, they received acute doses of 10 mg paroxetine, 25 mg amitriptyline, and placebo. They were administered posturography at baseline and 4-h postdosing. Results. At 4-h postdosing, amitriptyline significantly decreased the locus length per unit area (L/A) and increased the envelope area compared with those at baseline. Meanwhile, the total length and the locus length per time (L/T) at 4-h postdosing of amitriptyline did not show significant differences from those at baseline. After paroxetine treatment, there were no significant differences in total length, L/T, L/A, and the envelope area between baseline and 4-h postdosing. Conclusion. An acute dose of amitriptyline significantly decreased L/A and increased the envelope area as markers of body sway. Evaluation of equilibrium function is important for preventing the potential risk of falls and body sway after taking antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Similarly to almost all delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH) cases with both precedent sudden deafness and mumps deafness, two-thirds of DEH cases with precedent deafness of unknown cause with onset in early childhood developed DEH symptoms within 40 years after the precedent deafness. In spite of the diagnosis of precedent deafness, viral labyrinthitis may build up the late endolymphatic hydrops in most DEH cases up to four decades. Objective: To clarify the characteristics of DEH in Japan. Methods: Clinical information on 198 DEH cases was collected by nationwide, multicenter surveys conducted by the Peripheral Vestibular Disorders Research Committee of Japan. Results: The incidence of the ipsilateral type of DEH was 47.5%, which was almost equal to that of the contralateral type. In both types of DEH, the most common diagnosis of precedent deafness was deafness of unknown cause with onset in early childhood: 43.9% in both types of DEH. Sudden deafness and mumps deafness were the subsequent diagnoses of precedent deafness. The distribution of time delay of the onset between precedent deafness of unknown cause with onset in early childhood and DEH was different from that between precedent sudden and mumps deafness and DEH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion. The incidence of new cases of Meniere's disease (MD) in elderly patients aged 60 years or more was found to have increased over time after correction for age distribution in the overall population. Job- and care-related fatigue may be involved in the recent increase in elderly-onset cases because physical and mental fatigue can induce onset of the disease. Objectives. Changes over time in the epidemiologic characteristics of MD in Japan were analyzed. Materials and methods. Between 1975 and 2006, four nationwide, multi-center surveys of MD were conducted by the Meniere's Disease Research Committee of Japan (1975-1976) and the Peripheral Vestibular Disorders Research Committee of Japan (1982-1984, 1990, and 2001-2006). Information was collected by the committee members on a total of 1368 de novo cases of definite MD, 520 reported in the first survey, 290 in the second survey, 148 in the third survey, and 410 in the fourth survey. Results. Clear changes were seen over time in the population-adjusted sex distribution of the disease and population-adjusted age at onset. The number of definite MD cases in females increased over time relative to the number of cases in males. The proportion of cases in which onset occurred at 60 years of age or more increased over time when the number of cases in each age group was adjusted for changes in age distribution of the population over time. From the time of the third survey, there was a slight increase in the proportion of cases with bilateral involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective --To elucidate spatial orientation and posture regulation under conditions of microgravity. Material and Methods --Coriolis stimulation was done with five normal subjects on the ground (1 g ) and onboard an aircraft (under conditions of microgravity during parabolic flight). Subjects were asked to tilt their heads forward during rotation at speeds of 0, 50, 100 and 150°/s on the ground and 100°/s during flight. Body sway was recorded using a 3D linear accelerometer and eye movements using an infrared charge-coupled device video camera. Flight experiments were performed on 5 consecutive days, and 11-16 parabolic maneuvers were done during each flight. Two subjects boarded each flight and were examined alternately at least five times. Results --Coriolis stimulation at 1 g caused body sway, nystagmus and a movement sensation in accordance with inertial inputs at 1 g . Neither body sway, excepting a minute sway due to the Coriolis force, nor a movement sensation occurred in microgravity, but nystagmus was recorded. Conclusions --Posture, eye movement and sensation at 1 g are controlled with reference to spatial coordinates that represent the external world in the brain. Normal spatial coordinates are not relevant in microgravity because there is no Z-axis, and the posture regulation and sensation that depend on them collapse. The discrepancy in responses between posture and eye movement under conditions of microgravity may be caused by a different constitution of the effectors which adjust posture and gaze. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tunnel current (I) to tunnel gap width (s) dependences (the I-s characteristics) of copper(II) phthallocyanine (CuPc)-adsorbed surface of gold under atmosphere were investigated. When the bias voltage of +500mV was applied to the sample, the I-s characteristics began to change, and its slope {-d(log I)/ds} corresponding to the barrier height drastically decreased at higher voltage. Barrier heights evaluated at high voltage region were found to be 1 or 2 orders lower than those at low voltage region. The near infrared spectrum of CuPc in solid state was also found to change at >500mV. The semiconductive nature of CuPc is concluded to be the reason of this change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: We report here on the successful surgical treatment of ingrown nails by partial resection of the nail plate and matrix using a carbon dioxide laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 28 patients (37 cases) who visited our outpatient clinic with the chief complaint of ingrown nails of the great toe between October 1995 and October 1999. They included 12 males and 25 females. Patient age ranged from six to 72 years (mean 26.5 years), and the post operative follow-up period ranged from eight to 48 months (mean 23.2 months). RESULTS: Clinically, this treatment was excellent in terms of operating time reduction, mitigation of mid-operative and post-operative bleeding and pain, and treatment period reduction. Furthermore, no recurrences were observed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Judging from the good therapeutic results and improved quality of life of patients, this treatment is expected to be commonly used in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the cause of active or passive sensation and action, we studied the effect of perception on gaze and posture control. Normal adults and a patient with bilateral labyrinthine loss underwent whole body rotation seated in a chair (120°/s) or standing on a platform (60°/s), while tilting their head with their vision normal or covered. Eye movements were recorded by a CCD video camera and body sways by a force platform. In normal subjects, gaze and posture became ataxic when head tilting with their vision covered, but they remained skilled under conditions of normal vision. The patient with bilateral labyrinthine loss did not undergo the effect of head tilting with no vision. It seems likely that sensation and action, whether they are skilled or ataxic, are controlled by the perception of an outer world which is integrated from visual and vestibular inputs and functions as a vector in the head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell proliferation of the spiral ligament in the normal and drug-induced damaged mice cochleae was investigated using the mitotic tracer bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Only a few nuclei labelled by BrdU were seen in the spiral ligament of the control mouse. However, many BrdU labelled nuclei in the spiral ligament in the cochlea damaged by dihydrostreptomycin sulfate were found. The expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor and connexin 43 was detected in the spiral ligament where BrdU labelled cells were found. These results suggest that cell proliferation in the spiral ligament may occur after the drug-induced damage, and this process is probably related to the recovery of cochlear function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pendular rotation test in a head-tilted position (60° backwards and rotated 45° to either the right or left) was performed in 7 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Patients were rotated 360° at a frequency of 0.1 Hz (maximum speed 114°/s). The excitability of vertical semicircular canals was evaluated using this test procedure. Using an infrared CCD camera and a PC, evoked nystagmus was analyzed in order to determine the morbidity of BPPV. A statistically significant difference (p <0.05) was found in the maximal slow-phase eye velocity between nystagmus from the anterior semicircular canal and nystagmus from the posterior semicircular canal. The excitability of the posterior semicircular canal in the affected ear was lower than that of the anterior semicircular canal. However, when vertigo and nystagmus disappeared, the difference in excitability was improved. The present results indicate some functional deterioration of the posterior semicircular canal in BPPV cases, suggesting the participation of both mechanical (dumping by mass) and organic (peripheral end organ) factors in causing morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A questionnaire was devised to quantify and measure four categories: the behavioral characteristics of Type A, self-restraint and escape; the causes of anxiety; means of relaxation; and symptoms incidental to anxiety. Questionnaire analysis was performed in patients (n=60) with Ménière's disease and in a control population (n=936). It was statistically proven that the patient group possessed a stress-causative tendency in behavioral characteristics, felt stronger anxiety and showed more severe symptoms owing to this anxiety. Since the level of anxiety highly correlates with the score of behavioral characteristics and also with severity of symptoms, it seems likely that behavioral characteristics produce the anxiety, which, in turn, results in various symptoms of autonomic nervous disorders. A tendency towards stress-causative behavioral characteristics in Ménière's disease patients may be important in the genesis of endolymphatic hydrops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]