Practicality of multilayer round window reinforcement in the surgical management of superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome: a case report of long-term follow-up.

Several surgical techniques have been documented for approaching and repairing superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS). These techniques encompass the trans-middle cranial fossa, transmastoid, endoscopic approaches, and round window reinforcement (RWR). RWR entails the placement of connective tissue with or without cartilage and around the round window niche, restricting the round window's movement to minimize the 3rd window effect and restore the bony labyrinth closer to its normal state. We employed the multilayer RWR technique, resulting in significant postoperative improvement and long-lasting effects for 3.7 years in 2 cases. Here, we present the clinical findings, surgical procedures, and the effectiveness of multilayer RWR. This technique can be the initial choice for surgical treatments of SCDS due to its high effectiveness, longer-lasting effect, and minimal risk of surgical complications.

MicroRNA-140 plays dual roles in both cartilage development and homeostasis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent aging-related joint disease, is characterized by insufficient extracellular matrix synthesis and articular cartilage degradation, mediated by several proteinases, including Adamts-5. miR-140 is one of a very limited number of noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) specifically expressed in cartilage; however, its role in development and/or tissue maintenance is largely uncharacterized. To examine miR-140 function in tissue development and homeostasis, we generated a mouse line through a targeted deletion of miR-140. miR-140(-/-) mice manifested a mild skeletal phenotype with a short stature, although the structure of the articular joint cartilage appeared grossly normal in 1-mo-old miR-140(-/-) mice. Interestingly, miR-140(-/-) mice showed age-related OA-like changes characterized by proteoglycan loss and fibrillation of articular cartilage. Conversely, transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing miR-140 in cartilage were resistant to antigen-induced arthritis. OA-like changes in miR-140-deficient mice can be attributed, in part, to elevated Adamts-5 expression, regulated directly by miR-140. We show that miR-140 regulates cartilage development and homeostasis, and its loss contributes to the development of age-related OA-like changes.

Strongyloides ratti: chemokinesis of glycolytic enzyme- and lectin-treated third-stage infective larvae in vitro.

The infective third-stage larvae (L3s) of Strongyloides ratti, a parasitic nematode in rodents, showed two types of chemokinesis on a gradient of sodium chloride (NaCl) in an in vitro agarose tracking assay. The types were a consistent directional avoidance behavior under unfavorable environmental conditions and a reduced avoidance behavior under favorable conditions. We examined the effects of treatments with glycolytic enzymes and lectins by analyzing the avoidance behavior. L-Fucose dehydrogenase, hyaluronidase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-galactosidase, concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin and soybean agglutinin exhibited inhibitory or enhancive effects on chemokinesis. We also confirmed the sites of the amphids of L3s aside from the mouth at the anterior end by scanning electron microscopy, and that concanavalin A-binding sites existed in the vicinity of the amphids using lectin-histochemistry. The carbohydrate moieties in the amphids of S. ratti L3s may play an important role as chemosensors in perceiving environmental cues.

Strongyloides ratti: thermokinesis of glycolytic enzyme- and lectin-treated third-stage infective larvae in vitro.

The infective third-stage larvae (L3s) of a parasitic nematode of rodents, Strongyloides ratti, showed three types of thermokinesis on a temperature gradient using an in vitro agarose tracking assay method. These depended both on the pattern of gradient temperature and the prior culture temperature. Most L3s (> or = 80%) isolated from rat feces cultured at 25 degrees C and placed on a gradient at temperatures between 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C showed no directional response, at 22-29 degrees C more than 50% of the L3s showed positive thermokinesis, at 21 degrees C L3s showed positive, negative and no directional responses in the same ratio, while at 18-20 degrees C, L3s showed negative thermokinesis (approx. 40%) or no directional response (approx. 60%) as in our previous study. The present study describes the effects of glycolytic enzyme- and lectin-treated positive thermokinesis of L3s. alpha-Glucosidase or concanavalin A significantly exhibited inhibitory effects on thermokinesis.