Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with profound hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, is a clinical drug that is widely used to reduce neuronal damage after acute cerebral infarction in Japan since 2001. The aim of this study was to investigate whether edaravone could improve treatment result in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) patients with severe hearing loss. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2006, 14 patients of ISSHL with the mean hearing levels equal or over 90dB at the initial visit were treated with edaravone. 14 counterpart control patients were selected from 45 patients who had similar prognostic factors and were treated with hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBO) in the past decade. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between edaravone group and the control group in hearing recovery. CONCLUSION: We considered that edaravone was not able to bring remarkable effect compared with conventional treatment regimen for ISSHL.

A study of the effectiveness of chemosurgery with trichloroacetic acid for Japanese cedar pollenosis in terms of the chemical mediator levels in the nasal discharge and results of nasal provocation testing.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of chemosurgery with 80w/v% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for the treatment of Japanese cedar pollenosis. The effectiveness of this treatment was evaluated in terms of the levels in the nasal washings of the chemical mediators histamine and eosinophil cationic protein, and the reactivity in the nasal provocation test. METHODS: Patients of cedar pollenosis were divided into two groups, the TCA-treated group (n=90) and the group that was not treated with TCA (nonTCA-treated group) (n=79), according to whether or not they received TCA treatment. In both the groups, the levels of the two aforementioned mediators in the nasal washings were measured during the pollen dispersal season. In addition, allergen provocation tests were performed using the disk method in volunteers from both the groups during the non-pollen dispersal season. The results of the above two determinations were compared statistically between the two groups. RESULTS: The results revealed significantly lower levels of the two mediators in the TCA-treated group than in the nonTCA-treated group (p<0.01). There was also a greater tendency for the subjects in the TCA-treated group as compared to those in the nonTCA-treated group to show negative reactivity in the allergen provocation test (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Regional suppression of the allergic reaction to Japanese cedar pollen appears to occur as a result of chemosurgery with TCA performed as a day surgery.

[Change of reactive small round cell infiltration in the stroma after pre-operative 8 Gy irradiation using treatment to maxillary sinus carcinoma with Kitasato method and prognosis according to the change].

PURPOSE: In this paper, we report the results of studying the degree of reactive small round cell infiltration in the stroma as a prognostic indicator of maxillary sinus carcinoma treated with the Kitasato method and the effect of preoperative irradiation at 8 Gy on infiltration in the stroma. SUBJECTS: Out of 74 patients who had been treated with this method in the 27 years from 1976 to 2002, the following patients were enrolled in this study: (1) 17 patients from whom tissue specimens could be obtained with biopsies or probe antrotomies before preoperative irradiation, and (2) 40 patients from whom tissue specimens could be obtained after preoperative irradiation including those who survived five years and who died of a specific cause. METHOD: We classified the pattern of distribution of small round cell infiltration in the stroma into three degrees. (1) Stromal infiltration was compared before and after the operation to recognize the prognosis for each patient based on the pattern of distribution of small round cell infiltration in the stroma. (2) The correlation between the degree of stromal infiltration and prognosis was studied statistically. RESULTS: (1) Both the patients with increased stromal infiltration and those postoperatively preserving a preoperative score of 2+ with irradiation at 8 Gy had a good prognosis. (2) The five-year survival rate for patients was significantly higher in those with a score of 2+ for their tissue specimens. CONCLUSION: The Kitasato treatment method is effective and improves the QOL of patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma. The prognosis was good in the patients with increased or preserved stromal infiltration. The low-dose irradiation and chemotherapy used in combination seemed to be biological response modifiers.

Visual observations of glottal configuration and vocal outcomes in arytenoid adduction.

Arytenoid adduction procedures involve approximation of the arytenoid cartilages with the goal of reducing posterior glottal gap size and improving voice. However, voice outcomes after arytenoid adduction are not always optimal and may be improved by precise use of suture placements, forces, and direction angles. The development of intraoperative methods of assessing optimal suture direction appears critical for achieving the best voice outcome. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship of visual classification of glottal configuration, digital measures of the glottis, acoustic and aerodynamic measures, and voice outcome. Our results suggested that visual classification of glottal configuration was not useful in distinguishing voice outcome, except for cases in which there was a large posterior glottal gap. In contrast, acoustic and aerodynamic measures were related to digitized glottal measures and may be developed into a useful method of intraoperative monitoring.

[Use of YAG laser combined with mucosal suturing for the treatment of polypoid vocal cord].

To improve low-pitched voices in cases with polypoid vocal cords, YAG laser irradiation combined with a mucosal suturing technique was attempted in 9 female cases with severe polypoid changes in their vocal cords. A YAG laser beam (5 to 10 W) was used to irradiate the upper surface of the polypoid vocal cord. The polypoid content of the cord was gradually coagulated, and the free edge of the cord appeared to slide up toward the burned area. The polypoid content was then removed and squeezed through an open wound made in the burned area using a conventional method. Bleeding was successfully controlled using the laser. After the excessive mucosal margin was trimmed and the contour of the vocal cord was adjusted, the wound was closed by 7-0 monofilament absorbable suture. Suturing was relatively easy because the mucosal edge was also coagulated. Postoperative evaluations of voice quality revealed an improvement in the GRBAS scale of voice quality as well as an elevation in voice pitch and an upwards shift in the voice range in all cases.

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx.

An 84-year-old male with a complaint of hoarseness was examined. A mass lesion was recognized in the false vocal fold. The tumor was excised and found to consist of atypical plasmacytes. Immunopathological examination revealed that leukocyte common antigen (CD45), UCHLI (CD45RO), CD3 and L26 (CD20) were negative and that CD79 and Vs38C were positive. Neither uric Bence-Jones protein nor serum M-protein were observed. No other bony abnormalities were recognized on X-ray examinations including both bone and Ga scintigraphy. No atypical plasmacyte infiltration was observed in bone marrow. Our final diagnosis was extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx. Radiotherapy was performed following surgery. The tumor did not progress to multiple myeloma and no recurrence has been observed after 2 years.