Application of a CZT detector to in situ environmental radioactivity measurement in the Fukushima area.

Instead of conventional Ge semiconductor detectors and NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometers, an application of a CdZnTe semiconductor (CZT) whose crystal has the dimension of 1 cm cubic to the in situ environmental radioactivity measurement was attempted in deeply affected areas in Fukushima region. Results of deposition density on soil for (134)Cs/(137)Cs obtained seemed consistent, comparing obtained results with those measured by the Japanese government.

Development of oligonucleotide lateral-flow immunoassay for multi-parameter detection.

We have developed a highly sensitive and rapid oligonucleotide lateral-flow immunoassay (OLFIA), using a colloidal gold as an indicator, for the simultaneous detection of antigens and/or antibodies in specimen. This system can detect more than two types of antigens and/or antibodies in a single assay device at the same time. The device is basically composed of colloidal gold-labeled antibodies and oligonucleotide-labeled antibodies fixed in a conjugate pad, and the complementary oligonucleotide-labeled proteins are immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane. If the target antigen is present in a specimen, the colloidal gold-labeled antibody and oligonucleotide-labeled antibody will make a complex with the antigen. Subsequently, the formed complex migrates to the place where complementary oligonucleotide is immobilized and is bound to the solid phase via the DNA-DNA interaction. As a result, more than two types of reactions can be detected on a single assay device by the combination of colloidal gold-labeled antibodies, different oligonucleotide-labeled antibodies and complementary oligonucleotide-labeled proteins immobilized at different places on a nitrocellulose membrane.

Temporal bone histopathologic findings in Alagille's syndrome.

Six temporal bones obtained from four individuals with Alagille's syndrome, aged 4 months and 3, 6, and 7 years, were studied histopathologically. The external auditory canals and tympanic membranes were normal. Although the stapes, the interossicular joints, and the subarcuate fossae were slightly underdeveloped in the majority of cases, the other structures in the middle ear were almost normal. However, severe anomalies were observed in structures in the inner ear. In all cases, both the bony and membranous structures of the posterior semicircular canal were partially or totally absent, and, in three ears, those of the anterior semicircular canal were also partially absent; the lateral semicircular canal, however, was normal in all cases. The cochlea was observed to be shortened in only one case.

[Daily Japanese cedar pollen forecast in Sendai].

The forecast of daily Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen counts was performed in Sendai in 1987, 1988 and 1989. The expected daily maximum temperature was used as a main determinative factor, and the term "pollen index", which is a ratio of a daily pollen count to the rest of the total seasonal pollen count, was devised and proved to be closely related to the daily maximum temperature. In 1987 and 1989, the total seasonal pollen count was very low, and daily pollen counts were in the lowest of three grades, except for a few days of the middle grade. In 1988, a fairly large number of pollen grains were observed, and forecasts of low grade were made for 28 days, middle grade for 25 days and high grade for 10 days, respectively. On the other hand, the actual daily pollen counts of low grade were 36 days, middle grade, 15 days, and high grade, 12 days, respectively. The accuracy of the forecast was 67% in 1988. The reasons for errors and the assignments for the forecast were discussed.

Congenital anomalies of the eustachian tube in Down syndrome. Histopathologic case report.

Congenital anomalies of the eustachian tube (ET) that may play an important role in the cause of otitis media with effusion should be investigated histopathologically. One such anomaly, which has not been thoroughly investigated to date, is that accompanying Down syndrome. This report describes histopathologic findings in a temporal bone obtained from a 26-weeks' gestation male fetus with Down syndrome. As compared to a control specimen, its ET was extremely small, mostly collapsed in the midcartilaginous, isthmus, and tympanic portions, and had poorly developed lateral cartilage in the midcartilaginous portion. This is the first case report of such ET anomalies, which appear to be due to an insult to the ET that occurs earlier in fetal life than the 16th gestational week. This insult is possibly a causative factor in postnatal ET dysfunction.

Frequency and localization of congenital anomalies of the middle and inner ears: a human temporal bone histopathological study.

This study investigated congenital anomalies occurring in the middle and the inner ears, with particular attention to their features, localizations, and frequencies. One hundred human temporal bones obtained from 73 individuals, aged 31 gestational weeks to 39 years, each of whom had anomalies of the middle ear and/or inner ear, were used for this study. The temporal bones had been removed at autopsy, fixed, dehydrated, embedded in celloidin, and sectioned horizontally or vertically at 20 microns. Every 10th horizontal section or every 20th vertical section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, mounted and studied under a light microscope. In the middle ear the structure most often found to be anomalous was the facial nerve; in the inner ear it was the lateral semicircular canal. The implications of the anomalies observed are discussed as they relate to fetal development, dysfunction of the ear, and clinical interpretation of diagnostic radiological studies.

Histopathologic study of eustachian tube in cleft palate patients.

We studied eight temporal bones from eight individuals with cleft palates (CPs) and eight age-matched control temporal bone specimens from our collection. We used the eustachian tube (ET) and its surrounding structures in serial vertical histologic sections. The findings observed in CP specimens were as follows: 1) the angle between axial lines through the tensor veli palatini (TVP) muscle and the superior portion of the ET lumen was narrow, 2) the angle between axial lines through the lateral lamina and the medial lamina of the cartilage was wide, 3) the angle between axial lines through the TVP muscle and the lateral lamina of the cartilage was narrow, and 4) the angle between axial lines through the superior part and the inferior part of the ET lumen was wide. From these findings, we assume that the ET dysfunction that occurs in individuals with CP is the result of abnormalities of the ET and its cartilage and of abnormal anatomic relationships of these structures to the TVP muscle.

Congenital middle and inner ear anomalies.

For this study, 100 human temporal bones from 73 individuals, aged 31 gestational weeks to 39 years, each with anomalies of the middle and/or inner ear, were studied to identify the features, locations, and frequencies with which congenital anomalies occurred in these structures. The temporal bones had been removed at autopsy, fixed, dehydrated, embedded in celloidin, sectioned horizontally or vertically at 20 microns, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and studied under a light microscope. The anomaly in the middle ear most often found was wide dehiscence of the facial canal; hypoplastic cochlea was most frequently observed anomaly in the inner ear. The implications of these findings for development of the ear during fetal life are discussed.

Mesenchyme remaining in human temporal bones.

This study was conducted in order to gain basic information about mesenchyme remaining in the middle ear cleft in normal infants. Because no previous report has objectively described the quantity or quality of such postnatal remnants in normal infants, it has not been possible to accurately evaluate the significance of mesenchyme remaining in the middle ears of infants with pathologic conditions, such as otitis media and congenital anomalies. Thus, 53 temporal bones obtained from 41 individuals reported upon here--from 26 weeks' gestation to 8 years of age--will be controls for future studies of pathologic conditions. The children from whom these temporal bones were obtained had no anomalies of the ear (or any other known part of the body); nor did they have any pathologic conditions in the ear. The temporal bones were prepared for histologic study with hematoxylin and eosin staining and were examined under the light microscope. After areas of the mesenchyme in the histologic sections were projected and illustrated for each of 19 portions in the middle ear cleft under the microprojector, those areas were measured by compensating polar planimetry. The findings obtained in this study were as follows: The amount of mesenchyme remaining in the days after birth seemed to gradually decrease in volume with increased maturity and had nearly disappeared within the first year in normal infants. Where mesenchyme was noted in the temporal bones of infants over 1 year of age, it was usually present only in small niches.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Experimental model for the otitis media with effusion induced by Arthus' reaction.

The Arthus' reaction in the middle ear cavity was studied using histochemical technique. The deposition of immune complex on the basement membrane and the immune complex in the middle ear effusion were the initial features of these animal models. But, these immune complexes were clearly removed from the tympanic cavity during the early phase of reaction. Immune complexes were supposed to be just a initiation of otitis media with effusion. The tubal dysfunction and local immunity of middle ear mucosa caused by the Arthus' reaction seemed to be responsible for the chronicity and relapsing of otitis media with effusion respectively.

Atelectatic ear and pathologic nasopharynx.

Pathologic relation between atelectatic ears and their nasopharynx were investigated in 50 patients with various degrees of atelectatic ears by transnasal fibrescope and C.T. And their morbid adenoids were compared with the adenoids of 20 patients with mouth breathing but free from ear problems. The process of drum bulging after catheterization, retraction after inflation, and inward movement during swallowing, proved that intratympanic pressure was influenced by nasopharyngeal pressure produced by swallowing, and that Eustachian tube itself was functioning to the pressure. Intratympanic negative pressure was proved by the movement of blue solution after the puncture of 5 atelectatic ear with effusion. And more dynamic negative pressure produced by swallowing was demonstrated in 5 other cases. The morbid adenoid with atelectatic eardrum was differentiated from the large posterior type of adenoid of the healthy eardrum, by the pendulous projection over the choana especially in swallowing. A dynamic vacuum caused by "Toynbee phenomenon" is discussed.

Tympanograms of otitis media with effusion: an experimental study.

A sufficient explanation concerning tympanogram (TG) of otitis media with effusion (OME) has not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the types of TG and actual pathological status of the middle ear system by means of experimentally modified middle ear clefts. In the present experiments, human temporal bones, guinea pigs' bullae and plastic models were used. The results were as follows: (1) Water was gradually poured into the middle ear cleft through the Eustachian tube. When the water level rose above the umbo, the height of TG slightly exceeded that of the original TG. Further addition of water produced M-shaped TG, however, flat TG (type B) was not detected until the water-line nearly reached the aditus. A similar phenomenon was observed in the plastic models when the water level reached the aditus-equivalent-site. (2) Tympanometrically measured middle ear pressure (MEP) was almost equivalent to the actual MEP recorded by a manometer when the tympanic membrane was normal. However, this result could not be duplicated in flaccid or adhesive tympanic membrane cases. (3) A clear reduction in the height of TG in guinea pigs' bullae was observed with decreased air volume. In addition, shallow TG was produced by an occlusion of the aditus of the human temporal bones and of the aditus-equivalent-site of the plastic models. It was demonstrated that the TG pattern depends on the fluid volume and location, air volume of mastoid cavity, intratympanic pressure and eardrum condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A morphological study of the vestibular sensory epithelia in the rabbit.

Surface preparations were made of the vestibular sensory end-organs of the rabbit. The total sensory cell counts and surface area measurements were made from the composite photographic reconstructions. The general topographical and cytoarchitectural arrangements were found to be similar to those previously described for guinea pigs, squirrel monkeys and humans. The sensory cell counts of the maculae are about 50% larger in the rabbit than in the guinea pig, while those of the cristae remained almost unchanged in both species of animals despite a large difference in both size and weight. The body size of the species does not seem to play a decisive role in determining the sensory cell population of the vestibular sensory end-organs. The growth of the maculae is compared with that of the cristae or vice versa seems to vary from one species to another, probably depending upon a physiological need of the species.