摘要:

Previous immunohistochemical and electrophysiological studies on various neurotransmitters revealed the tachykinin substance P (SP) as a neuromodulator in the auditory system of mammals. This study was performed in order to determine the immunohistochemical expression and distribution pattern of SP in the organ of Corti, especially in the inner (IHC) and outer hair cell (OHC) region of the guinea pig. We examined the immunoreactivity of SP of surface preparations by means of a fluorescence and a laser scanning microscope. The electrophysiological action of SP, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) were recorded at the subsynaptic afferent region of the IHCs using micro-iontophoretic techniques. The SP-like immunostaining could be detected at the basal and apical pole of the IHCs with a gradient distribution pattern from the basal to the apical turn. Furthermore, we could demonstrate SP-like immunoreactivity in OHCs with different occurrence in turns as well as in rows. Electrical activity was induced by applying SP, NMDA and AMPA perisynaptically to the IHCs. The selective SP antagonist spantide (D-Arg1, D-Trp7,9, Leu11-substance P) specifically blocked the SP-induced activity but without altering the activity of NMDA and AMPA. In contrast, specific NMDA or AMPA antagonists reversibly blocked either the NMDA- or AMPA-induced responses without affecting the SP-induced activity. These immunohistochemical and electrophysiological results confirm that SP may represent a neuromodulator function at the synapses of the IHCs in the guinea pig

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276811

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This study compares sentence understanding in quiet and in noise with 3 different speech coding strategies for cochlear implants. The results show that the spectral-peak (SPEAK) and continuous-interleaved-sampling (CIS) coding strategies, based on spectral signal analysis, allow for better speech understanding in quiet as well as in noise, than the multipeak (MPEAK) coding strategy, which relys on speech feature extraction. In the intrasubject comparison of the MPEAK and SPEAK strategies, the SPEAK coding strategy provided a considerable improvement in quiet and in noise for the majority of patients using the Nucleus 22 Mini-implant. In the intersubject comparisons, the mean results in noise with the CIS strategy were superior to both the MPEAK and the SPEAK strategies. The difference was greatest for the most difficult tests in noise. Understanding in noise was least reduced for the CIS strategy. Understanding in quiet was not significantly different between the CIS and the SPEAK strategies; both strategies were significantly better than the MPEAK strategy in quiet. These results are still preliminary, due to the relatively small number of patients and the great inherent intersubject variability of results.

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276812

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The fine structures of the tympanic membrane and external auditory canal (EAC) were observed in the mouse under both the light microscope and scanning electron microscope. According to the differences in morphological features of the epidermis and epidermal cells, they were grossly classified into 8 types of region: (1) the region of the handle of the malleus, (2) the intermediate region of the pars tensa (PT), (3) the annular region of the PT, (4) the region of the pars flaccida, (5) the annular region of the anterior, inferior and posterior walls of the EAC, (6) the osseous region of the anterior, inferior and posterior walls of the EAC, (7) the region of the upper wall of the EAC and (8) the cartilaginous region of the anterior, inferior and posterior walls of the EAC. The specific structure ‘finger-like projections’ was visualized throughout in the annular region of the EAC. The morphology of the region of the upper wall of the EAC was almost identical with that of the cartilaginous region of the anterior, inferior and posterior walls of the

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276813

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This paper reports on the reconstruction of the sound-conducting system in the middle ear in those ears in which the incus and the stapes suprastructure are either absent or inadequate as after prior otitis media or tympanoplasty. When the incus is inadequate after prior stapedectomy or when the stapes suprastructure and incus are absent in congenital malformations of the middle ear, hearing restoration by ossicular reconstruction can cause problems. In cases in which the malleus head and incus are fixed in the epitympanum with the absence of the stapes suprastructure, the ossicular reconstruction will be complicated, too. In these situations, the Teflon malleus attachment piston can be useful to reconstruct the sound-conducting mechanism of the middle ear. We report our results with the malleus attachment piston in 41 operations over an 8-year period. The hearing results show that a closure of the pure-tone average air-bone gap to within 10 dB was possible in 70.7% (29/41) and to within 20 dB in 87.8% (36/41). A residual air-bone gap of > 30 dB was seen in 3 cases (7.3%). Sensorineural hearing loss ( > 10%) did not occur and there was no decline in speech discrimination.

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276814

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against pathogens, a defense mechanism of the normal flora against bacterial infection, in the nasopharynx and tonsils of 37 children with otitis media with effusion (OME). In the patients with OME, the detection rates of α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against Haemophilusinfluenzae, Streptococcuspneumoniae, Staphylococcusaureus and group A streptococci in the nasopharynx were significantly lower than those of α-streptococci isolated from the tonsils. Furthermore, the detection rates of nasopharyngeal α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae in OME patients were lower than those in patients with tonsillitis. In conclusion, low nasopharyngeal levels of α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against pathogens appear to render children susceptible to attacks of OME. We suggest that it is important to investigate the relationships between the prevalence of pathogens and the inhibitory activity of α-streptococci against them in the nasoph

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276815

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Fifty samples of maxillary sinus effusion from 40 patients (median age 29 years; 26 females and 14 males) with acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS) were subjected to quantitative and qualitative bacteriological analysis. Furthermore, bacteria coated with immunoglobulin (IgG, secretory IgA, IgM) or complement (C3b) were evaluated using an immunofluorescence assay. 72% of the samples harboured detectable bacteria, the most common pathogens being Streptococcuspneumoniae and non-typable Haemophilusinfluenzae. Of the bacteria-positive samples, 28% harboured immunoglobulin-coated bacteria. During the first weeks of an AMS infection, the present immunoglobulins are insufficient to protect the maxillary sinuses.

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276816

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In a monocentric placebo-controlled double-blind study with two-period cross-over the anti-obstructive effect of azelastine nasal spray was evaluated. Nasal provocation with histamine or specific allergen respectively was performed before the pollen season in 28 patients with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Efficacy was documented by rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, rhinoscopy and symptom score. Acoustic rhinometry showed a statistically significant lesser decrease in nasal cavity volume in favour of azelastine after histamine provocation (p < 0.05). Reduction in nasal flow as determined by rhinomanometry confirmed this tendency (p < 0.1) after allergen provocation. The analysis of the patients’ symptom scores clearly indicated the superior efficacy of azelastine as compared to placebo, especially for nasal obstruction after provocation with both histamine (p = 0.005) and allergen (p < 0.02

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276817

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A histo- and immunohistochemical examination of the superior deep cervical lymph nodes was performed in a group of 19 patients who died from intracerebral haemorrhage. For comparison two control groups without cerebral lesions were studied (n = 17, n = 13). Free iron deposits as shown within the lymph nodes by Prussian blue reaction were seen significantly more often following intracerebral haemorrhage than without bleeding. The expression of CD 68 (a marker for macrophages) or CR 3/43 (microglia) gave a strong reaction, but there are no significant differences between the three groups. Glial fibrillary acidic protein was rarely seen in the three groups. Raising the CSF pressure results in increased CSF drainage into the cervical lymph nodes. The clinical importance of this lymphatic drainage suggests a communication between the brain and the immune system of the head and neck, with a possible selective up- and down-regulation.

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276818

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The possible role of tumour-associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE) as a prognostic factor in epithelial tumours has been investigated before. TATE is supposed to be associated with good prognosis. In this study concerning 63 patients with laryngeal and/or pharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma, we tried to verify this hypothesis. Of the 25 patients with TATE, 17 (68%) had a good outcome opposed to 8 (32%) with a poor outcome. This numerically better chance for a good outcome in case of TATE was however not statistically significant. Uniformity of research material, staining and classification of TATE together with more representative and larger series of patients should ascertain the real value of TATE as a valid prognostic factor in head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma.

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276819

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This paper presents a case of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) of the larynx. The patient was an 86-year-old man who complained of foreign-body sensation and dysphagia. Laryngoendoscopic examination revealed a large pedunculated mass arising from the left aryepiglottic fold. A diffuse, large, B-cell-type NHL was diagnosed histopathologically. The patient was treated with combination chemotherapy, resulting in complete clinical remission. The clinicopathological features of this case have been described and compared with previously reported case

ISSN:0301-1569    

DOI:10.1159/000276820

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger