全身麻醉对小儿听性脑干反应测试结果的影响

目的 研究应用听性脑干反应(auditory brainstem reaction，ABR)作为监测小儿全身麻醉深度与觉醒的客观指标。方法 选择听力正常的外科择期手术患儿45例，按照美国麻醉学家学会表针分为I～Ⅱ级，分别施行异丙酚静脉麻醉、芬太尼静脉麻醉及异氟醚吸入全身麻醉，随机每组15例，应用丹麦Madsen诱发电位反应仪监测并记录麻醉各阶段ABR的I、Ⅲ、Ⅴ波潜伏期及I-Ⅲ、Ⅲ-Ⅴ、I-Ⅴ波间期，研究观察潜伏期和波间期随时间推移及麻醉剂量变化之间的关系，探讨ABR在异丙酚、芬太尼及异氟醚等不同麻醉中的表现特征和规律。结果 ①异丙酚静脉麻醉和异氟醚吸入麻醉与剂量呈良好的正相关；②I波的潜伏期特性对于控制麻醉深度极为重要；③Ⅴ波监测麻醉具有最佳的稳定性及相关性；④停用麻醉药一段时间或患儿基本清醒时，ABR各波潜伏期和波间期有的仍高于正常值，这是滞后(延迟)反应；⑤ABR对芬太尼术中的觉醒监测不太敏感。结论 ABR各波的潜伏期及波间期变化，可判断小儿全身麻醉深度，在一定程度上可作为判断觉醒的参考，但应考虑有延迟反应的可能。     

正常青年女性月经周期ABR变化观察

目的 观察正常青年女性月经周期听性脑干反应各参数变化情况。方法 采用日本三荣7S11-A型信号处理机，对20名正常女性月经前期、行经期、月经中期与对照组之间听性脑干反应波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期及Ⅰ—Ⅴ波间期进行分析。结果 女性月经前期、行经期、月经中期与男性对照组之间听性脑干反应波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期及Ⅰ—Ⅴ波间期差异均有统计学意义，女性ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期在月经前期比行经期和中期分别缩短。结论 女性月经周期内分泌的变化可以导致ABRⅢ、Ⅴ波潜伏期及Ⅰ—Ⅴ波间期的变化。     

听力正常孤独症谱系障碍儿童的听性脑干反应波形特征分析

目的 探究听力正常孤独症谱系障碍(autism spectrum disorder, ASD)儿童的听性脑干反应(ABR)特征及各波潜伏期和波间期与ASD严重程度分级的关系。方法 (1)将55例(110耳)听力正常ASD儿童和月龄、性别相匹配的55例(110耳)典型发育(typical development, TD)儿童,按月龄分为≤24月龄(22耳)、25～36月龄(40耳)、37～48月龄(28耳)及>48月龄(20耳)四个亚组。比较听力正常ASD儿童与TD儿童的ABR潜伏期和波间期是否存在差异。(2)根据第五版精神障碍诊断与统计手册(DSM-V)将ASD儿童按照严重程度分级,探究听力正常ASD儿童ABR各波潜伏期和波间期与其严重程度分级是否相关。结果 (1)≤24月龄时,ASD与TD儿童ABR各波潜伏期及波间期差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);(2)25～36月龄时,与TD儿童相比,听力正常ASD儿童波Ⅲ潜伏期及Ⅰ-Ⅲ、Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期显著延长;37～48月龄时波Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期及Ⅰ-Ⅲ、Ⅲ-Ⅴ、Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期显著延长;>48月龄时波Ⅴ潜伏期及Ⅲ-Ⅴ、Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期显著...     

水合氯醛对豚鼠听性脑干反应的影响

目的 探讨水合氯醛麻醉对成年豚鼠听性脑干反应检测的影响.方法 分别在清醒状态(w aking state,W)及水合氯醛(chloral hydrate,CH)麻醉状态下对20只健康成年雄性白色豚鼠进行短声(click)诱发的听性脑干反应(auditory brainstem response,ABR)检测,以引出率最高的波来判断反应阈值,比较两种状态下90 dB peSPL刺激声强下ABR各波的潜伏期、波间期及不同强度下的Ⅱ 、Ⅲ 、Ⅳ波振幅及引出率.结果 20只豚鼠水合氯醛麻醉状态与清醒状态下ABR反应阈分别为25.50±2.76、28.5±3.66 dB peSPL,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).水合氯醛麻醉状态下ABR各波潜伏期较清醒状态均延长,Ⅲ 、Ⅳ 、Ⅴ波差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),而Ⅰ 、Ⅱ波差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);水合氯醛麻醉状态下Ⅰ-Ⅴ 、Ⅲ-Ⅳ 、Ⅳ-Ⅴ波间期较清醒状态下延长(P<0.05),而Ⅰ-Ⅱ 、Ⅱ-Ⅲ波间期差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);水合氯醛麻醉状态和清醒状态均显示波Ⅱ振幅及引出率最高;水合氯醛麻醉状态波Ⅱ 、Ⅲ振幅在高强度刺激声时较清醒状态高,而波Ⅳ振幅较清醒状态低(P<0.05).结论 水合氯醛麻醉及清醒状态下豚鼠ABR反应阈无明显差异,但水合氯醛麻醉会使豚鼠ABR的波Ⅲ 、Ⅳ 、Ⅴ潜伏期明显延长,并对振幅产生影响;豚鼠ABR波Ⅱ出现率最高,可以Ⅱ波判断反应阈.     

1～6岁分泌性中耳炎患儿气、骨导ABR的特征分析

目的探讨气、骨导ABR测试在儿童分泌性中耳炎诊疗中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析151例(246耳)分泌性中耳炎(OME组)和60例(120耳)正常儿童(正常对照组)气、骨导ABR检测结果。结果①OME组气导ABR波V反应阈正常59耳(23.98%),轻度异常96耳(39.02%),中度异常91耳(36.99%);ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期正常22耳(8.94%),各波潜伏期延长224耳(91.06%),Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期无明显改变156耳(63.41%),Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期缩短90耳(36.59%);波Ⅴ反应阈正常和轻度异常组Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期无明显改变,中度异常组Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期缩短,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。②OME组骨导ABR波V反应阈及35dB nHL刺激强度下各波潜伏期与对照组比较,反应阈正常195耳(79.27%),异常51耳(20.73%),反应阈异常者波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期也较正常组及反应阈正常者明显延长(P<0.05)。结论大多数分泌性中耳炎儿童的气导ABR反应阈轻、中度异常但骨导ABR反应阈正常,少数患儿气导ABR反应阈中度异常且骨导ABR反应阈轻度异常。     

3～4月龄及5～6月龄婴儿听性脑干反应的正常值分析

目的观察正常婴儿听性脑干反应(ABR)潜伏期及阈值正常值范围,为早期干预治疗提供依据。方法应用美国ICS CHARTR诱发电位仪对40例(80耳)听力正常的婴儿和20例听力正常成人进行ABR检测,根据年龄分为A组(3~4月龄)、B组(5~6月龄)、对照组。建立不同月龄婴儿ABR正常值范围,讨论性别、耳别、月龄对测试结果的影响及阈值测定的临床应用。结果80dB nHL短声刺激下,A组A easeBR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期的正常值范围分别是:(1.52±0.19)m s、(4.20±0.20)m s、(6.34±0.26)m s;B组ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期的正常值范围分别是:(1.50±0.09)m s、(4.05±0.16)m s、(6.16±0.25)m s;对照组ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期的正常值范围分别是:(1.43±0.10)m s、(3.63±0.15)m s、(5.50±0.16)m s。随着月龄的增长,婴儿各波的潜伏期(PL)和波间期(IPL)均缩短;但6月龄时仍未达成人水平。A、B两组各波的潜伏期及波间期与对照组比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);A组与B组比较Ⅲ、Ⅴ波潜伏期及Ⅰ-Ⅲ、Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。女婴潜伏期和波间期短于男婴(A组内Ⅰ-Ⅲ波间期除外),A组内男女间Ⅴ波潜伏期差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);B组内男女Ⅲ、Ⅴ波潜伏期及Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期差异有统计学意义(P0.05);各组内左右耳差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。各月龄组及正常成人ABR反应阈差异无统计学意义。结论建立不同月龄婴儿ABR潜伏期及阈值正常值标准,为听损伤的早期诊断和随访监测提供可靠依据。     

听觉诱发电位(AEP)的神经生物学基础及临床应用(11)

8．3 ABR在耳神经学方面的应用 从耳神经学诊断的目的来分析ABR时应注意：①各波的振幅是否存在或消失；②各波的潜伏期；③波间期，特别是Ⅰ-Ⅴ、Ⅰ-Ⅲ、Ⅲ-Ⅴ的波间期；④两耳Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期的对比；⑤波形的可重复性。     

非镇静听性脑干反应检测的有效性研究

目的探讨非镇静听性脑干反应(ABR)检测的有效性,为其临床应用提供参考。方法以30例(60耳)听力正常人(0.5~2 kHz气导平均听阈15.7±4.1 dB HL)为正常组,10例(20耳)感音神经性聋患者(0.5~2 kHz气导平均听阈35.7±8.4 dB HL)为病例组,均进行非镇静ABR测试和镇静ABR测试,比较两种ABR的潜伏期、波间期及反应阈。结果①正常组非镇静ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期分别为1.78±0.25、3.96±0.18、6.10±0.33 ms,镇静ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期分别为1.62±0.18、3.76±0.20、5.78±0.45 ms,二者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);非镇静ABR各波波间期(Ⅰ-Ⅲ1.98±0.32 ms,Ⅲ-Ⅴ2.13±0.37 ms,Ⅰ-Ⅴ4.05±0.08 ms)与镇静ABR各波波间期(Ⅰ-Ⅲ2.10±0.02 ms,Ⅲ-Ⅴ1.98±0.25 ms,Ⅰ-Ⅴ4.02±0.18 ms)比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。②病例组非镇静ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ波潜伏期分别为1.71±0.29、4.06±0.08、5.90±0.18 ms,镇静ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期分别为1.72±0.14 ms、3.76±0.25 ms、5.77±0.59 ms,二者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);非镇静ABR各波波间期(Ⅰ-Ⅲ2.18±0.47 ms,Ⅲ-Ⅴ2.03±0.27 ms,Ⅰ-Ⅴ4.15±0.58 ms)与镇静ABR各波波间期(Ⅰ-Ⅲ2.00±0.10 ms,Ⅲ-Ⅴ1.98±0.39 ms,Ⅰ-Ⅴ4.12±0.38 ms)比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。③两组非镇静ABR与镇静ABR反应阈差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论非镇静ABR测试结果与镇静ABR无差异,且波形分化好,易辨别,可方便、有效的应用于临床。     

中耳功能异常婴儿听性脑干反应特点及应用

目的探讨中耳功能异常婴儿的听性脑干反应(ABR)特点及临床应用价值。方法分析比较85例(170耳)中耳功能异常、ABR反应阈≤60dB nHL的婴儿(A组)和83例(166耳)中耳功能正常、ABR反应阈40～60dB HL的婴儿(B组)以及41例(82耳)正常婴儿(C组)的ABR波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期、波间期和波Ⅴ反应阈值。结果 A组中24耳(14.11%)为ABR反应阈≤30dB nHL、73耳(42.94%)为40dB nHL、54耳(31.76%)为50dBnHL、19耳(11.18%)为60dB nHL;B组中83耳(50%)ABR反应阈为40dB nHL、52耳(31.33%)为50dB nHL、31耳(18.67%)为60dB nHL;C组婴儿ABR反应阈均≤30dB nHL。刺激声为80dB nHL时三组间波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期的关系分别为:A组波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期明显长于B组和C组(P<0.01),而Ⅰ-Ⅲ、Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期则较B组和C组短(P<0.01),Ⅲ-Ⅴ波间期则与B组和C组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);B组各波潜伏期、波间期与C组比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。三组中反应阈相同者波潜伏期比较:A组波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期仍明显长于B组和C组(P<0.05)。结论婴儿中耳功能异常时大部分ABR反应阈升高,以轻中度异常为主,均有波Ⅰ潜伏期延长;波Ⅰ潜伏期明显延长对判断婴儿中耳功能异常有意义。     

不同周龄早产儿听性脑干反应的初步研究

目的了解不同周龄早产儿及同龄足月儿听性脑干反应(ABR)的发展变化,探讨早产儿听力损失的早期诊断时机和诊断标准。方法按照周龄的不同将听功能正常的早产儿分成3组(34~37周龄儿为A组,37 1~44周龄儿为B组,50~54周龄儿为C组),3月龄健康足月儿为D组,分别进行ABR测试,比较各组ABR的各波潜伏期和波间期的变化,并进行统计学分析。结果与足月儿相比,早产儿ABR波形较为简单,波间期较长;随着周龄的增加,波Ⅰ引出率逐渐增加,波Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ潜伏期和Ⅰ-Ⅲ、Ⅲ-Ⅴ、Ⅰ-Ⅴ波间期逐渐缩短。70dB nHL短声刺激下,A组与C、D两组比较,B组与C组比较各波潜伏期及波间期的差异有统计学意义;A组与B组的波Ⅲ潜伏期的差异有统计学意义。50~54周龄(相当于足月儿3月龄)的早产儿,与同龄健康足月儿相比,ABR各波潜伏期和波间期均无统计学差异。30dB nHL短声刺激下各组ABR波Ⅴ潜伏期随周龄增加而缩短,其差异有统计学意义。结论①早产儿听力损失的早期诊断,可以在推算周龄为50~54周时进行,诊断标准可参考同龄健康足月儿;②ABR阈值正常,但潜伏期和波间期异常的早产儿要定期随访。     

A Decrease in Maxillary Sinus Pressure,as Seen in Upper Airway Allergy or Infection,Results in an Increase in Upper Airway Nitric Oxide Levels

The paranasal sinuses are connected to the nasal cavity via small osties. Ostial occlusion, caused by mucosal swelling, will result in a slowly increasing negative pressure inside the sinus cavity. In parallel, the oxygen content in the sinus will decrease, resulting in the development of relative hypoxia. Hypoxia is a powerful inducer of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and inducible NO synthase has been shown to be present in considerable amounts in the upper airways, including the sinuses. The present study was designed to investigate whether a reduction in sinus pressure would affect upper airway NO production. Thirteen healthy volunteers were investigated. A pressure chamber was used to lower the ambient pressure to-4.9 kPa. NO was sampled from one nostril or via a drainage tube inserted into the maxillary sinus before, during and after the hypobaric exposure. When the pressure was decreased, NO levels increased from 256 &#45 15 to 316 &#45 19 ppb ( n =13, p <0.001). The NO levels remained elevated (282 &#45 21 ppb; p <0.05) when measurements were repeated 20 min after leaving the chamber. The nasal airway resistance (V2 tot ) also increased as a result of the chamber session (from 16 &#45 2° before to 21 &#45 3° after; p <0.05). An increase in NO levels was also found when the experiments were repeated with NO sampled directly from the maxillary sinus (225 &#45 6 before and 265 &#45 9 ppb after; n =6, p <0.001). For control purposes the nasal analyses were repeated again, this time under hyperbaric conditions (+4.9 kPa). This resulted in a slight decrease in the NO levels (from 273 &#45 22 to 241 &#45 17 ppb; n =10, p <0.001), but there was no change in the nasal airway resistance. We conclude that a reduction in sinus pressure, as seen in upper airway allergy or infection, may result in an increase in upper airway NO production.     

One‐stop neck lump clinic: phase 2 of audit. How are we doing?

One‐stop neck lump clinic: phase 2 of audit. How are we doing? Regular monitoring and audit of a service are integral to ensuring maintenance of efficiency and standards. This is particularly important where the quality of the service is operator dependent, as is the case in the clinical diagnosis of neck lumps and fine needle aspiration cytology. The one‐stop neck lump clinic has now been running in the department for more than 20 months. A previous article described the results of the first phase audit carried out at 6 months and had identified a waiting time to be seen that was longer than that recommended by the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons. Measures were implemented to reduce this waiting time and a second audit was carried out after another 10 months with the aims of assessing if modification of the means of referral reduces waiting time and if the outcomes of clinical performance in phase 1 could be maintained or improved. We discuss the results of phase 2 in the audit spiral.     

Physiologische Grundlagen einer Hörprothese

Zusammenfassung Im Bemühen, eine Hörprothese zu entwickeln, die ein Sprachverständnis erlaubt, erscheint es zumindest fürs erste am zweckmäßigsten, durch künstliche elektrische Reizung des Hörnerven die natürlichen Verhältnissen so gut als möglich zu imitieren. Der normale Hörnerv enthält etwa 30000 Nervenfasern, die sich qualitativ gleich, quantitativ jedoch unterschiedlich verhalten, wobei über die Eigenschaften der von den ÄHZ kommenden Spiralfasern im Augenblick sichere Aussagen nicht möglich sind (siehe 2.3). Die quantitativen Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Hörnervenfasern beziehen sich auf deren Frequenzabstimmung, Frequenzselektivität, Schwellen, Intensitätsfunktionen und — wichtig insbesondere für das Vorhaben einer künstlichen elektrischen Reizung — in Zeitunterschieden in den Aktivitätsmustern, die durch Laufzeitunterschiede auf der Basilarmembran bedingt sind (2.3). Diese Zeitunterschiede in der Aktivität einzelner Fasern liegen im Bereich mehrerer ms (2.3.6; 2.3.7). Die durch Schallreize im normalen Hörnerven ausgelösten Aktionspotentiale haben überdies einen probabilistischen Charakter, d. h. ihr Auftreten ist keineswegs streng determiniert. Es versteht sich von selbst, daß man bei künstlicher, elektrischer Reizung nicht alle verbliebenen Nervenfasern selektiv reizen kann. Somit wird eine Reizelektrode immer eine Gruppe von Nervenfasern erregen müssen. Bei jeder denkbaren elektrischen Reizung wären alle Fasern im Reizbereich einer Elektrode synchron und streng deterministisch aktiviert, was einen außerordentlich ernstzunehmenden Unterschied zu natürlichen Verhältnissen darstellt (3.2).Um die Zahl der zum Sprachverständnis mindestens notwendigen Reizkanäle abzuschätzen, wird man, in Ermangelung anderer experimenteller Daten, von psychoakustischen Untersuchungen an Normalhörenden auszugehen haben. Diese haben gezeigt, daß das Gehör neben einer außerordentlichen Fähigkeit verschiedene Tonhöhen zu unterscheiden, andererseits die Fähigkeit besitzt, bestimmte Frequenzgebiete zu sogenannten Frequenzgruppen zu integrieren. Die in eine solche Frequenzgruppe fallende Schallenergie wird zu einem einheitlichen Höreindruck verarbeitet. Es scheint also sinnvoll, die für einen Prothesenbau notwendige Zusammenfassung von Gruppen von Fasern des Hörnerven in verschiedene Reizkanäle entsprechend diesen Frequenzgruppen vorzunehmen (3.1). Demnach müßte der Sprachbereich in 15 Reizkanäle aufgeteilt werden, was wiederum, wenn man in der Cochlea reizen will, 1,2 mm Abstand von Kanal zu Kanal erlauben würde. Dabei müßte der Reizerfolg sauber auf die einzelnen Kanäle beschränkt bleiben, d.h. eine optimale Kanaltrennung erreicht werden. In Anbetracht der groben Abweichungen der neuronalen Aktivität vom normalen Verhalten, die bei künstlicher, elektrischer Reizung unvermeidlich sind, ist freilich unsicher, ob die angegebene Zahl ausreichen würde. Andererseits ist es in Anbetracht der zu erwartenden Stromverteilung im Sprachbereich kaum vorstellbar, mehr als die angegebene Zahl von Kanälen realisieren zu können.Was die Kodierung der Schallparameter innerhalb eines Elektrodenkanals betrifft, wird vorgeschlagen, die Frequenzkodierung nach dem Ortsprinzip optimal auszunutzen, und im Hinblick auf die Periodizitätsanalyse und die Lautheitskodierung sich soweit als möglich den natürlichen Verhältnissen anzunähern (3.3). Dabei wären Laufzeitunterschiede zwischen den Kanälen und der probabilistische Charakter der neuronalen Entladungen soweit als möglich einzuführen, um die Dominanz eines periodicity pitch zu vermeiden.Eine für Sprachverständnis ausreichende Prothese ist auch nur denkbar, wenn eine Prothese die zur Sprachübertragung notwendige Übertragungskapazität besitzt. Ergebnisse der Kanal-Vocoder-Technik zeigen, daß Sprache noch mit 1500 bit/s befriedigend übertragen werden kann. Eine Abschätzung der möglichen Leistungsfähigkeit einer 15-kanaligen Prothese (3.4), basierend auf der Zahl der möglichen unterscheidbaren Unterschiedsstufen der Hörempfindung, ergibt, daß diese Übertragungskapazität knapp erreicht werden könnte. Allerdings ist damit noch nicht gesagt, daß das Zentralnervensystem die angebotene Information auch im Sinne einer Phonemanalyse auswertet und damit für ein Sprachverständnis maximal ausschöpft. Nur für diesen Fall wäre ein Sprachverständnis zu erwarten.Als Reizort erscheint in erster Linie die Cochlea (5.1) geeignet. Für den Fall einer Degeneration der primären afferenten Fasern des Hörnerven ist aufgrund physiologischer Überlegungen auch der Nucleus cochlearis ventralis (5.5) interessant, allerdings würde so nur der ventrale Anteil der Hörbahn stimuliert. Doch besitzen auch andere Reizorte spezifische Vorteile (5.2–5.4).Theoretische Überlegungen (6.1) und experimentelle Messungen an implantierten Elektrodensätzen (6.3) zeigen, daß die Forderung der Kanaltrennung nur schwer zu erreichen sein wird. Deswegen wird der dynamische Bereich (im Hinblick auf Veränderung des Reizstromes) eines nach den obigen Kriterien konstruierten Reizkanals auf maximal 3 dB zu beschränken sein, so daß Erregungsausbreitung auf weitere Bereiche der Cochlea durch Ansteuerung von mehreren Reizkanälen zu imitieren wäre.Die Chancen, eine Prothese zu verwirklichen, die befriedigendes Sprachverständnis auf der Basis einer quasinatürlichen Reizung des Hörnerven erlaubt, wird von uns in Anbetracht der geschilderten mannigfaltigen Schwierigkeiten als sehr niedrig angesehen. In Anbetracht des großen Nutzens, der andererseits eventuell resultieren könnte, halten wir die Erforschung des Problems jedoch für angebracht.Es wird von uns vorgeschlagen, auch zu untersuchen, ob sich für eine prothetische Versorgung vorverarbeitete Sprache besser eignet (7.). Für Prothesen, die ein Sprachverständnis nicht anstreben, halten wir eine Implantation in die Cochlea für überflüssig. Hier erscheint uns die Implantation von Reizelektroden am runden Fenster (Douek et al., 1977; Fourcin et al., 1978; s. a. 1. und 7.) wegen des geringeren Risikos der überlegenere Weg.Die zitierten eigenen Arbeiten der Autoren wurden mit Unterstützung der DFG durchgeführt (DFG-K1 219).     

Limited Surgery for Cancer of the Larynx and Hypopharynx: Options and Consequences

We reviewed surgical options for laryngeal preservation (limited surgery) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers and the consequences of the options. Of 44 patients with laryngeal cancer, 11 (25%) received limited surgery and 33 (75%) received total laryngectomy. The survival rates were 91% for the limited surgery group and 73% for the total (radical) surgery group. Of 31 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, 7 (23%) received limited surgery and 24 (77%) received total laryngopharyngectomy. The survival rates were 53% for the limited surgery group and 40% for the total (radical) surgery group. The survival rates associated with limited surgery were thus better than those for total (radical) surgery for cancers of both the larynx and hypopharynx. This was attributed to the limited surgery group comprising well-selected patients with confined lesions. Organ preservation surgery should be technically simple, reliable in terms of its functional impact and, above all, should not jeopardize the patient's survival. Supracricoid subtotal laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy or cricohyoido-pexy has great potential for laryngeal preservation and will become the major limited surgery modality for treating cancer of the larynx. Limited surgery, however, needs to be performed with great care and is indicated only for very well-selected patients with cancer of the hypopharynx.     

Treatment of Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma: Clinical Results Using the Kitasato Modality

The conventional therapeutic regimen for maxillary sinus carcinoma consists of dissection of the maxilla, full-dose irradiation and extensive chemotherapy. However, the results obtained with this treatment are often poor. Even when patients recover, their quality of life is significantly reduced as a result of deformity of facial structures and swallowing and articulation dysfunctions. A retrospective analysis of 68 patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma treated with the Kitasato modality between 1975 and 1999 was conducted. All patients underwent pergingival maxillary sinus surgery combined with pre- and postoperative irradiation therapy with standardized total doses of 16 Gy; the postoperative irradiation was given in combination with regional intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy administered via the superficial temporal artery. All visible tumor lesions were removed where possible in order to preserve or facilitate cellular immunity after surgery. The cumulative 5-year survival rates were 85.7% for Stage II patients, 88.1% for Stage III, 76.6% for Stage IVA and 75.0% for Stage IVB.     

A simple objective evaluation and grading for facial paralysis outcomes

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 degrade type IV collagen, which is one of the major components of the basement membrane in normal tissue and expressed in the surroundings of the cancer nest in squamous cell carinoma. The degeneration of type IV collagen is an essential step in the metastasis to lymph nodes and distant organs. In this study, we examined MMP-2 and -9 levels of cancer tissue and serum obtained from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in order to evaluate the relationship between the clinicopathologic features and MMPs. We examined the production of MMP-2 and -9 in cancer tissue homogenates of 73 patients who had HNSCC and the serum MMP levels of 16 patients with HNSCC and 8 healthy volunteers. We also studied the localization of MMP-2 in the carcinoma using an immunohistochemical approach. The concentrations of MMP-2 and -9 in the tissue homogenates and serum were measured by means of a sandwich enzyme immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed with monoclonal antibody to MMP-2. The concentration of MMP-2 in the tumor tissue homogenates was unrelated to tumor size, but that in patients with lymph node metastases was significantly higher than in those without lymph node metastases. The concentration of MMP-9 was unrelated to lymph node metastasis and tumor size. The levels of both MMP-2 and -9 in serum were unrelated to lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemistry indicated that MMP-2 was mainly expressed in cancer cells. Because MMP-2 degrades type IV collagen, the level of MMP-2 in carcinomas may be a useful indicator of the degree of invasion and metastasis.     

A case of cortical deafness and anarthria

The nasal epithelium protects the underlying tissue from damage. Epithelial cell growth is controlled by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and is possibly affected by toxic proteins, e.g. eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). The aims of this study were to examine nasal fluid epithelial cell counts and their relations to EGF, eosinophils and ECP in 23 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and 20 healthy controls. Nasal fluid epithelial cell counts were lower in patients than in controls. EGF levels did not differ between patients and controls, and correlated with epithelial cell counts in controls but not in patients. Eosinophils and ECP were higher in patients than in controls, but did not correlate with epithelial cell counts. The role of growth factors, such as EGF, in regulating epithelial cells merits further study.     

Tongue Base Reduction with Temperature-controlled Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

In recent years a considerable effort has been made to establish the use of different surgical techniques for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Nevertheless, treatment of hypopharyngeal obstruction due to tongue base hypertrophy remains in many ways an unsolved problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tongue base reduction with temperature-controlled radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction in the treatment of OSAS. Twenty patients with OSAS and tongue base hypertrophy were treated with radiofrequency tissue ablation. An intensified treatment protocol was used, delivering 2,800 J per treatment session under local anesthesia. Two nights of polysomnography testing were performed before and after treatment. Daytime sleepiness, snoring and postoperative morbidity were assessed using questionnaires. Mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was reduced from 32.1 to 24.9/h after a mean of 3.4 treatment sessions. Six patients (33%) were cured after the procedure (reduction in RDI of &#83 50% and a postoperative RDI of <15/h) and ten (55%) showed an improvement of >20% in their RDI. Daytime sleepiness and snoring improved significantly. Peri- and postoperative morbidity was low; one severe complication occurred (tongue base abscess). We were able to achieve similar cure and responder rates to those reported in a recently published pilot study but with a reduced number of treatment sessions. We believe that this technique may improve patient acceptance and have beneficial cost implications.     

Cochlear Function in Ears with Immunomediated Inner Ear Disorder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of ears with inner ear disorder, responsive to immunosuppressive drugs, in advanced tests designed to assess primary cochlear functions (temporal integration, frequency selectivity, cochlear mechanics). The results of this study suggest that immunomediated inner ear disease results, in the acute clinical stage, in the development of endolymphatic hydrops, which increases the stiffness of the vibrating structures within the inner ear and causes dysfunctions of the outer hair cells. Our patients presented with upsloping or flat sensorineural hearing loss, absence of evoked otoacoustic emissions and distortion-product otoacoustic evoked emissions and abnormal temporal integration, frequency selectivity and cochlear mechanics. Following immunosuppressive treatment, hydrops recovered, hearing subsequently returned to normal, the audiometric curve became flat at low-to-middle frequencies and primary cochlear function tended to normalize. This study seems to support the usefulness of testing primary cochlear functions in order to monitor the clinical course of immunomediated inner ear disorders.     

Bacterial Interference Between Pathogens in Otitis Media and Alpha-Haemolytic Streptococci Analysed in an In Vitro Model

Bacterial interference studied by means of agar methods has shown a decreased number of inhibitory alpha-haemolytic Streptococci among otitis-prone children. Additional information was gained regarding the interplay between alphahaemolytic Streptococci (AHS) and otitis media (OM) pathogens by comparing the bacterial interference in broth with the interference activity studied using agar overlay methods. We found that non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) and Moraxella catarrhalis are readily inhibited by AHS in broth. Streptococcus pneumoniae was more bacteriostatically inhibited. If two OM pathogens were inoculated simultaneously, an isolate of AHS with poor inhibitory activity was not able to inhibit the growth, in contrast to an isolate of AHS with good inhibitory activity. The initial amount of AHS inoculated with M. catarrhalis seemed to play a decisive role with respect to the inhibitory activity. M. catarrhalis developed reduced susceptibility against AHS both in vivo and in vitro . In vivo studies showed that children with secretory otitis media had fewer isolates of AHS in their nasopharynx with the ability to inhibit all the test pathogens than healthy children ( p < 0.001). Although the factor(s) responsible for the inhibitory activity have thus far not been defined, we could exclude low pH and nutrition depletion as the inhibitory mechanism of AHS with good inhibitory activity.