Developmental changes in multifrequency tympanograms

The normal maturational course of tympanometric shape, static aural acoustic admittance and ear canal wall characteristics were investigated in healthy infants, who were followed at various time intervals in the first 4 months of life. Susceptance and conductance tympanograms were recorded from both ears of each subject at four probe frequencies or more. In addition, quantitative pneumatic otoscopy was performed utilizing air pressure changes of the same magnitude as those typically used in tympanometry. Results for the group were an increase in admittance magnitude with increasing age at frequencies above 226 Hz. Admittance phase angle increased with age at all frequencies, indicating a growing contribution of compliant elements in the first 4 months of life. The course of development of input admittance at the tympanic membrane differed among individual infants. Otoscopic findings indicated that external ear canal differences cannot completely account for tympanometric differences between young infants and adults.     

Clinical stage I and II Hodgkin's disease: Long-term results of therapy without laparotomy: Experience at one institution

Background: We concluded a program in which we administeredradiotherapy only to clinical stages I and II Hodgkin's diseasepatients at standard risk, with the addition of 4 cycles ofcombination chemotherapy before radiotherapy for high-risk patients. Patients and methods: From 1980 to 1991, 313 patients with clinicalstages I or II Hodgkin's disease underwent treatment in ourhospital. Fifty percent of the patients in groups previouslyidentified as being at high risk for relapse received 4 cyclesof combination chemotherapy before radiotherapy. The remaininghalf of the patients received radiotherapy only. Results: Low- and high-risk patients aged 15–59 yearshad, respectively, complete remission (CR) rates of 97% and94%, 5-year survivals of 95% and 91%, and 5-year freedom fromrelapse (FFR) rates of 78% and 89%. Older low- and high-riskgroups had CR rates of 97% and 93%, 5-year survivals of 60%and 56% and 5-year FFR of 77% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion: Here we present our favorable results after treatingstandard-risk patients with clinical stages I and II Hodgkin'sdisease with radiotherapy only. With the addition of chemotherapy,the rate of relapse in the high-risk patients was reduced belowthat of the standard-risk patients. Overall survival was thesame for the high- and standard-risk patients. adjuvant chemotherapy, Hodgkin's disease, radiotherapy, stages I and II     

Prevention of postoperative ileus

Postoperative ileus (PI) is a major contributor to postoperative morbidity and prolonged convalescence after major surgical procedures. The pathophysiology of PI is multifactorial, including activation of the stress response to surgery, with inhibitory sympathetic visceral reflexes and inflammatory mediators. We update evidence on the advances in the prevention and treatment on PI. As single interventions, continuous thoracic epidural analgesia with local anesthetics and minimally invasive surgery are the most efficient interventions in the reduction of PI. The effects of pharmacological agents have generally been disappointing with the exception of cisapride and the introduction of the new selective peripherally acting m-opioid antagonists. Presently, introduction of a multi-modal rehabilitation programme (including continuous epidural analgesia with local anesthetics, early oral feeding and enforced mobilization) is the most effective technique to reduce PI in abdominal procedures.     

Increased level of polymerase Ⅲ transcribed Alu RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue

There have been extensive observations that RNA containing repetitive elements accumulates in transformed cells and tumor tissues. In the present study, we first obtained result consistent with previous observations by in situ hybridization.