Studies on the prognostic factors of idiopathic acute sensorineural deafness

Acute sensorineural deafness(ASD) presents with various hearing types, and dizziness and tinnitus are accompanied in some cases. The purpose of this study was to estimate the influence of risk factors, including dizziness and tinnitus, on the recovery of hearing acuity. Eighty-three patients who visited our hospital within 1 month from its onset and who were diagnosed with ASD between October 1998 and September 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients whose etiology was defined, or whose symptoms shifted to inconsistent deafness were excluded. There were 35 males(ages ranged from 22 to 71 years; average 49 years) and 48 females(ages ranged from 17 to 79 years; average 46 years). The improvement rates were analysed using the following factors such as levels and hearing types at initial examination, interval between its onset and treatment, and presence or absence of dizziness and tinnitus. Concerning hearing types at initial examination, tan type or low sound disturbance type resulted in favorable prognosis. The patients whose treatment was started by the 7th day from its onset had significantly better prognosis than those whose treatment begun after 15 days. The patients who were complicated with tinnitus, especially accompanied with dizziness, indicated a significantly worse prognosis than those without tinnitus. Tan type or low sound disturbance type is a favorable factor, and tinnitus is an unfavorable factor for ASD prognosis. Though tinnitus generally is a significant factor for poor prognosis, this study remains to suggest that it alone causes the poor prognosis. The sooner treatment is provided indicates the better outcome.     

NSAID zaltoprofen improves the decrease in body weight in rodent sickness behavior models: proposed new applications of NSAIDs (Review)

In infectious diseases and during inflammation, anorexia, loss of body weight, malaise, fatigue and depression are induced. These symptoms are correctively called 'sickness behaviors', and the central actions of cytokines play a role in their induction. The loss of body weight in cancer cachexia is also a result of development of sickness behaviors. It has been reported that the administration of NSAID ibuprofen to patients with cancer cachexia improves the loss in body weight. We studied the effect of NSAID on the loss of body weight by using rodent sickness behavior models. We have reported that sickness behaviors such as anorexia, decrease in body weight, and loss of locomotor activity are induced in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced mouse hepatitis and carbon tetrachloride-induced rat hepatitis. Zaltoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) causes potent inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 with fewer side effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Zaltoprofen improves the loss in body weight in both Con A-treated mice and carbon tetrachloride-treated rats. These results suggest the possible application of zaltoprofen for the treatment of sickness behaviors including loss of body weight occurring in cancer cachexia.     

Audiological effect of bone-anchored hearing aid

The bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) has proved to be a valuable alternative to conventional air and bone conduction hearing aids for patients suffering from chronic otitis media or bilateral aural atresia. The BAHA gave better sound quality and greater comfort than conventional hearing aids (HAs), but only 1 study has been done in Japan. We implanted BAHAs in 6 hard-of-hearing patients in the last 2 years. One patient suffered skin problems around the abutment and used the BAHA only briefly. Free-field audiometry, the speech discrimination test (SDT), and the speech recognition test (SRT) were conducted in all subjects. They were evaluated either with the HA or BAHA. The SDT and SRT showed better hearing results in quiet for the BAHA than the conventional HA, but there was a minimum difference in SDT and SRT in noise. Subjects assessed the HA and BAHA using questionnaires. Subjects reported that the BAHA offers a number of important advantages, including greater cosmetic acceptability, improved speech intelligibility, and better sound quality.     

Ixodes philipi: redescription of female and first description of male, with records from streaked shearwater in Japan (Acarina: Ixodidae)

Ixodes philipi Keirans & Kohls, 1970 is so far known only from two female specimens taken from the streaked shearwater, Puffinus leucomelas (Temminck, 1835) [presently Calonectris leucomelas (Temminck, 1835)], or the madeiran storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro (Harcourt, 1851), in Japan. We redescribe the female and describe the male of this species. We used nine adults (four males and five females) taken from the bodies of C. leucomelas and/or soil samples of their nest burrows in Japan, indicating that C. leucomelas is the main natural host bird of I. philipi.     

Evaluation of the relationship between periapical lesions/sclerotic bone and general bone density as a possible gauge of general health among 80-year-olds

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence among 80-year-olds of periapical lesions as detected on panoramic radiographs and to determine the relationship between sclerotic bone around the periapical lesions to heel bone density, body height, and hand-grip strength. STUDY DESIGN: Six hundred fifty-nine panoramic radiographs (262 males, 397 females), obtained from 80-year-old residents of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, were used for evaluation of periapical lesions. These findings were correlated with physical examination results to determine the relationship to general health. RESULTS: Of 659 panoramic radiographs, 31 (5%) were noted to have periapical lesions. Average size of the 31 periapical lesions was 6.1 +/- 2.2 mm. Of the 31 periapical lesions, 21 (68%) were accompanied by linear or diffuse types of sclerotic bone. Of the 21 sclerotic bones, 10 (48%) were of a linear type of sclerotic bone and 11 (52%) of a diffuse type of sclerotic bone. Of the 11 diffuse types of sclerotic bone, 10 (91%) were in the mandible and 1 (9%) in the maxilla. Periapical lesions in the mandible were more frequently accompanied by a diffuse type of sclerotic bone than those in the maxilla (P < .01). The hand-grip strength of those having periapical lesions, accompanied by a diffuse type of sclerotic bone, was stronger than those having no periapical lesions (P < .01) and those accompanied by a linear type of sclerotic bone (P < .03). However, there was no relationship between presence of sclerotic bone and heel bone density or body height. CONCLUSIONS: Periapical lesions accompanied by a diffuse type of sclerotic bone were more frequently seen in the mandible of 80-year-olds. To evaluate the clinical significance of sclerotic bone around periapical lesions in 80-year-olds, further study to evaluate the significance of endodontic treatment needs to be done.     

Glucocorticoid hormone regulates the circadian coordination of micro-opioid receptor expression in mouse brainstem

The 24-h variation in glucocorticoid secretion from the adrenal cortex is observed not only in nocturnally active rodents but also in diurnally active humans. Although the cyclic change in circulating glucocorticoid levels is thought to influence the efficacy and/or toxicity of many drugs, the mechanism underlying the influence remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that the 24-h variation in circulating glucocorticoid levels modulates the analgesic effect of morphine by regulating the expression of the mu-opioid receptor. Significant time-dependent variations in the mRNA levels of the mu-opioid receptor and its binding capacity were observed in mouse brainstem. The analgesic effect of morphine was enhanced by administering the drug when mu-opioid receptor levels were increased. However, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)-deficient mice, disrupting the 24-h rhythm of glucocorticoid secretion, showed no significant time-dependent variation in the expression of the mu-opioid receptor. As a consequence, there was no significant dosing time-dependent difference in the analgesic effect of morphine in CRH-deficient mice. A single administration of corticosterone significantly induced the expression of the mu-opioid receptor in the CRH-deficient mouse brainstem and also enhanced the analgesic effect of morphine. These findings suggest a mechanism underlying the time-dependent variation in mu-opioid receptor function and provide clues to select the most appropriate time of day for administration of morphine.     

Weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated or not treated with docetaxel: a phase II study

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel has been approved for 3-weekly administration in Japan. Recent reports suggest that weekly paclitaxel can achieve a higher tumor response and lower toxicity. METHODS: This study was designed to investigate the usefulness and tolerability of weekly paclitaxel by 1-hour infusion in patients with metastatic breast cancer who were previously treated with docetaxel or other anticancer agents. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 41.2% (14/34, 95% confidence interval: 24.6-59.3%). The median time to progression and the median survival time were 218.5 and 624 days, respectively. One patient developed dyspnea, probably induced by a hypersensitivity reaction. The most common hematological toxicities were leukopenia and neutropenia, although no patients developed grade 4 leukopenia or neutropenia and G-CSF support was not required. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly paclitaxel could be safely administered and achieved a relatively high response rate. Weekly paclitaxel would be a good candidate second-line therapy for recurrent or advanced breast cancer.     

Infiltration of COX-2-expressing macrophages is a prerequisite for IL-1 beta-induced neovascularization and tumor growth

Inflammatory angiogenesis is a critical process in tumor progression and other diseases. The inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta promotes angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis, but its mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the association between IL-1beta-induced angiogenesis and cell inflammation. IL-1beta induced neovascularization in the mouse cornea at rates comparable to those of VEGF. Neutrophil infiltration occurred on day 2. Macrophage infiltration occurred on days 4 and 6. The anti-Gr-1 Ab-induced depletion of infiltrating neutrophils did not affect IL-1beta- or VEGF-induced angiogenesis. The former was reduced in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-deficient (MCP-1(-/-)) mice compared with wild-type mice. After day 4, clodronate liposomes, which kill macrophages, reduced IL-1beta-induced angiogenesis and partially inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Infiltrating macrophages near the IL-1beta-induced neovasculature were COX-2 positive. Lewis lung carcinoma cells expressing IL-1beta (LLC/IL-1beta) developed neovasculature with macrophage infiltration and enhanced tumor growth in wild-type but not MCP-1(-/-) mice. A COX-2 inhibitor reduced tumor growth, angiogenesis, and macrophage infiltration in LLC/IL-1beta. Thus, macrophage involvement might be a prerequisite for IL-1beta-induced neovascularization and tumor progression.