Atsuhito Morishita

Hearing Impairment in Relation to Viscoelasticity of Middle Ear Effusions in Children

Both dynamic viscosity (n′) and elasticity (G′) of middle ear effusion were measured with an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer and compared with the degree of conductive hearing loss in 65 ears of 40 children. There was a significant correlation between n′ and the magnitude of the air-bone gap at 500 and 1,000 Hz, but there was no significant correlation between G′ and the magnitude of the air-bone gap at 2,000 or 4,000 Hz. No significant correlation was noted between G′ and the magnitude of the air-bone gap at 500,1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 Hz. These results indicate that the n′ of middle ear effusion has an effect on the amount of hearing impairment at frequencies below 1,000 Hz.

The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucus.

SummaryWe have evaluated the effect of serratiopeptidase (SER), a proteolytic enzyme, on the elasticity and viscosity of the nasal mucus in adult patients with chronic sinusitis. SER was administered in a dose of 30mg/day orally for 4 weeks. Nasal mucus was collected from the nasal cavities of each patient before (week 0) and 4 weeks after the start of the medication (week 4). The storage modulus (G′) and the dynamic viscosity (η′) of each specimen of nasal mucus were determined by an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer at frequencies of 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz at a constant temperature of 25° C. The dynamic viscosity (η′) of the mucus at week 4 was significantly lower than that at week 0 (at frequencies of 5, 10 and 20 Hz). No significant differences were observed in the storage modulus (G′) between the mucus at week 0 and week 4. SER reduced the viscosity but not the elasticity of the nasal mucus. These findings are discussed in relation to mucociliary clearance.

Prognosis of Secretory Otitis Media in Relation to Viscoelasticity of Effusions in Children

Both elasticity (G′) and viscosity (η′) of middle ear effusions (MEEs) were measured with an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer and compared with continuance of fluid retention in 93 ears of 69 children with otitis media with effusion (OME). The ears were divided into four groups according to the viscoelastic properties of MEEs at the first myringotomy. Eighty-four percent of the ears in group 2 were free from effusion within 4 months; the difference from the other groups was statistically significant. These results indicate that the mucociliary clearance function plays an important role in the process of recovery from OME.

Viscoelastic properties of middle ear effusions from pediatric otitis media with effusion and their relation to gross appearance

SummaryThe viscosity and the elasticity were measured in 146 individual middle ear effusions (MEEs) from 93 children with otitis media with effusion (OME). The effusions were classified into serous or mucoid type by their macroscopic appearance. The distribution of elasticity showed two peaks, corresponding to the peaks of serous and mucoid types of effusions. There were a small number of effusions in the intermediate range of elasticity, where the effusions were most effectively transported by the cilia. These findings suggests that the MEEs of pediatric OME are accumulations of rheologically suboptimal fluid in the middle ear cavity.

Giant ameloblastoma of the mandible; A case report.

Ameloblastoma is a tumor believed to originate from odontogenic tissues and is generally considered to be benign. However, it often recurs postoperatively and in a few case malignant changes have been reported.Recently we treated a 75-year-old female with an ameloblastoma spreading from the center of the mandible to the left zygomatic bone. She had first noticed the tumor more than 10 years earlier. The only symptom was asymmetry of the face.The tumor was removed along with the left half of the mandible. Although reconstruction was not performed, her postoperative course was uneventful without dysfunction of mastication or speech.

Effect of Myonal on tinnitus.

Myonal® (a muscle relaxant) was used alone or in combination with other drugs in the treatment of 33 males (53.1±13.6 y. o.) and 26 females (54.8±12.5 y. o.) with tinnitus. The treatment was effective in 42.4% of the patients. A better effect was obtained in the following patients:1. Those in the 5th and 6th decades.2. When Myonal® was used in combination with other drugs.3. When treatment was continued for 8 weeks or longer.Side effects were observed in 4 patients (6.8%).