Kazuaki Ogawa

Reflectance spectrophotometric studies on mucosal pathology of the upper airway.

Reflectance spectrophotometry analysis has been applied to the human nasal mucosa in vivo to determine the objective parameters of the colors of the mucous membrane, as well as to study the hemodynamics and enzymatic activities related to respiratory chain metabolism in the nasal mucosa. In 24 normal subjects, there were three main spectral peaks: the peak at around 500 nm (P1), the smallest at 560 nm (P2) and the highest one at 660 nm (P3). In 28 patients with nasal allergy, spectral P3 shifted remarkably toward the shorter wavelength at around 640 nm, compared to that of normal subjects. Additionally, the increment of the absorption band at P2 was also observed. These phenomena could be seen in the nasal mucosa of the subjects after use of decongestant spray.

Major Differences in the Proportion of Amino Acid Fiber Types Transmitting Taste Information From Oral and Extraoral Regions in the Channel Catfish

The present study investigates for the first time in any teleost the amino acid specificity and sensitivity of single glossopharyngeal (cranial nerve IX) fibers that innervate taste buds within the oropharyngeal cavity. These results are contrasted with similar data obtained from facial (cranial nerve VII) fibers that innervate extraoral taste buds. The major finding is that functional differences are clearly evident between taste fibers of these two cranial nerves. Catfish possess the most extensive distribution of taste buds found in vertebrates. Taste buds on the external body surface are exclusively innervated by VII, whereas IX, along with the vagus (X), innervate the vast majority of taste buds within the oropharyngeal cavity. Responses to the l-isomers of alanine (Ala), arginine (Arg), and proline (Pro), the three most stimulatory amino acids that bind to independent taste receptors, were obtained from 90 single VII and 64 single IX taste fibers. This study confirmed a previous investigation that the amino acid responsive VII fibers consist of two major groups, the Ala and Arg clusters containing taste fibers having thresholds in the ηM range. In contrast, the present study indicates the amino acid responsive IX taste system is dominated by taste fibers responsive to Pro and to Pro and Arg, respectively, has a reduced percentage of Ala fibers, and is less sensitive than VII. The present electrophysiological results are consistent with previous experiments, indicating that the extraoral taste system is essential for appetitive behavior, whereas oropharyngeal taste buds are critical for consummatory behavior.

Skin Approximation Using Nd:YAG Laser in Head and Neck Surgery

Laser is useful for surgery to cut, coagulate, vaporize and weld the tissue. Recently, low power laser was utilized for the treatment of ulcer, pain and vascular anastomosis. We applied low power Nd: YAG laser irradiation for skin approximation. An experimental study was carried out by using the Nd: YAG laser in approximating the surgically cut skin wound of guinea pigs. Healing of the wound was observed on post operative days of 3, 7 and 21, respectively. Laser approximation for the incised skin showed less scaring and faster healing than conventional suture technique. This laser technique will be beneficial as one of the new procedures of skin suture in clinical practice. The results were discussed from either technical or cosmetic standpoint.

Quantitative analysis of sialic acid and L-fucose in patients with chronic sinusitis or nasal allergy.

慢性副鼻腔炎 (副鼻炎), 鼻アレルギー (鼻ア) の病態解明の一端として, 血清, 組織, 鼻汁中の可溶性蛋白結合シアル酸およびフコースの定量をチオバルビツール酸法, システイン硫酸法を用いてそれぞれ行い, 以下の結果を得た.1. 血清中シアル酸は副鼻炎, 鼻ア症例ともに正常者と有意差はなく, フコース値は副鼻炎, 鼻ア症例の順で有意に高値を示した. また副鼻炎患者レ線所見の程度, および鼻茸の有無と血清中フコース値との間には高い相関関係が認められた.2. 副鼻炎上顎洞粘膜, 鼻茸中のシアル酸は, 肥厚性鼻炎下甲介および鼻ア下甲介のそれに比して有意に高値, もしくは高い傾向がみられた.3. 副鼻炎鼻汁と上顎洞内貯留液中のシアル酸, フコースは, ともに鼻ア鼻汁のそれに比し高値をしめした.