Kazunari Oda

The effect of endolymphatic sac obliteration on vestibular sensory hair bundles

SummaryA tannic acid-osmium staining technique and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy were used to demonstrate changes in the glycocalyx and ciliary interconnections of the vestibular sensory cells of guinea pigs after extradural obliteration of the endolymphatic sac and duct. Three months after the obliteration, it was possible to observe degeneration in the glycocalyx and the ciliary interconnections as well as the tip links. These findings suggest that the endolymphatic hydrops causes an endolymphatic ionic imbalance which affects the glycocalyx and ciliary interconnections resulting in further morphological changes of the cilia. The tip links, which are believed to be involved in sensory cell transduction, also seem to be affected.

The Use of Steroid Therapy for Bell's Palsy; A Proposal.

Based on the pathophysiology of Bells palsy, Stennert employed a high dose of steroid plus lowmolecular weight dextran, and reported a high cure rate. This report was undertaken to evaluate the effects of intermittent corticosteroid pulse therapy on Bells palsy.Sixteen patients with Bells palsy who had complete facial paralysis were enrolled. The treatment performed was intermittent corticosteroid pulse therapy, given between January 1993 and May 1995. In our intermittent corticosteroid pulse therapy protocal, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, low-molecular weight dextran, ATP and vitamins were also used in combination.The cure rate of this therapy was 87.5%, and no side effects were observed during the treatment. Therefore, this therapy was considered to be very effective in curing Bells palsy.

Long-term results of treatment for carcinoma of the maxillary sinus.

Seventy-three patients with previously untreated carcinoma of the maxillary sinus, treated during an 11-year period were investigated retrospectivelyThe overall three-year and five year survival rates were 51.5% and 42.7% respectively. The five-year survival rate for the group treated with combined therapy consisting of local chemotherapy, radiation and necrotomy was 12.9%, it was 54.8% in the group treated with combined therapy followed by surgery, such as partial or total resection of the maxilla.The most successful treatment was intraarterial infusion of adriamycin (bolus) and 5-FU (continuous), combined with radiotherapy and necrotomy, followed by surgery. The five-year survival rate in this group was 61.7%.