Naoki Uramoto

Malignant phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor, mixed connective tissue variant of the tongue

The majority of the oncogenic osteomalacia-associated mesenchymal tumors are considered to belong to the category of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors, mixed connective tissue (PMTMCT) variant, of which malignant cases are very rare. Here we report a case of a recurrent malignant PMTMCT variant which arose in the tongue. The patient was treated with surgery at an initial treatment and the first recurrence. In accordance with the tumor recurrence and resection, the hypophosphatemia progressed and improved. However, hypophosphatemia did not progress after receiving radiation therapy at the second recurrence even though the recurrent tumor gradually increased its size. These results suggest clinical feature of malignant PMTMCT could be changed by radiation therapy. Thus, this report could add an insight to the nature of PMTMCT.

Vitamin E and vitamin C in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that the administration of vitamin E and vitamin C to patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) has beneficial effects by reducing the level of reactive oxygen metabolites produced by inner ear ischaemia and reperfusion injury after treatment. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of antioxidant vitamin E and vitamin C in the treatment of ISSHL. Patients and methods. In a retrospective chart review, a total of 87 patients were enrolled who fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: 1) sudden onset of sensorineural hearing loss, 2) cause of hearing loss unknown, 3) hearing loss did not fluctuate, 4) arithmetic mean of hearing levels at 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz exceeded 40 dB and 5) treatment was started within 14 days from the onset of hearing loss. All the patients were treated with steroids and/or alprostadil. In the study group, patients additionally received vitamin E (tocopherol nicotinate, 600 mg/day) and vitamin C (1200 mg/day) orally. Results. The hearing gain after therapy was 29.4 dB and the improvement rate was 63.3% in the study group, compared with 18.5 dB and 44.0% in the control group. Significant improvement was seen in the hearing gain and recovery rate in the study group.

Retrograde transport of nerve growth factor from olfactory bulb to olfactory epithelium

NGF is produced in the olfactory bulb and transported from the bulb to cholinergic neurons in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band. Although the expression of NGF receptors has been reported in olfactory epithelial cells, no correlation between NGF and olfactory epithelial cells has been found. This study aimed to define whether or not retrograde transport of NGF occurs in the olfactory neural system using the method of radioluminography. 125I-labeled NGF injected into the olfactory bulb was taken up and transported to the olfactory epithelium 18 h after injection. This finding suggests that bulbar NGF may act as a neurotrophic factor in olfactory epithelial cells.

TrkA expression in mouse olfactory tract following axotomy of olfactory nerves

The olfactory bulb is one of the brain regions that synthesizes the nerve growth factor (NGF). Functional roles of the bulbar NGF remain to be determined. The aim of the present study was, using an antibody specific to the high-affinity NGF receptor (trkA), to examine immunohistochemically the distribution of the NGF receptor in the mouse olfactory tract, under normal conditions and during regenerative processes. In normal mouse olfactory epithelia, trkA immunoreactive cell bodies were only seen in basal cells. Cell bodies of olfactory receptor cells did not express trkA immunoreactivity, but their neuronal processes (olfactory nerve fibres and bundles in the olfactory mucosa and the olfactory bulb) displayed trkA immunoreactivity. After axotomy of olfactory nerves, regenerating olfactory cells (basal cells and olfactory receptor cells) expressed trkA immunoreactivity in intramucosal and intrabulbar neuronal processes of olfactory receptor cells. These results suggest involvement of the bulbar NGF in the process of synaptogenesis and/or regeneration of the olfactory nervous system.

Clinical Usefulness of Prophylactic Treatment with Olopatadine Hydrochloride for Japanese Cedar Pollinosis in Ishikawa Prefecture

Clinical usefulness of olopatadine hydrochloride was studied in 97 patients with cedar pollinosis in 2005. The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on the time of starting treatment before or after the onset of pollen season. Subjective symptoms, objective findings of nose and quality of life scores using Japanese Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ No 1) were compared between the two groups. Both the clinical scores and QOL scores remained normal even at the peak of pollen scattering in patients who started medication before pollen season, and showed significant differences in each index compared with those in the patient group starting treatment after the onset of pollen season. The patients who started medication after pollen dispersal were not relieved of their symptoms at the peak of pollen scattering, but they had lower scores at both the beginning and end of pollen season. There were strong correlations between the clinical symptom scores and QOL scores in both groups. In conclusion, olopatadine hydrochloride appeared to be sufficiently effective for cedar pollinosis during the season of peak pollen of scattering by starting medication before the onset of pollen season.