Susan M. Rodman

The implication of viruses in idiopathic sudden hearing loss: primary infection or reactivation of latent viruses?

Seventy-seven paired serum samples from patients with known idiopathic sudden hearing loss (ISHL) were surveyed using viral serologic methods. Fifteen different viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were the agents tested. We determined an incidence of 65% (49/77) of documented significant seroconversions to one or more of the agents surveyed. Multiple agents were involved in 24 of the 49 positive cases we studied. Influenza virus Group B in 14 (18%) and rubeola in 12 (16%) were the most prevalent, followed by Herpes simplex type 1 in 6 (8%), mumps in 6 (8%), influenza Group A3 in 6 (8%), rubella in 5 (7%), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 5 (7%).

Immune complexes, serum proteins, cell-mediated immunity, and immune regulation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

A collaborative study of the humoral and cellular immune status of patients with carcinoma of the Head and Neck (H&N) was conducted at the West Virginia University (WVU) hospital. In addition, blindcoded serum panels were supplied on H&N cancer patients being treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Serum protein analysis of the WVU study groups revealed that at the pretreatment sampling, the alpha‐1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), total complement, and IgA levels were significantly elevated. The AGP levels and total complement levels declined to normal levels in the post‐treatment period, whereas the IgA levels remained elevated throughout the entire observation period. Levels of serum immune complexes (SIC) were measured in both the WVU and NCI H&N cancer populations using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method. In both survey populations all cancer groups had significantly elevated levels of SIC when compared to any of the control populations. The SIC levels never returned to comparative normal values even in cases after successful treatment. A subpopulation of the WVU‐H&N cancer study group underwent a short course of intravenous hyperalimentation prior to their treatment regimen. These patients demonstrated a transient decrease in their SIC levels as well as a concomitant increase in their in vitro cell‐mediated immune (CMI) correlates. The analysis of in vitro CMI correlates of the WVU study group using both polyclonal mitogens and specific antigens demonstrated a significant depression in these parameters pretreatment and post‐treatment. In addition, it was observed that the time course for elevation of selected serum proteins (i.e., IgA and SIC) correlated with concomitant drops in CMI activity. Investigations were also conducted into the effects of immune complex‐rich serum fractions upon selected in vitro CMI correlates. Significant blockage of a normal donor leukocyte migration‐inhibition assay was demonstrated. Also, a similar inhibition of the ability of normal human lymphocytes to form high affinity rosettes was accomplished with serum from H&N cancer patients. Cancer 57:2295–2308, 1986.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anterior Nasal Cavity: A Dual Institution Review

Thirty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior nasal cavity were identified at two university hospitals. A retrospective review was conducted to identify clinical presentation, initial therapy, recurrence rates, and factors affecting survival. Treatment included surgery (n = 15), radiation therapy (n = 9), or combination therapy (n = 8). The primary lesions involved either the septum, vestibule, columella, anterior floor, or a combination of these subsites. The primary tumor involved a single nasal subsite in 22 patients and multiple nasal subsites in 10 patients. All patients had de novo squamous lesions, and all tumors were staged N0 at initial diagnosis. Six patients received prophylactic neck irradiation, and none underwent elective neck dissection. Overall, 18 (56%) patients had recurrent disease after primary therapy (5 local and 13 regional). The 5-year disease-free survival was 42%, and the 5-year overall survival was 50%. None of the patients receiving prophylactic neck irradiation had a regional recurrence. Involvement of 2 or more nasal subsites significantly decreased survival (P < 0.05). Squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior nasal cavity is an aggressive disease, and combined therapy initially with strong consideration for prophylactic radiation to the facial and cervical lymphatics is advocated.

Internal jugular vein patency in patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction and simultaneous neck dissection. Patients underwent Doppler ultrasound examination of their internal jugular veins on postoperative days 1 and 7 after functional neck dissection and free flap transfer. Long‐term follow up was obtained at a minimum of 3 months. The incidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction with simultaneous neck dissection is similar to that of patients undergoing just neck dissection. A significant number of these veins recanalize and have excellent long term patency. There does not seem to be a correlation between venous thrombosis and free flap survival.

Immunohistochemical Localization of Interleukin-10 in Human Oral and Pharyngeal Carcinomas†‡

Objectives/Hypothesis Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) is an immunosuppressive cytokine with numerous, well‐described effects on the human cellular and humoral immune response. The oncogenic potential of IL‐10 has been previously investigated in bronchogenic carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Waldeyers ring carcinoma, and serum supernatants of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and cellular localization of IL‐10 in human SCCHN.

A study of the relationship between students' learning styles and instructors' lecture styles

The Myer-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) has been used by previous researchers as an indicator of the learning-style preferences of engineering students in problem-solving courses. In particular, the sensing/intuitive (S/I) scale separates intuitive students with a preference for abstract, global, and theoretical approaches from so-called sensing students, with their preference for the practical, factual, and specific approach. An experiment is described in which two teaching presentations were designed (one intended to appeal to sensing students and the other intended to appeal to intuitive students) and presented to two similar heterogeneous groups of engineering students. The interactions between student-learning style, teaching-presentation mode, and student performance are explored. It is concluded from these results that the S/I dimension of the MBTI can affect the teaching and learning of technical material. >

Maxillofacial injuries caused by all-terrain vehicle accidents

With the rise in Popularity of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), especially in rural America, injuries associated with their use are becoming more commonplace. A retrospective review was conducted of 153 patients with ATV-related injuries seen at West Virginia University Hospitals between January 1990 and June 1996. Of these patients, 33 had maxillofacial injuries. Only 2 of 21 (9.5%) patients noted to be wearing helmets had facial injuries, whereas 17 of 19 (89.5%) patients who had facial injuries were not wearing helmets. Most patients with maxillofacial injuries occurring at night had been drinking alcohol. Injury Severity Scores were worse for those patients with maxillofacial injuries, as well as for those patients who had been drinking alcohol. Patients with maxillofacial injuries were more likely to require a stay in the intensive care unit. Furthermore, children with facial injuries had higher Injury Severity Scores and longer hospital stays than the adults. To reduce these accidents and related injuries, the industry, local and federal governments, and ultimately individuals must change their attitudes regarding these Potentially dangerous vehicles.

Desktop Publishing—With Your Word Processor

Educational objectives: To include graphic elements such as clip art, lines, borders and shading into a document and to create columns, headers, footers, and attractive page layout.

Advanced Computer Graphics and Multimedia Presentations

Educational objectives: To create computer presentations that incorporate sound and photographic and video images and to have an understanding of multimedia capabilities.

WordPerfect: Office applications

Educational objectives: To construct and use letter and memo macros and templates, to address envelopes electronically, to do simple mail merge, and to use WordPerfect special character sets.