Tetsuko Ueno

Acute idiopathic sensorineural hearing impairment at frequency exceeding 8 kHz

Abstract Conclusions: Acute idiopathic sensorineural hearing impairment at a frequency exceeding 8 kHz (high-frequency range) was recognized in patients suffering from acute tinnitus without hearing loss. The cases in this study may contribute to clarifying the pathogenesis of tinnitus without hearing loss and evaluating its response to steroid therapy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the existence of acute idiopathic sensorineural hearing impairment only in the high-frequency range and to investigate its relation to tinnitus without hearing loss. Methods: Five patients aged 29 years or younger who consulted a hospital within a few days after the onset of unilateral tinnitus without hearing loss were studied. We conducted audiometry involving the high-frequency range on first medical examination and on improvement in tinnitus, and investigated the association between the hearing findings in the high-frequency range and a tinnitus prognosis. Results: All five patients showed abnormalities in the threshold in the high-frequency range on the affected side. In the three cases given prednisolone, tinnitus and the threshold abnormalities were reduced within 20 days. In contrast, tinnitus and the threshold abnormalities showed little change in two patients who were not treated.

Differences in Acetic Acid Ototoxicity in Guinea Pigs are Dependent on Maturity

Objectives: The objective was to study if the difference exist in drug ototoxicity between less mature and mature guinea pigs. Methods: The matured animal group had a body weight of 400 g and the less mature animal group had a body weight of 200 g. After compound action potential of the eight cranial nerves was measured, the middle ear cavity was filled with acetic acid. Results: The less mature animal group was more sensitive to the acetic acid treatment than the more mature animal group. Conclusion: We suggest that a difference in ototoxicity of certain otic drop treatments may exist between pediatric and adult patients.

Modulation of somatosensory abilities and the feeling of ear fullness in patients with acute sensorineural hearing loss

OBJECTIVE Patients with acute sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) often complain of a feeling of ear fullness (FEF) that is similar to the sensation experienced during barometric pressure changes. This suggests that modulation of somatosensory abilities may relate to the manifestation of FEF, whereas it cannot simply be assumed that somatosensory abilities would be directly affected by ASNHL. To examine this possible relationship, we estimated somatosensory abilities of the tympanic membrane, and investigated the relationship between them and the manifestation of FEF. METHODS To estimate somatosensory abilities of the tympanic membrane, 83 new patients demonstrating unilateral sudden deafness were studied. The air pressure was loaded through an exclusive device on the external auditory canals in order to measure the minimum change in air pressure sensed by the subjects. The minimum pressure was defined as the minimum sensory threshold for air pressure loading (MSTAP; daPa). We estimated patients somatosensory abilities and inquired about their experiences with FEF at the first medical examination (point 1) and at the time a steady audiogram was obtained (point 2). We also estimated MSTAP in 65 volunteers (130 ears) with no history of ear diseases and compared their MSTAP with that of sudden deafness patients. RESULTS MSTAP values (-64.0±32.2daPa, 60.5±26.0daPa) on the affected side with both negative pressure and positive pressure measured at point 1 were significantly higher than those (-40.7±15.0daPa, 40.0±12.7daPa) obtained at point 2 in all sudden deafness patients (p=0.0001, p=0.0001). There was no difference between MSTAP values (-39.6±10.7daPa, 39.9±11.4daPa) in normal subjects and those obtained at point 2 in all sudden deafness patients. On the other hand, significant differences of MSTAP with negative pressures between the affected and unaffected sides at point 1 were seen in 32 patients, and manifestation of FEF showed an insignificant association in these 32 patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Modulation of somatosensory abilities in ASNHL seemed to be the best possible explanation for results, suggesting that a rise in MSTAP may somehow be associated with FEF. Although it cannot be verified by result of the current study, consideration of the previous literature suggests that the phenomenon may be caused by cross-modality of hearing and somatosensory abilities.

Severe intraoperative bleeding from a site on the displaced ophthalmic artery: A case report

Severe intraoperative bleeding from a site on the displaced ophthalmic artery : A case report : Takayuki Sueta1), Souta Umeno1), Yoshikazu Sugiyama1), Tetsuko Ueno1), Tsutomu Fukuzaki1), Takashi Nakagawa1), Kenji Fukuda2) and Toshio Higashi2). 1)Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 2)Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka

Cutaneous mastocytosis with bone anomalies of the inner ear and sinus pericranii in the parietal region.

anti-HPV antibody (K1H8; Dako, Kyoto, Japan) indicated the presence of viral proteins in the upper epidermis and stratum corneum (Fig. 1d). HPV type 47 was detected in the biopsied lesion by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent sequencing. The methods of DNA extraction and PCR conditions were described elsewhere. Briefly, PCR was performed using CPI/CPIIS consensus primers. The amplified PCR products were electrophoresed on 2% agarose gels, followed by sequencing of the products. A diagnosis of acquired EV with HPV type 47 was made. His skin lesions were treated with cryotherapy and topical imiquimod. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Shinshu University School of Medicine. Inherited EV is chiefly caused by germ line mutations in either of two adjacent genes located on 17q25, namely EVER1/TCM6 or EVER2/TCM8, leading to genetic susceptibility to HPV infection due to dysfunction of cell-mediated immunity. Despite the absence of genetic mutations, EV-like eruptions have been reported in cases of immunodeficiency or in immunosuppressed patients. Rogers et al. introduced the term “acquired EV”. Latent infection occurs subclinically within hair follicles, followed by proliferation of HPV under immunosuppressive conditions. Inherited EV harbors various types of HPV, such as types 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19–25, 36, 38, 47 and 50. HPV types 5 and 8 are frequently identified in cases of inherited EV and acquired EV. Importantly, malignant transformation has been associated with HPV types 14, 17, 20 and 47 as well as HPV types 5 and 8. HPV type 47 infection has not been identified previously in acquired EV, but it may not be rare in such cases. Protection from the sun is important to prevent malignant transformation in acquired EV.