[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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We epidemiologically surveyed allergic rhinitis nationwide, mailing questionnaires to 9, 471 otorhinolaryngologists and their families nationwide in June 1998 responses by the end of September 1998: 42.8%, providing 17, 301 subjects. Few differences were seen in the age composition between the subject population and the general Japanese population.
Cedar pollinosis morbidity after adjustment for population distribution was 17.3%, higher overall on the Pacific Ocean side and in central districts of Japan compared to districts on the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea and lower in high or low latitudes. By age, morbidity increased sharply among subjects in their teens and decreased among subjects in their 60s. Morbidity was high in districts of heavy cedar pollen dissemination. By housing, morbidity was high in the suburbs, followed by residential areas and cities. Pollinosis due to causes other than cedar pollen showed results similar to those for cedar pollinosis in morbidity by age and the relationship between the housing environment and morbidity, with morbidity after population distribution adjustment 11.7%. Morbidity of perennial allergic rhinitis after adjustment for population distribution was 19.8% was slightly higher than that of pollinosis. By age, morbidity increased sharply at 5 to 9 years of age, being highest in the young than in cedar pollinosis; no decrease in morbidity after age 60 was seen. Unlike cedar pollinosis, perennial allergic rhinitis showed no difference in morbidity by area or housing environment. The present survey using otorhinolaryngologists and their families nationwide as subjects enabled us to find areawise differences in morbidity for cedar pollinosis and perennial allergic rhinitis. Ours is useful epidemiologically in allergic rhinitis mainly for cedar pollinosis in Japan because it is superior to other questionnaires in response and because reply reliability is high.

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To determine the long-term influence of organic mercurial intoxication on audiological and equilibrium findings, we followed up 36 patients neurotologically during 1980-1987 and 1991-2000 at Kido Hospital in Niigata. Typical findings were as follows:
1. In pure-tone audiometry, 24 of 72 ears (33%) showed slight hearing deterioration and 3 (4%) showed improvement.
2. Spontaneous nystagmus had disappeared in 5 patients (14%), but appeared in new 13 patients (36%). Positional nystagmus did not improve in any patient, and deteriorated in 11 (31%).
3. In optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) tests, especially in vertical OKN test showing significant deterioration (44%).
4. The caloric nystagmus test showed marked deterioration (47%). Body-equilibrium testing showed slight deterioration in 11 patients (31%) and improvement in 5 (14%).
Neurotological findings thus varied widely among patients and we were concluded that these differences were caused both by duration of methyl mercury contamination and by aging factors in patients.

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Self-care is gradually being recognized as important in the treatment of pollinosis, based up to now on data on airborne pollen. To determine the real-time numbers of airborne pollen would be more useful in self-care, however, so we studied the usefulness of the real-time pollen counter. Between Feb. 2, 2001, and Apr. 26, 2001, 4 types of airborne pollen i. e., Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, black alder, and beech observed in Wakayama City were counted with a Durham pollen counter and a real-time pollen counter (Yamato Manufacturing Co. Ltd.). Correlation between the 2 pollen counters was r=0.69 for Japanese cedar in March and r=0.89 for Japanese cypress in April. A high correlation was observed between outcomes of the 2 pollen counters. The amount of pollen from black alder and beech was less than that from Japanese cedar and cypress. Unexpected peaks were observed not related to the pollen number is apparently due to snow. We have taken measure against snow, so we concluded that the real-time pollen counter was useful in counting the amount of airborne pollen over time.

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We analyzed changes in Ebner's gland with aging by 3-dimensional analysis to determine the relationship between the gland and the sense of taste.
Samples were collected from Circumvallate papillae of the tongue in autopsied cases. After dehydration, samples were embedded in paraffin and cut into slices 5μm thick for every 100μm. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was done. The section was photographed in black and white and printed. Three tissues, circumvallate papillae, epithelium, and Ebner's gland were identified and traced on an OHP sheet and imput to a computer. The cubic volume of Ebner's gland was measured by Cosmozone 2SA 3-dimensional analysis software by and acinar cell occupancy I-BAS one imaging analysis.
A total of 60 cases from age groups in them 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s were used. Each group contains 5 men and 5 women.
The mean cubic volume of Ebner's gland in the 30s was 67.0 mm³, in the 40s was 64.6 mm³, in the 50s was 59.8 mm³, in the 60s was 39.2 mm³, in the 70s was 33.9 mm³, and in the 80s was 30.4 mm³.
Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in Ebner's gland cubic volume between age groups at p<0.01.
In acinar cell occupancys the coefficient of correlation was -0.858 in men and -0.838 in women with the correlation diagram showing a negative correlation.
The acinar cell occupancy decreases with age for the presumed acinar cell volume in the Ebner's gland, the coefficient of correlation was -0.929 in men and -0.854 in women, with the correlation diagram showing a negative correlation.
The presumed acinar cell volume decreases with age.
We concluded that Ebner's gland is concerned indirectly with diminished sensitivity of the sense of taste with aging.

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With the development of new antimicrobial agents, the incidence of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is on the decline. PTA is still often encountered in general practice, however, where it requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. Because the internal carotid artery runs medially to the medial parapharyngeal space, damage to nearby vascular or other structures is a surgical risk of PTA. We used contrast computed tomography (CT) from PTA patients to investigate the anatomical relationship between the abscess and parapharyngeal space, and to determine safe surgical sites.
We observed 31 patients with PTA -19 men and 12 women- between February 1997 and April 1999, all examined by contrast CT and undergoing drainage or incision. The average age was 30.7 years (range: 12-54 years). The abscess was on the right side in 20 cases and on the left side in 11.
We determined the sites of the abscess and carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and surrounding soft tissue density area including nerves in the parapharyngeal space based on the angle and distance from recognizable anatomical structures in CT scans.
The anterior margin of the parapharyngeal space was 29±5mm posterior from the upper posterior alveolar margin. The medial margin of that space was at 15±2° laterally from the midline of the incisors, and 24±4mm laterally from the midline sagittal plane.
The internal carotid artery was located medially to the parapharyngeal space, running on the sagittal plane containing the upper posterior alveolar margin.
The distance from the anterior margin of the parapharyngeal space to the posterior wall of the PTA was 9±4mm, and the distance to the anterior wall of the abscess (including the pharyngeal mucosa) was 31±5cm.
The relationship between the upper posterior alveolar margin and midline sagittal plane was useful for determining the site of the parapharyngeal space.
Because the internal carotid artery is located on the same sagittal plane as the upper posterior alveolar margin, when conducting drainage or incision of PTA, we should advance sagittaly from the point of incision to a depth of no more than 20mm. If the tip of the instrument is kept medial to the sagittal plane of the upper posterior alveolar margin, effective treatment should be achievable without the risk of vascular damage.

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