Analysis of pathological voices seems to be a useful method for the differential diagnosis of various laryngeal diseases. Possible analytic methods are twofold: one is perceptive and the other is acoustical.
On 30 voice samples from patients with laryngeal cancers (10), unilateral recurrent nerve paralyses (10), and vocal polyps (10), the author carried out two analytic studies, separately, and compared both results.
For the perceptive study, the semantic differential technique was employed as a psychometic procedure with the use of ten pair of polar-opposite adjectives, while for the acoustical study 12 parameters including fundamental frequency, noise components and irregularity of the wave forms of the voices were utilized.
Both series of the data were analysed by the Lawley's maximum likelihood method and canonical analysis.
The perceptive study showed that there were only two dominant factors, related to the evaluative nature, and loudness sensation of the voices, respectively, which were sufficient in order to classify the three kinds of diseases.
In the acoustical study also, two factors were sufficient to classify three kinds of diseases, although identification was rather difficult.
The comparison of the results of the perceptive and the acoustical studies revealed that the former was more effective in classifying the laryngeal diseases, as far as the procedures used in this study were concerned.

View full abstract

There were two objectives in the present study: to assess the usefulness of electroacupuncture (EAP) on tonsillectomy in man and to clarify mechanisms underlying EAP analgesia in animal experiments.
In clinical studies, conventional needles were inserted into the “Hoku” point bilaterally., and connected to a modified Chinese EAP stimulator, generating a biphasic wave, square pulse in one direction and spike pulse in opposite direction, at 1.5 Hz frequency. Tonsillectomy could be performed with EAP, and the most beneficial effect of the treatment was a remarkable suppression of post-tonsillectomy pain. Pain scores after the operation were evaluated and compared statistically in four groups of patients; groups surgically treated under local anesthesia, EAP plus local anesthesia GOF anesthesia, and EAP plus GOF anesthesia. No patient treated with EAP plus local or GOF anesthesia complained of pain during swallowing or spontaneous pain, and post-op analgesic medicine was not required.
In animal experiments, one needle (electrode) was placed on the sciatic nerve and the other on the vertex of the rabbit. An EAP-like stimulation using the same generator employed in clinical studies, suppressed pain reactions produced by an intraarterial injection of bradykinin (0.5-5γ) into the femoral artery. The pain reactions were monitored by recording EMG manifestations of the biceps femoris and the cremaster muscle. The animal experiments led to two conclusions. First, the main site for the production of EAP analgesia may be in the lower brain stem structures, because spinal sectioning abolished the EAP effect and higher brain stem lesions preserved the effect. Second, the mode of action of EAP may depend on production of neurochemical substances released from the brain, because both naloxone and tolazoline partially but significantly antagonized the EAP effect.

View full abstract

Low molecular weight dextran has been reported to improve peripheral circulation, to reverse intravascular erythrocyte aggregation, to reduce blood viscosity and to enhance deformability of erythrocytes.
Disturbances of peripheral circulation are considered to be one of the etiological factors in both sudden deafness and Meniere's disease. 10% low molecular dextran in 250ml lactated Ringer's solution was drip-infused in combination with administration of steroid hormones, ATP and vitamins to 8 patients with sudden deafness and 2 with Meniere's disease.
The clinical course was followed by periodical audiometric examination and equilibrium tests. Hematological examinations were routinely performed.
The medication was found to be markedly effective in 4 of 8 patients with sudden deafness, and only slightly effective in 1. The symptoms of Meniere's disease were markedly relieved in both patients.
In summary, the use of low molecular weight dextran in lactated Ringer's solution together with steroid hormones, ATP and vitamins proved to be therapeutic and was without serious side effects for treatment of patients with sudden deafness and Meniere's disease.

View full abstract