The effect of nilvadipine, a dihydropyridine derivative, on intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺] i) concentration was investigated in isolated vestibular guinea pig hair cells using calcium-sensitive dye Fura-2. A high potassium-induced ([Ca²⁺] i) increase was observed at nilvadipine concentrations of 100 nM and 10 nM, but was inhibited at 10, μM and 1, μM. Nilvadipine selectively inhibited the L-type Ca²⁺ channel compared to amlodipine, which non-selectively inhibited high-voltage activated Ca²⁺ channel subtypes. The results suggest that the inhibitory effect of nilvadipine on Ca²⁺ influx through the L-type Ca²⁺ channel in vestibular hair cells, combined with the increase of inner ear blood circulation, may prevent hair cell damage during ischemia.

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With the development of reconstructive surgery and chemo-radiotherapy, the clinical results in the treatment of maxillary cancer have improved markedly. However, extension of the resection leads to a larger facial deformation, so extended resection is not necessarily the best therapy when postoperative QOL is taken into consideration. In 1960, Sato et al. performed a conservative surgery called “tumor reduction in combination with intra-arterial infusion of anti-cancer drugs and radiotherapy” to obtain satisfactory clinical results while minimizing facial deformation. We started a clinical trail using Sato's method in 151 patients from 1970 to 1998, but the results have fallen short of our expectation in T₃ and T₄ cases. For the purpose of avoiding facial incision as much as possible and improving the local control rate, we have studied the method of reduction surgery, propriety of localized chemotherapy and radiation doses. As a result, the local control rate improved to 82% and the cumulative 5-year-survival rate to 61%. We studied factors that improved clinical results in maxillary cancer treatment. Our conclusion is as follows. The subjects included 151 cases of squamous cell carcinoma originating from the maxillary sinus which were treated at our hospital from 1970 to 1998. They were classified into 3 groups according to therapy, namely, Group A : Radiotherapy with regional chemotherapy and reduction surgery, 78 cases ; Group B : Preoperative radiotherapy with regional chemotherapy and en bloc tumor resection, 33 cases ; Group C : Preoperative radiotherapy and en bloc tumor resection, 40 cases.The local control rate for these 3 groups was 75.6%, 93.9% and 82.5% respectively. The cumulative 5-year-survival rate according to the Kaplan-Meier method was 43.1%, 69.7% and 61.0%. The proportion of T₃ cases was 33%, 33% and 45% and that of T₄ was, 36%, 63% and 45% respectively, there being no significant difference between the groups. Accumulated clinical experience may be accountable largely for a 20% increase in the 5-year survival rate in groups B and C in the late stage compared with group A in the early stage. However, evaluation of tumors by CT frequently made in all the cases from 1981 on wards may have considerably contributed to it.

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To forecast the release of white birch (Betula platyphylla var Japonica) pollen release, we compared weather data from news media such as the day of snow layer disappearance, totals of temperatures from this day, and biological (flora and faung) seasons observed by a local meteorological observatory with that of the first day from 1995 to 2000. The mean first day was 3 weeks after mean snow layer disappearance was the day that the accumulated temperatures after the layer disappeared ran up to 151 degrees centigrade. The first day was earlier than the first day of dandelion or cherry blossom blooming, which is the earliest among biological evidence at the local meteorological observatory. These findings were not sufficient to forecast the first day of birch pollen release, however.

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The pathological conditions differ between sinusitis in which eosinophils very clearly permeate the sinus mucosa and sinusitis where the lesions are mainly on the osteomeatal unit. The purpose of this paper is to define the clinical features of eosinophilic sinusitis.
A group of 33 patients with multiple adult-type nasal polyps were divided into two groups according to their eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) values. Fourteen patients comprised the high ECP value group, and 19 were in the low ECP value group. The preopenative ECP concentrations were measured in the middle meatus mucosal surface, and the clinical features were compared for the high and low ECP value groups.
In comparison with the low ECP value group, the high ECP value group demonstrated large numbers of activated eosinophils in the sinus mucosa, endoscopy revealed multiple polyps in the middle meatus and olfactory cleft and in the majority of patients, ethomoidal shadows were recognized in the CT images. The proportion of patients presenting dysosmia as a subjective symptom was high, and there was no relation with nasal allergy. Steroids were remarkably effective, whereas therapy with macrolides showed no improvements in those patients where lesions were exacerbated in the postoperative period of from 11 months to 2 years.

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Malignant tumors of the thyroid gland are predominantly classified as papillary carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma is rather rare. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland that was detected following treatment of the patient for hypopharyngeal and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. The case was a 54-year-old man who presented with the chief complaint of hoarseness. No mass was palpable in the neck, but laryngeal paralysis was noted on the left side. Cervical CT demonstrated a contrast-enhaning mass lesion in the left lobe of the thyroid. Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed, and was found to enclose adenocarcinoma components, leading to the definitive diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma. Specific staining of the lesion confirmed that the lesion was a primary tumor of the thyroid gland. A course of chemotherapy was administered, however the patient died of complicating renal failure.

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We report a case of tuberculous otitis media that was diagnosed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. A 35-year-old woman was diagnosed as having exudative otitis media. A tabe was inserted into her ear-drum, but the discharge persisted and her condition was unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. A sample of the discharge was examined for the presence of tubercle bacillus using PCR. The results enabled a definite diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media to be made. Early diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media is important to reduce associated complications. We recommend that PCR, together with a smear culture test for acid-fast bacteria, be used to check for the presence of tubercle bacillus at an early stage of treatment.

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