Respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections at the time of the acute exacerbation of chronic otitis media

The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether or not patients with chronic otitis media are infected with viruses or Mycoplasma at the time of sudden increase in otorrhea. From 26 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic otitis media, sera were collected at the time of sudden increase in otorrhea and three to four weeks later. These paired sera were examined for antibody titer to respiratory viruses (21 species) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Of them, influenza B virus and RSV infections were demonstrated in four and two cases, respectively. Examinations showed no infection in 10 control cases without acute exacerbation. In 36 cases of acute exacerbation of chronic otitis media, attempts were made to isolate viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae from the pharynx and otorrhea. Consequently, influenza B virus was detected in pharyngeal mucous scrapings in two cases and RSV in one. The probability of respiratory virus infection leading to acute exacerbation of chronic otitis media appears to be lower than that provoking acute otitis media in children and infants. However, the present data suggest that the development of respiratory virus infection in patients with chronic otitis media may cause an increase in the otorrhea, eventually resulting in an acute exacerbation of inflammation.

Ototoxic effect of an aminoglycoside drug on an immature inner ear

In order to investigate to what extent an immature inner ear is injured by external causes, the effect of Kanamycin on an immature cochlea was studied in mice by using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Our results showed that immature cochleae are more highly susceptible to injury than mature cochleae, especially when the Nuel's space and the Corti tunnel open. It is suggested that in humans, during the stage corresponding to the above period, that is, in about the third gestational month, the inner ear is highly susceptible to injury by external causes.

Intravenous maintenance aminophylline dosage in patients with asthma on regular oral theophylline

Intravenous maintenance aminophylline infusion rate can be calculated from the previously received equivalent oral dosage in children with chronic asthma with considerable accuracy. This method is expected to be more effective than that calculated from the body weight-based recommended guidelines. Reducing the intravenous aminophylline infusion rate in patients who have an upper respiratory infection is likely to reduce the risk of theophylline toxicity.

Linear growth of chronic asthmatic children: the effects of the disease and various forms of steroid therapy

The effects of asthma per se and of various oral steroid-treatment schedules on linear growth in 231 children with chronic severe asthma (6.2-16.2 years of age) were evaluated. Asthmatic children who had never received steroids and those who received occasional steroids, had comparable growth retardation, averaging approximately 1 standard deviation (s.d.) below their age- and sex-specific predicted means. Children who had been treated for 2 years or longer with alternate-day or daily steroids also did not differ from each other, with both groups averaging approximately 2 s.d. below their predicted means. Growth stunting, intermediate in severity, was found in children treated with frequent intermittent steroids. For groups with steroid medication-histories of never, occasional, intermittent, alternate-day and daily, the percentage of children with 2 or more s.d. below their predicted heights were 25, 17.4, 28, 50 and 45.5 respectively. The duration and dosage of daily steroid-treatment correlated positively with severity of growth retardation. In addition to norms, the children were also compared with a healthy, same-sex sibling and with predictions from their parents' heights. Regardless of the comparison used, the results were similar. Since genetic and socio-economic factors are controlled by the latter two comparisons, the data indicate that these factors played no role in growth retardation in these children. Growth retardation in asthma appears to be due to the disease itself, and is accelerated by steroid therapy.

Application of loop diuretics for treatment of sensorineural hearing impairment. Experimental and clinical study

In a series of animal experiments on guinea pigs and rats, conducted in an attempt to find a better solution for the treatment of sensorineural hearing impairment and tinnitus-known as diseases almost impossible to heal-it was revealed electrophysiologically, biochemically and electronmicroscopically that loop diuretics, referred to as ototoxic drugs, cause an increased amount of the therapeutic preparation to transfer to the inner ear fluid. It is concluded, on the basis of the encouraging results of these experiments, that combined medication with metabolic activator, steroid hormone and loop diuretics is significantly more effective in improving the symptoms of patients with inner ear deafness and tinnitus.

Ototoxicity of the anticancer drug cisplatin. An experimental study

Cisplatin was administered to guinea pigs. Hearing function was tested using ABR, and morphological studies were conducted by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The following findings were made. (1) The susceptibility to cochlear damage by cisplatin was dose dependent. (2) At the same dose, damage was most severe in the lower turns, particularly in the second turn. This tallies with the high tone loss. (3) Mainly the outer hair cells are the site of the damage and the inner hair cells are rarely damaged. (4) The first row of the outer hair cells tend to be more severely damaged. (5) Variation of the stria vascularis was moderate compared with the damage to the organ of Corti. (6) A tendency of recovery was observed in ABR in some animals after they were given 2 mg/kg/day cisplatin intramuscularly consecutively for 8 days.

Variation in bacterial count in otorrhea from cases of chronic otitis media depending upon the method of antibiotic administration

Patients with chronic otitis media (COM) were divided into two groups, one to be given Cephalexin (CEX) orally and the other to be given CEX ear drops locally. The counts of viable bacteria in otorrheal samples collected before and after CEX administration were determined. The incidence of decrease in the count of bacteria was higher in the group given ear drops than in the group given oral doses. The magnitude of decrease was greater in the former group. Various concentration of CEX representing the levels of the drug considered available at an otitis focus following oral administration were added to otorrheal preparations placed in biophotometer cells. After 24 hours of incubation, bacteria as undetected initially in the otorrhea were found in the biophotometer cells in 3 of 14 cases of COM.

Inner ear damage induced by bacterial endotoxin

Repeated i.d. injection doses of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide of E. coli at certain time intervals were found to give rise to the following changes in the inner ear in mice: In the organ of Corti of the cochlea, there were noted degeneration and disappearance of the inner and outer hair cells of the lower turn, partly with a partial disappearance of nerve fibers in the osseous spiral lamina. Degenerative changes seen in the upper turn were of milder degree. The stria vascularis exhibited enlarged intercellular spaces, the appearance of lysosomes in the constituent cells, and degeneration thereof. Changes observed in the vestibular organ were varying degrees of degeneration of types I and II sensory cells of the crista ampullaris and macula as well as a partial disappearance of these cells. The dark cells were found to have undergone such changes as the formation of vacuoles of varying size and widened interspaces between infoldings, thus providing presumptive evidence of a change in the composition of the endolymph. These observations suggest the possibility that Shwartzman reaction might be another probable cause of inner ear deafness or equilibrium disturbances in actual clinical cases which are at present claimed to be of unknown etiology.

Simplified approach to surface-wave scattering by blazed dielectric gratings

The scattering properties of dielectric gratings having asymmetric triangular profiles are determined by a simple approach that views the grating structure as a double set of parallel planes. The energy of an incident surface wave is then scattered in preferential directions that are consistent with the grating periodicity and with a Bragg condition. As a result, the triangular shape can be chosen so that scattering occurs mostly into the region above the grating or into that below it, thus making it possible to maximize the efficiency of beam couplers or other devices. This desirable blazing property can be achieved by satisfying simple design criteria that are obtained from the scattering approach presented here. The range of grating parameters for strong blazing is derived, and gratings with trapezoidal profiles are also discussed.

Altered theophylline pharmacokinetics during acute respiratory viral illness

The plasma half-life of theophylline was determined during and 1 month after serologically confirmed upper-respiratory-tract viral illness in six children with chronic asthma. In this group the plasma-theophylline half-life (mean = 419.8 min) was significantly longer during the acute stage of their illness than 1 month later (mean 249.9 min). There was no appreciable change in half-life in 4 patients who were febrile but in whom seroconversion did not occur. These preliminary results suggest that certain upper-respiratory-tract viral infections may affect theophylline metabolism.

Impaired response to hypoxia after bilateral carotid body resection for treatment of bronchial asthma

Decreased ventilatory responsiveness to isocapnic hypoxia and increased breath-holding times were measured in a 12-year-old asthmatic boy who had undergone bilateral resection of the carotid bodies. The patient had episodes of cyanosis in which he became disoriented, but he had no subjective feelings of discomfort or dyspnea.

Epidemiology of Enterobius vermicularis infection among orphans in orphanages in Taipei City

Children of eight orphanages at the different districts in Taipei were examined with scotch adhesive tape method and flotation of saturated NaCl solution from Sept. 1973 to Jan. 1974. The results are summarized as following: General incidence of Enterobius verminularis was 74.40% in 461 cases examined, male 76.45% (224/293), female 70.83% (119/168). There was no significant statistical difference between the male and female. Incidence of Enterobius among the orphanages was 83.33% (25/30) in Po-Ai, Fu-Ann 82.61% (38/46), Ta-Tung 82.43% (61/74), Hau-Sen 77.25% (34/44), Chung-I 75.00% (51/68), Jen-Ai 72.97% (23/37), Ti-Hwei 72.50% (29/40) and Sen-Tao 63.93% (78/122). There were no significant statistical differences among the orphanages except the differences between Sen-Tao and Ta-Tung; Sen-Tao and Fu-Ann, Sen-Tao and Po-Ai. Incidence of Enterobius according to age-groups: The highest rate was 79.34% (242/305) in primary school group followed by 70.00% (21/30) in kindergarten group, 64.40% (73/114) in Junior high school and the lowest was 63.64% (7/11) in nursery group. There was a significant statistical difference between primary school group and junior school group. (Table 3) The larger the space for the children's free activity was the lower the incidence of Enterobius, and the smaller space resulted in the higher incidence. The distribution of Enterobius ova in the different body parts of the 461 orphans was 80.91% (373/461); The highest 74.40% (343/461) at perianal area and the lowest 11.93% (55/461) at ears. The incidence of Enterobius on the various objects in the orphanages was found as the following: 85.71% (6/7) on bed pans, 83.67% (333/398) on linens, 78.46% (51/65) on w. c. appartus, 77.39% (89/115) on specimens of dust, 13.33% (1/15) on stairrails 8.04% (32/39) on bedposts, 7.33% (11/150) on closets, 4.24% (5/118) on desks and 3.64% (2/55) on toys.

Age of onset in a group of severely asthmatic children

The age of onset was examined retrospectively in a group of severely asthmatic children. The mean age of onset for males was 29.4 +/- 22.7 months and 30.4 +/- 27.0 months for females. The distribution of age of onset between males and females was remarkably similar (X2 = 1.77, 0.6 less than p less than 0.9). The mean age of onset was similar in children not receiving corticosteroids compared to those children who were taking high and low dose corticosteroids. An early or late age of onset appeared independent of corticosteroid requirements. Children with five or more positive immediate skin tests had earlier age of onset and higher total serum IgE levels than those with four or fewer positive skin tests.

Stable Semiconductor Liquid Junction Cell with 9 Percent Solar-to-Electrical Conversion Efficiency

The semiconductor liquid junction cell n-GaAs/0.8M K(2)Se-0.1M K(2)Se(2)-1M KOH/C has been shown to attain 9 percent photovoltaic power conversion efficiency in sunlight. Accelerated tests under 3100 degrees K light sources of several solar intensities indicate very low photocorrosion currents and high output stability.

Effect of red light on coleoptile growth

The effects of red light in reducing the growth of the oat (Avena sativa L.) coleoptile and the synthesis of auxin in the coleoptile tip are detectable 2 hours after treatment and become more pronounced with time. When the coleoptile tip is supplied with additional tryptophan the synthesis of auxin is doubled both in darkness and when exposed to red light. Treatment of the tip with gibberellic acid or pyridoxal phosphate overcomes the reduction of auxin synthesis caused by red light. The uptake of exogenous indoleacetic acid, at pH 6.5, by coleoptile tissue is doubled by exposure to red light. The effect of red light on coleoptile growth appears to be mediated by phytochrome in the cell membrane which delocalizes the tryptophan utilized for auxin synthesis.