Sudden total bilateral deafness due to asymptomatic mumps infection.

Mumps is the most common cause of unilateral acquired sensorineural hearing loss in children. Although it usually affects the salivary glands. the inner ear may be involved. Deafness is usually unilateral, sudden in onset, profound and permanent. Bilateral total sensorineural hearing loss had been rarely reported in English literature. We present a case of total deafness due to asymptomatic mumps infection.

Azathioprine in combination with steroids in the treatment of autoimmune inner-ear disease.

A total of twelve patients with a relatively uncommon form of progressive sensorineural deafness (autoimmune inner-ear disease) were treated orally with 1 mg/kg azathioprine, once daily, and with 30 mg prednisolone, every other day, for 4 weeks. Statistically significant increases in the ability to hear pure tones or in discrimination on audiometry took place in 10/12 patients. This condition was initially described as 'sensorineural hearing loss', but it is now clear that the term 'autoimmune inner-ear disease' is more appropriate since the vestibular compartment as well as the cochlear compartment is involved. This relatively uncommon disease is one of the few forms of sensorineural deafness that can be successfully treated.

Swine models for cardiovascular research: a low stress transport and restraint system for large swine.

A restraint and transport system was developed for handling large swine during cardiovascular research studies. The major design criteria provided for comfortable, low stress restraint of the swine, safety for laboratory personnel and ability to perform a wide variety of hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements in the standing, supported standing and sedated, or in Panepinto sling positions. A head gate is provided for venipuncture procedures, and an auxiliary feeding and watering front panel can replace the head gate for use of the system as a post-operative "recovery room". Using this system animals weighing 22 to 150 kg can be easily managed.

Ultrastructural localization of Ca2(+)-binding sites in the middle ear mucosa of the rat.

Cations were precipitated with potassium-pyroantimonate in the middle ear mucosa of the rat and the distribution of the formed precipitates was studied by electron microscopy. The precipitate density in various cells of the different epithelia of the middle ear mucosa was determined on electron micrographs by counting the number of precipitates per unit area. Electron spectroscopic imaging was also performed to obtain information about the spatial distribution of the precipitates and their elemental composition.

Ultracytochemical localization of Ca2(+)-ATPase activity in the middle ear mucosa of the guinea pig.

Ca2(+)-ATPase activity was studied ultra-cytochemically in the middle ear mucosa of the guinea pig. On electron microscopic examination, the most intense reaction was found on the microvilli. Reaction products were also observed on the cilia and around and between the secretory granules on the apical side of the cells in their secretory phase. The basolateral membranes contained few reaction products, while very little or no activity was found on the basal membrane.

[Recurrent benign tumors of the parotid gland and their tendency for becoming malignant]. / Rezidivierende gutartige Tumoren der Parotis und ihre Tendenz zur Malignisierung.

In 257 parotid adenomas lumpectomy led to tumour recurrence in 49.2%, superficial parotidectomy in 5.7% and total parotidectomy in 5.3%. 40 patients with recurrent tumours experienced eventually eight true malignant neoplasms. There were five carcinomas ex pleomorphic adenomas, one true malignant mixed tumour, and two undifferentiated carcinomas. Malignant transformation usually occurred with the 4th recurrence after 15.8 years. To prevent recurrence and secondary malignancy in parotid adenomas the lumpectomy technique should be omitted.