Therapeutic effect of Castellani's paint in patients with an itchy ear canal.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Castellani's paint on symptomatic relief and skin flora in patients with an itchy external ear canal. METHODS: Subjective pruritus scores, and erythema and desquamation scores, were noted in 61 patients with an itchy external ear canal. External ear canal skin swabs were taken for bacterial and fungal cultures. Patients were then randomly divided into three groups: either Castellani's paint (group one) or steroid ear drops (group two) were instilled, or non-impacted cerumen was removed (group three). Patients were re-assessed at one month after the initial visit. RESULTS: After treatment, subjective pruritus scores were significantly lower in all groups, erythema scores were significantly decreased in group one, and desquamation scores were significantly reduced in groups one and two, when compared with pre-treatment scores. Reproduction density of bacteria including normal flora was decreased in group one. However, the types of bacteria that constitute the normal flora of the external ear canal were unchanged. CONCLUSION: Castellani's paint can be administered safely, effectively and easily, without affecting the type of external ear canal skin bacteria, in patients with an itchy external ear canal.

Facial palsy following embolization of a dural arteriovenous fistula.

Intracranial arteriovenous malformations are infrequent. Advances in endovascular treatment techniques have promoted the use of endovascular embolization in management of intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Transvenous or transarterial embolization procedures are effective options in the treatment of the arteriovenous fistulas. However, complications such as cranial nerve palsies may occur. Here, we present a case of right-sided lower motor neuron facial paralysis due to embolization of an intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula that have presented with clinical findings on the left eye. Facial functions of the patient improved from total weakness to House-Brackmann grade II, following facial nerve decompression surgery.

Expression of disintegrin and metalloproteinase family proteins 10, 12 and 17 in cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVE: Proteases of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase family (also known as ADAM proteins) are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. This study assessed the expression of disintegrin and metalloproteinase family proteins 10, 12 and 17 in cholesteatoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study evaluated cholesteatoma specimens from 19 patients, and external ear canal skin samples from 7 of the same patients (as controls), for the expression of disintegrin and metalloproteinase family proteins 10, 12 and 17, using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS: The study observed over-expression of proteins 10 and 17 in blood vessels, and over-expression of proteins 12 and 17 in cholesteatoma stroma. Immunostaining scores for proteins 10, 12 and 17 in epithelial and inflammatory cells from cholesteatoma specimens versus control specimens showed no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of disintegrin and metalloproteinase family proteins 10, 12 and 17 in cholesteatoma may be related to cholesteatoma pathogenesis. These proteins deserve further study as they may represent potential targets for cholesteatoma treatment.