Surgically removed palatine tonsils provide a conveniently accessible source of T and B lymphocytes to study the interplay between foreign pathogens and the host immune system. In this study we have characterised the distribution of human adenovirus (HAdV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in purified tonsillar T and B cell-enriched fractions isolated from three patient age groups diagnosed with tonsillar hypertrophy and chronic/recurrent tonsillitis. HAdV DNA was detected in 93 out of 111 patients (84%), while EBV DNA was detected in 58 patients (52%). The most abundant adenovirus type was HAdV-5 (68%). None of the patients were positive for HCMV. Furthermore, 43 patients (39%) showed a co-infection of HAdV and EBV. The majority of young patients diagnosed with tonsillar hypertrophy were positive for HAdV, whereas all adult patients diagnosed with chronic/recurrent tonsillitis were positive for either HAdV or EBV. Most of the tonsils from patients diagnosed with either tonsillar hypertrophy or chronic/recurrent tonsillitis showed a higher HAdV DNA copy number in T compared to B cell-enriched fraction. Interestingly, in the majority of the tonsils from patients with chronic/recurrent tonsillitis HAdV DNA was detected in T cells only, whereas hypertrophic tonsils demonstrated HAdV DNA in both T and B cell-enriched fractions. In contrast, the majority of EBV positive tonsils revealed a preference for EBV DNA accumulation in the B cell-enriched fraction compared to T cell fraction irrespective of the patients' age.

All rats treated only with tobramycin showed a deterioration of hearing. None of the rats given simultaneous treatment with tobramycin and edaravone demonstrated hearing loss. A 7 day delay in edaravone injection still prevented hearing loss, but a 14 day delay had only a temporary prophylactic effect.

IntroductionFree vascularized tissue may provide a robust reconstruction after anterior skull base surgery. We report our technique and outcomes of the endoscopic inset of free flaps in anterior skull base reconstructions.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2018, endoscopic tumor removal and reconstruction of anterior skull base pathology was performed in five patients aged 20–72 years old (four male, one female). The tumors included three neuroblastomas, a carcinoma, an adenoma, and a melanoma. The median size of the defect was 3.7 × 6.6 cm. Transmaxillary access was gained through the upper sulcus and an anterior and medial maxillectomy. The flap inset was facilitated by the endoscope. The donor vessels were tunneled through the sinus and through the cheek to the facial vessels without the use of the endoscope.ResultsIn three cases a vastus lateralis flap was used, in one case an adipofascial ALT flap and in one case an adipofascial radial forearm flap. Separation of intracranial and sinonasal spaces was confirmed by radiological and endoscopic examinations. There was no flap failure and one case with partial necrosis. One of the flaps needed to be trimmed as it obliterated the nasal cavity and in one of the cases the flap was repositioned postoperatively. Two cases had infectious complications. The mean follow‐up of the patients was 13.8 months.ConclusionsEndoscopic assisted inset of a free flap in the anterior skull base was feasible in the five cases we present. A dedicated, multidisciplinary approach is mandatory for surgical innovation like this.