No abstract

In 23 patients with sialolithiasis the value of real time sonography was investigated. The calculi were correctly diagnosed in 91% of the patients. 3 of 4 calculi could be localized in the main duct of the salivary gland. Because of the high accuracy and the possibility to detect non opaque stones, sonography should be performed, if on plain film the localisation of the calculi is questionable, before sialography is done. In sonolithotrypsy, sonography can be used to document the extraglandular localisation of intraductal calculi.

The tendon of the human stapedius muscle was studied in normal post mortem material and in clinical otosclerotic patients, using light and electron microscopy. Cross section profiles of collagen fibrils were measured in various regions of the tendon and the amount of elastin was estimated. The normal stapedius tendon consisted of three concentrically arranged portions: A cylindrical central part, a tube-like mid-portion, and a cortical layer. The central part was made up of collagen fibrils with only a few elastic fibers, the mid-portion contained collagen fibrils together with significantly more elastic material, while the cortical layer, again, showed a smaller amount of elastic fibers. Mean diameters of collagen fibrils in the central part of the tendon were 65.12 +/- 11.89 nm, in the intermediate layer 41.00 +/- 9.63 nm, and in the cortical layer 70.28 +/- 19.58 nm. Stapedius tendons from clinically otosclerotic patients, though showing the same construction, were characterized by significantly altered collagen fibrillar diameters (Mann-Whitney U-test). In the central part, mean diameters were reduced to 61.05 +/- 14.70 nm, in the mid-portion increased to 50.90 +/- 10.08 nm, and in the cortical layer reduced to 61.09 +/- 8.49 nm. The changes of collagen cross section profiles estimated for the entire tendon were significant as well: 59.68 +/- 18.74 nm in controls versus 57.82 +/- 12.53 nm in otosclerotic patients. Elastin content in the mid-portion of control stapedius tendons increased with age (13% at 35 years of age to 35% at 70 years of age).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An attempt was made to combine the advantages of a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid (trouble-free use, powerful amplification, room for high-quality components, space for large energy source, use of extra equipment), with the advantages of the in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid (improved intelligibility, improved directional hearing, improved signal/noise ratio). A BTE hearing aid was equipped with filters and provided with an external microphone. A first experiment, carried out in an anechoic chamber on KEMAR (Knowles Electronic Manikin for Acoustical Research), showed that directional variation of the frequency response of the hearing aid microphone was better in the new hearing aid than in the original BTE. A second experiment was carried out with a group of 6 normal-hearing persons concerning the frequency characteristic of sound transmission from twelve angles in the horizontal plane without a hearing aid, with a normal BTE aid, with the 'new aid', and with an ITE aid. The new instrument gave significantly better directional hearing than the original BTE aid. A clinical study will be started to verify and extend the experimental results obtained.

Die otogene und rhinogene endokranielle Komplikation stellen auch heute noch em schweres, lebensbedrohendes Krankheitsbild dar (3, 7). Man ordnet ihr zu: 1. die otogene und rhinogene Meningitis, 2. die Pyramidenspitzeneiterung, 3. die septische Phlebitis von a) Sinus sigmoideus, b) Sinus cavernosus (otogen und rhinogen), c) Sinus sagittalis superior (rhinogen) und 4. den otogenen und rhinogenen Epi-bzw. Subduralabszef und den HirnabszeR (1, 9, 14). Die wichtigsten Ubergangswege der extraduralen Eiterung