Aim: This study aims at clarifying the human leukocyte antigen haplotypes and genotypes conferring susceptibility or resistance to type 1 diabetes in the Japanese population. Methods: The frequencies of human leukocyte antigen DR-DQ haplotypes and genotypes were compared between 83 type 1 diabetic patients, except for fulminant type 1 diabetes, and control subjects in the Japanese population. The patients were divided by onset age into four groups (ages 5–14, 15–29, 30–49, and 50–71 years); the haplotype frequency was compared between each group. Results: The frequencies of DRB1*0405-DQB1*0401 (DR4), DRB1*0802-DQB1*0302 (DR8), DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 (DR9), and DRB1*1302-DQB1* 0604 (DR13) haplotypes were significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects. The frequencies of DRB1* 1501-DQB1*0602 and DRB1*1502-DQB1*0601 haplotypes were significantly lower in the patients than in the controls. The frequencies of DR4/8, DR4/13, DR9/9, and DR9/13 genotypes were significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects. The DR13 haplotype was the most frequent haplotype in the age group 30–49 years, whereas the other haplotypes but DR13 were the most frequent in the other age groups. Conclusion: DR4, DR8, DR9, and DR13 haplotypes confer susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Japanese patients.

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The lateral upper arm flap is the reconstruction of first choice for intraoral defects due to its low donor site morbidity.

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Fusaric acid, an inhibitor of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which converts dopamine to noradrenaline, lowered the blood pressure and induced a subjective improvement in patients with phaeochromocytoma. These effects may be due either to an impairment of catecholamine biosynthesis or to a direct action on the blood vessels. The use of this drug in the treatment of patients with inoperable malignant phaeochromocytoma or neuroblastoma may improve symptoms and prolong survival.

Laryngeal radionecrosis is one of the most troublesome late complications of radiotherapy, because it is frequently resistant to treatment and laryngectomy is required in the worst case. Here, we report a case of laryngeal radionecrosis, successfully treated by use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, in which laryngectomy was avoided. A 67-year-old male received radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for mesopharyngeal cancer, which included radiotherapy with a total dose of 71.4 Gy/38 Fr and chemotherapy with CDDP + S-1. He developed dyspnea and throat pain 9 months after completion of CRT. Laryngoscopy revealed vocal cord impairment because of severe laryngeal edema. He was diagnosed as having laryngeal radionecrosis and initially received conservative therapy combined with antibiotics, steroids, and prostaglandins. Because his dyspnea was persistent despite this treatment, HBO therapy was administered 20 times, and resulted in complete remission of the dyspnea. HBO therapy, therefore, is regarded as an effective conservative therapeutic option for laryngeal radionecrosis.

The effects of severing the hypoglossal nerve and resultant restriction of tongue movement was evaluated for its effect on masticatory jaw movement. Electromyograms of masseter muscles in the feeding rat were recorded 3 days after the nerve severing operation at 1 week intervals. Even after severing the lateral branches of the hypoglossal nerve bilaterally, active-feeding behaviour continued with mastication slightly impaired. After severing the medical branches bilaterally, feeding behaviour was rarely observed, but where eating did take place mastication was impaired with marked disturbance in the masticatory rhythm.