This review summarizes current concepts on post-polio syndrome (PPS), a condition that may arise in polio survivors after partial or complete functional recovery followed by a prolonged interval of stable neurological function. PPS affects 15-20 million people worldwide. Epidemiological data are reported, together with the pathogenic pathways that possibly lead to the progressive degeneration and loss of neuromuscular motor units. As a consequence of PPS, polio survivors experience new weakness, generalized fatigue, atrophy of previously unaffected muscles, and a physical decline that may culminate in the loss of independent life. Emphasis is given to the possible pathogenic role of persistent poliovirus infection and chronic inflammation. These factors could contribute to the neurological and physical decline in polio survivors. A perspective is then given on novel anti-poliovirus compounds and monoclonal antibodies that have been developed to contribute to the final phases of polio eradication. These agents could also be useful for the treatment or prevention of PPS. Some of these compounds/antibodies are in early clinical development. Finally, current clinical trials for PPS are reported. In this area, the intravenous infusion of normal human immunoglobulins appears both feasible and promising.

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This paper presents the authors' experiences with one method of reconstruction of the tympanic membrane when it is totally absent or when there is a fixed, retracted, defective, or absent malleus. Ten patients undergoing surgery for chronic suppurative otitis media between April, 1971, and January, 1973, had homograft tympanic membranes and/or ossicles used to reconstruct the defect in the tympanic membrane or ossicular mechanism. The patients had certain clinical and surgical characteristics in common: 1. all had either an absent tympanic membrane or almost total perforation of it; 2. all were operated upon in the absence of acute infection or active drainage; cholesteatoma, if present, was totally removed; 3. all had patent eustachian tubes; 4. all had intact middle ear mucosa at the time of utilization of the homograft; 5. all patients were operated upon by the same surgeon; 6. all of the homografts were obtained within 24 hours and were used within one month after the death of the donor; 7. all of the homografts used had been preserved in 70 percent ethyl alcohol; 8. all of the homograft materials came from donors who were under 40 years of age at the time of death and who died of accidental causes. (None of the donors was known to have any pre-existing disease); 9. all homografts, after being placed in proper position in the recipient, were covered with ear canal skin; 10. all patients received homografts that were from the corresponding ear of the donor. (In other words, right ear homografts were used in the patient's right ear, etc.); 11. whenever the tympanic ring was greater than the size of the homograft, the patient's temporalis fascia was used in conjunction with the homograft tympanic membrane to bridge the defect; 12. all patients had the middle ear packed with gelfoam prior to inserting the homograft (compressed gelfoam was used also for the outer packing); 13. none of the patients had tissue-typing procedures carried out in an effort to match the donor and the recipient, nor was any attempt made to match the sex of the donor and the recipient; and 14. all patients received antibiotics postoperatively; however, none received immunosuppressive therapy postoperatively. In 3 of 10 patients receiving homografts, the malleus was normal, and only the tympanic membrane was reconstructed. In seven others there was a fixed, retracted, defective or absent malleus in addition to the tympanic membrane defect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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