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Horizontal positional nystagmus having characteristics similar to ice water caloric nystagmus was induced by injecting heavy water into the rabbit middle ear cavity or facial nerve through the stylomastoid foramen. Furthermore, with general administration of glycerol to normal subjects, horizontal positional nystagmus as with general administration of heavy water to experimental animals was observed. It is possible that alteration of the specific gravity arising from infiltration of heavy water or glycerol into the labyrinth accounts for the manifestation of positional nystagmus. These studies on positional nystagmus may be one of the means to elucidate the mechanism of caloric nystagmus and to examine the function of the human blood-labyrinth-barrier.

Experimental positional nystagmus (EPN) similar to benign paroxysmal positional nystagmus (BPPN) was induced in 8 of 20 rabbits by argon laser irradiation to the footplate. The power of the argon beam used was 2.0 watts and irradiation time was 1 or 2 sec. EPN and BPPN showed the following similarities maintained (1) When the head was maintained in the affected ear down position and the head positioned from the sitting to the supine position nystagmus directed to the affected ear or vertical nystagmus corresponding to rotatory nystagmus in man were provoked. (2) Delayed onset for provocation of nystagmus. (3) Limited duration. (4) Fatigability. (5) The direction of nystagmus was reversed when the head returned to the initial position (in two rabbits). Histological examination of the temporal bones showed separation of otoconia from the otolithic membrane of the saccule and bleeding in the saccule in both conditions. No lesions in the utricle and semicircular canals were evident. It was assumed that ablation of otoconia of the saccule causes this experimental positional nystagmus.

The purpose of this study is to describe the anatomy of the paravestibular canaliculus (PVC) in detail, especially its course in relation to the vestibular aqueduct (VA) and its vascular contents. Serial horizontal sections of 20 normal human temporal bones were stained either with hematoxylin and eosin, by Verhoeff-van Gieson's method, or by Mallorys method, and studied under the light microscope. Graphic reconstruction of the VA and the PVC was performed in some of the cases. In this study, the following new anatomical information on the common course and vascular contents of the PVC was obtained: 1) two PVC are present in the area near the vestibular orifice of the VA; 2) the PVC merges with the VA in the area near its cranial orifice without any particular branching, and does not enter the posterior cranial fosa; 3) veins course through the entire length of the PVC whereas arteries course only through the posterior cranial fossa side of the PVC. It appears that veins are the major contents of the PVC and that these veins represent the main venous drainage system from the vestibule. It also appears that arteries in the PVC supply the blood from the posterior cranial fossa mainly to the PVC itself.

A histologic study of the para-vestibular canaliculus (PVC), its contents, and its relationship to the vestibular aqueduct (VA), is presented. 20 normal human temporal bones were fixed in 10% formalin solution, embedded in celloidin, and sectioned horizontally at intervals of 20 micrometers. Every tenth section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and studied under a light microscope. Three significant observations were made. First, in 80% of the specimens, two rather than one PVC were found in the area of the vestibular orifice of the VA. Second, in 70% of the specimens, the PVC was found to merge with the VA rather than to enter the posterior cranial fossa (PCF) separately. Third, in all the specimens examined, a vein was seen to traverse the entire length of the PVC. However, in 17 specimens, no artery could be identified within the PVC. In the 13 (65%) specimens in which arteries could be identified in the PVC, the arteries extended only half the length of the PVC, from the PCF to the VA. In no specimen examined could arteries be seen extending the full length of the PVC from the PCF to the vestibule.

Several significant histopathological findings were noted in a case of sudden hearing loss in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The major pathological findings were leukemic hemorrhage into both perilymphatic and endolymphatic spaces in the cochlear and vestibular systems, endolymphatic hydrops in the cochlea and sacculus, and a relatively narrowed and straightened vestibular aqueduct and endolymphatic sac. Additional interesting findings include: loss of hair cells in the organ of Corti and vestibular end-organs; destruction of the stria vascularis (possibly the origin of the blood); fibrosis in the perilymphatic spaces in the cochlea and the vestibule, and in the endolymphatic space in the vestibule; and new bone formation in the perilymphatic spaces in the vestibule. The leukemic infiltrate observed in both the cochlea and the vestibule was not considered to be significant. Hemorrhage into the cochlea is thought to be the most reasonable cause of the sudden hearing loss in this case. Also discussed are fibrosis and osteogenesis as a late consequence of hemorrhage, and the coexistence of endolymphatic hydrops with an anomaly of the vestibular aqueduct and endolymphatic sac.

The histopathology of a case of profound hearing loss which seemed to be induced by noise exposure (explosions and drillings in a gold mine) is reported. The patient's only residual hearing was 250 Hz at 90 dB SPL in the right ear. The major histopathological findings were as follows: Bilateral absence or collapse of Corti's organ was observed in the middle and basal turns of the cochlea; however, in the remaining area (approximately 6.0 mm in range in the apical portion of the cochlea) Corti's organ was well-preserved with a moderate loss in number or atrophy of the hair cells. Bilateral marked decrease of the cochlear nerve was noted in the middle and basal turns; however, the nerve was well-preserved in the remaining apical portion (approximately 6.0 mm in range) of the cochlea. These pathological findings were somewhat less severe in the right cochlea than in the left. In general, there was good correlation between the profound hearing loss and the extensive pathological findings in Corti's organ. The residual hearing in the right ear would seem to be explained by the less severe pathological changes found in the apical portion of the right cochlea than in the left cochlea. In addition to noise exposure, other possible etiological factors contributing to this hearing loss are discussed. These include diabetes mellitus and presbycusis.

Two cases of breast cancer associated with pregnancy were reported and the immunological assessment was performed in the second case. Case 1: A 36 year-old woman in the first trimester of pregnancy and having a large axillary mass and breast lump was admitted. She was diagnosed as having Stage IIIb breast cancer. After interruption of pregnancy, she received an extended radical mastectomy and radiotherapy. However, she died nine months after surgery for brain and liver metastases. Case 2: A 30 year-old woman in her second trimester of pregnancy was admitted for a large breast mass. She was diagnosed as having Stage IIIa breast cancer. Interruption of pregnancy was again necessary to perform surgery followed by chemotherapy. After an extended radical mastectomy she was placed on a combination chemotherapy regimen with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and 5-FU. In both cases tumors began to develop rapidly at pregnancy. Immunological studies in Case 2 showed a depression of T-lymphocyte function and NK cell activity. Our study suggests that the depression of cell-mediated immunity during pregnancy may promote tumor growth.

Four temporal bones from three previously reported cases showing endolymphatic hydrops and pathology of the vestibular aqueduct (VA) and endolymphatic sac (ES) were investigated further. Pathology of the VA and ES was studied by measuring the sizes of the VA and ES, paying particular attention to the proximal rugose portions. A medial-view graphic reconstruction was created to delineate the course and size of the VA, as well as its correlation with neighboring structures (posterior canal and cochlea). In addition, 20 control temporal bones were selected and measured for quantitative study of the sizes of the VA and ES. The four pathologic temporal bones were shown to have small, simple, tube-like VA and ES, without surrounding bony pathology. This appeared to be congenital hypoplasia characterized by hypoplastic funnel-shaped dilatation of the VA and hypoplastic rugose portion of the ES. Anterior dislocation of the distal portion of the VA and poorly developed periaqueductal air cells were also noted in the pathologic bones.

Injecting of various solutions into the middle ear cavity of cats and rabbits provoked certain characteristic types of nystagmus which resembled caloric nystagmus or clinical cases of peripheral vestibular disorders. Solutions with different degrees of specific gravity, osmotic effect and ion composition were used in this study. Direction-changing positional nystagmus, irritative nystagmus, and paralytic nystagmus were elicited according to the physical or chemical properties of each solution. Histological findings showed mild changes in the perilymphatic space and/or in the endolymphatic space in the period with some characteristic types of nystagmus. Infiltration of the substances into the inner ear fluids from the middle ear cavity via a round window membrane were probably responsible for these types of nystagmus.