Although studies on the cochlear duct in inner ear are occasionally made by means of light-or electron-microscopy, studies on fibrils of the cochlear duct are few. In this study, the fibrous connective tissues of the cochlear duct were analyzed in regard to morphology, composing substances, and the maturing process of the connective tissues. Periodic Acid Methenamine Silver (PAM) and Ruthenium Red (R. R) stains were used to determine the connective tissues.
The materials were the inner ears of young and mature guinea pigs, human fetuses, and adult humans.
A light microscopic study, using H. E, PAS, and Azan-Mallory stains and PAM stain, revealed that the tectorial membrane, limbus spiralis, basilar membrane, spiral ligament, and stria vascularis consisted of collagenous fibrils containing mucopolysac-charide. Electron microscopic studies were made using double staining with uranium acetate and lead, PAM stain (sliced sections for determining neutral polysaccharide or polysaccharide protein), and R. R stain (block materials for determining mucopolysaccharide) revealed the following: a series of fibrils in the limbus spiralis, basilar membrane, spiral ligament, and stria vascularis were related; silver particles were irregularly deposited on the surface of the fibrils (outer silver gilding); although the fibrils showed a strongly positive reaction to PAM (no periodical stripes were observed) they seemed to be immature, fine collagenous fibrils. On the other hand, although the tectorial membrane fibrils showed a strongly positive reaction to PAM and R. R stains, they were morphologically thinner than those of the basilar membrane, therefore seemingly to be immature fine collagenous tissues. Reissner's membrane, although its fibrous structure was not observed, was revealed to be an incomplete basilar membrane which showed a positive reaction to PAM stain. There were marked differences in the basilar membrane of young and mature guinea pigs, the basilar membrane of young guinea pigs having more fibroblasts than those of mature guinea pigs.
The cochlear duct of human fetuses is formed completely between the 23 rd-29 th week of gestation. The tectorial membrane appears at an early stage, and the basilar membrane and the organ of Corti are formed at a late stage.
It is difficult to compare the cochlear duct with other organs because it is a sensory organ and its anatomical structure is very complex. From these results, it was concluded that the fibrils of the cochlear duct should be regarded as being in a specific, immature stage analogous to fine collagenous fibrils in cartilage and the tympanic membrane.

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Lesions in the otolaryngological and bronchoesophageal fields first occur in the mucosa. In surgical treatment of these lesions, curettage or extraction of the lesions is usually performed. The physiological function of the tracheal mucosa is restored by regrowth and regeneration of the mucous epithelium on the wound. It is clinically necessary in the otolaryngological field to elucidate the regeneration mechanism, the process, and regulation of the mucosa. In the present study, the relationship between physiological regeneration and vitamin E and vitamin A was experimentally examined.

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The differential process of the epithelial cilia of the tracheal mucosa has occasionally been studied. However, the differential process of the whole mucous epithelium has scarcely been studied from an ultra-morphological point of view.
In this study, the differential process of the epithelia of the nasal and respiratory mucosae in rats was analyzed serially. In addition, the growth of the epithelium of the nasal mucosa in human embryos was studied, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Experimental results
A. Rats
(a) Nasal respiratory epithelium
(1) Primary cilia were observed in a few embryonic cells at the 13 th day of gestation. The number of cells having primary cilia increased in accordance with the number of days of gestation.
(2) In embryos at the 15 th day of gestation, cells having approximately 10 processes with a thickness between microvilli and cilia and with the same length as primary cilia were observed.
(3) Embryonic cells at the 16 th day of gestation were characterized by typical ciliated epithelium: cells having primary cilia disappeared and ciliated cells and secretory cells appeared. The lamina propriae were found to consist of a ciliated structure, collagen fibers, and elastic fibers.
(b) Tracheal mucous epithelium
(1) A few embryonic cells at the 14 th day of gestation had primary cilia. The number of ciliated cells was less than that in nasal respiratory epithelium.
(2) Ciliated cells were not observed in embryos at the 16 th day of gestation. The number of cells having primary cilia increased in comparison with the number of cells at the 14 th day or 15 th day of gestation.
(3) In embryos at the 17 th day of gestation, a few ciliated cells appeared first.
B. Epithelium of the inferior nasal concha of human fetuses
(1) Cells having primary cilia were observed in embryos at the 11 th week of gestation.
(2) In embryos at the 13 th week of gestation, ciliated cells appeared and increased in accordance with the number of days of gestation.
(3) In embryos at the 18 th week of gestation, secretory cells appeared. In embryos at the 27 th week of gestation, the release of secretory granules was evident.
(4) Non-ciliated cells decreased in accordance with the number of days of gestation.

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Rhinorrhoea plays important roles clinically in diagnosing and treating diseases of nasal and paranasal sinuses.
Using a cone-plate viscometer, which has been said to be capable of expressing the properties of non-newtonian fluid such as rhinorrhoea most accurately, the viscosity of rhinorrhoea was determined in 300 cases, in 71 of which biochemical analysis was also carried out, with following results.
1) At shear rate of less than 19.2 sec^-1, the apparent viscosity of rhinorrhoea elevated rapidly, showing thixotropy phenomenon, pseudoplasticity and structural viscosity. The viscosity curve displayed a hysteresis loop.
2) The presence of yield value was confirmed in rhinorrhoea, with a mean of about 56 dyn/cm² by Cone's ascending order as studied in 300 specimens in this study.
3) The viscosity of rhinorrhoea was found to be related to total protein, calcium, and water content, with especially close relations with the former two parameters.
4) Findings of maxillary X-ray membrane function test revealed that the better the excretory function is, the lower becomes the apparent viscosity of rhinorrhoea retained in the maxillary sinus.

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In inflammation, the plasmin, one of some chemical mediators, has an important role. That is to say, because of the proteolytic activity of plasmin, it can produce the other chemical mediators during various inflammatory responses. The precursor of plasmin, plasminogen was converted to plasmin by the plasminogen activator which existed in various tissues and body fluids. However, during the inflammatory process the plasminogen activator derived from the infiltrated leukocytes and macrophage might be closely related to activate the plasminogen.
In order to clarify the role of tissue plasminogen activator in inflammatory process, a comparative study was done on the chemical properties of the plasminogen activator from the pig heart and human paranasal mucous membrane with chronic sinusitis. These results obtained from this experiment were as follows:
1) The preparation from the pig heart exhibited relative thermal stability at neutral pH, the molecular weight similar to that of ovalbumin, about 46,000, estimated by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration.
2) The preparation from the paranasal mucous membrane exhibited two peaks of fibrinolytic activity by means of Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, indicating the existence of two different activators (high and low molecular weight). This tissue plasminogen activator with low molecular weight were very thermolabile at neutral pH, and the molecular weight was lower than that of cytochrome C (12,000).
3) From these results it was suggested that this tissue plasminogen activator with low molecular weight might be produced by the other protease which existed in the locus of the chronic inflammation. In analogy with staphylokinase in vitro the proteolytic modification of tissue plasminogen activator might occur at the locus of chronic sinusitis.

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The lamina propria membranae tympani and the round window membrane in humans and guinea pigs were examined with an electron microscope, using the PAM and PTA staining methods which are highly effective when stainining fibrous connective tissue.
1) Human tympanic membrane
The fibrous connective tissue in the lamina propria membranae tympani consisted only of collagen fibers. The fiber bundles were arranged regularly, and the center of the pars tensa membranae tympani consisted of outer radial fibers and inner circular fibers, with a few parabolic fibers between the outer radial fibers and the inner circular fibers. There were no differences between adults and embryos in arrangent and running of the bundles. However, while in the embryos the fiber bundles were narrow and few, in the older adults the bundles were thick and numerous and arrangement and running tended to be irregular. The fibrocytes in the embryos were immature.
2) Guinea pig tympanic membrane
The fibrous connective tissue consisted of immature collagen fibers without typical collagen banding. Arrangement of the fibers was regular, and mainly radial fibers and circular fibers were observed.
3) Human round window membrane The round window membrane consisted of mucous layers, lamina propria, and an inner layer. The fibrous connective tissue in the lamina propria consisted of elastic fibers and collagen fibers. Near the inner layer many elastic fibers ran parallel to the straight line that connects the oval window and the round window. Most of the collagen fibers ran in the same direction as the elastic fibers. These fibers corresponded to the longitudinal fibers (Längsfaser) described by Link. It is believed that the collagen bundles which ran transversely or obliquely to the longitudinal fibers under the mucosal epithelium correspond to anulus fibrosus externus and that those under the inner layer correspond to anulus fibrosus internus. Some collagen bundles ran transversely or obliquely to the longitudinal fibers at the center of the lamina propria. They were termed anulus fibrosus medius.
There were no differences between the adults and the embryos in arrangement and running of the fibrous connective tissue. In the embryos there was a small number of narrow elastic fibers and collagen bundles.
There was no mucosal epithelium in the embryos but there were myxomatous tissues. Moreover, the fibrocytes were immature.
4) Guinea pig round window membrane
The fibrous connective tissue consisted of elastic fibers and a small amount of collagen fibers. Near the inner layer most of the elastic fibers and collagen fibers ran parallel to the straight line that connects the oval window and the round window. Under the mucosal epithelium and the inner layer not all of the elastic fibers ran in the same direction. This was also true of a small amount of the collagen fibers.

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Change of transmission efficiencies of human ears of 12 healthy volunteers of both sexes aged 21 to 39 was measured by means of acoustic reflective contraction of middle ear muscles. The ears selected for the study were all discriminating for DL-test, and have the A shape of tympanograph. The maximum value of acoustic reflective contraction of the test-ears were measured and optimum loudness of impulse for the ears was obtained.
As the result of the measurement, the change of transmission efficiencies was 1-3 dB at 125, 250 and 500Hz.

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16 cases of thyroglossal cysts and 2 cases of branchial cysts, observed during the last 6 years (1972-1977) in the Department of Otolaryngology, the Second Hospital of Nippon Medical School, were reported.
Thyroglossal cysts is caused by remains of the thyroglossal duct. Branchial cyst arises from epithelial remains of a branchial apparatus. Because they are painless, they are occasionally left untreated for a long time. It is important to differentiate them from tuberculous lymphadenitis or malignant tumor. Total removal of a cyst is the only procedure. It was reconfirmed that the Sistrunk method, by which the center of the hyoid bone is removed, can be successfully applied to thyroglossal cyst.
Histological studies revealed that the interior walls of thyroglossal cysts consisted of squamous and cylindrical epithelium, that the interior walls of branchial cysts consisted of squamous epithelium, and that lymphatic cells had infiltrated the subcutaneous tissues.

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Clinical, statistical, and radiological observations were made on 110 cases of postoperative maxillary cyst which had underwent an operation between 1971 and 1977. The following results were obtaind.
1) Postoperative maxillary cyst occurred more frequently in men (86 case) than in women (24 cases)
2) It occurred on the left side in 46 cases and on the right side in 64 cases.
3) It occurred in cases between the age of 36 and 40.
4) The latent period of postoperative maxillary cyst from 6 to 20 years in approximately 80% of the cases.
5) It could be diagnosed in 60% by the conventional sinus film and in 72.7% by tomography.
6) To prevent postoperative maxillary cyst and infection, it is necessary to remove the maxillary and ethomoidal mucosa completely, to widen nasoantral window in the lower nasal meatus, and to avoid adhesion of the mucosa in the middle nasal meatus.

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A case of bone giant cell tumor in the ethmoid sinus occurred in a baby of 4 months old is reported.
The patient was brought to our hospital with chief complaints of nasal obstruction and mouth breathing. After various examinations, removal of tumor was carried out by modified Denker method under general anesthesia. Histopathologically giant cell tumor was confirmed (grade I: JAFFE).
In general, giant cell tumor of the bone develops selectively in the epiphysis of long tubular bone, and so in the field of otorhinolaryngology it is very rare disease. In Japan, only a few cases have been reported which occurred in the maxilla, temporal bone and larynx. In particular, to our knowledge there has been no other report heretofore which describes giant cell tumor of the ethmoid sinus in infants of 4 months old.

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Among the cases of foreign substances received treatment recently at the Department of Otolaryngology, Nippon Medical School 1 st Hospital, 3 cases which were considered to be rare cases are reported. In 2 of these 3 cases, foreign substances were due to the material which was inserted for therapeutic purpose into the lateral counteropening area of the left lower nasal way in one case and into the lower nasolacrimal duct in the other case and left there. In the third case, in an accident melted alminium entered into the nasal cavity and cooled there to form a mass of a mold, which became a foreign substance difficult to be removed. In all the cases the foreign substances could be resected surgically under local or general anesthesia as out-or in-patients.

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Two cases which leiomyoma occurred in nasal cavity and in larynx were reported. The first case was a 40-year-old housewife who complained of intermittent painless bleeding from the right nostril for one year. The physical examination showed the right nostril to be filled with bloody discharge. On cleaning the nose a pinkish tumor was seen on the right middle turbinate. The lesion was excised with a surgical forceps under general anesthesia. The histologic examination showed certainly benign smooth muscle tumor.
The second case was a 50-year-old housewife who complained of dysphagia and slight laryngeal pain for about one year. Laryngeal examination revealed a thumb's head sized tumor in the epiglottis and right aryepiglottic fold. The lateral transthyroid pharyngotomy was performed under general anesthesia. This was a leiomyoma of the vascular type. Both cases were rarely seen in nasal cavity and in larynx.

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Two thirds of the cases of granuloma teleangiectaticum occur in the neck and head. This disorder has been rarely reported from the viewpoint of otorhinolaryngology. This report described a 35-year-old woman who had had granuloma teleangiectaticum, resulting from repeated stimulation, in the left external auditory canal and discussed other reports of cases.
Granuloma teleangiecticum can be divided into granuloma (caused by injuries, infections, etc.) and angioma (the most common type). In this study, the patient had capillary hemangioma.

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