Isolated sphenoid sinus disease (ISSD) is a relatively uncommon disease. The present study is a retrospective review of 122 patients with ISSD who were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital at Shanghai Medical University over a 25-year period. The diagnosis of ISSD was made on the basis of history and physical examination, signs and symptoms, nasal endoscopy, and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The final diagnosis of ISSD was confirmed by histopathologic and microbiological examinations of the surgical specimens. The pathological findings in this study included sphenoid cyst (47 cases), sphenoid sinusitis (31 cases), fungal disease (19 cases), inverted papilloma (4 cases), sphenochoanal polyp (1 case), foreign body (8 cases), malignant tumors (8 cases), and others (4 cases). The most common initial symptom was headache, followed in decreasing order by visual changes, cranial nerve palsies, and nasal symptoms. The more frequent use of routine CT and MRI scanning, as well as endoscopy, in the diagnosis of sinus disease has led to an increase in the early diagnosis of ISSD. The recent advances in endoscopic sphenoidotomy has allowed for relatively safe and immediate treatment of ISSD, preventing late extension into adjacent vital structures, which is commonly fatal. Endoscopic surgery also enables the surgeon to make a precise pathological diagnosis.

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The maturation of the endocochlear potential (EP) and the inner ear fluid ionic composition were studied in fetal and neonate guinea pigs. The concentration of sodium and potassium in endolymph and perilymph approximated adult values more than 2 weeks before birth. Endolymph had acquired its specific ionic composition before the onset of cochlear microphonics (52-55 gestation days, results of other authors). Positive EP was recorded starting on day 62 of gestation. The EP rose fast to reach near adult level at birth. It is speculated that the negative EP recorded after the onset of cochlear microphonics was an artifact, probably a result of fetal hypoxia. The significance of the negative EP recorded before the onset of the cochlear microphonics is discussed in relation to the source of the anoxic negative EP in the adult animal.

Because several hours are required for facial palsy to develop before becoming apparent, this suggests that the onset and development of facial palsy occurred during sleep, when circulatory dynamics are reduced. In humans, ischemia is more likely to occur and produce facial palsy than virus reactivation.

In order to clarify the effect of reserpine on the Na(+)-K+ active transport in the stria vascularis we investigated the localization of ouabain-sensitive K(+)-dependent p-nitro-phenylphosphatase (K-NPPase) activity in the stria vascularis of reserpinized guinea pigs using the cerium-based method. The K-NPPase activity in marginal cells differed from cell to cell, and was almost completely absent in some cells. These results are consistent with the previous results and suggest that Na(+)-K+ active transport in the stria vascularis may be inhibited by reserpine administration.