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Aim:To access the metabolic changes caused by a chalcone derivative (LabMol-75) through a proteomic approach. Methods:Proteomic analysis was performed after 9 h of Paracoccidioides brasiliensisyeast (Pb18) cell incubation with the LabMol-75at MIC. The proteomic findings were validated through in vitroand in silicoassays. Results:Exposure to the compound led to the downregulation of proteins associated with glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, β-oxidation, the citrate cycle and the electron transport chain. Conclusion:LabMol-75caused an energetic imbalance in the fungus metabolism and deep oxidative stress. Additionally, the in silicomolecular docking approach pointed to this molecule as a putative competitive inhibitor of DHPS.

ABSTRACTThis article traces the contemporary history of the eucharistic host, arguing that the materiality of modern Catholicism offers a distinct set of insights into the ways in which the Catholic Church has negotiated, resisted, and accommodated the modern world. Drawing on archival work, writings from a range of early twentieth-century Catholic journals, and advertising campaigns for altar bread, I show how shifting theological convictions about the Eucharist transformed both the form of altar bread as well as how and by whom it was made. Long before the Second Vatican Council, efforts to increase lay reception of communion as a strategy to mobilize Catholics against modernity had the effect of increasing demand for the bread on which it depended. After the Council, new convictions about the need for more intelligible liturgical symbols were accompanied by demands for a new kind of bread. Taken together, I argue that these factors unwittingly contributed to the creation of a new economy of host production. While the relationship between the church and the modern world remains one of the most enduring tensions in modern Catholicism in the wake of Vatican II, I show how both before and after the Council, the Catholic Church was deeply enmeshed in and dependent upon that world to achieve its ends.

AbstractElectron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of spin labels was used to characterize the interactions of amphotericin B (AmB), miltefosine (MIL) and nerolidol (NER) with the plasma membrane of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Spin-labeled analogs of stearic acid and steroid androstane distributed into the plasma membrane of the fungus treated with AmB, showed strong interactions with putative AmB/sterol complexes. The observed increase in the EPR parameter 2A//caused by AmB can be interpreted as a remarkable reduction in the spin label mobility and/or an increase in the local polarity. The 2A//parameter reduced gradually as the concentration of MIL and NER increased. The membrane-water partition coefficient (KM/W) of the three compounds under study was estimated based on the minimum concentration of the compounds that causes a change in EPR spectrum. The KM/Wvalues indicated that the affinity of the compounds for the P. brasiliensismembrane follows the order: AmB > MIL > NER. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were lower than the respective minimum concentrations of the compounds to cause a change in the EPR spectrum, being ∼3.5-fold lower for AmB, 3.9-fold for MIL and ∼1.4-fold for NER. Taken together, the EPR spectroscopy results suggest that the anti-proliferative effects of the three compounds studied are associated with alterations in cell membranes. One of the most likely consequences of these changes would be electrolyte leakage.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

The critical polymorphisms that define sub-clades within a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup are identified with the use of limited volumes of complete mtDNA sequence data by providing a springboard for large-scale high-resolution screening of human mtDNAs. The enhanced geneological resolution clearly shows that sub-clades of haplogroup H have highly distinctive geographical distributions.

Abstract Haplotype, allele frequencies and population data of 11 Y-chromosome STR loci DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS438 and DYS439 were determined from a sample of 168 [...]

Abstract This paper presents an overview of the organisation and the results of the collaborative exercises (CE) of the European DNA Profiling (EDNAP) Group's mitochondrial DNA population database project (EMPOP). [...]

Abstract Haplotype, allele frequencies and population data of 17 Y-chromosome STR loci DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS460 (GATA A7.1), DYS461 (GATA A7.2), GATA [...]

Abstract We explore different designs to estimate both nuclear and mitochondrial human DNA (mtDNA) content based on the detection of the 5' nuclease activity of the Taq DNA polymerase using [...]

Abstract Degradation of human DNA extracted from forensic stains is, in most cases, the result of a natural process due to the exposure of the stain samples to the environment. [...]

This article critiques Enrique Dussel’s use of the conversion of Bartolomé de Las Casas to ground his argument for a clear correspondence between Christian economic and eucharistic participation. Portraying justice as the result of an epiphanic conversion, Dussel implies a sudden and enduring ethical purity that undermines the justice he wants to call forth. I argue that a closer reading of the life of Las Casas offers a more truthful way to account for eucharistic practice under the pervasive structures of late capitalism.

In the context of phenotype switching and cell fate determination, numerousexperimental studies report hysteresis, despite the fact that the (forward) Chemical Master Equation governing the inherently stochastic underlying gene regulatory networks has a unique steady state (precluding memory effects and hysteresis). In previous works, we demonstrate thathysteresis is a transient phenomenon in systems far from the thermodynamic limit, using the convergence rates of the partial integro-differential equation associated to the forward master equation governing the stochastic process. Here, we make use of the backward master equationto quantify hysteresis and irreversibility based on First Passage Times..

Abstract The X-chromosomal microsatellites HPRTB, DXS 101, ARA, DXS7423, and DXS8377 were analysed by a pentaplex PCR in an expanded population sample from Cantabria and an independent sample of unrelated [...]

El uso de dispositivos que aportan presión positiva continua en la vía aérea ha demostrado mejoría en diversas patologías que producen insuficiencia respiratoria. En el episodio de pandemia por COVID-19, el uso de estos dispositivos se ha generalizado, pero, debido a la escasez de dispositivos convencionales de presión positiva continua en la vía aérea (CPAP), se han fabricado dispositivos alternativos. El objetivo de este estudio es describir el uso de estos, así como su eficacia.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of spin labels was used to study the interactions of amphotericin B (AmB) with the plasma membrane of Leishmania amazonensispromastigotes, erythrocytes, and J774 macrophages. Spin labels embedded into the cell membranes detected strong interactions with putative AmB/sterol complexes that resulted in pronounced changes in the EPR spectra, which can be interpreted as a reduction in membrane fluidity or an increase in the polarity assessed by the spin probe. The EPR spectra of spin-labeled lipids corroborated the findings that AmB does not enter phospholipid membrane-sterol models and probably forms extramembranous aggregates, as predicted by the sterol sponge model. Furthermore, these aggregates were shown to extract the spin probe androstanol from the lipid bilayer. However, in contrast to the results for the model membrane, EPR spectroscopy suggested that AmB easily enters the membranes of the studied cells, implying that the entry process is dependent on interactions with the membrane proteins.

Asiaticoside (AS), the major active constituent of Centella asiaticaextract, has numerous uses including the treatment of cutaneous diseases. In the present study, dried (D) and glycolic (G) extract were encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) (NLC-D and NLC-G) for skin delivery. In vitrorelease and skin permeation studies were performed. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was performed to elucidate the lipid dynamics of NLC matrices and their influence on stratum corneum (SC) membrane fluidity. AS release from NLC-D was approximately 23.7%. NLC-G provided a 2-fold increase of AS release during the same period. EPR data demonstrated that NLC were able to enhance SC membrane fluidity, and a more pronounced effect was achieved with NLC-G. NLC-G allowed AS to penetrate into the deeper skin layers, with measurable quantification in the epidermis/dermis (9.14 ± 0.54 μg/cm2) in 24 h. Similar AS permeation was achieved from NLC-D only after 48 h (10.42 ± 1.41 μg/cm2). The faster release of the AS from NLC-G is responsible for enhanced skin permeation and the increase of SC fluidity produced by NLC-G also seems to increase AS skin permeation to deeper skin layers. Thus, NLC-G seems to be a promising formulation for the treatment of scleroderma.

A lamellar gel phase emulsion using oil extracted from the seeds of D. alata(baru) was developed and characterized. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) of fatty acid spin labels was used to investigate the profile of interaction of the dispersed systems with stratum corneum(SC) lipids.

The second law imposes a number of constraints on the set of feasible reaction rate coefficients that a chemical network can accept, known in the literature on CRNT (Chemical Reaction Network Theory) as Wegscheider’s condition. One main consequence is that any closed chemical reaction system operating at isothermal conditions, if compatible with thermodynamics, must be complex balanced, otherwise the Wegscheider’s condition is violated. In this contribution we make use of this observation to conclude passivity of open reaction systems with respect to a Gibbs energy function, what in turn allows us to point on mass and energy exchanges with the environment, as the main causes that make chemical reactors unstable. As it will be discussed, control of open reaction systems can take advantage of this fact to design input-output stabilizing feed-back controllers.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review the indications for subtotal petrosectomy for cochlear implantation, report our management of complications, as well as review those technical factors that are critical for successful implantation.Methods: Patients (n = 104) that underwent subtotal petrosectomy with closure of the external auditory canal and obliteration of the cavity with abdominal fat in combination with cochlear implantation were analyzed.Results: The most frequent indication for subtotal petrosectomy was the existence of a previous canal wall down technique. Postoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (11.83%). Extrusion of the device took place in 5 cases (4.55%).Conclusions: Subtotal petrosectomy in cochlear implantation permits obtaining a cavity isolated from the external environment, and when needed, it improves the access and visibility during the surgical procedure. Subtotal petrosectomy is a safe technique, with a low rate of complications.

ABSTRACTMiltefosine (MT) is a membrane-active alkylphospholipid licensed for the topical treatment of breast cancer skin metastases and the oral treatment of leishmaniasis, although its mechanism of action remains unclear. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of a spin-labeled lipid and a thiol-specific spin label in the plasma membrane of Leishmaniapromastigotes showed that MT causes dramatic increases in membrane dynamics. Although these alterations can be detected using a spin-labeled lipid, our experimental results indicated that MT interacts predominantly with the protein component of the membrane. Cell lysis was also detected by analyzing the supernatants of centrifuged samples for the presence of spin-labeled membrane fragments and cytoplasmic proteins. Using a method for the rapid incorporation of MT into the membrane, these effects were measured immediately after treatment under the same range of MT concentrations that cause cell growth inhibition. Cytotoxicity, estimated via microscopic counting of living and dead cells, indicated ∼70% cell death at the concentration of MT at which EPR spectroscopy detected a significant change in membrane dynamics. After this initial impact on the number of viable parasites, the processes of cell death and growth continued during the first 4 h of incubation. The EPR spectra of spin-labeled membrane-bound proteins were consistent with more expanded and solvent-exposed protein conformations, suggesting a detergent-like action. Thus, MT may form micelle-like structures around polypeptide chains, and proteins with a higher hydrophobicity may induce the penetration of hydrophilic groups of MT into the membrane, causing its rupture.

La transformación de los ambientes naturales hacia ambientes manejados como cultivos o pastizales conlleva un impacto directo en la abundancia de las especies que ahí habitan. Se ha registrado que algunos cultivos, como los cafetales de sombra diversificada tienen un menor efecto en la abundancia de las especies y que incluso pueden incrementar su abundancia. En un mosaico de cafetales diversificados y bosques nativos en el Soconusco chiapaneco, se evaluó la abundancia por mes, utilización del hábitat, microhábitat y hora de actividad en la lagartija Ameiva undulataen, durante noviembre del 2000 a abril del 2002. La abundancia más alta fue registrada en febrero. La mayoría de organismos se observó en cafetales de sombra diversificada y en microhábitats asociados a la hojarasca. A lo largo del día, la mayor actividad se registró de las ll:00 a 12:00h, seguida por un decremento continuo en el nivel de actividad hasta las 18:00h. Los resultados indican que esta lagartija presenta una mayor abundancia en ambientes con insolación y perturbación media, condiciones que están poco representadas en ambientes conservados como los bosques mesófilos y las selvas medianas, o bien, en ambientes altamente transformados y sin sombra como los pastizales.

Stapedectomy is a surgical technique that requires progressive training. The external and middle ear of sheep have a close resemblance to the human and have been previously used as surgical training models. In our project we describe the anatomy of the middle and external ear in sheep focusing on surgical landmarks and technique in order to determine whether the sheep's ear is an adequate model for stapedectomy training.

The technological opportunities opened up by biotechnology in agriculture are diverse, including plant breeding, the partial or total relief of pesticides chemicals usage, the improvement of soil fertility, the improvement of the quality attributes of various foods. Specifically, various tricks of biotechnology can be used for higher seed yield, resistance to diseases and insects, better stems and roots, tolerance to drought and heat, and better agronomic quality. A number of recent works considerably widen the potential of plant biotechnology where transformation methods and studies of molecular genomics have been described. For example, transformation techniques and search for new selectable markers involving biolistic technique, gene transfer technique using the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, selection technique based on the use of mannose, utilization of genes promoting endogenous hormone production under the control of chemical stimulants, further more, engineering the nuclear genome without antibiotic resistance genes and engineering the plastid genome. We are presenting in this paper some of the recent patents on methods and techniques involving genes coding proteins and breeding techniques with possible agronomic applicability on crops economically important, such as soybean, corn and sugarcane.

LAT serine‐based motifs are essential for transducing activation signals coming from the TCR/CD3 complex, allowing for the activation of both PLC‐γ1 and MAPK kinases. The adaptor protein LAT has a prominent role in the transduction of intracellular signals elicited by the TCR/CD3 complex. Upon TCR engagement, LAT becomes tyrosine‐phosphorylated and thereby, recruits to the membrane several proteins implicated in the activation of downstream signaling pathways. However, little is known about the role of other conserved motifs present in the LAT sequence. Here, we report that the adaptor LAT contains several conserved serine‐based motifs, which are essential for proper signal transduction through the TCR. Mutation of these serine motifs in the human T cell line Jurkat prevents proper calcium influx, MAPK activation, and IL‐2 production in response to TCR/CD3 stimulation. Moreover, this mutant form of LAT has a reduced ability to bind to PLC‐γ1 and SLP‐76, although phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 132, 171, and 191 is not decreased, raising a possible role for the serine‐based motifs of LAT for the binding of important partners. The functional role of LAT serine‐based motifs in signal transduction could be mediated by an effect on tyrosine phosphorylation, as their mutation significantly diminishes the phosphorylation of tyrosine residue 226. In addition, these serine motifs seem to have a regulatory role, given that upon their mutation, ZAP‐70 shows enhanced phosphorylation. Therefore, the LAT serine‐based motifs likely regulate signaling pathways that are essential for T cell physiology.

In this work, we consider the multiobjective design of bioprocesses, i.e., those from the biotechnological, pharmaceutical, and food industries. We present and compare extensions for three solution strategies for multiobjective optimization of this class of problems, which can be a very challenging task due to the frequent nonconvex nature of the associated nonlinear programming problems (NLPs), a consequence of the highly nonlinear character of most bioprocess models. Details of these new implementations are provided, especially focusing on several modifications of the original methods which we have developed in order to improve their efficiency and robustness. In addition, bifurcation analysis will be used to provide the decision maker with additional stability criteria to further select a suitable compromise solution among the set of optimal design alternatives. As a case study, we consider the optimal design of a fermentation process with respect to two economic criteria.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major aetiological agent of chronic hepatitis and it may lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV has been classified into six clades as a result of high genetic variability. A commercial procedure to genotype HCV in 678 patients from Carlos Haya Regional University Hospital, Malaga was used to study the distribution of HCV genotypes in Malaga, southern Spain. A high prevalence of HCV‐4 (10.2%) was found. This genotype is found more commonly in Egypt, Central Africa and the Middle East. The distribution of the different subtypes in the 69 patients with HCV‐4 was as follows: 4.3% subtype 4e, 7.2% subtype 4a, 11.5% not subtypable, and 76.8% subtype 4c/4d. Of the 53 4c/4d patients, 69% were intravenous drug users and 31% non‐intravenous drug users. In order to characterise further the HCV‐4c/4d patients, sequences of the non‐structural 5Bgene (393 bp) were obtained from 36 HCV‐4c/4d‐infected untreated patients. Phylogenetic tree topologies distinguished clearly the two subtypes: 11 patients were infected by subtype 4c and 25 by 4d. This phylogenetic analysis, reinforced by the epidemiological characteristics, suggests the extension of the HCV‐4c and ‐4d subtypes in the area of Malaga among both intravenous drug users and non‐intravenous drug users. J. Med. Virol. 78:1429–1435, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Levels of myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) mRNA were studied for a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region at nucleotide position −88 of the gene to identify individual-specific responses to interferon (IFN)-α2that might predict responsiveness to IFN-α therapy. We quantified MxA expression by reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro, induced by IFN-α2, from 22 healthy donors, in relation with G/T polymorphism located in the promoter of the MxA. MxA mRNA was significantly upregulated in all subjects (mean of 53-fold) in response to IFN-α2in vitro(P<0.01). Comparison of the inducibility of MxA mRNA expression in relation with G/T polymorphism showed a 4.26-fold higher induction of MxA mRNA levels in PBMC from carriers of the mutant allele (GT or TT) than homozygotes with the wild-type allele (GG) (P<0.001). We propose that expression of the IFN-inducible MxA is affected by a single nucleotide polymorphism in the MxA promoter which can identify an individual response to IFN-α2.

The simultaneous design and control of continuous bioprocesses is considered here as a multi-objective optimization problem subject to non-linear differential-algebraic constraints. This type of problem is very challenging to solve due to its non-convexity (multi-modality). We present two novel solution approaches based on extensions of an stochastic global optimization method. The robustness and efficiency of these approaches are illustrated with a wastewater treatment plant case study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of HLA gene polymorphism toward susceptibility to osteoarticular focal forms of human brucellosis. METHODS: A total of 57 patients with brucellosis, of whom 23 had osteoarticular complications, and 73 healthy volunteers were genotyped for HLA class I and class II antigens by a polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer technique. RESULTS: The HLA-B*39 allele was present in significantly more patients with osteoarticular complications than in the other patients (35% vs 3%; p = 0.0006, OR 15.684, 95% CI 3.453–71.231), or in the controls. CONCLUSION: The increased presence of the HLA-B39 genotype in patients with brucellosis with clinical osteoarticular manifestations suggests that this genotype confers susceptibility to developing severe osteoarticular focal forms of the disease.

The stratum corneum (SC) protein dynamics in the sulfhydryl group regions was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of a covalently attached maleimide derivative spin label. A two-state model for the nitroxide described the coexistence of two spectral components in the EPR spectra. The so-called strongly immobilized component arises from a spin-label fraction with the nitroxide moiety hydrogen-bonded to protein (rigid structure) and the weakly immobilized component is provided by the spin labels with higher mobility (∼10 times greater) exposed to the aqueous environment. The relative populations between these two states are in thermodynamic equilibrium. The apparent energetic gain for the nitroxide to form a hydrogen bond with the backbone rather than to be dissolved in the local environment was ∼10 kcal/mol in the temperature range of 2–30°C and ∼6 kcal/mol in the range of 30–70°C. Urea treatment caused a drastic increase in the segmental motion of the polypeptide chains that was completely reversible by its removal. Our analyses also indicated that the urea induced unfolding of the SC proteins opening the thiol group cavities. This work can also be useful to improve the spectral analysis of site-directed spin-labeling, especially for a more quantitative description of the nitroxide side chain mobility.

A recently developed theory linking passivity with the second law of thermodynamics was used to develop a robust control design methodology for process systems with states distributed in time and space. Asymptotic stabilization of the infinite dimensional state thus can be accomplished for convection–diffusion processes with nonlinear production terms. Two examples representative of these phenomena were considered: chemical reactors and thermal treatments induced by electromagnetic fields. The first case shows how mixing and reactor size are critical control design parameters. If mixing is complete, at least in some direction, exponential stabilization can be achieved by high gain control. If not, stabilization is still possible for reaction domains smaller than a critical volume. In the second case, the electromagnetic field power supplied can always be manipulated to preserve passivity for any domain size. Two important consequences are that the infinite dimensional state can be reconstructed at arbitrary precision by robust observers and that control of the energy inventory will suffice to provide asymptotic stabilization. Theoretical justification of these findings is given on a general framework and illustrated through simulation experiments.

The open loop optimal control of combined lumped and distributed process systems is considered here. A method based on the Control Vector Parameterization approach, which uses exact second order information, is presented for the efficient computation of the control policy that optimizes a specific performance criterion. This approach makes use of first and second order sensitivities to obtain exact gradients and restricted second order information by the solution of an extended Initial Value Problem (IVP). We illustrate the use of this method considering the solution ot several case studies of increasing complexity. All these case studies were successfully solved with a modest computational effort, proving its capability to solve large scale, challenging problems in an efficient way.

In this paper we combine recent results that link passivity, as it is understood in system’s theory, with concepts from irreversible thermodynamics to develop a robust control design methodology for distributed process systems. In this context, we show that passivity and stabilization of systems where non-dissipative phenomena are taking place is possible under very simple, finite dimensional control configurations. These include, boundary and high gain controllers, which combined with robust identification schemes should be able to provide efficient plant operation.

A thermodynamic approach for analyzing the structural stability of process plants is presented. The results are connected with a theory of systems described by dynamic conservation balances using a potential for stability analysis that generalizes the availability/exergy. This theory is used to show that interconnected systems with no source terms and Kirchhoff convection are structurally asymptotically stable. The approach is applicable for systems where only Kirchhoff convective transport and transfer processes with equilibrium take place. Systems with constant mass holdup in every balancing volume satisfy the condition of Kirchhoff convection. The general results are illustrated in examples of practical importance including heat exchanger networks, multicomponent flash, and multicomponent distillation with constant molar flows.

Allele and genotype frequencies for 7 tetramerie short tandem repeat loci were determined in a Spanish population sample (N = 186–244) using PCR and subsequent analysis of the PCR products by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. The loci were HUMFES/FPS, HUMVWA, HUMTHOI, HUMF13B, HUMCSFIPO, HUMF13A1 and HUMTPOX and all loci met Hardy-Weinberg expectations. In addition, little evidence was found for association of alleles among the 7 loci. Thus the allele frequency data can be used in identity testing to estimate the frequency of a multiple PCR-based DNA profile in the Spanish population.

Zusammenfassung Die Kriterien der Wärmedegradation von Thiamin und der Oberflächenfarbe (Messung der Helligkeit mit dem Hunter-Wert L) in Konserven mit weißem Thunfisch werden mittels eines experimentellen Vorgehens von nicht-stationärem Typ bestimmt. Die kinetischen Parameter werden mit nicht-linearer, beschwerter Regression kalkuliert, wobei man einen kinetischen Koeffizienten D mit der Temperatur des Typs TDT bedenken muß. Für die Berechnung der durchschnittlichen Massenerhaltung von Thiamin benutzt man ein mathematisches Modell, das die nicht-uniforme und nichtbeständige Verteilung der Temperatur im Behälter während des Prozesses berücksichtigt. Die erhaltene starke Wechselbeziehung zwischen den vorhergesagten und den beobachteten Werten und zwischen den geringen Konfidenz-Intervallen, die für die kinetischen Parameter gefunden wurden, belegt eine hohe statistische Zuverlässigkeit. Das so bestimmte kinetische Modell erlaubt es, den Prozeß zu simulieren und zu optimieren, mit dem Ziel, die endgültige Qualität des Produktes zu verbessern.

The dynamic optimization (optimal control) of batch and semicontinuous bioprocesses, like fed‐batch fermentation and bioproduct batch separation, has received considerable attention in recent years. These constrained dynamic optimization problems are difficult to solve due to their highly nonlinear character and also due to the fact that they usually are multimodal; therefore most proposed methods may fail to find the global optima. Besides, these methods are not always easy to implement and use, mainly because a laborious preparation and/or transformation of the original problem is needed. Here we present a simple yet powerful method that requires no initial preparation stage and that is useful to solve several complex optimal control problems without convergence difficulties. Two fed‐batch bioreactor case studies, taken from the recent literature, and a third case study considering a complex bioproduct dehydration problem are successfully and efficiently solved with our new approach, and its advantages are discussed.

The clinical-histopathological correlation between Menière's disease and endolymphatic hydrops was done to explain, as much as possible, causes of symptoms of Menière's disease. Twenty-three temporal bones with endolymphatic hydrops from 17 patients were reviewed and clinical and histopathological findings were correlated. Histopathological examination revealed frequent, severe deformities in the labyrinthine walls and permanent changes in Reissner's membranes. Evidence of rupture was difficult to assess. Of 21 ears of patients with the clinical diagnosis of Menière's disease, 93% had endolymphatic hydrops. A statistical correlation between increased area of the cochlear duct and hearing loss was found. Some correlation was also found between frequency of vertigo and results of electronystagmography with histopathological findings. Consequently, the mechanical effect of endolymphatic hydrops seems to have greater significance in the production of symptoms of Menière's disease than the biochemical effect of ruptures. In a review of ten unusual cases from this series of 17 patients, traumatic neuromas or remnants of vestibular structures were found after an incomplete labyrinthectomy. Histopathological findings of four patients who had undergone endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt surgery are described.

The role of the "third", "fibrous" component of the otosclerotic focus in penetrating and absorbing the cochlear endost is documented. An otosclerotic focus rich in fibrous-granulomatous component shows equal power as spongiotic or sclerotic components producing fragmentation resulting in rosary-formed absorption of the endost opening access to the soft-tissue containing regions of the cochlea.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDie „dritte", „fibrös-glomerulöse" Komponente des otosklerotischen Focus hat dieselbe Fähigkeit, das Endost zu durchbrechen wie die spongiöse oder skleröse Komponente, mit Eröffnung als Zugang zu dem inneren Raum der Schnecke.

This paper describes the laboratory process of synthesis of wollastonite based on calcining at 1050°C a diatom-rich marl from waste tips of diatomite deposits of Hellín (Albacete. Spain) and its potential use in porous white-ware. The results show that it is viable to obtain wollastonite using as a source rock diatom-rich marls from a natural deposit and that the use of this synthetic material in the compositions for white-ware porous tiles substituting calcium carbonate or natural wollastonite, has not only produced viable products, but has greatly reduced the firing temperature of the raw mixes.