Anatomical study between the correlation of the arcuate eminence and the superior semicircular canal.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anatomical correlation between the arcuate eminence and the superior semicircular canal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study of the height of the arcuate eminence was carried out in 295 temporal bones. In addition, 30 temporals with different heights of the arcuate eminence (10 flat, 10 prominent and 10 very prominent) were randomly selected and radiological tests were performed by computed tomography (Pöschl projection) and subsequent dissection by milling until the apex of the superior semicircular canal was found, establishing, with both methods, the anatomical relationship with the arcuate eminence. RESULTS: The arcuate eminence was classified as: smooth, when there was no relief (1.7%); flat, measured less than 1 mm (20.3%), prominent, measured between 1 and 2 mm, in (62%), and very prominent, measured above 2 mm (12.6%). The tomographic study (CT) and its subsequent dissection by bone milling showed a direct relationship between the arcuate eminence and the semicircular canal only when it was flat, while the rest of the types corresponded to the presence of pneumatized peri-labyrinthine cells and/or cancellous bone without a direct anatomical relationship with the apex of the superior semicircular canal. CONCLUSION: The correlation between the arcuate eminence and the superior semicircular canal is direct only when it is flat (1 mm), being related to peri-labyrinthine cells and/or cancellous bone when the arcuate eminence is prominent or very prominent.

Anatomical and genetic study of an ancient animal tooth showing brachyodont and hypsodont mixed taxonomical characteristics.

A non-human dental piece was found in a Roman Empire tomb dated the 3rd century A.C. in Zaragoza (Spain). The morphology of this piece showed mixed brachyodont (carnivores) and hypsodont (herbivores) characteristics. As a result, the taxonomical assignation of the piece was impossible. Therefore, a protocol based on the DNA sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial region (COI) was applied. For this purpose, a pair of primers able to amplify this region in a large variety of animals was designed. The results point to a species of the Genus Bos (Family Bovidae). This assignation was later confirmed by these quencing of a short fragment of the mitochondrial D-loop region. A complete morphological description of the tooth is presented together with the DNA sequence study and comparison protocol.

Betacyanin and other antioxidants production during growth of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) fruits.

Mature cactus pears from Opuntia stricta have a dark purple color due to high betacyanin concentration, whose biosynthesis is initiated with the amino acid L-tyrosine as a primary precursor. This study followed the maturation and ripening processes of Opuntia stricta fruits to harvest them at high betacyanin and other antioxidant concentrations. Fruits lasted 9 months for final ripening. Physical and compositional changes at different maturation and ripening stages have been determined. Thus, ripe fruits were around 4.72 ± 0.10 cm length, 2.94 ± 0.05 cm diameter and 22.71 ± 0.20 g weight; moisture and pH were maintained at 87.05 ± 0.19 % and 3.37 ± 0.12, respectively. Purple pigment production started in the ovary of immature fruits four months after anthesis (MAA). Concentration of all analyzed metabolites increased from immature (4 MAA) until ripe (9 MAA) stage. In ripe fruits, reducing sugars were 4.72 ± 0.54 g/100 g ff and total phenols 135.17 ± 0.68 mg gallic acid/100 g ff. Metabolites identified by HPLC were the betacyanins: betanin (60.17 ± 1.08 mg/100 g ff), isobetanin (7.58 ± 0.94 mg/100 g ff) and betanidin (13.48 ± 0.87 mg/100 g ff). Also, L-ascorbic acid (35.03 ± 1.06 mg/100 g ff) and L-tyrosine (4.43 ± 0.73 mg/100 g ff) were determined. Furthermore, the addition of L-tyrosine or L-dopa to fruit pulp of moderately ripe fruits, increased betacyanin concentrations 17 (103.3 ± 3.8 mg/100 g) and 32 % (114.3 ± 4.1 mg/100 g), respectively.

Fermentation of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) fruits for betalains concentration.

Fermentation of juice and homogenized fruits of Opuntia stricta fruits has been developed and optimized. The aim was to obtain the red food colorant betanin from prickly pear, at high concentration and low viscosity. Among three strains assayed, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. bayanus AWRI 796 has been the optimum for this process. The optimum temperature value was found to be 35 degrees C for both sugar consumption and pigment preservation. After fermentation, biomass and residual vegetal tissue were discarded by centrifugation. Supernatant was concentrated under vacuum. Therefore, liquid concentrated betanin was obtained, with low viscosity and being sugar free. Besides, bioethanol was obtained as byproduct. Characteristics of the final product obtained were pH 3.41, 5.2 degrees Brix, 9.65 g/L betanin, color strength of 10.8, and viscosity of 52.5 cP. These values are better than obtained by other procedures.

[Primary meningioma of the nose and the paranasal sinus]. / Méningiome primitif nasosinusien.

Primary extracranial and extraspinal meningiomas are not very common, less than 1% out of meningiomas and with a pathogeny not well defined. Less than 60 cases have been described so far. The histopathological diagnosis can be really difficult. All the cases published were diagnosed after an anatomopathological study. We reviewed all publications about these tumors, which belong to the group of those rare neoplasms the otorhinolaryngologist must have in mind whenever he faces a paranasal sinus neoformation.

[ENT emergencies due to foreign bodies at a tertiary hospital]. / Urgencias Otorrinolaringológicas por cuerpos extraños en un hospital terciario.

A study of the patients who, through a year, came to the Emergencies Department showing foreign bodies in ENT-area has been accomplished. Among ENT urgencies foreign bodies constitute the most frequent cases. Age, sex, date, time of admission, sitting, kind of body and treatment are taken in consideration. The intruders were most commonly found in the pharyngeal area. A striking correspondence between age and location is underlined.

[Jugular-tympanic paraganglioma: our experience in 2 years]. / Paraganglioma yugulotimpánico: nuestra experiencia en dos años.

The paper is a review of the jugulotympanic paragangliomata seen in our Hospital in a 2 years term. The AA. discuss every case and achieve a checking of several therapeutics procedures accepted for these growths.

[The influence of age and previous thresholds on stapedectomy results]. / Influencia de la edad y los umbrales óseos previos en el resultado de las estapedectomías.

This is a retrospective study dealing with 719 primary stapedectomies and 48 reoperations done between 1975 and 1993 by the AA. of the paper. They consider the audiometric tracings before and after surgery (6 and 12 months). Frequencies analyzed were 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz; the air-bone gap; and modifications of bone thresholds. The patients were ranged in groups according the ages and previous bone thresholds. Thereafter an analysis aiming to a comparison of surgery results en each group was contemplated. The age resulted without influence on the postoperative gap neither in modifications of bone conduction. The previous bone thresholds nor influencing the final gap. Conversely there are significative differences (P > 0.01) regarding the modifications of bone conduction.

[Primary mucous melanoma of the nasal cavity: a case report]. / Melanoma mucoso primario de fosas nasales. A propósito de un caso.

Mucous melanoma in the nasal cavity are unusual tumours that develop from common melanocytes pre-existent in the respiratory epithelium. They manifest a high diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties as well as an obscure prognosis. A case of this rare tumour is exposed and a bibliographic review in which clinical, diagnostic, histological, therapeutic and prognostic features are contemplated.

[ENT changes in Crouzon's syndrome]. / Alteraciones otorrinolaringológicas en el síndrome de Crouzon.

Crouzon's syndrome is a chapter of the craneosynostosis, congenital diseases characterized for the precocious closure of cranial sutures. It represents an autosomal dominant heredity. Recently has been find out that the mutation lies in the short arm of chromosome 10, which causes the alteration of type 2 receptor of growth factor of fibroblasts (FRFG2). Clinically together with the cranial deformities appear frequently malformations in ENT-sphere, but only in 3 percent of all cases has been observed otic changes. We present the case of a young girl of 16, bearing a Crouzon's syndrome, coming to our office because of bilateral hypacusis. Clinical examination and complementary tests showed bilateral atresia of both auditive meatus lack of mastoid pneumatization, anomalous facial route and heavy bilateral transmissive hearing impairment, together with septum nasi deflection and hypoplasy of paranasal sinuses.

[Mastoid osteoma]. / Osteoma de mastoides.

Extra-canalicular osteomas of the temporal bones are rare benign tumours. We report a retroauricular osteoma in a 18 years old patient. Usually symptomless, they may present for cosmetic reasons. We briefly comment this type of tumours.

[Report of a case of pneumocephalus secondary to otologic surgery]. / Presentación de un caso de neumoencéfalo secundario a cirugía otológica.

Non-traumatic pneumocephalus of otic etiology, secondary to colesteatoma or the otologic surgery is extremely rare, and very few cases are described in the worldwide literature. The existence of air in the intracranial spaces/tracts is known as pneumocephalus. Symptoms are due to the increased intracranial pressure, therefore, a differential diagnosis should be made in order to rule out other expansive processes. Surgical treatment, with closure of the existing fistula, is conclusive. We present a case of tension pneumocephalus secondary to otologic surgery and review the literature existing on the topic.

[Hypernephroma metastasis in frontal sinus]. / Metástasis de hipernefroma en seno frontal.

PURPOSE: We present a case of metastatic neoplasia in the right frontal sinus derived from and hypernephroma, with a clinical picture that initially was interpreted as a mucocele. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty years old male. Personal history: prostatectomy and left nephrectomy because of hypernephroma three years before. In december 92 the patient reported a protrusion in the right frontal sinus. CT scans and NMR revealed a breakage of the external and internal walls of the right frontal sinus and the right orbital roof. In february 93 a surgical exploration of the frontal sinus revealed the metastatic nature of the lesion. DISCUSSION: Metastatic tumors in paranasal sinuses are infrequent since most of the tumors in this localization are primary. Metastatic affectation of the frontal sinus is extremely rare. We recommend the systematic exploration of paranasal sinuses in patients affected by hypernephroma.

[Congenital cholesteatoma of the petrous process and mastoid: a report of two cases]. / Colesteatoma congénito de peñasco y mastoides. A propósito de dos casos.

Congenital cholesteatoma are unusual. They may arise in different sites of the temporal bone: petrous process, middle ear and mastoid. Primary cholesteatomas originate from embryonary ectodermal inclusions but the pathogenesis is not clear and many different hypotheses regarding its origin have been suggested. The clinical diagnosis is not easy if the tympanic membrane is normal, and computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful. We report two cases of congenital cholesteatoma: One located in the petrous process and the other in the mastoid without affection of the tympanic cavity.

[Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the larynx. A case report]. / Carcinoma mucoepidermoide de laringe. A propósito de un caso.

We report a case of laryngeal mucoepidermoid carcinoma that was diagnosed in the Hospital Miguel Servet of Zaragoza. The unusual tumor site and difficult diagnosis were notable and, above all the fatal outcome after local recurrence and metastasis in spite of good overall prognosis.

[Laryngeal histoplasmosis]. / Histoplasmosis laríngea.

A case of laryngeal histoplasmosis is reported. This laryngeal mycosis was diagnosed by histological identification of intracellular hyphae of Histoplasma capsulatum. Laryngoscopy revealed edema, erythema and leukoplakia of the righ vocal cord. Itrakonazole treatment was successful. The relevant literature is reviewed.

[Reported case of cystic cervical lymphangioma in an adult]. / Presentación de un caso de linfangioma quístico cervical en adulto.

Cystic lymphangiomas are abnormalities derived from lymphatic vessels that are characterized by the formation of cysts. The are located generally in head and neck and occur most frequently in children. They rarely appear in adults. We present a case of lymphangioma and review the disorder.

[Cerebral abscess as a complication of the chronic otitis]. / Absceso cerebral como complicación de la otitis crónica.

Otogenic intracranial complications are now rare. Meningitis is the most frequent, followed by cerebral abscess. In spite of diagnostic and therapeutic advances, cerebral abscess has a high mortality. We report four cases seen in our service over the last five years and their treatment. The subject is reviewed.

[An outpatient study in ENT (otorhinolaryngology) emergencies at a general hospital]. / Estudio de las urgencias externas otorrinolaringológicas en un hospital terciario.

ORL emergencies attended at in a general hospital for a year were studied from 1-7-1990 to 30-6-1991. 168,145 emergencies were received of which 3,101 (1.8%) were attended by an otorhinolaringologist. The age, sex, arrival time, aetiology, treatment, admissions and the admissions where AEP (Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol) criteria was applied were thoroughly examined. The most numerous pathologies presented were infectious inflammations (41%), hemorrhages (21%), and foreign bodies (18.5%). But the most frequent aetiologies were epistaxis (16.3%), otitis media (14.8%) and otitis externa (14.8%). Most patients arrived generally between 9-12 hrs. (21.3%), and 17-20 hrs. (25.4%). The average age was 38.8 years old, though there was a significant difference depending on the pathology presented. Infectious inflammations emergencies were usually the youngest age group (average age 32) and tumoral processes the eldest (average age 60), 5% of the cases were admitted. These admissions accounted for only 17.9% of total admissions. Because AEP criteria was employed 97.5% of admissions presented inclusion criteria.

[Study of 288 stapedectomies performed between 1986 and 1991]. / Estudio de 288 estapedectomías realizadas entre los años 1986 y 1991.

A review of 288 stapedectomies performed between 1986 and 1991 was carried out. Pre- and post-surgical (within six to nine months) audiometries were studied, analyzing the 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz and 4,000 Hz frequencies. No significant differences between age and sex, type of prosthesis or final auditive gain were found. Patients were distributed in six groups according to their initial audiometry, achieving higher auditive gain those with and worse initial audition.