[The efficacy of trimetazidine in cochleovestibular disorders of ischemic origin. A crossover control versus placebo trial].

In order to assess the efficacy of trimetazidine in the treatment of ischemia-related cochleovestibular disorders, we carried out a double-blind placebo-controlled study with crossover. Each treatment period spanned 2 months, during which the patients were given either trimetazidine (20 mg tid) or placebo, following a two-week washout period. Enrolled in the study were 45 patients (aged 32 to 69 years) presenting cochleovestibular symptoms (tinnitus, vertigo, hearing loss).

Metachromasia as the key to aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Preliminary report.

In in-vitro experiments, it was shown that aminoglycosides, in contrast to other antibiotics, inhibited the metachromatic reaction using o-toluidine blue as a basic dye and heparin-Na as a polysulfate-polysaccharide substrate. The inhibitory concentrations were inversely proportional to the free amino groups of aminoglycosides tested. Taking into consideration (a) that the aminoglycosides antagonize the presence of Ca++ and (b) that mechanisms of ototoxicity involve ionic alterations in endolymph, we suggest that: aminoglycoside ototoxicity could be the result of the reaction between aminoglycosides and anionic polyelectrolytes, of the group of polysulfated polysaccharides, in a metachromatic process.

Olfactory involvement in learning processes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the existing relations between olfaction and acquisition of the two-way conditioned avoidance response (CAR). For this investigation we have used white adult male Wistar rats. Taking into consideration that several structures of the limbic system participate in learning and memory processes and also that olfactory pathway is believed to have connections with the limbic system, we thought it would be interesting to investigate, if peripheral anosmia influences the performance of rats in the two-way avoidance response.