The relationship between auditory exostoses and cold water: a latitudinal analysis

The frequency of auditory exostoses was examined by latitude. It was found that discrete bony lesions of the external auditory canal were, with very few exceptions, either absent or in very low frequency (less than 3.0%) in 0-30 degrees N and S latitudes and above 45 degrees N. The highest frequencies of auditory exostoses were found in the middle latitudes (30-45 degrees N and S) among populations who exploit either marine or fresh water resources. Clinical and experimental data are discussed, and these data are found to support strongly the hypothesis that there is a causative relationship between the formation of auditory exostoses and exploitation of resources in cold water, particularly through diving. It is therefore suggested that since auditory exostoses are behavioral rather than genetic in etiology, they should not be included in estimates of population distance based on nonmetric variables.     

Hrdlicka revisited (external auditory canal exostoses)

To determine possible matter of opinion as to the existence of exostoses in the outer ear canals of Indian skulls from Dakota as an explanation for the marked difference in incidence of these tumors found by Hrdlicka and by us in previous studies, we have examined skeletal specimens reportedly seen by Hrdlicka, independently, and compared his and our results. The Smithsonian-Mobridge skulls both in Hrdlicka's and our opinion show definitely more exostoses than are found in other South Dakota Indian skeletal material we have examined. Our results here suggest a 5–6% difference attributable to opinion of the examiner. Reasons for the dissimilarity in frequency of exostoses between the Smithsonian-Mobridge skulls and other Dakota Indian skeletal collections are advanced.     

On the prevalence of external auditory exostoses among the proto-neolithicHomo sapiens population of Shanidar Cave, Iraq

The purpose of this paper is to report on the incidence of external auditory exostoses among the Proto-NeolithicHomo sapiens population from Shanidar Cave, in northern Iraq. Out of 31 individuals comprising the skeletal collection, seven individuals preserved pertinent temporal bone loci. Of these, four of five adult individuals presented exostoses, yielding an 80% observation ratio of this manifestation. Based on the association of external auditory exostoses with cold aquatic exposures, the observed presence of these growths among cranial remains may provide further insight as to aspects of life conditions among this population.     

External auditory exostosis in prehistoric Chilean populations: A test of the cold water hypothesis

Over one thousand prehistoric crania (n = 1,149) from northern Chile were analyzed to determine if the presence of external auditory exostosis (EAE) was a type of subsistence-induced pathology, a consequence of habitual fishing i the cold water of the Pacific Ocean, rather than genetically determined. To test this occupational hypothesis, the sample was divided according to chronology, type of economy, site elevation, and sex. The crania came from 43 sites, including the coast, lowland valleys (100–2,000 m), and highlands (2,000 to 4,000 m) with a time frame of 7,000 B.C. to the Inca era (1500 A.D.). There was a significant association between EAE, environment, and sex. The coastal inhabitants had the highest prevalence of EAE with 30.7% (103/336), followed by 2.3% (6/264) for the valley people and 0% (0/549) for highlanders. Coastal and valley men were significantly more affected than their female counterparts. Contrary to expectations, there was nonsignificant association between EAE and economy and/or chronology. In the Arica area, the early Chinchorro fishers, without agriculture, had 27.7% (26/94) EAE, the subsequent agro-pastoralists, 42.7% (32/75), and the late Arican agro-pastoral fishers had 35.6% (36/101) EAE. Apparently, with the advent of agriculture, the coastal Arican populations increased their ocean harvests, rather than decreased them, to gain a surplus in order to trade with nonmaritime groups. Am J Phys Anthropol 103:119–129, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A method for external auditory canal stent fabrication

An external auditory canal stent made of Dow Corning elastomer and a silicone catheter has proved useful in maintaining the patency of a newly reconstructed external canal. This paper describes the method of stent construction and presents a case report illustrating its use.     

A reevaluation of early amniote phylogeny

A new phylogenetic analysis of early amniotes based on 124 characters and 13 taxa (including three outgroups) indicates that synapsids are the sister-group of all other known amniotes. The sister-group of Synapsida is Sauropsida, including Mesosauridae and Reptilia as its two main subdivisions. Reptilia is divided into Parareptilia and Eureptilia. Parareptilia includes Testudines and its fossil relatives (Procolophonidae, Pareiasauria and Millerettidae), while Eureptilia includes Diapsida and its fossil relatives (Pakothyris and Captorhinidae). Parts of the phylogeny are robust, such as the sister-group relationship between procolophonids and testudines, and between pareiasaurs and the testudinomorphs (the clade including procolophonids and testudines). Other parts of the new tree are not so firmly established, such as the position of mesosaurs as the sister-group of reptiles. The new phylogeny indicates that three major clades of amniotes extend from the present to the Palaeozoic. These three clades are the Synapsida (including Mammalia), Parareptilia (including Testudines), and Eureptilia (including Sauria). In addition, the Procolophonidae, a group of Triassic parareptiles, are the sister-group of Testudines.     

A new method utilizing the bipedicle flap for reconstruction of the external auditory canal in microtia

A new technique using the bipedicle flap for reconstruction of microtia is described. This technique makes possible construction of a well-shaped new auricle in the presence of scar formation because of tympanoplasty in which the external auditory canal has been created posteriorly.     

Role of FNAC in metastasizing malignant mixed tumor of the external auditory canal. A case report

BACKGROUND: No previous report of metastasizing mixed tumor (pleomorphic adenoma) of the external auditory canal (EAC) has been described. CASE: A 12-year-old, Chinese girl with a history of mixed tumor of the EAC presented with a locally recurrent, aggressive tumor and metastases to the lung and bone five years later. The primary, locally recurrent and metastatic lung tumor showed epithelial and myoepithelial elements with duct formation, chondromyxoid stroma and mitotic activity in the cellular areas on histology. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) disclosed the presence of spindle cells blending into chondromyxoid fibrillar ground substance in the recurrent and metastatic lung tumors. CONCLUSION: In primary mixed tumor of the EAC, FNAC plays a useful role in the diagnosis of recurrent and metastatic disease. Its ability to identify ominous features, such as increased mitoses in this case, may be limited by sampling. Since cytology and histology cannot reliably prognosticate, long-term follow up of mixed tumor of the EAC after complete excision is advocated.     

A reevaluation of Wiwaxia and the polychaetes of the Burgess Shale

Wiwaxia corrugata and the indisputable polychaetes of the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, particularly Canadia spinosa, have figured prominently in recent hypotheses about the early evolution of polychaete annelids. Based on similarities between the sclerites of Wiwaxia and the notochaetae of Canadia with the broad notochaetae (paleae) of Recent chrysopetalid polychaetes, these two fossil taxa have been variously treated as closely related to the most highly derived stem forms of the polychaete (and annelid) crown group or as members of a specific, Recent subgroup within Polychaeta, the order Phyllodocida. Chrysopetalidae is a member of Phyllodocida, which is part of the major polychaete clade Aciculata; the latter two taxa are distinguished by four and six well defined autapomorphic characters, respectively. The best preserved or otherwise appropriate fossils of Wiwaxia corrugata, Canadia spinosa and the other polychaetes of the Burgess Shale have been studied in detail in order to determine whether they possess any characters that could support the homology of wiwaxiid sclerites, canadiid notochaetae and chrysopetalid paleae. Most of these fossil taxa have significant autapomorphies but the specific characters of the Aciculata and Phyllodocida are entirely absent. It is demonstrated that constraining cladograms in such a manner that wiwaxiid sclerites, canadiid notochaetae and chrysopetalid paleae are homologous leads to results that are markedly unparsimonious. Furthermore, Canadia and the other polychaetes of the Burgess Shale cannot be referred to any extant subgroup within the Polychaeta and cannot be used to polarize character evolution within the annelid crown group. Apart from its dubious sclerites, Wiwaxia has no characters that could indicate any close relationship with Polychaeta or Annelida.     

Temporal bone CT in the diagnosis of acquired diseases of the external auditory canal

CT was used to examine 50 patients (100 temporal bones) aged 10 days to 60 years who had no signs of lesion of the external auditory canal (EAC) and 23 patients (27 temporal bones) aged 13 to 65 years who had clinical manifestations of acquired stenosis or obturation of the EAC. Polypositional CT of the temporal bone is the most informative technique of visualization of the osseous part of the EAC, at the same time the anterior and posterior EAC walls were evaluated in the axial projection and the upper and lower EAC walls were assessed in the coronary projection. According to CT data, formation of the osseous part of the EAC occurs within the first 7 years of a child's life. In the presence of EAC changes, CT may assess their pattern (a soft tissue or osseous one), their magnitude and location along the walls of the canal, the tympanic membrane, and other structures of the temporal bone. CT reveals the causes of acquired EAC obturation, stenosis, and atresia: osteocartilaginous exostoses, osteomas, polyps of the EAC, tumors of the temporal bone, as well as obturative keratosis and posttraumatic stenosis of the EAC. The detected EAC changes determine further management policy in a patient.     

A reevaluation of integrins as regulators of angiogenesis

Pharmacological agents directed against the integrins alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) have been reported to inhibit angiogenesis. However, genetic ablations of the genes encoding these integrins fail to block angiogenesis and in some cases even enhance it. This apparent paradox suggests the hypotheses that these integrins are negative regulators of angiogenesis and that the drugs targeting them may be acting as agonists rather than antagonists.     

A change in the state of silica in water under external weak influences

The role of silica impurities, which can significantly contribute to the state of water environment and its response to external factors, has been studied. The nonequilibrium state of silica in water, its evolution with time, and its dependence on the prehistory of a water sample were shown. Reversible freezing-thawing of water induces long-term changes in the ratio of the monomeric and polymeric forms of silica, which slowly relax to the initial state. It was shown that the “field-free” magnetic vector potential has a real effect on freezing. With the use of the alternating vector potential, its maximum effect was registered at frequencies of 3.5–4 Hz. It was proposed that this results from the stochastic resonance during the polymerization of silicic acid.