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Cette etude fournit de nouvelles connaissances sur les preferences ecologiques Pediastrum, plus c´est la premiere description detaillee des populations naturelles et des cultures au Mexique. Elle fournit des informations sur l'ultrastructure et les conditions environnementales de Pediastrum sensu lato dans en endroits dans le centre du pays. Ce genre (Hydrodictyaceae, Chlorophyceae) n'a pas une origine monophyletique plutot a ete divise en cinq genres : Lacunastrum, Monactinus, Parapediastrum, Pseudopediastrum et Stauridium. Les specimens etudies ont ete recueillies entre Octobre 2009 et Novembre 2013. Les microscopes optique et electronique ont revele la presence de sept especes. Parmi cellesci, Monactinus simplex, Pediastrum duplex, Pseudopediastrum boryanum et Stauridium tetras ont une distribution dans le monde entier. Au lieu de cela, Monactinus simplex var. echinulatum, M. simplex var. sturmii et Pediastrum simplex var. clathratum ont ete enregistrees comme des taxa rares. La distribution des especes en examinant la litterature de 1841–2015 a signale l'existence de 23 taxa dans 17 etats du Mexique, ou les etats de Mexique, Veracruz et Michoacan avec plusieurs especes. L'analyse Canonicale des Correspondances a montre que les relations entre les especes et les conditions environnementales des taxons rares sont liees a des temperatures elevees, des sites bien oxygenes et des conditions eutrophes.This study gives new insights into ecological preferences of the Pediastrum genus as well as the first detailed description of its natural populations and cultures in Mexico. This artile provides information on the ultrastructure and environmental conditions of Pediastrum sensu lato at six locations in the center of Mexico. This genus (Hydrodictyaceae, Chlorophyceae) does not have a monophyletic origin; rather, it has been divided into the following five genera: Lacunastrum, Monactinus, Parapediastrum, Pseudopediastrum and Stauridium. The study specimens were collected between October 2009 and November 2013. Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of seven species. Of these, Monactinus simplex, Pediastrum duplex, Pseudopediastrum boryanum and Stauridium tetras have worldwide distribution. By contrast, Monactinus simplex var. echinulatum, M. simplex var. sturmii and Pediastrum simplex var. clathratum were found to be rare taxa. The species distribution as determined by literature review of articles from 1841 to 2015 registered the presence of 23 taxa in 17 Mexican states, namely, Mexico City, Veracruz and Michoacan which were the sites with the largest numbers of species. Canonical correspondence analyses showed that the relationships between the species and the environmental conditions of the rare taxa are related to well-oxygenated, high temperature and eutrophic conditions.

En este trabajo se presentan los aspectos referentes al modelado de flujo en tuberías para detectar y localizar fugas, con un enfoque basado en observadores estado. El modelo de tubería está basado en las ecuaciones del Golpe de Ariete, discretizadas por diferencias finitas. Este requiere dos condiciones de frontera: presión o flujo a la entrada y salida de la tubería. Para mejorar el modelo, se modificó la forma de considerar el efecto de la fricción y la forma de introducir las condiciones de frontera. Se muestra, con simulaciones comparadas con datos reales, la importancia de considerar la variación del coeficiente de fricción, y además que la correcta selección de las condiciones de frontera, incluyendo las ecuaciones de la bomba y restricciones de flujo, permiten una mejor representación del comportamiento dinámico del flujo. Igualmente, se muestra que el modelo puede utilizarse para estimar el flujo de fuga y su posición utilizando observadores de estado, y se toma como ejemplo el filtro tipo Kalman Extendido. Se observó adicionalmente que, con el modelo obtenido, se puede trabajar con solo dos variables medidas: presión de salida y flujo de entrada, en lugar de las cuatro consideradas en trabajos anteriores. This paper presents the aspects concerning the modeling of flow in pipes to detect and locate leaks, using a state observer based approach. The pipeline model is based on the equations of water hammer, discretized by finite differences. This discretization requires two boundary conditions: the pressure or flow at the inlet and outlet of the pipe. To improve the model, the effect of friction and how to introduce the boundary conditions were modified. Similarly shown, comparisons of simulations with real data, the importance of considering the variation of the friction coefficient, and also that the correct choice of boundary conditions, including the equations of the pump and flow restrictions, allow a better representation of the behavior dynamic flow. Also shown that the model can be used to estimate the leakageflow and position using state observers, and takes as an example the Extended Kalman filter type. It is further noted that the model obtained, it can work with only two measured variables: output pressure and input stream, instead of the four considered in previous work.

Compelling epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates that a suboptimal environment during fetal and neonatal development in both humans and animals may programme offspring susceptibility to later development of several chronic diseases including obesity and diabetes in which altered carbohydrate metabolism plays a central role. One of the most interesting and significant features of developmental programming is the evidence from several studies that the adverse consequences of altered intrauterine environments can be passed transgenerationally from mother (F0) to daughter (F1) to second generation offspring (F2). We determined whether when F0 female rats are exposed to protein restriction during pregnancy and/or lactation their F1 female pups deliver F2 offspring with in vivo evidence of altered glucose and insulin metabolism. We fed F0 virgin Wistar rats a normal control 20% casein diet (C) or a protein restricted isocaloric diet (R) containing 10% casein during pregnancy. F1 female R pups weighed less than C at birth. After delivery, mothers received C or R diet during lactation to provide four F1 offspring groups CC (first letter pregnancy diet and second lactation diet), RR, CR and RC. All F1 female offspring were fed ad libitum with C diet after weaning and during their first pregnancy and lactation. As they grew female offspring (F1) of RR and CR mothers exhibited low body weight and food intake with increased sensitivity to insulin during a glucose tolerance test at 110 days of postnatal life. Male F2 CR offspring showed evidence of insulin resistance. In contrast RC F2 females showed evidence of insulin resistance. Sex differences were also observed in F2 offspring in resting glucose and insulin and insulin: glucose ratios. These sex differences also showed differences specific to stage of development time window. We conclude that maternal protein restriction adversely affects glucose and insulin metabolism of male and female F2 offspring in a manner specific to sex and developmental time window during their mother's (the F1) fetal and neonatal development.

En este trabajo se hace un análisis de las diferentes fallas que se pueden presentar en los instrumentos de un proceso químico (válvula y transmisor). El método propuesto detecta y diagnostica el instrumento con problemas en el proceso. Un modelo de un proceso químico es usado para ver cómo trabaja el método propuesto, para diferenciar una falla de válvula de una falla de transmisor, se utiliza un análisis en el dominio wavelet; luego se mide la diferencia entre las fallas utilizando técnicas de reconocimiento de patrones, en este caso Coeficiente de Correlación y Distancia Euclidiana.This paper presents an approach to analyse different kinds of chemical processes instrumentation faults. The proposed approach makes a detection and diagnosis of the instrument worsening in the process. A chemical process model is used to show how the approach works, to differentiate valves and transmitter problems an analysis in the wavelet domain is presented along with pattern recognition procedures, such as correlation coefficient and Euclidean distance approaches.

The Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre (OAJ) is a new Spanish astronomical facility particularly designed for carrying out large sky surveys. The OAJ is mainly motivated by the development of J-PAS, the Javalambre- PAU Astrophysical Survey, an unprecedented astronomical survey that aims to observe 8500 deg2 of the sky with a set of 54 optical contiguous narrow-band filters (FWHM ~14 nm) and 5 mid and broad-band ones. J-PAS will provide a low resolution spectrum (R ~ 50) for every pixel of the Northern sky down to AB~22:5 - 23:5 per square arcsecond (at 5 σ level), depending on the narrow-band filter, and ~ 2 magnitudes deeper for the redder broad-band filters. The main telescope at the OAJ is the Javalambre Survey Telescope (JST/T250), an innovative Ritchey-Chretien, alt-azimuthal, large-etendue telescope with a primary mirror diameter of 2.55m and 3 deg (diameter) FoV. The JST/T250 is the telescope devoted to conduct J-PAS with JPCam, a panoramic camera of 4.7 deg2 FoV and a mosaic of 14 large format CCDs that, overall, amounts to 1.2 Gpix. The second largest telescope at the OAJ is the Javalambre Auxiliary Survey Telescope (JAST/T80), a Ritchey-Chretien, German-equatorial telescope of 82 cm primary mirror and 2 deg FoV, whose main goal is to perform J-PLUS, the Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey. J-PLUS will cover the same sky area of J-PAS using the panoramic camera T80Cam with 12 filters in the optical range, which are specifically defined to perform the photometric calibration of J-PAS. The OAJ project officially started in mid 2010. Four years later, the OAJ is mostly completed and the first OAJ operations have already started. The civil work and engineering installations are finished, including the telescope buildings and the domes. JAST/T80 is at the OAJ undertaking commissioning tasks, and JST/T250 is in AIV phase at the OAJ. Related astronomical subsystems like the seeing and atmospheric extinction monitors and the all-sky camera are fully operative. This paper aims to present a brief description and status of the OAJ main installations, telescopes and cameras. The current development and operation plan of the OAJ in terms of staffing organization, resources, observation scheduling, and data archiving, is also described.

The Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre (OAJ) is a new astronomical facility located at the Sierra de Javalambre (Teruel, Spain) whose primary role will be to conduct all-sky astronomical surveys with two unprecedented telescopes of unusually large fields of view: the JST/T250, a 2.55m telescope of 3deg field of view, and the JAST/T80, an 83cm telescope of 2deg field of view. CEFCA engineering team has been designing the OAJ control system as a global concept to manage, monitor, control and maintain all the observatory systems including not only astronomical subsystems but also infrastructure and other facilities. In order to provide quality, reliability and efficiency, the OAJ control system (OCS) design is based on CIA (Control Integrated Architecture) and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) as a key to improve day and night operation processes. The OCS goes from low level hardware layer including IOs connected directly to sensors and actuators deployed around the whole observatory systems, including telescopes and astronomical instrumentation, up to the high level software layer as a tool to perform efficiently observatory operations. We will give an overview of the OAJ control system design and implementation from an engineering point of view, giving details of the design criteria, technology, architecture, standards, functional blocks, model structure, development, deployment, goals, report about the actual status and next steps.

The Observatorio Astrofsico de Javalambre in Spain is a new astronomical facility particularly conceived for carrying out large sky surveys with two unprecedented telescopes of unusually large elds of view: the JST/T250, a 2.55m telescope of 3deg eld of view, and the JAST/T80, an 83cm telescope of 2deg eld of view. The most immediate objective of the two telescopes for the next years is carrying out two unique photometric surveys of several thousands square degrees, J-PAS and J-PLUS, each of them with a wide range of scientic applications, like e.g. large structure cosmology and Dark Energy, galaxy evolution, supernovae, Milky Way structure, exoplanets, among many others. To do that, JST and JAST will be equipped with panoramic cameras under development within the J-PAS collaboration, JPCam and T80Cam respectively, which make use of large format (~10k×10k) CCDs covering the entire focal plane. This paper describes the current status and expected schedule of the overall project, the main characteristics of the telescopes, their cameras, the technical requirements of the two planned surveys, as well as the general operation strategy of the observatory.

There are many ways to solve the challenging problem of making a high performance robotic observatory from scratch. The Observatorio Astrof\'isico de Javalambre (OAJ) is a new astronomical facility located at the Sierra de Javalambre (Teruel, Spain) whose primary role will be to conduct all-sky astronomical surveys. The OAJ control system has been designed under a global point of view including not only astronomical subsystems but also infrastructure and other facilities. Three main factors have been considered in the design of a global control system for the robotic OAJ: quality, reliability and efficiency. We propose CIA (Control Integrated Architecture) design and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) as a key performance indicator in order to improve operation processes, minimizing resources and obtain high cost reduction maintaining quality requirements. The OAJ subsystems considered for the control integrated architecture are the following: two wide-field telescopes and their instrumentation, active optics subsystems, facilities for sky quality monitoring (seeing, extinction, sky background, sky brightness, clouds distribution, meteorological station), domes and several infrastructure facilities such as water supply, glycol water, water treatment plant, air conditioning, compressed air, LN2 plant, illumination, surveillance, access control, fire suppression, electrical generators, electrical distribution, electrical consumption, communication network, Uninterruptible Power Supply and two main control rooms, one at the OAJ and other remotely located in Teruel at 40km from the observatory, connected through a microwave radio-link. Here we present the OAJ strategy in control design to achieve maximum quality efficiency for the observatory processes and operations, giving practical examples of our approach., Comment: Two essential concepts to apply in the design of observatories control systems: OEE - Overall Equipment Effectiveness CIA - Control Integrated Architecture

A depressed growth rate in the absence of pathological changes was observed in the larvae of a marine teleost, red sea bream Pagrus major, exposed to 0.002 and 0.02mg/l NH3-N (non-ionized ammonia) for 72 hours. Such levels of ammonia are frequently encountered in practical larval culture facilities in Japan and may have a detrimental effect on production. In a second experiment a histological study revealed that three-day-old larvae exposed to 0.05, 0.08, and 0.15mg/l NH3-N for 24 hours developed cytoplasmic vacuoles in the chondrocytes. The possible causes of such pathology and its relationship to the observed depression in the growth rate are discussed.

To analyse the use of the radiological examinations and the adequacy of every request to the guidelines of indication of radiological investigations.A prospective survey that includes the explorations carried out in 202 patients hospitalised between January and April of 2006. The demographic data, the diagnosis, the radiological exams, the clinical aim of the requests and the requesting department were analysed. The appropriateness was assessed according to the international criteria of adequacy by two experienced physicians.Twenty-seven percent out of the requests of radiological investigations was no adapted to the reference criteria. The requesting department, the type of radiographies and the diagnostic aim of the radiological studies were associated with an appropriate indication (p0.0001). Among the radiographies with diagnostic aim, the detection of radiological alterations was associated with a suitable indication of the request (p0.0001).The appropriate use of the radiological explorations was similar to other published reports. The inadequate indication seems to be associated with the use of simple radiographic explorations, with follow-up studies and with the requests from Intensive Care Unit.

Background and objectives: To analyse the use of the radiological examinations and the adequacy of every request to the guidelines of indication of radiological investigations. Patients and methods: A prospective survey that includes the explorations carried out in 202 patients hospitalised between January and April of 2006. The demographic data, the diagnosis, the radiological exams, the clinical aim of the requests and the requesting department were analysed. The appropriateness was assessed according to the international criteria of adequacy by two experienced physicians. Results: Twenty-seven percent out of the requests of radiological investigations was no adapted to the reference criteria. The requesting department, the type of radiographies and the diagnostic aim of the radiological studies were associated with an appropriate indication (p < 0.0001). Among the radiographies with diagnostic aim, the detection of radiological alterations was associated with a suitable indication of the request (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The appropriate use of the radiological explorations was similar to other published reports. The inadequate indication seems to be associated with the use of simple radiographic explorations, with follow-up studies and with the requests from Intensive Care Unit.

Analizar el nivel de exposicion a las pruebas de radiodiagnostico con relacion al diagnostico y al servicio medico responsable en pacientes hospitalizados. Metodos. Estudio descriptivo y analitico de los examenes radiologicos realizados en la unidad de especialidades medicas de un hospital general durante siete meses. Se recogieron los datos demograficos y el diagnostico del paciente, la especialidad del medico y el tipo de examenes radiologicos. La exposicion a la radiacion se estimo siguiendo los procedimientos de radiodiagnostico usados en nuestro hospital. Para la comparacion, los valores de radiacion se expresaron con relacion al numero equivalente de radiografias posteroanterior (PA) de torax. Resultados. Se realizaron 2086 exploraciones radiologicas en 624 de los 646 pacientes. El 84% fueron estudios de radiologia simple, 14% tomografia axial computerizada (TC) y 2% estudios radiograficos con contraste. Las especialidades con mayor numero de exploraciones radiologicas solicitadas fueron Medicina Interna (58,7%) y Neumologia (11,8%). La dosis media de radiacion fue equivalente a 127,7 (225,6) radiografias de torax, con una mayor exposicion en los pacientes de Digestivo con 170,9 (232,3) y Medicina Interna 169,7 (271,9). Las personas diagnosticadas de accidente cerebrovascular agudo (ACVA) han recibido mayor dosis de radiacion equivalente a 181,5 (136) radiografias de torax. Conclusiones. En nuestra experiencia, el examen radiologico mas realizado en los pacientes hospitalizados continua siendo la radiografia simple de torax. La mayor exposicion a la radiacion se asocio a las especialidades medicas que realizaron una proporcion mayor de exploraciones con “alta dosis de radiacion” como el TC

En este trabajo se hace un análisis de las diferentes fallas que se pueden presentar en los instrumentos de un proceso químico (válvula y transmisor). El método propuesto detecta y diagnostica el instrumento con problemas en el proceso. Un modelo de un proceso químico es usado para ver cómo trabaja el método propuesto, para diferenciar una falla de válvula de una falla de transmisor, se utiliza un análisis en el dominio wavelet; luego se mide la diferencia entre las fallas utilizando técnicas de reconocimiento de patrones, en este caso Coeficiente de Correlación y Distancia Euclidiana. This paper presents an approach to analyse different kinds of chemical processes instrumentation faults. The proposed approach makes a detection and diagnosis of the instrument worsening in the process. A chemical process model is used to show how the approach works, to differentiate valves and transmitter problems an analysis in the wavelet domain is presented along with pattern recognition procedures, such as correlation coefficient and Euclidean distance approaches.

Ocular toxocariasis is a clearly defined disease. However, much remains to be learned concerning the migratory route, ocular changes, diagnosis and treatment. Studies in paratenic hosts have contributed to our understanding and will yield more information. Various experimental animals have been used, such as mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, primates, hamsters and gerbils. Of these, the last appear to be the most appropriate model due to their high susceptibility to ocular infection. Results obtained from different animal models are often not comparable due to the fact that dose and routes of inoculation are diverse. Early stages in the pathogenesis of ocular toxocariasis are manifested by haemorrhages in the anterior chamber and iris, replaced in time by accumulations of white cells. Ocular migration produces an early cell reaction, formed by an infiltration of neutrophils accompanied by vasculitis and retinal microinfarcts. Over a period of time, an increase of macrophages and the distribution of the infiltrates is observed. Later, granulomatous lesions are formed. These do not necessarily contain a larva and their appearance varies in different animal models. Local production of IgE and the presence of specific IgG have been described.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with antipsychotic olanzapine in cocaine abuse methadone patients. The decrease or interruption of cocaine consume as well as the possible pharmacokinetic interaction between olanzapine and methadone were studied.Patients (n= 21) include in a methadone maintenance program (14 months), with DSM-IV criteria for opioid and cocaine dependence and without schizophrenic diagnostic, were treated with olanzapine 5 to 10 mg/day. The therapeutic outcomes were assessed by personal interviews, cocaine consumption, changes of consumption patrons (via of administration) and secondary effects to olanzapine. Withdrawal symptoms were measured by means of the abbreviate version of the scale of Gossop. Cocaine used was measured by urine analysis (enzymoimmnuoassay). The possible pharmacokinetic interaction between olanzapine and methadone was measured in plasma before and during the treatment in 15 patients.Olanzapine combined with methadone in cocaine abusers was well tolerated in an important proportion of patients. Moreover the consumption of cocaine was decreased or stopped in 53,2% of the patients. In addition, no withdrawal syndrome was observed in any patients. Furthermore the ratios of methadone plasma levels did not change in relation to the dose before and during the treatment, suggesting a lack of pharmacokinetic interaction between methadone and olanzapine.In conclusion the results of this preliminary study, led us to advance that olanzapine could be a useful treatment for cocaine abuse at least in patients in a Methadone Maintenance Program, with the advantage of not to induce any pharmacokinetic interaction with methadone.

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential inductive effect of nevirapine (NVP) with methadone. Eight patients on the methadone maintenance programme with anti-retroviral therapy because of their infection with HIV, well maintained with methadone and without symptoms of abstinence were studied. All were included in a study of measurement of plasma levels of methadone. Anti-retroviral medication was changed, including NVP, and patients began with symptoms of abstinence 5 to 10 days later. Our results indicate an inductive effect of NVP on the methadone metabolism which caused symptoms of abstinence in all patients, which prompted an increase in the dose and plasma concentration of methadone was lost; patients continued with significantly low plasma levels (p0.01) after a therapy mean duration of 6.5 months, with no full recovery.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of fluoxetine (FX) treatment in cocaine dependent methadone (MTD) maintenance patients, to assess decrease or interruption of cocaine use and pharmacokinetic interaction between fluoxetine an methadone plasma levels.The sample was composed of 11 patients with DSM IV criteria for opioid and cocaine dependence. We added Fluoxetine (20 mg per day) during 9 weeks in Majadahonda Drug Program. All patients were in methadone program a mean of 7.5 months. We made a psychiatry interview and the baseline severity of the mood disorder was assessed with the Clinical Global Impression ICG for therapeutic improvement. Cocaine use and fluoxetine treatment was measured in urine analysis and pharmacokinetic interaction between FX-MTD were measured with plasma levels of methadone.Fluoxetine was well tolerated combined with methadone. FX-MTD interaction didn't occur, resulting in no increased of MTD plasma level to dose before and after fluoxetine treatment. After fluoxetine treatment decreased cocaine use, changed cocaine tract from injected to smoked and improvement depressive symptoms.

Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder of the kidneys and small intestine, affecting a luminal transport mechanism shared by cystine, ornithine, arginine and lysine. When cystine exceeds its solubility at low pH, the risk of stone formation increases. The data reported in the literature show a variation for the incidence of cystinuria, from 1 in 600 to 1 in 17,000, depending on the definition of cystinuria and the method used for screening the population. We set up a pilot screening programme to determine the incidence of cystinuria in the population of the Valencian Community. Urine filter paper samples submitted for the neonatal screening programme from 33,995 newborns (5-10 days old) were used for the study. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed to screen cystinuric patients. To confirm positive filter paper samples, liquid samples were requested and TLC as well as the cyanide-nitroprusside test (CNT) were performed. Final diagnosis was achieved by quantifying cystine, lysine, ornithine and arginine using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in children's urine samples which remained positive for TLC and CNT for more than 1 year. We conclude that the incidence of subjects at risk for cystine stones in the Valencian Community is 1:1887. TLC is shown as a reliable method to perform newborn screening in large population to detect cystinuric subjects. Additional studies, including characterization of appropriate haplotypes, should be carried out for a more precise identification of the frequency of the different types of cystinuria in our population.

In this paper, a collective of Psychiatry Residents from Valencia surveys the degree of achievement and satisfaction with the Spanish programme.Every resident received an enquiry and a letter with instructions to fill it. Colleagues who did not answer back, were contacted and sent a new enquiry.We received a total of 142 enquiries from 52 institutions (80% of the total). The results are distributed in supervision, theoretical training, research, rotatories, assistential pressure, staff-resident ratio, training out of the programme and satisfaction.This work show that the programme is not being carried out properly. There are still some deficiencies in many rotatories, even though they have been improved. In spite of it, the level of satisfaction with the residence is acceptable.

Different epidemiological studies have demonstrated that specific anti-Toxocara antibodies are detected in the serum of a high percentage of the Spanish population. But very few clinical cases of visceral larva migrans are being confirmed.Two cases of visceral toxocarosis, in two sisters, are described. In the first, the prevailing clinic was swelling of joints and upper respiratory tract symptoms; and asthma and cutaneous allergic manifestations in the second patient. Both cases presented with an elevated blood eosinophil count, high levels of total IgE and high titlers of anti-Toxocara antibodies. All symptoms disappeared after treatment with diethylcarbamazine and they remain asymptomatic several months after.In pediatric population, toxocarosis should be ruled out in every patient with respiratory symptoms, allergic cutaneous manifestations and elevated blood eosinophil count. The anti-Toxocara antibodies assay is of great value in establishing the diagnosis of this parasitic disease.

Seroprevalence studies in Spain have shown that a high number of the population has been in contact with Toxocara canis although no cases of ocular involvement by this helminth have been described. The clinical and age of presentation makes differential diagnosis with retinoblastoma necessary, which is at time difficult, although essential since the treatment and prognosis are very different.One case of ocular toxocariosis and the diagnostic keys based on the following are described: ophthalmologic exploration, imaging techniques (ECHO, TC, NMR), aqueous humor cytology, LDH quotient of aqueous/serum humor, and determination of specific anti-Toxocara antibodies by ELISA in serum and aqueous humor.Correct differential diagnosis between ocular toxocariosis and retinoblastoma is required.

We have analyzed some factors which can show the special health care given to spina bifida patients in two periods, from 1971, when the set Hospital was set up, to 1985 and from 1985 to 1991. In 1985 the position of medical coordinator for spina bifida was created, and at the same time, a spina bifida consultancy was set up. This consultancy was created to improve this coordination and to analyze urological problems. In the first period, there were 54 affected in our Hospital. Now there are 68 patients. The most important goal achieved with this coordination is the improvement in the relationship between the patient, family and doctor, based on a personalized attention, even though this is a difficult subject to quantify. Since 1985 we have seen a lower number of visits to the consultancies in general, but mainly in neurosurgery, urology and orthopedics, a mean of 119 in first period and 45 in the second period. The number of consultancy visits has been the same since the consultancy was set up (46 per year). The number of patients admitted to in hospital was also decreasing. The spina bifida consultancy involves only an hours work a week, the urology ward has been integrated into this, and this avoids the handicapped having to attend other specialized wards so often. The consultancy structure lets us send urine analyses results by post or recover the test results on the same day they are done. Analysing the number of X-ray examinations performed on those patients, the coordinators value is evident: we got a lower number of X-ray examinations, especially invasive, e.g. cystographies and urographies, the latter because they have been replaced by echographies.

The synthesis of new N3-arylciclohexanespiroimidazolidine-2,4-diones, N3-arylciclohexanespiroimidazolidine-2-tio-4-ones and the 4-hydroxy derivatives is described and their structures discussed on the basis of I.R. and 1H-N.R.M. data. The anthelmintic activity of these compounds was tested.