The aim of JSTP is to improve the human and animal health using an interdisciplinary scientific approach based on pathology and toxicology. In its development as a professional society, the JSTP has established society rules and activities. The JSTP has grown in terms of membership and financial aspects and is now recognized not only domestically but also internationally as a well-organized scientific society. To maintain the high

professional standard and visibility of JSTP, we here provide the historical background of the society as a basis for current members to contribute to the continued improvement of our scientific organization. selleck chemicals llc (DOI: 10.1293/tox.24.1; J Toxicol Pathol 2011; 24: 1-7)”
“Hearing loss is the most common sensory defect in the world The genetic basis of this condition is very complex Molecular variations in GJB2 gene are the common cause of hearing impairment in Caucasians. One expects that affected members of a family with same mutation have similar MGCD0103 order phenotype. Here, we report phenotypic variability in hearing loss among the members of a Lur family Two brothers from a Lur family from Lurestan province in western Iran with variable degrees of nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss were evaluated for genetic counseling. Clinical examinations, audiological tests and molecular studies including GJ82 gene sequencing and detection

of Delta(GJB6-D13S1830) deletion were performed Sequencing analysis

of GJB2 gene revealed delE120 mutation in both brothers in homozygous form Since one of them was profoundly selleck kinase inhibitor deaf and the other was mild hearing loss and had normal conversation, we were expecting different genotypes or other causative effects Delta(GJB6-D13S1830) was not found Phenotypic variability between members of different families with the same type of mutation can be expected which may be due to the role of different modifying factors, unrecognized gap Junction isoforms, or polymorphism effects. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Multi-vector distraction osteogenesis has been described for use in the reconstruction of complex mandible deformities. Using 3-dimensional computer simulation, the location of the osteotomy and arc of the device can be predetermined, allowing for precise planning and determination of end points. Here, we discuss our experience using this technique and propose methods to optimize outcomes and minimize discrepancies in the projected results.

Methods: Three patients who underwent curvilinear mandible distraction and preoperative computer-simulated planning are described. After simulation to determine level of osteotomy and arc of the curvilinear distractor device, design-specific guides were constructed. Intraoperatively, custom guides were used to precisely perform the osteotomy and for placement of each distractor.

24) and the disagreement was asymmetric (Bowker’s test of symmetry P < 0.0001) with clinicians more often rating more abnormal morphologic categories. Agreement on axial location of the herniation was excellent (kappa = 0.81). There was disagreement between left Rabusertib mouse or right side in only 3.3% of cases (kappa = 0.93).

Conclusion. Radiology reports frequently fail to provide sufficient detail to describe disc herniation morphology. Agreement between MRI readings by clinical spine specialists and radiologists was excellent when

comparing herniation vertebral level and location within level, but only fair comparing herniation morphology.”
“The present study was designed to estimate the effect of aqueous extract of licorice on metiram toxicity in mice. Treating mice with metiram at a dose level of [1/2] LD50 daily for 3 weeks Histone Methyltransf inhibitor induced many histological changes in the kidney cortex. The renal tubules lost their characteristic appearance and their lining epithelial cells were degenerated. The glomeruli were atrophied

and the renal blood vessels were congested. The intertubular spaces infiltrated by inflammatory leukocytic cells. Metiram caused an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in nuclei of tubular epithelial cells. Metiram also caused marked elevation in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Treating animals with metiram and licorice aqueous extract led to an improvement, in both biochemical and histopathological alterations. These results proved

that licorice had an ameliorative effect against kidney injury induced by metiram and this effect may be attributed to its antioxidant activity. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.”
“P>More children die of congenital heart disease (CHD) in low-income countries and acquired cardiac disease is more frequent. Advances in diagnosis, surgery, perfusion and anesthesia in the developed world have had dramatic results on children’s lives, and many forms of CHD can now be safely corrected or palliated. However, in developing countries, for the children who receive cardiac surgery, perioperative mortality and morbidity remain high. Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is see more a specialty in its infancy worldwide, and in developing countries, it is often nonexistent. Visiting ‘specialists’ as part of medical mission teams often provides anesthesia, but the hope for the future is that local staff will be trained in pediatric cardiac anesthesia and collaborative regional cardiac centers will be the mainstay of care, offering safer surgery to more children.”
“Study Design. Prospective longitudinal study, mean follow-up period; 11.7 +/- 0.8 years was conducted from 1995 to 2007.

Objective. To clarify normal aging process of cervical spine and correlation between progression of disc degeneration and development of clinical symptoms.

Summary of Background Data. Aging of the cervical spine can inevitably occur in anyone.

Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Enhancement factor and spatial resolution

are two www.selleckchem.com/Proteasome.html of the most important metrological parameters defining the quality of a tip-enhanced Raman spectrometer. A high degree of variability in the reported values of enhancement factor is highlighted in this work, and the possible reasons for the discrepancies are discussed. A methodology for estimating enhancement factor in tip-enhanced Raman imaging using a one-dimensional nanostructure such as single wall carbon nanotube is suggested. This methodology is verified using tip-enhanced Raman images from our laboratory, and an image from another group published previously. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3056155]“
“Objective. Comprehensive sequencing of the coding exons of the calcium-sensing receptor gene (CASR) was performed in a group of Iranian recurrent calcium kidney stone-formers and the results were compared with a control group. Material and methods. Serum and urine parameters were evaluated in 99 males aged Go 6983 between 30 and 55 years

old with idiopathic recurrent calcium urolithiasis and in 107 men as a control group. Products of polymerase chain reaction were sequenced using forward primer until a mutation was found in that exon. Then, other cases were analysed by single-strand conformation polymorphism. Results. Four polymorphisms were detected in CASR exons, all in the coding region of exon 7. These polymorphisms and their minor allele frequency were P748P (100%), A986S (1%), R990G (3%) and E1011Q (98%). There was a significantly higher count of 986S (p = 0.006), 990G (p = 0.006) and E1011 (p = 0.02) alleles in patients. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 2.55 (1.31-4.96) in those at risk of stone disease for the 986S allele and 8.06 (1.80-35.9) for the 990G allele. Men with the RR genotype at R990G showed a significantly higher serum ionized calcium than the RG or GG group (p = 0.03). A significantly lower serum

total calcium was found in subjects with the QQ than the EQ genotype with respect to the 1011 locus (p = 0.005). Furthermore, the 1011Q allele was marginally associated with hypercalciuria (p = 0.05). Conclusion. The 986S, 990G and 1011Q alleles were associated with a recurrent calcium kidney stone-forming state. this website 986S and 1011Q alleles, but not 986S, were associated with hypercalcaemia.”
“Rationale: Talc is very effective for pleurodesis, but there is concern about complications, especially acute respiratory distress syndrome. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate if talc with a high concentration of small particles induces greater production of cytokines, and if pleural tumor burden has any influence on the local production and spillover of cytokines to the systemic circulation and eventual complications. Methods: We investigated 227 consecutive patients with malignant effusion submitted to talc pleurodesis.

Risk factors with a p value less than 0.10 by univariate analysis were included in the subsequent multivariate analysis. In part 2 of the study, long-term, all-cause mortality was determined by construction of a Kaplan-Meier curve for the cohort. Seven patients died (4.5%). Significant risk factors

for mortality in the multivariable analysis included age older than 40 years (odds ratio (OR) 9.89) and concomitant surgery (OR 6.65). A major adverse event occurred for 22 patients (14.4%). The only significant risk factor in the multivariable analysis for an adverse event was concomitant surgery (OR 6.42). The hospital stay was longer than 7 days for 31 patients (20.3%). The significant risk factors for a prolonged hospital stay included the presence

of preoperative arrhythmias (OR 4.17), New York Heart Association class 3 (OR 4.35), and find more again, concomitant learn more surgery (OR 4.2). Among the 146 hospital survivors, only 5 patients died in the intervening period. The predicted survival rates were 98.5% at 1 year, 96.7% at 5 years, and 93.5% at 10 years. Pulmonary valve replacement in adults with palliated TOF is a safe procedure with excellent long-term survival, but there remain important risk factors for postoperative mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and major adverse events. Awareness and modification of important risk factors may help to improve outcomes.”
“Ultrasound of uterine scar after cesarean and measurement of its thickness can be used to evaluate its healing and risk factors for scar defect and uterine rupture. However, we believe that a period of up to 6 months after surgery is necessary to achieve complete healing of the scar, especially in cases of cesarean performed during labor. (C) Versita

BAY 73-4506 ic50 Sp. z o.o.”
“The problem of arsenic pollution of groundwater used for domestic water supplies is now well recognised in Bangladesh, India and some other countries of South and South-east Asia. However, it has recently become apparent that arsenic-polluted water used for irrigation is adding sufficient arsenic to soils and rice to pose serious threats to sustainable agricultural production in those countries and to the health and livelihoods of affected people. This paper reviews the nature of those threats, taking into account the natural sources of arsenic pollution, areas affected, factors influencing arsenic uptake by soils and plants, toxicity levels and the dietary risk to people consuming arsenic-contaminated rice. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) treatment alone (lambda = 660 nm and lambda = 830 nm) or associated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). We used 54 male rats divided into six groups, with nine animals each: group 1, partial tenotomy; group 2 (GII), PRP; group 3 (GIII): lambda 660 nm; group 4 (GIV), lambda 830 nm; group 5 (GV), PRP + lambda 660 nm; and group 6 (GVI), PRP + lambda 830 nm.

Duodenal drainage was performed by a stapled or hand-sewn technique. Patient demographics, operative times, major post-operative complications, and graft survival data were analyzed. Of 57 pancreas transplants, DJ was performed in 36 patients, stapled DD in 14 patients, and hand-sewn DD in seven patients. Two DD grafts (9.5%) thrombosed compared with no DJ grafts (p = NS). Enteric leak and small-bowel obstruction occurred in 3 of 36 DJ patients and in two DD patients (p = NS). Gastrointestinal bleeding occurred more frequently in stapled DD compared with DJ (4

vs. 0, p < 0.015). In conclusion, DD is technically feasible with no increase in operative time or enteric complications. GI bleeding rates appear to be higher following DD (stapled) technique. Potential complications of DD should be balanced against the benefits conferred by this technique.”
“CLE buy SHP099 peptides are potentially involved in nodule organ development and in the autoregulation of nodulation (AON), a systemic process that restricts nodule number. A genome-wide survey of CLE peptide genes in the soybean glycine max genome resulted in the identification of 39 GmCLE genes, the majority of which have not yet been annotated. qRT-PCR analysis indicated two different nodulation-related CLE expression patterns, one linked

with nodule primordium development and a new one linked with nodule maturation. Moreover, two GmCLE gene pairs, encoding group-III CLE peptides that were previously shown to be Torin 1 involved in AON, had a transient expression pattern during nodule development,

were induced by the essential nodulation hormone cytokinin, and one pair was also slightly induced by the addition of nitrate. Hence, our data support the hypothesis that group-III CLE peptides produced in the nodules are involved in primordium homeostasis and intertwined in activating AON, but not in sustaining it.”
“Liposomes are potential carriers for targeting and controlled drug delivery by the intravenous route. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) is a ramification of chitosan with intrinsic water-solubility. The aim of this study is to prepare itraconazole-loaded liposomes coated by carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC-ITZ-Lips), to evaluate Selleck PF-03084014 its physico-chemical characteristics and the tissue targeting after being injected intravenously (i.v.). This study uses a film dispersion method to prepare itraconazole-loaded liposomes (ITZ-Lips) prior to coating them with CMC. The concentrations of ITZ in selected organs were determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) following i.v. administration of ITZ-Sol, ITZ-Lips, and CMC-ITZ-Lips. CMC-ITZ-Lips had an average diameter of 349.3 +/- 18 nm with a zeta potential of -35.71 +/- 0.62 mV and the in vitro antifungal activity was not inhibited by the entrapment. The CMC-ITZ-Lips exhibited a longer elimination half life (t(1/2) (beta)) in vivo compared with ITZ-Sol and ITZ-Lips after i.v.

Consistent with these adverse physiological effects, consumption of even small amounts of TFAs (2% of total energy intake) is consistently associated with a markedly increased incidence of coronary heart disease. relationships between TFA

consumption and diabetes mellitus have been less consistent, possibly owing to differences in study designs. Nevertheless, the documented adverse effects of TFAs underscore their potential to cause harm and the importance of policy measures AP26113 cost to minimize consumption of industrially produced TFAs.”
“PURPOSE: To evaluate the repeatability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of the thickness of femtosecond laser-created laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flaps.

SETTING: Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

DESIGN: Case series, evaluation of diagnostic technology.

METHODS: In this consecutive series, Fourier-domain OCT (RTVue) was used to measure flap thickness 1 week after LASIK. Flaps were created with a Pulsion 60 kHz femtosecond laser programmed for 110 mu m flap thickness. Each eye was scanned 2 times with a radial pachymetry pattern and 1 time with a horizontal line scan. Flap thicknesses were measured at 6 positions across the corneal flap (ie,

+/- 0.5 mm, +/- 1.5 mm, and +/- 2.5 mm from the center on the learn more horizontal and vertical meridians). The within-grader flap thickness repeatability

and between-grader see more reproducibility were calculated by pooled standard deviations (SDs).

RESULTS: Twenty-one eyes were measured. The mean flap thickness measurements were highly predictable at all positions. Thickness SDs varied from 5.3 to 9.5 mu m and uniformity, from 121.7 to 126.5 mu m. The within-grader repeatability was 3.3 to 6.4 mu m based on the same image measured at different times and 4.7 to 7.4 mu m for different images. The between-grader reproducibility was 4.0 to 9.0 mu m. There was no statistically significant asymmetry between the nasal side and the temporal side, the superior side and the inferior side, or the pericentral area and the central area of the corneal flap.

CONCLUSIONS: The femtosecond laser created LASIK flaps with uniform and predictable thicknesses. Fourier-domain OCT gave highly repeatable flap-thickness measurements.”
“Late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is a non-familial, progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most prominent form of dementia in the elderly. Accumulating evidence suggests that LOAD not only results from the combined effects of variation in a number of genes and environmental factors, but also from epigenetic abnormalities such as histone modifications or DNA methylation. In comparison to monogenic diseases, LOAD exhibits numerous anomalies that suggest an epigenetic component in disease etiology.

e., BEP362 resin. Finally, the carbon fiber composite based on BEP362 was found to exhibit Substantial enhancement in its mechanical properties. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1225-1234, 2009″
“SETTING: The Bandim Health Project study area in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential usefulness of predictors (elsewhere applied) and clinical scores (TBscore and TBscore II) based on signs and symptoms typical of tuberculosis (TB) in case finding.

DESIGN:

Observational prospective cohort study of patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of pulmonary TB (PTB) from 2010 to 2012.

RESULTS: We included 1089 PTB suspects with a mean age of 34 years (95%CI 33-35); human immunodeficiency ALK inhibitor virus (HIV) prevalence was 15.1%. PTB was diagnosed in 107 suspects (76.4% sputum smear-positive, 25.2% HIV-infected). Cough > 2 weeks had the highest diagnostic ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.66, 95%CI 0.62-0.71), while TBscore < 3 best excluded PTB (negative likelihood ratio [LR-] 0.3) when HIV status was not known. TBscore

II >= 3 had the highest diagnostic ability in HIV-infected PTB suspects (AUC 0.62, 95%CI 0.53-0.72), while the absence of self-reported weight loss best excluded PTB (LR – 0.2). Cough > 2 weeks as a trigger for smear microscopy missed 32.1% of smear-positive PTB cases.

CONCLUSION: Case finding could be improved by screening symptomatic adults for cough and/or weight loss using TBscore II as the trigger

for smear microscopy. To suspect PTB Selleck Pexidartinib only in patients with cough > 2 weeks (non-HIV-infected) or with current cough, fever, weight loss or night sweats (HIV-infected) was not effective in patients whose HIV status was unknown at first visit.”
“A detailed synchrotron X-ray diffraction study on the Ricolinostat mouse kinetics of crystallization of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) and milk fat triacylglycerols (MFT) was done in a Couette cell at 17 degrees C, 17.5 degrees C and 20 degrees C under shear rates between 0 and 2880 s(-1). We observed shear-induced acceleration of the transition from phase alpha to beta’ and the presence of crystalline orientation, but no effect of shear on the onset time of phase alpha was observed. A two stage regime was observed for the growth of phase beta’. The first stage follows a series-parallel system of differential equations describing the conversion between liquid and crystalline phases. The second stage follows a diffusion-controlled regime. These mechanisms are consistent with the crystalline orientation, the growth of the crystalline domains and the observed displacement of the diffraction peak positions. The absence of the polar lipids explains the faster kinetics of MFT. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors in the world.

Methods: A total

of 163 subjects (114 with asthma) completed a single APR-246 mouse visit for sputum induction and a blood test. Labile and total [Zn] were measured by Zinquin fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results: The mean (SD) age of subjects with and without asthma was 55 (14) and 57 (14) years, respectively. Baseline FEV(1) was significantly lower in subjects with asthma (94.2 (16)%) than in those without asthma (103 (16.6)%). Sputum total and labile [Zn] were lower in subjects with asthma compared with control subjects, with median (interquartile range) values of 31.8 (117) versus 50 (188.5), P = 0.02 and 0 (48) versus 26 (84.5) mu g/L, P = 0.05, respectively. Increased frequency of wheeze, as well as asthma severity and reduced FEV(1), was associated with significantly lower labile sputum [Zn].

Conclusions: These findings suggest that sputum [Zn] reflect clinical outcomes

and underlying AI, suggesting a potential role for zinc as a biomarker in asthma.”
“Hypothesis: That acquired cholesteatoma of the human middle ear and mastoid process can be caused PND-1186 by migration of squamous epithelium from the tympanic membrane.

Objective: To provide histologic evidence in humans of the potential for medial epithelial migration toward the middle ear.

Background: The origin of cholesteatomas of the middle ear complex of humans is still not clearly understood. The most popular theory, the medial migration of squamous epithelium from www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-04929113.html the external auditory canal/tympanic membrane through a perforation of the tympanic membrane to form a cholesteatoma, was first proposed over a century ago independently by Bezold (1899) and Habermann (1899) based on their observations during surgery. Neither author had histologic proof.

Despite

much experimental efforts in animals, histologic evidence in the human continues to be the missing link.

Method: We examined the histologic sections of the temporal bones of 60 children aged 1 day to 12 years with evidence of acute otitis media. We present our findings in the temporal bones of 3 infants.

Results: We find evidence of the propensity of the squamous epithelium of the tympanic membrane particularly in the pars flaccida to become very active and to migrate medially toward the middle ear.

Conclusion: Our concept is that this material supports the migration theory that cholesteatomas are formed by the medial migration of the stimulated squamous epithelium of the tympanic membrane.”
“Objective: To examine the relationship of early serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels with the severity of post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS), long-term neurological recovery and the risk of early-onset infections in patients with coma after cardiac arrest (CA) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Methods: A prospective cohort of adult comatose CA patients treated with TH (33 degrees C, for 24 h) admitted to the medical/surgical intensive care unit, Lausanne University Hospital, was studied.

As cost-driving factors we identified disease severity according to the IRLS (p < 0.01) and ESS (p < 0.04). Health-related quality of life was determined to be substantially affected by RLS; the mean EQ-5D visual analogue scale (VAS) was 55.6, considerably lower than that of the age-matched general population.

Conclusion: RLS places a notable financial

burden on society as well as on patients and their families. More EVP4593 molecular weight detailed studies are needed to evaluate the health economic impact of this disorder.”
“The empathic abilities have never been examined in bipolar disorder patients, despite frequent observations of impaired social behavior. To examine the neuropsychological processes that underlie the affective and cognitive empathic ability find more in bipolar disorder, the authors compared affective and cognitive empathic abilities, as well as theory of mind and executive functions, of euthymic bipolar disorder patients and healthy comparison subjects. Significant deficits in cognitive empathy and theory of mind were observed, while affective empathy was elevated in bipolar disorder. Patients showed impaired cognitive flexibility

(shifting and reversal learning) but intact planning behavior. Impaired cognitive empathy was related with performance in neurocognitive tasks of cognitive flexibility, suggesting that prefrontal cortical dysfunction may account for impaired cognitive empathy in bipolar disorder.”
“Background: Osteoporosis is a condition marked by low bone mineral density and the

deterioration of bone tissue. One of the main clinical and economic consequences of osteoporosis is skeletal fractures.

Objective: To assess the healthcare and work loss costs of US patients with non-vertebral (NV) osteoporotic fractures.

Methods: Privately insured (aged 18-64 years) and Medicare (aged >= 65 years) patients with osteoporosis (ICD-9-CM code: 733.0x) were identified during 1999-2006 using two claims databases. Patients with an NV fracture (femur, pelvis, lower leg, upper arm, forearm, rib or hip) were matched randomly on age, sex, employment status and geographic region to controls with osteoporosis and no fractures. Patient characteristics and annual healthcare costs were assessed over the year following the index fracture for privately insured (n = 4764) and Medicare Akt inhibitor (n = 48 742) beneficiaries (Medicare drug costs were estimated using multivariable models). Indirect (i.e. work loss) costs were calculated for a subset of privately insured, employed patients with available disability data (n = 1148). All costs were reported in $US, year 2006 values.

Results: In Medicare, mean incremental healthcare costs per NV fracture patient were $US13 387 ($US22 466 vs $US9079; p < 0.05). The most expensive patients had index fractures of the hip, multiple sites and femur (incremental costs of $US25 519, $US20 137 and $US19 403, respectively).

“
“Study Design. Test-retest and case-control study designed to detect accuracy of cervical spine movements by comparing 3 incrementally difficult movement patterns. An asymptomatic group, a nontrauma neck pain group, and a group with whiplash-associated disorders, Grade II, were tested (n = 18 in each group).

Objective. To determine the test-retest reliability and the discriminative CT99021 validity of the new Fly method.

Summary of Background Data. A lack of reliable and valid measures for grading the deficits of movement control

in the cervical spine makes it impossible to prescribe treatment appropriate to each patient’s respective impairment level.

Methods. Head tracking of a moving fly

which appeared on a computer screen. Easy, medium, and difficult patterns, each of which was repeated 3 times in random order, were tested. Amplitude accuracy (deviation of movements), directional accuracy (time on target, undershoots vs. overshoots) were compared P5091 datasheet across patterns and groups on 2 occasions, 1 week apart.

Results. The intraclass correlation coefficient(2,1) ranged from 0.53 to 0.82 for both variables, except for the subvariable “”overshoots”" (0.14-0.42). The limits of agreement (LOA) were progressively wider across patterns (easy-medium-difficult) and groups (asymptomatic-nontrauma-whiplash-associated disorder). Analysis of variance with repeated measures revealed significant differences between

patterns within each group and between groups respectively for both outcome variables (P < 0.001).

Conclusion. The Fly method provides reliable and valid measures for movement control of the cervical spine. Higher means and wider LOA across patterns and subject groups are reasoned to be inherent in the new Fly method and the subject groups tested. The wide LOA in the symptomatic groups supports the development of a normative database. The new Fly method can be used both as an assessment and a treatment method and ensures gradual progression in the treatment for deficits of movement control in patients with neck pain.”
“A bisphenol A-based epoxy resin was modified SYN-117 with pristine sepiolite and an organically surface-modified sepiolite and thermally cured using two different curing agents: an aliphatic and a cycloaromatic diamine. The nanocomposites were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), rheology, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and electron microscopy. The initial sepiolite-epoxy mixtures show a better dispersion for the sepiolite-modified system that forms a percolation network structure. Mechanical properties have also been determined. The flexural modulus of the epoxy matrix slightly increases by the incorporation of the organophilic sepiolite.