Analysis of gender differences on pyriform aperture of human skulls using geometric morphometric method.

BACKGROUND: Piriform aperture is anterior opening of the nasal cavity formed by bones of the viscerocranium and knowledge about differences between genders is important for forensic scientists, anthropologists, orthopaedists, neurosurgeons and vascular surgeons. The aim of this study was to examine gender differences of piriform aperture on three-dimensional (3D) models of human skulls originating from Bosnian population using the geometric morphometric method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 211 3D models of human skulls of known gender. 3D models were obtained by laser scanning. We analysed the gender differences of piriform aperture using geometric morphometrics method. On 3D models we marked four landmarks on piriform aperture in the Landmark Editor programme, after which we analysed its gender differences in MorphoJ programme. RESULTS: The first principal component analysis axis described 40.398% of total variability of piriform aperture. The greatest gender variability was present in the position of the landmark rhinion. Discriminant functional analysis of the shape and size of the piriform aperture allowed the gender determination with 64.03% accuracy for male and 70.83% accuracy for female gender. The size of the piriform aperture showed a statistically significant difference between genders. Discriminant functional analysis of the shape of the piriform aperture without affecting size enabled gender determination with 59.71% accuracy for male and 62.5% accuracy for female. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis showed statistically significant differences in the shape and size of piriform aperture between genders. The accuracy for gender determination based on piriform aperture was higher in females.

The peopling of modern Bosnia-Herzegovina: Y-chromosome haplogroups in the three main ethnic groups.

The variation at 28 Y-chromosome biallelic markers was analysed in 256 males (90 Croats, 81 Serbs and 85 Bosniacs) from Bosnia-Herzegovina. An important shared feature between the three ethnic groups is the high frequency of the "Palaeolithic" European-specific haplogroup (Hg) I, a likely signature of a Balkan population re-expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum. This haplogroup is almost completely represented by the sub-haplogroup I-P37 whose frequency is, however, higher in the Croats (approximately 71%) than in Bosniacs (approximately 44%) and Serbs (approximately 31%). Other rather frequent haplogroups are E (approximately 15%) and J (approximately 7%), which are considered to have arrived from the Middle East in Neolithic and post-Neolithic times, and R-M17 (approximately 14%), which probably marked several arrivals, at different times, from eastern Eurasia. Hg E, almost exclusively represented by its subclade E-M78, is more common in the Serbs (approximately 20%) than in Bosniacs (approximately 13%) and Croats (approximately 9%), and Hg J, observed in only one Croat, encompasses approximately 9% of the Serbs and approximately 12% of the Bosniacs, where it shows its highest diversification. By contrast, Hg R-M17 displays similar frequencies in all three groups. On the whole, the three main groups of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in spite of some quantitative differences, share a large fraction of the same ancient gene pool distinctive for the Balkan area.

Comparative study of genetic variation at 15 STR loci in three isolated populations of the Bosnian mountain area.

Fifteen autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, VWA, D8S1179, TPOX, and FGA) were studied in three geographically close but isolated populations from the Bosnian mountain area. The three villages are Bobovica, Dejcici, and Lukomir. DNA was obtained from 83 individuals, and the allele frequencies and genetic diversity among the three sample groups were compared. In addition, seven of the STR loci (CSF1PO, D13S317, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, FGA, TH01) were used in a comparative population analysis of the Bjelasnica-Treskavica region and the Adriatic islands of Brac, Hvar, and Korcula. Although the sample sizes are relatively small, the observed variation within any of the small isolated populations is high and comparable to less isolated groups. In addition, even though the populations are geographically isolated, the STR data are similar among the populations. The most significant frequency differences were observed at the TH01 locus. Although the specific allele distributions in any untyped population cannot be determined a priori, we find support for a high degree of diversity for the STR loci in most populations. In addition, the multiple locus profile is highly informative not only for various population studies but also for forensic studies, even when specific population data are not available.

Growth and development of male children and youth in Tuzla's region after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A four-year aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina was extremely unfavourable period for growth and development of children and youth. In spite of that, it is established that ontogeny of male children and youth (between 10.5-19.5 years) on the observed region is going well, and it is within the limits at the average European standards. By parallel analysis of growth of domestic and expatriate persons, it is established that the average (sum) values of almost it's all indexes are significantly bigger for domestic (object) inhabitants. However, after the end of growth, they become approximately the same. By comparison of indexes of growth and development of the tested sample and samples from 1980 (of the same population), the soft acceleration trend for majority (indexes) of parameters is established, what is mostly seen in postpuberty age. The tested persons in pre-puberty and puberty age had the same or even less average values comparing to the tested persons from 1980. This is probably a direct result of negative influence of exogenous factors (war vital conditions), which caused temporary stoppage in growth and development in that period of growth when growth is the most intensive. Despite the fact that war life conditions have negatively affected the growth and development of the subjects studied, it has been found that the development of male children and youth, meaning the growth of different parameters on the studied area were in synchrony.

Endothelin 1 action on isolated rat stomach and the role of calcium ions in ET 1 induced depolarization of smooth muscle cells BC3H1.

Endothelins; (ET1, ET2 and ET3) are a family of peptides which acts on different smooth muscle preparations inducing a slow long lasting contraction. We investigated the effects of ET 1 modulatory action on adrenergic, cholinergic and serotoninergic transmission on an isolated mouse's stomach with gastric nerves. The endothelin 1 stimulation of the mouse stomach tone was abolished by the specific serotonin antagonist methizergid. This study suggests that endothelin 1 plays a role in the regulation of nonvascular smooth muscle tone. The endothelin effect was dependent on free intracellular Ca++ which can be recruited from an extracellular solution as well as from intracellular stores. Complete reduction of Ca++ from the extracellular solution with a simultaneous depletion of calcium stores abolished endothelin 1 depolarization of BC3H1 cells.

[The heritability of vitiligo]. / Zur Frage der Erblichkeit der Vitiligo.

Familial cases of vitiligo in 13 families observed by the authors as well as familial cases from the literature were analyzed. The results are presented in four tables. Genetic factors doubtless play a role in the aetiology of this pigmentation anomaly, but the mode of inheritance does not appear to be uniform. This condition seems to be heterogeneous.