Unexpectedly rapid evolution of mandibular shape in hominins.

Members of the hominins - namely the so-called 'australopiths' and the species of the genus Homo - are known to possess short and deep mandibles and relatively small incisors and canines. It is commonly assumed that this suite of traits evolved in early members of the clade in response to changing environmental conditions and increased consumption of though food items. With the emergence of Homo, the functional meaning of mandible shape variation is thought to have been weakened by technological advancements and (later) by the control over fire. In contrast to this expectation, we found that mandible shape evolution in hominins is exceptionally rapid as compared to any other primate clade, and that the direction and rate of shape change (from the ape ancestor) are no different between the australopiths and Homo. We deem several factors including the loss of honing complex, canine reduction, and the acquisition of different diets may have concurred in producing such surprisingly high evolutionary rates. This study reveals the evolution of mandibular shape in hominins has strong morpho-functional and ecological significance attached.

Avaliação do modelo de produção e da inclusão de gordura nos parâmetros qualitativos e sensoriais do hambúrguer ovino / Evaluation of the production model and fat inclusion in qualitative and sensorial parameters of the sheep hamburgers

Carnes de 48 cordeiros Ile de France criados nos modelos orgânico e convencional, provenientes da dissecação da paleta foram submetidas à elaboração de hambúrguer, com fonte de gordura adicionada, nas proporções de 20 e 30%. Os modelos de produção (P<0,01) e o teor de gordura (P<0,01) influenciaram o pH dos hambúrgueres, entretanto apenas os modelos de produção afetaram a luminosidade (P<0,05) e o teor de vermelho (P<0,01), mas não influenciaram a capacidade de retenção de água, a perda de peso ao cozimento e o número de ácido 2-tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) dos hambúrgueres, com valores de 62,8%, 24,6% e 1,81mg malonaldeído/kg de amostra, respectivamente. No hambúrguer orgânico, houve menor força de cisalhamento (0,68kgf/cm²) em relação ao convencional (0,97kgf/cm²). Os teores de gordura afetaram a capacidade de retenção de água (P<0,05). Para perda de peso ao cozimento, força de cisalhamento e número de TBARS, os valores foram de 24,65%, 0,82kgf/cm² e 1,81mg malonaldeído/kg de amostra, respectivamente. Os modelos de produção e os teores de gordura não influenciaram a cor, o sabor, a maciez e a aceitação global dos hambúrgueres. Os modelos de produção e os teores de gordura não influenciaram a atividade de água na temperatura de 20,55ºC, no entanto, em temperaturas mais baixas, os hambúrgueres orgânicos tiveram maior atividade de água em relação aos convencionais.

The dissection of the pallete of 48 Ile de France lambs submitted to the organic and conventional production models was used for hamburger elaboration, with 20 and 30% fat. The production models (P<0,01) and the fat tenor (P<0,01) influenced the hamburgers' pH, the production models affected only the lightness (P<0,05) and the redness (P<0,01), and didn't influence, however, water holding capacity, cooking loss and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of hamburgers, with 62,8%, 24,6% and 1,81mg of malonaldehyde/1000g meat, respectively. In organic hamburgers, smaller shear force (0,68kgf/cm²) was observed in relation to conventional (0,97kgf/cm²). The fat tenors affected water holding capacity (P<0,05), however, they didn't influence cooking loss, shear force and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The production models and fat tenors didn't influence color, flavor, tenderness and global acceptance of the hamburgers. The production models and fat tenors didn't influence water activity of 20,55ºC, however, in lower temperatures, organic hamburgers had higher water activity in relation to conventional hamburgers.

Desempenho e características da carcaça de cordeiros submetidos aos modelos de produção orgânico e convencional / Performance and carcass characteristics of lambs submitted to organic and conventional production models

Avaliou-se o desempenho de 48 cordeiros Ile de France submetidos aos modelos de produção orgânico e convencional desde o nascimento até o abate, aos 32kg de peso corporal. Foi observado que peso ao nascer, peso ao desmame, peso corporal, peso corporal ao abate, idade do nascimento ao desmame, ingestão de matéria seca e ganhos de peso corporal do nascimento ao desmame e do desmame ao abate não foram influenciados (P>0,05) pelos modelos de produção estudados. Idade do desmame ao abate e idade do nascimento ao abate foram influenciados (P<0,05) pelos modelos de produção. Peso corporal, peso corporal ao abate, peso do corpo vazio, pesos da carcaça quente e fria, rendimentos verdadeiros de carcaça quente e fria e perdas ao resfriamento e ao jejum não foram influenciados (P>0,05) pelos modelos de produção estudados. Cordeiros submetidos ao modelo de produção convencional atingiram peso de abate em menor tempo, fato que, dos pontos de vista zootécnico e econômico, é mais propício e vantajoso ao produtor.

The performance of 48 Ile de France lambs, averaging 32kg body weight, raised on organic and conventional models from birth to slaughter age, was evaluated. Birth weight, weaning weight, body weight, slaughter body weight, birth to weaning age, dry matter intake, and body weight gain were not influenced by the (P>0.05) by the production models. However, weaning to slaughter age and birth to slaughter age were influenced (P<0.05) by the production models. Body weight, slaughter body weight, empty body weight, hot and cold weights, hot and cold carcass dressing percentages, and cooling and fasting losses were not influenced (P>0.05) by the production models. Lambs raised under conventional model reached slaughter weight in shorter time, so their performance and economical parameters would be more favorable and advantageous for the producer.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: recent advances in therapy.

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV) is a condition characterized by chronic, multiple, recurrent serous and/or hemorrhagic detachments of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and neurosensory retina. Although it has been described to more often affect Asians and individuals of pigmented races, PCV may also be present in white patients who present with the clinical appearance of age related macular degeneration (AMD). PCV and its treatment are discussed, including the use of combination therapy.

Dental evidence on the hominin dispersals during the Pleistocene.

A common assumption in the evolutionary scenario of the first Eurasian hominin populations is that they all had an African origin. This assumption also seems to apply for the Early and Middle Pleistocene populations, whose presence in Europe has been largely explained by a discontinuous flow of African emigrant waves. Only recently, some voices have speculated about the possibility of Asia being a center of speciation. However, no hard evidence has been presented to support this hypothesis. We present evidence from the most complete and up-to-date analysis of the hominin permanent dentition from Africa and Eurasia. The results show important morphological differences between the hominins found in both continents during the Pleistocene, suggesting that their evolutionary courses were relatively independent. We propose that the genetic impact of Asia in the colonization of Europe during the Early and Middle Pleistocene was stronger than that of Africa.

Endocranial traits. Prevalence and distribution in a recent human population

A recent human population from Italy was analysed for the prevalence and expression of endocranial characters, as well as for the presence of some ectocranial epigenetic traits. The purpose was to provide a supplementary database for the characterisation of some features used to compare the variability of extant and extinct human groups. Many differences between males and females are the result of allometric trajectories, with males shifted to a larger size. In contrast, other features may be unrelated to size and thus interpreted as real sexual characters. The cranial base angle is slightly but significantly related to size, particularly to the vertical skull development. The digital impressions are more expressed in males but there is no evidence of a correlation with size. Arachnoid granulations show no relationship with sex, age or size. The middle meningeal vessels are extremely variable but with a general dominance of the anterior branch providing the parietal supply, and with the left system slightly more developed than the right. The middle meningeal pattern is not related to the venous sinuses pattern. Some further aspects of the expression of these features are discussed, and data for the prevalence of epigenetic traits are reported (AU)

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Porotic hyperostosis as a marker of health and nutritional conditions during childhood: studies at the transition between Imperial Rome and the Early Middle Ages.

Porotic hyperostosis, characterized by small and localized perforations on the surface of cranial bones, is considered a good indicator for assessing the health and nutritional status of past human populations. The most widely accepted theory at present indicates that anemias, either acquired or of genetic origin, are responsible for the bony lesions described as porotic hyperostosis. In this paper, the prevalence of these lesions in two skeletal samples from Latium (central Italy) was used to evaluate health and life conditions in Italy after the collapse of the Roman Empire. One sample belongs to the Roman Imperial Age (1st-3rd centuries A.D.) rural town of Lucus Feroniae; the other comes from the 7th century A.D. Lombard necropolis of Selvicciola. The prevalence of cribra orbitalia and cribra cranii was quite similar in the two samples but slightly more frequent in the Medieval community. Differential diagnosis suggested iron deficiency anemia in early childhood as the causative agent of the hyperostotic lesions in both samples. These results may be interpreted in light of previous examinations of same samples and according to their respective historical and socio-economical characteristics.

A cranium for the earliest Europeans: phylogenetic position of the hominid from Ceprano, Italy.

The human fossil evidence unequivocally pertaining to the first inhabitants of Europe at present includes the sample from Atapuerca-TD6 (Spain) and the incomplete adult calvaria discovered near Ceprano, in Southern Latium (Italy). On the basis of regional correlations and a series of absolute dates, the age of the Ceprano hominid is estimated to range between 800 and 900 kilo-annum (ka). In addition, the association with archaic (Mode 1) Paleolithic findings from the same area is suggested. After the completed reconstruction of the calvaria, we present here a new study dealing with the general and more detailed aspects of the morphology displayed by Ceprano, in comparison to fossil samples ranging between Early and Middle Pleistocene. According to our results, cranial features indicate that Ceprano represents a unique morphological bridge between the clade Homo ergaster/erectus and later Middle Pleistocene specimens commonly referred to Homo heidelbergensis (and/or to Homo rhodesiensis), particularly those belonging to the African fossil record that ultimately relates to the origin of modern humans. In conclusion, given its geographical, chronological, and phylogenetic position, an attribution to the species Homo antecessor is considered, although the sample from Atapuerca-TD6 is not directly comparable to Ceprano. Alternatively, a new species-ancestral to later European and African hominines-should be named to accommodate such a unique fossil specimen.

Cranial discrete traits in the middle pleistocene humans from Sima de los Huesos (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain). Does hypostosis represent any increase in "ontogenetic stress" along the Neanderthal lineage?

Cranial discrete traits may be regarded as markers of dynamic responses to general and local perturbations of the morphogenetic pattern, particularly when they are viewed and examined in terms of hypostosis vs. hyperostosis. There are indications, in fact, that the variation between these two opposite conditions relates to mechanical stress suffered by the bony structures during early stages of growth and development. In a previous comparison between Neanderthals and modern humans, variable degrees and contrasting distribution patterns of hypostosis were found [Manzi et al. (1996), JHE30: 511-527]. In the present paper, the occurrence, expression and cranial distribution of 20 hypo-hyperostotic traits are examined in the Middle Pleistocene sample from Atapuerca - Sima de los Huesos (Spain), with the principal aim being to test whether or not the degree of cranial hypostosis increases during the evolution of the Neanderthals. Other Middle Pleistocene representatives of the genus Homo (Kabwe and Petralona), the Italian Neanderthals, and a large recent European sample are also considered. A general consistency between the gradual appearance and stabilization of the Neanderthal cranial features and the results of the present analysis is found and is interpreted as an indication that hypostosis does mark the occurrence of "ontogenetic stress". As suggested more than half a century ago by S. Sergi, an increase in "ontogenetic stress" in the Neanderthal lineage could result from the relationship between intracranial pressures and other (heterochronic) effects produced by the growth of a large brain (encephalization) and the ossification of an archaic (platycephalic) cranial vault.

Dental size and shape in the Roman imperial age: two examples from the area of Rome.

Different socioeconomic strata of Roman imperial age are represented by two large dental samples recovered from archaeological excavations near Rome, Italy. Teeth are investigated for crown dimensions and morphological variants. One sample, comprising 1,465 permanent teeth, represents the rural town of Lucus Feroniae (LFR) and is mainly composed of slaves and war veterans. The other, comprising 734 teeth from the Isola Sacra necropolis at Portus Romae (NIS), represents the "middle class" segment of an urban population. Both series show small dental dimensions and fit at the lower end of the trend toward dental reduction in Europe from the Upper Paleolithic to the historical times. The urban sample is less variable metrically and less sexually dimorphic than the rural one. The analysis of discrete crown traits shows absence of rare phenotypic variants in both series. The urban sample is also less variable in this last respect, suggesting that the gene pool of this particular "stratum" of the NIS population was more homogeneous than that of LFR. The occurrence of enamel hypoplasia indicates that metabolic stress during growth and development was similar in LFR and NIS. The overall set of available data is evaluated in the light of the history of the two Roman sites and the composition of each population.

Safe laparoscopic surgery: tubal ligation without prior pneumoperitoneum.

Twelve years of experience with tubal ligation by the laparoscopic route at two highly specialized centers of female sterilization are discussed; special attention is given to the technique and results achieved. The number of intraoperative and postoperative complications was very low compared with data reported elsewhere. This article attempts to present the knowledge gained by using the laparoscopic technique, at a time when the use of laparoscopic surgery is extending around the world. The direct insertion of trocars without prior pneumoperitoneum has proved to be safe, and the risks of intraabdominal (visceral or vascular) injuries are minimized by observing simple rules, such as clamping of the relaxed abdominal anterior wall with towel clips, maintaining sharpened trocars, and using the extended index finger as a limit to introduce only the tip of the trocars. We consider a medical history of previous laparotomy secondary to peritonitis and open abdominal treatment absolute contraindications for this technique.

Effectiveness of cisapride in gastric ulcer. Results of a double-blind randomized trial versus ranitidine and versus cisapride plus ranitidine.

Among the factors involved in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer, the reduced clearing capacity of the stomach seems to play an important role. On this basis, cisapride, which improves gastrointestinal motility, enhances gastric emptying, and prevents duodenogastric reflux, may be effective in the treatment of the gastric ulcer. We randomly allocated 60 consecutive patients, with uncomplicated antral gastric ulcer (diameter 5-25 mm), into three groups of treatment: cisapride 20 mg b.i.d. (C), ranitidine 150 mg b.i.d. (R), cisapride 20 mg b.i.d. + ranitidine 150 mg b.i.d. (C+R). Endoscopic examination with biopsy specimens was performed on admission, after 4 weeks and (if ulcer not healed) after 8 weeks of therapy. Three patients were lost to follow-up (two in C and one in C+R), and three were withdrawn, due to malignant ulcer (one case in R) or to side effects (one case of diarrhea in C, one case of headache in C+R). Healing rates at 4 weeks were 41.1% in C, 52.6% in R, and 50.0% in C+R; at 8 weeks they were 88.2% in C, 89.4% in R, and 94.4% in C+R. Though the lack of a placebo arm makes final considerations difficult, the results were similar in all three groups, with no evident differences. In conclusion, therapy with cisapride appears as effective as H2-blocker alone or combined treatments in healing benign gastric ulcer.

Behavior-induced auditory exostoses in imperial Roman society: evidence from coeval urban and rural communities near Rome.

Presence and features of auditory exostoses were investigated in two cranial samples of Roman imperial age (1st-3rd century A.D.). The skeletal material comes from the necropolises of Portus (Isola Sacra) and Lucus Feroniae (Via Capenate), two towns along the Tevere River, in close relation with the social and economic life of Rome. Deep-rooted differences between the human communities represented by the skeletal samples (83 and 71 individuals, respectively, in this study) are documented both historically and archaeologically. The results show lack of exostoses in the female sex, a negligible incidence among the males of Lucus Feroniae, but a high frequency in the male sample from Isola Sacra (31.3%). Auditory exostoses are commonly recognised as localized hyperplastic growths of predominantly acquired origin. Features of the exostoses found in the male crania from Isola Sacra (particularly in relation to the age at death of the affected individuals) support this view. Furthermore, several clinical and anthropological studies have pointed out close links between the occurrence of auditory exostoses and prolonged cold water exposure, generally due to the practice of aquatic sports, or to working activities involving water contact or diving. In this perspective, the differences observed between the two Roman populations and between the sexes (in Isola Sacra) appear to result from different social habits: the middle class population of Portus habitually used thermal baths, whereas it is probable that thermae were seldom frequented (if at all) by the Lucus Feroniae population represented in the necropolis (mostly composed by slaves or freedmen farm laborers).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of cisapride on chronic idiopathic constipation in children.

The efficacy of cisapride, a new prokinetic drug, as a treatment for chronic functional constipation of childhood was studied in 20 constipated children. Each subject had a stool frequency less than 4/week and/or total gastrointestinal transit time greater than 33 hr and was randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with either cisapride (N = 10) or placebo (N = 10) for 12 weeks. Stool habits, total gastrointestinal transit time, and anorectal motility were evaluated in all children before and at the end of the treatment period. Cisapride significantly increased stool frequency from 1.2 +/- 0.6 to 5.1 +/- 1.9 stools/week (mean +/- SD; P less than 0.05), whereas the lesser effect of placebo was not significant (1.2 +/- 0.8 to 2.8 +/- 0.8 stools/week; P = 0.4). Both treatments significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased laxative or suppository use. Total gastrointestinal transit time was decreased by cisapride (90.8 +/- 9.2 hr to 57.2 +/- 20.2 hr; P less than 0.05) but was not affected by placebo. Anorectal manometry showed that cisapride, but not placebo, significantly decreased the rectoanal inhibitory reflex threshold and the conscious rectal sensitivity threshold. It is concluded that cisapride improves gastrointestinal motility and bowel habits in children with chronic idiopathic constipation and may be useful in the management of some children with this disorder.

Size and shape of human cranial sutures--a new scoring method.

A method for the differentiation of sutural patterns of the human cranial vault is introduced. Three criteria of differentiation are considered, one for size and two for shape: 1) maximal shape extension; 2) basic configuration; 3) secondary protrusion. The method is illustrated here for the coronal and lambdoid sutures of 70 recent Italian skulls (35 adult males and 35 adult females). Differences between coronal and lambdoid sutural size and shape can be detected analytically; for example, the coronal suture commonly shows lesser degrees of shape extension, a simpler basic configuration, and an absence of secondary protrusion. Heterogeneity within each suture, as well as a relationship among corresponding sections and between the three criteria adopted, have been also observed; symmetry predominates for both the sutures, and sexual differences are slight.

Clinical efficacy and safety of cisapride and clebopride in the management of chronic functional dyspepsia: a double-blind, randomized study.

The clinical efficacy and the safety of chronic oral administration of cisapride, a new gastrointestinal prokinetic agent, (10 mg tid) and clebopride (0.5 mg tid) was assayed in 48 outpatients affected with functional dyspepsia, in a randomized double-blind study. Each of the drugs induced a significant reduction in dyspeptic symptoms after 2 and 4 weeks (p less than 0.001). Two patients, given clebopride, dropped out of the study because of severe side effects during the first week of treatment. Mild adverse reactions were reported in 6 out of 23 cisapride-treated patients and in 10 out of 20 clebopride-treated patients who completed the study. The most common side effect of cisapride was diarrhoea and that of clebopride was drowsiness. Cisapride appears to be as effective as clebopride in reducing dyspeptic symptoms and seems to induce less severe side effects.

Effects of cisapride on parameters of oesophageal motility and on the prolonged intraoesophageal pH test in infants with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

The effect of cisapride, a new gastrointestinal prokinetic drug, on oesophageal motility and acid reflux was studied in 14 children with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, receiving either placebo or cisapride 0.15 mg/kg intravenously. Cisapride significantly (p less than 0.01) increased the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (+124%), the amplitude (+84%) and duration (+24%) of oesophageal peristaltic waves, whereas the placebo treatment did not produce any changes. Subsequently, all 14 children underwent 24 hour oesophageal pH-monitoring before and after four weeks of treatment with oral cisapride 0.2 mg/kg tid given in addition to postural therapy and thickened feedings. The 24 hour intraoesophageal pH recordings and symptomatic scores were compared with those of 10 control patients treated only by postural therapy and thickened feedings. When compared with baseline pH data, cisapride significantly reduced the oesophageal acid exposure time, the mean duration of each reflux episode, the duration of the longest reflux episode and the number of long lasting reflux episodes; the number of reflux episodes was not influenced. The effect of cisapride was marked and consistent during fasting and sleep periods. Oesophageal acid exposure was reduced more significantly in patients given cisapride (-61%) than in controls (-24%; p less than 0.001). Symptom improvement was greater after four weeks of cisapride treatment (score reduction: 61%) than after postural and dietary therapy alone (score reduction: 42%; p less than 0.01). No adverse effects occurred. These findings suggest that cisapride is a valuable drug in the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children.