Atlas occipitalisation associated with other anomalies in a 16th century skeleton from Sardinia (Italy).

Archaeological excavations carried out in the plague cemetery of 16th century Alghero (Sardinia) brought to light the skeleton of a male aged 35-45 years, showing anomalies of the atlas. A macroscopic and radiological study has been carried out. The first cervical vertebra is fused with the skull base, resulting in an occipitalisation of the atlas. Absence of the costal element of the left foramen transversarium, resulting in an open anterior foramen transversarium, and posterior arch defect are also observed. The atlanto-occipital junction is a complex structure, susceptible to develop different patterns of congenital defects. These anatomical variations of atlas should be considered in modern clinical practice in order to formulate a correct diagnosis and to conceive an appropriate treatment. Osteoarchaeological cases are important as, beside to ascertain the presence of congenital defects in past populations, allow an in-depth study in dry bones, which can help modern medicine in interpreting anatomical variations. We present an association of congenital anomalies of the atlanto-occipital junction, a condition rarely documented in ancient and modern human skeletal remains.

How long does the volumizing effect of a Zingiber officinale-based lip plumper last?

OBJECTIVE: Lip plumpers should enhance lip volume. It has been shown that no noticeable result was obtained after long term use of these products. The present study has been carried out to assess lip plumpers' short term effectiveness within 2 h from application. METHODS: Effectiveness was assessed using non-invasive techniques. The effect on vascularisation was analyzed with the Mexameter MX 16® , and the volume enhancing effect was assessed by anthropometric measures and profilometry analysis from 3D scanning electron microscope (SEM) images using Alicona's MEX software. Sixty female volunteers were recruited for the study and the measurements were taken 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after product application. RESULTS: Product application produced a statistically significant increase of lip vascularisation during the first 15 min, which stayed unchanged until the 30th min, then decreased in intensity. The volumizing effect was revealed by 3D profilometry analysis only, not by anthropological measurements. The use of 3D SEM images showed an increase of 0.50 mm in the protrusion of the lip vermilion (MHP parameter) during the first 15 min from product application. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the lip plumper temporarily enhances vasodilation and increases lip volume.

Cadmium influences the 5-Fluorouracil cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells.

The aim of the research was to evaluate a heavy metal, Cadmium (Cd), which was used to produce alterations in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Moreover, we analyzed both immunohistochemical and ultrastructural alterations induced by the antineoplastic drug, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), after exposure to different concentrations of Cadmium. Also, we compared the effects of these compounds on actin and tubulin cytoskeleton proteins. Under ultramicroscopic observation, control cells looked polymorphous with filopodia. In cells already treated with small concentrations of Cd, after brief times of incubation, we observed an intense metabolic activity with larger, clearer, and elongated mitochondria characterized by thin and numerous dilated cristae. 5-FU-treated cells showed cytotoxicity signs with presence of pore-like alterations in the cell membrane and evident degeneration of cytoplasm and cell nuclei. The addition of 5-FU (1.5 µM) to the cells treated with Cd (5 µM-20 µM) did not induce significant ultrastructural changes in comparison with cells treated only with Cd. In Cd+5FU-treated cells mitochondria with globular aspect and regular cristae indicated the active metabolic state. In cells treated only with Cd we observed alterations in actin distribution, while tubulin branched out throughout the cytoplasm. With the association of Cd+5FU, we observed less morphological alterations in both tubulin and actin cytoskeleton proteins. Although the mechanism remains unknown at present, our findings suggest that Cd prevents the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU on breast cancer cells. These preliminary results could have an important clinical application in patients with breast cancer.

Histopathology of the A1 pulley in adult trigger fingers.

The histopathology of the central parts of 40 A1 pulleys from adult patients with primary trigger fingers was studied using light and transmission electron microscopes and the findings were compared with those in a control series of 10 normal A1 pulleys. The evaluation of the normal A1 pulley revealed a bi-laminar structure. The deepest layer was composed of dense normal connective tissue. The outermost layer was formed by loose connective tissue. In trigger digits, it was possible to identify a tri-laminar structure. The deepest layer was composed of irregular connective tissue, formed by small collagen fibres and abundant extracellular matrix. A considerable amount of chondroid-metaplasia was present in this layer. The middle layer contained dense, normal connective tissue with some fibrocytes. The outermost layer was formed of loose connective tissue. In conclusion, there was an additional layer in the A1 pulley in pathological cases which was not present in normal pulleys.

Identification of a mutant allele of the androgen receptor gene in a family with androgen insensitivity syndrome: detection of carriers and prenatal diagnosis.

We report the results of a molecular study of a large family segregating the complete form of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) in several family members from three generations. We identified the mutant allele by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the short tandem repeat (CAG)n, highly polymorphic in the population, present in the first exon of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. In this family four different alleles were detected and one of these showed a perfect segregation with the disease. This study enabled us to identify the heterozygous females in this family. We think that this simple, indirect test, is also suitable for prenatal diagnosis of Morris' syndrome when the mother is heterozygous for the size of the short tandem repeat and one affected subject in the family may be studied.

Syncytial units isolated from early human placentas.

This morphological study demonstrates that during the early phases of pregnancy, in the syncytium there are individual multinucleated units joined to one another by junctional complexes which probably are destined to flow together with the main syncytium by membrane breakdown. Normal human placentas from 6th to 12th week of pregnancy, derived from voluntary abortions, have been utilized. According to the method described by Tedde et al. (1991), clusters of villi have been isolated, washed in saline and subjected to a treatment with a 0.3% trypsin solution that caused the detachment of numerous cellular elements from the surface of the free villi. Such isolated elements have been subjected to centrifugation and separation in Percoll gradients. Then multinucleated syncytial units have been collected, attached to slides by cytocentrifugation, stained with toluidine blue, observed at the light microscope and utilized to count their nuclei: about 600 elements from different weeks of pregnancy have been considered and the results have been submitted to statistical analysis. The svncytial units are multinucleated and can often be different from one another, particularly in regard to the characteristics and the number of the nuclei. The evaluation of the number of nuclei contained in different syncytial elements shows that nuclei are less numerous in the early phases (6-8 weeks) and increase in number towards the end of the first trimester in a statistic significant way. In conclusion, the present study could confirm the existence of single syncytial units, joined to constitute the syncytial layer, probably destined to a complete fusion in the main syncytium and likely in functional relationship with the underlying Langhans cells.

The trabecular structure of developing human mandible.

In this paper we tried to analyse in quantitative terms the differences in trabecular structure of human mandibles 8, 10 and 12 weeks old. The analysis was performed on decalcified Sirius-red stained trabeculae, photographed in polarised light. The data obtained from Fourier transforms of scanned pictures were evaluated by discriminant analysis to show the differences between the analysed stages of development. Also, various parts of the mandible were compared because the clinical experience shows that the frequency of pathological changes is different in different parts of mandible bone. The complexity of trabecular structure of bone samples was measured by fractal dimension. It is concluded that this quantitative approach is reliable and, in the future, could be used for physiological and pathological analyses of bone biopsies.

Persistence of bone collagen cross-links in skeletons of the Nuraghi population living in Sardinia 1500-1200 B.C.

Bone collagen has a specific molecular ultrastructure which can be proved by birefringence. This protein, forming the main organic component of bone tissue, is known to survive millennia in paleontological bones and teeth. Birefringence of bone collagen obtained from the skeletons of the Nuraghi population living in Sardinia c-ca 1500 years B.C. was found previously by the use of polarizing microscopy [1]. In this paper, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques, we show the existence of bone collagen cross-links preserved in Nuraghi skeletons after more than 3000 years.

Dating of palaeoanthropological nuragic skeletal tissues using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry.

Dating of skeletons of Nuragic population living in Sardinia island centuries BP, based on the quantitative evaluation of the concentration of stable paramagnetic species produced by ionising radiation in tooth enamel was performed by using EPR spectrometry. Applying the additive dose method (60Co gamma rays) and comparative calculations based on analogous measurements done with Roman skeleton of the known age as discovered close to Nuragic tomb (Tombs of Giants, La Testa S. Teresa di Gallura, Sardinia) the age of Nuragic skeleton was evaluated as equal to about 3,200 years (1,200 years BC). The total error of EPR measurements and dose extrapolation was estimated for 10-12%. Crystallinity of bone mineral in Nuragic skeleton evaluated by the EPR technique, adapted earlier by some of the authors of the present paper for biomedical studies on mineralised tissues, is only little changed after the centuries of its deposition in the tomb when compared with contemporary bone tissue. Comparison of chemical composition of Nuragic skeleton contaminated through slow percolation by rain of floods with that of contemporary bone sample shows the increase of the concentration of Fe, PO4, SiO2, Al and Mg, Fe, SiO2, AP are not present in contemporary bones. As expected, the contamination was minimal in tooth enamel.

Morphometric analysis of the lateral ventricles in living human.

The evaluation of the volume of the encephalic ventricles in the living human has a great importance in diagnosis and monitoring of several pathologies. As well as a good measuring accuracy, a great usefulness has the facility of execution. The present study would be a contribution to the search of systems of analysis that assure both fast execution and greatest precision of the quantitative values. Brain MRI scans from 10 female individuals, aged from 25 to 60, with no apparent neurologic or psychiatric pathology have been studied. The brains were evaluated with 5 mm slices thickness (gap 1 mm) scans performed in axial and coronal planes and obtained by means of long and short spin echo sequences. Images have been acquired on a Personal Computer and submitted to a semiautomatic morphometric analysis. The values obtained are in accordance with the range of normal values reported from the literature, showing also a lower standard deviation; besides this clear accuracy of measurement, it's important to emphasize the facility and swiftness in the execution of the imagine evaluation.

[Activation of the immune system in periapical infection. 1. Lympho-monocytoid and plasma cellular elements of reactive soft tissue cells]. / Attivazione del sistema immunocompetente nella patologia del periapice infetto. Nota 1: elementi cellulari della serie linfomonocitoide, plasmacellulare e propri dei tessuti molli reattivi.

The authors have carried out a study on the immunitary mechanisms which stimulate and avoid eventual alterations of infected periapex. Above all the aim of this first study has been the microscopic and ultrastructural valuation of the cellular components that characterize the process of chronic phlogosis of periradicular tissue, lymphocytes T and B, plasmacells and macrophages, and of those even more typical of the soft reactive tissues, fibroblasts and epithelial cells. It's just the interaction among these immunocompetent cells which determines the structural change of the periapical bone whose most common image of radiotransparence make it possible to diagnose the sufference of the pulpo-periapical system.

Nuragic bone collagen retains its molecular structure.

The molecular structure of bone collagen was found to be preserved in Nuragic bone samples several centuries after burial. Enhanced birefringence of bone and dentin collagen fibres observed in polarized light after Sirus red staining was used to demonstrate this fact.

[The shape of the nasopharynx in youth: statistical study]. / La forma del nasofaringe nell'età evolutiva: studio statistico.

The particular shape of the nasopharynx in the child can influence morphology and physiopathologic behaviour of the mucosa. In such a perspective, it appeared interesting to evaluate the kind and the entity of its variations by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in 50 patients (age range: 2 months-16 years). The results show that the nasopharyngeal shape (represented either by bending radius and shape factor) varies in a statistically significant way during the considered age range, while the dimension of the pharyngeal tonsil remains constant in the studied cases. The statistically significant shape variation of the tonsil appears, so, related to its involvement in the shape variation of the whole nasopharynx.

[Dimensions of the human aortic arch and thoracic aorta studied by nuclear magnetic resonance]. / Le dimensioni dell'arco aortico e dell'aorta toracica umani studiate mediante risonanza magnetica nucleare (RMN).

The size of the aortic arch and thoracic aorta was measured in 50 healthy volunteers studied by NMR. In each case the following parameters were measured and statistically elaborated: diameter (in mm) of ascending aorta (between onset and arch beginning), of aortic arch (intermediate zone), of isthmus, of descending aorta (between isthmus and diaphragm), of diaphragmatic isthmus; a mean diameter was also calculated, and for every diameter mean and standard deviation were obtained. Moreover, the length (in mm) of superior and inferior contours of the aortic arch, as the ratio of these two values were obtained. At last, total length of considered aortic tract, area of visualized surface and theoretic volume were obtained. For each parameter a diagram was then plotted, with age in ordinates and values of above mentioned parameters in abscissae. Statistical evaluation allows to affirm that the size of the aorta grows with ageing. On the contrary, the ratio between superior and inferior contour of the aortic arch tends to remain unvaried; this fact seems to disagree with the current opinion that the superior wall of the arch grows with age more than the inferior one.

Action of anticytoskeletal compounds on in vitro cytopathic effect, phagocytosis, and adhesiveness of Trichomonas vaginalis.

The cytopathic effects of Trichomonas vaginalis treated with inhibitory concentrations of anticytoskeletal compounds (mebendazole, griseofulvin, colchicine, taxol, and cytochalasin B) were studied in mouse CLID fibroblast cultures. The evaluation, at different times, of cell numbers and morphological alterations showed that cytopathic effect was considerably reduced when protozoa were pretreated with mebendazole and griseofulvin, whereas colchicine, taxol, and cytochalasin B had less effect. Furthermore, treatment with mebendazole, griseofulvin, and colchicine decreased adhesiveness of the protozoan, whereas treatment with cytochalasin B and colchicine completely inhibited its phagocytic activity. From these results it may be concluded that alterations induced in the trichomonal cytoskeleton may affect its adhesiveness and its in vitro cytopathic effect, but there is no direct correlation between protozoan phagocytosis and its in vitro pathogenic effect.