Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the passive compartment underneath the myocardial bridge comprising the blood vessel adventitia and the perivascular connective tissue / Características cualitativas y cuantitativas del compartimento pasivo debajo del puente miocárdico que comprende la adventicia del vaso sanguíneo y el tejido conectivo perivascular

SUMMARY: Myocardial bridges are inborn anomalies frequently found in authopsies. Although tipically clinically silent, they are occasionally associated with severe clinical manifestations, e.g. myocardial ischemia or even sudden death. The pathophysiology and risk factors for these manifestations have not yet been completely elucidated. The connective tissue underneath the bridge has been considered as one of the factors the symptoms depend on. Thus, the aim of this research was to determine the histological characteristics of the connective tissue lying underneath the myocardial bridge and to contribute to a better understanding of the protective effects this passive compartment might have in prevention of severe clinical manifestations of myocardial bridging. The study was carried out on twenty hearts with myocardial bridges. Length of the bridge was determined using a precise electronic caliper. Sections of the myocardial bridges with the underlying connective tissue were obtained and prepared for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The connective tissue underneath the bridges was composed of adipose tissue and loose connective tissue in different ratios. The tissue underneath thin bridges was predominantly composed of adipose tissue, while loose connective tissue was the dominant component under thick bridges. The myocardial bridges had an average thickness of 0,98 ± 0.44 mm and an average length of 15,25±5,65 mm. We found a strong positive correlation between the myocardial bridge thickness and length (r = 0,860, p = 0,0001). The thickness of the passive connective tissue compartment under the myocardial bridges was 0,58±0,22 mm, and there was no correlation between this parameter and the myocardial bridge thickness (r = -0,011; p = 0,963). In the clinical evaluation of patients with these anomalies it is necessary to take into account independently the myocardial bridge thickness and length on one side and the thickness of the connective tissue lying underneath it on the other.

Los puentes miocárdicos son anomalías congénitas que se encuentran con frecuencia en las autopsias. Aunque típicamente éstos son clínicamente silenciosos, ocasionalmente se asocian con manifestaciones clínicas graves, como isquemia miocárdica o incluso muerte súbita. La fisiopatología y los factores de riesgo de estas manifestaciones aún no se han dilucidado por completo. El tejido conectivo debajo del puente se ha considerado como uno de los factores de los que dependen los síntomas. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar las características histológicas del tejido conectivo que se encuentra debajo del puente miocárdico y contribuir a una mejor comprensión de los efectos protectores que este compartimento pasivo podría tener en la prevención de manifestaciones clínicas graves de puente miocárdico. El estudio se llevó a cabo en veinte corazones con puentes miocárdicos. La longitud del puente se determinó utilizando un calibrador electrónico preciso. Se obtuvieron secciones de los puentes miocárdicos con el tejido conjuntivo subyacente y se prepararon para análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo. El tejido conectivo debajo de los puentes estaba compuesto de tejido adiposo y tejido conectivo laxo en diferentes proporciones. El tejido debajo de los puentes delgados estaba predominantemente compuesto de tejido adiposo, mientras que el tejido conectivo laxo era el componente dominante debajo de los puentes gruesos. Los puentes de miocardio tenían un espesor promedio de 0,98 ± 0,44 mm y una longitud promedio de 15,25 ± 5,65 mm. Encontramos una fuerte correlación positiva entre el grosor y la longitud del puente miocárdico (r = 0,860, p = 0,0001). El grosor del compartimiento de tejido conectivo pasivo debajo de los puentes miocárdicos era de 0,58±0,22 mm, y no hubo correlación entre este parámetro y el grosor del puente miocárdico (r = -0,011; p = 0,963). En la evaluación clínica de pacientes con estas anomalías es necesario tener en consideración de forma independiente el grosor y la longitud del puente de miocardio por un lado y el grosor del tejido conectivo que se encuentra debajo del mismo por el otro.

Lesión nodular que sangra con facilidad en zona foto expuesta / Nodular lesion that bleeds easily in a photoexposed area

Las lesiones cutáneas son uno de los principales motivos de consulta en Atención Primaria por su frecuencia y por la preocupación de las personas afectadas ante la posibilidad de que degeneren en lesiones malignas, con las implicaciones que ello tiene para la vida del paciente. La fotoexposición y los agentes externos a los que exponemos nuestra piel están relacionados con la aparición y los cambios de diferentes lesiones cutáneas. La dermatoscopia es de gran ayuda para el diagnóstico diferencial, aunque a veces nos presenta dudas por las que debemos ampliar el estudio.Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 75 años que consulta por una lesión nodular excrecente con bordes eritematosos de casi 1 cm de diámetro sobre el dorso de la mano derecha de unas 3 semanas de evolución, con bordes erosionados y sangrado recurrente, que nos plantea como diagnóstico diferencial un granuloma piógeno frente a un melanoma amelanótico.(AU)

Skin lesions are one of the main reasons for primary care consultation, both because of their frequency and the possibility of degenerating into malignant lesions with the implications on the patient's life. Photoexposure and the external agents that our skin are exposed to are related to the appearance and changes of different skin lesions. Dermoscopy is a great help for differential diagnosis, although sometimes it may create doubts and induces further examinations, whereby we must expand the study.We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who consulted about an overgrowth nodular lesion with erythematous edges. Its diameter was approximately 1 cm on the back of the right hand of about three weeks clinical course. The lesion had eroded edges and presented recurrent bleeding, which suggests a pyogenic granuloma versus an amelanotic melanoma as a differential diagnosis.(AU)

Reducing soft-tissue shrinkage artefacts caused by staining with Lugol's solution.

Diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) is progressively used in clinical and morphological research to study developmental anatomy. Lugol's solution (Lugol) has gained interest as an effective contrast agent; however, usage is limited due to extensive soft-tissue shrinkage. The mechanism of Lugol-induced shrinkage and how to prevent it is largely unknown, hampering applications of Lugol in clinical or forensic cases where tissue shrinkage can lead to erroneous diagnostic conclusions. Shrinkage was suggested to be due to an osmotic imbalance between tissue and solution. Pilot experiments pointed to acidification of Lugol, but the relation of acidification and tissue shrinkage was not evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the relation between tissue shrinkage, osmolarity and acidification of the solution during staining. Changes in tissue volume were measured on 2D-segmented magnetic resonance and diceCT images using AMIRA software. Partial correlation and stepwise regression analysis showed that acidification of Lugol is the main cause of tissue shrinkage. To prevent acidification, we developed a buffered Lugol's solution (B-Lugol) and showed that stabilizing its pH almost completely prevented shrinkage without affecting staining. Changing from Lugol to B-Lugol is a major improvement for clinical and morphological research and only requires a minor adaptation of the staining protocol.

Structural and functional relations between the connective tissue and epithelium of enamel organ and their role during enamel maturation.

The morphological and possible functional interactions between the connective tissue and enamel organ cells were examined during the maturation phase of enamel formation, using immunohistochemical techniques. Decalcified mandibular sections (10 µm) including incisors were used from Wistar rats ages 10-12 weeks. Sections were incubated with one or two primary antibodies targeting cell cytoskeleton (vimentin, α-actin, α-tubulin), dendritic marker (OX6), gap junctions (cx-43), enzymes (nitric-oxide synthase (nos1) and cyclooxygenase (cox1)), and the ion transporters (Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE1) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX)) for 24 h, before incubation with the appropriate conjugated fluorescent secondary antibodies. Sections were examined by fluorescence microscopy. Haematoxylin-eosin slides were also employed. Cellular heterogeneity and morphological modulations were identified within enamel organ cells and connective tissue covering suggesting complex cellular interactions and indicating a new functional concept and possible complementary role during enamel maturation. Also, some ion transportation activity, and nos1 and cox1 signalling pathways have been identified, indicating intercellular communication between these regions. A hypothesis is suggested, to explain the morphological modulation of ameloblasts and papillary cells during enamel maturation which functions to increase the transporting membrane surface area to accomplish faster and bulker ion transportation to achieve controlled pH and to direct Ca2+ towards enamel.

Soft-tissue thickness values using cone beam computed tomography: A literature review.

When human remains are found, with no evidence of identity, facial approximation can be a useful technique to employ. The reconstruction of the ante-mortem appearance can reproduce the likely features of the face, starting from the skull, based on the overlying soft-tissue thickness. Over the years, many techniques have been developed to achieve soft-tissue thickness measurements, one of which is based on the use of cone beam computed tomography. This study aimed to review the status of this technique and to evaluate heterogeneity among studies undertaken in this field, with particular regard to determination of landmarks, sex and body mass index.

Development of myodural bridge located within the atlanto-occipital interspace of rats.

The myodural bridge (MDB) is a dense connective tissue structure that connects the subocciptal musculature to the spinal dura mater. The purpose of this study was to clarify morphological evolution characteristics and compositional changes in the fibrous structures of MDB during its growth and development in the atlanto-occipital interspace. For this, histological sections from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (age, E17 to adulthood) were stained with Masson's Trichrome and Picrosirius Red. The results demonstrated that at age E18, the posterior arch of the atlas was completely closed and MDB fibers had already begun to form. In rat embryos (E18-E21), only few fibers and muscles were present in the suboccipital region, and these were lightly stained. In postnatal rats, an obvious increase in the amount of fibers and muscle tissues was noted. At age P1, MDB fibers originated from the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle and merged into the atlanto-occipital membrane, which was closely attached to the spinal dura mater. As rats matured, MDB fibers gradually became denser and more organized. This study also showed that in postnatal rats, MDB was mainly composed of type I collagen fibers. By observing the development of MDB in SD rats, the function of MDB can be further understood. This study provides a morphological basis for future functional studies involving the MDB.

Fibrous Connection Between Cervical Nerve and Zygapophysial Joint and Implication of the Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy: An Anatomic Cadaveric Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational, anatomical, cadaveric study. OBJECTIVE: We anatomically investigated the fibrous connection between the cervical nerves and the zygapophysial joint capsules. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy is caused by the compression of the cervical nerves as the static factor and head and neck movements as the dynamic factor. To understand the dynamic pathology of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, the anatomic relationship between the cervical nerves and the zygapophysial joints needs to be investigated in detail. METHODS: In 11 cadavers, we dissected both sides from the C5 to C7. For macroscopic examination, we observed structures connecting the cervical nerves and the zygapophysial joints in 18 cervical nerves from three cadavers. In 14 sides of eight cadavers, we histologically analyzed the fibrous structures and their attachments. RESULTS: Macroscopically, the fibrous band connected the cranial surface of the cervical nerve to the lateral and inferior aspects of the transverse process. In four of 18 nerves, the fibrous bands were divided into two fascicles by loose connective tissues. In addition, the fibrous bands extended along the dorsal aspect of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and attached to the zygapophysial joint capsule. Histologically, densely stained fibrous tissues overlaid the zygapophysial joint capsule and extended to the recess between the posterior tubercle and inferior articular process on the cranial vertebral body. CONCLUSION: We macroscopically and histologically clarified the fibrous bands connecting the cervical nerve to the zygapophysial joint capsule. The fibrous bands may help clarify the pathology of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy associated with the zygapophysial joints as dynamic factors.Level of Evidence: N/A.

Development of a specimen-specific in vitro pre-clinical simulation model of the human cadaveric knee with appropriate soft tissue constraints.

A human cadaveric specimen-specific knee model with appropriate soft tissue constraints was developed to appropriately simulate the biomechanical environment in the human knee, in order to pre-clinically evaluate the biomechanical and tribological performance of soft tissue interventions. Four human cadaveric knees were studied in a natural knee simulator under force control conditions in the anterior posterior (AP) and tibial rotation (TR) axes, using virtual springs to replicate the function of soft tissues. The most appropriate spring constraints for each knee were determined by comparing the kinematic outputs in terms of AP displacement and TR angle of the human knee with all the soft tissues intact, to the same knee with all the soft tissues resected and replaced with virtual spring constraints (spring rate and free length/degree). The virtual spring conditions that showed the least difference in the AP displacement and TR angle outputs compared to the intact knee were considered to be the most appropriate spring conditions for each knee. The resulting AP displacement and TR angle profiles under the appropriate virtual spring conditions all showed similar shapes to the individual intact knee for each donor. This indicated that the application of the combination of virtual AP and TR springs with appropriate free lengths/degrees was successful in simulating the natural human knee soft tissue function. Each human knee joint had different kinematics as a result of variations in anatomy and soft tissue laxity. The most appropriate AP spring rate for the four human knees varied from 20 to 55 N/mm and the TR spring rate varied from 0.3 to 1.0 Nm/°. Consequently, the most appropriate spring condition for each knee was unique and required specific combinations of spring rate and free length/degree in each of the two axes.

[Research progress in the Hepatobiliary Surgery operation of hepatic hilar plate system].

An estimate of about 50% of new liver cancer cases worldwide occur in China every year.Surgical resection is still the major treatment choice for longer survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Blocking hepatic blood flow and reducing intraoperative bleeding ensure the success of the operation. Anatomic separation of hepatic hilar region is the precondition of hepatic inflow occlusion. The hepatic hilar plate system involves a thick layer of connective tissue covering the hepatic inflow ducts of hepatic hilar region. The descending part of hilar plate assists in reducing the anatomical difficulty of the hepatic hilar region. The "forth porta hepatis" that is hidden in the hepatic hilar plate system involves the accumulation area of "short hepatic portal veins" .The communicating branch vessels between the hepatic inflow vessels form the anatomical basis in reducing the indocyanine green fluorescence stain effect.The relatively fixed position of the hepatic portal plate is considered as a positioning marker for accurate liver resection. The intrahepatic Glisson sheath is connected with thick connective tissue of the hepatic portal panel system, and is regarded as the physical barrier in limiting the proliferation and hypertrophy of hepatocytes and continuation of hepatic portal panel system in the liver.This paper summarizes the anatomy and application of hepatic hilar plate system during hepatobiliary surgery.

Soft tissue thickness in Brazilian adults of different skeletal classes and facial types: A cone beam CT - Study.

The aim in this study was to evaluate the influence of skeletal class, facial type, and sex on soft tissue thickness (STT) of the craniofacial midline in a Brazilian subpopulation. Thus, 121 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans (54 males and 67 females, age 21 to 40 yrs) composed the study sample. Patients were classified according to skeletal class (class I, II, and III) and facial type (brachycephalic, mesocephalic, and dolichocephalic), and STT was measured (mm) in 10 landmarks in the craniofacial midline for each CBCT scan. Multivariate analysis of covariance evaluated facial STT with regard to multiple independent variables (sex, age - covariate, facial type, and skeletal class). TEM and rTEM assessed the intra-examiner agreement. STT was significantly greater in males than in females for all regions measured (p < 0.05), except for the pogonion-pogonion' landmark (p>0.05). In general, class III individuals had significantly thicker soft tissue in the maxilla - subspinale-subnasale', prosthion-labrale superius', and incision-stomion' regions, while class II subjects had thicker soft tissue in the infradentale-labrale inferius' mandibular landmark (p < 0.05). Regarding facial type, dolichocephalic individuals showed significantly thicker soft tissue in the supramentale-supramentale' mandibular landmark, whereas brachycephalic subjects had thicker soft tissue in maxillary regions - prosthion-labrale superius' and incision-stomion' (p < 0.05). rTEM values were below 5% for most landmarks, and all TEM values were below 1 mm. Skeletal class and facial type influence STT, showing a soft tissue compensation, with deeper soft tissue in areas with lower skeletal development, and/or where bone is positioned more posteriorly.

Structural and ultrastructural characteristics of the tongue of the Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu, Linnaeus, 1758).

The tongue is an important organ in species due to its feeding functions, and its structure is influenced by the habitat and diet. The Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu, Linnaeus, 1758) is a terrestrial mammal that is distributed on the American continents and has an omnivorous diet. This study aimed to describe the morphological characteristics of the tongue, lingual papillae and the connective tissue cores (CTCs) of the Collared Peccary. Eight tongues were collected from the Wild Animals Multiplication Center. The samples (n = 6) were processed for three-dimensional analysis of their dorsal epithelium, and their CTCs by scanning electron microscopy and the other samples (n = 2) were used to observe ultrastructural characteristics by transmission electron microscopy. Filiform papillae were observed in the lingual apex and body with their conical CTC demonstrating ripples in their extent. Two types of fungiform papillae were observed, the first in the apex and body with a dome-shaped CTC and the second forming a dorsolateral line with a radial pattern CTC. The vallate papillae were bilateral in the caudal region with the CTCs, characterised by numerous projections, and foliate papilla were not observed. We found a new type of papilla anteriorly to the vallate papilla with an irregular groove and a CTC formed by triangular-shaped projections with a duct opening at the top. We concluded that the lingual papillae of the Collared Peccary resemble those papillae of other mammals, however, were revealed another form of their CTCs and a new lingual papillae morphological description.

Morphometric analysis of 3D soft-tissue for sexual dimorphism in human face / Análisis morfométrico de tejidos blandos 3D de dimorfismo sexual en rostro humano

Sexual dimorphism in Homo-sapiens is a phenomenon of a direct product of evolution by natural selection where evolutionary forces acted separately on the sexes which brought about the differences in appearance between male and female such as in shape and size. Advances in morphometrics have skyrocketed the rate of research on sex differences in human and other species. However, the current challenges facing 3D in the acquisition of facial data such as lack of homology, insufficient landmarks to characterize the facial shape and complex computational process for facial point digitization require further study in the domain of sex dimorphism. This study investigates sexual dimorphism in the human face with the application of Automatic Homologous Multi-points Warping (AHMW) for 3D facial landmark by building a template mesh as a reference object which is thereby applied to each of the target mesh on Stirling/ESRC dataset containing 101 subjects (male = 47, female = 54). The semi-landmarks are subjected to sliding along tangents to the curves and surfaces until the bending energy between a template and a target form is minimal. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used for feature selection and the features are classified using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) with an accuracy of 99.01 % which demonstrates that the method is robust.

El dimorfismo sexual en el Homo-sapiens es un fenómeno directo de la evolución por selección natural, donde las fuerzas evolutivas actuaron por separado en los sexos, lo que provocó las diferencias en la apariencia entre hombres y mujeres, tal como la forma y tamaño. Los avances en el área de la morfometría, han generado un aumento significativo de las investigaciones en las diferencias de sexo en humanos y otras especies. Sin embargo, los desafíos actuales que enfrenta el 3D en el análisis de datos faciales, como la falta de homología, puntos de referencia insuficientes para caracterizar la forma facial y la complejidad del proceso computacional para la digitalización de puntos faciales, requiere un estudio adicional en el área del dimorfismo sexual. Este estudio investiga el dimorfismo sexual en el rostro humano con la aplicación de la deformación automática de múltiples puntos homólogos para el hito facial 3D, mediante la elaboración de una malla de plantilla como objeto de referencia, y se aplica en cada una de las mallas objetivas en el conjunto de datos Stirling / ESRC que contiene 101 sujetos (hombre = 47, mujer = 54). Los semi-puntos de referencia se deslizan a lo largo de las tangentes a las curvas y superficies hasta que la energía de flexión entre una plantilla y una forma objetivo es mínima. El análisis de componentes principales (PCA) se utiliza para la selección de características y las características se clasifican mediante el análisis discriminante lineal (ADL) con una precisión del 99,01 %, lo que demuestra la validez del método.

A microarchitectural assessment of the gluteal tuberosity suggests two possible patterns in entheseal changes.

OBJECTIVES: Macroscopic entheseal forms show two main features: predominant signs of bony formation or resorption. To understand the development of these forms, we investigated microarchitectural differences between the macroscopic proliferative and resorptive forms of the gluteus maximus enthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The macromorphological analysis of entheseal changes (EC) was based on the Villotte, visual scoring system for fibrous entheses. Gluteal tuberosity specimens of different stages of Villote's system were harvested from 16 adult males derived from an archaeological context and scanned using microcomputed tomography. RESULTS: The microarchitectural analyzes of cortical bone demonstrated a trend of higher porosity in the resorptive compared to the proliferative phase in Stage B, whereas a 30% porosity reduction was detected in the resorptive compared to proliferative phase of Stage C. In terms of the trabecular bone between the resorptive and proliferative entheseal phases, there was a trend of increased connectivity density, whereas the structural model index decreased in B and increased in C. The assessment of the entire specimen showed an increase in porosity from the proliferative to the resorptive phase in the Stage B, in contrast to a decrease in the Stage C. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that from an initial flat entheses, two directions of EC development are possible: (a) a bony prominence may form and, subsequently, it is subjected to trabecularization of the cortical bone inside the prominence, such cortical trabecularization can lead to visible porosity on the cortical external surface; (b) the cortical bone defect may develop with the regular underlying cortical bone.

Facial average soft tissue depth variation based on skeletal classes in Indonesian adult population: A retrospective lateral cephalometric study.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the influence of three types of skeletal classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) on midline average soft tissue depth (ASTD). METHODS: Lateral cephalograms of 335 pre-treatment orthodontic patients were obtained from the archive of Radiology Clinic Universitas Padjadjaran Dental Hospital Bandung Indonesia. The linear measurements of 10 midline facial landmarks ASTD and angular measurement of ANB were extracted and analysed statistically. RESULTS: A database of ASTD grouped by skeletal classes, specific for the Indonesian population, within the South East Asian ancestry group was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: A generic pattern of deeper upper lip than lower lip in class III compared to class II and conversely, deeper lower lip than upper lip in class II compared to class III, was visible in both male and female groups.

The myodural bridge complex defined as a new functional structure.

PURPOSE: The connective tissue between suboccipital muscles and the cervical spinal dura mater (SDM) is known as the myodural bridge (MDB). However, the adjacent relationship of the different connective tissue fibers that form the MDB remains unclear. This information will be highly useful in exploring the function of the MDB. METHODS: The adjacent relationship of different connective tissue fibers of MDB was demonstrated based upon three-dimensional visualization model, P45 plastinated slices and histological sections of human MDB. RESULTS: We found that the MDB originating from the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle (RCPmi), rectus capitis posterior major muscle (RCPma) and obliquus capitis inferior muscle (OCI) in the suboccipital region coexists. Part of the MDB fibers originate from the ventral aspect of the RCPmi and, together with that from the cranial segment of the RCPma, pass through the posterior atlanto-occipital interspace (PAOiS) and enter into the posterior aspect of the upper cervical SDM. Also, part of the MDB fibers originate from the dorsal aspect of the RCPmi, the ventral aspect of the caudal segment of the RCPma, and the ventral aspect of the medial segment of the OCI, enter the central part of the posterior atlanto-axial interspace (PAAiS) and fuse with the vertebral dura ligament (VDL), which connects with the cervical SDM. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings prove that the MDB exists as a complex structure which we termed the 'myodural bridge complex' (MDBC). In the process of head movement, tensile forces could be transferred possibly and effectively by means of the MDBC. The concept of MDBC will be beneficial in the overall exploration of the function of the MDB.

Is the Newly Described Interstitial Network the Anatomical Basis of Acupuncture Meridians? A Commentary.

A network passing through interstitial tissues of the human body has been recently described. Despite its functional importance is yet unknown, we try to briefly summarize the known data and to interpret it from the viewpoint of Traditional Chinese medicine. We consider the peculiarities of the interstitium to be the morphological basis of at least some of the known phenomena along acupuncture meridians.

Will different sagittal and vertical skeletal types relate the soft tissue thickness: A study in Chinese female adults.

Facial reconstruction is a classical technique in forensic anthropology to reestablish the contours of the soft tissues over the skull. The accurate facial soft tissue data plays an essential role in forensic facial reconstruction. However, according to previous studies, various skeletal types might relate to different thickness in facial soft tissue. Until now, there are few publications focusing on the relationship between facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) and different skeletal types, and none of them analyze the FSTT according to various sagittal and vertical skeletal types. The aim of this study was to testify the possible existence of correlations between FSTT and different skeletal types. In order to exclude interference from age, sex, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI) factors, we collected lateral projection X-rays data of 270 Chinese female aged 19-26 years with nomal BMI and divided them into various skeletal groups. Soft tissue thickness measurements were mainly based on 10 anthropological landmarks of the skull and statistics were analyzed on the basis of different skeletal types. The greatest differences were observed in the upper lip region of maxilla and the mental region of mandible. The concave and hypodivergent skull types showed the thickest soft tissue in maxillary region, and the convex and hypedivergent skull types showed the thickest soft tissue in the mental region. This study provided a database for FSTT according to various skeletal types in Chinese female population, and our current studies demonstrated that considering various skeletal types will improve the accuracy of facial reconstruction.

Microstructural analysis of skeletal muscle force generation during aging.

Human aging results in a progressive decline in the active force generation capability of skeletal muscle. While many factors related to the changes of morphological and structural properties in muscle fibers and the extracellular matrix (ECM) have been considered as possible reasons for causing age-related force reduction, it is still not fully understood why the decrease in force generation under eccentric contraction (lengthening) is much less than that under concentric contraction (shortening). Biomechanically, it was observed that connective tissues (endomysium) stiffen as ages, and the volume ratio of connective tissues exhibits an age-related increase. However, limited skeletal muscle models take into account the microstructural characteristics as well as the volume fraction of tissue material. This study aims to provide a numerical investigation in which the muscle fibers and the ECM are explicitly represented to allow quantitative assessment of the age-related force reduction mechanism. To this end, a fiber-level honeycomb-like microstructure is constructed and modeled by a pixel-based Reproducing Kernel Particle Method (RKPM), which allows modeling of smooth transition in biomaterial properties across material interfaces. The numerical investigation reveals that the increased stiffness of the passive materials of muscle tissue reduces the force generation capability under concentric contraction while maintains the force generation capability under eccentric contraction. The proposed RKPM microscopic model provides effective means for the cellular-scale numerical investigation of skeletal muscle physiology. NOVELTY STATEMENT: A cellular-scale honeycomb-like microstructural muscle model constructed from a histological cross-sectional image of muscle is employed to study the causal relations between age-associated microstructural changes and age-related force loss using Reproducing Kernel Particle Method (RKPM). The employed RKPM offers an effective means for modeling biological materials based on pixel points in the medical images and allow modeling of smooth transition in the material properties across interfaces. The proposed microstructure-informed muscle model enables quantitative evaluation on how cellular-scale compositions contribute to muscle functionality and explain differences in age-related force changes during concentric, isometric and eccentric contractions.

Effect of soft tissue thickness on the morphology of lip in orthodontic treatment / Efecto del grosor del tejido blando en la morfología del labio en el tratamiento de ortodoncia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soft tissue thickness of upper lip on lip retraction in orthodonticaltreated females and identify the ratio of maxillary incisor retraction to upper lip retraction. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms of 100 adults were examined to measure the lip thickness in upper lip and establish the classification standard. All subjects were treated with 4 first premolar extractions followed by upper central incisors retraction. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms of 19 patients were reviewed to determine the changes of the upper lip and incisor positions through landmarks displacement. An independent-samples t test and one-way analysis of variance were performed. The correlations between maxillary incisor retraction and upper lip retraction were explored by the Pearson correlation method. P-values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. The lip thickness of adult male patients was greater than that of adult female patients. The average ratio of maxillary incisor retraction to upper lip repositioning was 1.6:1,1.9:1 and 2.2:1 in the thin lips group, normal lips group and thick lips group, respectively. Gender differences exist in the thickness of upper lip. Horizontal changes of the maxillary incisor showed a significant correlation to horizontal changes of the upper lip (P<0.001).There were negative correlations between the thickness of upper lip and the ratio between change in maxillary incisor protrusion and change in upper lip protrusion.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del grosor de los tejidos blandos del labio superior, sobre la retracción del labio en mujeres tratadas con ortodoncia e identificar la proporción de retracción del diente incisivo maxilar con respecto a la retracción del labio superior. Se examinaron cefalogramas laterales, previos y posteriores al tratamiento de 100 adultos, para medir el grosor del labio superior y establecer un estándar de clasificación. Todos los sujetos fueron tratados con 4 extracciones de los primeros premolares seguidas de retracción de los incisivos centrales superiores. Se revisaron los cefalogramas laterales, previos y posteriores al tratamiento de 19 pacientes, para determinar los cambios del labio superior y las posiciones de los incisivos a través del desplazamiento de los puntos de referencia. Se realizó una prueba t de muestras independientes y un análisis de varianza de una vía. Las correlaciones entre la retracción del incisivo maxilar y la retracción del labio superior se exploraron mediante el método de correlación de Pearson. Los valores de p<0,05 fueron considerados estadísticamente significativos. El grosor de los labios de los pacientes adultos masculinos fue mayor que el de las pacientes adultas. La relación promedio de la retracción del incisivo maxilar al reposicionamiento del labio superior fue de 1,6:1,1; 9:1 y 2,2:1 en el grupo de labios delgados, grupo de labios normales y grupo de labios gruesos, respectivamente. Existen diferencias de sexo en el grosor del labio superior. Los cambios horizontales del incisivo maxilar mostraron una correlación significativa con los cambios horizontales del labio superior (P<0,001). Hubo correlaciones negativas entre el grosor del labio superior y la relación entre el cambio en la protuberancia del incisivo maxilar y el cambio en la protrusión del labio superior.

A comparative multi-site and whole-body assessment of fascia in the horse and dog: a detailed histological investigation.

Fascia in the veterinary sciences is drawing attention, such that physiotherapists and animal practitioners are now applying techniques based on the concept of fascia studies in humans. A comprehensive study of fascia is therefore needed in animals to understand the arrangement of the fascial layers in an unguligrade horse and a digitigrade dog. This study has examined the difference between the horse and the dog fascia at specific regions, in terms of histology, and has compared it with the human model. Histological examinations show that in general the fascia tissue of the horse exhibits a tight and dense composition, while in the dog it is looser and has non-dense structure. Indeed, equine fascia appears to be different from both canine fascia and the human fascia model, whilst canine fascia is very comparable to the human model. Although regional variations were observed, the superficial fascia (fascia superficialis) in the horse was found to be trilaminar in the trunk, yet multilayered in the dog. Moreover, crimping of collagen fibers was more visible in the horse than the dog. Blood vessels and nerves were present in the loose areolar tissue of the superficial and the profound compartment of hypodermis. The deep fascia (fascia profunda) in the horse was thick and tightly attached to the underlying muscle, while in the dog the deep fascia was thin and loosely attached to underlying structures. Superficial and deep fascia fused in the extremities. In conclusion, gross dissection and histology have revealed species variations that are related to the absence or presence of the superficial adipose tissue, the retinacula cutis superficialis, the localization and amount of elastic fibers, as well as the ability to slide and glide between the different layers. Further research is now needed to understand in more detail whether these differences have an influence on the biomechanics, movements and proprioception of these animals.