A controversial entity, Eagle's syndrome, is reviewed. After an anatomical description of the maxillo-vertebro-pharyngeal region we summarize the causative, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the syndrome. Two different conditions are often reported as Eagle's syndrome: one characterized by dysphagia and unilateral pharyngeal pain radiating to the ear and worsened by swallowing; the other characterized by pain in the head and neck region due to compression of the neurovascular structure by an elongated styloid process. The latter also includes typical cranial neuralgias (such as glossopharyngeal neuralgia) and carotidynia. We believe that the term "Eagle's syndrome" is legitimate only in the first case and in those "atypical" painful head and neck conditions related to an elongated styloid process and relieved by styloidectomy. We believe Eagle's syndrome deserves consideration in the International Headache Classification. € Eagle's syndrome, elongated styloid process, stylalgia, stylohyoid syndrome L Montalbetti,

We report rapid change of morphology and mitochondrial genes in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in the Chicago (Illinois, USA) region. We sequenced mitochondrial DNA COX2 from 55 museum skins of white-footed mice caught in the Chicago area since 1855 and from 44 mice recently trapped in the same locations. We found consistent directional genotype replacement at five separate collection locations. We later focused on a single one of these locations (Volo Bog State Natural Area) and sequenced mitochondrial D-loop control region from 58 museum skins of mice collected in 1903-1976 and 32 mice recently trapped there. We found complete and more recent replacement of D-loop haplotypes, apparently occurring between 1976 and 2001. We tested whether these genetic changes were mirrored by changes in morphology by comparing 15 external and cranial traits. We found no significant morphological differences between mice collected in 1903-1976; however, mice collected in 2001-2003 showed 9 of 15 measurements to be significantly changed relative to the earlier samples. Recent mice were longer in total length, with broader, longer noses, and longer but shallower skulls 1 . Discriminant function analysis allowed for 100% correct classification using these traits. Principal components analysis shows variance over time is well distributed across both external and cranial measures. The sequential replacements of haplotypes and the rapid change of morphology can best be explained by replacement of the regional population with immigrants from genetically distinct neighbouring populations, likely facilitated by the large environmental changes occurring over the time period. Replacement with genotypes from external populations may be a common mechanism of evolution of newly adaptive local forms in an increasingly human-impacted world.

This paper presents an approach to the investigation of age-related morphological changes in the diploe of the human skull. Comparative investigations were performed on 10 dried skulls of young and old individuals. Computer tomography was employed followed by filtering of the digital images to visualise more details of the inner structure of the calvarial bones. As a result of our analysis, we concluded that the diploe of the young individuals was homogenous cancellous bone, which tightly fills the space between the outer and inner tables of the calvarial bones. The diploe of the older individual is more porous, showing a trace of sclerosis and with lacunas. Its texture is more scattered in the images and presents a higher level of degradation. The structural differences of the diploe in the skulls of older individuals can be due to a process of involution related to a diminishing of trabecular density in the cancellous bone. These processes are usually accompanied by fluctuations in the mineral components.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of acute, unilateral transverse sinus occlusion on intracranial pressure (ICP) and postoperative mortality in dogs with structural intracranial disease. Affected dogs had a single transverse sinus occluded during craniectomy for intracranial mass biopsy or removal. Seven dogs with space-occupying intracranial disease in the cerebellopontine angle area. The ipsilateral transverse sinus was permanently occluded during the surgical approach to the intracranial lesion to increase surgical exposure by allowing a caudal lateral rostrotentorial craniectomy to be combined with a suboccipital craniectomy. In five dogs, intracranial pressure was monitored during surgery using a fiberoptic intracranial pressure monitoring device. Initial ICP varied among dogs, ranging from 7 to 21 mm Hg. Intracranial pressure, however, decreased in all dogs after craniectomy and durotomy (P < .05). No increase in intracranial pressure occurred after transverse sinus occlusion (P = .42). All dogs survived the surgical procedure. Acute, unilateral transverse sinus occlusion during craniectomy in dogs with space-occupying intracranial lesions did not result in significant increases in ICP or intraoperative mortality. Acute, unilateral transverse sinus occlusion during craniectomy can be used to increased surgical exposure to the caudal fossa of the brain without increased risk of increasing ICP.

A case of 72-year-old Japanese woman with a rare intraosseous meningioma is presented. The tumor was located in the right frontoparietal region, involving the coronal suture. The tumor was excised totally and the pathological diagnosis was meningioma. Similar cases reported in the past literature are reviewed and the possible histogenetic mechanism of the tumor is discussed.

Abstract. In 1801 at the cemetery in Vienna, Austria, the skull of W.A. Mozart was exhumed, and now it has been examined for identification. The osteological findings correspond with the available data of W.A. Mozart. Additional individual particularities and a bone lesion are described. This Applied Anthropology Inquest is available at  http://www.pontecorboli.com/scheda.php?codice=puech

Objective: Implant placement frequently depends on bone augmentation. However, the impact of systemic metabolic diseases on the consolidation of bone substitutes remains poorly understood. Our goal is to study the impact of ovariectomy and hyperglycemia on graft consolidation in rat calvaria.

Aim: To establish a new clinical index to evaluate the presence of hypo-hypertelorism with greater accuracy. Material and Methods: After screening a wide range of population, 310 elementary school children (185 boys, 125 girls) aged 7–15 years were included in this study. For this cross-sectional study, a millimetre ruler was used. The anatomical interpupillary distance was measured by a modified Viktorin's method. In addition, inner and outer intercanthal distances were obtained. The data were analyzed by Student's t -test for two independent samples using SPSS for Windows. There were children with clinical hypertelorism (n=92, group 1), children with large fronto-occipital circumference (FOC) (n=101, group 2), and age- and sex-matched normal controls (n=117, group 3). Due to variations in FOC among healthy subjects, we introduced a new practical concept for evaluation of interpupillary distance, namely the interpupillary index, the simple product obtained by dividing the...

Introduction A thorough understanding of skull base anatomy is imperative to perform safely and effectively any skull base approach. In this article, we examine the microsurgical anatomy of the skull base by proposing a modular topographic organization in the median, paramedian, and lateral surgical corridors in relation to transcranial and endoscopic approaches. Methods Five dry skulls were studied focusing on the intracranial and exocranial skull base. Two lines were drawn parallel to the lateral border of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone and foramen lacerum, respectively. Lines 1 and 2 delimited the median, paramedian and lateral corridors of the skull base. The bony structures that formed each corridor were carefully reviewed in relation to the planning and execution of the skull base transcranial and endoscopic approaches. Results The midline corridor involves the crista galli, cribriform plate, planum and jugum sphenoidale, chiasmatic sulcus, tuberculum sellae, sellar ...

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of cranial size and shape in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) on predicted forces of biting. In addition to continuous size-shape analysis, nine size-shape groups were developed based on three skull shape categories and three skull size categories. Bite forces were predicted from measurements made on dried skulls using two lever models of the skull, as well as simple models derived by regression analysis. Observed bite force values were not available for the database used in this study, so only comparisons between categories and models were undertaken. The effects of shape and size on scaled predicted bite forces were evaluated. Results show that bite force increases as size increases, and this effect was highly significant (P < 0.0001). The effect of skull shape on bite force was significant in medium and large dogs (P < 0.05). Significant differences were not evident in small dogs. Size × shape interactions were also significant (P < 0.05). Bite force predictions by the two lever models were relatively close to each other, whereas the regression models diverged slightly with some negative numbers for very small dogs. The lever models may thus be more robust across a wider range of skull size-shapes. Results obtained here would be useful to the pet food industry for food product development, as well as to paleontologists interested in methods of estimating bite force from dry skulls.

Bioactive implants intended for rapid, robust, and durable bone tissue regeneration are presented. The implants are based on nanofibrous 3D-scaffolds of bioresorbable polye-caprolactone mimicking the fibrillar architecture of bone matrix. Layer-by-layer nanoimmobilization of the growth factor BMP-2 in association with chitosan (CHI) or poly-L-lysine over the nanofibers is described. The osteogenetic potential of the scaffolds coated with layers of CHI and BMP-2 is demonstrated in vitro, and in vivo in mouse calvaria, through enhanced osteopontin gene expression and calcium phosphate biomineralization. The therapeutic strategy described here contributes to the field of regenerative medicine, as it proposes a route toward efficient repair of bone defects at reduced risk and cost level.

Purpose Pterion is deWned as a junction of temporal, frontal, parietal, and sphenoid bones. In newborns, pterion may be deWned as a region that shows variability in the exact location because of the lack of complete bony structure. The aim of this study is to deWne the topographic anatomy of this important surgical point, pterion, and the variability of its localization on craniums of newborn cadavers. Methods Our study was performed using 35 term neonatal cadaver specimens. We measured the distances between the pterion and other critical points and used a scale diagram for the deWnition of pterional area. Results Our scale diagram showed that pterion is mostly localized in regions c, d, e, and f on the length and regions 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the width. Localization was not observed in regions a, b, g, and h, and in areas of squares 1 and 6. The most observed localization of pterion was the e4 (24.28%) area. Conclusion This study provides a detailed knowledge on localization of this important point, pterion, which will be useful for the clinicians at operation planning and treatment stages, serving for the success in surgery in the presence of this variable topographic cranial anatomy.

W e have evaluated an infant with a striking combination of craniofacial anomalies, arachnodactyly, and severe developmental failure. She died at the age of 5 months during a recurrent apneic episode. She also had protruding eyes, downward slant of palpe-bra1 fissures, short upturned nose, midface hypoplasia, micrognathia, extreme underdevelopment of the epiglottis, and severe feeding difficulties. The patient closely resembled four other previously reported patients. It is suggested that these five patients represent the same malformation syndrome, a well-recognizable separate entity. Our patient also had a pericentric inversion of chromosome 10; a possible association of this with the phenotype cannot be excluded.

In 32 Caucasian adult males serial MRI scans of the jaw muscles were taken approximately perpendicular to the mean fibre direction of the jaw muscles to determine their cross-sectional areas. These areas are proportional to the maximal isometric strength of a muscle. To describe facial skeletal variation, nine angular and 21 linear cephalometric measurements were recorded, and statistically reduced by means of multiple regression and principal component analysis. Six components were extracted, rotated, and subsequently correlated with the maximal cross-sectional areas of the jaw elevators and anterior digastric muscle. Positive significant correlations were found between a linear combination of several transversal skull dimensions on the one hand, and the maximal temporalis and masseter cross-sections on the other. A negative significant correlation was found between the flexure of the cranial base and the temporalis cross-section. Surprisingly, no significant correlations were found between either anterior facial height or posterior facial height and any of the jaw muscles cross-sections. It was concluded that, in adult males with normal skull shape, relationships exist to a limited extent between craniofacial morphology and the cross-sectional areas of the jaw muscles.

Two brothers and a sister presented with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and progressive arthropathy. Stiffness and restricted mobility of several large joints had been present since childhood. Their adult height was normal, and skeletal radiography showed mild platyspondyly, abnormal epiphyses and severe osteoarthrosis with extensive synovial osteochondromatosis. This autosomal recessive type of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda must be distinguished from other forms of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, rheumatoid arthritis in childhood and osteoarthrosis in adults. Spranger et al. (1980, 1983a, 1983b) and Wynne-Davies et al. (1982) independently described a hereditary condition with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, mild short stature and progressive arthropathy resembling rheumatoid arthritis in childhood. Subsequently three Japanese families (Kaibara et al. 1983), one large family with eight affected persons (Al-Awadi et al. 1984) and an adult female (Teebi et al. 1986) were reported. An initial diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is commonly made. In this report a Belgian family with at least three affected sibs is described. Clinical reports The probund, S.L. (11.5, Fig. l), a 34-year-old male, was the youngest offspring of healthy, nonconsanguineous parents. He has a 1-year-old son. At birth, bilateral talipes equinovarus was present, requiring surgical correction on the left foot. Mobility of the feet has always been limited. Developmental milestones were normal and during childhood he progressively experienced limited mobility and stiffness of the large joints. His adult height was 1.72 m, with an upper to lower segment ratio of 0.89.

As we celebrate this spectacular 50th anniversary, fluoridation continues to be the most effective public health strategy to reduce the disease burden of dental caries. Curiously, while H. Trendby Dean and his colleagues at the National Institutes of Health were investigating the effects of fluoride on tooth enamel in the mid-l930s, two young boys, one in London and the other in Chicago, were growing up to become the catalysts for another "biological revolution. These two very talented individuals, James Watson and Francis Crick, would later meet by accident at Cambridge and produce their seminal discovery published in April 1953 as a letter in Nature, a one-page article provoking an international scientific adventure to understand living organisms in terms of the structure and function of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a universal genetic code and a rationale for the applications of recombinant DNA technolugy (rDNA) in fields as diverse as agriculture, energy, indusby, and health. As we now reflect upon the triumphs from fluoridation andponder the next50years and the complexities of craniofacial, oral, and dental diseases, it becomes increasingly evident that recombinant DNA technology coupled with health promotion, disease prevention, and public education offers the promise for remarkable advances in prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutics in oral medicine.

A dry skull added with damping material was used to investigate the vibratory pattern of bone conducted sound. Three orthogonal vibration responses of the cochleae were measured, by means of miniature accelerometers, in the frequency range 0.1-10 kHz. The exciter was attached to the temporal, parietal, and frontal bones, one at the time. In the transmission response to the ipsilateral cochlea, a profound low frequency antiresonance ͑attenuation͒ was found, verified psycho-acoustically, and shown to yield a distinct lateralization effect. It was also shown that, for the ipsilateral side, the direction of excitation coincides with that of maximum response. At the contralateral cochlea, no such dominating response direction was found for frequencies above the first skull resonance. An overall higher response level was achieved, for the total energy transmission in general and specifically for the direction of excitation, at the ipsilateral cochlea when the transducer was attached to the excitation point closest to the cochlea. The transranial attenuation was found to be frequency dependent, with values from Ϫ5 to 10 dB for the energy transmission and Ϫ30 to 40 dB for measurements in a single direction, with a tendency toward higher attenuation at the higher frequencies.

This study evaluates the application of (i) skull-stripping methods (hybrid watershed algorithm (HWA), brain surface extractor (BSE) and brain-extraction tool (BET2)) and (ii) bias correction algorithms (nonparametric nonuniform intensity normalisation (N3), bias field corrector (BFC) and FMRIB&#39;s automated segmentation tool (FAST)) as pre-processing pipelines for the technique of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) using statistical parametric mapping v.5 (SPM5). The pipelines were evaluated using a BrainWeb phantom, and those that performed consistently were further assessed using artificial-lesion masks applied to 10 healthy controls compared to the original unlesioned scans, and finally, 20 Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) patients versus 23 controls. In each case, pipelines were compared to each other and to those from default SPM5 methodology. The BET2+N3 pipeline was found to produce the least miswarping to template induced by real abnormalities, and performed consistently better th...

This work aimed at applying geometric morphometric analysis techniques to the skull of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus, Hermann, 1779). Inferential analyses were performed using a non-parameteric permutation framework based on a series of skulls of different age classes belonging to individuals of both sexes. Our goal was to establish whether a statistical approach based on osteometric measurements and surface analysis of photographs of the left lateral plane of the skull may lead to a different and scientifically sound method of age and sex classification in this critically endangered marine mammal. Our data indicate that nonparametric combination methodology enables the researcher to give local assessment using a combination with domains. Developing geometric morphometric techniques in a nonparametric permutation framework could be useful in solving high dimensional and small sample size problems as well as classification problems, including zoological classification of specimens within a specific population. The Mediterranean monk seal is believed to be the worldÕs rarest pinniped and one of the most endangered mammals of the world, with fewer than 600 individuals currently surviving. The use of shape analysis would allow new insights into the biological characteristics of the monk seal by simply extracting potentially new information on age and size from museal specimens.

Abstract Sauropod dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial
herbivores and pushed at the limits of vertebrate biomechanics
and physiology. Sauropods exhibit high craniodental
diversity in ecosystems where numerous species coexisted,
leading to the hypothesis that this biodiversity is
linked to niche subdivision driven by ecological specialisation.
Here, we quantitatively investigate feeding behaviour
hypotheses for the iconic sauropod Diplodocus. Biomechanical
modelling, using finite element analysis, was used to
examine the performance of the Diplodocus skull. Three
feeding behaviours were modelled: muscle-driven static biting,
branch stripping and bark stripping. The skull was found to be
‘over engineered’ for static biting, overall experiencing low
stress with only the dentition enduring high stress. When
branch stripping, the skull, similarly, is under low stress, with
little appreciable difference between those models. When simulated for bark stripping, the skull experiences far greater
stresses, especially in the teeth and at the jaw joint. Therefore,
we refute the bark-stripping hypothesis, while the hypotheses
of branch stripping and/or precision biting are both
consistent with our findings, showing that branch stripping
is a biomechanically plausible feeding behaviour
for diplodocids. Interestingly, in all simulations, peak
stress is observed in the premaxillary–maxillary ‘lateral
plates’, supporting the hypothesis that these structures
evolved to dissipate stress induced while feeding. These
results lead us to conclude that the aberrant craniodental
form of Diplodocus was adapted for food procurement
rather than resisting high bite forces.

Present work illustrates a scheme of quantitative description of the shape of the skull outlines of temnospondyl amphibians using bilaterally symmetric closed Fourier curves. Some special points have been identified on the Fourier fits of the skull outlines, which are the local maxima, or minima of the distances from the centroid of the points at the skull outline. These points denotes break in curvature of the outline and their positions can be compared to differentiate the skull shapes. The ratios of arc-lengths of the posterior and lateral outline of 58 temnospondyl skulls have been plotted to generate a triaguarity series of the skulls. This series grades different families, some of their genera and species as well as some individuals according to their posterior and lateral skull length ratios. This model while comparing different taxa, takes into account the entire arc-length of the outline of the temnospondyl skulls, and does not depend on few geometric or biological points used by earlier workers for comparing skull shapes.

The parotoid glands of toads (Bufonidae) consist of large aggregations of granular glands located between the otic region of the skull and the scapular region. To determine the circulatory pattern of these glands, we perfused the vascular systems of Bufo alvarius, B. marinus, B. terrestris, and B. valliceps with either India ink or Microfil, a fine latex. The perfused glands were studied by gross dissection, microscopic examination, and histology. The vascular patterns of the parotoid glands were compared to the arrangement of vessels in the dorsal skin of Rana sphenocephala (Ranidae), a frog that lacks parotoid glands. The parotoid glands of the four species of toads are supplied with blood by the lateral and dorsal cutaneous arteries and are drained by one or more branches of the internal jugular vein. The dorsal cutaneous artery supplies most of the blood to the parotoid glands in B. terrestris and B. valliceps. In B. alvarius and B. marinus, both the lateral and dorsal cutaneous arteries serve major roles in the blood supply of the glands. These patterns of blood flow have not been described previously for parotoid glands and conflict with earlier accounts for B. alvarius and B. marinus. The arteries and veins associated with the parotoid glands of toads are present in R. sphenocephala, but are arranged differently. In R. sphenocephala, the lateral cutaneous artery supplies the dorsal and lateral skin posterior to the shoulder region, whereas the dorsal cutaneous artery supplies the skin of the shoulder region. In toads, both the lateral and dorsal cutaneous arteries supply the skin of the shoulder region and ramify into subcutaneous capillaries that surround the secretory units of the parotoid glands. Extensive vasculature presumably is important for delivering cholesterol and other precursor molecules to the parotoid glands, where those compounds are converted into toxins. J. Morphol. 260:247-254, 2004.

Cerebellar ptosis and dural prolapse are known complications after posterior craniocervical decompression of Chiari 1 malformation (CM1), and are associated with larger craniectomies, epidural scarring and intradural adhesions. Although management of these complications has been well documented, little has been reported in regards to their prevention. We describe our variation of the posterior fossa decompression technique for CM1 using a titanium mesh-assisted dural tenting expansile cranioplasty to prevent both cerebellar ptosis and dural prolapse. A watertight dural augmentation patch is performed after posterior craniocervical decompression. A titanium mesh cranioplasty is performed to cover the superior aspect of the craniectomy. The duraplasty is then tented to the titanium mesh plate with several interrupted sutures. The titanium mesh plate was intended to prevent postoperative cerebellar ptosis or sag, while the dural tenting was performed to prevent delayed collapse and res...

The feather crest of the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) represents a peculiar mutation of the integument of the head, which has been known since the 17th century. In literature this is described as a variety with malformations in skull and brain anatomy in which various central nervous deficiencies in affected birds are possible. Our examinations demonstrated several conspicuous anatomical alterations in the skulls of domestic ducks with feather crests. Osteophytes of different size in the hypodermis of the crest integument were found as well as cranial perforations located in the parieto-occipital region, In morphometric studies, a significant increase in the capacity of the cranium was found in Crested ducks compared to other examined breeds (Abacot Ranger, German Pekin ducks). This increase in cranial capacity in Crested ducks results from the occurrence and enlargement of a tentorial fatty depot during craniogenesis. The formation and enlargement of the fat body can influence cranium growth as long as the cranial bones are not entirely fused. Thus, in comparison to other phenotypically similar domesticated birds like the crested chicken, the expression of feather crests in domestic ducks demonstrates symptomatologic differences. In conclusion, our examinations demonstrate that the skulls of Crested ducks show various peculiar morphological alterations whose genesis is up to now not known with satisfactory accuracy. Further investigations are continuing to assertain whether there are linkages between cranial alterations Correspondence to: T. Bartels (malformations of the calvaria, osteophytes, increased capacity of the cranium) and the extremely high prenatal and postnatal mortalities and numerous abnormalities described in crested breeds of the domestic duck.

sonography in carotid-cavernous fistulas : analysis of five cases . Surg Neurol 1992 ;38 :179-85 . Transcranial doppler sonography was performed transorbitally in five patients clinically diagnosed as unilateral carotid-cavernous fistula. Dural arteriovenous malformation related-shunts were detected in all the patients . In the normal eyes, the only doppler signals observed at an insonation depth of 45 to 55 mm were those of the ophthalmic artery . In the affected eyes, abnormal doppler signals with relatively higher flow velocity and lower resistance were observed . In three of the cases, these abnormal signals showed a flow directed anteriorly or away from the cavernous sinus, consistent with changes in the ophthalmic veins caused by the presence of the shunts . In two cases, however, the observed flows were directed posteriorly, the normal direction of these veins . The possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed in relation with angiographic findings . The use of transcranial doppler might provide a better understanding about hemodynamic changes in carotid cavernous fistulas .

Animal experiments in this laboratory have led to the suggestion that a major pathway in bone conduction stimulation to the inner ear is via the skull contents (brain and CSF). This hypothesis was now tested in humans. Auditory nerve brainstem evoked responses could be recorded in neonates to bone conduction stimulation over the fontanelle and audiometric responses were obtained in neurosurgical patients with the bone vibrator on the skin over a craniotomy. There were no differences in threshold between these responses and those obtained to bone conduction stimulation over skull bone in the same subjects. Audiometric thresholds in response to bone vibrator stimulation of the eye (a`natural craniotomy') were no different from those to bone stimulation delivered to several sites on the head. Thus there is no need to vibrate bone in order to obtain`bone conduction' responses. Bone vibrator thresholds to stimulation at the head region with thinnest bone (temporal) were better than those to stimulation at the forehead region which has much thicker bone, implying that the vibrations penetrate the skull at the site of the vibrator. In addition, the magnitude of vibration (acceleration) measured at various sites around the head in response to bone vibrator stimulation at a fixed point on the forehead generally decreased with distance from the point of vibration. Therefore it seems that the vibrations produced by a bone vibrator at a point on the head are also able to penetrate the skull, setting up audio-frequency pressures in the CSF which spread by fluid communications to the inner ear fluids, exciting the ear. ß

Adaptive radiations provide important insights into many aspects of evolution, including the relationship between ecology and morphological diversification as well as between ecology and speciation. Many such radiations include divergence along a dietary axis, although other ecological variables may also drive diversification, including differences in diel activity patterns. This study examines the role of two key ecological variables, diet and activity patterns, in shaping the radiation of a diverse clade of primates, the Malagasy lemurs. When phylogeny is ignored, activity pattern and several dietary variables predicted a significant proportion of cranial shape variation. However, when phylogeny was taken into account, only typical diet accounted for a significant proportion of shape variation. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that this radiation was characterized by a relatively small number of dietary shifts (and possibly changes in body size) that occurred in conjunction with the divergence of major clades. This pattern may be difficult to detect with the phylogenetic comparative methods used here, but may characterize not just lemurs but other mammals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. 3

AIM Knowing the location of the transverse sinus in the midline supracerebellar infratentorial approach is important to prevent its inadvertent injury. The external landmarks of the occipital bone have been studied in this anatomic study in order to reveal their relationship with the transverse sinus. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-two dried skulls were used to study the relationship of the transverse sinus with various surface bone structures. The key bone surface structures identified in each specimen were the superior nuchal line, the inferior nuchal line, the inion, internal occipital protuberance, and the transverse sulcus. RESULTS The distance from the inion to the inferior nuchal line in specimens ranged from 12.7 mm to 37.7 mm. The distance from the inferior nuchal line to the midline foramen magnum in the specimens ranged from 19 mm to 34.75 mm. The width of the proximal transverse sulcus ranged from 2.6 mm to 10.16 mm with an average of 6.43 mm on the right side and 3.4 mm to ...

Morphological indicators within the cranium for prediction of mandibular growth patterns as reported by Bjork are: (1) inclination of the condylar head (ICH), (2) curvature of mandibular canal (CMC), (3) shape of the lower border of the mandible and specifically depth of the antegonial notch (AN), (4) inclination of the symphysis (ISY), (5) interincisal angle (IIA), (6) intermolar angle (IMA), and (7) lower anterior face height (LAFH). The purpose of this study was to examine the association of these indicators as they relate to extreme skeletal patterns observed in skeletally mature subjects. The pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 395 post-growth subjects were randomly selected from the archives of a university orthodontic department. These were divided in three groups according to their MP-SN angle [normal: 28-36degrees (G1), hypodivergent: ≤26degrees (G2), hyperdivergent: ≥38degrees (G3)]. It was found that only LAFH was correlated to age across all groups. Howeve...

Cyclic acetal hydrogels are a novel group of biomaterials which may facilitate osteogenic differentiation of encapsulated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) because of their neutral degradation products. Here, we have incorporated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within cyclic acetal hydrogels to create cyclic acetal nanocomposites for craniofacial tissue engineering applications. We hypothesized that inclusion of nanosized hydroxyapatite particles within cyclic acetal hydrogels would upregulate osteogenic signal expression of encapsulated BMSCs, due to enhanced cell adhesion, and therefore promote osteodifferentiation. Experimental nanocomposite groups consisted of lower (5 ng/mL) and higher (50 ng/mL) concentrations of nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Swelling parameters of hydrogels in the presence of nanoparticles was studied. Osteoblastic differentiation was characterized by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) expression, whereas endogenous osteogenic sig-nal expression was characterized by morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression. Finally, immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the presence of OC at the protein level. Results indicated that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout the hydrogels and did not affect material properties of the gels. Viability of cells was not affected by nanoparticle concentration, and BMP-2 and OC mRNA expression was enhanced in the presence of nanoparticles. However, a difference in BMP-2, ALP, and OC mRNA expression was not noted between the lower and higher concentrations of nanoparticles. This work demonstrates that inclusion of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within a cyclic acetal nanocomposite hydrogel may enhance BMSC differentiation by promoting endogenous osteogenic signal expression.

The characterization of mesenchymal progenitors is central to understanding development, postnatal pathology and evolutionary adaptability. The precise identity of the mesenchymal precursors that generate the coronal suture, an important structural boundary in mammalian skull development, remains unclear. We show in mouse that coronal suture progenitors originate from hedgehog-responsive cephalic paraxial mesoderm (Mes) cells, which migrate rapidly to a supraorbital domain and establish a unidirectional lineage boundary with neural crest (NeuC) mesenchyme. Lineage tracing reveals clonal and stereotypical expansion of supraorbital mesenchymal cells to form the coronal suture between E11.0 and E13.5. We identify engrailed 1 (En1) as a necessary regulator of cell movement and NeuC/Mes lineage boundary positioning during coronal suture formation. In addition, we provide genetic evidence that En1 functions upstream of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2) in regulating early calvarial osteogenic differentiation, and postulate that it plays an additional role in precluding premature osteogenic conversion of the sutural mesenchyme.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to develop a framework to the inverse problem for radiosurgery treatment planning on the Gamma Knife V R Perfexion TM (PFX) for intracranial targets. Methods: The approach taken in the present study consists of two parts. First, a hybrid grassfire and sphere-packing algorithm is used to obtain shot positions (isocenters) based on the geometry of the target to be treated. For the selected isocenters, a sector duration optimization (SDO) model is used to optimize the duration of radiation delivery from each collimator size from each individual source bank. The SDO model is solved using a projected gradient algorithm. This approach has been retrospectively tested on seven manually planned clinical cases (comprising 11 lesions) including acoustic neuromas and brain metastases. Results: In terms of conformity and organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing, the quality of plans achieved with the inverse planning approach were, on average, improved compared to the manually generated plans. The mean difference in conformity index between inverse and forward plans was À0.12 (range: À0.27 to þ0.03) and þ0.08 (range: 0.00-0.17) for classic and Paddick definitions, respectively, favoring the inverse plans. The mean difference in volume receiving the prescribed dose (V 100 ) between forward and inverse plans was 0.2% (range: À2.4% to þ2.0%). After plan renormalization for equivalent coverage (i.e., V 100 ), the mean difference in dose to 1 mm 3 of brainstem between forward and inverse plans was À0.24 Gy (range: À2.40 to þ2.02 Gy) favoring the inverse plans. Beam-on time varied with the number of isocenters but for the most optimal plans was on average 33 min longer than manual plans (range: À17 to þ91 min) when normalized to a calibration dose rate of 3.5 Gy=min. In terms of algorithm performance, the isocenter selection for all the presented plans was performed in less than 3 s, while the SDO was performed in an average of 215 min. Conclusions: PFX inverse planning can be performed using geometric isocenter selection and mathematical modeling and optimization techniques. The obtained treatment plans all meet or exceed clinical guidelines while displaying high conformity. V C 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. [http://dx.

The Class III malocclusion is a most common skeletal malocclusion in Japan, with a prevalence of 4% to 5% in the general population. 1,2 Approximately one third of orthodontic patients exhibit a Class III malocclusion. The morphologic condition of the mandible in persons with Class III malocclusions is different from that found in normal Class I subjects, 5 and most skeletal characteristics of Class III patients with a permanent dentition are already present in the deciduous dentition 6-9 (ie, in Class III malocclusion during primary dentition, mandibular lengths are significantly greater and the mandible is situated more anteriorly than it is in Class I subjects . The position of the maxilla, meanwhile, is slightly retrusive, in association with a smaller-than-normal maxilla. Regarding the growth and development of the craniofacial skeleton in individuals with Class III malocclusion, Guyer et al, 7 using cross-sectional cephalometric records from persons ranging in age from 5 to 15 years old, indicated that Class III malocclusion

Purpose: Low-intensity focused ultrasound has been shown to stimulate the brain noninvasively and without noticeable tissue damage. Such a noninvasive and localized neurostimulation is expected to have a major impact in neuroscience in the coming years. This emerging field will require many animal experiments to fully understand the link between ultrasound and stimulation. The primary goal of this paper is to investigate transcranial ultrasonic neurostimulation at low frequency (320 kHz) on anesthetized rats for different acoustic pressures and estimate the in situ pressure field distribution and the corresponding motor threshold, if any. The corresponding acoustic pressure distribution inside the brain, which cannot be measured in vivo, is investigated based on numerical simulations of the ultrasound propagation inside the head cavity, reproducing at best the experiments conducted in the first part, both in terms of transducer and head geometry and in terms of acoustic parameters. Methods: In this study, 37 ultrasonic neurostimulation sessions were achieved in rats (N = 8) using a 320 kHz transducer. The corresponding beam profile in the entire head was simulated in order to investigate the in situ pressure and intensity level as well as the spatial pressure distribution, thanks to a rat microcomputed tomography scan (CT)-based 3D finite differences time domain solver. Results: Ultrasound pulse evoked a motor response in more than 60% of the experimental sessions. In those sessions, the stimulation was always present, repeatable with a pressure threshold under which no motor response occurred. This average acoustic pressure threshold was found to be 0.68 ± 0.1 MPa (corresponding mechanical index, MI = 1.2 and spatial peak, pulse averaged intensity, Isppa = 7.5 W cm −2 ), as calibrated in free water. A slight variation was observed between deep anesthesia stage (0.77 ± 0.04 MPa) and light anesthesia stage (0.61 ± 0.03 MPa), assessed from the pedal reflex. Several kinds of motor responses were observed: movements of the tail, the hind legs, the forelimbs, the eye, and even a single whisker were induced separately. Numerical simulations of an equivalent experiment with identical acoustic parameters showed that the acoustic field was spread over the whole rat brain with the presence of several secondary pressure peaks. Due to reverberations, a 1.8-fold increase of the spatial peak, temporal peak acoustic pressure (Psptp) (±0.4 standard deviation), a 3.6-fold increase (±1.8) for the spatial peak, temporal peak acoustic intensity (Isptp), and 2.3 for the spatial peak, pulse averaged acoustic intensity (Isppa), were found compared to simulations of the beam in free water. Applying such corrections due to reverberations on the experimental results would yield a higher estimation for the average acoustic pressure threshold for motor neurostimulation at 320 KHz at 1.2 ± 0.3 MPa (MI = 2.2 ± 0.5 and Isppa = 17.5 ± 7.5 W cm −2 ). Conclusions: Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation is pressure-and anesthesia-dependent in the rat model. Numerical simulations have shown that the acoustic pattern can be complex inside the rat head and that special care must be taken for small animal studies relating acoustic parameters to neurostimulation effects, especially at a low frequency.

Many aspects of human biology can be reconstructed from skeletal and fossil remains. The endocranial vasculature runs through cerebral, connective, and bone elements, where it is influenced by the functional and structural relationships among these different components of the endocranial system. The imprints and traces of these vessels can be used to analyze the craniovascular features of extinct species or historical samples. These traits can supply information about evolutionary adaptation, the mutual relationships between and within populations, and individual life history. In particular, bioarchaeology considers individual morphological variants as indicators of temporal and spatial relatedness and population structure, whereas paleoanthropology studies functional aspects to consider evolutionary changes and phylogenetic processes. Forensic science can investigate the cause of death associated with craniovascular pathologies by relying on morphological variations for individual ...

A vertical analysis involving ten linear measurements was developed to localize skeletal and dentoalveolar dysplasias. The measurements are of biologic relevance, reflecting the amount of growth harmony or disharmony to the examination and record-taking time. The vertical dimensional analysis uses the age- and sex-related University of Michigan mean values for comparative data for each measurement. Ratios were computed for a five-unit proportional analysis. Both analyses were applied to assess the vertical problems of three female patients. The analyses detected specific areas of dysplasia for each patient.

Modern European genetic structure demonstrates strong correlations with geography, while genetic analysis of prehistoric humans has indicated at least two major waves of immigration from outside the continent during periods of cultural change. However, population-level genome data that could shed light on the demographic processes occurring during the intervening periods have been absent. Therefore, we generated genomic data from 41 individuals dating mostly to the late 5th/early 6th century AD from present-day Bavaria in southern Germany, including 11 whole genomes (mean depth 5.56×). In addition we developed a capture array to sequence neutral regions spanning a total of 5 Mb and 486 functional polymorphic sites to high depth (mean 72×) in all individuals. Our data indicate that while men generally had ancestry that closely resembles modern northern and central Europeans, women exhibit a very high genetic heterogeneity; this includes signals of genetic ancestry ranging from wester...

Earlier observations of the virtual endocast of LB1, the type specimen for Homo floresiensis, are reviewed, extended, and interpreted. Seven derived features of LB1's cerebral cortex are detailed: a caudallypositioned occipital lobe, lack of a rostrally-located lunate sulcus, a caudally-expanded temporal lobe, advanced morphology of the lateral prefrontal cortex, shape of the rostral prefrontal cortex, enlarged gyri in the frontopolar region, and an expanded orbitofrontal cortex. These features indicate that LB1's brain was globally reorganized despite its ape-sized cranial capacity (417 cm 3 ). Neurological reorganization may thus form the basis for the cognitive abilities attributed to H. floresiensis. Because of its tiny cranial capacity, some workers think that LB1 represents a Homo sapiens individual that was afflicted with microcephaly, or some other pathology, rather than a new species of hominin. We respond to concerns about our earlier study of microcephalics compared with normal individuals, and reaffirm that LB1 did not suffer from this pathology. The intense controversy about LB1 reflects an older continuing dispute about the relative evolutionary importance of brain size versus neurological reorganization. LB1 may help resolve this debate and illuminate constraints that governed hominin brain evolution.