Shape and volume of craniofacial cavities in intentional skull deformations

Intentional cranial deformations (ICD) have been observed worldwide but are especially prevalent in preColombian cultures. The purpose of this study was to assess the consequences of ICD on three cranial cavities (intracranial cavity, orbits, and maxillary sinuses) and on cranial vault thickness, in order to screen for morphological changes due to the external constraints exerted by the deformation device. We acquired CT‐scans for 39 deformed and 19 control skulls. We studied the thickness of the skull vault using qualitative and quantitative methods. We computed the volumes of the orbits, of the maxillary sinuses, and of the intracranial cavity using haptic‐aided semi‐automatic segmentation. We finally defined 3D distances and angles within orbits and maxillary sinuses based on 27 anatomical landmarks and measured these features on the 58 skulls. Our results show specific bone thickness patterns in some types of ICD, with localized thinning in regions subjected to increased pressure and thickening in other regions. Our findings confirm that volumes of the cranial cavities are not affected by ICDs but that the shapes of the orbits and of the maxillary sinuses are modified in circumferential deformations. We conclude that ICDs can modify the shape of the cranial cavities and the thickness of their walls but conserve their volumes. These results provide new insights into the morphological effects associated with ICDs and call for similar investigations in subjects with deformational plagiocephalies and craniosynostoses. Am J Phys Anthropol 151:110–119, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effects of experimental calcium availability,egg parameters and laying order on Great Tit Parus major eggshell pigmentation patterns

Many bird species lay eggs speckled with protoporphyrin‐based spots, however, for most of them the function of eggshell spotting is unknown. A plausible hypothesis is that protoporphyrin might have a structural function in strengthening the eggshell and is therefore deposited when calcium is scarce. In this study, we experimentally provided Great Tit Parus major females with supplemental calcium to examine its effect on the protoporphyrin‐based maculation of their eggs. In addition, we studied variation in eggshell pigmentation patterns in relation to other egg parameters and laying order. Calcium‐supplemented females laid larger eggs but shell thickness was not significantly affected by the treatment. Calcium supplementation may reduce the time and energy females devote to searching for calcium‐rich material, so that they can collect more nutrients and so lay larger eggs. Furthermore, pigment darkness was associated with egg volume and shape, which suggests that female quality and environmental food availability may also influence the shell pigmentation pattern. Within clutches, later‐laid eggs had larger and darker spots that were distributed more unevenly on the shell surface. This within‐clutch pattern could be explained by the increase in egg volume and egg shape and a decline in shell thickness with egg‐laying order, which characteristics were all related to shell‐spotting pattern. Eggs with a coronal ring had thinner shells, but pigment intensity and spot size were not related to shell thickness. Thus, our results suggest that concentrated spotting distribution may have a mechanical function, supporting the structural‐function hypothesis.     

Purification and Some properties of Endo-β-1,6-Glucanase from Acinetobacter sp.

A kind of endo-β-1, 6-glucanase has been purified from the culture filtrate of Acinetobacter sp. grown in the medium containing baker’s yeast cells as a carbon source. A 100-fold purified preparation was obtained by DEAE-Sephadex A–50 column chromatography. The enzyme hydrolyzed pustulan giving a series of gentio-oligosaccharides and glucose. Gentiotriose and gentiotetraose were hydrolyzed by this enzyme yielding glucose and gentiobiose, and glucose, gentiobiose and gentiotriose, respectively. Gentiobiose was not hydrolyzed. Baker’s yeast glucans obtained from the isolated cell walls were also hydrolyzed by this enzyme giving a series of oligosaccharides and glucose. From the action patterns on these carbohydrates, we concluded the present enzyme being endo-β-1, 6-glucanase.     

Endothelin regulates neural crest deployment and fate to form great vessels through Dlx5/Dlx6-independent mechanisms

Endothelin-1 (Edn1), originally identified as a vasoconstrictor peptide, is involved in the development of cranial/cardiac neural crest-derived tissues and organs. In craniofacial development, Edn1 binds to Endothelin type-A receptor (Ednra) to induce homeobox genes Dlx5/Dlx6 and determines the mandibular identity in the first pharyngeal arch. However, it remains unsolved whether this pathway is also critical for pharyngeal arch artery development to form thoracic arteries. Here, we show that the Edn1/Ednra signaling is involved in pharyngeal artery development by controlling the fate of neural crest cells through a Dlx5/Dlx6-independent mechanism. Edn1 and Ednra knock-out mice demonstrate abnormalities in pharyngeal arch artery patterning, which include persistent first and second pharyngeal arteries, resulting in additional branches from common carotid arteries. Neural crest cell labeling with Wnt1-Cre transgene and immunostaining for smooth muscle cell markers revealed that neural crest cells abnormally differentiate into smooth muscle cells at the first and second pharyngeal arteries of Ednra knock-out embryos. By contrast, Dlx5/Dlx6 knockout little affect the development of pharyngeal arch arteries and coronary arteries, the latter of which is also contributed by neural crest cells through an Edn-dependent mechanism. These findings indicate that the Edn1/Ednra signaling regulates neural crest differentiation to ensure the proper patterning of pharyngeal arch arteries, which is independent of the regional identification of the pharyngeal arches along the dorsoventral axis mediated by Dlx5/Dlx6.     

Multispectral image analysis for algal biomass quantification

This article reports a novel multispectral image processing technique for rapid, noninvasive quantification of biomass concentration in attached and suspended algae cultures. Monitoring the biomass concentration is critical for efficient production of biofuel feedstocks, food supplements, and bioactive chemicals. Particularly, noninvasive and rapid detection techniques can significantly aid in providing delay‐free process control feedback in large‐scale cultivation platforms. In this technique, three‐band spectral images of Anabaena variabilis cultures were acquired and separated into their red, green, and blue components. A correlation between the magnitude of the green component and the areal biomass concentration was generated. The correlation predicted the biomass concentrations of independently prepared attached and suspended cultures with errors of 7 and 15%, respectively, and the effect of varying lighting conditions and background color were investigated. This method can provide necessary feedback for dilution and harvesting strategies to maximize photosynthetic conversion efficiency in large‐scale operation. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:808–816, 2013     

中国汉族人群CXCR2基因＋1235C/T多态与急性冠脉综合征的关联研究

目的：炎症反应在动脉粥样斑块变化的病理过程中发挥着重要的作用。本研究探讨CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T单核苷酸多态与中国汉族人群急性冠脉综合征发病的相关关系。方法：本研究采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性方法对675例急性冠脉综合征的患者和636例对照组进行检测,分析CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T单核苷酸多态的基因型和等位基因频率的分布情况,同时收集济南军区总医院心内科经冠脉造影证实为阳性的急性冠脉综合征患者360例及对照者360例,对上述关联分析的结果进行复制实验的印证。结果：CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T单核苷酸多态三种基因型（CC型,CT型和TT型）在急性冠脉综合征组分布频率分别为39.3%,45.3%和15.1%,在对照组分别为41.7%,47.2%和11.1%,CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T基因型和等位基因频率对照组和急性冠脉综合征组之间存在统计学差异（P〈0.05）。Logistic回归校正性别、年龄、体重指数、吸烟、高血压、高脂血症、糖尿病等冠心病的易患因素后,CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T多态与急性冠脉综合征的发病存在相关关系（P〈0.05）。结论：CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T多态与急性冠脉综合征发病存在相关关系,CXCR2基因＋1235 C/T多态可能是中国汉族人群急性冠脉综合征发病的独立危险因子。     

脑梗死患者血浆纤维蛋白原水平与颈动脉粥样硬化的关系

目的：探讨脑梗死患者血浆纤维蛋白原（Human Fibrinogen,Fro）水平的改变与颈动脉粥样硬化（CAS）的关系。方法：选取2009年5月-2012年6月入住解放军八一医院神经内科脑梗死患者508例。采用彩色多普勒超声检测脑梗死患者颈内动脉颅外段（／ntemalcarotidartery,ICA）、总动脉（common carotid artery,CCA）、颈总动脉分叉处内一中膜厚度（Intima—medial Thickness,IMT）。评定标准：颈动脉IMT〉0．9toni或（和）颈动脉斑决定义为CAS。24h内将患者空腹静脉血送检,记录测定后的生化指标及№水平,记录吸烟史、糖尿痛、高血压病等病史,采用Logistic回归分析测定的相关危险因素对颈动脉粥样硬化的作用强度。结果：按FIB水平分组（FIB≤3g／L组、FIB〉3g／L组）,Logistic回归分析显示FIB〉3g／L组的危险度为2．04,年龄、FIB水平、高血压病史及吸烟史对CAS有影响,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,其中FIB与CAS的相关性最强。结论：FIB水平与脑梗死患者CAS的发展密切相关,其作用可能强于其他的传统危险因素。     

x线断层容积成像技术在肺动脉畸形中的应用

目的：通过与常规x线胸片比较,探讨胸部x线断层容积成像技术在肺动脉畸形中的应用价值。方法：对20例临床及x线平片怀疑肺动脉畸形者,进一步进行胸部x线断层容积成像检查。其中11例被明确诊断为肺动脉畸形。以CT或超声心动结果为标准,对比两种图像对肺动脉畸形的明确诊断率,分析对比该11例患者的胸部x线断层容积成像图片和普通x线胸片,评价两种方法所获得的图像质量和图片优秀率。结果：20例疑似患者中,11例被CT或超声心动确诊为肺动脉畸形,其x线断层容积成像图片和普通x线胸片经主管技师和副主任医师双盲判读,x线断层容积成像11例均获明确诊断（100％）,普通x线胸片明确诊断2例（18％）,诊断准确率有明显差异（P=0．O001）。容积断层成像优质图像为10例,占总数的90．91％;良好1例,差为0例。11例x片中优秀7例,占总数的63．63％,其中良好3例,差1例。两种图像优秀率比较差异有统计学意义（P=0．0001）。结论：x线断层容积成像技术对肺动脉畸形的图像优秀率和诊断准确率均高于x线平片,对病变的显示更加清晰、立体,提高诊断准确率和客观性,具有重要的临床诊断价值。     

阿托伐他汀对颈动脉狭窄并支架置入术后患者临床预后及炎症因子的影响

目的：研究阿托伐他汀对颈动脉狭窄并支架置入术后患者临床预后及炎症因子的影响。方法：选取2013 年1 月到2014 年1 月我院收治的接受支架置入术的颈动脉狭窄患者90例,按照随机数字表法将患者分为研究组和对照组,每组45 例,对照组给予 常规治疗,研究组在对照组的基础上给予阿托伐他汀治疗,连续治疗1 年,比较两组支架内再狭窄率及不良反应发生率,分析治 疗前和治疗后两组超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）水平。结果：研究组1 年内支架再狭窄率显著低于对照组,两 组比较差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;治疗后两组hs-CRP 和IL-6 水平均显著低于治疗前,且研究组显著低于对照组,比较差异 具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;两组不良反应比较无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论：阿托伐他汀治疗颈动脉狭窄并支架置入术患者,能 显著降低支架内再狭窄率及炎症因子水平。     

SPA患者循环EPCs及SDF-1-alpha与冠状动脉侧支循环的相关性分析

目的：研究冠状动脉严重狭窄稳定型心绞痛(Stable angina pectoris, SPA)患者循环内皮祖细胞（endothelial progenitor cells, EPCs）及基质细胞衍生因子（SDF）-1-alpha与冠状动脉侧支循环（CCC）形成的相关性,以期为治疗冠心病提供新的思路。方法：选择 2012 年8 月到2014 年12月在我院就诊的88 例冠状动脉严重狭窄的稳定型心绞痛患者（CCC 良好40 例、不良48 例）,均采集 外周血测定EPC 数量、体外生成血管能力,并用ELISA 法检测其血浆SDF-1alpha 水平,采用直线相关和Pearson 检验分析CCC良好 与不良者各指标间及与CCC 分级的相关性;将所有入选病例随机分为6 组,并分离外周血单个核细胞并分别加入不同的培养 液,培养7 天后体外测定EPCs 数量以及生成血管的能力,并通过ELISA 法检测培养液上清中VEGF 的蛋白水平。结果：CCC 不 良组EPCs 数量、体外生成血管能力及SDF-1-alpha水平均明显低于CCC 良好组（P<0.05）。体外生成血管能力、循环EPCs 数量以及 SDF-1alpha水平均与CCC分级呈现显著的正相关性（r =0.72、0.67、0.79,均P<0.05）;循环EPCs 数量、SDF-1alpha水平以及体外生成血 管能力亦均呈现显著正相关性（r =0.78、0.62,均P<0.05）。与PBS、SDF-1alpha+ AMD3100 及SDF-1alpha+ KI8751 干预物质比较,SDF-1琢 能够呈剂量依赖性的明显提高EPCs 数量、增强其体外生成血管的能力及VEGF水平（P<0.05）。结论：冠状动脉严重狭窄稳定型 心绞痛患者循环EPCs及SDF-1琢与CCC 形成有关,VEGF可能参与该过程。