Metacarpo-phalangeal and ring creases in twins

Metacarpo-phalangeal creases including the ring crease were studied on the middle finger of Japanese twins. The mean of differences and the correlation coefficient of the ring crease index as well as fine morphological features showed that the similarity between twins is greater in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic ones. The intrapair similarity in monozygotic twins is almost the same as that between right and left hands of an individual. For the diagnosis of zygosity this trait will be available.     

Lack of Association of Diagonal Earlobe Crease With Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The relationship between diagonal earlobe crease and coronary risk factors, controlling for age and sex effects, was tested in 686 persons. A positive correlation (ρ=.86, P<.001) is obtained between age and percentage of persons with earlobe creases in each one-year age interval; no sex difference is seen. To test for associations between cardiovascular risk factors and earlobe creases, 67 persons with creases are compared with 67 controls (matched by age and sex) without creases, using the following variables: diastolic and systolic blood pressures, cigarette smoking, weight, height, scapular skinfold thickness, serum cholesterol level, high-density lipoprotein level, intracellular sodium, sodium-lithium countertransport, plasma renin level and the presence of diabetes and hypertension. None of these variables differs significantly between cases and controls, indicating that the previously documented association between earlobe crease and coronary heart disease may be independent of these risk factors. Although coronary heart disease has often been shown to aggregate in families, no familial aggregation is found for earlobe creases.     

Disorders of finger flexion crease formation in various congenital anomalies of human development]

Deviations in finger flexion crease formation and ridge counts were analysed in normal and deformed (Down syndrome, arthrogriposis, diastrophic dysplasia) hands. Certain interrelation was found between decrease in the ridge count and the number of the finger flexion creases in Down syndrome. The changes observed agree with the hypothesis that intersegmental borders, and later, the joints and finger flexion creases are laid out on the basis of the positional information which is directed by morphogenetic gradients. This model enables us to interpret more or less unequivocally the changes in flexion creases in patients with arthrogriposis and diastrophic dysplasia (dwarfism).     

Simian crease in man: some methodological considerations

There is no agreement among workers in defining the Simian crease, thus making it difficult to compile or compare their works. The Simian crease, invariably present among anthropoid apes and frequent among mongoloid idiots, is also present in varying degrees among normal populations. Mode of inheritance of this trait is not yet established. This paper attempts to examine critically the definitions and classifications forwarded by various authorities. A new definition has been suggested considering the course of both the distal and the proximal creases. A new classification, to include all transitional variations has also been proposed. A progressive transition from the typical Simian crease to the normal crease configuration is recognized. Further investigation to assess the hereditability of Simian as well as normal creases is emphasized.     

Furrows and dermal ridges of the hand in patients with alcohol embryopathy

Summary Palmar creases and dermal ridge patterns of 34 patients with alcohol embryopathy are compared with 470 healthy individuals. In alcohol embryopathy several typical deviations were noted. Palmar Creases. The interdigital part of the distal palmar crease is generally sharply bent, the proximal transverse crease is hypoplastic or missing, the thenar crease is commonly well marked. Simian creases and bridged palmar creases are more common in patients with alcohol embryopathy than in healthy individuals. Ridge Patterns of the Palm. The main line D coming from triradius d in patients with alcohol embryopathy mostly shows a low type of ending in the fourth interdigital area; in this area loops are twice as common as in healthy individuals. Patterns of the Fingertips. No deviations were noted in the distribution of whorls and loops, but virtually no arches were observed in patients with alcohol embryopathy. These anomalies suggest embryonic damage in the twelvth week of gestation.     

On the variability of “flexion creases” in the distal plantar areas of newborns

The plantae of 83 male and 95 female healthy, full-term Caucasian newborns from Austria (gestational age 235–301 days) were photographed and the flexion creases in the distal part were examined. Analysis of the creases was done under four different aspects, the main evaluation based on a scheme of nine creases introduced by Schenk and Patzer (1959). Two transversal (No. 1 and No. 9) and three longitudinal (Nos. 3, 6, and 7) creases are always or predominantly present, a finding corresponding with the data of Schenk on 52 male and 48 female newborns from Germany. In addition, the nine plantar creases were evaluated according to six degrees of expression, and some typical crease combinations are shown. Bilateral and bisexual similarity prevails. The results of this study might serve investigations of different populations and of medical disorders.     

Strategies for a successful corrective Asian blepharoplasty after previously failed revisions

Asian blepharoplasty, although a common procedure, has a relatively high rate of complications. Subtle imperfections and more serious iatrogenic complications often require immediate attention by the aesthetic surgeon. After attempted correction of the deformities, residual problems or new ones can arise. Blepharoptosis, supratarsal depression, an excessively high or low crease, a short or discontinuous crease, multiple creases, and asymmetric creases are the most commonly encountered complications that require special attention in this group, which has already undergone more than one surgical procedure. Between January of 1996 and December of 2002, 168 Asian blepharoplasty revisions were performed by one surgeon (S. H.-T. Chen); of these, 36 patients (21 percent) had previously undergone failed revisions. This subgroup of patients consisted of six with blepharoptosis, six with asymmetrical eyelid creases, three with supratarsal depressions, three with high creases, two with short creases, and 16 with combinations of these deformities. The results were graded as excellent, good, fair, or poor, based on the symmetry of the eyelids, palpebral fissures, crease heights, lengths, shapes, eyelid fullness, and overall aesthetics of the final outcome. A survey was performed of patient and surgeon satisfaction and factored into the grading system. With an average follow-up period of 16 months (6 to 60 months), 22 patients (61 percent) were found to have excellent results, 10 (28 percent) had good results, two (5.6 percent) had fair results, and two (5.6 percent) had poor results. Corrective procedures after failed revision Asian blepharoplasty require special strategic considerations because of the presence of extensive scarring and inadequate skin, muscle, and preaponeurotic fat and because of the occasional presence of dehiscence of the levator aponeurosis. By using careful preoperative evaluation, accurate measurements, precise preoperative planning, intraoperative fat repositioning or grafting, skin excision or redraping, and proper placement of anchoring sutures, successful outcomes can be achieved. The authors evaluate the outcomes and detail the surgical procedures that were used to achieve successful outcomes in this particularly challenging group of patients.     

Dermatoglyphic changes in human genetic disorders: preaxial defects of the upper limbs]

Dermatologlyphic prints of 9 patients with preaxial (radial) hand defects were compared with control ones. A correspondence is revealed between a decrease in thumb phalanx length and a respective decrease in ridge count, on the one hand, and between the 1st metacarpal hypo- or aplasia and a decrease in palmar ridge count between the metacarpo-phalangeal and thumb flexion creases, on the other hand. An interrelation is found between the anomalies in flexion crease and respective joint formation. It is suggested, that these disorders are due to genetically determined anomalies in morphogenetic gradients which control the distribution of positional information in upper limb morphogenetic field.     

Accumulation and Conversion of Sugars by Developing Wheat Grains : VI. Gradients Along the Transport Pathway from the Peduncle to the Endosperm Cavity during Grain Filling

Gradients along the transport pathway from the peduncle to the endosperm cavity were examined during grain filling in wheat. Sieve tube exudate was collected from severed aphid stylets established on the peduncle and rachis and on the vascular bundles in the creases of grains. Phloem exudate could also be collected from broken grain pedicels, and by puncturing the vascular bundle in the grain crease with a needle. Stylets on excised grains persisted exuding, indicating that grain sieve tubes are capable of loading solutes. There was little, if any, discernible gradient in osmolality or solute composition (sucrose, total amino acids) of sieve tube contents along the phloem pathway from the peduncle to the rachis or along the rachis itself. Neither was a gradient detected in osmolality along the sieve tube pathway from the rachis through the rachilla and grain stalk to the crease. Demonstrable solute gradients occurred only across those tissues of the grain crease between the crease sieve tubes and the endosperm cavity, a distance of just 1 millimeter. However, while the sucrose concentration in the sieve tubes was almost tenfold that in the endosperm cavity sap, total amino acids were only threefold higher, and the potassium concentrations of the two were equal. Our observations strongly implicate the movement of assimilates from the sieve tubes and across the crease tissues as important control points in grain filling.     

Floral morphogenesis in Anagallis: Scanning-electron-micrograph sequences from individual growing meristems before,during, and after the transition to flowering

Non-destructive scanning electron microscopy allows one to visualize changing patterns of individual cells during epidermal development in single meristems. Cell growth and division can be followed in parallel with morphogenesis. The method is applied here to the shoot apex of Anagallis arvensis L. before, during, and after floral transition. Phyllotaxis is decussate; photoperiodic induction of the plant leads to the production of a flower in the axil of each leaf. As seen from above, the recently formed oval vegetative dome is bounded on its slightly longer sides by creases of adjacent leaf bases. The rounded ends of the dome are bounded by connecting tissue, horizontal bands of node cells between the opposed leaf bases. The major growth axis runs parallel to the leaf bases. While slow-growing at the dome center, this axis extends at its periphery to form a new leaf above each band of connecting tissue. Connecting tissue then forms between the new leaves and a new dome is defined at 90° to the former. The growth axis then changes by 90°. This is the vegetative cycle. The first observed departure from vegetative growth is that the connecting tissue becomes longer relative to the leaf creases. Presumably because of this, the major growth axis does not change in the usual way. Extension on the dome continues between the older leaves until the axis typically buckles a second time, on each side, to form a second crease parallel to the new leaf-base crease. The tissue between these two creases becomes the flower primordium. The second crease also delimits the side of a new apical dome with the major axis and growth direction altered by 90°. During this inflorescence cycle the connecting tissue is relatively longer than before. Much activity is common to both cycles. It is concluded that the complex geometrical features of the inflorescence cycle may result from a change in a biophysical boundary condition involving dome geometry, rather than a comprehensive revision of apical morphogenesis.Abbreviation SEM scanning electron microscopy, micrograph Use of the SEM facility of Professor G. Goffinet, Institute of Zoology, University of Liège, is greatly appreciated. We thank Dr. R. Jacques, C.N.R.S., Le Phytotron, Gif-sur-Yvette, France, for providing the experimental material, and Mr. Philippe Ongena for expert photography. Support was from grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation as well as from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale et Collective, and the Action de Recherche Concertée of Belgium.     

Palmar creases in Spaniards

In a sample of Spanish people (403 males and 513 females) the palmar creases have been studied according to the method of Bali & Chaube (1971). Bimanual differences are not statistically significant, but there is a sexual dimorphism. Comparing the incidence of the open M type defined by Tillner there are no statistical differences as compared with male German series, though they are seen in female series. It is observed that the frequency of the simian crease is in accordance with the variability of European populations.     

Centrifugal dewatering of acid casein curd: effect of casein manufacturing and centrifugation variables on curd compression in a laboratory centrifuge

Data relevant to curd compression in a horizontal, solid bowl decanter centrifuge have been obtained by studying the dewatering of acid casein curd in a batch laboratory centrifuge. Analysis of curd compression under centrifugal force predicts a moisture content gradient in the dewatered curd from a maximum at the curd-liquid interface to a minimum at the centrifuge bowl wall. This moisture content gradient was also measured experimentally, and its practical implications are discussed. Increases in centrifugal force, centrifugation time, and centrifugation temperature all caused a marked de crease in dewatered curd moisture content, whereas in creases in precipitation pH and maximum washing temperature caused a smaller decrease in dewatered curd moisture content.     

Palmar and plantar pads and flexion creases of genetic polydactyly mice (Pdn)

Attempts to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the epidermal ridge patterns (dermatoglyphics) and flexion creases on the volar aspects of human hands and feet and specific medical disorders led to a search for a suitable animal model, allowing studies of the fetal development of the pertinent structures. A common experimental animal, the rat (Rattus norvegicus), was found to be an excellent candidate, owing to the strong resemblance of the volar pads and flexion creases on its palmar and plantar surfaces to those of human subjects. A hereditary preaxial polydactyly mouse (Pdn) provides an opportunity to study the effects of this malformation on the surrounding morphological structures and, specifically, on the volar pads, i.e., the sites over which the dermatoglyphic patterns develop. The hands and feet of the wild‐type (+/+) mice show no anomalies, and their major pad and flexion crease configurations correspond to those of normal rats. The heterozygous (Pdn/+) mice, in spite of having a thumb/big toe with a duplicated distal phalanx on their hands/feet, did not display any alterations in palmar/plantar pads. The homozygous (Pdn/Pdn) mice have a protrusion in the thenar area and one to three supernumerary digits on the preaxial portion of both the hands and feet. The effect of these anomalies was found to be limited to the pad and flexion crease configurations in the preaxial areas; the postaxial sites were not affected. The original number of pads on the thenar/first interdigital areas of Pdn/Pdn mice was apparently identical to that of the +/+ and Pdn/+ mice. The preaxial protrusion, however, affected the number, size, and location of the pads observed in the newborn mice, resulting in varying pad configurations, such as fused and scattered pads or a pad cluster formed by gathering the neighboring pads. These pad modifications were induced by the preaxial plantar/palmar protrusion only and were not affected by the presence of supernumerary preaxial digits. In view of the similarities in the morphology and fetal development of human and mouse distal limbs, the present study is relevant to human subjects, particularly to the understanding of the significance of dermatoglyphic variations in individuals with specific medical disorders. Future studies of naturally occurring or experimentally induced limb malformations in mice or rats should provide valuable insights into the development of human hands and feet and into factors contributing to their congenital anomalies. J. Morphol. 239:87–96, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

桂西壮族手皮纹的分析

本文对广西西部500例健康壮族大、中学生的手皮纹进行了观察分析,计算出各型指纹频率、指纹脊线总数、指纹频度指数、atd角度、a-b脊线数、τ距比、主线横向指数、皮纹花样出现率、掌褶纹出现率共九项基本参数,并将这些数值与汉族作了比较,桂西壮族的手纹与汉族既有相似之处,又有本民族的特点。     

Palmar and plantar pads and flexion creases of the rat (Rattus norvegicus)

The recent detection of dermal ridge configurations on the volar pads of the rat (Rattus norvegicus) has created opportunities for experimental studies of dermatoglyphics. In the present work, the palmar and plantar surfaces of the rat were studied to establish the feasibility of comparative rat and human dermatoglyphic investigations. The studied features included the volar pads and flexion creases. The number and location of the palmar and plantar pads in the rat were found to be similar to those of humans. The exception was a previously unrecognized small pad on the palms and soles of the rat, located on the radial and tibial side, respectively, of the proximal component of the first interdigital pad. This pad has no parallel in human embryos. Rats were found to have flexion creases in the non-pad areas between the neighboring pads, similar in location and appearance to those of humans. Unlike humans, however, rats also have boundary creases, separating the pad and non-pad areas. The marked similarities in the morphology of the volar areas between rats and humans make the rat ideally suitable for experimental studies of dermatoglyphics and flexion creases. Results of such studies should be applicable to human developmental dermatoglyphics, including those pertaining to medical disorders. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Palmar flexion creases and dermatoglyphics among diabetic patients

Palmar dermatoglyphics and flexion creases of 108 male and 65 female patients diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus have been analysed. The control population consists of 536 males and 234 females from the same population. Palmar flexion creases were analysed according to the method suggested by Bali and Chaube ('71). The flexion creases of diabetic patients and the control population are significantly different. The differences between main line formulae in diabetes and controls are significant among males. The differences between C-line types of patients and controls are significant among both sexes. Axial triradii are significant among female patients and controls. The patterns in the interdigital areas IV and II are significantly lower among male and female patients respectively from their controls.     

The dermatoglyphic and clinical features of the 9p trisomy and partial 9p monosomy syndromes

Summary The physical and dermatoglyphic features obtained from published reports of 128 patients with the trisomy 9p syndrome and 27 patients with the partial 9p monosomy syndrome are tabulated. This information is also provided on two new individuals with each of these chromosomal disorders. The dermal ridge patterns and palmar creases of trisomy 9p which are most helpful from a diagnostic standpoint are zygodactylous or absent palmar digital triradii, brachymesophalangy, reduced total finger ridge count, complex thenar/ID I patterns, transverse palmar ridge alignment, simian creases, distal axial triradii, and great toe and hallucal arch patterns. The characteristic features in partial 9p monosomy include dolichomesophalangy with accessory finger flexion creases, digital whorl patterns and elevated total finger ridge count, distal axial triradii, simian creases, and palmar dermal ridge dissociation.     

Exploration of bacterial community classes in major human habitats

Background

Determining bacterial abundance variation is the first step in understanding bacterial similarity between individuals. Categorization of bacterial communities into groups or community classes is the subsequent step in describing microbial distribution based on abundance patterns. Here, we present an analysis of the groupings of bacterial communities in stool, nasal, skin, vaginal and oral habitats in a healthy cohort of 236 subjects from the Human Microbiome Project.

Results

We identify distinct community group patterns in the anterior nares, four skin sites, and vagina at the genus level. We also confirm three enterotypes previously identified in stools. We identify two clusters with low silhouette values in most oral sites, in which bacterial communities are more homogeneous. Subjects sharing a community class in one habitat do not necessarily share a community class in another, except in the three vaginal sites and the symmetric habitats of the left and right retroauricular creases. Demographic factors, including gender, age, and ethnicity, significantly influence community composition in several habitats. Community classes in the vagina, retroauricular crease and stool are stable over approximately 200 days.

Conclusion

The community composition, association of demographic factors with community classes, and demonstration of community stability deepen our understanding of the variability and dynamics of human microbiomes. This also has significant implications for experimental designs that seek microbial correlations with clinical phenotypes.     

珠江口崖门鲈鱼年龄和生长的研究

本文依据1983年6月至1986年1月对290尾鲈鱼年龄和生长的调查资料,阐明鲈鱼鳞片年轮特征并计算出鲈鱼体长与鳞长、体长与体重的关系式。研究表明:3龄以前属幼鱼阶段,体长和体重的相对增长率较大,生长指标较高,3龄以后进入成鱼生长阶段。其生长适合von Bertalanffy生长方程,体重生长曲线的拐点位于3.05龄。因此以3龄、体重3.5公斤左右的鲈鱼作为商品鱼加以捕捞,经济效益最高。