TREATMENT OF SUPERFICIAL FUNGOUS INFECTIONS—Value and Limitations of Systemic Administration of Griseofulvin

Comprehensive studies and numerous clinical reports have shown that griseofulvin orally in a dose of 1 gm. daily is an effective treatment for superficial fungous infections of the skin, hair and nails. The drug is not effective against yeast infections (moniliasis), bacterial infections or most of the deep fungous infections.Duration of treatment varies with the site of infection, glabrous skin, crotch and scalp responding within four to five weeks. Infections of palms, soles and nails require a considerably longer time, palms healing more quickly than soles and fingernails more quickly than toenails, which may require up to a year of continuous treatment.Auxiliary measures such as clipping hair, removing infected nail tissue and topical fungicides shorten the duration of treatment.No serious side effects have been reported. Minor discomforts such as headaches and mild rashes occur in some cases.Observations of a series of 49 patients with superficial fungous infections, especially hand, foot and nail infections due to Trichophyton rubrum, confirmed these reports taken from the literature. Attempts to use a reduced dosage schedule did not prove satisfactory.     

Venous return from distal regions affects heat loss from the arms and legs during exercise-induced thermal loads

To study the role of venous return from distal parts of the extremities in influencing heat loss from the more proximal parts, changes in mean skin temperature (Tsk) of the non-exercising extremities were measured by color thermography during leg and arm exercise in eight healthy subjects. Thirty minutes of either leg or arm exercise at an ambient temperature (Ta) of 20 degrees C or 30 degrees C produced a greatly increased blood flow in the hand or foot and a great increase in venous return through the superficial skin veins of the extremities. During the first 10 min of recovery from the exercise, blood flow to and venous return from the hand or foot on the tested side was occluded with a wrist or ankle cuff at a pressure of 33.3 kPa (250 mm Hg), while blood flow to the control hand or foot remained undisturbed. During the 10-min wrist occlusion, Tsk increased significantly from 28.3 degrees +/- 0.41 degrees C to 30.1 degrees +/- 0.29 degrees C in the control forearm, but remained at nearly the same level (28.0 degrees +/- 0.34 degrees C to 28.2 degrees +/- 0.25 degrees C) in the occluded forearm. In the legs, although Tsk on both sides was virtually identical (32.0 degrees +/- 0.31 degrees C, control vs 32.0 degrees +/- 0.36 degrees C, tested) before occlusion, Tsk on the control side (32.6 degrees +/- 0.27 degrees C) was significantly higher than that on the tested side (32.2 degrees +/- 0.21 degrees C) after ankle occlusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fine structure of the aesthetasc hairs of Coenobita compressus Edwards

The aesthetascs, short thin-walled pegs on the antennule flagella of Coenobita clypeatus, a terrestrial hermit crab, are similar to those of other decapod crustacea in containing the dendrites of many bipolar neurons whose cell bodies are grouped in spindle-shaped masses beneath the bases of each hair. The dendrites contain rootlets, basal bodies, and cilia, which divide dichotomously before entering the aesthetasc, so that within the hair, each cilium becomes represented by a group of slender branches. The aesthetascs themselves are short, blunt, and partially recumbent so that each has an exposed and an unexposed side. The cuticle on the exposed side is thinner and more tenuous than that on the protected side, and the dendrite branches are concentrated just underneath. The protected side, on the other hand, is lined with nondendritic supporting cells, and the cuticle is thicker, more lamellar, and probably less permeable. All dendritic elements proximal to the dendrite branches are enclosed within the main body of the antennular flagellum, and the initial segments of the cilia lie within a vacuole. In these respects, the aesthetascs of Coenobita resemble the thin-walled pegs on insect antennae more than they do those of the marine decapods thus far examined. This convergence in the terrestrial forms may be in response to the need to conserve water.     

Evaluation of EEG Oscillatory Patterns and Cognitive Process during Simple and Compound Limb Motor Imagery

Motor imagery (MI), sharing similar neural representations to motor execution, is regarded as a window to investigate the cognitive motor processes. However, in comparison to simple limb motor imagery, significantly less work has been reported on brain oscillatory patterns induced by compound limb motor imagery which involves several parts of limbs. This study aims to investigate differences of the electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns as well as cognitive process between simple limb motor imagery and compound limb motor imagery. Ten subjects participated in the experiment involving three tasks of simple limb motor imagery (left hand, right hand, feet) and three tasks of compound limb motor imagery (both hands, left hand combined with right foot, right hand combined with left foot). Simultaneous imagination of different limbs contributes to the activation of larger cortical areas as well as two estimated sources located at corresponding motor areas within beta rhythm. Compared with simple limb motor imagery, compound limb motor imagery presents a network with more effective interactions overlying larger brain regions, additionally shows significantly larger causal flow over sensorimotor areas and larger causal density over both sensorimotor areas and neighboring regions. On the other hand, compound limb motor imagery also shows significantly larger 10–11 Hz alpha desynchronization at occipital areas and central theta synchronization. Furthermore, the phase-locking value (PLV) between central and occipital areas of left/right hand combined with contralateral foot imagery is significantly larger than that of simple limb motor imagery. All these findings imply that there exist apparent intrinsic distinctions of neural mechanism between simple and compound limb motor imagery, which presents a more complex effective connectivity network and may involve a more complex cognitive process during information processing.     

Genetic and functional analysis of the nodulation region of the Rhizobium leguminosarum Sym plasmid pRL1JI

Thirty Tn5- or Tn1831-induced nodulation (nod) mutants of Rhizobium leguminosarum were examined for their genetic and symbiotic properties. Thirteen mutants contained a deletion in Sym plasmid pRL1JI. These deletions cover the whole nod region and are 50 kb in size. All remaining seventeen mutations are located in a 6.6 kb EcoRI nod fragment of the Sym plasmid. Mutations in a 3.5 kb part on the right hand side of this 6.6 kb fragment completely prevent nodulation on Vicia sativa. All mutants in this 3.5 kb area are unable to induce marked root hair curling and thick and short roots.Mutations in a 1.5 kb area on the left hand side of the 6.6 kb nod fragment generate other symbiotic defects in that nodules are only rarely formed and only so after a delay of several days. Moreover, infection thread formation is delayed and root hair curling is more excessive than that caused by the parental strain. Their ability to induce thick and short roots is unaltered.Mutations in this 1.5 kb region are not complemented by pRmSL26, which carries nod genes of R. meliloti, whereas mutations in the 3.5 kb region are all complemented by pRmSL26.Abbreviations Rps repression of production of small bacteriocin - Mep medium bacteriocin production - Nod nodulation - Fix fixation - Tsr thick and short roots - Flac root hair curling - Hsp host specificity - Flad root hair deformation - Tc tetracycline - Km kanamycin - Cm chloramphenicol - Sp spectinomycin - Sm streptomycin - R resistant     

汉族湘语族群的7项不对称行为特征

在湖南省娄底地区调查了汉族湘语族群507例(男269例、女238例)高中学生的7项不对称行为特征(扣手、利手、叠臂、叠腿、利足、起步类型和优势眼)。研究结果显示:1)湘语族群叠臂与起步类型L型率高于R型率, 其余5项均R型率高于L型率。2)湘语族群利手、叠臂、利足出现率存在性别间差异, 其余4项出现率均不存在性别间差异。3)在已发表的资料中, 湘语族群扣手和起步类型右型率中等偏高, 利手右型率处于中等水平, 叠臂和叠腿右型率低,利足和优势眼右型率高。4)主成分分析结果显示, 汉族各族群不对称行为特征有一定的共性, 相对接近于中国北亚类型族群, 而与南亚类型族群差距较大。中国族群间不对称行为特征的差异, 主要反映在叠臂率差异、利足率差异。     

Genetic analysis of dermatoglyphic patterns in twins.

Analysis of variance was performed on 71 dermatoglyphic variables in 424 twin sets. Using a method of twin analysis estimates of genetic variance were obtained. 54 of the variables were quantitated using a scoring system with modifications of arch or no pattern = 0, loops = 1, whorl = 2. The results indicated a significant genetic influence in most pattern areas. Patterning was more genetically controlled in the hand than in the foot. The hallucal area had the most significant genetic component of the foot while the patterns in the thumb had nonsignificant components of genetic variance. The thumb deviated from patterning in the rest of the fingers and may be more closely related to big-toe patterning.     

Palmar and Plantar Pressure While Walking on a Horizontal Ladder and Single Pole in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macaca fuscata</Emphasis>

To investigate biomechanical function in the hand and foot during quadrupedal locomotion in nonhuman primates, physical anthropologists and primatologists measure the pressure under them. We collected hand and foot pressure data while a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), a semiterrestrial anthropoid, walked on 2 different simulated arboreal substrates, a horizontal ladder and a single pole, to explore differences in hand and foot use between the 2 substrates. The ladder rungs were perpendicular to the craniocaudal axis of the subject, and the pole was parallel to the subject’s craniocaudal axis. We tested the hypothesis that the pole was a more challenging substrate for the macaque than the ladder. Focusing on a diagonal sequence, diagonal couplets gait, we calculated gait characteristics and computed mean peak-pressure images of the hand and foot for each substrate from individual peak images via translation registration. We found several substrate differences that supported the hypothesis. The Japanese macaque walked at significantly slower speeds when traveling on the pole than on the ladder. Slower travel speed on the pole suggests that the Japanese macaque needed a wider support base to maintain balance on this substrate. Mean peak-pressure images suggest that the ladder invoked a more stepping-like behavior, but the pole invoked a more grasping-like behavior, especially of the foot. We show that the hand and foot use of the Japanese macaque would be adaptable to biomechanical challenges posed by different substrates.     

Connections of neurons in the lumbar ventral horn of spinal cord are altered after long-standing limb loss in a macaque monkey

Explanations for the massive reorganization in primary motor cortex, M1, after limb amputation typically focus on processes that occur in cortex. Few have investigated whether changes in more peripheral parts of the pathway might also play a role in the reorganization. In the present study, we examined the integrity and connectivity of the spinal cord motoneurons in a macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta) that lost a hindlimb as a result of accidental injury more than 3.5 years earlier. To label motoneurons, multiple small injections of a neuroanatomical tracer were placed in the muscles of the hip just adjacent to the stump of the amputated leg, and in matched locations in the opposite side for control purposes. Injections of a second tracer were made in the intact foot. In the ventral horn that related to the intact hindlimb, motoneurons labeled by the hip injections were concentrated rostral and ventromedial to those labeled by the foot injections. Hip injections on the side of the amputation labeled neurons that were located well beyond the normal territory for motoneurons related to the hip and into the zone normally occupied by neurons projecting to the foot. Labeled motoneurons innervating the intact limb were significantly larger than neurons on the side of the amputation (x = 2410 and 2061 microm(2), respectively). The findings suggest that many neurons survived the long-standing amputation, and made new connections with remaining intact muscles. These new patterns of connectivity likely contribute to the reorganization of motor cortex in amputees, and perhaps to abnormal behaviors like those reported by human amputees.     

Morphological observations on the congenital malformation of limbs in the Japanese monkey

Congenital malformation of limbs is found in many troops of the Japanese monkey. The author morphologically examined more than ten monkeys with such malformations by means of palpation and Röntgenographing. Anatomical dissection was performed on two of these monkeys. Malformation manifests a considerable variety of forms, from the reduction or absence of fingers to almost total lack of limbs, and is prone to occur in the region of the third finger, the center of malformation, occasionally showing a “split” or “cleft” hand or foot. The latter tendency is more conspicuous in the hand than in the foot. In a word, most of the malformations are characterized by congenital amputation, though the degree varies considerably. The occurrence of supernumerary digits was not found and fusion between fingers was rare. One of the most interesting anatomical results found may be the continuation or fusion between muscles which are normally opposed to each other in action. The occurrence of malformation is more frequent in the male than in the female, and in the hand than in the foot. Little is known about the causes of such malformations, except that they do not occur, at least, according to dominant inheritance.     

Extremity heat loss in water in humans and macaques

Human hands and feet lose about the same amount of heat per unit time in cold water. This is somewhat strange since they are grossly different in size (volume). When corrected for size, the human hand loses far more heat per unit volume than the foot. This study attempted to see if macaques showed comparable hand-foot differences by repeating the human test situation as closely as possible on 20 macaques. The monkeys lose less total heat in cold water because their hands and feet are so much smaller, but on a volume basis they exceeded human heat losses. Even more important, the macaque hand and foot show very similar heat losses when the size difference is removed. The human hand and the macaque hand and foot are reasonably close in heat loss per unit volume; the human foot appears unique. Another sample of human subjects in which both extremity volumes and surface areas were measured showed closer heat loss correspondence between hands and feet on the basis of surface area, but the human foot still was lower. Pedal heat loss in man is apparently conditioned by a combination of the foot's special morphology and vascularity.     

Ectodysplasin regulates pattern formation in the mammalian hair coat

In mammalian skin, hair follicles develop at regular intervals and with site-specific morphologies. This process generates distinct patterns of hair, but the mechanisms that establish these patterns remain largely unknown. Here we present evidence of follicular patterning by ectodysplasin-A1 (Eda-A1), a signaling protein necessary for the proper development of hair and other appendages. In transgenic mice, Eda-A1 was targeted to the epithelial compartment of the developing skin. At periodic locations, multiple hair follicles were induced side by side, without any interfollicular space. These follicles grew into the dermis as a fusion and subsequently branched to create discrete stalks and hair bulbs. Thus, at sites where interfollicular skin normally forms, hair follicles developed instead. This result shows that Eda-A1 can regulate basic developmental decisions, as cells were switched from interfollicular to follicular fates. Given these effects, it is likely that Eda-A1 is among the key regulators of pattern formation in the skin.     

A preliminary study on hair length in the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

The hair length of Japanese monkeys was investigated. The hair of the Japanese monkey is long on the back and the lateral side of the upper arm and short on the back of the hand. There was variation in the length of hairs in the same region of the body. The distribution of hair length approximated to a normal curve and did not display any marked bias or skewness. The increase in length of hairs was remarkable from 0 to 1 year of age, and then continued at a constant rate. Sex differences in hair length were not so remarkable at any age.     

Polydactyly and Other Minor Stigmata Associated with 46,XX/47, XX,D+ Mosaicism

Mosaicism for normal and D-trisomic cells was found in a female child whose presenting abnormalities at birth were polydactyly of the left hand and foot, hemangiomata on the forehead and lumbosacral region, slightly peculiar facies and unusual dermal patterns. Her course during the first 27 months of life was characterized by normal growth, absence of clinical evidence of congenital heart disease, moderate developmental retardation, tonguetie and toe-walking. Trisomic cells were more numerous than normal cells in skin cultures, whereas the reverse was true for peripheral leukocytes.     

Grasping primate development: Ontogeny of intrinsic hand and foot proportions in capuchin monkeys (Cebus albifrons and Sapajus apella)

Young primates have relatively large hands and feet for their body size, perhaps enhancing grasping ability. We test the hypothesis that selection for improved grasping ability is responsible for these scaling trends by examining the ontogeny of intrinsic hand and foot proportions in capuchin monkeys (Cebus albifrons and Sapajus apella). If selection for improved grasping ability is responsible for the observed patterns of hand and foot growth in primates, we predicted that fingers and toes would be longer early in life and proportionally decline with age. We measured the lengths of manual and pedal metapodials and phalanges in a mixed‐longitudinal radiographic sample. Bone lengths were (a) converted into phalangeal indices (summed non‐distal phalangeal length/metapodial length) to test for age‐related changes in intrinsic proportions and (b) fit to Gompertz models of growth to test for differences in the dynamics of phalangeal versus metapodial growth. Manual and pedal phalangeal indices nearly universally decreased with age in capuchin monkeys. Growth curve analyses revealed that metapodials generally grew at a faster rate, and for a longer duration, than corresponding phalanges. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that primates are under selection for increased grasping ability early in life. Relatively long digits may be functionally adaptive for growing capuchins, permitting a more secure grasp on both caregivers and arboreal supports, as well as facilitating early foraging. Additional studies of primates and other mammals, as well as tests of grasping performance, are required to fully evaluate the adaptive significance of primate hand and foot growth.     

The ultrastructure of the statocysts in the pediveliger larvae of Pecten maximus (L.) (Bivalvia)

The pediveliger of Pecten maximus (L.) has a pair of statocysts situated at the base of the foot on either side of a bilobed pedal ganglion. The statocysts consist of a spherical sac connected to the mantle cavity by a cylindrical ciliated canal. Within the sac there are statoconia which are variable both in shape and structure. The cells of the sac are joined by septate desmosomes. There is a non-ciliated cell in each sac containing a variety of granules some of which resemble certain of the statoconia. The remainder of the sac is composed of hair cells, which bear a circular array of radiating cilia. The basal bodies and horizontal striated roots of these cilia are directed radially. The hair cells give rise to thin processes which probably join together to form the static nerve. This nerve runs from the static canal to the pleural ganglion.     

Patterns of synaptophysin expression during development of the inner ear in the chick

The onset of active neural connections between the periphery and the central nervous system is integral to the development of sensory systems. This study presents patterns of synaptogenesis in the chick basilar papilla (i.e., cochlea) by examining the immunohistochemical expression of synaptophysin with a specific monoclonal antibody, SBI 20.10. The initial onset of synaptophysin expression occurs in nerve fibers and ganglion cell bodies at a time when neurites reach the basement membrane of the chick cochlea on embryonic day 6-7 (ED 6-7). By ED 8, synaptophysin positive fibers invade the neural side of the entire length of the cochlea, so that by ED 9-10, fibers are forming multiple terminals on the basolateral ends of retracting receptor or hair cells. In contrast, on the abneural side, immunoreactive terminals are seen first as small, punctate contacts and then as large, synaptophysin positive calyceal endings beneath short hair cells. These terminals are sparse during early development, more numerous by ED 17-19, but still incomplete after 2 weeks posthatching. In comparison, hair cells show synaptophysin immunoreactivity in both supra- and infranuclear regions by ED 11-12, a time when efferent innervation is incomplete. Thus, during development, synaptophysin is expressed at both synaptic and nonsynaptic sites, is relatively selective in its regional distribution, and is expressed in hair cells at a time when auditory function begins. Our results present a framework with which to understand the potential role of synaptophysin in early synaptogenesis of the cochlea.     

Experience with the temporoparietal fascial free flap

The temporoparietal fascia is an ideal tissue source for free transfer to distant sites where ultrathin coverage is either desirable or mandatory. The fascia's dependable vascular anatomy facilitates the technical aspects of microvascular transfer by means of its large vessels, ample pedicle, and ability to be grafted on either side. Furthermore, this highly vascular tissue is available in surprisingly large quantities, and its donor scar is hidden in the hair. The authors have found this flap useful (1) in covering exposed bone and tendon without adding unwanted bulk, (2) in providing thin flap coverage or lining in major facial reconstruction, (3) in covering vital structures such as exposed nerves and vessels, (4) in providing neovascularity both as a recipient graft bed and for control of chronic infection, and (5) in reestablishing gliding-tendon mechanisms. The authors have successfully employed this free flap in 15 cases which involved deformities of the ankle, foot, Achilles tendon, forearm, hand, nose, and contralateral ear and scalp. Seven cases are utilized to illustrate the broad application of this unique and versatile free flap.     

Forces exerted on the ground by galloping dogs (Canis familiaris)

In quadrupedal galloping, one foot of each pair (the 'trailing' foot) is set down shortly before the other ('leading') foot. Alexander, Jayes & Ker (1980) argued that the trailing and leading feet should exert different patterns of force on the ground, to make the most effective use of tendon elasticity to reduce the energy cost of locomotion. We have used two force plates mounted in tandem in a playing field to obtain records of the forces exerted by individual feet of galloping dogs. We find that the patterns of force exerted by trailing and leading feet are much more similar than had been predicted.