Probable destructive meningioma in an archaeological adult male skull from Alaska

Several intracranial pathological conditions can affect the bones of the skull. The most common cause of these conditions is tumor, but infection and other diseases are also known to affect the bones of the skull. Distinguishing between the various causes of intracranial skeletal pathology in archaeological human remains is usually a challenging exercise, and a specific diagnosis will often be impossible. Meningiomas are tumors that arise in arachnoid tissues embedded in the outer layer of the dura. Because of this association, they occur almost exclusively in the skull and vertebral column. Usually meningiomas are slow-growing tumors that do not metastasize to other organs and tissues of the body. However, rare cases can be malignant and, even when meningiomas are benign, their presence and growth can adversely affect the nervous and vascular supply to other tissues in the skull and vertebral column. Their effect on adjacent bone tissue varies from stimulating bone-forming lesions to causing highly destructive lesions. A few examples of meningioma have been described in the paleopathological literature. Most of these cases are bone-stimulating meningiomas. The case presented here is a probable example of a highly destructive meningioma of the skull base, with unilateral extension into the left side of the cranium. This case is compared with a modern clinical case of destructive intracranial meningioma that was documented both radiographically and pathologically. Destructive meningiomas can be confused with other pathological conditions, including benign and malignant tumors. Criteria for differentiating the diagnostic options are reviewed.     

Paleopathological study on malignant bone tumor in Japan. Differential diagnosis on osteolytic lesions in the skull

This report concerns a probable case of metastatic malignant bone tumor in the skull of a prehistoric skeleton from Honshu Island in Japan. In gross observation, a fragmental skull of an adult showed many osteolytic lesions without any healing processes which could be also ascertained by roentgenological studies. Besides this case, four cases with a diagnosis of malignant bone tumor have so far been reported among archeological skeletal remains in Japan. This case from the prehistoric "Jomon" period is certainly the oldest case showing such malignant tumorous change in the skeleton. In this report, the osteolytic changes in the "Jomon" skull are described in detail and compared with two other cases showing the same osteolytic changes. The morphology and distribution of the lesions as well as the sex and age of the individual are discussed to make an adequate differential diagnosis for malignant osteolytic lesions in the skeleton.     

Signs of trauma in an adult parietal bone exhumed from a Portuguese prehistoric collective burial

A fragment of parietal bone from an adult individual of unknown sex exhumed from the collective burial of Praia da Samarra (Sintra, Portugal), dated to the end of the Neolithic, presents signs of different types of trauma. These include thinning of the skull vault and incisions marks. Differential diagnoses for these alterations are discussed: for the first one, depressed skull factures is the most likely cause. For the incisions, trepanation (more probable) and trauma due to a sharp force are proposed. These hypotheses are also discussed in terms of other similar findings from coeval Portuguese collective burials.     

Probable case of Binder syndrome in a skeleton from Quarai,New Mexico

Binder syndrome (maxillonasal dysplasia) is a not uncommon disorder reported in the clinical literature and is characterized by hypoplastic development of the midface. An extensive review of the paleopathology literature did not reveal any examples of Binder syndrome. In this paper, a probable case of Binder syndrome in a female skeleton, 16-17 years at age of death, from Quarai, New Mexico (ca. AD 1375-1450) is presented. This case was identified during standard documentation prior to repatriation at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.The skull of this individual (381243) exhibits unusual facial features, including an underdeveloped midface, flattened glabella, absent nasal spine, and apparent alveolar prognathism, in addition to a vertebral anomaly. All of these characteristics are consistent with skeletal dysmorphologies associated with Binder syndrome. Measurements of the Quarai skull are compared with published data on Binder patients and normal control groups in order to quantify the nature of the observed morphology. Univariate analysis of craniometric/cephalometric data provides further support for a diagnosis of Binder syndrome, as critical measurements on the Quarai skull are consistent with those reported in Binder patients and significantly different from those reported for normal control groups. In addition to presenting a probable prehistoric case of Binder syndrome, this paper demonstrates the applicability of using direct comparisons of clinical data to help identify unusual conditions in skeletal remains.     

From Jumbo to Dumbo: Cranial Shape Changes in Elephants and Hippos During Phyletic Dwarfing

Members of the mammalian families Elephantidae and Hippopotamidae (extant and extinct elephants and hippos) include extinct dwarf species that display up to 98% decrease in body size compared to probable ancestral sources. In addition to differences in body mass, skulls of these species consistently display distinctive morphological changes, including major reduction of pneumatised areas in dwarf elephants and shortened muzzles in dwarf hippos. Here we build on previous studies of island dwarf species by conducting a geometric morphometric analysis of skull morphology and allometry in target taxa, living and extinct, and elaborate on the relation between skull size and body size. Our analysis indicates that skull size and body size within terrestrial placental mammals scale almost isometrically (PGLS major axis slope 0.906). Furthermore, skull shape in dwarf species differed from both their ancestors and the juveniles of extant species. In insular dwarf hippos, the skull was subject to considerable anatomical reorganisation in response to distinct selection pressures affecting early ontogeny (the “island syndrome”). By contrast, skull shape in adult insular dwarf elephants can be explained well by allometric effects; selection on size may thus have been the main driver of skull shape in dwarf elephants. We suggest that a tightly constrained growth trajectory, without major anatomical reorganization of the skull, allowed for flexible adaptations to changing environments and was one of the factors underlying the evolutionary success of insular dwarf elephants.     

Skeletal evidence of operations on cadavers from Sens (Yonne,France) at the end of the XVTH century

Human remains giving direct evidence concerning the history of dissection practices are rare. Thirteen cranial fragments which bear evidence of having been purposely cut and sawn were discovered in a crypt during excavations undertaken in Sens (Yonne, France). Ceramics date these remains to the period from the end of the XIVth to the end of the XVIth centuries. Nine individuals are represented: one adolescent and eight adults of both sexes. The position of the cutmarks, which' were produced by a long, sharp cutting tool, show that the scalp was completely removed from the skull. The sawing, which was done with a large-toothed saw, was both clockwise and counterclockwise in direction. The sawn surfaces reveal a deliberate attempt not to damage the brain. This procedure is compared to that of modern autopsies. The remains from Sens are also compared with several other sawn cranial fragments recently discovered in France and England. Three hypotheses are discussed: embalmment, autopsy, and anatomical studies. Analysis of these remains and historical documentation suggest embalmment and/or autopsy as the probable purpose of the opening of the skull. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Wildungenichthys grossi n. gen., n. sp. — a new selenosteid arthrodire (Placodermi, Arthrodira) from the Kellwasserkalk (late Frasnian, Upper Devonian) of Bad Wildungen (Hessen, W-Germany)

A new arthrodire genus and species,Wildungenichthys grossi, is described from the Frasnian Kellwasserkalk of Bad Wildungen (W-Germany) from an incomplete skull with parts of the mandible and shoulder girdle. The new taxon is unique in a number of features, including the loss or probable fusion of the postmarginal, strong reduction of infraorbital sensory line canal on suborbital, firm connection of the cheek and skull roof and an unusual configuration of the cheek bones. It is an advanced pachyosteomorph eubrachythoracan and is referred to the Selenosteidae, showing close resemblances toEnseosteus.     

乳突切迹与侧颅底重要结构的解剖学观测及应用

目的:通过测量乳突切迹与侧颅底重要骨性结构的距离,为临床相关应用提供解剖学参考。方法:取成人颅骨标本50例(去颅盖标本8例,整颅42例)100侧,测量乳突切迹及其与侧颅底重要孔、裂和管的距离。结果:左右侧乳突切迹后缘距茎乳孔、颈静脉孔外侧缘、颈动脉管外口后缘、破裂孔、棘孔、卵圆孔距离分别为25.16±3.73cm和25.02±3.58cm、30.92±3.50cm和30.45±3.49cm、38.22±3.57cm和38.14±3.43cm、57.23±3.71cm和57.14±3.44cm、47.94±3.83cm和48.32±3.54cm、53.70±3.98cm和53.55±3.75cm。结论:以乳突切迹后缘做为侧颅底手术的定位标志能够为临床相关应用提供较方便、准确的定位参考。     

Cerebellar Ectopia Presenting in Adult Life

Three cases of cerebellar ectopia first producing symptoms in adult life are reported. This potentially remediable anomaly may not be suspected in adults, in whom associated congenital bony abnormalities of the skull and cervical spine are often absent. In these cases diagnosis depends on radiological contrast studies; in particular it is important to examine the cervical canal in the prone and supine positions.     

Skull molding caps: an adjunct to craniosynostosis surgery

External cranial vault molding using dynamic splinting is an adjunct to surgery in the treatment of craniosynostosis skull deformities. The skull molding cap not only maintains desired skull form, but also provides further active molding to normalize skull shape. Dynamic skull remodeling from these devices occurs primarily by translational movements of bone. Traction and compression result in bony repositioning which allows further reshaping as the osteoblasts and osteoclasts respond to these stresses. Three basic designs have been described. In practice, each one must be modified to meet individual needs, and adaptations are made according to established principles of dynamic splinting.     

Phenotypic integration of neurocranium and brain

Evolutionary history of Mammalia provides strong evidence that the morphology of skull and brain change jointly in evolution. Formation and development of brain and skull co-occur and are dependent upon a series of morphogenetic and patterning processes driven by genes and their regulatory programs. Our current concept of skull and brain as separate tissues results in distinct analyses of these tissues by most researchers. In this study, we use 3D computed tomography and magnetic resonance images of pediatric individuals diagnosed with premature closure of cranial sutures (craniosynostosis) to investigate phenotypic relationships between the brain and skull. It has been demonstrated previously that the skull and brain acquire characteristic dysmorphologies in isolated craniosynostosis, but relatively little is known of the developmental interactions that produce these anomalies. Our comparative analysis of phenotypic integration of brain and skull in premature closure of the sagittal and the right coronal sutures demonstrates that brain and skull are strongly integrated and that the significant differences in patterns of association do not occur local to the prematurely closed suture. We posit that the current focus on the suture as the basis for this condition may identify a proximate, but not the ultimate cause for these conditions. Given that premature suture closure reduces the number of cranial bones, and that a persistent loss of skull bones is demonstrated over the approximately 150 million years of synapsid evolution, craniosynostosis may serve as an informative model for evolution of the mammalian skull.     

Pfeiffer acrocephalosyndactyly syndrome in mother and son with cloverleaf skull anomaly in the child.

A boy is reported with the cloverleaf skull anomaly as part of the Pfeiffer syndrome. So far, this combination has only been observed in sporadic cases. However, the mother of this patient had also the syndrome of Pfeiffer, indicating that the cloverleaf skull abnormality may occur in familial cases. Development of the child after birth and therapeutic approaches are reported.     

周口店直立人3号与5号头骨形态特征对比及其演化速率所反映的群体隔离

德日进认为周口店直立人保持着形态上的稳定性; 这种进化上的缓慢性表明周口店直立人进化过程中无论何时都未曾发生过外来移民的闯入, 从而打乱、干扰或推进其进化过程。本项研究采用三维结构重叠和精确测量数据的方式对比了周口店第一地点晚期代表周口店直立人(ZKD)5号头骨相对于早期代表ZKD3的形态特征演化变化, 并与南京直立人(NJ)1和2号头骨之间的差别进行了对比。结果表明, 周口店晚期标本相对于早期标本来说, 头骨尺寸在各个方向上都有所增加, 但轮廓形状基本保持一致, 与同期的南京古人类的相比, 周口店直立人的演化速率显得很慢。这很可能是由于缺乏基因交流的缘故; 周口店直立人群有可能是一个相对隔离的群体。本项研究支持德日进等关于周口店直立人群缺乏基因交流的观点。     

Differences in mandibular disparity between extant and extinct species of metatherian and placental carnivore clades

There are a number of studies relating to skull morphology differences within the carnivoran clades of both placentals and metatherians. It is difficult to compare these studies because of differences in taxonomic sampling, for example some include fossil taxa while others include non‐carnivoran placentals. As a consequence, we studied mandible morphology in a broad range of both extant and extinct carnivorous species, including Carnivora, Marsupialia and Sparassodonta to test for differences between these clades. We used geometric morphometrics and two disparity indexes, the variance and Procrustes distances mean. When including fossil species, we found no significant differences for both disparities in some analyses, except after the exclusion of the sabretooth morphotype. This can be explained by the extreme morphology of this morphotype, which increases the variance and reduces the disparity effect of the other species in the analyses. Using Procrustes distances, we found significant differences in disparity distances between Carnivora and Metatheria for most of the analyses. We also found significant differences using the variance index in some analyses. The mandibular disparity in Carnivora is greater than in carnivorous metatherian mammals for most of the cases and this can be related with differences in evolutionary history and constraints of both groups. The pattern found in the mandible is similar to that found in the face of the skull but was not observed in the braincase, due to differences in skull function and mandible function.     

Multiple sclerosis; its frequency and distribution,with special reference to San Francisco

Epidemiologic surveys of multiple sclerosis were conducted in 1949 in San Francisco, Winnipeg, Boston, New Orleans, and Denver. Reports of cases for 1939 through 1948 were obtained from record offices, hospitals and clinics, and private physicians. The basis for the observations was the group of "probable" cases among residents. In San Francisco these probable cases in residents numbered 415; however, in only 146 of these was the onset between 1939 and 1948. Of the 143 patients who were white, 51 were male and 92 female. The average annual incidence based on these figures was 2.1 per 100,000-1.5 for males and 2.6 for females.Prevalence, based on probable cases in residents on January 1, 1949, was 29.7 cases per 100,000 population-21.2 for males and 38.1 for females. Mortality was 0.7 per 100,000 population-0.9 for females and 0.6 for males. In comparison of the findings for San Francisco with those of other cities, both the incidence and the severity of the disease appear to decrease from north to south.     

应用锥颅置管引流手术治疗急性高血压脑出血

探讨应用锥颅置管引流术治疗急性高血压脑出血的临床治疗效果。方法：对62例应用锥颅置管引流术治疗的高血压脑出血病人进行了回顾性分析。对高血压脑出血的全组病例的发病年龄、性别、诱发病因、病史、常见发病部位、类型、手术方式以及临床效果进行了分析。结果：手术后2—6个月,按COS方法判定病人治疗效果。手术治疗结果：全组有痊愈者20例,中残者23例,重残者9例,植物生存者4例,死亡者6例（死亡率为10％）。结论：锥颅置管引流的手术方式,安全、医疗费用非常低廉,而且该手术后并发症和死亡率均降低。加之它简便,疗效确切,故值得临床广泛推广应用。     

Human skeletal remains from Cossack,Western Australia

Human remains of a male individual from Cossack, northwestern Australia are described. Absolute dating is not possible but site geomorphology restricts the upper limit to 6500 B.P. Morphologically and metrically the skull differs from those of recent Western Australian male Aborigines, but it is very similar to that of Kow Swamp I and others included in the “robust” prehistoric Australian Aboriginal group (Thorne, 1977). The specimen is important as indicating the widespread nature and probable recency of a large, robust Australian Aboriginal population demonstrably different to recent populations.     

Four cases of chromosome changes detected in course of prenatal diagnosis and probably originating in vitro

Summary In a series of 1000 prenatal diagnoses, four cases were found with chromsome changes. The probable in vitro origin of these changes was demonstrated by starting several parallel cultures simultaneously and by repeating the amniocenteses and chromosome analyses.     

乳突切迹与侧颅底重要结构的解剖学观测及应用

目的：通过测量乳突切迹与侧颅底重要骨性结构的距离,为临床相关应用提供解剖学参考。方法：取成人颅骨标本50例（去颅盖标本8例,整颅42例）100侧,测量乳突切迹及其与侧颅底重要孔、裂和管的距离。结果：左右侧乳突切迹后缘距茎乳孔、颈静脉孔外侧缘、颈动脉管外口后缘、破裂孔、棘孔、卵圆孔距离分别为25.16±3.73cm和25.02±3.58cm、30.92±3.50cm和30.45±3.49cm、38.22±3.57cm和38.14±3.43cm、57.23±3.71cm和57.14±3.44cm、47.94±3.83cm和48.32±3.54cm、53.70±3.98cm和53.55±3.75cm。结论：以乳突切迹后缘做为侧颅底手术的定位标志能够为临床相关应用提供较方便、准确的定位参考。     

术中迟发性硬膜外血肿防治体会（附10例报告）

目的：探讨颅脑外伤手术中出现迟发性硬膜外血肿（DEDH）的原因及预防对策。方法：回顾性分析10例手术过程中DEDH发生的原因、现象,治疗过程、结果及预后等临床资料。结果：10例DEDH发生于伤后72h以内、手术减压后,6例伴有颅骨骨折,3例伴静脉窦损伤。7例术前甘露醇用量超过500ml,经手术清除和保守治疗,死亡1例。结论：颅骨骨折和颅内静脉窦损伤是DEDH发生的病理基础,减压手术和甘露醇强力脱水治疗是其发生的促进因素,GCS评分和血肿持续时间与预后密切相关。