Biomechanical behaviour of modern human molars: Implications for interpreting the fossil record

Finite-element models of 29 intact molars were created and subjected to cleavage-type loads in order to assess differences in the biomechanical behaviour of molars. A simulated food particle, which was one-third the size of the intercuspal distance and had the properties of a Mezzettia seed, was pushed onto the occlusal basin of these models at various angles, resulting in either both or one particular cusp being preferentially loaded. In all cases, the maximum tensile stresses occurred in enamel at the intercuspal fissure. With regard to first maxillary molars, supporting (functional) and guiding (nonfunctional) cusps apparently dissipate loads equally well, whereas, in second and third maxillary molars, the guiding cusps are better designed to resist loads. Overall, lingual cusps of maxillary posterior molars dissipate loads poorly. Conversely, loads exerted toward supporting cusps of mandibular molars are consistently well dissipated, regardless of position along the tooth row. Because the directions of loads to which these teeth are best adapted change along the tooth row, it seems reasonable to suggest that these may correlate with the well-documented structural and functional orofacial complex. This study indicates that the biomechanical behaviour of molars and the orofacial skeleton are likely to have undergone complementary directional changes during evolution. Consequently, caution must be exercised in making inferences about dietary adaptations of extinct species on the basis of isolated teeth or fragmentary gnathic remains without proper regard of the orofacial skeleton as a whole. Am J Phys Anthropol 106:467–482, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

七星瓢虫成虫下颚须上的化学感受器

七星瓢虫成虫下颚须端节的内侧是一个船背形隆起的平面, 其上着生栓锥形化学感受器约1, 500个, 其中一半左右是味觉感受器, 其余为嗅觉感受器.每一个味觉感受器小体内, 有感受细胞4—8个, 它们的树突远区通过感橛腔时, 或处于同一个感橛腔中, 或在2个感橛腔中, 或在3个感橛腔中.每一个嗅觉感受器小体内, 感受细胞的数目恒为3个, 有限大的感受器淋巴腔.感橛较薄, 终止于栓锥腔的基部.树突在栓锥腔内分枝.栓锥的顶部有许多半球状突起.下颚须内所具有的感受细胞比下唇须内所具有的超百倍之多, 由取食时下颚须的动作来判断, 它们的主要作用在于寻找和试探食物.     

Evolutionary history of the bank vole Myodes glareolus: a morphometric perspective

The bank vole experienced a complex history during the Quaternary. Repeated isolation in glacial refugia led to the differentiation of several lineages in less than 300 000 years. We investigated if such a recent differentiation led to a significant divergence of phenotypic characters between European lineages, which might provide insight into processes of intraspecific differentiation. The size and shape of the first and third upper molars, and first lower molar, of bank voles genetically attributed to different lineages were quantified using an outline analysis of their occlusal surface. The three teeth present similar trends of decreasing size towards high latitudes. This trend, the inverse of Bergmann's rule, is interpreted as the result of a balance between metabolic efficiency and food availability, favouring small body size in cold regions. Molar shape appeared to differ between lineages despite genetic evidence of suture zones. A mosaic pattern of evolution between the different teeth was evidenced. The analysis of such phenotypic features appears as a valuable complement to genetic analyses, providing a complementary insight into evolutionary processes, such as selective pressures, that have driven the differentiation of the lineages. It may further allow the integration of the paleontological dimension of the bank vole phylogeographic history. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100 , 681–694.     

The Uto‐Aztecan premolar among North and South Amerindians: Geographic variation and genetics

The Uto‐Aztecan premolar (UAP) is a dental polymorphism characterized by an exaggerated distobuccal rotation of the paracone in combination with the presence of a fossa at the intersection of the distal occlusal ridge and distal marginal ridge of upper first premolars. This trait is important because, unlike other dental variants, it has been found exclusively in Native American populations. However, the trait's temporal and geographic variation has never been fully documented. The discovery of a Uto‐Aztecan premolar in a prehistoric skeletal series from northern South America calls into question the presumed linguistic and geographic limits of this trait. We examined published and unpublished data for this rare but highly distinctive trait in samples representing over 5,000 Native Americans from North and South America. Our findings in living Southwest Amerindian populations corroborate the notion that the variable goes beyond the bounds of the Uto‐Aztecan language family. It is found in prehistoric Native Americans from South America, eastern North America, Northern and Central Mexico, and in living and prehistoric populations in the American Southwest that are not members of the Uto‐Aztecan language stock. The chronology of samples, its geographic distribution, and trait frequencies suggests a North American origin (Southwest) for UAP perhaps between 15,000 BP and 4,000 BP and a rapid and widespread dispersal into South America during the late Holocene. Family data indicate that it may represent an autosomal recessive mutation that occurred after the peopling of the Americas as its geographic range appears to be limited to North and South Amerindian populations. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of occlusal attrition and continuous eruption on odontometry of rat molars

Recurrent reports by others of posteruptive dimensional increase of the crowns of rat molar teeth were analyzed in the context of our present study of occlusal attrition, continuous eruption and alteration of the occlusal planes of rat maxillary molar teeth with age. Marked attrition of the anatomical crowns occurs, together with a considerable continuous eruption that increasingly brings the markedly convex mesial root of the maxillary first molar into the clinical crown. Further, a slight change in occlusal plane occurs. Previous workers used standardized planes of orientation and of registration prior to measurement, which masked the phenomena mentioned above. They thus mistakenly reported increased coronal dimensions.     

Stress analysis of a complete maxillary denture under various drop impact conditions: a 3D finite element study

Complete maxillary dentures are one of the most economic and easy ways of treatment for edentulous patients and are still widely used. However, their survival rate is slightly above three years. It is presumed that the failure reasons are not only due to normal fatigue but also emerge from damage based on unavoidable improper usage. Failure types other than long-term fatigue, such as over-deforming, also influence the effective life span of dentures. A hypothesis is presumed, stating that the premature/unexpected failures may be initiated by impact on dentures, which can be related to dropping them on the ground or other effects such as biting crispy food. Thus, the behavior of a complete maxillary denture under impact loading due to drop on a rigid surface was investigated using the finite element method utilizing explicit time integration and a rate-sensitive elastoplastic material model of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Local permanent deformations have been observed along with an emphasis on frenulum region of the denture, regardless of the point of impact. Contact stresses at the tooth–denture base were also investigated. The spread of energy within the structure via wave propagation is seen to play a critical role in this fact. Stress-wave propagation is also seen to be an important factor that decreases the denture's fatigue life.     

真菌球型上颌窦炎鼻内镜下两种手术路径的临床研究

目的:比较鼻内镜下中鼻道联合下鼻道小视窗双路径术和单独下中鼻道开窗术治疗真菌球型上颌窦炎的临床疗效。方法:采用前瞻性随机对照试验,将2013年8月~2015年5月在我院择期行手术治疗的50例真菌球型上颌窦炎患者分为观察组与对照组,每组25例,对照组行鼻内镜单独下中鼻道开窗术,观察组在对照组的基础上联合下鼻道小视窗术。术前及术后6个月采用鼻腔鼻窦结局测试20条量表(SNOT-20)对两组患者进行评分,术后6个月对鼻黏膜纤毛清除功能及疗效进行评估,比较两组手术时间及术中出血量。结果:术后6个月两组SNOT-20量表评分显著低于术前,且观察组显著低于对照组(P0.05)。术后6个月观察组粘膜纤毛传输时间(MTT)显著低于对照组(P0.05)。两组总有效率、手术时间及术中出血量比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:鼻内镜下以上两种手术路径治疗真菌球型上颌窦炎的疗效相近,但鼻内镜下中鼻道联合下鼻道小视窗双路径术更有利于减轻患者症状及促进鼻黏膜纤毛清除功能恢复。     

Experimental induction of palate shelf elevation in glutamate decarboxylase 67-deficient mice with cleft palate due to vertically oriented palatal shelf

BACKGROUND: Gamma-aminobutyric acid is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, synthesized by two isoforms of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65 and -67. Unexpectedly, inactivation of GAD67 induces cleft palate in mice. Reduction of spontaneous tongue movement resulting from decreased motor nerve activity has been related to the development of cleft palate in GAD67(-/-) fetuses. In the present study, development of cleft palate was examined histologically and manipulated with culture of the maxilla and partial resection of fetal tongue. METHODS: GAD67(-/-) mice and their littermates were used. Histological examination and immunohistochemistry were performed conventionally. Organ culture of the maxilla was carried out as reported previously. Fetuses were maintained alive under anesthesia and tips of their tongues were resected. RESULTS: Elevation of palatal shelves, the second step of palate formation, was not observed in GAD67(-/-) mice. In wild-type mice, GAD67 and gamma-aminobutyric acid were not expressed in the palatal shelves, except in the medial edge epithelium. During 2 days of culture of maxillae dissected from E13.5-E14.0 GAD67(-/-) fetuses, elevation and fusion of the palatal shelves were induced. When E13.5-15.5 mutant fetuses underwent partial tongue resection, the palatal shelves became elevated within 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the potential for palate formation is maintained in the palatal shelves of GAD67(-/-) fetuses, but it is obstructed by other, probably neural, factors, resulting in cleft palate.