正常步态下髋臼底接触面积与压力分布的三维有限元分析

背景：认识髋关节的正常压力分布特点,将有助于进一步了解正常髋关节的力学机制与异常载荷下关节软骨的病理学行为。 目的：运用三维有限元的方法,分析正常步态过程中头臼间接触面积和应力分布情况。 方法：应用CT扫描技术和计算机图像处理系统,建立髋臼的三维有限元模型,利用髋臼模型模拟髋臼在完整步态过程中连续32个位相时的受力状况,并对各位相时接触面积进行计算。 结果与结论：获得了髋臼在32个位相时的应力峰值分布呈双峰形,在起步位相时达到峰值(4.2 MPa),支撑期接触面积明显高于跨步期。始终接触部位集中在髋臼顶部,偏内侧,而髋臼前角与后角始终没有应力传导。髋臼软骨在不同位相的应力分布明显不同,支撑期应力增高区分布在臼顶区,而跨步期应力增高区在臼软骨的内侧缘。结果显示髋臼的接触应力增高区及接触面的分布对临床研究有重要意义,可提示导致髋臼骨性关节炎的好发因素。     

骨质疏松症对松质骨骨小梁应力与微损伤关系的影响

目的应用显微CT和微有限元分析评估微损伤、微骨折骨小梁的应力、应变,探讨骨质疏松症对骨小梁应力和微损伤、微骨折之间关系的影响。方法通过显微CT扫描健康和骨质疏松人体髋臼松质骨,构建松质骨块三维微有限元模型,在无摩擦的位移边界条件下模拟松质骨块的单轴压缩实验,通过非线性微有限元分析得到在不同表观应变下骨小梁的应力、应变、微损伤和微骨折。结果 0.05%~0.50%表观应变下,健康和骨质疏松松质骨未损伤骨小梁的应力在50 MPa以下,微损伤骨小梁应力在110 MPa以上。健康松质骨骨小梁的平均应力相对较高,骨质疏松松质骨骨小梁最高应力值相对较高。健康和骨质疏松松质骨骨小梁均出现微损伤,健康松质骨骨小梁微损伤较多,骨质疏松骨骨小梁出现微骨折。结论在表观小应变范围内,健康松质骨骨小梁能承受更高的应力,出现较多的微损伤,而骨质疏松松质骨高应力骨小梁群内出现微骨折。     

半球与椭球髋臼假体对骨性髋臼应力分布的对比分析

目的对比研究全髋置换后,半球与椭球髋臼假体的应力分布及其对骨性髋臼应力分布的影响。方法分别建立半球髋臼、椭球髋臼与骨盆的三维有限元模型,对两模型施加相同的载荷条件,比较髋臼杯、骨性髋臼窝应力分布的差异,并用三维光弹性实验方法进行验证。结果相同的载荷条件下,半球髋臼杯和椭球髋臼杯的应力最大值基本相同,在窝内应力分布的大致趋势也是相同的,而椭球杯的应力分布相对比较均匀,半球髋臼传递给骨性髋臼的应力大于椭球髋臼。应力集中部位均在髋臼的后外上方,半球髋臼杯有更明显的应力集中点。结论全髋置换后,椭球髋臼杯对骨性髋臼的应力分布更接近于正常骨性髋臼。     

骨小梁结构髋臼杯和实体结构髋臼杯的三维模型仿真分析

文题释义： 骨小梁结构：骨组织包括皮质骨和松质骨，松质骨由一系列小梁骨组成。骨小梁在人体内分布广，呈疏松多孔的网状结构，骨的这种结构使得骨能够承受来自各个方向的载荷，并将载荷分散化，减少集中载荷对骨的不良影响。 有限元分析：有限元分析是一种数值分析方法，它的根本思想是离散化。即利用简单而又相互作用的元素(即单元)，就可以用有限数量的未知量去逼近无限未知量的真实系统。有限元数值模拟技术是提升产品质量、缩短设计周期、提高产品竞争力的一项有效手段，所以，随着计算机技术和计算方法的发展，有限元法在工程设计和科研领域得到了越来越广泛的重视和应用，已经成为解决复杂工程分析计算问题的有效途径。 背景：髋关节置换是治疗股骨头坏死、骨性关节炎、髋关节发育不良以及老年股骨颈骨折等髋关节疾病最有效的方法，因此有必要对髋关节置换的生物力学行为展开研究。 目的：采用有限元仿真的方法模拟髋关节置换后骨小梁结构髋臼杯和实体结构髋臼杯模型的接触应力和米氏应力大小和分布情况，分析其对假体及髋关节的影响。 方法：通过3-Matic Research 11.0软件设计了2种不同结构的髋关节假体组件模型：骨小梁结构髋臼杯和实体结构髋臼杯模型。并将设计好的模型经Hypermesh 14.0软件划分网格并赋予材料属性，最后导入有限元分析软件Abaqus 6.13软件中仿真分析，比较相同状态下2种髋臼杯的应力值和应力分布情况。 结果与结论：骨小梁结构髋臼杯的应力呈散点状分布，分布范围广。实体结构髋臼杯容易出现应力集中现象，应力分布集中在受力点附近。骨小梁结构髋臼杯相对于实体结构髋臼杯而言，应力分布范围更大，应力分布更均匀，从而可以减轻髋关节假体之间的磨损，降低髋关节假体发生无菌性松动的风险。 ORCID: 0000-0003-4612-6111(王晖) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节；骨植入物；脊柱；骨折；内固定；数字化骨科；组织工程     

髋臼缺损有限元模型的建立及力学分析

背景:目前已设计了多种假体可用于伴有骨缺损的髋臼翻修手术,重建髋臼骨缺损对于翻修手术的成败至关重要。为了更好地评价翻修假体的设计,有必要对髋臼翻修前后的应力分布进行详细了解。目的:建立髋臼缺损的有限元模型,研究其在正常步态周期内的应力变化。方法:取正常男性完整骨盆标本,获取髋臼区空间结构三维坐标数据,建立人正常及缺损髋臼的有限元模型,应用有限元分析公式计算两种类型髋臼在正常步态周期内的应力变化规律。结果与结论:研究证实在正常步态周期内,正常髋臼的最高应力位于髋臼外上部,并且取决于髋关节力的大小和方向。髋臼区应力分解为指向髋臼外上部的主要部分和指向耻骨支撑区的次要部分。而在髋臼缺损模型,负荷传导的部位从髋臼缘的前上方变到后上方和耻骨支撑区。结果表明有限元分析是研究缺损髋臼应力变化及其翻修假体设计的有效方法。     

螺旋型髋臼与压配型髋臼的临床应用分析

背景：在人工全髋关节置换髋臼假体的选择上,多数研究认为螺旋型髋臼较压配型髋臼能的稳定性好。 目的：对比螺旋型髋臼与压配型髋臼两种不同全髋关节置换的临床疗效。 方法：回顾性分析选择螺旋型髋臼与压配型髋臼两种不同人工全髋关节置换39例患者临床资料。 结果与结论：①随访时间：随访4~51个月,平均32.6个月。②Harris评分：末次随访时两组Harris评分均较置换前明显提高(P < 0.05),且螺旋型髋臼假体组稍高于压配型髋臼假体组,但差异无显著性意义。③不良反应：压配型髋臼假体组置换1年后松动1例,术后行走疼痛3例,髋臼假体周围成骨6例,髋臼假体周围出现透亮带3例,髋臼假体周围骨硬化1例,髋臼假体周围骨吸收1例;螺旋型髋臼假体组髋臼假体周围成骨3例,髋臼假体周围出现透亮带1例,髋臼假体周围骨吸收1例。表明螺旋型髋臼假体的初始稳定性优于压配型髋臼假体。      

髋臼发育不良者全髋置换中臼杯置入位置的力学分析

目的　利用三维有限元分析方法,研究髋臼发育不良患者加深磨锉假体置入部位的髋臼骨床、使臼杯假体内移置入对髋臼假体-骨界面间的应力分布情况的影响。  方法　选取髋关节发育不良患者的骨盆为实验对象,螺旋CT做全长连续扫描,然后利用计算机仿真技术对CT图像进行三维重建,建立髋关节发育不良骨盆模型。在计算机环境中对重建模型进行髋臼磨锉,臼杯假体不同程度内移植入的模拟手术,利用有限元分析软件SolidWorks对重建模型进行有限元网格化及力学分析。  结果　臼杯假体的内移使臼杯上缘处获得骨床包容,臼杯接触面积更大,单位面积所受应力相对较少。随内移程度加大,髋臼内壁骨质突破更为明显,使髋臼顶部应力集中及其余部分应力不均愈趋明显。  结论　髋臼加深磨锉臼杯内移植入有助于改善髋关节发育不良病例行髋关节置换臼杯的骨床包容,但随内移程度的加大,髋臼内壁突破,髋臼面的应力集中,髋臼的应力分布情况明显改变,应尽量减少穿破的程度。     

髋臼假体放置角度对髋臼周围应力分布的影响

目的研究全髋关节置换(total hip arthroplasty,THA)髋臼侧重建中不同髋臼假体安放角度对髋臼周围内外应力分布的影响,探索提高THA术后髋臼假体稳定性的方法。方法基于材料属性的非均匀赋值模型和由不同髋臼假体前倾角(15°,20°,25°)与外展角(40°,45°,50°)的9种组合方式构建包括正常髋模型在内的10种有限元模型,并以正常步行模式单支撑相中的髋关节最大接触力为载荷条件进行求解。以正常髋模型分析结果为对照,按照从定性到定量原则对比分析各模型的内外应力。结果当髋臼假体的放置角度与正常髋臼的解剖角度(前倾19°、外展46°)最接近时,髋臼周围的应力遮挡现象最明显。此外,当髋臼假体的外展角放置于45°,前倾角在15°~25°变化不会对模型整体应力分布造成较大的影响;而且在15°前倾角条件下,模型不仅在应力分布方面具有良好稳定性,同时在皮质骨和松质骨上应力遮挡现象相比于处于正常髋臼解剖角度时明显改善。结论对于髋臼的正常解剖形态未发生明显改变且需要接受THA手术的患者,应把髋臼假体放置在正常外展角45°,而前倾角应小于正常解剖前倾角5°左右并居于15°~20°之间。     

步态周期下髋臼生物力学特征

目的 研究正常步态周期下髋臼周围区域应力分布规律,并进一步探究髋臼各柱的生物力线和骨皮质厚薄 形态分布。 方法 通过人体逆向动力学分析获取人体步态周期 8 个典型阶段的肌肉及髋关节载荷,应用三维重建 技术构建髋关节三维模型,以所得载荷作为加载边界条件进行有限元分析及拓扑优化。 结果 步态周期支撑相下 髋关节载荷较大,中柱应变能占总应变能 55% ~69% ,髋臼顶部应力较大;摆动相下髋关节载荷减小,中柱应变能所占 百分比减小。 髋关节不同的运动角度影响肌肉力,进而影响髋关节上应力分布规律。 所获得髋臼各柱的生物力线分 布与解剖学所提出的生物力线及骨小梁排布基本吻合,与拓扑优化结果中骨皮质较厚区域相对应。 结论 通过数值 模拟方法可以确定髋臼各柱的生物力线和骨皮质厚薄形态分布,为骨折治疗内固定装置的合理放置提供理论指导。     

髋臼发育不良者全髋置换中置入不同直径髋臼杯的力学分析

背景：成人髋臼发育不良髋臼小而浅,臼内有大量骨痂和瘢痕组织等都为人工髋关节置换臼杯安装带来极大困难。臼杯安装后局部的力学变化关系到置换后假体松动的发生及使用寿命。 目的：利用三维有限元力学分析方法,对髋关节发育不良患者采用不同直径臼杯置入,观察对髋臼假体-骨界面间应力分布情况的影响。 方法：选取髋关节发育不良患者的骨盆为试验对象,用螺旋CT做全长连续扫描,然后利用计算机仿真技术对CT图像进行三维重建,建立髋关节发育不良骨盆模型。在计算机环境中对重建模型进行不同直径臼杯置入的模拟手术,利用有限元分析软件对重建模型进行有限元网格化及力学分析。 结果与结论：对于髋臼发育不良的病例,选择小直径臼杯可应对髋臼浅平、骨床骨量不足的缺陷而达到较好的臼杯骨床包容,但臼杯直径小致接触面小使单位面积应力升高;另一方面,大直径臼杯置入扩大磨锉髋臼骨床可引起髋内壁破损突破,导致应力(包括压应力及剪切力)增大及集中。由此推断,髋臼发育不良全髋关节置换时应在保证骨床包容的前提下选择较大直径的臼杯,有利于应力的良好分布,但应尽量避免或减少扩大磨锉髋臼骨床所致髋臼内壁的穿破。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程全文链接：     

The universal muscular chain reaction,muscle spasm,Torsions, ruptures and extravasations. Chameleons of pathology and some manifestations of simple muscular disorders

Most bodily functions require the coordinated actions of complementary and supplementary paired muscle groups. Where this essential muscular cooperation is lacking, hollow organs may burst and others become literally screwed up, giving rise to many similar spastic diseases such as Torticollis, Twisted ovarian cyst, Torsion of the Testis, Volvulus of the intestines, Varicose Veins, Megacolon, Aortamegaly, Scoliosis, Erb's Palsy, Peyronie's Disease, Main-en-Griffe, Undescended Foot (Pes Cavus), Talipes, Strabismus. Spasm is “panenepidemic” and unclassified examples of Torsion Dystonia and Dyskinesia really are as common as debt and taxes.     

Studien zur humoralen Regulation des erythropoetischen Proliferationsspeichers beim Menschen

Zusammenfassung Die Beeinflussung der Erythroblasten-Proliferation durch das Mikromilieu wurde in vitro mittels Auswertung durch Differential- und Mitosezählungen und Signifikanzberechnung vieler Versuchsreihen auch unter verschiedenen pathologischen Bedingungen getestet.Sowohl die Mitosehäufigkeit wie die Ausreifung waren positiv mit dem Erythropoetingehalt des Medium korreliert. Der Effekt wurde durch Folsäure, Ätiocholanolon und cAMP verstärkt. Cobalt stimulierte ebenso wie Testosteron und Methenolon in vitro unabhängig von der Erythropoetinkonzentration im Medium die Erythroblastenproliferation. Ein vermindertes Eisenangebot störte die endgültige Ausreifung der Erythroblasten zu Retikulozyten und bewirkte dadurch eine Ineffektivität der Erythorpoese. Anhaltspunkte für ein Erythrozyten-Chalon oder einen Erythropoetinhemmkörper ließen sich aus unserem Versuchsansatz nicht gewinnen, weil er die Transformation der pluripotenten in die erythropoetin-sensible Stammzelle nicht einschließt. Als Nebenbefund ergab sich eine Stimulation des granulozytopoetischen Proliferationsspeichers durch Serumzusatz zum Medium von Patienten nach akutem Blutverlust und bei Polycythämia vera.Unterstützt durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

HLA study in Amerindian Bolivia La Paz Aymaras

Aymara people has been a relatively homogeneous group since Spanish Conquest by 1,532 CE, even if previously represented a group of various cultural defined populations who gave rise to them. They were and are established in Andean Altiplano around Titikaka Lake (Bolivia, Peru), Argentina and Chile neighborhood, speak Aymara language and have been maintained after Europeans arrival at a lower social status than Quechua (Inca) speaking people. However, both Aymara and Quechua populations acknowledge Titikaka Lake as center of their origins; both languages are also related. Specific high frequencies of HLA-A*02, -A*24 and -A*68, HLA-B*35, -B*39 and -B*48, HLA-DRB1*08:02, -DRB1*09:01, and -DRB1*14:02, and HLA-DQB1*04:02, -DQB1*03:02 and -DQB1*03:01 alleles are found in Aymaras and HLA class II haplotypes common to Andean Amerindians (DRB1*08:02-DQB1*04:02 and DRB1*04:03-DQB1*03:02), like Quechua, Aymara, Uros, Lamas and Mapuche are also found in Easter and other Pacific Islands. Giant human head stone statues at Tiwanaku (Titikaka Lake, Bolivia) are also found at Easter Island. Thus, it is possible a gene and cultural flow between Andean Amerindians and Easter and other Pacific Islands, as it was demonstrated by Thor Heyerdahl in his Kon-Tiki expedition which reached Pacific Islands sailing from El Callao Harbour (Lima, Peru).     

Hypo- und Hypermagnesämie aus kardiologischer Sicht

Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe pathologischer Zustände bedingen Magnesiummangel. Zustände mit Hypermagnesämie sind ebenfalls bekannt, doch wesentlich seltener. Für den Kardiologen beachtenswert ist, daß unter Therapie mit bestimmten Diuretica bei Herzinsuffizienz, bei Herzinfarkt, Kardiomyopathie, Digitalisintoxikation und bestimmten Herzrhythmusstörungen Hypomagnesämie beobachtet wurde. Leider kann in der klinischen Routine nur ein extracelluläres Magnesiumdefizit durch Serumbestimmungen gemessen werden; über Magnesiummangel einzelner Organe kann nichts ausgesagt werden. Hinweise für Magnesiummangel geben aber neben der Messung des Serumspiegels Anamnese, klinischer Befund, bestimmte EKG-Veränderungen wie auch evtl. Hypokalämie, ein Zustand, bei dem sich oft — besonders bei Aldosteronismus — parallele Veränderungen zeigten.Tierexperimente deuten darauf hin, daß infarktähnliche Läsionen unter Magnesiummangel entstehen, doch ob Herzinfarkt beim Menschen durch Magnesiummangel ausgelöst werden kann, ist noch ungeklärt. In Leichenherzen zeigte sich im Infarktgebiet neben Calciumakkumulation signifikanter Magnesiumverlust, wobei unklar blieb, ob sich Ursache oder Folge des Infarktes widerspiegelten. Falls ein ursächlicher Zusammenhang besteht, ist er im Myokardstoffwechsel selbst zu suchen, wie bei der Alkoholkardiomyopathie, wo myokardialer Magnesiummangel zumindest als pathogenetischer Teilfaktor anerkannt wird. Andererseits versucht man aber auch Beziehungen zwischen Atherosklerose, Blutgerinnung und Hypomagnesämie herzustellen, in der Meinung, daß Magnesiummangel auch über den coronaren Pathomechanismus des Herzinfarktes wirken könnte. Sicher scheint, daß gewisse EKG-Veränderungen und Herzrhythmusstörungen durch einen irritierten Magnesiumhaushalt bedingt sein können, da sie bei Gabe bzw. Entzug von Magnesium verschwinden. Daß Magnesiummangel die Glykosidtoleranz verringert, wird tierexperimentell bestätigt. Unter Hypomagnesämie bewirkt Acetylstrophanthidin eher und länger Rhythmusstörungen als ohne, außerdem lassen diese sich durch Magnesiumgaben eliminieren. Da in gewissen Fällen spontane und digitalisinduzierte Herzrythmusstörungen durch Magnesiuminjektionen beseitigt wurden, scheint Magnesium als Therapeuticum angebracht. Einsatz verschiedener Magnesiumsalze bei Angina pectoris, degenerativen Herzerkrankungen und Herzinsuffizienz ohne geprüften und offensichtlich gestörten Magnesiumhaushalt ist fragwürdig, weil keine eindeutigen klinischen Erfolgsbeweise vorliegen. Immerhin mag es aber larvierte, durch Serumbestimmungen nicht erfaßbare Mangelzustände geben. Allgemein erscheint es aus kardiologischer Sicht ratsam, den Magnesiumhaushalt zu überwachen und in entsprechenden Fällen auszugleichen, um möglichen Myokardläsionen oder fatalen Herzrhythmusstörungen entgegenzuwirken.     

Lipid composition of metacestodes of Taenia taeniaeformis and lipid changes during growth

A lipid analysis was performed on developing metacestodes of Taenia taeniaeformis removed from the livers of rats at times varying from 3 to 35 weeks post infection. Lipid accounted for 7–21% of the dry weight of the parasites. The highest proportions were found at the earlier stages. The distribution was as follows; neutral lipid 27–45%; glycolipid 5–11%; and phospholipid 50–61%. The major neutral lipid was cholesterol, and minor neutral lipids were sterol esters, triglycerides, diglycerides and monoglycerides. Hydrocarbons were present throughout development, but in the highest amounts at the earlier stages. Five different glycolipids were found, all of which were identified as glycosphingolipids. An increase in the proportion of more complex glycolipids was noted as parasites grew older. Ten different phospholipids were identified, with the major components being phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. Other phospholipids were: lysophosphatides, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingomyelin, and an unknown phospholipid component. Changes in the relative amounts of the two major phospholipids were found when the early and late stages were compared. Two lipids found throughout development were identified as glycosylated dolichol phosphates, and they comprised between 1 and 3% of the total phospholipid fraction. Nineteen fatty acids were detected, and the fatty acid distribution for each lipid class at each stage was determined. Seven major fatty acids were common to each. These were: hexadecanoic, octadecanoic, oleic, linoleic, arachidonic, docosanoic, and docosahexaenoic.     

Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis

Introduction: The etiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) is multifactorial with interaction between genetics, immune and environmental factors.

Areas covered: We review the role of prenatal exposures, irritants and pruritogens, pathogens, climate factors, including temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, outdoor and indoor air pollutants, tobacco smoke exposure, water hardness, urban vs. rural living, diet, breastfeeding, probiotics and prebiotics on AD.

Expert commentary: The increased global prevalence of AD cannot be attributed to genetics alone, suggesting that evolving environmental exposures may trigger and/or flare disease in predisposed individuals. There is a complex interplay between different environmental factors, including individual use of personal care products and exposure to climate, pollution, food and other exogenous factors. Understanding these complex risk factors is crucial to developing targeted interventions to prevent the disease in millions. Moreover, patients require counseling on optimal regimens for minimization of exposure to irritants and pruritogens and other harmful exposures.     

Simple Serological Assays for Detecting Rice Tungro Viruses

An attempt was made to produce sensitive and specific polyclonal antisera against the viruses causing rice tungro disease, and to assess their potential for use in simple diagnostic tests. Using a multiple, sequential injection procedure, seven batches of polyclonal antisera against rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) were produced. These were characterized for their sensitivity and specificity using ring-interface precipitin test and double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA. Thirty-one weeks after the first immunization, antiserum batch B6b for RTBV showed the highest ring interface titer (DEP = 1:1920). For RTSV, batches S3, S4b and S5b all had similar titres (DEP = 1:640). In DAS-ELISA, however, significant differences among purified antisera (IgG) batches were observed only at IgG dilution of 10^-3. At that dilution, IgGB4b showed the greatest sensitivity, while IgGS3 showed greatest sensitivity for RTSV. When all IgG batches were tested against 11 tungro field isolates (dual RTBV-RTSV infections) at sample dilution of 1:10, IgGB4b and IgGB6b for RTBV and IgGS3 and IgGS6b for RTSV performed equally well. However, after cross adsorption with healthy plant extracts in a specially prepared healthy plant-Sepharose affinity column, only IgGB6b could be used specifically to detect RTBV in a simple tissue-print assay.     

Is it worthy to take full-course immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis? About efficacy biomarker of allergen immunotherapy

Nowadays, people pay more attention to biomarkers that can predict clinical efficacy of immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis. As the only recognized aetiological treatment, the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been proved by many studies. However, treatment success depends on compliance and persistence greatly, which can be impaired by the lengthy duration of AIT and socioeconomic status of patients. Besides, ineffectiveness is another factor that accounts for non-adherence. If the clinical efficacy can be predicted in the early stage of immunotherapy, it can help patients choose appropriate treatment plans, increase patient compliance and optimize the allocation of medical resources. This paper mainly focuses on five candidate biomarkers, the sIgE/tIgE ratio before treatment, serum inhibitory activity for IgE, decreased basophil activation, upregulation of Tregs and tolerogenic DCs, reviews the time when potential biomarkers can predict or monitor the efficacy of AIT, discusses the reason why these indicators could serve as efficacy biomarkers and interactions among potential biomarkers.     

Neurotransmitter signaling pathways required for normal development in Xenopus laevis embryos: a pharmacological survey screen

Neurotransmitters are not only involved in brain function but are also important signaling molecules for many diverse cell types. Neurotransmitters are widely conserved, from evolutionarily ancient organisms lacking nervous systems through man. Here, results are reported from a loss‐ and gain‐of‐function survey, using pharmacological modulators of several neurotransmitter pathways to examine possible roles for these pathways in normal embryogenesis. Applying reagents targeting the glutamatergic, adrenergic and dopaminergic pathways to embryos of Xenopus laevis from gastrulation to organogenesis stages, we observed and quantified numerous malformations, including craniofacial defects, hyperpigmentation, muscle mispatterning and miscoiling of the gut. These data implicate several key neurotransmitters in new embryonic patterning roles, reveal novel earlier stages for processes involved in eye development, suggest new targets for subsequent molecular‐genetic investigation, and highlight the necessity for in‐depth toxicology studies of psychoactive compounds to which human embryos might be exposed during pregnancy.     

HLA genes in Amerindians from Mexico San Vicente Tancuayalab Teenek/Huastecos

Huastecos or Teenek Amerindians are presently living at North East Mexico (San Luis Potosi State). They have probably one of the most ancient culture of Mexico and Central America together with Mayas and Olmec groups with which also show close relationships. Proximity to Atlantic Ocean/Mexican Gulf originated that Spaniards had very early contact with them at about 1519 CE or before. In the present paper we have aimed to study HLA gene profile which may be useful for HLA and disease epidemiology and transplant programs in Teeneks. HLA-DRB1*04:07, -DRB1*14:06 and -DRB1*04:11 have been found in high frequency like in other Amerindian groups. High frequency typical Amerindians HLA extended haplotypes have been found, such as A*02-B*35-DRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02; A*68-B*39-DRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02 and A*02-B*39-DRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02; also new haplotypes have been described, like A*02-B*52-DRB1*04:11-DQB1*03:02, A*68-B*35-DRB1*14:02-DQB1*03:01 and A*68-B*40-DRB1*16:02-DQB1*03:01. Genetic proximity is observed not only to linguistically close Mayans, but also to Mazatecans, Mixtecans and Zapotecans, who speak an altogether different languages; it shows once more that genes and languages do not correlate. This population was greatly diminished after European contact between 1500 and 1600 years CE; in fact, North and South America First Inhabitants population was brought from 80 down to 8 million people because of diseases (i.e.: measles, smallpox or influenza), slavery and war.