The goniomaxillar length/goniomandibular length ratio in normal newborn infants: A clinical tool for defining chin position abnormalities

Retrognathia (recessed chin) and prognathism (prominent chin) often present as signs of an underlying condition. Accurate clinical definitions are important. Yet their definitions were according to “clinical impression”, or to seldom used X‐ray criteria. We propose a statistical and anthropometric definition of retrognathia and prognathism based upon the ratio between the goniomaxillar length (distance between the gonion at the mandible angle and the subnasale and the goniomandibular length (distance between the mandible angle and the most anterior point of the bony chin). We assumed that an increase in the ratio indicates retrognathia and a decrease reflects prognathism. We conducted a prospective, observational, anthropometric study in 204 consecutive healthy term infants. Measurements took place on the second day of life, using sliding calipers. Mean ± SD of goniomandibular length (5.1 ± 0.3 cm), goniomaxillar length (5.4 ± 0.3 cm), were calculated. All measurements correlated significantly with gestational age, and with infant birthweight. The mean ± SD goniomaxillar length/goniomandibular length ratio was 1.06 ± 0.05. We defined a normal ratio as being within 2 SD of the mean, that is, between 0.96 and and 1.16. This ratio correlated with neither gestational age nor with birthweight. We conclude that the goniomaxillar length/goniomandibular length ratio can be calculated whenever retro ‐ or prognathism is suspected. A ratio outside of the 95% confidence interval should help in making this diagnosis. An increase in this ratio beyond 2 SD above the mean (1.16) could be interpreted as retrognathia and a decrease beyond 2 SD below the mean (0.96) as prognathism.     

人CYP3A4第9外显子基因突变频率的检测

目的建立一种简便、准确、实用的人CYP3A4第9外显子基因突变频率的检测方法，并了解汉族人CYP3A4第9外显子的分布特点．方法应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）特异性扩增人CYP3A4第9外显子基因序列，扩增产物用限制性内切酶Hinf Ⅰ酶切，琼脂糖凝胶电泳后，观察酶切位点的限制性片段长度多态性（RFLP）图谱．结果运用PCR—RFLP法检测了92名汉族人CYP3A4第9外显子基因点突变，其中野生型纯合子频率为85．9％，杂合子频率为14．1％，突变型纯合子频率为O．突变等位基因频率为0．0706．结论该方法简便、快速、准确，适合于一般实验室检测及大规模的人群调查，汉族人CYP3A4第9外显子也存在相同的突变位点．     

Outcrossing in the homothallic oomycete,Pythium ultimum,detected with molecular markers

The oomycete Pythium ultimum is homothallic, thus a single isolate completes the sexual stage in pure culture. It has been generally assumed that homothallic oomycetes are predominantly inbreeding. In P. ultimum, antheridia occasionally develop from hyphae not directly connected to the oogonium and appear to participate in fertilization, suggesting a possible mechanism for outcrossing. We have used molecular markers to confirm that outcrossing can occur between isolates of P. ultimum. Genetic markers based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) were used to distinguish isolates in a collection of P. ultimum. Two isolates displaying a high level of polymorphism were mixed and placed on media which allows the development of the sexual stage. RAPD markers were used to screen single oospore progeny to identify potential hybrids between the two parental isolates. Subsequent self-fertilization of one putative F₁ yielded a F₂ population which demonstrated segregation and independent assortment of RAPD and RFLP markers. A similar strategy was used to show that an isolate which is incapable of producing oospores in pure culture can outcross when mixed with a homothallic isolate. These results suggest that other homothallic oomycetes may be capable of outcrossing, and sexual reproduction may, therefore, play an important role in the generation of variation in homothallic oomycetes.     

Marfan syndrome: exclusion of genetic linkage to the COL1A2 gene

Marfan Syndrome is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue. Individuals from one large family with this disorder were genotyped for COL1A2 gene associated RFLPs. Our results demonstrated that the COL1A2 gene, encoding the proa2(I) collagen chain, segregated independently of the phenotype and it is therefore excluded as the mutant locus in this family.     

A diffractometer using a lateral effect photodiode for the rapid determination of sarcomere length changes in cross-striated muscle

A simple method is devised to record rapid sarcomere length changes of muscle fibres using a lateral effect diode. In the standard position the diffractometer records length changes between 1.65 and 3.8 m, the output being linear 1 V/m with a frequency response of –3 dB at 1.2 kHz. The absolute error is<0.05 m between 1.65 and 2.80 m and <0.1 m between 2.81 and 3.30 m. The resolution of length changes is<0.005 m over the whole range. By varying the detector position the length range can be extended to either side, and spatial resolution can be improved at the expense of length range.     

纤维/颗粒增强聚乳酸骨折内固定复合材料

现将骨折内固定材料的发展史，传统骨折内固定材料的不足之处，以及开发可吸收骨折内固定材料的意义作一综述。介绍了聚乳酸作为可吸收内固定材料的优异性能，及其复合材料的特点，并比较了以聚乳酸为基体的各种内固定复合材料的成型工艺和机械力学强度。     

The communicating branch of the 4th cervical nerve to the brachial plexus: the double constitution, anterior and posterior, of its fibers

Twenty-four adult cadavers (48 sides) were used to investigate the incidence of a branch arising from the ventral ramus of the fourth cervical nerve (C4) with the phrenic nerve and subsequently joining the brachial plexus. Six brachial plexuses with spinal cords and phrenic nerves were dissected under a surgical microscope to investigate localization of fibers contained in the C4 branch to the brachial plexus. The incidence of the C4 branch was 23% (11/48 sides). Branches from C4 to the brachial plexus divided into anterior and posterior divisions on four sides (4/6 sides). On two sides, the branch did not divide but consisted entirely of an anterior division (2/6 sides). In the brachial plexus, anterior division fibers of the C4 branch were intertwined with fibers from the anterior divisions of the ventral rami of the fifth and sixth cervical nerves. They then passed to the suprascapular nerve and the anterior division of the superior trunk (6/6 sides). On the other hand, posterior division fibers of the C4 branch were intertwined with fibers from the posterior divisions of the ventral rami of the fifth and sixth cervical nerves. They then passed to the suprascapular nerve (2/6 sides) and the posterior division of the superior trunk (4/6 sides). The anterior division of the C4 branch received fibers from the ventral rootlets of the entire fourth cervical segment, whereas the posterior division received fibers from the ventral rootlets of the caudal half of the fourth cervical segment only. The fact that the suprascapular nerve received fibers from both the anterior and posterior divisions of the C4 branch was considered to support our claim that the human suprascapular nerve belongs to both the anterior and posterior divisions of the brachial plexus.     

Two CD14 promoter polymorphisms and atopic phenotypes in Czech patients with IgE-mediated allergy

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy belongs to common chronic disorders resulting from an interaction between both genetic and environmental factors. The gene encoding CD14 is a positional candidate gene for allergic diseases as it is localized on chromosome 5q31.1, a region that is linked to asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Recently, several polymorphisms in the promoter region of this gene have been associated with atopic phenotypes in various populations. METHODS: We investigated relationship among atopic phenotypes and two polymorphisms [C(-159)T and G(-1359)T] in the promoter of the CD14 gene in the Czech population. Polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses was used to determine the CD14 genotypes in subjects with IgE-mediated allergic diseases (n = 562) and random controls (n = 320). RESULTS: The CD14 allele or genotype distributions were similar in patients and control group. However, the frequency of the C allele of the C(-159)T polymorphism was higher in patients with positive skin prick tests for moulds than in patients without reactivity to this antigen (P < 0.002, Pcorr<0.01). In addition, we found that patients with homozygous genotype (GG) of the G(-1359)T polymorphism had marginally lower percentage of positive skin prick tests compared with the other genotypes (P < 0.029, Pcorr > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the idea that CD14 gene variants may act as disease modifiers of IgE-mediated allergic diseases.     

Bone growth in zebrafish fins occurs via multiple pulses of cell proliferation.

Fin length in the zebrafish is achieved by the distal addition of bony segments of the correct length. Genetic and molecular data provided evidence that segment growth uses a single pulse of growth, followed by a period of stasis. Examination of cell proliferation during segment growth was predicted to expose a graphical model consistent with a single burst of cell division (e.g., constant, parabolic, or exponential decay) during the lengthening of the distal-most segment. Cell proliferation was detected either by labeling animals with bromodeoxyuridine (during S-phase) or monitoring histone3-phosphate (mitosis). Results from both methods revealed that the number of proliferating cells fluctuates in apparent pulses as a segment grows (i.e., during the growth phase). Thus, rather than segment size being the result of a single burst of proliferation, it appears that segment growth is the result of several pulses of cell division that occur approximately every 60 microns (average segment length approximately 250 microns). These results indicate that segment lengthening requires multiple pulses of cell proliferation.     

全髋关节置换术均衡双下肢长度的探讨

目的探讨全髋关节置换术均衡双下肢长度的临床意义和手术设计。方法回顾分析2000-2004年获得随访的单侧全髋关节置换手术病例48例,采用骨水泥型假体12髋,混合型假体36髋,术前双下肢等长30例(含股骨颈骨折患者),10例患肢长度短缩1.0-2.0cm,6例短缩2.0-4.0cm,2例短缩4.0-6.0cm。通过术前肢体长度测量及X片测量制定手术方案,选择假体、预估颈长和截骨平面;术中正确磨削髋臼,寻找最佳旋转中心,结合透视及特殊试验修正截骨平面,调节假体颈长,达到均衡双下肢长度的目的。结果全部病例采用Harris评分,优30例,良12例,中4例,差2例。术前等长30例巾术后出现5例手术侧延长1.0-2.0cm,1例延长2.5cm。术前不等长的18例中,术后恢复等长10例,6例手术侧延长1.0-2.0cm,2例术前重度短缩的先天性髋关节发育不良病人术后仍然短缩2.0-3.0cm。术后肢体等长35例Harris评分平均92.3分,术后肢体不等长13例Harris评分平均88.6分。结论全髋关节置换术的手术设计。手术技巧以及假体设计等诸多因素影响下肢长度,术后肢体不等长降低了患者的满意度。应重视术前测量及术中综合评价方法的运用,重视软组织平衡技术和肢长调节,掌握全髋置换术中均衡下肢长度的手术技术,进一步改善手术效果。