Sacral morphometrics for sex estimation of dead cases in Central Thailand

Sex estimation by various forensic anthropology approaches is a crucial factor for identification of human skeletal remains. However, inexpensive, uncomplicated and reliable methods are still required, especially in a remote crime scene and a high crime incidence area. Here, we examined 13 sacral parameters from 78 independent skeletons derived from deceases found in Central Thailand (male, n = 46; female, n = 32) using simple standard anthropometric techniques for sex allocation. Discriminant analysis exhibited that anterior-posterior diameter of S₁ vertebra corpus (APS) is the most accurate sacral parameter for sex determination in our study with 82.1% of correct discrimination rate. The accuracy could be improved up to 97.4% when additional three sacral variables including the length of sacrum measured from the medial anterior-superior sacral promontory to the medial anterior-inferior S₅ vertebra (ASL), alar index (ALI), and the maximum anterior breadth of sacrum measured across sacral alar (ABS) were computed together with APS. These encourage the use of sacral morphometrics for sex assessment of human sacrum remains in Central Thailand. However, further investigation with broadening sacral morphometric data across the country might provide a promising sex determination equation from a sacral skeleton for Thai population.     

外周血液中miRNA表达与老年性黄斑变性相关性研究

目的　检测微小核糖核酸（microribonucleicacids，miRNA）在老年性黄斑变性（age-related macular degeneration，AMD）患者中的表达，并探讨miRNA的表达量与AMD病程之间的关系。方法　选取2014年1月至2016年11月于同济大学附属第十人民医院眼科门诊就诊的AMD患者6例为试验组，并选取同期6名正常人为对照组，通过基因芯片技术检测两组血液中miRNA的表达量。扩大样本的病例对照研究中共纳入126例AMD患者和140名正常人，检测其血液样本中miRNA的表达，比较两组人群间miRNA的表达量差异。结果　通过基因芯片技术，在试验组与对照组间共检测出216个miRNA存在表达差异（均为P<0.05），与对照组相比，试验组中111个miRNA表达量上升，105个miRNA表达量下降，差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.05）。扩大样本的病例对照研究结果表明，在AMD患者中，miR-27a-3p、miR-29b-3p、miR-195-5p的表达量显著上升，同时，湿性AMD患者血液中miR-27a-3p的表达量高于干性AMD患者，差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.05）。结论　AMD患者外周血中miRNA表达量水平有明显变化，miR-27a-3p、miR-29b-3p、miR-195-5p可能成为AMD血清学诊断和预后的标志物。     

骨显像在儿童常见恶性实体瘤骨转移中的应用

目的 探讨骨显像在诊断儿童常见恶性实体瘤骨转移中的价值。方法 202例恶性实体瘤（淋巴瘤91例、神经母细胞瘤81例、横纹肌肉瘤20例、肾母细胞瘤10例）患儿行^99Tc^m-MDP全身骨显像，观察各自骨转移发生率、表现特征及好发部位。结果 202例患儿骨显像阳性者92例，占45．5％，其中单发病灶20例，多发病灶72例。好发部位为下肢骨骼和椎体。91例淋巴瘤骨显像阳性者38例，占41．8％，单发与多发性转移灶分别占28．9％与71．1％。肾脏受累15例，占16．5％；81例神经母细胞瘤阳性46例，占56．8％，单发与多发性转移灶分别占21，7％与78．3％。原发灶显影30例，占37．0％；20例横纹肌肉瘤阳性8例，占40，0％；10例肾母细胞瘤均未见骨骼转移。结论 骨显像对诊断儿童恶性实体瘤的骨转移有一定的价值，神经母细胞瘤的骨转移最常见，肾母细胞瘤极少发生骨骼浸润。^99Tc^m-MDP骨显像可显示恶性淋巴瘤的肾脏受累情况。     

Treatment of pigment epithelial detachments due to age-related macular degeneration with intra-ocular C3F8 injection*

Purpose: To flatten pigment epithelial detachments (PED) cue to age-related macular degeneration in an attempt to visualize the underlying choroidal neovascularization by fluorescein angiography (FA) and reveal a treatment target. Methods: Nine patients with PED received intravitreal gas injections via the pars plana and postured face down. Fluorescein angiograms were obtained before and after gas injection. In two patients, retinal scotopic sensitivity was also measured. Results: Eight patients demonstrated change in the shape and size of the PED following gas injection. Four patients showed a better delineation of underlying structures on FA. Three patients had focal laser treatment to the newly visible choroidal neovascular complex, but this was successful in only one patient with flattening of the PED. Conclusion: Pigment epithelial detachments can be modified by intravitreal gas injection in some patients, but this treatment did not have a major impact on overall outcome or management.     

The prevention or treatment of age-related osteoporosis in the elderly by systemic recombinant growth factor therapy (rhIGF-I or rhTGFβ): a perspective

Boonen S, Broos P, Dequeker J, Bouillon R (Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, the Arthritis and Metabolic Bone Disease Research Unit, the Department of Traumatology and Emergency Surgery and the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium). The prevention or treatment of age-related osteoporosis in the elderly by systemic recombinant growth factor therapy (rhIGF-I or rhTGFβ): a perspective (Review). J Intern Med 1997; 242 : 285–90.
Both insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) have powerful modulatory effects in a variety of tissues. A major target of action is the skeletal system, where they enhance bone formation and decrease matrix degradation, thus playing a part in the maintenance of bone mass. Because of the potent mitogenic effect of these agents on osteoblasts, recombinant IGF-I (rhIGF-I) and recombinant TGFβ (rhTGFβ) have potential as drugs to stimulate bone formation in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Using biochemical markers, subcutaneous rhIGF-I therapy has been shown to increase bone turnover and bone formation in nonosteoporotic older people. However, a corresponding increase in bone mass has not yet been documented nor have there been reports yet on the effects of systemically administered rhTGFβ in humans. Further investigation is required to define the clinical potential of rhIGF-I and rhTGFβ as therapeutic agents in age-related osteoporosis.     

图、词回忆中的序列位置效应及其年龄变化规律

目的：探讨图、词回忆中的首因和近因效应及其年龄变化规律。方法：采用多维记忆评估量表中的汉词回忆和图画回忆分测验对947人的连续年龄组的大样本进行测试，分析不同通道首因和近因效应的差异和年龄变化规律。结果：受试在汉词和图画自由回忆中，均呈现明显的系列位置效应；受试的首因和近因效应均随年龄的增长而增大。当发展到高峰后则随年龄的增长而减弱，各年龄组间比较有显著差异；首因和近因效应随年龄增长是不平行的，首因效应随年龄的增长变化较大。而近因效应的变化则相对较为平缓；两种不同呈现途径的比较发现，图画回忆的首因和近因效应均高于汉词回忆。结论：视觉和听觉呈现途径均呈现明显的系列位置效应，首因效应和近因效应的发展变化规律与记忆的发展变化规律是一致的。首因效应受年龄的影响较大，在有意义的图画回忆中首因效应和近因效应均高于汉词回忆。     

Circadian feeding and drinking rhythms in the rat under complete and skeleton photoperiods

Feeding and drinking rhythms were studied in rats maintained under 24-hr light-dark (LD) cycles with various photoperiods, under two-pulse (2P) and one-pulse (1P) skeleton photoperiods, and under constant dark (DD). Rhythmic waveforms were similar under complete LD cycles and corresponding skeleton photoperiods, indicating that these rhythms mainly reflect the entrainment of underlying circadian pacemakers. Little or no role was found for masking effects of light on circadian feeding and drinking waveforms. Entrainment was found to depend mainly on the timing of the dawn light signal, whether it was a 15-min light pulse or a dark-to-light transition initiating a complete photoperiod. Furthermore, the use of 1P schedules revealed that a dawn signal was sufficient for entrainment. These results closely match those obtained for motor activity measures in other nocturnal rodent species, and generally conform to the predictions of Pittendrigh's nonparametric theory of entrainment. Furthermore, the close correspondence of the two rhythms during entrainment, phase-jumps, and free-running (DD) conditions indicates that they are controlled by common circadian pacemakers.     

Quantitative Characterization of the Cellular Elements of Human Cerebellar Nuclei at Different Ages

A quantitative assessment of the cellular elements present in the nuclei of the human cerebellum was performed using subjects aged 22-90 years. A series of horizontal sections of cerebellar nuclei was studied. stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The numbers of neurons and gliocytes per unit area were measured on sections, with subsequent calculation of their ratios (the glial index). These experiments showed that aging is associated with decreases in the content of neurons and increases in the content of gliocytes. The extent of these changes increases as ontogenesis proceeds.