Sexual dimorphism in shape and size of the neurocranium

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Sex identification is a primary step in forensic analysis of skeletal remains. The accuracy of sex estimation methods greatly depends on the sexual...     

Extracts of Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) MAAS Protect against Lethality and Systemic Hemorrhage Induced by Bothrops asper Venom: Insights from a Model with Extract Administration before Venom Injection

Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) MAAS, obtained by micropropagation (in vitro) and wild forms have previously been shown to inhibit some toxic activities of Bothrops asper snake venom if preincubated before injection. In this study, assays were performed in a murine model in which extracts were administered for three days before venom injection. R. alpinia extracts inhibited lethal activity of B. asper venom injected by intraperitoneal route. Median Effective Dose (ED₅₀) values were 36.6 ± 3.2 mg/kg and 31.7 ± 5.4 mg/kg (p > 0.05) for R. alpinia wild and in vitro extracts, respectively. At a dose of 75 mg/kg, both extracts totally inhibited the lethal activity of the venom. Moreover, this dose prolonged survival time of mice receiving a lethal dose of venom by the intravenous route. At 75 mg/kg, both extracts of R. alpinia reduced the extent of venom-induced pulmonary hemorrhage by 48.0% (in vitro extract) and 34.7% (wild extract), in agreement with histological observations of lung tissue. R. alpinia extracts also inhibited hemorrhage in heart and kidneys, as evidenced by a decrease in mg of hemoglobin/g of organ. These results suggest the possibility of using R. alpinia as a prophylactic agent in snakebite, a hypothesis that needs to be further explored.     

KIF1A‐related disorders in children: A wide spectrum of central and peripheral nervous system involvement

KIF1A‐related disorders (KRD) were first described in 2011 and the phenotypic spectrum has subsequently expanded to encompass a range of central and peripheral nervous system involvement. Here we present a case series demonstrating the range of clinical, neurophysiological, and radiological features which may occur in childhood‐onset KRD. We report on all the children and young people seen at a single large tertiary centre. Data were collected through a retrospective case‐notes review. Twelve individuals from 10 families were identified. Eight different mutations were present, including four novel mutations. Two patients displayed a very severe phenotype including congenital contractures, severe spasticity and/or dystonia, dysautonomia, severe sensorimotor polyneuropathy and optic atrophy, significant white matter changes on brain MRI, respiratory insufficiency, and complete lack of neurodevelopmental progress. The remaining 10 patients represented a spectrum of severity with common features including a movement disorder with spasticity and/or dystonia, subtle features of dysautonomia, sensory axonal neuropathy, varying degrees of optic atrophy and of learning and/or behavioural difficulties, and subtle or absent—but sometimes progressive—changes in white matter on MRI. Epilepsy was common among the more severely affected children. This case series demonstrates that KRD comprise a range of neurological disorders, with both the milder and the more severe forms combining central and peripheral (including autonomic) nervous system deficits.     

Social Factors Associated with Non-initiation and Cessation of Predominant Breastfeeding in a Mother–Child Cohort in Spain

Objective The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with non-initiation and cessation of predominant breastfeeding (PBF) in a mother–child cohort from Spain. Materials and Methods The analysis included 2195 mother-infant from birth to 14 months post- delivery recruited between 2004 and 2008. Maternal characteristics were collected during the pregnancy. Lactation data were obtained at 6 and 14 months after delivery. PBF was defined as intake of breast milk plus liquids like juices or water. The PBF cessation was calculated using the date that women started PBF and the date that she reported to start giving infant formula and/or food. The relationship between maternal variables and PBF initiation and cessation was modeled using logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results The prevalence of PBF at hospital discharge was 85.3, 53.4% at 3 months, 46.1% at 4 months and 7.2% at 6 month. Only two women continued PBF at 12 months and none at 14 months. The initiating of PBF was associated with higher levels of maternal education, being a first-time mother and worked in a non-manual occupation. Higher level of physical activity, not smoking and having a healthy BMI, were also positively associated with PBF initiation. PBF cessation was higher in young, obese women, who had had complications during the pregnancy, and who had lower levels of education and smoked. The employment status of women, in week 32 of pregnancy and also in month 14 post-delivery, determined likelihood of PBF cessation. Conclusions Healthier habits and education positively influenced PBF initiation and duration. Decrease in PBF duration rates in Spain can be interpreted in part as a consequence of women returning to work.     

An atypical lingual lesion resulting from the unhealthy habit of sucking the lower lip: clinical case study

Unhealthy oral habits may be involved in the etiology of a malocclusion, since they may affect development of the orofacial region. There is little information on the habit of sucking the lower lip, to which practitioners attribute less clinical consequences. However, lower lip sucking is a harmful habit which appears frequently in children, especially during situations requiring increased attention and mental concentration. In patients presenting lower lip sucking, strong contractions of the lower lip's orbicular's muscle and the mentalis muscle, associated with hypertonicity of the upper lip caused by sucking, has to be balanced by lingual thrusting during the act of deglutition. A case is presented in which failure to identify the habit of lower lip sucking led to an atypical lesion on the tongue, caused by the tongue's impaction against the orthodontic appliance prescribed to correct a malocclusion. The recognition and elimination of an unhealthy habit is of great importance in diagnosis and the establishment of a treatment plan, so that undesirable complications can be avoided.     

Effectiveness of metronidazole gel on cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth in heart transplant patients

To evaluate the efficacy of metronidazole on cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth (GO), a prospective intra-subject double-blind longitudinal study was performed on six heart transplant patients with GO. All patients underwent scaling and root planing before any treatment. Metronidazole gel (Elyzol, Cabon) was then applied in two of the four anterior hemi-sextants of each subject, following a balanced random pre-programmed list, with a placebo gel being applied to the remaining two hemi-sextants. Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BP) and probing depth (PD) were recorded for all teeth of the four anterior hemi-sextants before and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after gel application. A general linear model was fitted and ANOVA for repeated measurements with split-plot design and Chi-square analysis were used for statistical analysis. PD significantly decreased after 1 month following both treatments. Analogous results were obtained as regards PI and BP. No statistically significant difference was detected between results obtained with metronidazole and placebo. However, PD in the group of teeth treated with placebo significantly increased after 4 months, while PD values obtained from teeth treated with metronidazole remained statistically unchanged with respect to the 1st month. In conclusion, short-term results suggest that metronidazole and placebo are equally effective in reducing periodontal parameters and GO when associated with scaling and root planing. Long-term results, however, showed greater efficacy of metronidazole with respect to placebo in controlling cyclosporine-induced GO.