Method of quantitative anatomical study of the dorsal neck muscles

Summary Biomechanical models of the cervical spine require knowledge of the position, size and orientation of the individual muscles that act on the cervical spine. We have developed a technique to stereometrically measure anatomical specimens. The apparatus is composed of three graduated metallic rods, which slide along a fixed support. This method is accurate to map the anatomy of individual muscles and provides quantitative data on their lines of action. Results are obtained from one specimen. The computer processing of the collected data allows formulation of a three-dimensional model of the neck muscles in man.

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Méthode d'étude anatomique quantitative des muscles de la nuqueEtude préliminaire

Résumé Pour élaborer un modèle biomécanique de la colonne cervicale, il faut connaître la position, la taille et l'orientation des différents muscles du cou. Nous avons mis au point une méthode de mesure stéréométrique sur des sujets anatomiques. L'appareil est composé de 3 axes métalliques gradués qui coulissent sur un support fixe. Cette technique permet une étude anatomique précise de chacun des muscles de la nuque, fournissant des données quantitatives sur les différents faisceaux ou lignes d'action. Les résultats sont obtenus sur un sujet. Leur traitement informatique permettra l'élaboration d'un modèle mathématique tridimensionnel des muscles du cou chez l'homme.

     

Nongerminomatous malignant germ cell tumors in children. A review of 89 cases from the Pediatric Oncology Group, 1971-1984

Clinical and morphologic features of 89 cases of childhood yolk sac tumor (YS) and embryonal carcinoma (EC) (29 associated with teratomas) submitted to the Rare Tumor Registry of the Southwest Oncology Group (1971-1979) or the Pediatric Oncology Group (1980-1984) between 1971 and 1984 were reviewed and submitted to statistical analysis. This review showed an improved survival for each 5-year period regardless of tumor site, no statistically significant difference between "pure" tumors and those mixed with other teratomatous components, no statistically significant difference between YS and EC in children, a better than reported prognosis for sacrococcygeal tumors occurring after the neonatal period, a particularly poor prognosis for neonatal "benign" sacrococcygeal teratomas resected without coccygectomy when they recur as YS, excellent survival for all testicular tumors regardless of age or the presence of EC, and the occurrence of mediastinal tumors in females.     

Antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc

Summary To study the antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc, the columns of forty eight embryos and fetuses were examined histologically. The primitive disc is composed of two structures: the notochord which shows a progressive expansion into the disc, and the fibrocartilaginous perinotochordal disc. No histological sign of interaction between notochordal and perinotochordal cells, which may explain the notochordal expansion into the discs, was seen. On the other hand, the notochordal intervention in the cartilaginous differentiation of the inner zone is probable.

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Différenciation anténatale du disque intervertébral humain

Résumé Cette étude de la différenciation anténatale du disque intervertébral humain repose sur l'examen de coupes histologiques de quarante huit colonnes vertébrales d'embryons et de foetus. Le disque primitif est composé de deux structures : la notochorde, qui présente une expansion progressive de son diamètre au sein du disque, et le disque périnotochordal, d'abord mésenchymateux puis fibrocartilagineux. Il n'a pas été mis en évidence de signe histologique témoignant d'une interaction entre les cellules notochordales et les cellules périnotochordales qui puisse expliquer l'expansion de la notochorde au sein des disques. Le rôle de la notochorde dans la différenciation cartilagineuse de la zone centrale est par contre probable.

     

The construction of sutureless cataract incision and the management of corneal astigmatism

Extrapolating information from equations that govern fluid flow, a theoretical formula is developed for a sutureless cataract incision. This theoretical formula defines the resistance of aqueous outflow as a function of three variables: length of cataract incision, the length of the scleral tunnel, the tortuosity of the outflow channel, and one constant friction factor. The nonlinear relationship of corneal incisions to length, depth, and distance from the visual axis is also examined with respect to their effect on central corneal curvature and control of astigmatism. Finite element analysis of differential equations is discussed as the most plausible technique for predicting these incisional effects.     

温血心停跳液与冷晶体心停跳液对狗心率变异性的影响

为探讨体外循环（ＣＰＢ）导致心脏植物神经系统（ＣＡＳ）损伤的机理,了解温血心停跳液能否防止ＣＰＢ后心率变异性（ＨＲＶ）的降低,采用对照方法观察了温血心停跳液与冷晶体心停跳液对狗ＨＲＶ的影响。结果显示：ＣＰＢ后温血心停跳液组（ＷＢ组）和冷晶体心停跳液组（ＣＣ组）的全频谱（ＴＰ）、低频（ＬＦ）和高频（ＨＦ）均较术前明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）,而且ＣＣ组比ＷＢ组降低更明显（Ｐ＜０．０５）,但ＬＦ／ＨＦ在组内及组间均无明显变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）。ＣＰＢ后２４小时平均心率（ＭＨＲ）明显增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,且ＣＣ组高于ＷＢ组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。本研究表明：采用温血心停跳液或冷晶体心停跳液的ＣＰＢ不会干扰ＣＡＳ平衡,但均能使ＨＲＶ降低,温血心停跳液不能防止ＨＲＶ损害。     

Headache and family history

In two headache questionnaire surveys we inquired about the occurrence of headache in the mothers, fathers, siblings and children of the respondents. In total, 633 people completed valid questionnaires, 260 in the first survey and 373 in the second. The hypothesis was that familial headache occurrence would be positively associated with headache frequency. In each survey, the regression of headache frequency on the number of parents having headache was highly significant. Neither sex nor the sibling and children variables were significant predictors. In the cross-tabulations of the parental occurrence of headache with headache frequency we saw a clear "break-point" between the "no headache" and the headache frequency categories studied. For the final analyses the dichotomy "headache/no headache" was related in fourfold tables to headache occurrence in the father and the mother separately, and to the number of headache parents. The positive associations were not simply due to the large number of migraine cases since they remained after removing the migraineurs.     

Involvement of deprivation and environmental lead in neural tube defects: a matched case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence of neural tube defects in small geographical areas and seek to explain any spatial variations with reference to environmental lead and deprivation. SETTING: The Fylde of Lancashire in the north west of England. DESIGN: Cases were ascertained as part of a prospective survey of major congenital malformations in babies born in the Fylde to residents there between 1957 and 1981. A matched case-control analysis used infants with cardiovascular system, alimentary tract, and urinary system malformations as controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the effects of more than 10 micrograms/l lead in drinking water and the Townsend deprivation score. RESULTS: The prevalence of neural tube defects in 1957-73 was higher in Blackpool, Fleetwood, and North Fylde, whereas the three control groups showed no significant spatial variation. In 1957-81 mothers living in electoral wards with either a higher proportion of houses with more than 10 micrograms/l lead in the water or a higher deprivation score had a greater risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect. For spina bifida and cranium bifidum alone, this was also true. For anencephaly, deprivation was less important although the effect of lead was still seen. In some neural tube defects, lead may act independently of other possible factors associated with deprivation. It seemed unlikely that lead levels changed significantly during the survey. The percentage of houses with 10 micrograms/l or more of lead in the water in 1984-5 was similar to that found in Great Britain 10 years previously. CONCLUSION: There is evidence to suggest that lead is one cause of neural tube defects, especially anencephaly. This could link the known preventive actions of hard water and folic acid. Calcium is a toxicological antagonist of lead. One cause of a deficiency of folic acid is impaired absorption secondary to zinc deficiency, which may be produced or exacerbated by lead.