Embryonic skull development in the gecko,Tarentola annularis (Squamata: Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae)

Tarentola annularis is a climbing gecko with a wide distribution in Africa north of the equator. In the present paper, we describe the development of the osteocranium of this lizard, from the first appearance of the cranial elements up to the point of hatching. This is based on a combination of histology and cleared and stained specimens. This is the first comprehensive account of gekkotan pre-hatching skull development based on a comprehensive series of embryos, rather than a few selected stages. Given that Gekkota is now widely regarded as representing the sister group to other squamates, this account helps to fill a significant gap in the literature. Moreover, as many authors have considered features of the gekkotan skull and skeleton to be indicative of paedomorphosis, it is important to know whether this hypothesis is supported by delays in the onset of cranial ossification. In fact, we found the sequence of cranial bone ossification to be broadly comparable to that of other squamates studied to date, with no significant lags in development.     

Dural arteriovenous malformations at the base of the anterior cranial fossa: report of nine cases

Nine men with dural arteriovenous malformations (DAVM) at the base of the anterior cranial fossa are described. Four patients had intracerebral haemorrhage and four had seizures, associated with haemorrhage in two. In three cases the fistula was an incidental finding. In five cases the diagnosis could be made before angiography, on the basis of CT findings. Angiographically, venous drainage was always seen into ascending cortical veins. Five cases demonstrated drainage via the olfactory vein into the basal vein of Rosenthal; in four this way was the principal route of drainage. Five patients underwent surgery, the therapy of choice. One fistula closed spontaneously after angiography. Two patients refused treatment and one was not treated because of his poor general condition. Because arterial supply was usually bilateral, from small branches of the ophthalmic artery, embolisation seemed to be more dangerous. Compared to dural fistulae in other locations the DAVM of the anterior cranial fossa have a higher risk of complications and should be treated even if asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis.     

Spinal Drop Metastasis from a Posterior Fossa Choroid Plexus Papilloma

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are typically considered as benign tumors, with a favorable long-term prognosis. Drop metastasis of CPP into the spinal subarachnoid space is rare. We report a 42-year-old woman who presented with headache and back pain 6 years after removal of a posterior fossa CPP. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed mass lesions in the lumbosacral subarachnoid space and recurrent intracranial tumor. The lesions were resected and histologically diagnosed was CPP. We consider that CPP can spread via cerebrospinal fluid pathways and cause spinal drop metastasis. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the whole spinal axis and to perform periodic follow-up examinations in patients with CPP.     

Microanatomy and surgical approaches to the infratemporal fossa: an anaglyphic three-dimensional stereoscopic printing study.

Objective: The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is a continuation of the temporal fossa between the internal surface of the zygoma and the external surface of the temporal bone and greater wing of the sphenoid bone that is sitting deep to the ramus of the mandible. The principal structure to understanding its relationships is the lateral pterygoid muscle. Other important structures are the medial pterygoid muscle, the maxillary artery, the pterygoid venous plexus, the otic ganglion, the chorda tympani nerve and the mandibular nerve. In this study, we describe the microsurgical anatomy of the ITF, as viewed by step-by-step anatomical dissection and also through the perspective of three lateral approaches and one anterior surgical approach. Methods: Eight cadaver specimens were dissected. In one side of all specimens, an anatomical dissection was done in which a wide preauricular incision from the neck on the anterior border of the sternoclidomastoid muscle at the level of the cricoid cartilage to the superior temporal line was made. The flap was displaced anteriorly and the structures of the neck were dissected followed by a zygomatic osteotomy and dissection of the ITF structures. On the other side were the surgical approaches to the ITF. The combined infratemporal and posterior fossa approach was done in two specimens, the subtemporal preauricular infratemporal fossa approach in two, the zygomatic approach in two, and the lateral transantral maxillotomy in two. The anatomical dissections were documented on the three-dimensional (3D) anaglyphic method to produce stereoscopic prints. Results: The lateral pterygoid muscle is one of the principal structures to enable understanding of the relationships into the ITF. The tendon of the temporal muscle inserts in the coronoid process at the ITF. The maxillary artery is the terminal branch of the external carotid artery that originates at the neck of the mandible and runs into the parotid gland. In our dissections the maxillary artery was lateral to the buccal, lingual, and inferior alveolar nerves. We found the second part of the maxillary artery superficial to the lateral pterygoid muscle in all specimens The anterior and posterior branches of the deep temporal artery supply the temporal muscle. In two cases we found a middle deep temporal artery. The different approaches that we used provided different views of the same anatomical landmarks and this provides not only safer surgery but also the best choice to approach the ITF according with the pathology extension. Conclusions: The ITF is a complex region on the skull base that is affected by benign and malignant tumors. The study through different routes is helpful to disclose the relationship among the anatomical structures. Although the authors have shown four approaches, there are a variety of approaches and even a combination of these can be used. This type of anatomical knowledge is essential to choosing the best approach to treat lesions in this area.     

Association between the HOXA1 A218G polymorphism and increased head circumference in patients with autism.

BACKGROUND: The HOXA1 gene plays a major role in brainstem and cranial morphogenesis. The G allele of the HOXA1 A218G polymorphism has been previously found associated with autism. METHODS: We performed case-control and family-based association analyses, contrasting 127 autistic patients with 174 ethnically matched controls, and assessing for allelic transmission disequilibrium in 189 complete trios. RESULTS: A, and not G, alleles were associated with autism using both case-control (chi(2) = 8.96 and 5.71, 1 df, p <.005 and <.025 for genotypes and alleles, respectively), and family-based (transmission/disequilibrium test chi(2) = 8.80, 1 df, p <.005) association analyses. The head circumference of 31 patients carrying one or two copies of the G allele displayed significantly larger median values (95.0th vs. 82.5th percentile, p <.05) and dramatically reduced interindividual variability (p <.0001), compared with 166 patients carrying the A/A genotype. CONCLUSIONS: The HOXA1 A218G polymorphism explains approximately 5% of the variance in the head circumference of autistic patients and represents to our knowledge the first known gene variant providing sizable contributions to cranial morphology. The disease specificity of this finding is currently being investigated. Nonreplications in genetic linkage/association studies could partly stem from the dyshomogeneous distribution of an endophenotype morphologically defined by cranial circumference.     

鼻内镜联合显微镜经鼻腔蝶窦及中颅窝手术

目的探讨鼻内镜下经鼻腔直接入路行蝶窦及中颅窝手术的方法. 方法鼻内镜下经较宽大一侧鼻腔将中鼻甲向外推移,鼻腔扩张器扩大视野,直达并开放蝶窦前壁, 鼻内镜与显微镜联合切除病变. 结果 10例孤立性蝶窦炎术后症状消失.6例蝶窦囊肿、脑膜瘤均一次手术切除.32例垂体腺瘤17例全切除,12例次全切除,3例大部分切除,术后补充X刀治疗.48例术后随访6个月～3.5年,平均2.5年,蝶窦囊肿、蝶窦炎、脑膜瘤无复发,3例垂体腺瘤复发,无颅内感染并发症,无鼻腔粘连、鼻出血等鼻腔并发症. 结论鼻内镜联合显微镜经鼻腔蝶窦及中颅窝手术损伤小、出血少、手术时间短、效果好.     

颈静脉窝的应用解剖学研究

本文通过200例成人颅颈静脉窝的观察与测量,对颈静脉窝的形态、位置及其与颅后窝、面神经管垂直部、鼓环的局部解剖关系进行研究,为临床应用及体质调查提供资料。     

同种异体胎颅骨结合碱性成纤维细胞生长因子移植治疗骨不连

目的寻找一种治疗骨不连接所需植骨材料,利用碱性成纤维细胞生长因子的活性诱导作用,促进骨修复.方法13例成人骨不连患者,选择4-10个月龄胎颅骨（FCB）作可吸收载体,结合碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）制备成复合碱性成纤维细胞生长因子胎颅骨（bFGF/FCB）,植入受骨区,以适当的内固定重新构建骨修复支架.结果所有患者均得到骨性修复,且成骨效应明显.结论胎颅骨作为植骨材料既可以起到植骨作用,增大植骨面,增加骨再生诱发点,屏蔽了骨断面,也避免了自体植骨的手术创伤;碱性成纤维细胞生长因子可以诱导和促进骨修复,二者复合物是治疗骨不连接的一种较好材料.     

Geste antagonistes in idiopathic lower cranial dystonia.

Geste antagonistes, or sensory tricks, are well described in focal dystonia affecting the neck, hand, and face. Improvement in dystonic movements is typically maintained while the trick is performed, but disappears when the geste ends. We investigated the phenomenological features of geste antagoniste maneuvers in 19 patients with idiopathic lower cranial dystonia who were prospectively evaluated over a period of 6 years. Of the 19, 10 were men, mean age of onset was 49.8 years, and the most commonly involved lower cranial area was the jaw (10 patients). In most patients, dystonia was task-specific. Taking advantage of the improvement with a sensory geste, we manufactured oral appliances that mimicked the geste in 8 patients, and 3 continue to use it.     

翼腭窝的CT三维成像

目的：探讨CT三维成像评价翼腭窝解剖结构的价值。材料和方法：使用Philips Mx8000型多层CT检查仪对5个成人头颅标本进行准直1mm或0．5mm的容积采集，并将数据输入配套Mxview工作站（SGI02）进行三维重建处理，包括容积显示（VR）和三维正交多平面重建（MPR）。鼻腔内侧壁相关结构进行测量并与标本测量进行对比。结果：CT三维正交多平面重建图像可以十分清楚地显示翼腭窝结构及其6个通路结构，VR可以清楚、准确地显示鼻腔内侧壁结构，并均可以获得准确测量。结论：CT容积采集结合合理的三维重建可以直观、立体地显示翼腭窝解剖及其相关通连结构。