Much of our understanding of population variation in southern Africa is derived from traditional morphometric research. In the search for new perspectives, this paper reports on new geometric morphometric data examining cranial variation in 12 modern human populations from southern Africa. In total, 298 male Bantu-speaking individuals were studied. In addition, a small Khoisan (Khoikhoi and San) series was also examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate Khoisan-Bantu morphological similarities and differences, and to examine variation within both the Bantu-speaking and Khoisan populations. The three-dimensional coordinates of 96 landmarks were analyzed, using the shape-analysis software morphologika. Interpopulation variation was examined by calculating Procrustes distances between groups; a cluster analysis was then used to summarize phenetic relationships. A principal components analysis explored the relationships between populations; shape differences were visualized and explored using three-dimensional rendered models, and further interpreted using thin-plate splines. Morphological differences are present within and between the crania of Bantu-speaking and Khoisan individuals. The Khoisan demonstrate features (e.g., a pentagonoid vault, more rounded forehead contour, and a small and less prognathic face) that clearly distinguish them from Bantu-speaking populations. Although southern African Bantu-speaking populations are clearly closely related, they show population-specific features (e.g., the crania of more southerly populations (Xhosa, Southern Sotho, and Zulu) are characteristically more brachycephalic and less prognathic). This study suggests that differential admixture with adjacent Khoisan peoples has contributed to diversity within southern African Bantu-speaking populations.

Africa, Southern↗

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Esthesioneuroblastoma metastatic to the trachea.

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon nasal neoplasm of neural crest origin, which is recognized for its propensity for local recurrence and distant dissemination by both lymphatic and hematogenous routes. Hematogenous spread occurs most frequently to the lungs and bones, but metastases to the liver, spleen, scalp, face, breast, adrenal, aorta, and ovary have been reported. We present a patient who developed metastatic esthesioneuroblastoma of the trachea 1 year after successful craniofacial resection of his primary tumor. The patient was treated by YAG laser resection of the metastatic tumor followed by radiotherapy. He was free of tracheal disease 1 year after treatment of the metastases.

Adult↗

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Effects of dipyridamole on collateral flow and regional myocardial function in conscious dogs with newly developed collaterals.

Studies were conducted on six conscious dogs instrumented for measurement of subendocardial segment lengths in the area perfused by the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA), LCCA flow, and left ventricular pressure. Externally inflatable occluders were placed around the proximal LAD and LCCA. Collateral channels sufficient for the resting metabolic demands in the occluded LCCA perfusion territory were induced by repeated, brief LCCA occlusions. Dogs were then subjected to two consecutive brief periods of LAD occlusion. Dipyridamole (0.25 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 3 min prior to the second LAD occlusion. The collateral blood flow from the LCCA to the occluded LAD area was measured as the stepwise decrease in LCCA flow upon release of the LAD occlusion. During LAD occlusion after dipyridamole treatment collateral blood flow velocity decreased to 3.8 +/- 1.1 cm/s (+/- standard error) compared with a value of 4.9 +/- 0.9 cm/s measured during LAD occlusion without dipyridamole treatment. Percentage systolic segment shortening in the collateral dependent zone significantly deteriorated from 14.3 +/- 5.2 to 9.7 +/- 5.0% (p less than 0.05). Electrocardiograms taken simultaneously from endocardial ultrasonic transducers in the ischemic segment revealed significant increases in ST-segment level from 4.2 +/- 0.6 to 5.4 +/- 0.6 mV. These findings indicate that dipyridamole adversely affects the extent of myocardial ischemia in the collateral-dependent zone.

Animals↗

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Cigarette smoking shortens the duration of daily leisure time physical activity in patients with intermittent claudication.

PURPOSE: The authors determined (1) whether peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) patients who smoke have a reduction in either the duration or intensity of daily physical activities compared with nonsmoking patients, and (2) whether group differences in the pattern of physical activity persisted after controlling for potential confounding variables. METHODS: A total of 170 smokers and 201 nonsmokers who had quit smoking for at least 1 year prior to investigation were studied. Physical activity patterns were measured using the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) questionnaire. Patients also were characterized on potential covariates such as demographics, comorbid conditions, cardiovascular risk factors, ambulatory measures, peripheral hemodynamics, and anthropometric measures. RESULTS: The smokers were 37% less physically active than the nonsmokers (87 +/- 90 versus 139 +/- 121 kcal/day; P = 0.027). The reduced total LTPA in the smokers was due to a 28% shorter duration of performing activities (26 +/- 7 versus 36 +/- 22 min/day; P = 0.031), and a 3% lower mean intensity of the activities (3.3 +/- 1.0 versus 3.8 +/- 0.8 kcal/min; P = 0.038). The distance score on the Walking Impairment Questionnaire and the hip circumference were significant covariates of the LTPA measures. After adjusting for these covariates, the total LTPA remained 29% lower in the smokers (P = 0.039), the mean daily duration of LTPA remained 20% lower (P = 0.043), but the mean intensity of LTPA was no longer different between the groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with their nonsmoking counterparts, claudicants who smoke have a reduced total LTPA because they engage in activities of similar intensity for a shorter duration of time.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied