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Probable case of Binder syndrome in a skeleton from Quarai, New Mexico.

Binder syndrome (maxillonasal dysplasia) is a not uncommon disorder reported in the clinical literature and is characterized by hypoplastic development of the midface. An extensive review of the paleopathology literature did not reveal any examples of Binder syndrome. In this paper, a probable case of Binder syndrome in a female skeleton, 16-17 years at age of death, from Quarai, New Mexico (ca. AD 1375-1450) is presented. This case was identified during standard documentation prior to repatriation at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. The skull of this individual (381243) exhibits unusual facial features, including an underdeveloped midface, flattened glabella, absent nasal spine, and apparent alveolar prognathism, in addition to a vertebral anomaly. All of these characteristics are consistent with skeletal dysmorphologies associated with Binder syndrome. Measurements of the Quarai skull are compared with published data on Binder patients and normal control groups in order to quantify the nature of the observed morphology. Univariate analysis of craniometric/cephalometric data provides further support for a diagnosis of Binder syndrome, as critical measurements on the Quarai skull are consistent with those reported in Binder patients and significantly different from those reported for normal control groups. In addition to presenting a probable prehistoric case of Binder syndrome, this paper demonstrates the applicability of using direct comparisons of clinical data to help identify unusual conditions in skeletal remains.

Adolescent↗

Degenerative spondylolisthesis in ancient and historic skeletons from New Mexico Pueblo sites.

The objective of this study was to identify the presence of degenerative spondylolisthesis in adult Native American skeletons recovered from prehistoric and historic Pueblo sites in New Mexico. The vertebral columns of 491 individuals that were complete enough to allow the necessary observations produced 64 cases, with a total of 74 affected levels. The L5-S1 level was affected most frequently (78%), in contrast to clinical and anatomical studies where the L4-L5 level was usually affected (80%). Age and sex were found to be important factors, with the condition limited to middle and old adults, and occurring in females over males at a ratio of approximately 5:1. Olisthesis was shown to occur only in association with severe osteoarthritis of the zygapophysial joints, but severe osteoarthritis did not always result in olisthesis, particularly in males. Parallel or convergent inferior articular processes were found to increase in frequency in the presence of olisthesis, apparently resulting from degenerative remodeling that produced the olisthesis. The data also suggest that individuals with cranial border shifting in the column may be especially prone to olisthesis. Degenerative olisthesis was also observed in the cervical region.

Adolescent↗

Long bone growth in Western Eskimo and Aleut skeletons.

The pattern of long bone growth in Eskimo and Aleut juvenile skeletons reflects that in living Eskimos and Aleuts. There is a pre-adolescent growth spurt which is particularly intense in females. After age 14 male long bones supercede those of females in length. The characteristic Eskimo and Aleut adult body proportion is established early in childhood. Eskimos and Aleuts have shorter bones than whites at all ages. The difference in length of the forearm and lower leg in comparison with whites appears to increase especially at adolescence.

Adolescent↗

Osteometry and autoradiography of the long bones of skeletons of women exposed to internal radiation at 13--19 years of age.

Lengths of long bones of skeletons were examined in 25 women first exposed to large skeletal doses of radiation (alpha particles from radium) at the age of 13--19 years. Mean lengths did not differ significantly between two subgroups based on age at first exposure to radiation (i.e., 13--16 vs. 17--19 years). Autoradiographs of femora of some women who ingested radium at 13-15 years of age showed evidence for bone growth when blood levels of radium were low (i.e., after ingestion of radium). These findings indicate no detectable effect of large skeletal doses of radiation on growth in adolescent and post-adolescent periods.

Adolescent↗

Allometry and adaptation in the catarrhine postcranial skeleton.

Seven measurements were taken on the postcranial skeleton of 249 specimens representing ten species of catarrhine primates and tested to determine their relationship with size. Size was measured as skeletal weight on each individual. It was found that the interspecific line based on the entire sample was in some cases determined not only by morphological adjustments for size variation but also by changes in locomotor adaptations of differently sized species within the sample. It is suggested that it is consequently preferable to study allometric relationships within a species or within a group of species that differ in size but are similar in their mode of locomotion. The allometric analysis reveals some interesting patterns within the data. Limb lengths scaled with either negative allometry or isometry over the entire sample. Within the species groups isometry was the rule except for pongid femurs, which showed negative scaling. Humerus length scaled at the same rate in pongids as in cercopithecoids but had a slightly higher intercept value. While colobines and cercopithecines scaled at similar rates for all seven dimensions, the colobine line was shifted to a position above that for cercopithecines in every case. It is suggested that this is a result of adaptation for leaping in the former group. Other implications of the allometric results are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

The collection of human skulls and postcranial skeletons at the department of human anatomy of the University of Torino (Italy).

The human osteological collection at the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Torino, Italy, has recently been rearranged and recatalogued, and is now available for study. It comprises 1,064 modern skulls of known sex (384 males and 680 females); the age is also recorded in 712 cases. Of these skulls, 162 are from persons aged less than or equal to 20 years of known sex. A few skulls also have the postcranial skeleton (35 males and 39 females). The collection includes microcephali and hydrocephali, and also some prehistoric, Etruscan, Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Ancient Jewish, and Lombard skulls. A brief catalogue is provided.

Adolescent↗

Long bone lengths and gestational age distributions of post-contact period Arikara Indian perinatal infant skeletons.

Prenatal growth is adversely affected by poor socioeconomic conditions where disease and chronic undernutrition prevail. Premature and small-for-gestational-age births occur at higher frequency. Post-contact Arikara Indian populations of South Dakota experienced a rapidly changing and disruptive environment that included deterioration of the subsistence base and increased morbidity. This research tests resulting fetal growth effects through comparative analysis of two perinatal infant samples of the early (A.D. 1600-1733) and the late (A.D. 1760-1835) post-contact period. Perinatal infants recovered from late cemeteries include a higher percentage of smaller skeletons, as determined using long bone diaphyseal lengths, than is documented for the earlier time period. This contrast shows that it is possible to detect fetal growth differences in samples of archaeological context.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗

Bilateral absence of the lesser trochanter in a late Epigravettian skeleton from Arene Candide (Italy).

A virtually complete skeleton recovered from excavations in a Late Upper Paleolithic context by Cardini between 1940 and 1942 at the Arene Candide cave (NW Italy) lacks the normal development of the left and right lesser trochanters. The specimen is a short-statured male about 25 years old and shows no other especially peculiar skeletal irregularities, except for high negative angles of femoral torsion. We discuss a number of possible etiologies for the anomalous absence of the lesser trochanters. The condition is most likely a result of an epigenetic effect or a traumatic avulsion of both lesser trochanters. If the absence of normal development of the lesser trochanters involves a congenital condition, it is an extremely rare, previously undescribed trait. If the condition results from bilateral traumatic avulsion, it is probably the result of excessive muscular stress on the proximal femur and provides further evidence of hardship of life in Paleolithic populations and of the ability of these people to survive debilitating trauma.

Adult↗

Unusual pathological condition in the lower extremities of a skeleton from ancient Israel.

We report here an unusual pathology in a 1,500-year-old skeleton recovered from Bet Guvrin, Israel. The pathological changes in the lower extremities and the diagnostic difficulties are presented. We attribute this condition to Madura foot, found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, although other diagnoses are possible and are noted. We discuss its appearance in the region in light of the historical context.

Calcaneus↗

Paleohistology of Paget's disease in two medieval skeletons.

Paget's disease has been ascribed several times to specimens of archeological bone but, in the absence of microscopic examination, the evidence remains insubstantial. Suspected metabolic bone disease is described here in the archeological remains of a skeleton from a 16th century burial ground at Wells Cathedral, England and from a single medieval sacrum recovered from a large deposit of disarticulated bones from a churchyard at Barton-on-Humber, England. Radiographs showed apparent structural abnormality in one femoral shaft and calcaneus and in the isolated sacrum. Histomorphometry on undecalcified bone cores confirmed the regions of abnormality and showed not only increased trabecular width but also areas of "mosaic" woven bone together with extensive resorption cavities; these features contrasted with the normal structure and organized lamellar bone from sites elsewhere. Despite post-interment changes in surrounding tissues, the morphological stability of some of the osteocytes was remarkable. Preservation of the histology was sufficient to permit the assignment of a metabolic bone disorder and the nature of the sclerosis was consistent with Paget's disease.

England↗

Sex determination of infant and juvenile skeletons: I. Morphognostic features.

Ancient cemeteries are often characterized by a considerable number of infants and young children. Sex differences in childhood mortality, however, could rarely be studied up to now, mainly because there were only few proven traits for sexual determination of immature skeletons. Based on a historic sample of sixty-one children of known sex and age from Spitalfields, London (37 boys, 24 girls), sexually distinctive traits in the mandible and ilium are presented for morphognostic diagnosis. Besides other features, boys typically show a more prominent chin, an anteriorly wider dental arcade, and a narrower and deeper sciatic notch than girls. Most of the traits presented in this study allow individuals between birth and five years of age to be successfully allocated to either sex in 70-90% of the cases.

Age Factors↗

Fine structural comparative peculiarities of the developing dipnoan dermal skeleton in the fins of Neoceratodus larvae.

This study shows that actinotrichia are present in the growing fins of the dipnoan larvae Neoceratodus . They develop in advance of the camptotrichia , which will finally sustain the adult fin. Actinotrichia in dipnoan fins are similar to those already described in other osteichthyans . This feature strongly suggests the plesiomorphic character of the actinotrichia in the fish fins. In dipnoan , unlike other osteichthyan , actinotrichia are integrated in the growing camptotrichia and thus disappear in the adult fin. Consequently, only in dipnoan are actinotrichia a transitory dermal skeleton.

Animals↗

Platelet membrane skeleton revealed by quick-freeze deep-etch.

Actin polymerization is an essential component of platelet activation. Since actin appears to polymerize at its membrane-associated end, knowledge of the structural relationship of actin filaments to membrane is an important part of understanding that polymerization process. A membrane-associated actin-containing cytoskeleton has been described in human platelets biochemically and is composed, at least in part, by an association between glycoprotein Ib and the actin-binding protein originally isolated from macrophages. Many other actin-associated proteins with known sub-membranous localization in other systems have been found in platelets, including alpha-actinin, vinculin, and low levels of spectrin and the red cell protein Band 4.1. Because of the density of the platelet cytoplasm, the structure of the membrane-skeleton has not yet been visualized. We have used quick freeze-deep etch techniques to observe the sub-membranous cytoplasm and report visualization of a periodic, submembranous filament system not before seen in the platelet. This filamentous system was more easily observed in thrombin-stimulated platelets, but appeared to be present in resting, discoid cells as well. The filaments could also be readily observed when platelets are lysed after fixation, stained with tannic acid, and embedded for thin-sectioning. This membrane cytoskeleton was composed of 9 nm thick filaments lying 15 nm apart, and 15 nm from the membrane. The filaments appeared to lie in parallel and to encircle the cell. Similar filaments could be seen associated with intracytoplasmic membrane systems in activated cells.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Atrioventricular valves of the mouse: III. Collagenous skeleton and myotendinous junction.

BACKGROUND: The leaflet tissue of the mouse atrioventricular (AV) valves contains a system of wavy collagen bundles that organize like tendons, orientate along lines of tension, and constitute an essential component of the valve tissue. The organization of these bundles is different in the two AV valves, reflecting differences in the anatomy of the entire valvular complex. Further insights into this kind of organization are needed to gain a complete understanding of the functional anatomy of the mouse AV valves. METHODS: The endocardial covering of the mouse AV valves (from 21 days to 1 year of age) was eliminated by the sonication or the maceration method. This allowed us to study in situ the organization of the collagenous valve skeleton, as well as the structure of the myotendinous junction. RESULTS: The leaflets of the two AV valves are formed by a fibrous layer (on the ventricular side) and a spongy layer (on the atrial side). The fibrosa is formed by undulating collagen bundles that organize and orientate differently on the right and left sides. The spongiosa is formed, on both sides, by a loose network of thin collagen fibers with no apparent orientation. Myocardial cells in the papillary muscles of the tricuspid valve are elongated and show cone-shaped tips. Collagen fibers attach to the myocyte surface. Collagen struts and thin septa can also be recognized. On the other hand, the collagenous components of the mitral leaflets attach tangentially to the mitral papillary muscles. On the two sides, the myocytes appear to be ensheathed in a layer of collagenous tissue. The sheaths are formed by circularly arranged fibers and appear to be tightly interconnected. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in the collagenous organization between the two AV valves reflect differences in the gross anatomy of the valves. The attachment of collagen to the papillary myocytes in the tricuspid valve resembles that of a typical myotendinous junction. However, the collagen-muscle junction in the mitral valve is more similar to the structure of a pennate muscle. The collagen matrix of the heart has been divided into endomysial, perimysial, and epimysial components. The presence of sheaths housing individual myocytes and capillaries, struts, and thin septa, corresponds to the endomysium. The absence of perimysial septa, which aggregate myocytes into groups, is striking, but this may just be a species difference. The appropriateness of the term epimysium, as applied to the heart, is discussed.

Animals↗

Finite-element analysis of biting behavior and bone stress in the facial skeletons of bats.

The wide range of dietary niches filled by modern mammals is reflected in morphological diversity of the feeding apparatus. Despite volumes of data on the biomechanics of feeding, the extent to which the shape of mammal skulls reflects stresses generated by feeding is still unknown. In addition to the feeding apparatus, the skull accommodates the structural needs of the sensory systems and brain. We turned to bats as a model system for separating optimization for masticatory loads from optimization for other functions. Because the energetic cost of flight increases with body mass, it is reasonable to suggest that bats have experienced selective pressure over evolutionary time to minimize mass. Therefore, the skulls of bats are likely to be optimized to meet functional demands. We investigate the hypothesis that there is a biomechanical link between biting style and craniofacial morphology by combining biting behavior and bite force data gathered in the field with finite-element (FE) analysis. Our FE experiments compared patterns of stress in the craniofacial skeletons within and between two species of bats (Artibeus jamaicensis and Cynopterus brachyotis) under routine and atypical loading conditions. For both species, routine loading produced low stresses in most of the skull. However, the skull of Artibeus was most resistant to loads applied via its typical biting style, suggesting a mechanical link between routine loading and skull form. The same was not true of Cynopterus, where factors other than feeding appear to have had a more significant impact on craniofacial morphology.

Animals↗

Fluorogenic and fluorescent labeling reagents with a benzofurazan skeleton.

Fluorogenic and fluorescent labeling reagents having a benzofurazan (2,1,3-benzoxadiazole) skeleton such as 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F), 4-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-F), 4-aminosulfonyl-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (ABD-F), ammonium 7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-4-sulfonate (SBD-F), 4-hydrazino-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-H), 4-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-7-hydrazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-H), 4-nitro-7-N-piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-PZ), 4-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-7-N-piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-PZ), 4-(N-chloroformylmethyl-N-methyl)amino-7-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-COCl) and 7-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl-4-(2,1,3-benzoxadiazolyl) isothiocyanate (DBD-NCS) are reviewed in terms of synthetic method, reactivity, fluorescence characteristics, sensitivity and application to analytes.

Benzoxazoles↗

The carbon skeleton of the belt region of fullerene C84 (D2).

The synthesis and structural characterization of the double-stranded carbon skeleton in the belt region of a C84 fullerene has been achieved. The synthetic methodology used is based on cyclic dimerization of diastereomeric AB-type monomers 18 by a non-diastereospecific Diels-Alder reaction with isobenzofuran and acenaphthylene groups as reactive termini. Four diasteromeric monomer precursors 17 were prepared for the first time by the use of dihydropyracylene (12) in a multistep synthesis. The synthesis of dihydropyracylene itself has been optimized to the degree that it is now available on the 10 g scale. The belt-shaped macrocycle 19, obtained from dimerization of the monomers 17, could be partly aromatized by an acid-catalyzed dehydration reaction to give 23, which differs from the fully unsaturated belt by two water molecules. Semiempirical AM1 calculations of the electronic and thermodynamic properties of cyclic fluoranthenes revealed strain energy as the essential reason for the incomplete aromatization of 19. The structures of the macrocycles 19 and 23, one of the monomer precursors, and two diastereomeric epoxybenzo[k]fluoranthenes were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.

Journal Article↗