According to classical teaching in medical colleges and institutes, there are 12 pairs of cranial nerves, attached to the brain. They are numbered in Roman numerals from I to XII in the craniocaudal order of their attachment on the brain. In fact, there are 13 pairs of cranial nerves, the one which is not taught is the nervus terminalis (NT), i.e., “0” pair of cranial nerve. It is attached rostral to all other cranial nerves. Although it has been clearly identified as an additional nerve in the vertebrate species including humans for more than a century, its functional role is also understood to some extent. Still, it could not find its place in the standard textbooks of anatomy. It has also been given different names, viz., nerve of Pinkus, NT, cranial nerve “0,” cranial nerve nulla, terminal nerve, and cranial nerve XIII.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Introduction: Bones often survive the process of decay and therefore provide the major evidence of human age and sex after death. The identification of human skeletal remains is a critical problem and is very important in medico-legal and anthropological works. The determination of sex of an individual is important and necessary both in the living and dead for medico-legal purposes. The aim of this study is to measure and analyze the various parameters of the mandible and to assess the reliability of the above parameters in terms of percentage accuracy in sex determination. Material and Methods: A total of 106 whole-adult human mandibles of unknown sex, between the age group of 18–60 years, were collected and studied at the Department of Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, Guntur Medical College, Guntur from 2014 to 2015. The following parameters studied were symphyseal height, mandibular body length, bicondylar diameter, bigonial diameter, inter incisor width, and mandibular angle. Results: Of the six parameters studied, highly significant (statistically) difference in sex was observed in bigonial diameter (82.15% accuracy) and mandibular angle (81.5% accuracy). Discussion and Conclusion: The inference of the study is that no single parameter gives 100% accuracy in the determination of the sex of the individual. Hence, a judicious consideration of the highly significant parameters of the mandible may be taken into account in the determination of the sex of the individual.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: Physical anthropometry has been helpful in clinical diagnosis, forensic medicine, orthodontics, plastic, and reconstructive surgery. The Jaunsari tribe is a unique tribal community of Uttarakhand. There is lack of anthropometric study on them. Hence, it was planned to study facial anthropometric parameters specially that of the nose, in adult Jaunsari tribe of district Dehradun, Uttarakhand. With objectives (1) To study the nasal anthropometric parameters of adult males and females. (2) To analyze the sex differences, if any. (3) and its statistical significance. Material and Methods: The study was carried on 100 adult males and 100 adult females of >18 years of age, belonging to Jaunsari tribe, after due approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee and informed consent. The methodology adopted for the anthropometric measurements was of Singh and Bhasin, and concerned measurements were taken and appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: Nasal index, parameters related to it and total facial height are statistically significantly different among males and females. Sagittal Naso-facial Index and Elevation of Nose Index are 44.93 ± 3.79, 44.22 ± 3.18 and 69.23 ± 17.13, 65.70 ± 8.73 in females and males, respectively, which mean relatively elevated and shorter nose. Discussion and Conclusion: The most common nose type in females is leptorhinae (60%), whereas in males both leptorhinae and mesorrhine type of nose are equally (47%) prevalent. Predominant nasal breadth in male (69%) and in female (68%) is above medium type, whereas predominant nasal height in male (42%) and in female (50%) is above medium type and below medium type, respectively.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: It is widely known that the production of knee prostheses is based on the morphometric parameters of the distal femur and proximal tibia. Although there have been studies on this subject in different populations in the literature, such a study has not been found in the Turkish population. It is aimed to establish an index and also compare it with previous results of different populations, in this study. Material and Methods: This study was conducted on 200 patients (78 females, 122 males) aged between 18 and 65 years who had magnetic resonance imaging retrospectively. People with previous fractures, dislocations or ruptures, tears, or tensions in the anterior cruciate ligament, history of knee surgery, and trauma were excluded from the study. Various measurements were conducted on images of the distal femur and proximal tibia morphometry. Results: Mean values of the measurements made on the distal femur and proximal tibia were calculated, it was determined that all parameters were higher in males than females. A statistically significant difference was found between the sexes in all the parameters evaluated except for the intercondylar notch height parameter (P < 0.05). According to the results of our study, the mean intercondylar notch width index (NWI) and intercondylar notch shape index (NSI) in the total population were calculated as 0.88 ± 0.18. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female values for NWI and NSI (P > 0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: In this study, finally, intercondylar notch classification was done. According to this, in 46.5% of cases, notch type, which defined as type A and 53.5% of the notches were identified as U type. None of the cases was classified as W type. Studies in which normal morphometric data are presented due to differences in races between skeletal structures have crucial importance. Therefore, the data obtained from our study are thought to be useful to produce specific knee prostheses.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate morphometric features of the trigeminal nerve in healthy people on magnetic resonance images. The alterations in the size of the trigeminal nerve in the cisternal region along with aging and asymmetry between the right and left trigeminal nerves were also assessed. The knowledge of normal morphometric properties of the trigeminal nerve may be useful in evaluating patients having trigeminal neuralgia. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 120 (62 males, 58 female) healthy individuals over 20 years old who had no previous or current cranial pathology. According to age ranges, individuals were evaluated in four groups as 20–29 years, 30–39 years, 40–49 years, and 50 years and older. Besides the long- and short-axis lengths of the trigeminal nerve, long- and short-axis lengths of Meckel cave, as well as the trigeminal-pons angle, were measured using three-dimensional balance fast-field echo sequence with 3T magnetic resonance imaging on the right and left sides.Results: It was observed that the lengths of trigeminal nerve were shorter on the right side in comparison to the left side (mean long axis 0,79 ± 0,20 cm on the right, 0,86 ± 0,28 cm on the left, P <0,05; and mean short-axis: 0,36 ± 0,10 cm on the right and 0,41 ± 0,17 cm on the left, P <0,05). Moreover, in males, the long-axis length of the Meckel cave was higher on both the right and left sides compared to females (P < 0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: This study shows that, both the width and length of the right trigeminal nerve are shorter compared to left in healthily population. In addition, long axis of Meckel Cave, that is posterolateral to anteromedial extend, was longer on both the right and left sides in males compared to females.Results: It was observed that the long axis (mean: 0.79 ± 0.20 cm on the right, 0.86 ± 0.28 cm on the left, P < 0.05) and short axis (mean: 0.36 ± 0.10 cm on the right and 0.41 ± 0.17 cm, P < 0.05). Moreover, in males, the long-axis length of the Meckel cave was higher on both the right and left sides compared to females (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that, both the width and length of the right trigeminal nerve are shorter compared to left in healthily population. In addition, long axis of Meckel Cave, that is posterolateral to anteromedial extend, was longer on both the right and left sides in males compared to females.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism was found associated with cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip with or without CP in different populations and only very few studies were conducted in the Indian population. The aim of this case–control study is to detect whether there is any association of C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism with clefts in the craniofacial region, especially with Nonsyndromic cleft lip with cleft palate (NSCLP) in the South Indian population. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 179 nonsyndromic cleft cases and 130 healthy individuals without cleft were included as controls. To detect the polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method was carried out, and the result was analyzed using Chi-square test and binary logistic regression model. Results: Among the cleft cases, 120 were NSCLP and it showed 6.67% CT genotype and 18.33% TT genotype, while in controls, it was 18.46% and 1.54%, respectively. The TT genotype increased the risk of NSCLP (odds ratio [OR] =0.079, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02–0.34, P = 0.0007) and CT genotype decreased the risk (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.11–6.06, P = 0.028). However, CT + TT model had no association with NSCLP when compared to CC genotype. No significant difference was found between other 59 clefts and polymorphism. Discussion and Conclusion: The association of MTHFR C677T polymorphism with NSCLP varies from population to population. Our study found an association between the polymorphism and NSCLP. The TT genotype increased the risk of NSCLP and CT genotype reduced the risk.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) plays a key role in blood–spinal cord barrier dysfunction. MMP9 blockade leads to improved injured locomotor recovery. However, it is still unknown whether MMP9 deficiency affects gene expression or signal transduction pathways in the spinal neuron. Material and Methods: In this study, we first screen the MMP9 knockdown mice with high superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression and low MMP9 expression by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Then, the gene microarrays were used to screen differentially expressed genes in the spinal neuron from MMP-9 knockout and wild-type mice. There were six groups in this experiment, including three negative control groups: SOD_1, SOD_2, and SOD_3, and three experiment groups: SOD_ MMP9_1, SOD_ MMP9_2, and SOD_ MMP9_3. The gene ontology terms were used to predict the potential functions of these differentially expressed genes, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes was used to analyze the potential functions of these target genes in the pathways. Results: We found that the gene expression in the spinal neuron from MMP9 knockout mice was significantly altered compared to wild-type mice. FoxO signaling, axon guidance, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and proteoglycans were changed. Discussion and Conclusion: In summary, MMP9 plays a role in spinal neuron signaling and the underlying mechanism may through affecting several signaling pathways.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Introduction: Exosome (exo) is a small extracellular vesicles containing cell-derived factors, and serve to mediate the paracrine effect of cells. Despite the therapeutic potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs)-derived exo-related treatment modalities, the molecular parameters needed to define the “paracrine effect” remain largely unknown. Material and Methods: Using high-density oligonucleotide RNA sequencing, the differential gene expression profiles between a fraction of exo (derived from hADSCs) and its mesenchymal stem cells subpopulation were obtained. Results: Of particular interest was a subset of 66 genes preferentially expressed at fivefold or higher in the group treated with exo derived from hADSCs. This subset contained numerous genes involved in the angiogenesis, inflammatory response, immune response, cell cycle, cell death, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, DNA repair, RNA splicing, and secretion functions. In addition, six protein networks were constructed. The interaction network consisted of 57 proteins encoded by upregulated genes. However, the interaction network also consisted of 69 proteins encoded by downregulated genes. Discussion and Conclusion: Our results provide a basis for more reproducible and reliable quality control using genotypic analysis for the definition of hADSCs-exo. Therefore, these results will serve to provide a basis for studies of the molecular mechanisms which control the core properties of hADSCs-exo. Understanding the processes driving hADSCs-exo recruitment could prove invaluable in the development of novel, targeted therapies to selectively inhibit pathological responses in OA.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: Folic acid (FA) deficiency or its supplementation during pregnancy affects fetal development at critical periods and can cause more potentially impaired organ development through epigenetic gene regulations. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of maternal FA deficiency and/or its supplementation in diet during gestation on offspring's few major fetal organs, including brain, liver, pancreas, and kidney. Material and Methods: This experimental study was done on 18 female Wistar rats to study the effects of dietary FA intake (absence/supplementation,/normal amount) during pregnancy on the development of offspring's liver, kidney, and pancreas development. Results: The present study revealed that with maternal FA supplementation, there was increase in the number of islets in pancreas, number of hepatic lobules, and renal glomeruli in offspring, which, in turn, correlates with increased risk of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases in their later life. Discussion and Conclusion: The findings in this study support the possible negative effects of higher FA supplementation during peri-conceptional and pregnancy phase on offspring and indicates long-term health hazards in their later life.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]