Hair distribution on the phalanges of the hand among Punjabis in Pakistan

Data on the frequency and patterns of hair distribution on the hand are available from different parts of the world. The present study was undertaken to document the findings from Pakistan. A random sample of 500 male and 548 female medical students aged between 18-25 years of Punjab province studying in King Edward Medical College Lahore, were examined. All the cases considered in this study had Punjabi parents. It was interesting to note that absence of hair on proximal phalanges, a rare finding in Nigerians [4% in males and 5% in females] was comparable to Pakistani population [2% males and 20% In females]. Incidence of absence of hair in proximal phalanges was highest in Pakistani Punjabi females. the incidence of absence of middle phalangeal hair in Pakistani population was found very high [75.2% in males and 81.2% in females was compared to Turks and other populations. Hair were not observed on distal phalanges in this study as reported by other workers. The frequency order of presence of hair on proximal phalanx in Pakistani population was found to be 3>4>2>5 and on middle phalanx it was 5>4>3>2> which differs from 4>3>5>2> as reported in other populations. Frequency of phalangeal hair In Pakistani population [21.7%] lies in between lowest found in Africans [21%] and highest found in Europeans [70%]

Variations in the structure of the jugular forament in Pakistani human skulls

one Hundred and two well preserved adult human skulls from both sexes were studied to examine the jugular foramen with respect to shape, presence of a domed bony roof, bony septation and various openings. Length, width and height of domed bony roof were measured with a vernier caliper. The incidence of larger left jugular foramen was higher while that of right jugular foramen was found slightly lower than Nigerian and Anatolian skulls[2]. Presence of a domed bony roof shows a large difference in percentage between Pakistani and other skulls on right and left jugular foramina. Absent jugular foramen was observed on right side in two skulls and left side in one skull which is not mentioned in the text books. They were replaced by 1-3 small foramina. Height of jugular bulb was found more in 49% on right side and 21.5% cases on left side. There is a considerable difference in the structure of jugular foramina of Nigerian, Anatolian and Pakistani skulls which suggests that this could be due to racial difference

Identification / Isolation of X and Y spermatozoa

The effect of quinacrin hydrochloride [6 Chloro [9 [4 diethylaminol] 1 Methylbutyl] 2 methoxyacridine, dihydrochloride], alkalinity and polarity was noted in fifty semen specimens. The quinacrin stain showed the smaller headed sperms to contain the fluorescent spot indicative of 'Y' chromosome. Alkalinity increased the motility of 'Y' sperms. Polarity brought migration of sperms carrying Y Chromosome towards the North and X towards the south pole of the magnetic field to some extent