Population patterns of hand and finger measurements

Hend print impressions of 660 cases were taken from 4 different Afro- Asian populations: Upper Egyptians [100 males and 100 females], Saudis [100 males and 40 females], Indians [100 males and 34 females] and Philippines [98 males and 88 females]. 24 measurements were carried out on both hands and all fingers of each case to perform a standard for each population and to compare between these 4 populations. The data discover the presence of significant bisexual differences and bilateral asymmetry of almost all hand and finger parameters. Inter-populational data analysis proves that, Upper Egyptians have the greatest hand and finger parameters followed by Saudis and lastly Indians and Philippines. These variations may be attributed to several genetic, racial, geographical and climatic factors, and could be of great importance in anatomical, biological, anthropological and forensic science communities

Genetics studies on some ocular diseases

A total number of 266 patients with different ocular diseases, 72 congenital cataract, 72 squint, 66 retinal detachment and 56 errors of refraction were studied and compared with 48 normal controls. For all, complete ophthalmological examination, pedigree chart analysis and palmar and digital dermatoglyphic studies were done. The results showed positive family history of affection and consanguinity more in patients with congenital cataract and squint. Dermatoglyphic configurations on finger trips showed more frequent whorls and arches and less frequent loops in patients with ocular diseases, specially those with squint. Dermatoglyphic genetic traits revealed significant decrease in TFRC and significant increase in atd angle and a-b ridge count in ocular diseases. Moreover, the results proved that the frequency of abnormal palmar flexion creases was higher in patients with congenital cataract and squint. All these findings may predispose to a possible hereditary bases for tendency of affection in the studied ocular diseases, especially congenital cataract and squint

Ultrasound measurement of fetal foot length, fetal kidney length and distal femoral epiphyseal diameter as predictors of gestational age

Obstetric ultrasound examinations were carried out on 458 pregnant women between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation. Examinations involved measurement of fetal foot length [FFL], fetal kidney length [FKL] and distal femoral epiphyseal diameter [DFE], in addition to determination of fetal sex. The study provided standard growth tables for each of the three parameters during the second half of pregnancy. Comparison between male and female fetuses has shown constantly longer FFL in male which was occasionally significant, similar FKL in both sexes and slightly bigger DFE in female fetuses than in males. In conclusion, the three parameters could be of additional helpful value in estimating gestational age and fetal maturity. Sex differences may have some influence which should be considered during plotting the growth curves, but this would require further studies

Post-natal studies on the cell density and thickness of the articular cartilage of rabbit

A total number of 24 rabbits divided into 6 groups [at birth, 20, 40 60, 80 days and 6 months] was used in this work. The total and zonal cell density and cartilage thickness were measured at the femoral condyles. The total cell density was decreased rapidly during maturation and slowly at mature age. This reduction may attributed to interposition of matrix during maturation and cell degeneration and necrosis in adult age. The zonal cell density was decreased with increased distance from the joint surface. The total thickness of the articular cartilage was gradually decreased during maturation up to adult age. This reduction may be due to remodeling of the bone ends that accelerated with age. The zonal thickness was observed to decrease with the advancement of age, while within the same age, it was increased as the distance from the cartilage surface was increased. These variations were in direct proportional to the load and weight bearing as well as to the mechanical stress

Histological and histochemical studies on the post-natal development of the articular cartilage of rabbit

A total number of 24 rabbits divided into six age groups [at birth, 20,70,60,80 days and 6 months] was used in this work. For each age group general histological and histochemical studies of the articular cartilage starts to differentiate at the age of 20 days and becomes well defined and differentiated into four layers at the age of 80 days. In adult articular cartilage, the junction between the third and fourth layers termed the tide-mark. The amount and density of the collagen fibers increased with age. They were parallel to the articular surface at the first layer and prependicular to it otherwise. The reaction for polysaccharides is negative in immature cartilage and becomes highly positive in the advancing ages. In immature stage a high metachromosia allover the cartilage was fund. Less intense metachromasia was seen as the age increase. In mature stage metachromasia was negative in the first and fourth layer and positive in the second and third layers

Genetic studies on the different types of leprosy

A total number of 150 patients with different types of leprosy: 48 lepromatous, 50 indeterminate and 52 tuberculoid type was used and compared with a similar number of normal controls. For all, complete clinical examination, pedigree chart and palmar and digital dermatoglyphics were done. The results revealed positive family history of affection and consanguinity more in lepromatous than in tuberculoid and indeterminate types. Dermatoglyphic configurations on finger tips showed that lepromatous type had a marked frequent whorls specially in right IV and left II digits. Tuberculoid leprosy had common ulnar loop specially in left III and V and in right and left I digits. Indeterminate type had frequent whorls in right and left II and IV digits and a frequent ulnar loop in right and left I, III and V digits. Dermatoglyphic genetic traits revealed significant increase in T.F.R.C. in the indeterminate type and the atd angle in tuberculoid type. Moreover, the results proved that the frequency of abnormal palmar flexion creases was higher in lepromatous and indeterminate types of leprosy. All these findings may predispose a possible hereditary basis for tendency of affection with leprosy specially in lepromatous and the indeterminate types

Dermatoglyphic genetic traits and digital patterns in Jubian and Upper Egyptian populations

Finger and palm prints of 200 males and 200 females of Jubian population were examined in an attempt to establish their dermatoglyphic configurations. The results were compared with those of a similar number of Upper Egyptians. Both sexes of both populations had the same formula of total pattern frequency on finger tips [Lu W A Lr]. The right thumb in Upper Egyptian males and right index in both Upper Egyptian sexes showed a higher frequency of whorls than ulnar loops. Radial loops showed a higher frequency of whorls than ulnar loops. Radial loops showed also a higher frequency than arches in the left index and left little fingers in Upper Egyptian males and right ring in Upper Egyptian females. In Jubian females, arches were more frequent than whorls in the left ring finger. The Jubian population showed significantly lower values of the right hand, left hand and in total finger ridge counts in both sexes compared with upper Egyptians. Unlike the Upper Egyptians, the Jubians showed significant bisexual difference in the a-b ridge count and atd angle in both hands

Mechanoreceptors of the cruciate ligament of rabbit

This study was undertaken to identify the mechanoreceptors in the cruciate ligament of rabbit. Ten fresh ligaments were taken from dissected knee joints of adult rabbits and stained immediately according to a modification of gold chloride technique. Three types of nerve endings [mechanoreceptors] were observed in the surrounding connective tissue and the septa between collagen fibers of the ligaments. The receptors of type I were ovoid or spherical, type II were elongated and tortuous and type III were fusiform in shape. Each type receptors had a capsule of variable lamellae, pierced by a myelinated nerve axon. These mechanoreceptors seemed to provide the central nervous system with information pertaining the position of joint and the tension applied to the ligament during animal locomotion and posture

Quantitative studies of body weight, length, weight and length velocities of Assiut infants and preschool children

The present study was carried out in an attempt to construct growth standards for body weight and length, weight and length velocities as well as establishment of percentile charts for body weight and length for body weight and length for infants and young children. A total number of about one thousand male and female infants and young children aged from birth till the end of the sixth year were included in the present study. Each infant and child was subjected to measurements of body weight and length. Statistical analysis of the raw data was carried out. The present study indicated that the mean birth weight was 3700 gms for boys and 3400 gms. for girls. It was noticed that the birth weight is doubled by the age of 6 months and tripled by the age of 2 years. By the age of 4 years the birth weight is quadrepled and by the age of 6 years the body weight is about 6 times of its birth weight. The present study indicated also, that the mean recumbent length was 554 mm for boys and 542 mm for girls. By the age of 2 years the body length is about one and half of its birth length and by the age of 5 years the birth length is doubled. The growth rates indicated that the infantile component of growth velocity occurred early in infancy at the age of 0-6 mo-interval. There is also, two other growth velocities in childhood, one occurred early in childhood 2-3 years interval and the other occurred later at the age 5 1/2-6 year interval. These growth standards as well as the percentile growth charts are of great importance in assessment of growth of infants and young child in our locality