Prevalence of birth defects in an Arctic Russian setting from 1973 to 2011: a register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Birth defects (BD) constitute an important public health issue as they are the main cause of infant death. Their prevalence in Europe for 2008-2012 was 25.6 per 1000 newborns. To date, there are no population-based studies for the Russian Federation. The aim of the present study is to estimate the prevalence of BD, its forms, and changes over time in the Russian Arctic city of Monchegorsk (Murmansk County) for the period 1973-2011. METHODS: The Murmansk County Birth Register and the Kola Birth Register were the primary sources of information, covering 30448 pregnancy outcomes in Monchegorsk (Murmansk County, Russia) during the study period. RESULTS: The total perinatal prevalence of BD was 36.1/1000 live births (LB) and stillborn (SB) (95% CI = 34.0-38.2). After exclusions of minor malformations according to the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies guidelines, it decreased to 26.5/1000 LB plus SB (95% CI = 24.6-28.3). The perinatal prevalence of BD that are obligatory to report in Russia was 7.3/1000 LB plus SB (95% CI = 6.4-8.3). There was a significant positive time-trend in total perinatal prevalence of birth defects across the study period (p < 0.001 for trend). Prevalence of all BD increased from 23.5/1000 to 46.3/1000 (LB plus SB), while that excluding minor defects rose from 17.7/1000 to 35.7/1000 (LB plus SB). The most prevalent group of defects was malformations of the musculoskeletal system, which represented 35.4% of all BD. The most prominent increase was observed for the urinary system, rising from 0.2/1000 to 19.1/1000 (LB plus SB). CONCLUSIONS: The observed perinatal prevalence of BD in Monchegorsk increased two-fold during the 38-year study period. Further investigations to identify the underlying bases for the observed progressive growth in BD are recommended.

Prevalence of agenesis of the palmaris longus muscle in Brazil and its clinics correlation

Introduction: The palmaris longus muscle it is considered one of the most variable muscles in the human body, and its agenesis is the most frequent anatomic variation. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of unilateral and bilateral agenesis of palmaris longus muscle for the subjects in the city of Jataí, Goiás. Material and methods: 740 subjects, 279 men and 461 women, in the age of 10-70 years old, were observed through clinical inspection in both forearms to absence of the tendon of palmaris. The data were described in percentage values and the absence of the muscle was analyzed statistically (Chi square test; P < 0.05). Results: The bilateral presence was identified in 73.5%, the absence on the left side in 7.8%, on the right in 6.5% and bilateral absence was observed in 12.2% of subjects. Among women and men the percentage values was 9.3%, 7.3%, 13.1% and 5.4%, 5%, 10.7%, respectively to agenesis in left side, in right side and bilateral agenesis. The unilateral/bilateral agenesis was more frequent in women (29.7%) than in men (21.1%; P < 0.05). Bilateral absence was 12.4% in right handed subjects and 9.1% in left handed subjects (P > 0.05). Left and right handed subjects showed absence of muscle similar in both forearms (P > 0.05). Conclusion: most subjects studied showed bilateral presence of palmaris longus muscle, the agenesis was significantly more common in women and with similar percentage in right and left handed subjects.

An anatomical study on the three-headed biceps brachii in human foetuses, and clinical relevance.

The biceps brachii (BB) is as one of the most variable muscles in the human body in terms of number and morphology of its heads. The most frequent variation is the presence of a third head, which has been reported by several authors in different populations. Our aim was to find the occurrence of the supernumerary head of BB in Turkish foetuses. Out of the 24 upper limbs of the foetuses, two (8.33%) arms were found to have a three-headed BB. The variations were present unilaterally in the right arm of one male foetus and one female foetus. In one of the cases, the third head of BB originated from the anteromedial aspect of the humerus just distal to the insertion of the coracobrachilais, medial to the brachialis, and in the other the third head was a thin muscle bundle, which arose on the lateral side of the insertion of coracobrachialis and over the origin of the brachialis. Both of them were extended distally and joined the common tendon. The occasional presence of the three-headed BB in the foetuses observed in the present study was similar to those of adults reported in previous studies. In conclusion, these variations are not rare and are interesting not only to anatomists but also to orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, traumatologists, physiotherapists, doctors dealing with sports medicine, and radiologists.

Radiological analysis of ponticulus posticus in Koreans.

PURPOSE: Since there has been little reporting on the prevalence or morphologic characteristics of ponticulus posticus in Asians, we retrospectively reviewed cervical 3-dimensional CT scan images and plain radiographs which had been ordered by neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons for evaluation of cervical spine problems to investigate the prevalence and morphologic features of the ponticulus posticus in Koreans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The presence and types of ponticulus posticus were investigated on 200 consecutive cervical 3-D CT scans. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients, 48 ponticulus posticus, complete or partial, bilateral or unilateral, were identified on the 200 cervical 3-D CT scans; therefore, the prevalence was 15.5% in our patient population. In plain radiographs analysis, the prevalence was 6.95%. CONCLUSION: The ponticulus posticus is a relatively common anomaly in Koreans. Therefore, proper identification of this anomaly on preoperative lateral radiographs should alert surgeons to avoid using the ponticulus posticus as a starting point for a lateral mass screw. Because of its size and shape have wide variation, 3-D CT scanning should be considered before lateral mass screw placement into the posterior arch if its presence is suspected or confirmed on radiographs.

Radiological Analysis of Ponticulus Posticus in Koreans

PURPOSE: Since there has been little reporting on the prevalence or morphologic characteristics of ponticulus posticus in Asians, we retrospectively reviewed cervical 3-dimensional CT scan images and plain radiographs which had been ordered by neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons for evaluation of cervical spine problems to investigate the prevalence and morphologic features of the ponticulus posticus in Koreans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The presence and types of ponticulus posticus were investigated on 200 consecutive cervical 3-D CT scans. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients, 48 ponticulus posticus, complete or partial, bilateral or unilateral, were identified on the 200 cervical 3-D CT scans; therefore, the prevalence was 15.5% in our patient population. In plain radiographs analysis, the prevalence was 6.95%. CONCLUSION: The ponticulus posticus is a relatively common anomaly in Koreans. Therefore, proper identification of this anomaly on preoperative lateral radiographs should alert surgeons to avoid using the ponticulus posticus as a starting point for a lateral mass screw. Because of its size and shape have wide variation, 3-D CT scanning should be considered before lateral mass screw placement into the posterior arch if its presence is suspected or confirmed on radiographs.

Third head of biceps brachii in an Indian population.

INTRODUCTION: The biceps brachii is one of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the upper arm. It is characteristically described as a two-headed muscle that originates proximally by a long head and a short head. The present study was carried out to find the occurrence of a third head of biceps brachii among a sample Indian population from the southern coastal part. METHODS: The arms of 42 cadavers were dissected and observed for variations in the origin and insertion of biceps brachii muscle bilaterally. The cadavers were embalmed and preserved in ten percent formalin. RESULTS: Among 42 arms studied, three had biceps brachii with three heads on the right side. The third head was of humeral origin, which inserted into the radial tuberosity by a common tendon with the long and short heads. The results of the present study compared with that of previous studies from medical literature shows that the occurrence of a third head of the biceps brachii muscle is relatively rare in Indians. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the existence of the third head of biceps brachii may become significant in preoperative diagnosis and during surgery of the upper limb.

Ethnic differences in congenital malformations in the Netherlands: analyses of a 5-year birth cohort.

Congenital malformations are among the major causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity at present. Research into the ethnic diversity of congenital malformations can form a basis both for aetiological studies and for health care advice and planning. This study compared the overall prevalence of congenital malformations, the prevalence in different organ systems and of several specific malformations between different maternal ethnic groups in the Netherlands using a 5-year national birth cohort (1996-2000) containing 881 800 births. Maternal ethnic groups considered were Dutch; Mediterranean (Moroccan/Turkish); other European; Black; Hindu and Asian. Mediterranean women had a 20% higher risk of having a child with a congenital malformation than Dutch women (age-adjusted OR = 1.21 [95% CI 1.16, 1.27]). They showed an increased risk of malformations in several organ systems such as the central nervous system and sensory organs, the urogenital system and skin and abdominal wall. Further, they had an increased risk of the group of chromosomal malformations/multiple malformations/syndromes. For the specific group of multiple malformations the maternal age adjusted OR was 1.80 [95% CI 1.47, 2.20]. The Black group showed a significantly increased risk of skeletal and muscular malformations (age adjusted OR = 1.76 [95% CI 1.53, 2.02]) with a sixfold increased risk of polydactyly compared with the Dutch group. For Mediterranean women, the largest and fastest growing group of immigrants in the Netherlands, this study demonstrated an increased risk of congenital malformations.