A comparative study of the pterygopalatine fossa and its ganglion in a South African skeletal and cadaver population

Blocking the contents of the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is a highly effective method in alleviating pain in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and other facial pain syndromes. This, however, is not a widely used technique, due to the difficulty in locating the PPF which is obscured by bony and soft tissue structures. Despite the various unspecific techniques that have been attempted, in many cases radiography still seems to be used as it is the most effective method in locating the PPF. The aim of this study was therefore to achieve a safe and alternative method of locating the PPF including its contents without the aid of radiography. A total of 160 skulls from the Pretoria Bone Collection at the University of Pretoria were used. Distinct anatomical landmarks and the use of existing and new anthropometric measurements were used to define the location of the PPF in any individual. Regression analysis provided the strength of influence each measurement had on the location of the PPF. From the results, two mathematical formulae were devised (one for each side). These formulae were tested on 47 cadavers by substituting the measurements of each individual into the created formulas. A needle was then inserted at the calculated points, and the area around the needle dissected to determine whether or not it was in the PPF. Our results showed an accuracy of 65.22% on the right and 54.35% on the left. It is hoped that this new technique will aid researchers and clinicians alike in the management of various pain disorders as well as pain management during surgery. AFRIKAANS : Daar is bevind dat ‘n lokale verdowingsblok van die inhoud van die pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) die pyn effektief verlig vir trigeminale senuweepyn, sowel as ander pyn sindrome. Die tegniek word egter nie gereeld gebruik nie as gevolg daarvan dat dit moeilik is om die PPF te betree deurdat dit deur verskeie benige en sagte weefsels verberg word. Die literatuur beskryf verskeie onspesifieke metodes om die prosedure uit te voer, maar in die meeste gevalle moes radiografie gebruik word om sukses te behaal. Die doel van hierdie projek was om ’n alternatiewe metode te ontwikkel wat veilige en effektiewe toegang tot die PPF bied, sonder om radiografie te gebruik. ’n Totaal van 160 skedels was gebruik om anatomies landmerke en bestaande sowel as nuwe antropologiese metings te maak. Regresie analise het die sterkte van die invloed van die onderskeie metings met die pterygopalatine fossa gemeet. Vanuit die resultate van die statistiese analise is twee formules ontwerp (een vir elke kant van die gesig). Die formules was getoets op 47 kadavers deur die metings vir elke individu in die formules te plaas. ‘n Naald is dan geplaas in die uitgewerkte punt, die area om die naald was gedisekteer om te sien of die naald in die fossa en dus by die ganglion was of nie. Die resultate toon ‘n akkuraatheid van 65.22% aan die regterkant en 54.35% aan die linkerkant. Daar word gehoop dat hierdie nuwe tegniek ‘n effektiewe manier van pyn behandeling word in verskeie pyn sindrome sowel as gedurende chirurgie vir beide navorsers en chirurge.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011.Anatomyunrestricte

Data from 'The vertical distribution of buoyant plastics at sea: an observational study in the North Atlantic Gyre'

<p>This fileset provides data described in:</p> <p>Reisser, J., Slat, B., Noble, K., du Plessis, K., Epp, M., Proietti, M., de Sonneville, J., Becker, T., and Pattiaratchi, C.: The vertical distribution of buoyant plastics at sea: an observational study in the North Atlantic Gyre, Biogeosciences, 12, 1249-1256, doi:10.5194/bg-12-1249-2015, 2015.</p> <p>If you have any question/comment, please contact us at [email protected]</p

Heterogeneity in head and neck cancer incidence among black populations from Africa, the Caribbean and the USA: Analysis of cancer registry data by the AC3

International audienceBackground: Africa and the Caribbean are projected to have greater increases in Head and neck cancer (HNC) burden in comparison to North America and Europe. The knowledge needed to reinforce prevention in these populations is limited. We compared for the first time, incidence rates of HNC in black populations from African, the Caribbean and USA. Methods: Annual age-standardized incidence rates (IR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) per 100,000 were calculated for 2013-2015 using population-based cancer registry data for 14,911 HNC cases from the Caribbean (Barbados, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago, N = 443), Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, N = 772) and the United States (SEER, Florida, N = 13,696). We compared rates by sub-sites and sex among countries using data from registries with high quality and completeness. Results: In 2013-2015, compared to other countries, HNC incidence was highest among SEER states (IR: 18.2, 95%CI = 17.6-18.8) among men, and highest in Kenya (IR: 7.5, 95%CI = 6.3-8.7) among women. Nasopharyngeal cancer IR was higher in Kenya for men (IR: 3.1, 95%CI = 2.5-3.7) and women (IR: 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0-1.9). Female oral cavity cancer was also notably higher in Kenya (IR = 3.9, 95%CI = 3.0-4.9). Blacks from SEER states had higher incidence of laryngeal cancer (IR: 5.5, 95%CI = 5.2-5.8) compared to other countries and even Florida blacks (IR: 4.4, 95%CI = 3.9-5.0). Conclusion: We found heterogeneity in IRs for HNC among these diverse black populations; notably, Kenya which had distinctively higher incidence of nasopharyngeal and female oral cavity cancer. Targeted etiological investigations are warranted considering the low consumption of tobacco and alcohol among Kenyan women. Overall, our findings suggest that behavioral and environmental factors are more important determinants of HNC than race