Association of ghrelin and leptin with reproductive hormones in constitutional delay of growth and puberty

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is a variation of the onset and timing of pubertal development without a defined endocrine abnormality. Recently published studies indicate that leptin and ghrelin play a role in puberty initiation and progress. They have been implicated in regulation of GnRH secretion, with ghrelin having inhibitory and leptin, facilitatory effects. We hypothesized that elevated ghrelin and reduced leptin concentrations could be implicated in altering the tempo of puberty in adolescents with CDGP. So in the current study we evaluate variations in leptin and ghrelin levels in adolescent boys with CDGP, the relationships between both hormones and reproductive hormones including LH, FSH and testosterone were also evaluated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study enrolled 23 adolescent boys with CDGP and 20 healthy controls matched for age and sex. Weight, height, BMI, testicular volume, bone age, bone age delay, serum FSH, LH, testosterone, leptin and ghrelin were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Adolescent boys with CDGP had significantly lower leptin and higher ghrelin than normal controls. Leptin was positively correlated with BMI, bone age, testicular volume, FSH, LH and testosterone and negatively correlated with delayed bone age and ghrelin. Ghrelin was negatively correlated with BMI, bone age, testicular volume, FSH, LH and testosterone. With multiple regression analysis BMI, FSH, LH, testosterone and ghrelin remained independently correlated with leptin while BMI, LH and testosterone remained independently correlated with ghrelin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Elevated serum ghrelin and decreased leptin concentrations and their associations with reproductive hormones may explain the sexual immaturity in adolescent boys with CDGP.</p

Anatomical study of the carotid bifurcation and origin variations of the ascending pharyngeal and superior thyroid arteries

Background: Human anatomy texts in current use have very little precise information as to the frequency of variations in the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, and a clear description of the relation between external and internal carotid arteries as well as the variation of the origin of the ascending pharyngeal and superior thyroid arteries is limited. Material and methods: Sixty common carotid arteries in the sagittal section of the head and neck of 30 human adult cadavers were obtained from the Anatomy Department of King Abdulaziz University. The data collected were analysed using the Chi square-test. Results: The carotid bifurcation was at the level of the superior border of the thyroid cartilage in 48.3% of cases, 25% were opposite the hyoid bone, and 18.3% were at the level between the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone. The bifurcation appeared at a lower level than the superior border of the thyroid cartilage in 5% of cases, while in 3.3% of cases the bifurcation level was seen higher than the hyoid bone. The usual anteromedial position of the external carotid artery to the internal carotid artery was found in 51.7% of cases, whereas it was medial to the internal carotid artery in 36.7% of cases. In 10% it was seen in an anterior position and only in 1.7% the external carotid artery was lateral to the internal carotid artery. In 93.3% of the cases the ascending pharyngeal artery originated from one root, while in the remaining 6.7% of cases it originated from two roots. In 80% of cases the superior thyroid artery arose from the external carotid artery. In 18.3% of cases it originated from the common carotid artery, and in 1.7% it arose from a thyrolingofacial trunk. Conclusions: The carotid bifurcation can occur as high as the hyoid bone, or as low as the cricoid cartilage. The anteromedial position of the external carotid artery (ECA) in relation to the internal carotid artery (ICA) was the most common anatomical position. The origins and configurations of the ascending pharyngeal artery and the superior thyroid artery are variable. (Folia Morphol 2011; 70, 1: 47-55

Anatomical variations of the hand extensors

This study was performed to investigate the anatomy and variations of the humanextensor tendons of the fingers and their intertendinous connections. Ninetyfive upper limbs of adult cadavers were dissected. The variations in the extensortendons of the fingers, both proximal and distal to the extensor retinaculum, andtheir mode of insertion were observed. Also, the intertendinous connections wereexplored and the obtained data were analysed. The extensor pollicis longus andbrevis tendons were found to be single, doubled or, rarely, absent. Their insertioncould be traced to either the proximal phalanx, or through the extensor expansionto both phalanges, or rarely to the distal phalanx of thumb. The extensor indicishad a single tendon in all specimens. In the majority of specimens, extensor digitorumhad no independent slip to the little finger; it gave off a single tendonto the index, double tendons to the middle finger and triple tendons to the ringfinger. Extensor digiti minimi muscle often had double or triple tendons distal tothe extensor retinaculum. Three types of juncturae tendinum (JT) were identifiedbetween the tendons of extensor digitorum in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th intermetacarpalspaces (IMS) of hands. Types 1 and 2 JT were seen in the three IMS. Type 3 JTwas the most frequently identified of all juncturae and was always absent in the2nd IMS. The percentages of the present data were compared with other researchers’data

Sequence stratigraphic evolution of The post-rift MEGASEQUENCE in The northern part of The Nile Delta basin, Egypt

The stratigraphic succession of the subsurface Pliocene-Quaternary post-rift megasequence in the north-central part of the Nile Delta includes the rock units; Kafr El-Sheikh Formation (Early-Middle Pliocene), El- Wastani Formation (Late Pliocene), Mit-Ghamr and Bilqas formations (Quaternary). These rock units were analyzed according to the sequence stratigraphic principles to construct their stratigraphic architecture and discuss the depositional events influencing their evolution. Accordingly, seven 3rd order depositional sequences were encountered, of which six 3rd order seismic depositional sequences (sequences 1–6) are found in the Early–Middle Pliocene Kafr El-Sheikh Formation, whereas sequence-7 includes the Quaternary rock units. Sequences 1 and 7 were further subdivided, on the basis of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy into 8 and 11 4th order subsequences respectively. The results of the sequence stratigraphic analyses suggested that the depositional evolution of the examined Pliocene-Quaternary megasequence represents a complete prograding depositional phase during the Nile Delta history. The lower part of Kafr El-Sheikh Formation (sequences 1, 2, 3 and 4) was deposited as a thick outer marine shelf succession over which the younger rock units were deposited. However, the depositional sequences 5 & 6 of Kafr El-Sheikh Formation and the lower parts of El-Wastani Formations may indicate a deposition within active prograding prodelta sub-aqueous deltaic-subenvironments. The upper parts of El-Wastani Formation were deposited as a constructive delta-front pushing its way northward. The Pleistocene Mit-Ghamr Formation was evolved as a direct result of a huge fluvial input, organized as coalescing laterally extensive sand-rich bars. These were laid-down by active fluvial distributary streams that dominated the delta plain as the final phases of the present deltaic subaqueous environments