Anatomic variations of the popliteal artery branches in present Spaniard population

The popliteal region presents a wide range of vascular anomalies. The correct diagnosis of these anatomical variations plays a key role in success of diverse surgical procedures. In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of the anatomic patterns of the popliteal artery branches in a sample of present Spaniard population. This is a retrospective single-center study. 1633 (97.72%) computed tomography angiography images of the popliteal artery branches were studied from a total sample of 840 Spaniard subjects that underwent a computed tomography angiography study, 695 males (82.73%) and 145 women (17.26%), aged between 18 and 97 years. The applied statistics were multivariate models for repeated measures, Student’s t-test, and Pearson’s chi-square test. Our results show that the Kim’s et al. (1989) IA (“normal” pattern) was observed in 1507 limbs (92.28%), while the IB and IC were observed in 24 (1.46%) and 6 (0.36%) limbs respectively. The IIA-1 and IIA-2 patterns were observed in 19 (1.16%) and 27 (1.65%) subjects, while the IIB and IIC in 15 (0.91%) and 1 (0.06%) subjects. Finally, the IIIA, IIIB, IIIC patterns were observed in 24 (1.46%), 5 (0.30%) and 5 (0.30%) subjects respectively. There were no significant differences between men and women, nor between the right and left limbs. In conclusion, approximately 8% of Spaniard subjects present branching anatomic patterns of the popliteal artery different of the normal IA pattern, thus it should be taken into account in clinical practice

Association between ribs shape and pulmonary function in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that ribs shape changes in patients with OI are more relevant for respiratory function than thoracic spine shape. We used 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify rib cage morphology in OI patients and controls, and to investigate its relationship with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), expressed as absolute value and as percentage of predicted value (% pred). Regression analyses on the full sample showed a significant relation between rib shape and FEV1, FVC and FVC % pred whereas thoracic spine shape was not related to any parameter. Subsequent regression analyses on OI patients confirmed significant relations between dynamic lung volumes and rib shape changes. Lower FVC and FEV1 values are identified in OI patients that present more horizontally aligned ribs, a greater antero-posterior depth due to extreme transverse curve at rib angles and a strong spine invagination, greater asymmetry, and a vertically short, thoracolumbar spine, which is relatively straight in at levels 1–8 and shows a marked kyphosis in the thoraco-lumbar transition. Our research seems to support that ribs shape is more relevant for ventilator mechanics in OI patients than the spine shapeThis project was funded by grants of the Fundacion Eresa (grant number: BF14_005), the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (grant number: CGL2015-63648-P), the Care4Brittlebones Foundation (grant number: OTR2016-15543INVES), and the University of Valencia (grant number: UV-INV_AE18-773873)

Acute headache attributed to whiplash in arcuate foramen and non-arcuate foramen subjects

Purpose: To test the association between arcuate foramen (AF) in the first cervical vertebra with acute headache attributed to whiplash. Methods: Retrospective study of 128 patients that suffered a whiplash. The presence or absence of AF was recorded after a radiographic study, as well as the presence or absence of acute headache after the whiplash. Results: The frequency of AF was 17.2%. Patients with bilateral AF presented a significant (p = 0.000, Fisher’s test) increase in the frequency of acute headache (90.9%) in comparison with the non-AF group (5.7%). The ratio between the presence and absence of acute headache was 166.6 times higher (IC 95% 18.2–1526.22) in subjects with bilateral AF in comparison with non-AF subjects. Conclusions: The presence of bilateral AF is associated to an increased frequency of acute headache after suffering a whiplash, information of interest for the attention to these patients.Peer Reviewe

Acute headache attributed to whiplash in arcuate foramen and non-arcuate foramen subjects

Purpose To test the association between arcuate foramen (AF) in the first cervical vertebra with acute headache attributed to whiplash. Methods Retrospective study of 128 patients that suffered a whiplash. The presence or absence of AF was recorded after a radiographic study, as well as the presence or absence of acute headache after the whiplash. Results The frequency of AF was 17.2%. Patients with bilateral AF presented a significant (p = 0.000, Fisher’s test) increase in the frequency of acute headache (90.9%) in comparison with the non-AF group (5.7%). The ratio between the presence and absence of acute headache was 166.6 times higher (IC 95% 18.2–1526.22) in subjects with bilateral AF in comparison with non-AF subjects. Conclusions The presence of bilateral AF is associated to an increased frequency of acute headache after suffering a whiplash, information of interest for the attention to these patients.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Krapina atlases suggest a high prevalence of anatomical variations in the first cervical vertebra of Neanderthals

The first cervical vertebra, atlas, and its anatomical variants have been widely studied in Homo sapiens. However, in Neanderthals, the presence of anatomical variants of the atlas has been very little studied until very recently. Only the Neanderthal group from the El Sidrón site (Spain) has been analysed with regard to the anatomical variants of the atlas. A high prevalence of anatomical variants has been described in this sample, which points to low genetic diversity in this Neanderthal group. Even so, the high prevalence of anatomical variations detected in El Sidrón Neanderthal atlases needs to be confirmed by analysing more Neanderthal remains. In this context, we analysed the possible presence of anatomical variants in the three Neanderthal atlases recovered from the Krapina site (Croatia) within the Neanderthal lineage. Two of the three Krapina atlases presented anatomical variations. One atlas (Krapina 98) had an unclosed transverse foramen and the other (Krapina 99) presented a non-fused anterior atlas arch. Moreover, an extended review of the bibliography also showed these anatomical variations in other Middle and Upper Pleistocene hominins, leading us to hypothesise that anatomical variations of the atlas had a higher prevalence in extinct hominins than in modern humans.This research was funded by grants from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (grant number: CGL2015‐63648‐P) and the University of Valencia (grant number: UV‐INV_AE18‐773873). D.G.M. is funded by the Juan de la Cierva Formación programme (FJCI‐2017‐32157), from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

The Role of the Thoracic Spine during Breathing in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Combined Traditional Morphometry and 3D Geometric Morphometrics Research

OsteogenesisImperfecta (OI) is a rare disease with respiratory problems, which are usually attributed to the secondary effects of scoliosis and rib fractures and to severe restrictive pulmonary disease. Conventional morphometry has already been studied in OI patients but three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (3D GMM) has never been used to assess how the thoracic spine shape changes during maximal breathing. A total of 6 adult subjects with OI type III and 16 healthy controls underwent a spirometric study and two computed tomography scans in maximal inspiration and expiration. Shape data by means of 3D GMM and Cobb angle values of scoliosis and kyphosis were obtained and their relationship with spirometric values was analysed using regressions and mean shape comparisons. No differences in kyphosis (p = 0.285) and scoliosis Cobb values (p = 0.407) were found between inspiration and expiration in OI patients. The 3D GMM analysis revealed significant shape differences between OI and control subjects (p < 0.001) that were related to the inspiration (p = 0.030) and not to the expiration (p = 0.079). Nevertheless, no significant relation was found between thoracic spine shape, scoliosis, kyphosis and breathing outcomes in both OI patients and controls. There were thoracic spine shape differences during maximal breathing between OI patients and controls that were mainly related to the inspiration

Assessing thoraco-pelvic covariation in Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes: A 3D geometric morphometric approach

[Objectives]: Understanding thoraco-pelvic integration in Homo sapiens and their closest living relatives (genus Pan) is of great importance within the context of human body shape evolution. However, studies assessing thoraco-pelvic covariation across Hominoidea species are scarce, although recent research would suggest shared covariation patterns in humans and chimpanzees but also species-specific features, with sexual dimorphism and allometry influencing thoraco-pelvic covariation in these taxa differently.[Material and Methods]: N = 30 adult H. sapiens and N = 10 adult Pan troglodytes torso 3D models were analyzed using 3D geometric morphometrics and linear measurements. Effects of sexual dimorphism and allometry on thoraco-pelvic covariation were assessed via regression analyses, and patterns of thoraco-pelvic covariation in humans and chimpanzees were computed via Two-Block Partial Least Squares analyses.[Results]: Results confirm the existence of common aspects of thoraco-pelvic covariation in humans and chimpanzees, and also species-specific covariation in H. sapiens that is strongly influenced by sexual dimorphism and allometry. Species-specific covariation patterns in chimpanzees could not be confirmed because of the small sample size, but metrics point to a correspondence between the most caudal ribs and iliac crest morphology that would be irrespective of sex.[Conclusions]: This study suggests that humans and chimpanzees share common aspects of thoraco-pelvic covariation but might differ in others. In humans, torso integration is strongly influenced by sexual dimorphism and allometry, whilst in chimpanzees it may not be. This study also highlights the importance not only of torso widths but also of torso depths when describing patterns of thoraco-pelvic covariation in primates. Larger samples are necessary to support these interpretations.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad: Grant/Award Number: CGL-2015-63648-P

3D geometric morphometric analysis of variation in the human lumbar spine

[Objectives]: The shape of the human lumbar spine is considered to be a consequence of erect posture. In addition, several other factors such as sexual dimorphism and variation in genetic backgrounds also influence lumbar vertebral morphology. Here we use 3D geometric morphometrics (GM) to analyze the 3D morphology of the lumbar spine in different human populations, exploring those potential causes of variation.[Material and methods]: We collected 390 (semi) landmarks from 3D models of the CT scans of lumbar spines of seven males and nine females from a Mediterranean population (Spain, Israel) and seven males and either females from a South African population for geometric morphometric (GM) analysis. We carried out Generalized Procrustes Analysis, Principal Components, and Regression analyses to evaluate shape variation; and complemented these analyses with the Cobb Method.[Results]: The Mediterranean sample was considerably more lordotic than the South African sample. In both populations, female lumbar spines showed proportionally narrower and more craniocaudally elongated lumbar segments than in males. In addition, the point of maximum curvature in females tended to be located more inferiorly than in males.[Discussion]: Our results show that sexual dimorphism is an important factor of lumbar spine variation that mainly affects features of lumbar spine robustness (height proportions) and the structure—but not the degree—of its curvature. Differences in lordosis, however, are clearer at the inter-population level. This reflects previous conflicting studies casting doubts on pregnancy as an adaptive factor influencing lordosis. Other factors, for example, shape of the individual lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs and their relative proportions within the lumbar spine should be considered when exploring variation in vertebral column morphology.This research is funded by CGL‐2015‐63648‐P (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Spain) and Project BF14_005 (ERESA Clinic Research Foundation Valencia)

Association between ribs shape and pulmonary function in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that ribs shape changes in patients with OI are more relevant for respiratory function than thoracic spine shape. We used 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify rib cage morphology in OI patients and controls, and to investigate its relationship with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), expressed as absolute value and as percentage of predicted value (% pred). Regression analyses on the full sample showed a significant relation between rib shape and FEV1, FVC and FVC % pred whereas thoracic spine shape was not related to any parameter. Subsequent regression analyses on OI patients confirmed significant relations between dynamic lung volumes and rib shape changes. Lower FVC and FEV1 values are identified in OI patients that present more horizontally aligned ribs, a greater antero-posterior depth due to extreme transverse curve at rib angles and a strong spine invagination, greater asymmetry, and a vertically short, thoraco-lumbar spine, which is relatively straight in at levels 1–8 and shows a marked kyphosis in the thoraco-lumbar transition. Our research seems to support that ribs shape is more relevant for ventilator mechanics in OI patients than the spine shape.This project was funded by grants of the Fundacion Eresa (grant number: BF14_005), the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (grant number: CGL2015-63648-P), the Care4 Brittlebones Foundation (grant number: OTR2016-15543INVES), and the University of Valencia (grant number: UV-INV_AE18-773873)