Tensor fasciae latae muscle in human embryos and foetuses with special reference to its contribution to the development of the iliotibial tract

Background: The human tensor fasciae latae muscle (TFL) is inserted into the iliotibial tract and plays a critical role in lateral stabilisation of the hip joint. We previously described a candidate of the initial iliotibial tract that originated from the gluteus maximus muscle and extended distally. Materials and methods: This study extended our observations by examining 30 human embryos and foetuses of gestational age (GA) 7–14 weeks (crown-to-rump length 24–108 mm). At GA 7 weeks, the TFL appeared as a small muscle mass floating in the subcutaneous tissue near the origins of the gluteus medius and rectus femoris muscles. Results: Subsequently, the TFL obtained an iliac origin adjacent to the rectus femoris tendon, but the distal end remained a tiny fibrous mass on the vastus lateralis muscle. Until GA 10 weeks, the TFL muscle fibres were inserted into a vastus lateralis fascia that joined the quadriceps tendon distally. The next stage consisted of the TFL muscle belly “connecting” the vastus fascia and the gluteus fascia, including our previous candidate of the initial iliotibial tract. Until GA 14 weeks, the TFL was sandwiched by two laminae of the connecting fascia. Conclusions: These findings suggested that, when the vastus lateralis fascia separated from the quadriceps tendon to attach to the tibia, possibly after birth, the resulting iliotibial tract would consist of a continuous longitudinal band from the gluteus maximus fascia, via the vastus fascia, to the tibia. Although it is a small muscle, the foetal TFL plays a critical role in the development of the iliotibial tract

Changes in topographical relation between the ductus arteriosus and left subclavian artery in human embryos: a study using serial sagittal sections

Background: At birth, the ductus arteriosus (DA) merges with the aortic arch in the slightly caudal side of the origin of the left subclavian artery (SCA). Since the SCAs (7th segmental arteries) were fixed on the level of the 7th cervical-first thoracic vertebral bodies, the confluence of DA should migrate caudally. We aimed to describe timing and sequence of the topographical change using serial sagittal sections of 36 human embryos and foetuses (CRL 8–64 mm; 5–10 weeks), Those made easy evaluation of the vertebral levels possible in a few section. Materials and methods: The DA or 6th pharyngeal arch artery seemed to slide down in front of the sympathetic nerve trunk along 1.0–1.2 mm from the second cervical vertebral level at 5–6 weeks and, at 6 weeks (CRL 14–17 mm), the DA confluence with aorta reached the 7th cervical level. Because of the highly elongated common carotid artery, the sliding of DA confluence seemed to be much shorter than the cervical vertebrae growing from 1 mm to 2.4 mm. Results: At the final topographical change at 6–7 weeks, the DA confluence further descended to a site 1-vertebral length below the left SCA origin. From 6 to 9 weeks, a distance from the top of the aortic arch to the left SCA origin was almost stable: 0.3–0.5 mm at 6 weeks and 0.4–0.6 mm at 9 weeks. Conclusions: The heart descent and the caudal extension of the trachea and bronchi, those occurred before the DA sliding, were likely to be a major driving force for the sliding

Reappraisal of the ligament of Henle (ligamentum inguinale internum mediale; Henle, 1871): a topohistological study using Korean foetuses

Ligament of Henle is one of muscle-associated connective tissues of the rectusabdominis muscle, but it has been confused with the conjoint tendon (a common aponeurosis for insertion of the inferomedial end of the obliquus internusand transversus abdominis muscles). To reconsider the inguinal connective tissue structures, we examined 20 mid-term foetuses (10 males and 10 females) at approximately 14–20 weeks of gestation (crown rump length 100–170 mm). In female horizontal sections, we consistently found the ligament of Henle asa wing-like aponeurosis extending from the lateral margin of the rectus tendonbehind the superficial inguinal ring. The ligament was separated from and located behind the conjoint tendon. In all male foetuses, instead of the ligament, the conjoint tendon was evident behind the superficial ring and it winded around the posterior aspect of the spermatic cord. Therefore, although a limited number ofspecimens were examined, the ligament of Henle was likely to be a female-specificstructure. The ligament of Henle, if developed well, may provide an arch-likestructure suitable for a name “falx inguinalis” instead of the inferomedial end ofthe conjoint tendon. In addition, a covering fascia of the iliopsoas muscle joined the posterior wall of the inguinal canal in male, but not in female, specimens

Individual variations in the vascular content of retrodiscal tissue in the temporomandibular joint: a study using histological sections of human foetuses and magnetic resonance images of adults without pathology

The vascular content of retrodiscal tissue in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) plays a critical role in joint function, and its morphology is therefore likely relatedto TMJ pain. Using histological sections of human foetuses as well as T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI), we measured the vascular content of retrodiscal tissue. MRI showing no pathology in and around the TMJ were obtained from18 young patients who had been suffering from headache. In 10 small foetuses (12–14 weeks of gestation) as well as 10 larger foetuses (30–37 weeks), the vascular content showed individual variations exceeding 5 times the minimum value (0.24 vs. 0.04 mm2 per 1 mm2), but no difference between foetal stages was evident. In the MRI from young adults, the variation was less than twice the minimum value (13.6 vs. 8.7 mm2 per 100 mm2). The vascular density appeared to be lower in adults than in foetuses. In both foetuses and adults, the thickness (anteroposterior length) of the tissue did not correlate with the vascular sectional area. These findings suggest that the considerable inter-individual differences evident in the vascular content of foetal retrodiscal tissue may be reduced during further development

Use of serology in a systematic screening programme for strongyloidiasis in an immigrant population

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the results of a systematic serological screening programme for strongyloidiasis. Methods: Aprospective serological screeningprogramme for strongyloidiasis wasperformedbetween2009 and2014 for allimmigrantpatients attending theTropicalMedicineUnit. Three formalin-etherconcentrated stool samples and an ELISA for anti-Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies were used as screening tools. Results: Of 659 patients screened, 79 (12%) were positive for S. stercoralis regardless of the diagnostic method used. The prevalence of infection was 42.9% in East African patients, 16.3% in Central African patients,10.9% in those fromSouthAmerica, and 10% in the case ofWestAfrica. Univariate analysis showed thatinfection by S. stercoralis was significantly more frequentinpatients from CentralAfrica (p = 0.026; OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.03–2.85) and East Africa (p<0.001; OR 5.88, 95% CI 1.75–19.32). Taking West Africa as the reference (as the area of lowest prevalence among the positive prevalence areas), the statistical analysis showed that the risk of infection was higher in East Africa (p = 0.001; OR 6.750, 95% CI 2.127–21.423) and Central Africa (p = 0.065; OR 1.747, 95% CI 0.965–3.163). Conclusions: Due to the potential complications of strongyloidiasis infection, we recommend that immigrantpatients fromdevelopingcountriesbe routinelyscreenedfor S. stercoralis, especiallythose from East Africa. A serological test is a highly appropriate screening tool

On-site forest fire smoke detection by low-power autonomous vision sensor

Trabajo presentado a la VI International Conference on Forest Fire Research celebrada en Coimbra (Portugal) del 15 al 18 de noviembre de 2010.Early detection plays a crucial role to prevent forest fires from spreading. Wireless vision sensor networks deployed throughout high-risk areas can perform fine-grained surveillance and thereby very early detection and precise location of forest fires. One of the fundamental requirements that need to be met at the network nodes is reliable low-power on-site image processing. It greatly simplifies the communication infrastructure of the network as only alarm signals instead of complete images are transmitted, anticipating thus a very competitive cost. As a first approximation to fulfill such a requirement, this paper reports the results achieved from field tests carried out in collaboration with the Andalusian Fire-Fighting Service (INFOCA). Two controlled burns of forest debris were realized (www.youtube.com/user/vmoteProject). Smoke was successfully detected on-site by the EyeRISTM v1.2, a general-purpose autonomous vision system, built by AnaFocus Ltd., in which a vision algorithm was programmed. No false alarm was triggered despite the significant motion other than smoke present in the scene. Finally, as a further step, we describe the preliminary laboratory results obtained from a prototype vision chip which implements, at very low energy cost, some image processing primitives oriented to environmental monitoring.This work is funded by CICE/JA and MICINN (Spain) through projects 2006-TIC-2352 and TEC2009-11812 respectively.Peer Reviewe