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

Pasados y presente. Estudios para el profesor Ricardo García Cárcel

Ricardo García Cárcel (Requena, 1948) estudió Historia en Valencia bajo el magisterio de Joan Reglà, con quien formó parte del primer profesorado de historia moderna en la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. En esta universidad, desde hace prácticamente cincuenta años, ha desarrollado una extraordinaria labor docente y de investigación marcada por un sagaz instinto histórico, que le ha convertido en pionero de casi todo lo que ha estudiado: las Germanías, la historia de la Cataluña moderna, la Inquisición, las culturas del Siglo de Oro, la Leyenda Negra, Felipe II, Felipe V, Austrias y Borbones, la guerra de la Independencia, la historia cultural, los mitos de la historia de España... Muy pocos tienen su capacidad para reflexionar, ordenar, analizar, conceptualizar y proponer una visión amplia y llena de matices sobre el pasado y las interpretaciones historiográficas. A su laboriosidad inimitable se añade una dedicación sin límites en el asesoramiento de alumnos e investigadores e impulsando revistas, dosieres, seminarios o publicaciones colectivas. Una mínima correspondencia a su generosidad lo constituye este volumen a manera de ineludible agradecimiento

Gender differences in corneal thickness values

The aim was to study gender differences in corneal thickness. We analysed the corneal thickness of 100 corneas of 100 healthy subjects (mean age 30.87±7.76 years; range, 19 to 54 years old) with the Orbscan Topography System II (Orbscan, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT. USA). The means of five consecutive measurements of the central and paracentral corneal thickness were obtained. No significant differences in mean corneal thickness between women and men at central (p=0.477), nasal (p=0.247), superonasal (p=0.242), inferonasal (p=0.554), temporal (p=0.538), superotemporal (p=0.524) and inferotemporal (p=0.860) corneal locations were found. In sum, there are no differences in mean central and paracentral corneal thickness values between women and men

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 effect of a combination of 0.1% tetracaine HCl and 0.4% oxybuprocaine HCl on human central cornea thickness measurements.

A combination of 0.1% tetracaine HCl and 0.4% oxybuprocaine HCl is used when carrying out morphometrical corneal studies in vivo by means of ultrasound pachymetry. The aim of this was to determine the effect of a combination of 0.1% tetracaine HCl and 0.4% oxybuprocaine HCl anesthetic eye drops on central corneal thickness values. We carried out a prospective study involving 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects. The mean age of the subjects was 26.13±2.62 years (age ranged from 20 to 30 years old). Central pachymetry was carried out prior to and three minutes after the instillation of two saline solution eye drops, and three minutes after the administration of a combination of 0.1% tetracaine HCl and 0.4% oxybuprocaine HCl anesthetic eye drops. The mean of three consecutive measurements of the central corneal thickness obtained with the Orbscan Topography System II (Orbscan, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT. USA) was used as the corneal thickness value. No significant differences were found (p=0.714) in the mean central corneal thickness values before and three minutes after saline solution eye drops had been instilled. Nevertheless, after anesthesia there was a significant increase in mean central corneal thickness (p<0.001). Increases ranged from 22 to 131 micrometers, with a mean of approximately 47 micrometers. Following the instillation of a combination of 0.1% tetracaine HCl and 0.4% oxybuprocaine HCl eye drops corneal thickness increase. Researchers must be aware of this effect of topical anesthetic eye drops on corneal morphometry in order to analyze corneal thickness results correctly

Rib cage anatomy in Homo erectus suggests a recent evolutionary origin of modern human body shape

The tall and narrow body shape of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved via changes in the thorax, pelvis and limbs. It is debated, however, whether these modifications first evolved together in African Homo erectus, or whether H. erectus had a more primitive body shape that was distinct from both the more ape-like Australopithecus species and H. sapiens. Here we present the first quantitative three-dimensional reconstruction of the thorax of the juvenile H. erectus skeleton, KNM-WT 15000, from Nariokotome, Kenya, along with its estimated adult rib cage, for comparison with H. sapiens and the Kebara 2 Neanderthal. Our three-dimensional reconstruction demonstrates a short, mediolaterally wide and anteroposteriorly deep thorax in KNM-WT 15000 that differs considerably from the much shallower thorax of H. sapiens, pointing to a recent evolutionary origin of fully modern human body shape. The large respiratory capacity of KNM-WT 15000 is compatible with the relatively stocky, more primitive, body shape of H. erectus

Rib cage anatomy in Homo erectus suggests a recent evolutionary origin of modern human body shape

The tall and narrow body shape of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved via changes in the thorax, pelvis and limbs. It is debated, however, whether these modifications first evolved together in African Homo erectus, or whether H. erectus had a more primitive body shape that was distinct from both the more ape-like Australopithecus species and H. sapiens. Here we present the first quantitative three-dimensional reconstruction of the thorax of the juvenile H. erectus skeleton, KNM-WT 15000, from Nariokotome, Kenya, along with its estimated adult rib cage, for comparison with H. sapiens and the Kebara 2 Neanderthal. Our three-dimensional reconstruction demonstrates a short, mediolaterally wide and anteroposteriorly deep thorax in KNM-WT 15000 that differs considerably from the much shallower thorax of H. sapiens, pointing to a recent evolutionary origin of fully modern human body shape. The large respiratory capacity of KNM-WT 15000 is compatible with the relatively stocky, more primitive, body shape of H. erectus.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (no. CGL 2015-63648-P) to M.B. D.G.-M. was funded by IdEx University of Bordeaux Investments for the Future programme (no. ANR-10-IDEX-03-02) and the European Commission’s Research Infrastructure Action via the Synthesys Projects (nos. SE-TAF-6406, DE-TAF-6404, BE-TAF-5639). Financial support for M.H. was provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (no. 31003A_176319/1) and the Mäxi Foundation. A.G.-O. received support from the Spanish FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-AEI (project no. PGC2018-093925-B-C33) and Research Group (no. IT1418-19) from Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno Vasco. A.G.-O. is funded by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (no. RYC-2017-22558)

Rib cage anatomy in Homo erectus suggests a recent evolutionary origin of modern human body shape

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (no. CGL 2015-63648-P) to M.B. D.G.-M. was funded by IdEx University of Bordeaux Investments for the Future programme (no. ANR-10-IDEX-03-02) and the European Commission’s Research Infrastructure Action via the Synthesys Projects (nos. SE-TAF-6406, DE-TAF-6404, BE-TAF-5639). Financial support for M.H. was provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (no. 31003A_176319/1) and the Mäxi Foundation. A.G.-O. received support from the Spanish FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-AEI (project no. PGC2018-093925-B-C33) and Research Group (no. IT1418-19) from Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno Vasco. A.G.-O. is funded by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (no. RYC-2017-22558).The tall and narrow body shape of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved via changes in the thorax, pelvis and limbs. It is debated, however, whether these modifications first evolved together in African Homo erectus, or whether H. erectus had a more primitive body shape that was distinct from both the more ape-like Australopithecus species and H. sapiens. Here we present the first quantitative three-dimensional reconstruction of the thorax of the juvenile H. erectus skeleton, KNM-WT 15000, from Nariokotome, Kenya, along with its estimated adult rib cage, for comparison with H. sapiens and the Kebara 2 Neanderthal. Our three-dimensional reconstruction demonstrates a short, mediolaterally wide and anteroposteriorly deep thorax in KNM-WT 15000 that differs considerably from the much shallower thorax of H. sapiens, pointing to a recent evolutionary origin of fully modern human body shape. The large respiratory capacity of KNM-WT 15000 is compatible with the relatively stocky, more primitive, body shape of H. erectus.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu