Soft- and hard-tissue facial anthropometry in three dimensions: what’s new

In the last few years, technology has provided new instruments for the three-dimensional analysis of human facial morphology. Currently, quantitative assessments of dimensions, spatial positions and relative proportions of distinctive facial features can be obtained for both soft- and hard- (skeletal and dental) tissues. New mathematical tools allow to fuse digital data obtained from various image analyzers, thus providing quantitative information for anatomical and anthropometric descriptions, medical evaluations (clinical genetics, orthodontics, maxillo-facial and plastic surgery), and forensic medicine

Does the experience of anatomical dissections change the mind of students? The opinion of Milanese undergraduate students towards the donation of bodies for didactic purposes

Anatomical dissections have always represented an important cornerstone of medical education, especially in anatomy [1,2]. However, in several universitary context their practice has been abandoned or even not yet introduced. In the University of Milan a limited program of body donation has existed since 2014 (PANDORA, Programma Anatomico di Donazione di Cadaveri a Scopo di Ricerca Antropologica e Biomedica) and therefore only in the last four years medical students have been able to take advantage from this crucial experience. This study aims at exploring the willingness of Italian undergraduate students towards whole body donation in order to ascertain the role of dissection in modifying the opinion: two groups of students belonging to the degree course in medicine and surgery were recruited. The first group included 43 students who were informed concerning the importance of dissection in anatomy through a specific course. The second group included 29 students admitted to a didactic autopsy. Students belonging to the two groups were then requested to specify if they would give their consent to the donation of their bodies, and why. Results showed that students who attended the dissection were more likely to show willingness towards body donation (60.7% versus 39.5%). Among positive opinions towards donation the percentage of persons who found the experience useful increased from 47.1% in the first group to 80% in the second group. On the other hand, among negative opinions, percentages of persons reporting bad feeling towards the dissection increased from 16.7% in the first group to 27.2% in the second group. This study shows that experience of dissection is a crucial step for emotional and professional improvement of medical students and contributes in a more detailed definition of their own opinion concerning body donation

Does the experience of anatomical dissections change the mind of students? The opinion of Milanese undergraduate students towards the donation of bodies for didactic purposes

Anatomical dissections have always represented an important cornerstone of medical education, especially in anatomy [1,2]. However, in several universitary context their practice has been abandoned or even not yet introduced. In the University of Milan a limited program of body donation has existed since 2014 (PANDORA, Programma Anatomico di Donazione di Cadaveri a Scopo di Ricerca Antropologica e Biomedica) and therefore only in the last four years medical students have been able to take advantage from this crucial experience. This study aims at exploring the willingness of Italian undergraduate students towards whole body donation in order to ascertain the role of dissection in modifying the opinion: two groups of students belonging to the degree course in medicine and surgery were recruited. The first group included 43 students who were informed concerning the importance of dissection in anatomy through a specific course. The second group included 29 students admitted to a didactic autopsy. Students belonging to the two groups were then requested to specify if they would give their consent to the donation of their bodies, and why. Results showed that students who attended the dissection were more likely to show willingness towards body donation (60.7% versus 39.5%). Among positive opinions towards donation the percentage of persons who found the experience useful increased from 47.1% in the first group to 80% in the second group. On the other hand, among negative opinions, percentages of persons reporting bad feeling towards the dissection increased from 16.7% in the first group to 27.2% in the second group. This study shows that experience of dissection is a crucial step for emotional and professional improvement of medical students and contributes in a more detailed definition of their own opinion concerning body donation

3D facial features in Andersen-Tawil syndrome: a family report

Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is an inherited potassium channelopathy affecting cardiac and skeletal muscle, which results in periodic paralysis and symptomatic arrhythmias. Distinctive facial and skeletal features also characterize the disorder. Variability in expression of heterozygous mutation in the KCNJ2 gene and the rarity of the syndrome (estimated worldwide prevalence 1:100.000) may lead to misdiagnosis. The recognition of facial dysmorphic features can improve the early diagnosis of ATS. However, facial features may be mild and they may be easily overlooked on routine physical examination. Today a detailed evaluation of craniofacial structures can be performed through the application of noninvasive 3D image acquisition systems. The study aims to better characterize the facial phenotype of ATS in order to improve the early diagnosis of the syndrome. We studied 4 members of a family with genetically confirmed diagnosis of ATS. Computerized acquisitions of the 3D facial image through stereophotogrammetric procedures were performed on a 39-year-old mother and 3 of her 4 sons (aged 5, 12, and 14 years respectively, the youngest one with a different father) without previous history of craniofacial trauma. From the digital 3D coordinates of 50 landmarks, facial linear distances and angles were com- pared with those collected in healthy subjects matched for age and sex. All members of the family showed 1) larger intercanthal width and smaller length of eye fissure than controls, 2) larger alar base width and smaller nasal tip protrusion, 3) smaller forehead and lower facial height including shorter and wider philtrum, 4) smaller anteroposterior facial distances and wider facial convexities in the horizontal plane. The present family study allowed to better characterize the facial features associated with ATS. The results are in accordance with the already known facial features of the syndrome, except for the extension of the forehead. 3D morphometric facial analysis pointed out characteristics of the philtrum which were not described previously in subjects with ATS, and could be more than a mere somatic familial trait

Palatal size and shape in 6-year olds affected by hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Objective: To analyze the size and shape of the hard tissue palate of Italian subjects with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED). Materials and Methods: The morphology and the dimensions of the hard tissue palate were analyzed in eight 6-year-old boys affected by HED. Four of the boys were completely edentulous and four partially dentate. Palatal landmarks were identified on stone casts and digitized with three-dimensional computerized electromagnetic instrumentation. Palatal length, slope, width, and maximum palatal height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were measured. From the coordinates of palatal landmarks, a mathematical equation of palatal shape was constructed, independent of size. HED palatal data were compared with reference data obtained from 12 healthy boys with a complete deciduous dentition. Results: Palatal length and height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were significantly reduced in HED as compared with control individuals. A less steep (not significant) palatal slope was found in HED than in reference subjects, whereas similar palatal width values were observed. All palatal measurements were larger in partially dentate than in edentulous patients. Both HED and edentulousness influenced palatal shape. The HED boys had a relatively lower palate than the reference boys. In the edentulous HED boys, the hard tissue palate was relatively lower than in partially dentate HED subjects. Conclusions: Palatal size and shape were significantly modified by the presence of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, and the major alterations were found in edentulous HED subjects

A three-dimensional study of body motion during ergometer rowing

Abstract: Background: Rowing movements can be simulated using specialized ergometers; the method can be used both for training and indoor assessment of body movements within controlled conditions. Purpose: To perform a three-dimensional quantitative analysis of body movements during ergometer rowing, and to examine if there is a relationship between anthropometry and rowing kinematics. Study Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study Methods: Body movements were recorded in 18 high-level oarsmen during ergometer rowing at 28 strokes/min. The three-dimensional movements of 21 body landmarks (left and right ankle, knee, greater trochanter, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, tragus; spinous process of C7, T2, T12, L2, L4) were detected by an optoelectronic instrument. Using dedicated software\ub8 the range of motion of the posterior angles of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine segments relative to the horizontal axis; the angles between greater trochanter- knee- ankle and between knee-ankle and the ground; head rotation and tilt; leg and upper limb symmetry, were computed. Results: The head and neck were approximately in line with the horizontal at catch, and extended at finish, with limited horizontal and frontal plane inclinations. Thoracic spine extension during the stroke was on average 68\ub0. Lumbar spine range of motion was on average 59\ub0, and it was smaller in weightier oarsmen. Upper limbs were symmetric, and a complete, symmetric extension of the lower limbs was made. At catch the legs were nearly perpendicular to the ground. Conclusions: The method allowed the measurement of the kinematic characteristics of the body during ergometer rowing. The measurements agreed with conventional technical teaching. Clinical Relevance: Data collected on high-level rowers can provide a set of standard quantitative execution parameters that can be used by coaches as a benchmark for the assessment of technical movements in all rowers

The occlusal plane in the facial context : inter-operator repeatability of a new 3D method

The repeatability of a non-invasive digital protocol proposed to evaluate the three-dimensional (3D) position of the occlusal plane in the face is assessed. Dental virtual models and soft tissue facial morphology of 20 adult subjects were digitally integrated using a 3D stereophotogrammetric imaging system. The digital 3D coordinates of facial and dental landmarks were obtained by two different operators. Camper's (facial) and occlusal (dental) planes were individuated, and their 3D relationships were measured. The repeatability of the protocol was investigated and showed no significant differences in repeated digitizations. The angle between occlusal and Camper's planes was smaller than 2\ub0 in the frontal and horizontal projections. In the sagittal projection, the angle was observed to be, on average, 4.9\ub0. The determined occlusal plane pitch, roll and yaw values show good agreement with previously published data obtained by different protocols. The current non-invasive method was repeatable, without inter-operator differences and can facilitate assessment of healthy subjects. \ua9 2012 WCSS

Comparison of soft-tissue orbital morphometry in attractive and normal Italian subjects

Objective: To identify esthetic characteristics of the orbital soft tissues of attractive Italian adult women and men. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional computerized digitizers were used to collect the coordinates of facial landmarks in 199 healthy, normal subjects aged 18 to 30 years (71 women, 128 men; mean age, 22 years) and in 126 coetaneous attractive subjects (92 women, 34 men; mean age, 20 years) selected during beauty competitions. From the landmarks, six linear distances, two ratios, six angles, and two areas were calculated. Attractive subjects were compared with normal ones by computing z-scores. Results: Intercanthal width was reduced while eye fissure lengths were increased in both genders. Orbital heights (os-or) were increased only in attractive women, with a significant gender-related difference. The inclinations of the eye fissure were increased in attractive subjects, while the inclinations of the orbit were reduced. For several of the analyzed measurements, similar patterns of z-scores were observed for attractive men and women (r \u200a=\u200a .883). Conclusion: Attractive women and men had several specific esthetic characteristics in their orbital soft tissues; esthetic reference values can be used to determine optimal goals in surgical treatment