Ritually induced growth disturbances and deformities of the orofacial system – A contribution to cranial morphogenesis

Numerous ritual acts involving the skull result in orofacial changes. The present study focuses on ritual acts of Brazilian Zoé Indians. A distinct deformation effect of the ritual act (wearing a lip-plug) on the morphology of the orofacial system is demonstrated and documented using jaw models. The studies show that the lip-plug significantly influences tooth position and jaw growth. While the maxilla displays palatal displacement of the lateral incisors and elevation of the palate, retraction occurs in the mandible depending upon plug size. Additionally, both the plug and the nutritional habits of the Indians induce marked abrasion of all teeth. Moreover, it is shown that the duration of lip-plug wear is an essential determinant of sustained orofacial changes.     

Relationship between growth hormone and Somatomedin-C levels in untreated acromegaly, after surgery and radiotherapy and during medical therapy with Sandostatin (SMS 201–995)

Abstract. Several conflicting reports have been published with regard to the relationships between circulating growth hormone (GH), Somatomedin-C (SM-C) levels and clinical activity during different stages of therapy of acromegaly. We did not find a significant correlation between (fasting, post-prandial and mean 24-h) plasma GH and SM-C concentrations in twenty-two untreated acromegalic patients. There was a statistical significant correlation, however, if only the GH levels below 100 μg l^-1 were considered (n=18 patients, P<0·01). The distribution of molecular forms of GH (‘little’, ‘big’ and ‘big-big’) did not differ between the four patients with GH levels above 100 μg l^-1 and in four patients with levels between 40 μg l^-1 and 80 μg l^-1. Therefore, it is suggested that GH levels of 80–100 μg l^-1 maximally activate Somatomedin-C production in man and that further increases in GH in general will not result in a further increase in SM-C generation. There was a significant correlation between GH and SM-C levels in forty-nine acromegalic patients after surgery and/or radiotherapy (P<0·001). In twenty-three of thirty-one patients with elevated SM-C levels the disease was subjectively still active, while this was the case in none of the patients with normal SM-C levels. In eight patients the disease was considered not to be clinically active any more, despite slightly increased SM-C levels. During long-term therapy of ten acromegalic patients for 16–108 weeks (mean 66±10) with 200–300 μg Sandostatin subcutaneously, clinical activity of the disease disappeared well before mean 24–h GH and SM-C levels reached the normal levels. There was a close correlation between mean 24-h GH and SM-C levels during Sandostatin therapy (P<0·001). ‘Clinical cure’ during this medical treatment was reached in five patients, as reflected by disappearance of subjective complaints, normalization of SM-C levels and 24-h mean GH levels of 2·8±0·2 μg l^-1. Conclusions: (i) in untreated acromegaly, circulating GH and SM-C levels correlate well up to GH concentrations of 100 μg l^-1. A further increase in GH does not result in a corresponding further increase in SM-C levels, suggesting a maximally activated production, without further GH-dependent capacity. (ii) Clinical ‘cure’ of acromegaly often occurs before normalization of the circulating SM-C levels. (iii) The measurement of plasma SM-C concentrations can be used well to adjust the dose and frequency of Sandostatin administration in acromegaly. This avoids the need of measuring extensive 24-h GH profiles.     

劳动姿势对流量－容积曲线的影响─—波速学说的进一步验证

用“点值法”对健康工人４７３例［轻体力劳动工人（简称轻工）２４８例，重体力劳动工人（简称重工）２２５例］。作了流量一容积曲线和常规通气功能检查。结果表明：重工男女在４０岁以后其高肺容积流量下降，３０岁以后低肺容积流量上升，而且这些改变有随年龄增长而更加明显的倾向；轻工仅有个别年龄组的低肺容积流量上升。对７名健康坐位工作者模拟劳动的前倾姿势作多次通气功能检查，亦有明显高肺容积流量下降和低肺容积流量上升的现象，这一事实提示波速学说亦可应用于颈和躯干前倾进行重体力劳动工人的通气行为。     

Human placental growth hormone

Placental growth hormone is the product of the GH-V gene specifically expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of the human placenta. Placental growth hormone differs from pituitary growth hormone by 13 amino acids. It has high somatogenic and low lactogenic activities. Assays by specific monoclonal antibodies reveal that in the maternal circulation from 15 to 20 weeks up to term placental growth hormone gradually replaces pituitary growth hormone, which becomes undetectable. It is secreted by the placenta in a nonpulsatile manner. This continuous secretion appears to have important implications for physiologic adjustment to gestation and especially in the control of maternal insulin-like growth factor-I levels. Placental growth hormone secretion is inhibited by glucose in vitro and in vivo and is significantly decreased in the maternal circulation in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction. Placental growth hormone does not appear to have a direct effect on fetal growth because this hormone is not detectable in the fetal circulation. However, the physiologic role might also include a direct influence on placental development through an autocrine or paracrine mechanism, as suggested by the presence of specific growth hormone receptors in this tissue.(Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:1526-34.)     

Follow up of growth and steroids in premature adrenarche

In a follow up study of 34 patients with premature adrenarche we examined serum adrenal androgen levels and growth. The majority (28/34) showed an upward bend in the growth curve which, at the mean age of 2.3 years, preceded other signs of adrenarche on average by 3.8 years. Pubertal growth spurt was missing or reduced in 50% of the patients (8/16), however, final height did not differ from that expected from parental heights. Adrenal androgens did not remain elevated at adolescence. The mean age at menarche for all the girls was 0.5 years younger than in the general population.Conclusion Our findings imply that premature adrenarche may start earlier than previously recognized. Compared to ordinary growth these children seen to use a greater part of their potential for adult height already at that early age.     

The Toxic Effects of Serum from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus on Mouse Neuroblastoma Cells: A New Mechanism for Development of Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy

The pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy is incompletely understood. The possibility that humoral neurotoxic factors contribute as a cause of diabetic neuropathy was tested by application of serum from patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to mouse neuroblastoma cells, which have the characteristics of adrenergic neurons in culture. Serum from patients with Type 1 diabetes and somatic neuropathy significantly inhibited both proliferation and differentiation of neuroblastoma cells, while serum from patients with Type 1 diabetes but no symptoms of neuropathy and patients with Type 2 diabetes and neuropathy had no effect on proliferation, and serum from Type 2 patients only marginally inhibited differentiation. The effects of Type 1 diabetic serum could be reversed by pre-absorption of the serum to neuroblastoma cells, and were independent of glucose levels. Immunoglobulins precipitated from the sera mimicked the effects of whole sera. These results suggest that Type 1 diabetes mellitus causes a change in serum composition, possibly related to autoimmunity, that is capable of contributing to adrenergic autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients.     

Insulin, branched-chain amino acids, and growth failure in uremia

Insulin and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism was studied in 14 adolescents with uremia on hemodialysis. Glucose tolerance was measured by intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Insulin sensitivity was measured by the euglycemia clamp technique. Insulin secretion during constant hyperglycemia was measured by the hyperglycemic clamp technique. Fasting plasma BCAA concentrations were compared with data from 8 adolescent controls, whereas insulin indices were compared with 8 young adults controls and with published normal data in adolescents. The patients could be further sub-divided into two groups with respect to their growth velocity standard deviation score (GVSDS). Group 1 consisted of 7 patients with GVSDS less than −2. This group demonstrated insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and low insulin secretion. This group also had low plasma valine, leucine, and isoleucine concentrations compared with control values. Group 2 consisted of 7 patients with GVSDS more than −2. This group demonstrated insulin resistance, but normal glucose tolerance and normal insulin secretion. Plasma valine, leucine, and isoleucine concentrations in group 2 were not different from control values. Total plasma BCAA correlated with glucose tolerance index and with insulin secretion, but not with insulin sensitivity. Growth failure in uremia is associated with glucose intolerance, hypoinsulinemia, and low plasma BCAA concentrations. Impaired utilization of conventional energy sources leading to preferential oxidation of BCAA may contribute to reduced anabolism and growth failure in uremia. Received October 8, 1997; received in revised form February 3, 1998; accepted February 6, 1998     

Stereological study of the developing distal femoral growth plate

The distal femoral growth plate has a uniquely convoluted structure comprised of four mammillate processes. Factors contributing to the development of these processes and overall plate geometry were explored using three-dimensional image analysis of the canine distal femoral epiphysis. The growth plate at birth remains relatively flat until ossification of the epiphysis begins at 1 week of age. Epiphyseal ossification proceeds eccentrically, projecting in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions. Growth plate activity indexed by [3H]thymidine labeling and plate thickness revealed regional differences in cell proliferation. This was measured as a decreased labeling index and thinning of the growth plate in areas capped by the ossifying epiphysis. The eccentric ossification pattern and associated variations in growth plate activity result in definition of an "intraphyseal" groove and medial-lateral oriented sulcus. The groove and sulcus bisect the plate into four quadrants, giving rise to a convoluted structure composed of four areas of plate elevations termed mammillary processes (MP). By 5 weeks, the pattern of ossification results in greater development of the MP in the anterior-medial quadrant and in decreasing order, in the posterior-medial, anterior, and posterior-lateral quadrants. By 10 weeks, a uniform rate of cell proliferation was observed coincident with completion of ossification of the epiphysis. The data suggest that localized variations in growth plate proliferation are associated with ossification of the epiphysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

抚触对人工喂养新生儿生长发育的影响

目的 探讨抚触对人工喂养儿生长发育影响。方法 选择30例人工喂养新生儿进行抚触,并随机选择条件相似的30例人工喂养儿做对照,100d时比较两组婴儿的身长、头围、体质量、日摄奶量、睡眠时间、大便情况。结果 抚触组人工喂养婴儿的体质量、摄奶量较对照明显增加,睡眠时间较对照组长,且较对照组大便正常,较少发生便秘。身高、头围无明显差异。结论 抚触能明显提高人工喂养儿的体质量及摄奶量,促进排泄,改善睡眠。     

Mathematical modelling of the growth processes in the developing chick wing bud

This paper illustrates how a simple geometric model resembling the shape of the chick wing bud at an early growth stage can be mathematically expanded to simulate subsequent growth characteristics of the developing bud. The model was tested against several sets of experimental data and gave an acceptable representation of growth over the range considered. Representing growth patterns in this form enables the determination of differential growth characteristics in different parts of the bud and provides boundary constraints which will play an important part in the eventual evaluation of internal growth mechanisms.