Anatomical Sciences publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Open Access Predicting progression of Parkinson’s disease motor outcomes using a multimodal combination of baseline clinical measures, neuroimaging and biofluid markers(IOS Press, 2023) McNamara, A.; Ellul, B.; Baetu, I.-I.; Lau, S.; Jenkinson, M.; Collins-Praino, L.; 6th World Parkinson Congress (4 Jul 2023 - 7 Jul 2023 : Barcelona, Spain)Abstract not availableItem Open Access Associations Between Aldosterone-Renin-Ratio and Bone Parameters Derived from Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography and Impact Microindentation in Men(Springer, 2023) Holloway-Kew, K.L.; Anderson, K.B.; Rufus-Membere, P.; Tembo, M.C.; Sui, S.X.; Hyde, N.K.; Kotowicz, M.A.; Gwini, S.M.; Yang, J.; Diez-Perez, A.; Henneberg, M.; Liao, W.-H.; Pasco, J.A.Components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are present on bone cells. One measure of RAAS activity, the aldosterone-renin-ratio (ARR), is used to screen for primary aldosteronism. Associations between ARR and bone mineral density are conflicting. This study investigated associations between ARR and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and impact microindentation (IMI). Male participants (n = 431) were from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. "Likely" primary aldosteronism was defined as ARR ≥ 70 pmol/mIU. Another group, "possible" primary aldosteronism, was defined as either ARR ≥ 70 pmol/mIU or taking a medication that affects the RAAS, but not a beta blocker, and renin < 15 mU/L. Using pQCT, images at 4% and 66% of radial (n = 365) and tibial (n = 356) length were obtained. Using IMI measurements, bone material strength index (BMSi; n = 332) was determined. Associations between ARR or likely/possible primary aldosteronism and IMI or pQCT-derived bone parameters were tested using median regression. ARR and aldosterone values were not associated with any of the pQCT-derived bone variables in either unadjusted or adjusted analyses. Men with likely primary aldosteronism (n = 16), had lower adjusted total bone area (radial 66% site, - 12.5%). No associations were observed for men with possible primary aldosteronism (unadjusted or adjusted). No associations with BMSi were observed (p > 0.05). There were no associations between ARR or aldosterone and pQCT-derived bone parameters. Men with likely primary aldosteronism had lower bone area, suggesting clinically high levels of ARR may have a negative impact on bone health.Item Open Access Cerebrovascular contribution to dementia development after traumatic brain injury: promises and problems(AME Publishing Company, 2018) Collins-Praino, L.; Corrigan, F.Item Metadata only Age, but not severity of injury, mediates decline in executive function: validation of the rodent touchscreen paradigm for preclinical models of traumatic brain injury(Elsevier, 2019) Arulsamy, A.; Corrigan, F.; Collins-Praino, L.E.Increasingly, it is being recognised that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not just an acute event but instead results in ongoing neuronal injury that may lead to chronic impairments in multiple cognitive domains. Of these, deficits in executive function are one of the more common changes reported following TBI, and are a major predictor of well-being, social function and quality of life in individuals with a history of TBI. In order to fully understand the relationship between TBI and executive dysfunction, including brain mechanisms that may account for this, experimental models are clearly needed. However, to date, there have been a lack of preclinical studies systematically comparing the effect of injury severity on executive function, particularly at long-term timepoints post-injury. Furthermore, many previous studies have not used behavioural measures that are sensitive to the full range of executive function impairments that may manifest after injury, particularly in models of diffuse axonal injury (Lv et al.). The current study aimed to investigate the temporal profile, up to 12 months post-injury, of the evolution of executive dysfunction following different severities of injury in an experimental model of DAI. In order to do so, we utilised a rodent touchscreen paradigm to administer the 5 Choice- Continuous Performance Task (5C-CPT), an extension of the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRT). Interestingly, there were no differences in learning, motivation, attention, response time or impulsivity at 1 month, 6 months or 12 months post-injury in any of the TBI groups compared to sham, regardless of the initial severity of the injury. Instead, most of the effects on executive function seen at the 12 month timepoint appeared to be a result of ageing, not injury. As even the 12-month timepoint represents middle age in the rat, future studies will be needed to further probe these effects, in order to determine whether DAI may influence the presentation of executive dysfunction in older age.Item Open Access Temporal changes in tau phosphorylation and related kinase and phosphatases following two models of traumatic brain injury(Onjourn Publishers, 2018) Collins-Praino, L.E.; Gutschmidt, D.; Sharkey, J.; Arulsamy, A.; Corrigan, F.A history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is linked to later neurodegeneration, with a key feature accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. Tau is a microtubule stability protein that undergoes frequent cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation due to kinases and phosphatase activity. Hyperphosphorylation of tau destabilizes microtubules interrupting axonal transport, as well as promotes aggregation disturbing synaptic dysfunction. Aberrant phosphorylation of tau post-injury is thought to be a key player in later neurodegeneration. However, it is not known whether type of TBI- a single severe injury compared to repeated mild injuries- affects the time course of tau accumulation or the pattern of changes in kinases and phosphatases that facilitate this phosphorylation. To investigate, male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to either a single moderate/severe or 3 mild TBIs spaced 5 days apart (rmTBI) utlising the Marmarou impact-acceleration model. Levels of cortical ptau (AT180, pSer422, oligomeric tau), pGSK3β, pCDK5, pERK1/2, pAkt and PP2Ac were evaluated at 24h, 7 days, 1 month and 3 months post-injury, with changes in tau phosphorylation confirmed via immunohistochemistry. A similar time course of AT180 tau phosphorylation was seen irrespective of the nature of the initiating insult, with a spike at 24h post-injury return to baseline and then increasing chronically at 3 months post-injury. In line with this, levels of PP2Ac were decreased at 24h and 3 months post-injury, indicating a potential loss of phosphatase activity. Interestingly, minimal changes were seen in the kinases examined, with a spike in phosphorylation of GSK3β, at the inhibitory Ser site, at 24h and 3 months following rmTBI, but not single moderate severe TBI, suggesting a possible protective effect only post-rmTBI. This study highlights that changes in levels of phosphorylated tau are similar, regardless of the initiating injury, and highlights the need to further understand the driving mechanisms behind this phenomenon.Item Metadata only First-time complete visualization of a preserved meningeal artery in the mummy of Nakht-ta-Netjeret (ca. 950 BC)(Springer Nature, 2019) Seiler, R.; Habicht, M.E.; Rühli, F.J.; Galassi, F.M.The preservation of the meningeal artery in ancient mummified bodies, particularly in anthropogenic Egyptian mummies, is a highly controversial topic in neuroscience and anthropological research. A recent (2015) debate between Wade and Isidro, based on the interpretation of the meningeal grooves and cast in a skull from the necropolis of Kom al-Ahmar Sharuna (Egypt), highlighted both the necessity of having clear radiological descriptions of this anatomical structure and of assessing large collections of mummified crania. Here, we present for the first time an instance of extremely well-preserved middle meningeal artery in the mummy of the ancient Egyptian dignitary Nakht-ta-Netjeret (ca. 950 BC), still inside the meninx, using paleo-radiological techniques. We finally link this find with experimental data from the neurological literature on the methodology of excerebration implemented by ancient Egyptian embalmers.Item Metadata only Y-chromosomal analysis identifies the skeletal remains of Swiss national hero Jörg Jenatsch (1596-1639)(Elsevier Ireland, 2013) Haas, C.; Shved, N.; Rühli, F.; Papageorgopoulou, C.; Purps, J.; Geppert, M.; Willuweit, S.; Roewer, L.; Krawczak, M.Abstract not availableItem Metadata only Gout in Duke Federico of Montefeltro (1422-1482): a new pearl of the Italian Renaissance(Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 2018) Fornaciari, A.; Giuffra, V.; Armocida, E.; Caramella, D.; Rühli, F.J.; Galassi, F.M.The article examines the truthfulness of historical accounts claiming that Renaissance Duke Federico of Montefeltro (1422-1482) suffered from gout. By direct paleopathological assessment of the skeletal remains and by the philological investigation of historical and documental sources, primarily a 1461 handwritten letter by the Duke himself to his personal physician, a description of the symptoms and Renaissance therapy is offered and a final diagnosis of gout is formulated. The Duke's handwritten letter offers a rare testimony of ancient clinical self-diagnostics and Renaissance living-experience of gout. Moreover, the article also shows how an alliance between historical, documental and paleopathological methods can greatly increase the precision of retrospective diagnoses, thus helping to shed clearer light onto the antiquity and evolution of diseases.Item Metadata only Radiological findings in an ancient Iranian salt mummy (Chehrābād ca. 410-350 BC)(Springer-Verlag, 2015) Öhrström, L.; Seiler, R.; Böni, T.; Aali, A.; Stöllner, T.; Rühli, F.Objective: To study pathologies, peri- and postmortal alterations as well as the general preservation state of an ancient Iranian salt mummy. Materials and methods: Several mummified remains from two different time periods (1500–2500 BP) were found in the Chehrābād salt mine in Iran. Computed tomography was performed on Salt Man #4 (410-350 BC), the best preserved out of the six salt mummies (Siemens, Sensation 16; 512 × 512 matrix; 0.75–5 mm slice thickness, 240-mA tube current, 120-kV tube voltage, and 0.976-mm pixel size). Results: Radiological analyses showed an excellent state of preservation of an adolescent body. Several normal variants such as aplasia of the frontal sinus as well as a rare congenital deformation of the 5th vertebral body (butterfly vertebra) have been observed. The individual shows multiple fractures, which is consistent with the theory that he died due to a collapse in the ancient salt mine. Conclusions: The salt preserved the soft tissue as well as parts of the inner organs remarkably well. However, further investigations including histology are needed to reveal additional details of the health status of this unique salt mummy.Item Metadata only 2,000 Year old β-thalassemia case in Sardinia suggests malaria was endemic by the Roman period(Wiley, 2017) Viganó, C.; Haas, C.; Rühli, F.J.; Bouwman, A.Objectives: The island of Sardinia has one of the highest incidence rates of β-thalassemia in Europe due to its long history of endemic malaria, which, according to historical records, was introduced around 2,600 years ago by the Punics and only became endemic around the Middle Ages. In particular, the cod39 mutation is responsible for more than 95% of all β-thalassemia cases observed on the island. Debates surround the origin of the mutation. Some argue that its presence in the Western Mediterranean reflects the migration of people away from Sardinia, others that it reflects the colonization of the island by the Punics who might have carried the disease allele. The aim of this study was to investigate β-globin mutations, including cod39, using ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, to better understand the history and origin of β-thalassemia and malaria in Sardinia. Materials and Methods: PCR analysis followed by sequencing were used to investigate the presence of β-thalassemia mutations in 19 individuals from three different Roman and Punic necropolises in Sardinia. Results: The cod39 mutation was identified in one male individual buried in a necropolis from the Punic/Roman period. Further analyses have shown that his mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Ychromosome haplogroups were U5a and I2a1a1, respectively, indicating the individual was probably of Sardinian origin. Conclusions: This is the earliest documented case of b-thalassemia in Sardinia to date. The presence of such a pathogenic mutation and its persistence until present day indicates that malaria was likely endemic on the island by the Roman period, earlier than the historical sources suggest.Item Metadata only Use of units of measurement error in anthropometric comparisons(E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 2017) Lucas, T.; Henneberg, M.Anthropometrists attempt to minimise measurement errors, however, errors cannot be eliminated entirely. Currently, measurement errors are simply reported. Measurement errors should be included into analyses of anthropometric data. This study proposes a method which incorporates measurement errors into reported values, replacing metric units with 'units of technical error of measurement (TEM)' by applying these to forensics, industrial anthropometry and biological variation. The USA armed forces anthropometric survey (ANSUR) contains 132 anthropometric dimensions of 3982 individuals. Concepts of duplication and Euclidean distance calculations were applied to the forensic-style identification of individuals in this survey. The National Size and Shape Survey of Australia contains 65 anthropometric measurements of 1265 women. This sample was used to show how a woman's body measurements expressed in TEM could be 'matched' to standard clothing sizes. Euclidean distances show that two sets of repeated anthropometric measurements of the same person cannot be matched (> 0) on measurements expressed in millimetres but can in units of TEM (= 0). Only 81 women can fit into any standard clothing size when matched using centimetres, with units of TEM, 1944 women fit. The proposed method can be applied to all fields that use anthropometry. Units of TEM are considered a more reliable unit of measurement for comparisons.Item Metadata only An evolutionary and anthropological examination of brain/mind and novelty(Uchitel Publishing House, 2013) Saniotis, A.; Henneberg, M.; Kumaratilake, J.; Grinin, L.; Korotayev, A.The human brain functions evolved to support the survival of our ancestors as omnivores in natural environments that were of complex and varied nature. This evolution, of necessity, had to support the development of extensive memory systems and of an ability to imitate behaviors of others. Novelty as an expression of creative thought probably evolved along with the increasingly complex social processes of earlier human ancestors. Novel thought was especially expedited by the evolution of complex societies, which allowed for increasing individual specialisation. This article provides an overview on how the brain/mind works in relation to novelty from evolutionary and anthropological perspectives. The paper locates brain/mind novelty in terms of evolution, pattern and evolutionary learning. The authors conclude that novelty is contingent on social systems, and that current human societies need to challenge ordinary ways of thinking in order to reduce social and ecological problems.Item Open Access Imaging ancient and mummified specimens: dual-energy CT with effective atomic number imaging of two ancient Egyptian cat mummies(Elsevier, 2016) Bewes, J.; Morphett, A.; Pate, F.; Henneberg, M.; Low, A.; Kruse, L.; Craig, B.; Hindson, A.; Adams, E.In mummified animals and humans, soft tissues like skin and muscle become more dense over time due to dehydration. At the same time, bone becomes less dense as marrow is replaced by air. This is a problem for the radiological examination of ancient specimens, as currently used methods such as single-energy CT and MRI rely on density and water content to produce tissue contrast in an image. Dual energy CT with effective atomic number imaging overcomes this problem, as the elemental constituents and consequently effective atomic number of a specimen remain relatively constant over time. This case study of two ancient Egyptian cat mummies demonstrates that effective atomic number imaging can differentiate desiccated soft tissues from low-density bone in ancient remains. Effective atomic number imaging has the potential for superior tissue contrast resolution when compared to single energy CT and can be used to provide new paleoradiological perspectives.Item Restricted Comparing the face to the body, which is better for identification?(Springer, 2016) Lucas, T.; Henneberg, M.As early as the nineteenth century, measurements of the face and body were used for forensic identification. It was believed that no two individuals had the exact same measurements. However, this was overtaken by fingerprint analysis because it was considered more reliable in court proceedings as the probabilities of finding matching individuals could be calculated. With the standardisation of photographs, identification primarily occurs from the face. With the ability to take measurements from photographs, why not use the body? The Army Anthropometry Survey (ANSUR) database contains anthropometric measurements of 3982 individuals. Eight facial and eight body measurements were compared to investigate whether or not there is enough information on the body to use for identification. Measurements were compared by adding one measurement to the other(s) in a stepwise approach until there were no duplicate cases where two or more individuals share the same combination of measurements. Results consistently show that less body measurements are needed to find no duplicates when compared to the face. The larger the range of each of the measurements, the less chance there is of finding a duplicate. With the combination of eight body measurements, it is possible to achieve a probability of finding a duplicate to the order of 10(-20) or 1 in a quintillion. These results are comparable with fingerprint analysis. The body is more variable than the face and should be used in identification. An advantage to using the body is that larger dimensions are easier to locate on images and not affected by facial expression.Item Metadata only Novel features of adult facial motoneurone rescue by a muscle-derived isoform of IGF-1(Informa Healthcare, 2013) Katharesan, V.; Johnson, I.P.; Li, R.; Evans, A.; 24th International Symposium on ALS/MND (6 Dec 2013 - 10 Dec 2013 : Milan)Item Metadata only Ultrasound simulators as aids to learning anatomy(Wiley, 2015) Massey-Westrop, N.; Parange, N.; Johnson, I.; Australian and New Zealand Association of Clinical Anatomists (ANZACA) 11th Annual meeting (3 Dec 2014 - 5 Dec 2014 : Queenstown, New Zealand)Item Open Access Worldwide increase of obesity is related to the reduced opportunity for natural selection(Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2017) Budnik, A.; Henneberg, M.; Rosenfeld, C.Worldwide rise of obesity may be partly related to the relaxation of natural selection in the last few generations. Accumulation of mutations affecting metabolism towards excessive fat deposition is suggested to be a result of less purging selection. Using the WHO and UN data for 159 countries there is a significant correlation (r = 0.60, p<0.01) between an index of the relaxed opportunity for selection (Biological State Index) and prevalence of obesity (percentage of individuals with BMI >30kg/m2). This correlation remains significant (r = 0.32., p<0.01) when caloric intake and insufficient physical activity prevalence are kept statistically constant (partial correlation analysis, N = 82). The correlation is still significant when gross domestic product per capita is also kept constant (r = 0.24, p <0.05, N = 81). In the last decades, prevalence of both obesity and underweight has increased in some countries despite no change in caloric intake nor in physical inactivity prevalence. Relaxed selection against genes affecting energy balance and metabolism may contribute to the increase of fatness independent from commonly considered positive energy balance. Diagnoses of individual predispositions to obesity at an early age and individual counselling on diet and behaviour may be appropriate strategies to limit further increases in body mass.Item Metadata only From growth in height to growth in breadth": The changing body in Switzerland since the 19th century(Informa Healthcare, 2012) Staub, K.; Floris, J.; Bogin, B.; Woitek, U.; Pfister, C.; Ruhli, F.; Symposium of the Society for the Study of Human Biology celebrating the Human Biology of Jim Tanner (13 Dec 2011 - 15 Dec 2011 : Corpus Christi College, Cambridge)Item Metadata only "From growth in height to growth in breadth": The changing body shape of Swiss conscripts since the late 19th century and possible endocrine explanations(Academic Press/Elsevier, 2013) Staub, K.; Rühli, F.Abstract not availableItem Metadata only The appearance of new social class of wealthy commoners in the 19th and the early 20th century and its biological consequences(Nova Science Publishers, 2016) Budnik, A.; Henneberg, M.; Koziel, S.; Chakraborty, R.; Bose, K.Introduction. Political and economic changes that occurred on the territory of Poland during the second half of the 19th century contributed to change in social structures of rural and urban populations. Urban populations underwent a profound change due to industrialisation that caused appearance of new social classes, especially the class of wealthy commoners - the middle class. Influence of social stratification on human morphological characters and on growth at adolescence is well documented for recent populations, however, it is much less studied in the past population due to scarcity of appropriate data. Objective. To characterise: 1. body height and body mass of adults and 2. the adolescent growth spurt in various strata/class of Polish people during the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. Material and Methods. Data on body height and body mass of adults (20+ years) and youths (7-20) of privileged and poor social strata living in the Kingdom of Poland and in its capital, Warsaw were derived from published historical sources. Means, and where possible standard deviations, of body height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were calculated for various groups. Prevalence of obesity (BMI > = 30kg/m²) and overweight (BMI > = 25kg/m²) was assessed separately for nobility, middle class, working class and peasantry. LOESS curves were fitted to annual cross-sectional increments in body height and body weight of youths of different social classes in order to evaluate the presence and magnitude of growth spurts. Results. The largest average values of body height and body mass of males and females were found for nobility, somewhat lower were values for the middle class. In both groups average BMI exceeded 25 kg/m². Peasant males and females were shorter and lighter than those of upper class. Males and females of the urban working class were even shorter and lighter than peasants. BMI averages of peasants and working class were below 25 kg/m². About 30-40% of nobility and rich middle class people were overweight and 12-21% obese. Among lower class 5-20% were overweight. Obesity occurred in 4-9% of peasants, but no working class males were obese at all. Children of privileged classes were taller and heavier than children of the working class. Boys of noble and middle class families experienced adolescent growth spurts at 14-15 years with peak height velocity of 7cm/year and weight velocity of 5 kg/year. Among privileged girls adolescent growth spurts at 11-12 years with peak velocities of 6cm/year and weight velocity of 5 kg/year. Among poor working class boys and girls there were no adolescent growth spurt, Conclusions. Upward social mobility providing better living conditions and nutrition resulted in increases in body height and body mass of children and adults contributing to the occurrence of overweight and obesity. Adolescent growth spurt was not a universal phenomenon. It did not occur among children of poor social strata. Improved living conditions of privileged classes produced accelerated growth in adolescence.