Nawaporn Techataweewan

A large modern Southeast Asian human skeletal collection from Thailand

The Khon Kaen University Human Skeleton Research Centre has a large human collection consisting of 745 modern northeastern Thai (Isan) skeletons derived from bodies bequeathed to the Department of Anatomy during the period 1979-2014. The aim of this paper is to document the collection and address the question of whether the collection may be representative of local Isan people, or populations of the wider region of mainland Southeast Asia. This will determine its value as a reference collection for forensic anthropology in particular but also for all other fields of research about human skeletal biology. Sex is recorded for 99.6% of the skeletons, and age at death for 91.7%. The collection consists of two-thirds males, one-third females. It includes 10 individuals less than 19 years of age, and adults ranging in age from 20 to 109 years of age. Average age at death is 62 years. Other data available for smaller proportions of the collection include cause of death, occupation, and height and weight at the time of donation. Dates of birth are estimated to range from the late 19th Century to the most recent in 1988. Analysis of the demographic composition of the collection shows that is likely to be representative of the ancestral mix of the Isan people, and of the village farmers who still form a large portion of the Isan population. It may also represent 20th Century populations of much of Southeast Asia where agriculture dominates the economy. The collection forms a valuable resource for research on regional human skeletal characteristics for use in forensic anthropology.

Gender and Population Variation in Craniometry and Freehand Pass Ventriculostomy

BACKGROUND Ventriculostomy using the freehand pass method is subject to complications arising from misplacement of the catheter tip. This method may require multiple passes for successful catheterization. Methods of determining the burr-hole location (known as the Kocher point) were derived historically from European patients and may not be appropriate for other populations with different cranial shapes. This study examines the possibility that anatomic variation in interpopulation variation together with sexual dimorphism in cranial size and shape may contribute to this problem. METHODS Sagittal and parasagittal measurements of the frontal bone were taken of 300 Thai (150 female, 150 male) crania and 300 American white (150 female, 150 male) crania. These measurements were compared to determine sexual dimorphism and interpopulation variation in size and shape. RESULTS The measurements were statistically significantly larger in males than in females and on the right side than the left in both sexes in both Thai and American white samples. The frontal bone is significantly longer at the sagittal plane in Europeans of both sexes than in Thai, but in the parasagittal plane, there is no difference. This finding indicates a difference in frontal bone shape between the 2 populations and between males and females. CONCLUSIONS The dimensions of the frontal bone vary between males and females and can vary among populations. The optimal location for the burr hole in freehand pass ventriculostomy may depend on both the gender and the ancestry of the patient.

Clinical anatomy of the ligament of the head of femur: Ligament of the head of femur

The ligament of the head of femur (LHF) has gained clinical attention recently and is reported to contribute to hip stability. This study explores its morphology and morphometry, information that may help inform surgical decision making. Gross anatomical dissections were undertaken on 229 embalmed hips from European (n = 105) and Thai (n = 124) adult cadavers to examine LHF anatomy. Ligament morphometry was statistically compared at different sites, between sexes and sides. The origin of ligamental arteries and absence of the ligament were documented. The LHF was pyramidal or quadrangular in shape. Sub‐synovial fibrous bands originated from the transverse acetabular ligament, edges of the acetabular notch, and acetabular floor; less frequently from the hip joint capsule. Distally, the ligament flattened and converged onto the fovea capitis. The ligament was 22.3 ± 4.4 mm long and was significantly wider (P = 0.001) and thicker (P = 0.0003) at the fovea, compared to its mid‐zone. Branches of the obturator artery entered the acetabular foramen inferomedially and penetrated the middle third of the LHF. Blood vessels ran within the LHF and appeared to enter the fovea. The ligament was absent in 2.8% of Thai hips and there were no significant sex or side differences in ligament dimensions. The morphology of the LHF is complex. While individual variation was apparent, blood vessels were seen in the distal ligament. Precise information on LHF morphometry and attachment sites will help inform appropriate graft dimensions and choice of fixation sites necessary for ligament reconstruction. Clin. Anat., 2018.

Endocranial illuminator: A technique for transilluminating the skull

A novel tool, the endocranial illuminator (EI), has been devised to facilitate examination of the interior of the intact human cranium. A number of the endocranial characteristics including cranial thickness, sutural complexities, and foramina are easy visible with this device. The EI enhances the accuracy of anatomical examination of the cranial vault in forensic, archaeological, and historical crania in those cases where they must remain intact. The EI is simple and inexpensive to construct and lightweight so it can be used in the laboratory or easily transported in the field.

Identification in Immuno-Electron Microscopy of Solitary Multi-Polar Peripheral Neurons of Adult Opisthorchis viverrini by Antibody Against Rat Diacylglycerol Kinaseζ

Mediante el uso del anticuerpos DGK para rata se determino un numero considerable de celulas inmunopositivas en el Opisthorchis viverrini (OV). Las celulas inmunopositivas aparecian solitarias y se distribuian simetricamente al eje longitudinal de la OV. Algunas estaban ubicadas en las proximidades de los organos internos como el utero, ovarios, testiculos, glandulas vitelinas e intestino. Las celulas inmunotenidas extendian sus procesos horizontalmente u oblicuamente al eje longitudinal de la OV. Por microscopia inmunoelectronica, las celulas inmunopositivas se caracterizaron por presentar mitocondrias intensamente tenidas, citoplasma con tincion debil e inmunonegatividad en nucleos pobres en cromatina. Tambien se observo en las celulas, vacuolas de diversos tamanos sin inmunorreactividad. Se encontraron procesos celulares sin inmunorreactividad para cerrar finamente todas las superficies de las celulas y procesos, y se continuaron con los procesos de particion intersticiales que contenian nucleos y agregacion de microfibrillas a cierta distancia de las envolturas citoplasmicas. El presente hallazgo sugiere la posibilidad de que las celulas inmunotenidas son neuronas perifericas envueltas por glia periferica y que la glia presenta origen mesenquimal debido a su continuidad citoplasmatica con los procesos de particion intersticiales. La naturaleza motora o sensorial de las neuronas aun no se ha dilucidado.

Supernumerary heads to biceps brachii muscle and Asian population history

Supernumerary heads of biceps brachii are one of the most common anatomic variants in the muscular system and appear to develop under genetic control and vary in prevalence among populations. Variation in prevalence and morphology therefore has the potential to contribute to understanding of human population history. Until now, there has been no publication of the prevalence of the variant in Southeast Asian populations. The aim of this research is to document the prevalence and morphology of the variant in a sample of Thai cadavers and to consider the significance of the findings. The method used was dissection of arms of 162 donated cadavers at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. The sample showed high prevalence of third heads of biceps brachii in 35% of cadavers, compared with the prevalence of up to 25% reported in large samples worldwide. The sample also showed equal prevalence in males and females and one-third present bilaterally. This pattern is similar to that found in East Asia, and very different from the low prevalence found in South Asia. The morphology of the supernumerary heads does not appear to be different from elsewhere in the world based on the minimal comparable data available in the literature. The Southeast-East Asian pattern of prevalence is consistent with current theories of population history in the region and suggests anatomical variation of the postcranial soft tissues may ultimately contribute to understanding of past human migrations.