Patipath Suwannahoy

Intra-articular ossicle in interphalangeal joint of the great toe and clinical implication

Failure of closed reduction for an interphalangeal joint dislocation of the great toe resulted from an intra-articular ossicle interposed between the articular cartilages of the phalanges. The knowledge concerning the intra-articular ossicle is unclear. A study was thus carried out on 100 fresh great toes to document the appearance, number, size, and location of the intra-articular ossicle found in the interphalangeal joint of the great toe. Roentgenographic studies of the joint revealed 86% of bony mass representing either the sesamoid bone or the intra-articular ossicle. Anatomical studies revealed no sesamoid bone in the flexor hallucis longus tendon. There was 88% of intra-articular ossicle on the dorsal surface of the plantar capsule of the interphalangeal joint. A medial surgical approach to reduce the irreducible dislocation is thus suggested as easier and safer than other approaches.

Gender differences in elements of human anterior commissure and olfactory bulb and tract.

To examine whether there were gender differences in the various brain regions, the authors investigated the gender differences in seven element contents of the anterior commissure, mammillary body, and olfactory bulb and tract by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the anterior commissures, mammillary bodies, and olfactory bulbs and tracts were resected from the cerebra cut at median line. The brain samples were treated with 99.5% ethanol three times to remove lipids. After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the seven element contents Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na were determined by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the Zn content was significantly higher in the anterior commissures of men than in those of women. In the olfactory bulbs and tracts, it was found that the Ca, P, and Zn contents were significantly higher in men than in women. In contrast, no significant difference was found between the mammillary bodies of men and women regarding the seven element contents.