This report evaluates a rare case of craniofacial microsomia in a partially developed, malformed heteropagus conjoined twin. In this instance, several major components of the craniofacial complex were involved: bones, cartilage, teeth, salivary glands, auditory apparatus, cerebrum, cranial nerves, and ocular neuroepithelium. In addition, cervical vertebrae and appendicular long bones were markedly affected. To date, the underlying disorder (whether genetic, metabolic, or environmental) responsible for the development of this congenital malformation is not fully understood. Our clinical and pathologic examinations tend to suggest that an apparent lack of an adequate arterial blood supply to the growing embryo could have contributed to the elaboration of this complex syndrome. The fact that the parasite's blood supply relied mainly upon a single, medium-sized artery (1.5 mm in diameter) could have brought about local ischemic milieus during the critical phases of embryogenesis; hence, impeding the preprogrammed migration of neural crest cells to their end targets in the upper branchial arches. In such a case, the normal sequence of cell differentiation is damaged, which in turn imposes a severe impact on the morphogenesis of the various tissues composing the craniofacial complex.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The principle of autogeneic rib perichondrial transplantation in the treatment of deep articular cartilage defects].

The purpose of this study was to examine the fate of autologous perichondrial grafts after transplantation into cartilage lesions in weight-bearing joints. Results were evaluated depending on the age of the animals and on the weight-bearing conditions. Osteochondral lesions were drilled in the articular surface of knee joints in 36 adolescent sheep. The defects were filled with autologous rib perichondrial grafts which were secured by either collagen sponges (n = 12) or fibrin glue (n = 12). Twelve animals served as controls. Following one week of immobilisation the animals were allowed to move freely. Animals were sacrificed after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. The same procedure was performed in three adult animals in order to achieve hints regarding the age-dependent ingrowth of the transplants. In two of them the transplantation was done using fibrin glue for fixation; one animal served as control. Grafts were removed corresponding to the time intervals and investigated histologically. In adolescent animals grafts from weight-bearing areas and control defects did not show a regular cartilagenous differentiation. In contrast to that, hyaline-like cartilage formation could be noted in non-weight-bearing areas even after 4 weeks. In principle, the same results were found in adult sheep but a delay of cartilagenous differentiation of four weeks was observed. Depending on these results we use the procedure of perichondrial transplantation clinically for treatment of circumscript deep lesions of articular cartilage provided no osteoarthritis or any other overlying general diseases are evident. By means of the Lysholm- and Ranawat-score all six patients demonstrated postoperative improvement. Furthermore, in two patients arthroscopic controls exhibited sufficient filling of the defects and ingrowth to the surrounding cartilage. Thus, autogeneic perichondrial transplantation can be recommended for treatment of circumscript deep cartilagenous lesions of articular cartilage.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Initial locus of calcification in chondrocytes.

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Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Corticosteroid-induced enhanced mineralization in neonatal condylar cartilage.

Neonatal mice were treated with triamcinolone hexacetonide and the cartilage of their mandibular condyle was studied biochemically and histochemically. Three days following the hormonal treatment the condylar protein content decreased significantly but a marked increase was noted in the tissue's calcium and phosphate. The condylar mineralization front extended up to the chondroblastic and proliferative zones. Triamcinolone arrest cartilage cell proliferation and enhanced an atypical hypertrophy of chondroblasts. One week following the hormonal treatment the condyle revealed clear signs of weight loss and changes in its size and form. Glucocorticoids enhance the mineralization of neonatal cartilage via: a direct effect upon chondrocytic metabolic and control systems (genom) and possibly also through an indirect adverse effect upon other organ systems.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Stevens-Johnson syndrome, report of a case with possible systemic reaction to acute alcoholism.

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Adult↗