Is Transposition of the Great Arteries Associated With Shortening of the Intrapericardial Portions of the Great Arterial Trunks? An Echocardiographic Analysis on Newborn Infants With Simple Transposition of the Great Arteries to Explore an Animal Model‐Based Hypothesis on Human Beings

Background The pathogenesis of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) as a congenital heart defect of the outflow tract with discordant ventriculoarterial connections remains an enigma. TGA usually have parallel great arteries suggesting that deficient torsion of the embryonic arterial heart pole might cause discordant ventriculoarterial connections. It has been speculated that deficient elongation of the embryonic outflow tract might prevent its normal torsion resulting in TGA. The aim of our study was to clarify whether the intrapericardial portions of the great arteries in human patients with TGA might be indeed shorter than in normal hearts. Methods and Results Thirty‐four newborns with simple TGA and 35 newborns with normal hearts were analyzed by using images of the outflow tract in their echocardiograms and the following defined lengths of the great arteries were measured: aortic length 1, (AoL‐1) and aortic length 2 (AoL‐2) = distance between left and right aortic valve level and origin of the brachiocephalic artery, respectively. Pulmonary trunk length 1 (PTL‐1) and pulmonary trunk length 2 (PTL 2) = distance between left and right pulmonary valve level and origin of left and right pulmonary artery, respectively. All measurements of the AoL were significantly shorter in TGA compared to normal hearts (AoL‐1: 1.6±0.2 versus 2.05±0.1; P <0.0001; AoL‐2: 1.55±0.2 versus 2.13±0.1; P <0.0001). With regard to the pulmonary trunk (PT), PTL‐1 and PTL‐2 were found to be shorter and longer, respectively, in TGA compared with normal hearts, reflecting the differences in the spatial arrangement of the PT between the 2 groups as in TGA the PT is showing a mirror image of the normal anatomy. However, the overall length of the PT between the 2 groups did not differ. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that, compared with normal newborns, the ascending aorta is significantly shorter in newborns with TGA whereas the overall length of the PT does not differ between the 2 groups. This finding is in accord with the animal model‐based hypothesis that TGA may result from a growth deficit at the arterial pole of the embryonic heart.

Systematic changes of the static upper body posture with a symmetric occlusion condition

Background Temporary occlusal changes and their influence on the upper body statics are still controversially discussed. Furthermore, concrete statements on whether age- or gender-specific differences in neurophysiological reactions exist are missing. Therefore, it is the aim of this study to evaluate the immediate effects of a symmetrical occlusion blocking on the upper body posture. These effects shall be investigated for both genders and for a larger age range. Methods In this study, 800 (407f/393 m) subjects volunteered aged from 21 to 60 years. Both genders were divided into four age groups according to decades. The three-dimensional upper body posture was measured by using the rasterstereography (ABW-Bodymapper). The habitual static posture was measured in two dental occlusion conditions (a) in rest position and (b) symmetrical blocking in the bicuspid region by cotton rolls. Results A significant reduction of the trunk length (0.72 mm; p < 0.001), an increase of the lumbar (0.30°; p < 0.001) and the thoracic bending angle (0.14°; p = 0.001), a reduction of the spinal forward decline (0.16°; p < 0.001) and a reduction of the scapular distance (0.36 mm; p = 0.001) was found. Gender-specific reactions can only be recorded in scapular distance, in that regard men reduce this distance while over all age groups women did not show a significant change. Discussion Slight gender- and age-independent reactions due to a symmetric occlusion blockade are shown: A gender independent reaction of the spinal related variables in the sagittal plane (thoracic and lumbar flexion angle, trunk length, spinal forward decline). In addition, a gender specific change of the shoulder blade distance could be observed, where men reduced the distance while female did not show a change. However, since these reactions are of a minimum amount, it can be concluded that neurophysiological compensation mechanisms work equally well regardless of age and sex, and the upper body posture of healthy people changes only very slightly due to a temporarily symmetrical altered bite position.

Effect of Electrical Trees on the Distribution of Electric Field and Space Charge in Cross-linked Polyethylene Cables

Background: Electrical trees can affect the distribution of electric field and space charge in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables, and play an important role in insulation aging and breakdown of cables. Therefore, it is important to study the influence of electrical trees in cables. Methods: In this study, the finite element method of second-order tetrahedral element and electromagnetic theory method are used for calculation. A model of XLPE cable with three-dimensional electrical trees is taken as an example for calculation. Results: The results shows that the longer the trunk length is, the greater the electric field intensity at the end of the branch is; the farther the electrical trees are from the insulation side of the high voltage, the more the electric field intensity of each location decreases. Conclusion: With the increase of the resistivity of the trees, the electric field intensity and charge density tend to be stable at the end of the tree.

Morphological Characteristics of the Cakal, Mulakat and Oriental Pigeon Breeds Raised in the Marmara Region of Turkey

This study was aimed to determine the morphological characteristics of Cakal, Mulakat and Oriental roller pigeon in Marmara region in Turkey. The study materials were consisted of 300 pigeons reared in 16 different enterprieses. The pigeons were examined for plumage colour, markings, head crest and foot feathers, eye colour, number of wing feathers, number of tail feathers, body weight and some other morphological measurements. Statistically significant differences were observed between the sex groups for body weight, head width, beak depth, trunk length (P less than 0,001) in Çakal, Mulakat and Oriental pigeons. It was determined that, in comparison to the local Turkey pigeon breeds (Bursa and Thrace roller, Ankara Tumbler, Squadron Flyer, Dewlap) raised in Turkey, the Cakal is small-sized, the Mulakat is medium-sized and the Oriental is large-sized. Furthermore, the comparison of the age groups for some morphological measurements demonstrated that the Oriental and Cakal pigeons grew slower than the Mulakat pigeon.

Analysis of Limb segment length to the total body height among the undergraduate students in a medical college of Nepal

Background: Total body height is important for calculating body mass index, drug dosages calculations and other patient care issues. Total height estimation from different body measurements are surrogate measures of stature which is very useful when only fragmentary remains of a human body are found. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study is to develop the relationship of total body height with arm span, leg length and trunk length in Nepalese Medical students. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 441 medical students in the Department of Anatomy, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal from January to June 2019 after taking ethical approval. Body height, arm span, leg length and trunk length were measured and regression and correlation analysis between them were done. Results: The mean standing height, arm span, trunk length and leg length were 161.85±9.14, 165.37±10.5, 84.80±4.23, 77.06±6.5 cm respectively. Correlation coefficient of standing height with arm span, trunk length and leg length were 0.87, 0.76 and 0.90 respectively. Regression coefficient for standing height and trunk length, standing height and arm span and standing height and leg length were 1.65, 0.76 and 1.27 respectively. Regression equations for standing height were determined. Conclusions: Total body height shows strong correlation with arm span, trunk length and leg length.

A new species of Atractodenchelys (Synaphobranchidae, Anguilliformes) from Vietnam

A new species of the synaphobranchid genus Atractodenchelys is described based on 31 specimens collected off Quy Nhon and Nha Trang, southern Vietnam. The new species can be distinguished from the only two congeners in the genus by having much fewer total vertebrae (155‒158, vs. 168‒172 in A. phrix and 186‒199 in A. robinsorum), a relatively long head (head length 10.1‒12.3% TL), a relatively short snout (30.0‒35.8% HL), head longer than trunk length (vs. about equal in length in both species); and 5‒6 compound teeth on vomer (vs. 7‒8 in A. robinsorum).

LINEAR GROWTH OF YOUNG KAZAKH FAT-TAILED ROUGH-HAIRED BREED OF SHEEP

The article presents the results of studying the linear growth of rams, boulders and eggs of a short-tailed rough-coated breed of sheep. The infl uence of gender and age on the studied indicators was studied. It was found that measurements of body parts that characterize the development of the chest, such as chest depth, chest width, chest girth behind the shoulder blades, were characterized by the highest growth intensity, and height measurements, as well as oblique trunk length and pastern girth, increased less intensively with age. The advantage in the intensity of growth of the analyzed examples was in the rams.

Root Topographic Study on Molars with Furcation Involvements in Taiwanese Adults: A Risk Analysis of Furcation Entrance Dimension and Root Trunk Length

The present study was to investigate the Topography of Root Trunk type (RTT) and Furcation Entrance Dimension (FED) on extracted molars affected with advanced periodontitis and furcation involvement (FI). A total 169 extracted maxillary and mandibular molars (165 patients) affected with severely advanced periodontal destruction. The RTT was categorized as A, B, C, and the FED was clarified into subclass -1, -2, and -3, respectively. Results showed that the prevalence of mandibular second molars with RTT-C and FED-1 occurs higher; (33.0%), and the relationship between RTT and FED is significance (p<0.005). In addition, the relationship between RTT-C and FED-1 also shows a statistical significance (p<0.01) on the buccal surface (41.5%) of the mandibular second molar.

Growth Performance Indices of New Zealand White Rabbits Administered Panax ginseng Extracts

Treatment with Panax ginseng has been reported to elicit various biological effects in both animal and human models. Among the reported effects on animal are protein synthesis and growth promoting ability. For a better understanding, the current experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral administration of P. ginseng extracts (PGEs) on growth performance parameters of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. A total of 48 NZW male and female rabbits, with the average age of two months were used for the experiment, conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The rabbits were organized into 3 groups of 16 rabbits each (8 males and 8 females), on weight equalization basis and randomly assigned to 3 treatments: T1, T2 and T3, containing PGEs at 0.0, 200.0 and 400.0 mg/ml, respectively. Final body weight and total body weight gain of the male rabbits on T2 and T3 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of male rabbits on T1, while feed conversion ratio for the male rabbits recorded a higher (p < 0.05) value in T1 than in T2 and T3, which were similar (p < 0.05). Trunk length and breast girth of the male rabbits were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in T3 than in T1 and T2. Feed intake pattern was similar among the male rabbits, but different between males and females. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were not observed in all parameters measured among female rabbits, but all experimental rabbits followed the same pattern of body weight gain. Oral administration of Panax ginseng extracts at 200 and 400 mg/ml levels enhanced feed conversion ratio in male NZW rabbits, thereby increasing body weight gain, trunk length and breast girth, while feed intake patterns slightly differed between the male and female growing rabbits.