Biomedicine International Journals
Volume:1 Issue: 1, 2010

This is a meta-analysis of the literature on laterality of motor control in relation to vision, neglect and attention. It documents the role of directionality of signal transfer between the two hemispheres. By indexing cases in which macular vision was spared or damaged in lesions affecting the minor or major hemispheres, respectively, we show that the minor hemisphere’s role is to dilate (extend) the space in which vision occurs rather than providing for the elementary aspects of vision. We review the statistical relationship between the laterality of seeing and speaking and that of behavioral handedness of subjects, in studies employing inspection time and lexical decision paradigms; the distinction between the two modes of handedness (i.e. behavioral and neural) is defined. We provide evidence that brainedness (i.e. the laterality of the executive hemisphere) encompasses the destination of all signals relating to consciousness, and that the minor hemisphere relates to three-dimensional (3-D) spatial awareness. However, 3-D spatial awareness relies on signals travelling from the nondominant side of the body/space to the major hemisphere via the posterior aspect of the callosum, which may explain why neglect occurs exclusively in lesions affecting the minor hemisphere, as defined in this article. This is a comprehensive review of clinical, neuropathological and physiological data, and indicates that macular vision occurs in the major hemisphere and that handedness is a reflection of the laterality of conscious awareness.

The sinus of Morgagni, lying in the coronal plane between the left and right portions of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscles at the posterior skull base, has not to our knowledge been studied in detail by anatomical observation. As this area may be implicated in tumor spread and is near many important cranial base structures, the present study was warranted. The sinus of Morgagni was dissected in twelve formalin-fixed adult cadavers (24 sides) with particular attention to anatomical relationships. The dimensions of this region were quantified. The Eustachian tube pierced the sinus of Morgagni laterally in all specimens. The distance to the foramen ovale was found to average 2.5 cm from the midline and 1.2 cm from the nearest aspect of the sinus of Morgagni. In view of the proximity of the sinus of Morgagni to the foramen ovale and of our findings, anterior transcutaneous procedures for approaching this skull base structure could potentially allow infiltrate to enter the retropharyngeal space with spread to the superior mediastinum.

Predicting the solubilities of drugs in ethanol + water mixtures has been improved using a trained version of the Jouyban-Acree model. To check the accuracy of the improved model, solubility data for various drugs in ethanol + water mixtures at different temperatures were collected from the literature and the predicted solubilities were compared to the corresponding experimental values by computing the mean percentage deviations (MPDs). The overall MPDs for the predicted solubilities (from a total of 113 data sets including 1318 data points) using the previous trained model and the improved model were 52.9 (±44.2) % and 40.7 (±21.6) %, respectively; this mean difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0005).

Facial dimensions and the circumference of the head can be used in evaluating age, sex, and racial differences within a population. This study determined the mean head circumference and facial dimensions of 1120 children and adolescents of purely Ijaw origin. Male and female subjects with no anomalies in their facial features and head circumference were randomly selected from schools in Portharcort of Rivers State and Yenegoa of Bayelsa State in Nigeria; ages ranged from 3 to 18 years (560 males and 560 females). Nasal height, maxillary height, mandibular height, orofacial height, facial height and head circumference were measured with a sliding caliper and measuring tape. Ijaw male subjects presented with a mean facial height of 10.34 ± 2.3 cm, a nasal height of 3.99 ± 1.33 cm, a maxillary height of 2.14 ± 1.09 cm, a mandibular height of 4.21 ± 1.45 cm, an orofacial height of 6.36 ± 1.85 cm, and a head circumference of 53.6 ± 2.48 cm. In Ijaw female subjects the mean values for facial, nasal, maxillary, mandibular and orofacil heights were 9.90 ± 1.29 cm, 3.88 ± 0.55 cm, 1.97 ± 0.29 cm, 4.00 ± 0.56 cm, 5.97 ± 0.75 cm, respectively; the mean value for head circumference was 53.0 ± 03.22 cm. Statistical analysis (using the z score) demonstrated that males had significantly higher values than females for all parameters (P

Hemodialysis patients have many risk factors for heart diseases, and cardiac dysfunction is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in these patients. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of exogenous L-carnitine on the cardiac abnormalities of hemodialysis patients. Twelve chronic hemodialysis patients were placed on L-carnitine (500 mg/day orally) for a period of 6 months. Cardiac symptoms, signs and conventional echocardiographic findings (left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular mass and left ventricular end-diastolic, and end-systolic volumes) were recorded during this period. Our results showed that L-carnitine supplementation was associated with an improved cardiac function in chronic hemodialysis patients without significant changes in the left ventricular mass or end-diastolic volume. However, a significant increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction was noted in the patients with congestive heart disease. We conclude that L-carnitine supplementation may improve subjective and objective manifestations of cardiac dysfunction in chronic hemodialysis patients, and a larger study is needed to further validate the results.

Peritoneal dialysis is a popular mode of renal replacement therapy worldwide. Infusion of peritoneal dialysate fluid in the peritoneal cavity may be associated with pain. We prospectively evaluated the occurrence of the infusion of pain in incident patients on peritoneal dialysis. The clinical course and factors associated with this manifestation are presented. Four out of 87 end-stage renal disease patients (5%) who started peritoneal dialysis in our center developed shoulder pain. Beginning immediately after the initiation of dialysate infusion, the shoulder pain was more severe on the left side, and radiated to the chest, then went posterolaterally down the upper extremities, up the lateral side of the hand and digits. No severe underlying clinical problem or catheter malposition was discovered. The referred pain gradually relieved by 3 weeks to 4 months. In conclusion, radiating shoulder, chest, and upper limb pains are transient and seemingly benign complications of peritoneal dialysis.

The Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences has a collection of 390 early medical documents, which include 363 manuscripts dating from the 9th century. Most are written in Arabic - the literary script of the day. Of these, 70 are in the Arabic language, 71 in Turkic languages (Turkish, Tatar, Kumyk, Uzbek), and the remainder in Persian. In 29 July 2005, UNESCO officially included three medieval medical manuscripts from the Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in the register of the Memory of the World Program, which comprises unique and irreplaceable written monuments of humankind. The Certificate confirming this decision was presented to the Institute of Manuscripts by Dr. K. Matsuura, the head of UNESCO. These manuscripts are described in the present paper.