The posterolateral tunnel on the superior surface of the first cervical (atlas) vertebra is of normal occurrence in monkeys and other lower animals, but its presence in the form of a tunnel-like canal, for the passage of the third part of the vertebral artery over the posterior arch of the human atlas vertebra is not reported. The aim of the present study was to detect the presence of such a canal, in addition to other types of ponticuli (little bridges) reported by earlier investigators, in macerated atlas vertebrae and routine cadaveric dissections. The posterolateral tunnel was detected in 1n14 %, and the posterior and lateral ponticuli in 6n57 and 2 % of vertebrae. Probably the bony roof of the posterolateral tunnel serves the purpose of additional lateral extension for the attachment of the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane in quadrupeds, where the load of the head is supported by the extensor muscles of the neck, ligaments and posterior atlanto-occipital membrane. In man, where the weight of the head is borne by the vertical loading of the superior articular process of the atlas, the roof of the tunnel has disappeared.

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00158561.

No abstract

Alteration in lipid peroxidation products such as lipid peroxides, lipid hydroperoxides were studied in different regions of CNS of ageing rats (13, 26, 52, 78 and 104 weeks). The levels of lipid peroxide and lipid hydroperoxide were increased in various regions of brain and spinal cord. However, the activity of superoxide dismutase was decreased in cerebrum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord. The present communication demonstrates that the different parts of CNS at 13 and 26 weeks of age have lipid peroxidation products different from that of 104-week-old rats.

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is the most common of the human mandibulofacial dysostosis disorders. It is an autosomal-dominant disorder of the craniofacial development occurring between the fifth and the eighth weeks of embryonic development with an incidence of 1/50,000 live births, range between 1-40,000 and 1-70,000. We present here the various clinical, radiographical and other diagnostic findings of the TCS to correlate the clinical assessment with the diagnostic imaging and review the various investigations and management options being carried out to improve their facial deformity.