Revisiting scoliosis in the KNM-WT 15000 Homo erectus skeleton.

Owing to its completeness, the 1.5 million year old Nariokotome boy skeleton KNM-WT 15000 is central for understanding the skeletal biology of Homo erectus. Nevertheless, since the reported asymmetries and distortions of Nariokotome boy's axial skeleton suggest adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, possibly associated with congenital skeletal dysplasia, it is questionable whether it still can be used as a reference for H.

No skeletal dysplasia in the Nariokotome boy KNM-WT 15000 (Homo erectus)--a reassessment of congenital pathologies of the vertebral column.

The Nariokotome boy skeleton KNM-WT 15000 is the most complete Homo erectus fossil and therefore is key for understanding human evolution. Nevertheless, since Latimer and Ohman (2001) reported on severe congenital pathology in KNM-WT 15000, it is questionable whether this skeleton can still be used as reference for Homo erectus skeletal biology. The asserted pathologies include platyspondylic and diminutive vertebrae implying a disproportionately short stature; spina bifida; condylus tertius; spinal stenosis; and scoliosis.

Evidence for juvenile disc herniation in a homo erectus boy skeleton.

Study Design: An analysis and differential diagnosis of bony alterations in the lower lumbar vertebrae of a Homo erectus boy skeleton.

Objective: To analyze low back problems during early human evolution.

Summary Of Background Data: Back problems in modern humans are often attributed to our upright, bipedal locomotion that is thought to place huge mechanical stresses on the vertebral column.

New vertebral and rib material point to modern bauplan of the Nariokotome Homo erectus skeleton.

The double S shape of the vertebral column is one of the most important evolutionary adaptations to human bipedal locomotion, providing an optimal compromise between stability and mobility. It is commonly believed that a six element long lumbar spine facilitated the critical adoption of lumbar lordosis in early hominins, which contrasts with five lumbars in modern humans and four in chimpanzees and gorillas. This is mainly based on the juvenile Homo erectus skeleton KNM-WT 15000 from Nariokotome, Kenya.

Confirmation of microevolutionary increase in spina bifida occulta among Swiss birth cohorts.

Previous studies on the prevalence of spina bifida occulta have indicated a microevolutionary increase in its frequency and possible population differences in the prevalence of the condition. We studied the frequencies of closed and open sacral canals at each sacral level among two birth cohorts in Switzerland. Transverse CT scans and multiplanar reconstruction images of sacra of 95 males and 96 females born in 1940-1950 and 99 males and 94 females born in 1970-1980 in Switzerland were reviewed.

Tobacco smoke: a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension? A case-control study.

Background: Smoking is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular, lung, and many other diseases. Smoking can induce pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in animal models; PAH is common in smokers with COPD and thereby not correlated with the degree of airway obstruction. The impact of tobacco smoke exposure on the development of PAH in humans is not known.