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We experienced an atypical case of radial longitudinal deficiency that did not fit into any classifications, including Blauth. The patient had a bilateral hypoplastic thumb, in which the index and middle fingers were missing in the right hand. We performed surgeries in four stages: centralization of the right hand, opponensplasty of the right thumb, opponensplasty of the left thumb, and distraction lengthening of the right ulnar. Twenty‐five years after the initial treatment, the patient was satisfied with the treatment and had no significant difficulty with activities of daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a study of Kirner's deformity to investigate its radiologic features and consider its possible causes. Sixty-seven patients with Kirner's deformity, 41 in our series and 26 retrieved in a survey of the literature were investigated. We divided Kirner's deformity into three types according to the site of curvature: the epiphyseal line, diaphysis, and distal tip. Among our series, 12 hands were affected in males and 26 in females. The gender of the patients for the other three hands was unknown. Twelve cases occurred on the right side, five on the left side, and 24 on both sides. Radiographic data for 34 hands were available. The palmar surface of the distal phalanx was at a mean angle of 27.4 degrees to the long axis of the middle phalanx. Epiphyseal line curvature was seen in four hands (mean patient age, 11 years), diaphysis curvature in 10 (mean age, 12.4 years), and distal tip curvature in 20 (mean age, 26.5 years). Dorsal subluxation of the distal phalanx was noticed in six hands (18%). Radiographic data for 26 hands reported previously were analyzable. The differences between epiphyseal line or diaphysis curvature and distal tip curvature in terms of age were significant in both the present study and the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five patients were reported in our congenital anomaly registry who had six hands in total with muscular hyperplasia, aberrant muscles, ulnar drift of the fingers in the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints, flexion contractures of the MP joints, and enlargement of the metacarpal spaces. Thirty patients with unilateral involvement of this condition have been reported previously. We reviewed these cases and found that the condition varied in severity and that it was reported using different names. However, this condition seems different from true macrodactyly and multiple camptodactyly, including windblown hand, and seems to be an isolated entity of congenital upper limb anomaly. The authors recommend ‘aberrant muscle syndrome’ or ‘accessory muscle syndrome’ as a diagnostic name, because this seems to be the most common pathological finding in this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no data about the expression pattern of activating transcription factor 5 (Atf5) during limb development. The aim of the present study was to describe the expression of Atf5 throughout mouse limb development. Some specimens were examined for the expression of type II collagen α1 (Col2a1), sex-determining region Y-related high-mobility-group-box 9 ( Sox9), and activating transcription factor 2 (Atf2) by in situ hybridization. ATDC5 cells, mouse limb buds, and epiphyseal cartilage were examined for the expression of Atf5α and Atf5β by quantitative real-time PCR. Atf5 transcripts were detected in condensed mesenchymal cells, cartilage primordia, proliferative, prehypertrophic, and articular chondrocytes, but not in hypertrophic chondrocytes. Atf5 was predominantly expressed by osteoblasts in the primary spongiosa. At the postnatal stage, Atf5 was expressed in epiphyseal chondrocytes and osteoblasts lining the bone trabeculae. Spatial distribution of Col2a1, Sox9, and Atf2 transcripts closely corresponded to that of Atf5 within developing limbs, except for bony tissues. In cartilage, Atf5α is the dominant form in the embryonic stage as well as in the postnatal stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the groundwater flow system of Ontake volcano in Japan. It states the utilization of isotope tracer methods in elucidating the groundwater flow system of the Ontake volcano that was located in a temperate humid region. It notes the monthly collection of the precipitation at 11 sites of the volcano for 26 months. It mentions the relative magnitude of the groundwater flow systems in the younger volcano zone. Moreover, it also notes that with the increasing age of the volcano, the flow system decreases.