Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Anatomy
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Several research projects have been completed, with several others in progress. FARC has recently established a pig decomposition facility on a University of Pretoria experimental farm, and the first study in this regard has been completed in the form of an MSc (submitted) by Me.J Myburgh. This study aimed at estimation of the post-mortem interval (PMI), using a pig model. In a forensic context the PMI can provide a window period for death, reduce the number of potential victims, exclude possible assailants and substantiate witness testimony. Due to the large open and deserted areas in South Africa, human remains are frequently discovered in an advanced stage of decomposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of the method of Megyesi and associates (2005) in which Total Body Score (TBS) and Accumulated Degree-Days (ADD) were retrospectively applied to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI). To achieve this, a longitudinal examination of quantitative variables, TBS and ADD, was conducted over a period of 8 months. This period included both summer and winter seasons. It was found that patterns of decay differed in winter and summer, with winter exhibiting distinct inactivity. ADD accounts for about 62% of variation seen in decomposition. Seasonality influenced the ADD model and PMI. Linear regression formulae to predict the PMI from both the ADD and TBS were developed, as well as 95% confidence interval charts. These equations, along with data from a local weather station, can be used to estimate the PMI with relative accuracy.
In another MSc study by Me D Cavanagh, various aspects of facial reconstruction were addressed. When conventional methods of identification of unknown remains have been unsuccessful, forensic facial reconstruction (FFR) may be used to assist the process as a last resort. FFR relies upon the relationships between the facial features, subcutaneous soft tissues and underlying bony structure of the skull. In this study soft tissue thickness (STT) values for South African black females were developed, using CT scans of 154 individuals. In order to establish whether population specific STT values are really necessary for FRR by making them more recognizable, the skulls of two known females (with photographs available) were reconstructed using the Manchester method. Four databases of STT values (including that developed in this study) were used and thus four different reconstructions were made of each individual. Two identification sessions were then held. In the first session, 30 observers were asked to select correct matches out of a random group of 20 photos of black females. Secondly, another group of volunteers were asked to match each photo to the most similar of the four reconstructions made of that particular individual. The highest identification rates were found for reconstructions using the specific South African STT values, indicating that population specificity does matter.
Contact person: Prof M Steyn.
During March 2010, the second Advisory Board Meeting was held, and Prof Resia Pretorius was again appointed as the Director, while Prof Jan Meiring was appointed as Chair Person of the Board. The main research focus for 2010 was based on funding received from the MRC for a project on the morphology of platelets and fibrin networks in stroke. Sub-focus areas for the year include:
• Burn wound research with Southern Biological who also sponsored postgraduate student research
• Platelet research with South African National Blood Bank (Dr Crooks)
• Ad hoc morphology research which include collaboration with Prof Bornman (Department of Urology) and Prof Franz (Department of Surgery)
Three PhD students completed doctoral studies and two of those have graduated during the April ceremony. During the year 2010, 14 publications were published and are in press. A 209 article in the journal Blood, Coagulation and Fibrinolysis was shown to have been one of the top 3 most read articles of the journal. The title is:
Comparisons of the fibrin networks during pregnancy, non-pregnanacy and pregnancy during dysfibrinogenaemia using the scanning electron microscope by Etheresia Pretorius, Petro Bronkhorst, Sharon Briedenhann, Eureka Smit and Carl Franz.
Also, the section researchers were on a Carte Blanche Medical program on 30 August 2010. Professors Annie Joubert and Resia Pretorius and some research students from the Department of Anatomy & Physiology appeared on Carte Blanch Medical as part of an interview on a new book by Rebecca Skloots.
A few months ago a book on the life of Henrietta Lacks was written, called the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta Lacks was a 30-year-old African American tobacco farm worker who lived in southern Virginia. In 1951, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951 and researchers at John Hopkins University took a sample of this tissue and became the first researchers that were able to culture cells for an indefinite time in a laboratory. They called the cells HeLa cells and these cells can still be bought today for research purposes. She died 6 months later.
These cells, over the years played a fundamental role in medical research, from testing the Polio vaccine and some of the cells were even taken to space. Also, 50 million metric tonnes of these HeLa cells have been produced, and can be found in every country in the world.
This groundbreaking research tool has a dark site to it. Henrietta did not give ethics approval for the use of her cells and her family never new the extent and importance of this event. They could not even afford basic medical care, although millions benefitted from Henrietta's cells. Still today the family is poor and a portion of sales from the Rebecca Skloot's book, will be donated to the family.
Carte Blanche medical interviewed the author, Rebecca Skloot and visited the cell culture laboratory of the Department of Anatomy as well as the Unit for Microscopy. Prof Pretorius was asked to elaborate on the importance of these cells. She mentioned that over 63 000 research papers using these cells can be found on PUBMED, a medical journal.
These cells are also used as training tool at the University of Pretoria. Prof Annie Joubert has the HeLa cells frequently in her laboratory and she also provided fluorescent micrographs of the cells for the viewers of the show.
A full transcript of the interview can be viewed on the Carte Blanche Medical Website: http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche/Article.aspx?Id=4109&ShowId=3
Contact person: Prof E Pretorius.
Clinical Anatomy has broad application possibilities and in 2010 the field extended to include collaborations with other fields. Several postgraduate students have used geometric morphometrics, a field traditionally limited to biologists, in order to mathematically map the morphology of structures and regions. Also, Microscribe and Cone Beam technology enabled comparisons between sexes and different age groups for future clinical and dental application. Structures that were investigated included the following: The course and supply area of the posterior cerebral artery in the brain, the the pterygopalatine fossa in the skull and mandibular morphology after dental loss. Research output from the field of Clinical Anatomy was acknowledged on Faculty and National level. A paper entitled “The size, branching pattern and anatomical relationships of the dorsal pedal artery on the dorsum of the foot: A cadaver study” by van der Merwe L, Briers N and Bosman MC, was awarded best oral presentation at the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Day for 2010 at MEDUNSA, Limpopo Province. The article entitled “Proximal great saphenous vein cut down: An evaluation of techniques and anatomical considerations” by Briers N, Morris I, Meiring JH and Franz RC, published in the prestigious journal Clinical Anatomy, was the runner-up as the best overall clinical publication in the Faculty of Health Science, UP for 2009/2010. The significance of applied anatomy is recognised by other disciplines. Dr A-N van Schoor and Mrs N Briers were again invited to the 2nd Annual Pain Intervention and Regional Analgesia Congress (PIRA) in Johannesburg. Dr van Schoor presented lectures on the underlying anatomy of neuraxial blocks and a workshop on epidural anatomy. Mrs Briers presented a workshop on the radiographic anatomy of the vertebral column. This year was also productive in terms of postgraduate students. Two staff members, Dr A-N van Schoor and Dr N Navsa, were awarded doctorate degrees in 2010.
Contact person: Prof MC Bosman.
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