Folia morphologica最新文献

Background: The leg interosseous membrane (LIM) stabilises the tibia and the fibula. These two bones articulate at the proximal and distal tibiofibular joints. In addition, the LIM is the place of attachment of tibialis anterior muscle, extensor digitorum longus muscle, fibularis tertius muscle (anatomical variant), tibialis posterior muscle and flexor hallucis longus muscle. The specific structure of the collagen fibre network of the LIM provides durability comprising collagenous fibres that are predominately projected longitudinally, obliquely, and often transversely.

Materials and methods: 222 human foetuses (Male: 120, Female: 102) between 117 and 197 (median 177) days of foetal life were available for the study. The material derived from the foetal collection is stored in the Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Division of Anatomy of the Medical University of Wroclaw. In this study, we assessed the variability of the foetal LIM using a novel dyeing technique to identify the LIM syndesmotic structure.

Results: Overall, the study of the three types of interosseous fibres (transverse, oblique, longitudinal) of the right/left leg revealed that the fibres run in all three directions with frequencies approximating 60-70%. However, there were differences in the frequency of fibre directions and in the size of LIM between sexes.

Conclusions: After consideration of the directions and size of fibres of LIM, parts of it can be used for reconstruction of the upper limb interosseous membrane. Sexually dimorphic features of the LIM in the studied material confirm the different dynamics of lower limb growth in each sex.

Glial cells are indispensable components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), exerting diverse regulatory functions crucial for neuronal health and function. From myelination and synaptic modulation to immune regulation, glia actively participates in maintaining PNS homeostasis and responding to pathological insults. Further elucidating the roles of glial cells in peripheral nerve disorders holds promise for developing targeted therapeutic interventions to alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes. This article reviews the multifaceted functions of PNS glia in shaping nervous system function and their intricate involvement in various neuropathologies, including peripheral neuropathies, neuroinflammatory conditions, and gastrointestinal disorders. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of glial dysfunction offers opportunities for developing targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at preserving nerve function, attenuating neuroinflammation, and restoring gastrointestinal homeostasis. The expanding research on PNS glia underscores their indispensable roles and highlights the potential of therapeutic strategies targeting glial dysfunction in revolutionizing the management of nervous system disorders, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and quality of life.

Background: Wormian bones (WB) originate from accessory ossification centers and occurr irregularly within cranial sutures. They are common, however some authors claim that in particular cases WB may reflect the developmental instability. Since males are more susceptible to environmental disturbances (which can lead to developmental instability), it is crucial to establish the possible discrepancy in WB appearance among sexes. The aim of study was to examine the sexual differences in WB presence.

Materials and methods: 317 adult skeletons from Polish and Lithuanian series: Ostrów Lednicki (185: 135 males and 50 females), Bokštro gatve 6 (69: 42 males and 27 females), and Subačiaus gatve 7 (63: 44 males and 19 females) were selected. Number of WB was noted, and their diameters were measured. In the Lithuanian sample the area of single WB's was measured photogrammetrically. Statistical calculations were performed with the significance defined as p < 0.05.

Results: Among Polish sample 117/135 (86.7%) of males and 35/50 (70%) of females represented at least one WB. In the Lithuanian sample it was 65/86 (75.6%) and 28/46 (60.9%), respectively. Difference was significant in Polish (p = 0.009) sample. The sexual difference of WB number was significant (p = 0.01 for Polish and p = 0.02 for Lithuanian sample).

Conclusions: The sexual dimorphism of appearance and number of WB has been confirmed. WB are observed in greater numbers in males, but sexual differences are rarely analyzed statistically. There is a need for further work on sexual dimorphism of WB, especially in non-Asian populations.

Background: Our aim is to explore silymarin's protective effects against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) modulation and elucidate potential enriched pathways through in silico analysis of silymarin-associated PERK protein interactors in cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.

Materials and methods: 30 rats were categorized into three groups: sham, IR and IR + silymarin groups. Cerebral IR damage was not induced. Only the MCA was identified and clamped without further intervention. Sham group received only physiological serum intravenously. IR group, rats were exposed to 2 hours ischaemia and following 3 hours reperfusion. In IR + silymarin group received 1 μg/kg silymarin intravenously (i.v.) before inducing cerebral IR. Cerebral tissues were processed for histological tissue preparation. Hematoxylin-Eosin and PERK immunostaining was applied. In Cytoscape software, we imported and integrated the silymarin and PERK protein-protein interaction networks generated from the STITCH and STRING databases, respectively. Subsequently, Reactome pathway annotation was performed for this intersected network.

Results: In the sham group, neurons were large and round with oval nuclei, and no histopathological changes were observed. In the IR group, neurons and neuroglial cells showed degeneration with pyknotic nuclei, apoptotic bodies, dilated and congested cerebral capillaries, and numerous vacuoles. After silymarin treatment, the IR + silymarin group showed a restoration of normal histology, with more regular neural and neuroglial cells and decreased vessel dilation and congestion. PERK immunoexpression was mainly negative in the sham group, increased in the IR group, and decreased again in the IR + silymarin group. Upon intersecting the interactors of silymarin and PERK, 17 common proteins were identified. Reactome pathway analysis revealed potential impacts of these proteins on key pathways including immune and cytokine signaling, apoptosis, estrogen signaling, and extracellular matrix degradation.

Conclusions: Silymarin's targeting of PERK offers a promising approach to alleviate ER stress and potentially modulate multiple critical pathways in cerebral ischaemia reperfusion, serving as a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for managing cerebral IR injury.

Background: The Nutcracker phenomenon (NC-P) is the entrapment of the left kidney vein (LKV) between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal portion of the aorta. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of significant left renal vein compression in a healthy population.

Materials and methods: The computed tomography angiography images of the 131 healty patients who underwent living kidney donor nephrectomy at our institution were enrolled in this retrospective, descriptive anatomic study.

Results: Three (2.3%) cases had severe, 26 (19.8) had moderate stenosis. The mean aorto-mesenteric angle was more narrow in females (p< 0.05). The mean LKV diameter ratio and beak angle were shorter and more narrow in females (p< 0.05,p < 0.01; respectively). Thirteen cases (9.9%) showed three or four positive criteria for NC-P. As patients got younger and had BMI < 30 kg/m², the rate of positive criteria determination was increased (p< 0.05,p < 0.01; respectively).

Conclusions: The NC-P criteria were seen with a high frequency in healthy individuals. Female and younger individuals with less BMI showed a greater prevalence of positive criteria. Revision of the current standards for NC-P with a distinct classification between sex, age, andBMI is required to assess LKV compression better.

Background: The cerebral arterial circle variants are well-described due to their clinical significance for neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists.

Materials and methods: This magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) report describes the unusual coexistence of three cerebral variants incidentally identifiedin a 44-year-old female patient.

Results: The right-sided first segment (A1) of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was absent, and both the posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) originated from the internal carotid arteries (ICAs). Thus, the unilateral A1 segment absence coexisted with a bilateral PCA of fetal origin. These variants' coexistence significantly disrupts the patient's primary collateral pathway.

Conclusions: The clinical significance and consequences of such variants after stroke or transient ischemic attack cannot be overstated, underscoring the importance of the current imaging findings in understanding and managing these conditions.

Background: Geographic tongue is an oral lesion with an unknown etiology. Recently, the Geographic Tongue Area and Severity Index (GTASI) has been proposed to assess the area and severity of geographic tongue, aiming to measure the clinical severity of the condition. However, this index does not account for the histopathology, which vary based on the clinical stage of the lesion and the biopsy area. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between GTASI score and its histopathological features.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 40 participants diagnosed with GT confirmed both clinically and histopathologically.

Results: Considering GT severity, a vast majority 60% of cases were classified as mild, with females' predominance in both mild and severe categories. The average age of participants was 56 years for mild and severe cases and 47 years for moderate ones. The prevalent histopathological features of geographic tongue included parakeratosis, acanthosis, spongiosis, basal layer hyperplasia, mono- and polymorphonuclear exocytosis, suprapapillary hypotrophy, claviform epithelial ridges, fusion of epithelial ridges, conjunctival papillary edema, and chronic subepithelial infiltration, with no significant differences taking into consideration clinical severity level. Papillary vascular ectasia, Munro microabscesses, Kogoj pustules, and dense connective tissue were more prevalent in with more severe cases of GT. Mild inflammatory infiltrate intensity was predominant in persons with mild GT, while moderate infiltrate intensity was found predominantly in moderate cases of GT.

Conclusions: The clinical severity level of GT closely corresponds with its histopathological characteristics.

Background: This study aimed to determine the differences in cranial measurements in three sub-adult populations in Malaysia using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) data.

Materials and methods: A total of 521 cranial MSCT datasets of Malaysian sub-adults (0-20 years old) consisting of Malay, Chinese, and Indian populations were analysed and constructed into three-dimensional (3D) cranial models using Mimics software version 21. Fourteen selected craniometric parameters were measured on the 3D models, adhering to the plane-to-plane protocol. All measurements were statistically analysed using discriminant function analysis.

Results: Cranial measurements such as maximum cranial width, biasteronic width, and occipital chord showed significant differences among Malays, Chinese, and Indians. In addition, a high similarity of the measurements between Chinese and Malays compared to Indians and Malays and Chinese and Indians was demonstrated. The highest classification accuracy was obtained by the age group of 10-12 years old, with Indians achieving the highest accuracy (72.2%), followed by Chinese (71.8%) and Malays (58.3%). The accuracy percentages between the pooled-sex and male/female formulas were relatively similar.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the presence of morphometric variations among the three different sub-adult populations in Malaysia using MSCT datasets.

Background: Marsupials have a narrower range of forelimb morphological features than placental mammals. It is hypothesized that this is due to a constraint in the reproductive biology of marsupials. The constraint is that newborn marsupials must crawl into their mother's pouch. However, anatomical knowledge of the brachial plexus in marsupials is scarce and has not been discussed. In the present study, the purpose is to examine the anatomy of the brachial plexuses of a koala, a Tasmanian devil, and a common ringtail possum and to discuss the brachial plexus of marsupials with reference to the previous reports.

Materials and methods: One adult koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) specimen, one adult Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), and one adult common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) were used in this study.

Discussion: The ventral rami of C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1 formed the brachial plexus in all 3 marsupials. Each nerve branch differed by one segment among the 3 marsupials. Therefore, the brachial plexus was considered in the form of a few differences among marsupials.

Conclusions: Because of a quite difficulty of getting an opportunity for anatomical examination on marsupials, an accumulation of cases like the present study is needed for future quantitative and qualitative analyses of the brachial plexus pattern of the marsupials.