Anatomy & Cell Biology最新文献

Cadavers are essential for anatomical education, but limited availability necessitates long-term preservation. While formalin is widely used, it is carcinogenic and alters muscle morphology and joint mobility, reducing anatomical accuracy. The modified Larssen solution (MLS) has shown promise in improving joint flexibility, yet its efficacy remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate muscle condition and joint range of motion in rat specimens preserved with 4% formalin followed by MLS immersion, compared to continuous 4% formalin preservation. Eighteen rat cadavers were allocated into three groups: intracardiac perfusion followed by 0.9% NaCl immersion, intracardiac perfusion and threemonth immersion in 4% formalin, and intracardiac perfusion with 4% formalin followed by three-month immersion in MLS. Statistical analysis included the t-test or Mann-Whitney test, depending on data distribution. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationship between muscle fiber fragmentation and joint range of motion. Data from the NaCl group were excluded due to sample decomposition. The MLS group showed significantly redder muscle color (P<0.05), softer muscle consistency (P<0.05), and a non-significant increase in joint range of motion (P>0.05), without observable muscle fiber fragmentation. Correlation analysis could not be conducted due to the absence of fragmentation. MLS may serve as an effective alternative preservative by maintaining muscle color, texture, and structural integrity. Although the increase in joint mobility was not statistically significant, it was more pronounced than in the 4% formalin group. Future studies should explore longer observation periods and potential correlations with histological findings.

The article reports on an investigation into the dimensions and shape variability of the atrioventricular and interventricular components of the membranous septum in human fetal hearts at 17-28 weeks. Using stereomicroscope with digital camera and software, we studied 80 normal specimens. In the 17-28 weeks group, the membranous septum length was 1.6±0.78 mm. The atrioventricular component was present in 86.25% of cases, while the interventricular component was present in 73.75% of cases. The length of the atrioventricular component was 0.9 mm at 17-19 weeks, and 1.2 mm at 26-28 weeks. The atrioventricular height increased from 0.75 mm at 17-19 weeks to 1.53 mm at 26-28 weeks. The interventricular component had equal median lengths of 0.57-0.60 mm in the 20-28 weeks group. Its height at 17-22 weeks was 0.75 mm, reaching 1.0 mm at 20-22 weeks, and increasing by no more than 10% in older groups. There were no correlations between atrioventricular or interventricular length and height that indicated great variability of the components in shape. For the atrioventricular component, common shapes were round, oval, and triangular. The interventricular component was mostly round or vertically oval; in some cases, it appeared as a horizontal oval or a vertical slit. The data may be useful for intracardiac fetal surgery, for example, in correction of hypoplastic aortic root and closure of interventricular communication, as well as for connective tissue three-dimensional bioprinting in cardiac abnormalities.

The sural nerve (SN) is a sensory nerve in the lower limb with notable variability in its origin, course, and branching patterns. This variability has important implications for diagnostic procedures, nerve grafting, and surgical planning, yet it remains underexplored in Southern African populations. This cadaveric study examined 90 lower limbs from 45 embalmed adult human cadavers (24 males, 21 females) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Each specimen was assessed for SN formation type, anatomical location, and morphometric data, including its contributing branches (medial sural cutaneous nerve [MSCN] and lateral sural cutaneous nerve [LSCN]). Measurements were recorded, and bilateral symmetry and sex-based differences were analyzed. Four SN formation types were identified, with Type 1 (union of MSCN and LSCN) being most common (62.2%). Formation most frequently occurred in the middle third of the leg (38.9%), although distribution across the middle, lower, and ankle levels was more evenly spread than in other populations. Bilateral symmetry in SN formation was seen in only 40% of cadavers. The average SN length was 100.1 mm and the mean distance from the lateral malleolus was 27.2 mm. This study confirms high anatomical variability of the SN among South African cadavers, and understanding such variation is crucial for clinicians performing nerve grafting or procedures in the distal leg. These findings may enhance surgical planning and education by emphasizing region-specific anatomical variation.

Bilateral hypoplastic facial arteries terminating as submental arteries were identified on computed tomography angiography, accompanied by rare compensatory vascular patterns. The right maxillary artery exhibited a triangular fenestration between the maxillary tuberosity and inferior orbital fissure, from which an aberrant buccal artery arose and descended to supply the inferior lip. The left side demonstrated a common buccoalveolar trunk bifurcating into the inferior alveolar artery and an aberrant buccal artery with a previously unreported transmandibular trajectory, entering at the lingula and exiting through a retromolar foramen before continuing tortuously to vascularize the cheek and lower lip. These anatomical variants present significant surgical hazards during regional anesthesia procedures targeting the maxillary tuberosity, pterygomandibular space, and mandibular lingula, as well as during facial reconstructive surgery. Comprehensive preoperative angiographic evaluation is essential when facial artery hypoplasia is encountered to identify compensatory networks and prevent inadvertent vascular injury.

Histology is an essential, yet difficult, subject to study in medicine. As artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving with ever-growing image recognition abilities, it presents a great potential to be used in the study of histology. This research aimed to assess the ability of ChatGPT 4o and Google Gemini 2.0 Flash to recognize various histological sections of different tissues and organs from images. The two AI models were presented with high-resolution histological images and prompted with tasks to identify basic tissue types, specific organs, and specific structures indicated by arrows. Scores were given for correct identifications. The test was conducted twice without any training or feedback to assess consistency. McNemar test and Kappa coefficient were used to compare the responses. Both AI models had good image recognition abilities with varying performances. Overall, Google Gemini achieved higher correct scores across both tests (75% and 77.5%, compared to 65% and 65% for ChatGPT). McNemar showed a significant difference between the two models with only fair agreement shown by kappa. No significant difference was found between the repeated tests. Performance across different tissue types varied. Muscular tissue was the easiest to identify and epithelial tissue was the most difficult. AI may have a promising role in histology. Students and histologist can use AI, especially Gemini, to identify histological sections from images. Critical judgment, however, must be utilized as AI can make mistakes.

The fundiform ligament and penile suspensory ligament (PSL) are essential for maintaining prepubic curvature and stabilizing erections. PSL dissection is a key step in penile lengthening surgery for micropenis; however, the precise origin and insertion of the fundiform ligament, as well as the insertion of the PSL, remain subjects to debate. In this study, 34 embalmed male cadavers without pathology or prior pelvic or perineal surgery were dissected layer by layer from the lower abdominal wall to the penile base. The fundiform and PSL were identified, and their origin, insertion, morphology, length, and vascular associations were documented. Four distinct shapes of the fundiform ligament were identified: double, triangular, Y-shaped, and irregular type, with the double type being most common. The majority originated from the linea alba, while some arose from Scarpa's fascia or both, inserting distally into the superficial penile fascia. The external pudendal artery was observed near its insertion in 56% of cases. The PSL consistently exhibited a triangular configuration, with an average depth of 27.4±5.7 mm along the pubic symphysis. The angle between the pubic margin and penile shaft margin measured 58.6°±9.7°. The deep dorsal vein of the penis was identified at the deep margin of the PSL in 53% of specimens. These findings provide detailed anatomical insights into the penile suspensory apparatus, highlighting structural variations, origins, and relationships with adjacent vascular structures. Further surgical validation is required to establish their clinical implications in penile lengthening procedures.

Placing an implant between the mental foramina can cause nerve paralysis and subcutaneous bleeding from the floor of the mouth. In this study, we performed macroscopic anatomical measurements of the anterior loop of the mandibular canal and three-dimensional observations of the anterior loop, mandibular incisive canal, and lingual foramen using dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to understand the morphology of the anatomical structures between the mental foramina. The specimens comprised 13 donated bodies. After CBCT imaging, the cortical bone anterior to the mental foramen was removed to isolate the anterior loop. After taking a picture, the anterior loop was measured using the image data. Additionally, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the CBCT images was performed to observe the anatomical structures between the mental foramina. The vertical distance from the superior margin of the mental foramen to inferior border of the mandibular canal was 7.34 mm and that from the inferior border of the mandibular canal to inferior border of the mandible was 8.90 mm. The anteroposterior distance from the anterior margin of the mental foramen to the anterior border of the loop was 3.42 mm. No significant differences were found in any of the measurements between male and female. In segmented CBCT images of the interforaminal region, the mandibular incisive canal could be observed and the lingual foramen was also observed in the cortical bone. To prevent complications, paying close attention to the anterior loop, mandibular incisive canal, and lingual foramen when placing an implant between the mental foramina is necessary.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and limited therapeutic options. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to tumor heterogeneity, therapy resistance, and recurrence through activation of developmental pathways such as Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch, JAK-STAT, and Hippo. Identifying CSCs is therefore essential for understanding pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) pathogenesis and advancing targeted therapies. This study compares the expression of key CSC-associated markers (CD44, CD117, OCT3/4, and c-Myc) in PDAC, fetal, and adult pancreas to elucidate CSC dynamics. Immunohistochemistry for CSC markers (CD44, CD117, OCT3/4, and c-Myc) was performed on PDAC tissues and control pancreatic samples (fetal pancreas 28-36 weeks and adult pancreas) to evaluate marker expression. Proliferative potential was assessed using CK7 and Ki-67 expression patterns. CD44 showed strong membranous and cytoplasmic expression in PDAC, moderate in fetal pancreas (epithelial/ductal regions), and minimal expression in adult tissue. CD117 was mainly restricted to stromal cells in PDAC, also present in fetal tissue but low in adults. c-Myc and Ki-67 were moderately expressed in PDAC, significantly higher than the control samples. CK7 demonstrated strong cytoplasmic staining in PDAC, moderate expression in adults, and weak expression in fetal samples. CD44 and c-Myc re-expression in PDAC supports their role as CSC-associated markers and potential drivers of tumor progression. CD117's stromal localization suggests tumor-stroma interactions. These findings highlight developmental reactivation of CSC markers in PDAC, with implications for early detection and targeted therapy.

Trepanation has been reported on skulls from major ancient civilizations since the Neolithic period. In this study, on a skull excavated from the Qau village site during the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt (7th to 8th dynasties; 2181-2160 BCE), we found a highly probable sign of therapeutic trepanation in the frontal bone. The practice of trepanation was suggested by the healing sign observed at the site on the frontal bone of case QAU-26. Based on our radiological findings, we presume that this ancient Egyptian male likely suffered from frontal sinus pathology, which may have led to the accumulation of exudates inside the cavity. To alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis, the ancient practitioner may have attempted to induce drainage of exudates from the left frontal sinus by therapeutic trepanation. Our findings are significant in medical history, considering that, thus far, trepanation has been reported rarely in ancient Egyptian civilization. This is also the first reported case of trepanation presumed to have been performed to alleviate paranasal sinusitis, which is of paleopathological and clinical significance.

The growing use of injectable cosmetic fillers has been accompanied by an increase in reports of acute vision loss, typically caused by inadvertent intravascular injection and subsequent embolization of the ophthalmic artery, resulting in ocular ischemia. Effective management of this complication remains challenging, as clear clinical guidelines for retrobulbar hyaluronidase injection are lacking. This ultrasound-based observational anatomical guideline provides practical recommendations for retrobulbar administration of hyaluronidase. Real-time ultrasonography allows for direct visualisation of orbital anatomy, enabling the injector to identify the optic nerve sheath complex and surrounding vascular structures. The central retinal artery's entry point into the optic canal is a key anatomical landmark for directing treatment. Based on ultrasound observations, the inferolateral quadrant of the orbit is identified as the safest and most accessible entry site, reducing the risk of damage to extraocular muscles, cranial nerves, and major vessels. The use of ultrasonography enhances both precision and safety, supporting timely and effective management of filler-related ocular complications. Ultrasound observation further confirms that the inferolateral orbital approach offers the most reliable and safe access for retrobulbar hyaluronidase injection. The superior orbital rim and close proximity of the globe restrict needle trajectory from above, increasing the risk of ocular injury. In contrast, the inferior approach provides a wider anatomical corridor, reduces the likelihood of direct contact with the eyeball, and allows safer navigation around critical neurovascular structures. Incorporating real-time ultrasound enhances precision, making the inferior approach the preferred route for managing filler-related ocular complications.