Anatomy & Cell Biology最新文献

The omohyoid is a digastric muscle that crosses the neck from the superior border of the scapula to the body of the hyoid bone. Variations in the omohyoid muscle are common, but a double omohyoid is considered rare and may have important clinical implications. The anatomical dissection of the neck of a middle-aged male cadaver revealed an abnormal three-headed duplicated omohyoid muscle. Behind the clavicle, the intermediate head bifurcated and fused with the medial and lateral heads, forming a small plexus that gave rise to two separate bellies, one lateral, and one medial. The bellies ascended in a superomedial direction before inserting into the hyoid bone next to each other. The intermediate tendon was rudimentary in the lateral belly and absent in the medial one. The anatomical variation described here has not been previously reported and may have clinical significance.

In the Archaeological Museum of Nicosia, Cyprus, a collection of Roman terracotta vessels-dated to the 1st century BCE to 1st century CE-offers a compelling view into the convergence of empirical healing and early anatomical reasoning. These vessels, likely used for localized heat therapy, are distinctly shaped to contour specific body parts: ears, hands, feet, knees, abdomen, and thorax. With spouts for pouring warm liquids and cavities for radiating retained heat, they appear to have functioned as reusable "hot bags" for therapeutic application. Their deliberate anatomical shapes hint at a proto-clinical understanding of the body region, anticipating modern anatomical concepts such as aesthetic units, vascular territories, and lymphatic drainage zones. These vessels fall into distinct morphologies: craniofacial and auricular vessels, shaped for the side of the head or ear-reminiscent of the posterior auricular and superficial temporal angiosomes, and suggestive of treating headaches, neuralgia, or infections. Thoracoabdominal vessels, whose curved contours match rib cage and abdominal surfaces-suggesting therapeutic warmth for visceral discomfort or muscular tension. Upper and lower limb units, including knees, thighs, and elbows-likely used in joint pain or injuries. Distal extremity molds, notably for the hands and feet-organs that modern clinicians recognize as prone to cold exposure, vasospasm, and microvascular pathology. This paper repositions these clay forms not only as implements of care, but as anatomical "drawings in relief"-early, handmade representations of functional human zones. In doing so, they reconnect anatomy with the sensory and therapeutic traditions that first shaped it.

Tamoxifen (TAM) is one of the most used drugs in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. A set of common side effects was recorded associating its prolonged clinical use that ranges 3-10 years. This study aimed to investigate TAM-induced parietal cells (PCs) injury in rats and the possible protective effect of rhubarb (Rh) water extract (WE). Twenty-four adult female rats were distributed as: control group, TAM-group (3 mg/kg/day TAM for 4-weeks) and TAM+Rh-group (combined 3 mg/kg/day TAM and 20 mg/kg Rh-WE for 4-weeks). Blood sample before euthanizing rats was tested for vitamin-B12. PCs in stomach fundus were examined using histological and transmission electron microscopic studies, besides immunohistochemistry for Caspase-3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and hydrogen potassium (H⁺/K⁺)-ATPase. Gastric homogenates were inspected for malondialdehyde (MDA) by ELISA. TAM intake induced structural and ultrastructural alteration in rat PCs including ballooning degeneration, apoptosis, decreased canaliculi, increased tubulovesicular system and irregular-shaped mitochondria. A significant increase of Caspase-3 immunostaining and MDA expression in gastric tissue was associated with a significant decrease of PCNA and H⁺/K⁺-ATPase-immunostaining and in serum vitamin-B12 as compared to the control group. Combined oral intake of TAM and Rh-WE revealed a significant reversal of the previous findings. Conclusion: Prolonged use of oral TAM substantially affected the structure and function of gastric PCs which can be ameliorated by Rh-WE.

We examined the expression and localization of osteopontin (OPN) in various organs in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). To evaluate the level of OPN in blood and various tissues, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot analysis of OPN were performed. The serum level of OPN was significantly increased in mice with EAE, and OPN was upregulated in all tissues examined, including the liver, kidneys, intestines, and spinal cord. OPN immunoreactivity was noted in inflammatory cells (mainly macrophages) and was enhanced in constitutively expressed cell types in the examined organs. In sum, OPN, a pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediator, was elevated in all tissues following EAE induction, resulting in increased blood concentrations. These findings suggest that OPN may function as a key extracellular matrix component contributing to systemic disorders in autoimmune disease models.

A rare unilateral anatomical variation was observed in the left arm of a 62-year-old female cadaver. The medial cutaneous nerve of the arm pierced the axillary vein, arising from the medial cord of the brachial plexus and coursing posterior to the axillary artery. The nerve traversed the vein over a short segment, entering at approximately 6.5 cm and exiting at approximately 7.5 cm from the coracoid process. This unusual relationship has significant clinical implications in medical procedures, particularly in axillary venous access. Failure to recognize these alterations during axillary lymph node dissections or brachial plexus procedures increases the probability of iatrogenic nerve damage or venous trauma. This case highlights the importance of preoperative imaging and vigilant dissection techniques to accommodate anatomical variability, ultimately enhancing procedural safety and patient outcomes. Recognizing such variations is crucial to prevent sensory deficits, chronic neuropathic pain, and other complications.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a bile duct cancer often linked to liver fluke infections. In Thailand, it has a high incidence and mortality rate due to imprecise symptoms, late diagnosis, and limited treatments. Our previous research identified gene-splicing errors as a factor in CCA progression. This study focused on the role of serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) in CCA. SRSF1-SRSF12 expressions were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), confirming upregulation with RT quantitative PCR, western blotting, and dataset analysis. One SRSF was selected for silencing in CCA cell lines (KKU-055 and KKU-213A) using small interfering RNAs. Cell proliferation and survival were assessed through various assays, while apoptosis and autophagy markers were analyzed using western blotting, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Splicing errors in death-related genes were also examined. The results showed that SRSF1 was significantly overexpressed in CCA, especially among gastrointestinal cancers. Silencing SRSF1, particularly in KKU-213A cells, reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death. Apoptosis was marked by increased caspase-3 and BAX, decreased Bcl-2, and cytochrome C release. Autophagy was indicated by a higher LC3B-II/LC3B-I ratio, lower p62, and increased Beclin-1 and ATG5. TEM further confirmed apoptotic and autophagic cell changes. Splicing errors in key death-related genes, including Δ133p53, AGR2vH, MKNK2-b, PKM2, MCL-1L, and BIN1+12a, were also detected. These findings suggest that SRSF1 plays a key role in CCA by regulating apoptosis and autophagy. Its silencing promotes cancer cell death, partly by correcting oncogenic splicing errors, making it a potential target for CCA treatment.

Ethmomaxillary sinuses (EMSs) and infraorbital Haller's cells (HCs) are rare anatomical variations that can impact sinus surgery. Two such rare variants are presented here. Archived computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans were retrospectively analysed. Two cases with an ethmoidal origin of an intramaxillary additional pneumatisation above hypoplastic maxillary sinuses (MSs) were found and examined. In the first case, bilateral EMSs were anterior to the pterygopalatine fossa, transforming the inferior orbital fissure into an ethmomaxillary fissure. Each EMS drained into the superior nasal meatus, which is different from a middle meatal drainage of the MS. The infraorbital sulcus (IOS) was found on the roof of the right EMS but in the angle between the left EMS and MS. In the second case, a complicated air cell anatomy was found: a giant HC reached above the right MS and ethmoidal infundibulum and communicated internally through a narrow isthmus with a retrobullar air cell that, in turn, drained into the upper meatus via an orifice of the basal lamella of the middle turbinate. Posteriorly, the ipsilateral IOS was applied to the posterolateral dehiscent wall of the HC, and the infraorbital canal (IOC) was applied at the HC-MS angle. These cases highlight the anatomical variability of ethmoid air cells' migration within the maxilla and raise awareness of a supra- or juxta-ethmoidal course of the IOS and IOC. This underscores the importance of detailed imaging techniques like CTA for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. Awareness of such variations is essential to prevent complications during endoscopic sinus surgery.

We report our observation of bilateral quadricipital biceps brachii muscle with usual coracoid and glenoid heads and two supernumerary heads arising from the anterior surface of the humerus above the origin of the brachialis muscle. On each side, the lateral supernumerary head merged with the fleshy part of the long head, and the medial heads inserted into the biceps tendon and partially contributed to the bicipital aponeurosis. The median nerve and brachial artery coursed medial to these supernumerary heads, which posed no perceivable risk of neurovascular compression. This variation highlights the complexity and clinical relevance of upper limb muscular anatomy. The occurrence of a four- or five-headed biceps brachii remains exceedingly rare. This paper includes a review of similar cases previously reported in the literature.

Anatomical variations in upper extremity musculature can affect motor function, contribute to neuropathies, or enhance functionality. This clinical case report describes a bilateral anomalous muscle in the forearm, a "flexor digiti minimi longus," originating in the anterior proximal forearm and extending via a distinct tendon to the distal phalanx of the fifth digit. Recognizing such variations is crucial for understanding digit function, guiding orthopedic surgery, and identifying potential neurovascular complications.