Anatomy & Cell Biology最新文献

Studies reveal variations in the in the origin, number, and branching patterns of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA). The present study aimed to document such variations and their potential clinical applicability. Thirty-two femoral triangles of 16 embalmed adult human cadavers were dissected to investigate the variation in the origin, number, and branching patterns of LCFA. The main branches of the LCFA were tracked independently for numerical variations in branching pattern. The distance between the origin of LCFA and mid inguinal point (MIP) was also measured in each case. LCFA was most commonly arising from profunda femoris (PF), followed by femoral artery (FA) and common trunk of the femoral artery (CFA). Duplication LCFA was observed in 15 (46.87%) limbs, in 5 (31.25%) cases duplication was only on right side, in 4 (25%) cases duplication was only on left side and in 3 (18.75%), duplication was bilateral. Cases with duplication of LCFA, showed numerical variations with descending pattern being the most common. The average distance of LCFA1 and LCFA2 from mid-inguinal point was 5.77±1.35 cm and 6.14±2.05 cm respectively. Detailed information regarding the occurrence of duplication will be great importance for surgeons, interventional radiologists, and other medical professionals performing procedures in the femoral region. Knowledge of variation of branching pattern of LCFA is utmost important as surgeons use the descending branch of the LCFA in bypass grafting and vascular reconstruction surgeries.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a bilateral branch of the vagus nerve that is mainly associated with the motor innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. Despite its bilateral distribution, the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves display unequal length due to embryological processes related to the development of the aortic arches. This length asymmetry leads to theories about morphological compensations to provide symmetrical functions to the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. In this study we investigated the developmental and cross-sectional morphometrics of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in human fetuses. Fifteen stillbirth fetuses donated to anatomical and medical research were used for investigation. Fetuses had intrauterine age ranging from 30 to 40 weeks estimated by biometry methods. Specialized anatomical dissection of the visceral block of the neck was performed to prepare histological samples of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in its point of contact with the larynx, and morpho-quantitative techniques were applied to evaluate the epineurium and perineural space of the recurrent laryngeal nerves. No statistical difference in the cross-sectional morphology of the epineurium and perineural space between right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves intra-individually was confirmed, however, we found evidence that these structures are under greater development in the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during 30 to 40 weeks of intrauterine life. Our data suggest that the nerves are under morphological development that possibly set the stage for accommodation of larger diameter and myelinization of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during post-natal life.

Pneumatisation of the maxillary sinus (MS) is variable. The archived cone-beam computed tomography file of a 54-year-old female was retrospectively evaluated anatomically. Nasal or retrobullar recesses of the MSs (NRMS) were found. The MSs were bicameral. NRMSs extended from the postero-lateral chambers of the MSs into the lateral nasal walls. The right NRMS was reached superior to the middle turbinate and the ethmoidal bulla was applied on its anterior side. The left NRMS had two medial pouch-like ends, one beneath the ethmoidal bulla and the other on the anterior side of the basal lamella of the middle turbinate. Additional anatomical findings were the uncinate bulla, infraorbital recesses of the MS, maxillary recess of the sphenoidal sinus, and atypical posterior insertions of the superior nasal turbinates, maxillo-ethmoido-sphenoidal and ethmoido-sphenoidal. The NRMS is a novel finding and could lead to erroneous endoscopic corridors if not documented before the interventions.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary condition considered by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, resultant in motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Despite current treatment modalities including pharmaceuticals and various therapies, a definitive cure remains elusive. Therefore, this study investigates the therapeutic potential effect of Apelin-13 in HD management. Thirty male Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: a control group, a group with HD, and a group with both HD and administered Apelin-13. Apelin-13 was administered continuously over a 28-day period at a dosage of around 30 mg/kg to mitigate inflammation in rats subjected to 3-NP injection within an experimental HD model. Behavioral tests, such as rotarod, electromyography (EMG), elevated plus maze, and open field assessments, demonstrated that Apelin-13 improved motor function and coordination in rats injected with 3-NP. Apelin-13 treatment significantly increased neuronal density and decreased glial cell counts compared to the control group. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed reduced gliosis and expression of inflammatory factors in the treatment group. Moreover, Apelin-13 administration led to elevated levels of glutathione and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the treated group. Apelin-13 demonstrates neuroprotective effects, leading to improved movement and reduced inflammatory and fibrotic factors in the HD model.

Present case report describes a case of bifid ureter arising directly from separate calyces and renal pelvis of the kidney. Incomplete ureter duplication on the left side in a 78-year-old male cadaver was found during an anatomy class. These ureters converged in a Y-shaped pattern just above the level of the anterior superior iliac spine. In the coronal section of the kidney, the anterior ureter arose from a renal pelvis that was divided into two major calyces in the lower two-thirds of the kidney. On the other hand, the posterior ureter was directly connected to a major calyx in the upper third of the kidney, without the formation of a renal pelvis. This anatomical variation has implications for diagnostic approaches, especially in the use of imaging techniques by urologists for the insertion of stents in the treatment of phyelonephritis.

Transversus abdominis release (TAR) is a myofascial release technique which helps in surgical repair of large ventral abdominal wall defects. In this procedure, the medial margin of muscular part of transversus abdominis (TA) is of great importance. Hence, the authors sought to describe the extent of medial margin of TA muscle. The surgical steps of TAR were performed in 10 formalin-fixed cadavers and distance between medial margin of TA muscle, lateral margin of rectus abdominis, to linea alba at five anatomical levels were documented respectively. The distance between the inferior epigastric vessels and the medial border of TA muscle was also noted. The TA muscle was within the posterior rectus sheath in all cadavers, at the xiphisternum (R, 61.6 mm; L, 58.9 mm), and at midway between xiphisternum and umbilicus (R, 25.4 mm; L, 27.1 mm). The TA muscle exited the posterior rectus sheath between this point and the umbilicus. The mean incongruity at the next three levels were -24.6 mm, -24.9 mm, and -22.9 mm respectively on the right and -21.4 mm, -19.9 mm, and -18.9 mm respectively on the left. The mean distance between the medial border of TA and inferior epigastric vessels was 18.9 mm on the right and 17.2 mm on the left. The muscular part of TA was incorporated within the posterior rectus sheath above the umbilicus, and it completely exited the rectus sheath at the umbilicus. This is contrary to the traditional understanding of posterior rectus sheath formation.

Intrauterine alcohol exposure delays bone maturation and intensifies osteoporosis and fracture risk. As most studies emphasize the neurological aspects of intrauterine alcohol exposure, there is a lack of research on the implications pertaining to osseous tissue. Previous studies investigated these effects in fetuses, with limited studies on postnatal life. Postnatal studies are crucial since peak bone growth occurs during adolescence. This study aimed at assessing the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the humerus proximal and distal growth plate chondrocytes in 3-week-old rats. Sprague Dawley rats (n=9) were assigned to either the ethanol group (n=3), saline (n=3), and untreated (n=3) group and time-mated. Once pregnant, as confirmed by the presence of a copulation plug, the former 2 groups were treated with 0.015 ml/g of 25.2% ethanol and 0.9% saline. The untreated group received no treatment. The left humeri belonging to 6 pups per group were used. Serial sections were cut with a microtome at 5 μm thickness. These sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for assessment of normal morphology or immunolabeled with anti-Ki-67 and transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1) antibody. Prenatal alcohol exposure adversely effected the growth plate sizes and the number of cells in the proliferative zone. Fewer TGFβ-1 immunopositive and proliferative chondrocytes were found using the anti-Ki-67 antibody. This may explain the growth retardation in offspring exposed to gestational alcohol, showing that gestational alcohol exposure inhibits cell proliferation, aiding the diminished stature.

Celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are the main blood supply to the liver and pancreas. The data of anatomical variations in these arteries or their branches are very important clinically and surgically. The aim of this study was to describe the different variants in these arteries through the examination of the angiographs of a large series of Egyptian individuals. This research involved 389 selective angiographies to celiac artery, its branches, and the SMA. Anatomy of the target arteries of people who experienced visceral angiograph was reviewed and the data were recorded. From the total available angiograms in this work, 286 patients (73.52%) had the standard anatomy of celiac trunk and superior mesenteric arteries, and 103 patients (26.47%) had a single or multiple vessel variation. The inferior phrenic artery originates from celiac trunk in 2.05% of patients, while quadrifurcation of the celiac trunk was noticed in only 0.51% of patients. Absence of celiac trunk is also found in 0.51% of patients. Left gastric artery showed an abnormal origin from the splenic artery in 0.51% of patients. Quadrifurcation of common hepatic artery was also noticed. Variant anatomy of the left hepatic artery (LHA) was seen in 9.51% of patients, while variations of the right hepatic artery (RHA) were 14.13%. With the different origin of hepatic arteries, the gastroduodenal artery arose either from the LHA (2.82%), RHA (2.31%) or even from the celiac trunk (1.79%).

Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant with antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties based on its antioxidative function. Aptamin C, a complex of vitamin C with its specific aptamer, has been reported to maintain or even enhance the efficacy of vitamin C while increasing its stability. To investigate in vivo distribution of Aptamin C, Gulo knockout mice, which, like humans, cannot biosynthesize vitamin C, were administered Aptamin C orally for 2 and 4 weeks. The results showed higher vitamin C accumulation in all tissues when administered Aptamin C, especially in the spleen. Next, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells were conducted. CD69, a marker known for activating for NK cells, which had decreased due to vitamin C deficiency, did not recover with vitamin C treatment but showed an increasing with Aptamin C. Furthermore, the expression of CD107a, a cell surface marker that increases during the killing process of target cells, also did not recover with vitamin C but increased with Aptamin C. Based on these results, when cultured with tumor cells to measure the extent of tumor cell death, an increase in tumor cell death was observed. To investigate the signaling mechanisms and related molecules involved in the proliferation and activation of NK cells by Aptamin C showed that Aptamin C treatment led to an increase in intracellular STAT3 activation. In conclusion, Aptamin C has a higher capability to activate NK cells and induce tumor cell death compared to vitamin C and it is mediated through the activation of STAT3.

The carotid duct (CD) is a transient embryological structure connecting the 3rd and 4th aortic arches. We found a persisting CD in an adult female case, by studying the computed tomography angiogram. On the left side, the proximal external carotid artery (ECA) agenesis was noted. The CD was inserted into the left subclavian artery and continued upwards to reach the level of the atlas, and then it descended to connect to a normally configured segment of that ECA. It could be speculated that the CD-to-ECA connection was possible via unregressed 1st and/or 2nd aortic arches. The segmental ECA agenesis is extremely rare, while its supply via a persisting patent CD was not reported previously to the authors' knowledge. The variants are extremely important during neck surgery because damaging the CD could determine hemorrhage, as well as ischemia in the ECA territory.