Anatomical Sciences Journal
Volume:18 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2021

In recent years, new findings have been made about the anatomy of the human body, which challenged some of the existing information about the structure and function of the human body. Some of the most important findings are the identification of salivary glands on a macroscopic scale as tubarial glands in the nasopharynx, the identification of lymphatic structures in the central nervous system as the meningeal lymphatic system and the glymphatic system, the identification of the mesentery as a continuous structure along the entire abdominal portion of the gastrointestinal tract, and finally, the identification of a new tissue structure called interstitium in some organs of the body. A careful review of these findings is of great importance in terms of understanding the pathogenesis of related diseases, designing treatment methods, basic research, and educating medical students. The purpose of this article was to review the latest findings regarding the anatomy of the human body and their practical importance in the medical sciences.

In developing countries, the hemiarthroplasty surgical procedure is applied for many patients with hip fractures. These surgical interventions occur with a delay because of various reasons, including insufficient hospital facilities and the deficiency of the ICU beds. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the consequences and complications of delayed hemiarthroplasty in the elderly (>60 years of age) with intertrochanteric and femoral neck fractures, regarding a 1-year follow-up. 

This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated 392 patients (59.2% female and 40.8% male; Mean±SD age: 69.9±4.7 years) according to the presence or absence of postsurgical complications, including the limbs shortening, infection, hematoma, symptomatic pulmonary embolism, Harris hip score, and the number of deaths following cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty. 

The majority of the patients (82.9%) underwent surgery in public hospitals, and 34% of them had femoral neck fractures. The evaluation of the trauma-surgery time interval index revealed that 39% of patients had delayed surgery (24% of which received surgery on the third day and 15.1% on the fourth day after hospital admission). The trauma-surgery time interval was significantly associated with infection (6.6%), hematoma (4.1%), embolism (2.8%), and deep vein thrombosis (4.8%) (P<0.05). The mortality rate was 0.5% (2 cases), 1% (4 cases), and 1.3% (5 cases) in the first month, 1 to 6 months, and 6 to 12 months, respectively. Also, in the first month, this analysis showed a significant (P<0.05) association between mortality rate and increased trauma-surgery time interval. According to the functional outcomes, patients with delayed surgery represented the decreased levels of Harris hip score.

Rapid preparation of elderly patients for hemiarthroplasty is considered an effective factor to reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

The crista galli is an important landmark during endoscopic sinus and neurosurgical procedures. The pneumatization of the crista galli may lead to chronic frontal sinusitis and mucocele formation that require surgical treatment. This study aimed to determine the morphological variants of the crista galli in adult Nigerians. 

Following the ethical approval, this retrospective study was carried out at the Radiology Department of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. The archived computed tomography images of 336 adult patients aged 20 years and above were evaluated for the type of the crista galli, based on the position of its base in relation to the cribriform plate. The crista galli was also assessed for the presence of pneumatization. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS v. 23. The frequencies of the variants were presented in percentages. The chi-squared test was used to evaluate gender differences. Besides, a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The type II crista galli was the most predominant variant (n=257, 76.5%), followed by type I (n=59, 17.6%) and lastly type III (n=20, 6%). Also, the prevalence of the pneumatized crista galli was 28 or 8.3%. Pneumatization was commonly observed in types I and II variants.

The prevalence of the types of crista galli and its pneumatization in this study differed from some literature reports. Hence, radiologists, otorhinolaryngologists, and neurosurgeons must preoperatively recognize these variants in the population.

Surgery and diagnostic radiology have emphasized the significance of the azygos lobe as a normal variant of lungs. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence, dimensions, and estimated volume of thirteen azygos lobes.

The chest CT scans of 789 patients (490 men and 297 women) were retrospectively analyzed for one year (2020-2021), in an Iranian population. Then, the dimensions of the azygos lobe, including Maximum Width (MW), Maximum Length (ML), and Maximum Height (MH), and also Estimated Volume (EV) were reported in total, men, and women.

The total prevalence of the azygos lobe was 1.65%; it was 1.83%, and 1.34% in men and women, respectively, showing a higher prevalence in men. Also, Mean±SD MW, ML, MH, and EV were 47.76±19.28 mm, 60.03±15.91 mm, 46.44±11.91mm,, and 88.831±80.18ml, respectively. No significant difference was detected between mean MW, ML, and MH. Although the dimensions and estimated volume were higher in men than in women, the differences were insignificant.

The literature provides no reliable and sufficient data about the size of azygos lobes, especially among the Iranian population. Data reported in this study can be of importance in diagnosis and preventing surgical complications, regarding the presence of the azygos lobe.

The purpose of this study was to describe the anatomic appearance of great cardiac vessels in the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) as a common bat living in the southern region of Iran. 

Five Egyptian fruit bats with a Mean±SD body mass index (BMI) of 123.04±0.08 g were selected and studied.

The aortic arch (transverse arch) cranial to the heart gives rise to the right and left brachiocephalic (innominate) arteries, each of which immediately divides into common carotid and subclavian arteries. The aortic arch continues caudally on the dorsal side of the heart, inclines to the left of the median plane as the dorsal aorta. The ligamentum arteriosum connecting the dorsal aorta to the pulmonary trunk is seen a few millimeters caudal to the origin of the left brachiocephalic artery. The arrangement of the great veins, including two anterior venae cavae, resembles that found in birds rather than mammals. A left azygos vein entered dorsally to join the left anterior vena cava. The opening of the right anterior vena cava is in the dorsal part of the right atrium; the opening of the left anterior vena cava, similar to the coronary sinus, is at the caudal part of the right atrium. The posterior vena cava opens into the right atrium dorsal and cranial to the entrance of the left anterior vena cava.

The evolution in the morphology mentioned above is in accordance with the flight requirements of bats.

Venom therapy is a traditional procedure for cancer treatment. Various types of natural compositions in bee venom indicate an area of research for therapeutic and anti-cancer purposes. Melittin is a cationic and amphipathic peptide that interferes with lipid-protein molecular interactions in cell membranes leading to cell lysis. Melittin also prevents metastasis in hepatocarcinoma through inhibition of cell migration. This study aimed to investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in ACHN cells transfected with a recombinant vector carrying bee melittin gene by real-time RT-PCR technique. 

In the present study, the recombinant plasmid of pcDNA3.1(+)-melittin was designed. Then, the synthesized gene was cloned into the pcDNA3.1(+) vector. Following plasmid amplification, PCR assay and enzymatic digestion method were used to approve the accuracy of plasmid amplification. ACHN cells were cultured, and sham and control groups were also prepared. RNA was extracted from the treatment and control groups using RNX-Plus solution. cDNA was generated using a specific laboratory kit. A real-time RT-PCR assay was performed to evaluate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in ACHN cells transfected with recombinant vector. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS.

The expression of the Bax gene significantly (P=0.03) increased in pcDNA3.1(+)-melittin compared to the pcDNA3.1(+) group. Bcl-2 gene expression showed a significant decreasing trend in the experimental group of pcDNA3.1(+)-melittin (P=0.001) compared to the pcDNA3.1(+). 

According to the obtained results, the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes in the ACHN cell line can be affected by the melittin gene of bee venom. Thus, bee venom as a natural substance with its anti-cancer properties can be considered for further experimental investigations.

Neurosurgical anatomy of the brain and spine was mastered by years of hard work practicing on cadavers, fresh frozen specimens, live animal models, and 3D models. But these methods are costly and raise legal issues. During the lockdown period, many of us were free having enough time, especially when operating rooms were very quiet. So we thought of learning neurosurgical anatomy using a cost-effective model made from homemade playdough and household items.

The playdough used for the study was made at home using maida flour and fabric colors with an anatomy atlas as guidance to mold anatomical structures on a template. Higher neurovascular training in vascular anastomosis was done and practiced on a beef blood vessel which is dissected out from cattle meat brought at home. The model was shown to residents and other faculties in the Department, and their opinions were analyzed by a feedback survey regarding the feasibility of the model as a self-learning tool.

Pilot feedback surveys done on neurosurgeons and residents revealed a general satisfaction with the model, with 70% saying that it was a good technique for learning neurosurgical anatomy. About 83.3.% of them opined that this self-learning method would improve their 3D orientation of complex neurosurgical approaches compared to bookish learning alone. The model was perceived as very useful for teaching (94%) preoperative planning (95%) and provided realistic surgical anatomy (81%).

The present pilot study based on a questionnaire survey proposes a novel, cost-effective method to create a physiologically, anatomically, and tactile model for learning neurosurgical anatomy. This model also increased the haptic ability and surgical skills as hand modeling were also practiced. This study will be unique because the feasibility of the model was also assessed in the same research by a feedback survey making it a valid study. This method will surely help upgrade the knowledge of neuroanatomy, especially when the real opportunity for surgical training was restricted due to COVID-19 lockdown.