Rabbit common calcanean tendon as an animal model: ultrasonographic anatomy and morphometry

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate usefulness of ultrasonography in assessment of rabbit common calcanean tendon, to describe its ultrasonographic anatomy and to perform morphometric analysis of this structure.   Materials and methods: Fifteen skeletally-matured New Zealand rabbits were used in the study. Ultrasonographic examinations of common calcanean tendon (CCT) were performed in longitudinal and transverse planes from caudal approach. Sagittal diameters of superficial digital flexor tendon and CCT were measured on longitudinal scans. Sagittal and transverse diameter, cross-sectional area and perimeter of the CCT were assessed on transverse scans. Statistical analysis was performed using StatisticaPL software (StatSoft®, Poland).   Results: In longitudinal images structure of CCT was clearly visualised. Its superficial hypoechoic part corresponds to superficial digital flexor tendon and deeper hyperechoic to gastrocnemius tendon. In transverse images cross-sectional area presented varied echotexture. Proximally, CCT was rounded in transverse section and became slightly wider and flattered distally. Statistical analysis showed no differences between results obtained from right and left hindlimb (p > 0.05). Measurements of sagittal diameter of CCT obtained in transverse planes were significantly higher than sagittal diameter measurements obtained in longitudinal plane in corresponding locations (p < 0.001). All performed measurements showed a growing trend with the increasing distance from the calcaneal tuber.   Conclusions: Ultrasonography is suitable technique for assessment of CCT in a rabbit model and provides satisfactory images for morphometrical evaluation.

Height at the withers estimation in the horses based on the internal dimension of cranial cavity

The investigations were carried out on 17 modern half-breed horse skulls and their metacarpal and metatarsal bones. The basal length (BL), total length (TL), internal cranial cavity dimension and maximal length of metacarpus and metatarsus and maximal lateral length of metacarpus and metatarsus were measured according to Kiesewalter and von den Driesch. During height at the withers estimation, the Kiesewaler and Vitt methods were used. The Wyrost and Kucharczyk mathematical formula was modified for height at the withers calculation (Hestmd = 1.016 × D) in horses. All height at the withers estimation methods were statistically analysed and compared. The analysis of variance ANOVA proved the lack of significant difference between the investigated values. The results achieved using Wyrost and Kucharczyk modified method are strongly comparable to Kiesewalter methods results computed using the metacarpal and metatarsal bones measurements. The height at the withers calculated on the basis of TL slightly differs from 2 above-mentioned methods. The BL Vitt’s method was the least exact

Volume calculation of the cattle (Bos taurus L.) and the water buffalo (Bos bubalis L.) metapodia with stereologic method

In this study, stereological volume estimations using 26 cattle metapodia (26 metacarpal and 26 metatarsal bones) and 8 water buffalo metapodia (8 metacarpal and 8 metatarsal bones) were made. For this purpose metapodia were parallel sectioned at 1 cm intervals according to Cavalieri principle. Grids with 0.4 cm probe intervals were superimposed on top of these sections and the matching points were counted. All of the bone structures and medullar cavity volumes were calculated with the data obtained from a formulation (V = t × a(p) × ΣP) as a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel® Windows XP. In addition, percent ratio of this volume to whole bone volume was calculated. The mean ratio of bone marrow space to whole bone structure volume equals 15% in all of the cattle and buffalos. The difference between whole bone volumes of cattle and water buffalo was significant (p < 0.05) while the difference in volume of medullary cavity (cavum medullare) was not significantly different between the two investigated species. The aim of current study is to present a new method that can be used for the volumes calculation of whole bones and medullary cavity in metapodial bones and their percentages.

Animal exploitation at the Olympos, southwestern Anatolia: Zooarchaeological analysis

This study presents analysis of animal remains unearthed from 2006 to 2021 excavations at Olympos, an important city of ancient Lycia, southwestern Turkey. Seven faunal assemblages were unearthed from seven distinct areas of the city. Each of them was studied according to their distinct archaeological contexts. The zooarchaeological observation was based on taxonomic identification, species diversity, kill-off patterns, nature of bone modification, including taphonomic and anthropogenic marks, and type of species exploitation at the site. The results demonstrated that the majority of the specimens were consumption residues, comprising mainly of ungulate and carnivore mammals, birds and marine fish and mollusks. Goat remains were the most common in all the assemblages, which is consistent with common animal exploitation patterns in Anatolia. Fish bones mostly represented bonito (Sarda sarda), tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and shark (Carcharhinidae sp.). Among the mollusks, the shells of Triton trumpet, rarely found in the Roman-Byzantine Anatolia, were clearly used as trumpets. As Olympos was an important harbour with a strategic location by the Mediterranean Sea, its faunal remains shed new light on the coastal dietary habbit, animal economy, and cultural contacts in the Roman and Early Byzantine periods in Anatolia. © 2022 Elsevier LtdThe authors offer their grateful thanks to all members of the Olympos excavation team for his contribution at every stage of this study

Morphology of the Lacrimal Gland and Superficial Gland of the Third Eyelid of Roe Deer (Capreolus Capreolus L.)

This study on the lacrimal gland (LG) and the superficial gland of the third eyelid (SGTE) was conducted on 21 sexually mature Roe deer (11 males and 10 females). The research material was obtained from Roe deer shot by the Hunting Association during their prescribed hunting season. The shape and topography of the glands are described macroscopically. The LG has a triangular shape in all the investigated individuals and it is located in the dorsolateral angle of the orbit, between the tendons of the dorsal rectus and the lateral rectus muscles of the eyeball. The SGTE is oval in shape and it is located between the medial rectus muscle and the ventral rectus muscle of the eyeball and it is partially covered with the ventral oblique muscle of the eyeball. The SGTE is situated around the cartilage of the third eyelid During histological and ultrastructural analyses using light and transmission electron microscopy, it was established that the LG is a tubulo-acinar gland. Histochemical examination demonstrates that excretory cells are in general PAS-negative and Alcian blue pH 2.5-negative, and thus this gland can be regarded as a serous gland. The SGTE exhibits also a tubulo-acinar morphology. The histochemical study showed that the SGTE is of a combined nature, i.e. with serous cells (PAS-negative and Alcian blue pH 2.5-negative), mucous (PAS-positive and Alcian blue pH 2.5-positive) and seromucous cells (PAS-positive and Alcian blue pH 2.5-positive). Upon electron microscopic examination, LG and SGTE secretory cells exhibited a similar ultrastructure appearance, with secretory cells tightly filled with intracytoplasmatic secretory granules. Neither the body size nor gender had a significant influence on the size of the LG and the SGTE (t-test: P>0.05). The ultrastructure and function of the investigated eyeball’s glands in Roe deer was similar to those observed in other species, like cattle, camel and bison

Antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and Cytotoxic Silver(I) BioMOF Assembled from 1,3,5-triaza-7-phoshaadamantane and pyromellitic acid

The present study reports the synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of a novel bioactive metal-organic framework, [Ag4(μ-PTA)2(μ3-PTA)2(μ4-pma)(H2O)2]nμ6nH2O (bioMOF 1), which was assembled from silver(I) oxide, 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), and pyromellitic acid (H4pma). This product was isolated as a stable microcrystalline solid and characterized by standard methods, including elemental analysis, 1H and 31P{1H} NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of 1 disclosed a very complex ribbon-pillared 3D metal-organic framework driven by three different types of bridging ligands (μ-PTA, μ3-PTA, and μ4-pma4-). Various bioactivity characteristics of bioMOF 1 were investigated, revealing that this compound acts as a potent antimicrobial against pathogenic strains of standard Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, as well as a yeast (Candida albicans). Further, 1 showed significant antiviral activity against human adenovirus 36 (HAdV-36). Finally, bioMOF 1 revealed high cytotoxicity toward an abnormal epithelioid cervix carcinoma (HeLa) cell line with low toxicity toward a normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cell line. This study not only broadens the family of PTA-based coordination polymers but also highlights their promising multifaceted bioactivity. © 2020 by the authors