Morphological changes in the rat aorta endothelium at the clamping sites

This study aimed to investigate on en face preparations the morphological changes in the rat aorta endothelium at the clamping sites while performing surgical anastomosis.Adult male Wistar rats (14-18-month-old, 390-420g) were used for the experiments. Under surgical anesthesia, the postrenal part of the abdominal aorta was dissected, clamped proximally and distally, cut and restored microsurgically using 10-0 suture. The clamping time was 30-40 min. At different days after surgery the animals were sacrificed, their aortas fixed and removed from the body and preparations for en face observation were made.En face preparations, obtained at the first postoperative day, showed complete denudation of the clamping sites. The most interesting endothelial cell population was noted at the borders of the clamping sites on the 3rd day after surgery - a large number of small endothelial cells and also few endothelial cells having very large size. At the later stages, the endothelial cell layer advanced rapidly to the denuded areas, as the complete restoration was observed after day 14

Morphological changes in the wall of great saphenous vein after radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a relatively new method for endoluminal thermal occlusion of the incompetent saphenous veins. The aim of the present study was to investigate microscopically the changes in the venous wall after routine RFA procedures. Short pieces (n=7) from the knee segment of the great saphenous vein were taken during RFA procedures. The removed vein segments were immersion fixed in 10% formalin and proceed to routine histology examination. Microscopically, the venous wall after RFA showed circular disintegration of the intimal layer. In addition, cylindrical medial lesions with disintegration and intercellular splits and gaps were observed. No transmural thermal lesions were seen. The present results highlight the mechanism of predetermined tissue damage after RFA procedures of the great saphenous vein

Unusual fibrous band in the brachium - a probable remnant from the rare chondroepitrochlearis muscle

An unusual fibrous band in the medial brachial region was found during routine anatomical dissection of the left upper limb of a 67-y-old female cadaver. This interesting structure started from the posterior layer of the pectoral major fascia. The fibrous band emerged from the lower border of the pectoralis major close to its humeral attachment, it then crossed obliquely downwards and posteriorly the medial brachial region and finally it was attached to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Most probably, this fibrous structure represents a remnant from the chondroepitrochlearis - a variant muscle that is rarely observed in man. Because this fibrous band has very close relations to the brachial vessels and the median and ulnar nerves in the arm, in certain circumstances it may probably cause neurovascular compression

Immunohistochemistry of synaptic proteins for synaptic exocytosis

The synaptic proteins synaptobrevin/VAMP, SNAP-25, Syntaxin1, NSF and α-SNAP were revealed by means of immunocytochemistry. Materials from the cerebral cortex of adult, newborn and postnatal rats (P6 and P11) were used. Immunostaining for synaptobrevin/VAMP was mainly around the synaptic vesicles, whereas the immunolabeling for SNAP-25 and syntaxin1 was revealed in most cases on the cytoplasmic surface of the presynaptic membrane and to a lesser extend - on synaptic vesicles. Immunostaning for NSF and α-SNAP was found out not only on the axoplasm of axonal endings and varicosities, but also in perikarya and dendrites. In the cerebral cortex of newborn rats, a small number of immunopositive presynaptic parts could be observed. The number of these immunolabeled structures increases evidently with increasing age of rats.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(1): 29-34

An abnormally enlarged frontal sinus - a case of pneumosinus dilatans

During routine autopsy of a 62-y-old female cadaver, an unusually enlarged frontal sinus was observed. The sinus was abnormally over-developed in both width and height, as the sinus cavity spreads deeply into the frontal tubera. Numerous septa divided the sinus cavity. Because of the obvious dilation of the frontal sinus and the lack of localized bone destruction and hyperostosis, a rare condition called `pneumosinus dilatans` probably occurs in this interesting case

Variety of transversus thoracis muscle in relation to the internal thoracic artery: an autopsy study of 120 subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The transversus thoracis muscle is a thin muscular layer on the inner surface of the anterior thoracic wall that is always in concern during harvesting of the internal thoracic artery. Because the muscle is poorly described in the surgical literature, the aim of the present study is to examine in details its variations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The data was obtained at standard autopsies of 120 Caucasian subjects (Bulgarians) of both sexes (97 males and 23 females), ranging in age from 18 to 91 years (mean age 52.8 ± 17.8 years). The transversus thoracis morphology was thoroughly examined on the inner surface of the chest plates collected after routine incisions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An overall examination revealed that in majority of cases the transversus thoracis slips formed a complete muscular layer (left - 75.8%, right - 83.3%) or some of the slips (left - 22.5%, right - 15%) or all of them (left - 1.7%, right - 1.7%) were quite separated. Rarely (left - 3.3%, right - 5.8%), some fibrous slips of the transversus thoracis were noted. In 55.8% of the cases there was left/right muscle symmetry; 44.2% of the muscles were asymmetrical. Most commonly, the highest muscle attachment was to the second (left - 53.3%, right - 37.5%) or third rib (left - 29.2%, right - 46.7%). The sixth rib was the most common lowest attachment (left - 94.2%, right - 89.2%). Most frequently, the muscle was composed of four (left - 31.7%, right - 44.2%) or fifth slips (left - 53.3%, right - 40.8%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides detailed basic information on the variety of the transversus thoracic muscle. It also defines the range of the clearly visible, uncovered by the muscle part of the internal thoracic artery and the completeness of the muscular layer over it. The knowledge of these peculiar muscle-arterial relations would definitely be beneficial to cardiac surgeon in performing fast and safe arterial harvesting.</p

Phlebectasia of the internal jugular vein - an accidental finding during contrast CT angiography

The internal jugular phlebectasia is a rare vascular disorder. It is well known in children but infrequently reported in adults. This condition is characterized by an abnormally dilated internal jugular vein that is usually asymptomatic or may cause moderate symptoms of compression.Herewith, we report a case of an asymptomatic right-sided internal jugular phlebectasia in a 37-y-old male patient. During contrast CT angiography of the neck and upper thorax, we accidentally came across an enlarged fusiform segment (maximal diameter 22 mm) of the internal jugular vein.The clinical presentation of this interesting condition and the possible treatment options are discussed