Unusual formation and sub-omohyoid course of external jugular vein.

Variations in the origin and termination of external jugular vein are common and are reported in the past. However, variations in the course of external jugular vein are uncommon. During routine dissection classes for medical undergraduates, we came across the unusual formation and course of right external jugular vein and absence of common facial vein, in an approximately 60-year-old male cadaver of Indian origin. External jugular vein was formed by the continuation of undivided trunk of retromandibular vein. Following its formation, it passed vertically superficial to sternocleidomastoid muscle to the lower part of occipital triangle. In the occipital triangle it pierced the investing layer of deep cervical fascia and passed deep to the inferior belly of omohyoid muscle and coursed through the subclavian triangle. Then, it terminated at the junction of subclavian vein with internal jugular vein. Facial vein joined with submental vein and finally drained into internal jugular vein. Further, the posterior auricular vein and anterior jugular veins were absent. Knowledge about the variations of the retromandibular vein, common facial vein and external jugular vein observed in this study, may be important for the surgeons, to prevent inadvertent injury and excessive bleeding during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

Ambiversive nature of Indian population in disease management: what is the need of the hour?

Allopathic and ayurvedic medicines have been used since ages, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. Not a single allopathic drug manufactured until date is free from side effects. Then why is allopathic medicine still preferred? Mainly because everyone of us need quick relief and/or fast action. In the case of HIV, cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction, medical emergency and/or casualty cases ayurvedic medicines are either unavailable or can’t be used

Variations of Peroneus Tertius Muscle in Omani Population: A Surface Anatomical Study

BACKGROUND: Peroneus tertius muscle (PTM) is a muscle of the anterior compartment of the leg. It is a highly variable muscle with a prevalence rate ranging from 42%-100% in different populations worldwide. We sought to explore the frequency of PTM and its existing variants, based on surface anatomical evaluation of the foot, in Omani subjects.METHODS: In this study, a total of 222 adult Omani subjects (total 444 feet) were examined for the presence of PTM. The presence of PTM and its morphological types were identified based on surface anatomical examination using a standard palpation method. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. The gender influence on the occurrence of PTM was determined by the Chi-square test.RESULTS: The frequency of PTM was observed in 59.9% of total feet. A statistically significant gender difference with male dominance was observed on both right (p = 0.02) and left (p <0.01) feet. Regarding PTM types, the F2 type was most common on both right (38.5%) and left feet (46.2%). The bilateral occurrence of PTM was found in 47.7% of cases.CONCLUSION: The frequency of PTM in Omani subjects is considerably high when compared to other Arab populations. The baseline information on the PTM proportion and distribution of its types is clinically important for physiotherapists and orthopedic surgeons

Effect of Cissus quadrangularis Linn on skeletal growth in the neonates of diabetic rats

Background: Infants of the diabetic mother are known to have reduced bone mineral content and hypocalcemia. Earlier, it has been shown that petroleum ether extract of Cissus quadrangularis (PECQ) can enhance the fetal skeletal ossification in normal rats. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of PECQ on skeletal growth in the neonatal rats of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: After confirmation of diabetes, the diabetic and non-diabetic female Wistar rats were kept for mating with healthy male rats. After positive vaginal smear test, the pregnant rats were divided into three groups; the normal (non-diabetic) control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and diabetic+CQ (D+CQ) groups. The rats in the D+CQ group were given PECQ (500 mg/kg B.Wt), whereas animals in NC and DC groups were given 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose, throughout the gestational period. Femur from the 1 week old neonatal rats from each group was collected randomly and subjected to histological analysis.Results: Thickness of trabecular bone and periosteum was significantly reduced in the neonates of DC rats compared with the neonates of NC group. Pretreatment with PECQ significantly improved the thickness of trabecular bone and periosteum compared with neonatal rats of DC group. No significant differences were observed in the medullary cavity width of femur between the groups.Conclusion: Data from the present study suggest that the PECQ can effectively attenuate the diabetes-induced reduction in the early skeletal growth. However, further research is warranted to evaluate the exact mechanism of action of phytochemical constituents of PECQ that can cross the placental barrier

Thalidomide induced xerosis: an unwanted reaction

A 59-year-old male exhibited anemia for evaluation. Endoscopy was diagnostic of gastric antral vascular ectasia. He was given a trial of thalidomide after informing about the adverse effects. After starting thalidomide at 100 mg/day, his hemoglobin (Hb) improved. Post 1 month of therapy his Hb normalized, but he developed xerosis. He was given symptomatic treatment, but did not improve. Thalidomide was suspected to cause xerosis, it was discontinued for a month and post-discontinuation of drug he is symptom free for past 8 months. This paper reports a rare case of thalidomide induced xerosis with dermatological and neurological involvement

Variant origin of the left vertebral artery from a vertebro-subclavian trunk associated with an unusual branch arising from the brachiocephalic trunk.

Variant origin of the left vertebral artery (LVA) from the arch of aorta is well documented in the literature. Involvement of complex sequential developmental steps in the aortic arch formation results in different patterns of origin of LVA. Morphological variations in the LVA are thought to alter the cerebral hemodynamics and can cause the cerebral dysfunction. Knowledge of the morphological variations of the LVA is useful while performing the head and neck and thoracic surgeries. We here report one of the extremely rare patterns of the LVA origin, in a male cadaver aged about 65 years. LVA and left subclavian artery (LSA) arose as a common vertebro-subclavian trunk from the convexity of the aortic arch. Further, brachiocephalic trunk (BT) gave an unusual artery from its anterior surface. This artery divided into thymic and tracheal branches. Variant origin of thymic branch may be crucial during imaging and thymectomy procedures

Radiologic Assessment of Orbital Dimensions among Omani Subjects: Computed tomography Imaging-based study at a single tertiary center

Objectives: A sound knowledge of the normal orbital dimensions is clinically essential for successful surgical outcomes. Racial, ethnic, and regional variations in the orbital dimensions have been reported. This study aimed to determine the orbital dimensions of Omani subjects who had been referred for computed tomography (CT) images at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A total of 273 Omani patients referred for a CT scan of the brain were evaluated retrospectively, using electronic medical records database. The orbital dimensions were recorded using both axial and sagittal planes of CT images. Results: The mean orbital index (OI) was found to be 83.25±4.83, and the prevalent orbital type was categorized as mesoseme. The mean orbital index was 83.34±5.05 and 83.16±4.57 in males and females, respectively, with their difference being statistically not significant (p=0.76). A statistically significant association was observed between the right and left orbits regarding horizontal distance (p<0.05) and vertical distance (p<0.01) of orbit and OI (p<0.05). No significant difference between the OI and age groups was observed in males and females. The mean interorbital distance and interzygomatic distance were found to be 19.45±1.52 mm and 95.59±4.08 mm, respectively. These parameters were significantly higher in males (p<0.05). Conclusions: Results of the present study provide reference values of orbital dimensions in Omani subjects. The prevalent orbital type of Omani subjects is mesoseme, which is a hallmark of the white race.  Keywords: Computed Tomography, Ethnicity, Orbit, Oman, Variation, Hypertelorism

Physiological Intracranial Calcifications in Children: A computed tomography-based study

Objectives: Physiological intracranial calcifications (PICs) are benign in nature and related to aging. We aimed to study the frequency of physiological intracranial calcifications (PICs) in pediatric population using computed tomography (CT). Methods: The brain CT scans of consecutive patients (age range, 0-15 years) who had visited Sultan Qaboos University Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively assessed for the presence of PICs. The presence of calcifications was identified using 3 mm thick axial images, and coronal and sagittal reformats. Results: A total of 460 patients were examined and the mean age was 6.54 ± 4.94 years. The frequency of PIC in boys and girls was 35.1% and 35.4%, respectively. PICs were most common in choroid plexus with 35.21% (age range 0.4 -15 years; median, 12 years), followed by the pineal gland in 21.08% (age range 0.5 -15 years; median, 12 years) and the habenular nucleus in 13.04% of subjects (2.9 -15 years; median, 12 years). PICs were less common in falx cerebri with 5.86% (age range 2.8-15 years; median, 13 years) and tentorium cerebelli in 3.04% (age range 7-15 years; median, 14 years) of subjects. PICs increased significantly with increasing age (p<0.001). Conclusion: Choroid plexus is the most frequent site of calcification. Choroid plexus and pineal gland calcifications may be present at less than 1 year of age. Recognizing PICs is clinically important for radiologists as they can be mistaken for hemorrhage or pathological entities like neoplasms or metabolic diseases. Keywords: Calcification; Pineal gland; Dura Mater; Brain; Computed Tomograph

A Rare Variation in the Origin and Course of the Artery of Penis

Vascular variations of the penis are very rare. Awareness of its variations is of utmost importance to the urologists and radiologist dealing with the reconstruction or transplants of penis, erectile dysfunctions, and priapism. We report an extremely rare variation of the artery of the penis and discuss its clinical importance. The artery of the penis arose from a common arterial trunk from the left internal iliac artery. The common trunk also gave origin to the obturator and inferior vesical arteries. The artery of the penis coursed forward in the pelvis above the pelvic diaphragm and divided into deep and dorsal arteries of the penis just below the pubic symphysis. The internal pudendal artery was small and supplied the anal canal and musculature of the perineum. It also gave an artery to the bulb of the penis