102 research outputs found
The co-existence of an aberrant origin of the right subclavian artery and a coronary myocardial bridge
We encountered the co-existence of an aberrant origin of the right subclavian
artery and a myocardial bridge on the left anterior descending coronary artery in
the cadaver of an 80-year-old Japanese woman during the course of educational
dissection at Nagoya City University Medical School. We document the precise
gross anatomical findings with some morphometric measurements. Neither
an aberrant origin of the right subclavian artery nor the cardial myocardial bridge
is a very rare anomaly, but a case of both anomalies being found in the same
body is very rare. We believe this is the first report of the simultaneous occurrence
of these two anomalies
Morphological characteristics of the deep layer of articularis genus muscle
Background: The articularis genus muscle pulls the suprapatellar pouch upwards when the knee joint is extended, preventing mechanical impingement of the joint capsule which theoretically could cause anterior knee pain. However, few anatomical studies have addressed this muscle. Here we present the precise morphology of articularis genus.Materials and methods: A total of 22 (13 male and 9 female) adult cadavers with no pathological conditions in the knee joints were examined during educational dissection at Nagoya City University Medical School in 2012. After exclusion of 4 joints due to their flexion contracture, 40 knee joints (18 right and 22 left) were analysed. We performed statistical analysis on anatomical laterality and the difference of sizes among lateral, medial and central branches and studied the correlation of the length and area of the articularis genus muscle to the lengthand cross-section area of the femur.Results and Conclusions: The average number of branches of the deep layer of the articularis genus muscle was 2.7 ± 0.5, the mean length of all brancheswas 5.4 ± 1.3 cm and the mean area of all branches was 5.5 ± 2.6 cm2. There was no significant correlation between the length and area of the articularis genus muscle to the length and cross-section area of the femur. There was no significant laterality in central, medial and lateral branches; however we found that the medial branch was statistically longer and larger than the lateral branchon either knee. This could be contributing to prevention of lateral dislocation of the patella
Constraints to the sustainability of a ‘systematised’ approach to livestock marketing amongst smallholder cattle producers in South Africa
Commercialization of smallholder agriculture in South Africa is underpinned by reforms to improve livestock off-take in communal areas and engage smallholder farmers with formal markets. To achieve this, Custom Feeding Programmes (CFPs) were established to improve the condition of communal cattle prior to their sale into formal markets and to ‘systematise’ the informal marketing of cattle in communal areas by enabling participants to achieve higher informal market prices. We evaluate the sustainability of eight CFPs located in Eastern Cape Province in terms of their ability to add value to smallholder cattle production and encourage market participation. Communities with CFPs achieved a 16.6% mean cattle off-take rate, substantially higher than in most communal systems. Furthermore, cattle sold through CFPs attained a 17% higher mean selling price than those sold through other marketing channels. However, these benefits were mainly realized by better-off farmers with larger cattle herds and greater ability to transport animals to and from CFPs. More marginalized farmers, particularly women, had low participation. CFPs also face challenges to their sustainability, including inconsistent feed and water supplies, poor infrastructure and high staff turnover. Key to enhancing participation in CFPs, will be improving the way they are supported and embedded within communities
NADH-generating substrates reduce peroxyl radical toxicity in RL-34 cells
There is general agreement that oxidative stress may induce apoptotic and
necrotic cell death. Recently it has been shown that NADH can be considered
an important antioxidant as it reacts with peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals under in
vitro conditions. Therefore, in the present study we hypothesized that an increase
in intracellular NADH using specific substrates will protect RL-34 cells
against cytotoxicity of 2’-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH),
which is a peroxyl radical generating compound. Cells treated for 24 hours
with 6.0 mM AAPH were severely damaged: mitochondria were vacuolated,
and the level of free radicals significantly increased. Both apoptotic and necrotic
cells were detected (11.1% and 11.4%, respectively) even after 5 hours of
treatment. Pretreatment of the cells with substrates which increase the intracellular
level of NADH, such as lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and ethanol,
distinctly inhibited AAPH-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and
cell death. On the other hand, acetoacetate (AcA), which decrease the intracellular
level of NADH, had opposite effects. Interestingly, NADH-generating substrates
augment, while AcA reduced superoxide radical formation induced by
AAPH. These results may suggest that although NADH generating substrates
may exert some deleterious effects within a cell by inducing reductive stress, they
diminish alkoxyl or peroxyl radical cytotoxicity. The protection is associated with
a decrease in ROS formation measured by dichlorofluorescein, but with an increase
in superoxide radical formation
Adaptation and Mal-Adaptation to Ambient Hypoxia; Andean, Ethiopian and Himalayan Patterns
The study of the biology of evolution has been confined to laboratories and model organisms. However, controlled laboratory conditions are unlikely to model variations in environments that influence selection in wild populations. Thus, the study of “fitness” for survival and the genetics that influence this are best carried out in the field and in matching environments
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