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International Journal of Legal Medicine Nov 2023During autopsies, weighing the heart is a standard procedure. In addition to myocardial pathologies, heart size, and ventricular wall thickness, heart weight is a common...
During autopsies, weighing the heart is a standard procedure. In addition to myocardial pathologies, heart size, and ventricular wall thickness, heart weight is a common parameter to describe cardiac pathology and should be recorded as accurately as possible. To date, there exists no standard for recording heart weight at autopsy, although some authors recommend weighing the heart after dissection and removal of blood and blood clots. In the study presented, the hearts of 58 decedents were weighed after being dissected out of the pericardial sac (a), after dissection using the short-axis or inflow-outflow method with manual removal of blood and blood clots (b), and after rinsing and drying (c). Depending on the dissection method, the heart weight was 7.8% lower for the inflow-outflow method and 11.6% lower for the short-axis method after dissection compared to before and correspondingly 2.9% to 5% lower again after rinsing and drying respectively. Accordingly, the heart should be dissected, blood and blood clots removed, rinsed with water, and dried with a surgical towel after dissection, before weighing.
Topics: Humans; Autopsy; Female; Male; Organ Size; Middle Aged; Aged; Adult; Myocardium; Dissection; Heart; Aged, 80 and over; Forensic Pathology
PubMed: 37723344
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-03089-9 -
Advances in Physiology Education Sep 2023In the field of anatomy education, the debate over the superiority of learning with or without human donors is decades long and ongoing. Arguments for or against the use... (Review)
Review
In the field of anatomy education, the debate over the superiority of learning with or without human donors is decades long and ongoing. Arguments for or against the use of human donors in anatomy education vary, depending on the healthcare discipline. Physical therapy programs have been particularly resistant to the trend away from the use of human donors. In this personal view, I present my history of anatomy education and how my perspectives on teaching and learning anatomy have changed dramatically throughout my teaching experiences. The purpose of this article is to support instructors who are creating anatomy courses for all healthcare trainees without donors, inspire those teaching with donors to incorporate other methods of instruction and evaluation, challenge educators to examine their own biases surrounding anatomy education, and provide recommendations for developing an anatomy course without human donors. Included in this article is the perspective of a practicing physical therapist who learned through human dissection and has assisted me in the development and management of the human anatomy course in our physical therapy curriculum. This article provides an overview of how to design an anatomy course without anatomical donors for doctor of physical therapy students and includes recommendations for instructors who need to reduce or eliminate anatomical donors from their anatomy curriculum.
Topics: Humans; Anatomists; Anatomy; Cadaver; Curriculum; Dissection; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Educational Status; Learning; Students, Medical; Teaching
PubMed: 37141435
DOI: 10.1152/advan.00004.2023 -
Journal of Microbiology & Biology... Aug 2023Active learning tools, such as gamification, have facilitated teamwork and improved decision-making skills in Anatomy and Physiology classes. However, most Anatomy and...
Active learning tools, such as gamification, have facilitated teamwork and improved decision-making skills in Anatomy and Physiology classes. However, most Anatomy and Physiology labs currently contain dissection activities where students are not likely to engage in inquiry, critical thinking, or problem-solving. Usually, the instructor gives a brief lecture on the topic, and students are left to dissect without understanding how the lecture relates to what is in front of them, which is frustrating. Coupled with the frustration, some students have adverse opinions on dissecting specimens, including hesitation to dissect the specimen and religious or ethical concerns with dissection. Utilizing similar game mechanics to Taboo (Hasbro) and Milton Bradley's Operation, Incision Precision is a card game that was made to engage students in the dissection lab by allowing them to connect lecture-based information to a physical structure within an organ system. Each card contains an anatomical or physiological description of the organs commonly dissected in the undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology laboratory. For effective gameplay and full participation, the class should be divided into groups containing 3 to 4 students. The group will draw two cards where members can either correctly name the organ or identify the named organ on the dissected specimen. Playing Incision Precision resulted in participation from all group members during the dissection activity, including those with negative feelings about touching the dissected specimen. Due to positive student feedback, Incision Precision has been adapted and played with system-specific organ dissections.
PubMed: 37614876
DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00193-22 -
The Journal of Cell Biology Dec 2023Centriole duplication is a high-fidelity process driven by Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) and a few conserved initiators. Dissecting how Plk4 and its receptors organize...
Centriole duplication is a high-fidelity process driven by Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) and a few conserved initiators. Dissecting how Plk4 and its receptors organize within centrosomes is critical to understand the centriole duplication process and biochemical and architectural differences between centrosomes of different species. Here, at nanoscale resolution, we dissect centrosomal localization of Plk4 in G1 and S phase in its catalytically active and inhibited state during centriole duplication and amplification. We build a precise distribution map of Plk4 and its receptor Cep152, as well as Cep44, Cep192, and Cep152-anchoring factors Cep57 and Cep63. We find that Cep57, Cep63, Cep44, and Cep192 localize in ninefold symmetry. However, during centriole maturation, Cep152, which we suggest is the major Plk4 receptor, develops a more complex pattern. We propose that the molecular arrangement of Cep152 creates flexibility for Plk4 and procentriole placement during centriole initiation. As a result, procentrioles form at variable positions in relation to the mother centriole microtubule triplets.
Topics: Cell Cycle; Centrioles; Centrosome; Microtubules; S Phase; Humans; Cell Cycle Proteins; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
PubMed: 37707473
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202301092 -
Basic Research in Cardiology Jun 2024Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) remains a significant medical concern, with its asymptomatic nature posing diagnostic and monitoring challenges, thereby... (Review)
Review
Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) remains a significant medical concern, with its asymptomatic nature posing diagnostic and monitoring challenges, thereby increasing the risk of aortic wall dissection and rupture. Current management of aortic repair relies on an aortic diameter threshold. However, this approach underestimates the complexity of aortic wall disease due to important knowledge gaps in understanding its underlying pathologic mechanisms.Since traditional risk factors cannot explain the initiation and progression of ATAA leading to dissection, local vascular factors such as extracellular matrix (ECM) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) might harbor targets for early diagnosis and intervention. Derived from diverse embryonic lineages, VSMCs exhibit varied responses to genetic abnormalities that regulate their contractility. The transition of VSMCs into different phenotypes is an adaptive response to stress stimuli such as hemodynamic changes resulting from cardiovascular disease, aging, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition. Upon longer exposure to stress stimuli, VSMC phenotypic switching can instigate pathologic remodeling that contributes to the pathogenesis of ATAA.This review aims to illuminate the current understanding of cellular and molecular characteristics associated with ATAA and dissection, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced comprehension of the impaired ECM-VSMC network.
Topics: Humans; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Aortic Dissection; Animals; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Aorta, Thoracic; Vascular Remodeling; Extracellular Matrix; Phenotype
PubMed: 38700707
DOI: 10.1007/s00395-024-01053-1 -
Maedica Dec 2023Myocardial bridges (MB) are congenital anomalies of hearts observed as muscle fibers covering epicardial branches of the coronary artery. The left anterior descending...
Myocardial bridges (MB) are congenital anomalies of hearts observed as muscle fibers covering epicardial branches of the coronary artery. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) was found to be commonly showing myocardial bridges (MBs). Clinically, MBs were claimed to cause varied symptomatology. The data on the morphology and prevalence of MBs in fetuses was limited, despite the commonly accepted congenital origin. Fetal hearts obtained from 37 fetuses from the donation program were used. The hearts were dissected out from the thorax by standard dissection procedure. The pericardium and epicardium were dissected. The coronary arteries were delineated, and MBs were observed and noted. The coronary artery segment having MBs, its distance from the ostium as well as the direction and length of the MBs were studied. The MBs were observed in 20 out of 37 fetal hearts studied over the left anterior descending, right coronary, posterior interventricular and circumflex arteries. The mid or distal part of the coronary arteries frequently exhibited MBs. The mean length of the MB was 4.2 mm, with MBs being situated about 1.5 cm away from the coronary ostium. The oblique pattern of MB was more frequently noted. The morphology and prevalence of fetal MBs showed common occurrence in the LAD artery, with a predominant oblique morphological pattern.
PubMed: 38348086
DOI: 10.26574/maedica.2023.18.4.571 -
Nature Communications Dec 2023Advances in single-cell technology have enabled molecular dissection of heterogeneous biospecimens at unprecedented scales and resolutions. Cluster-centric approaches...
Advances in single-cell technology have enabled molecular dissection of heterogeneous biospecimens at unprecedented scales and resolutions. Cluster-centric approaches are widely applied in analyzing single-cell data, however they have limited power in dissecting and interpreting highly heterogenous, dynamically evolving data. Here, we present GSDensity, a graph-modeling approach that allows users to obtain pathway-centric interpretation and dissection of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics (ST) data without performing clustering. Using pathway gene sets, we show that GSDensity can accurately detect biologically distinct cells and reveal novel cell-pathway associations ignored by existing methods. Moreover, GSDensity, combined with trajectory analysis can identify curated pathways that are active at various stages of mouse brain development. Finally, GSDensity can identify spatially relevant pathways in mouse brains and human tumors including those following high-order organizational patterns in the ST data. Particularly, we create a pan-cancer ST map revealing spatially relevant and recurrently active pathways across six different tumor types.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis; Gene Expression Profiling; Cluster Analysis; Technology; Single-Cell Analysis; Transcriptome
PubMed: 38110427
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44206-x -
Acta Neurochirurgica Aug 2023Digital 3D exoscopes have been recently introduced as an alternative to a surgical microscope in microneurosurgery. We designed a laboratory training program to...
PURPOSE
Digital 3D exoscopes have been recently introduced as an alternative to a surgical microscope in microneurosurgery. We designed a laboratory training program to facilitate and measure the transition from microscope to exoscope. Our aim was to observe the effect of a one-year active training on microsurgical skills with the exoscope by repeating a standardized test task at several time points during the training program.
METHODS
Two board-certified neurosurgeons with no previous exoscope experience performed the same test tasks in February, July, and November during a 12-month period. In between the test tasks, both participants worked with the exoscope in the laboratory and assisted during clinical surgeries on daily basis. Each of the test segments consisted of repeating the same task 10 times during one week. Altogether, 60 test tasks were performed, 30 each. The test task consisted of dissecting and harvesting the ulnar and radial arteries of the second segment of a chicken wing using an exoscope (Aesculap AEOS). Each dissection was recorded on video and analyzed by two independent evaluators. We measured the time required to complete the task as well as several metrics for evaluating the manual skills of the dissection and handling of the exoscope system.
RESULT
There was a clear reduction in dissection time between the first and the last session, mean 34 min (SD 5.96) vs. 26 min (SD 8.69), respectively. At the end of the training, both neurosurgeons used the exoscope more efficiently utilizing more available options of the device. There was correlation between the dissection time and several of the factors we used for evaluating the work flow: staying in focus, zoom control, reduction of unnecessary movements or repetitive manual motions, manipulation technique of the vessel under dissection, handling of the instruments, and using them for multiple dissection purposes (stretching, cutting, and splitting).
CONCLUSION
Continuous, dedicated long-term training program is effective for microsurgical skill development when switching from a microscope to an exoscope. With practice, the micromotor movements become more efficient and the use of microinstruments more versatile.
Topics: Neurosurgical Procedures; Prospective Studies; Microsurgery
PubMed: 37369773
DOI: 10.1007/s00701-023-05664-w -
Molecular Cancer Research : MCR Aug 2023The treatment of the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, glioblastoma (GBM), is challenging due to its heterogeneous nature, invasive potential, and poor... (Review)
Review
The treatment of the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, glioblastoma (GBM), is challenging due to its heterogeneous nature, invasive potential, and poor response to chemo- and radiotherapy. As a result, GBM inevitably recurs and only a few patients survive 5 years post-diagnosis. GBM is characterized by extensive phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, creating a diversified genetic landscape and a network of biological interactions between subclones, ultimately promoting tumor growth and therapeutic resistance. This includes spatial and temporal changes in the tumor microenvironment, which influence cellular and molecular programs in GBM and therapeutic responses. However, dissecting phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity at spatial and temporal levels is extremely challenging, and the dynamics of the GBM microenvironment cannot be captured by analysis of a single tumor sample. In this review, we discuss the current research on GBM heterogeneity, in particular, the utility and potential applications of fluorescence-guided multiple sampling to dissect phenotypic and genetic intra-tumor heterogeneity in the GBM microenvironment, identify tumor and non-tumor cell interactions and novel therapeutic targets in areas that are key for tumor growth and recurrence, and improve the molecular classification of GBM.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Glioblastoma; Fluorescence; Brain Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37255362
DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-23-0048 -
Neuroscience Bulletin Oct 2023Genetic tools, which can be used for the morphology study of specific neurons, pathway-selective connectome mapping, neuronal activity monitoring, and manipulation with... (Review)
Review
Genetic tools, which can be used for the morphology study of specific neurons, pathway-selective connectome mapping, neuronal activity monitoring, and manipulation with a spatiotemporal resolution, have been widely applied to the understanding of complex neural circuit formation, interactions, and functions in rodents. Recently, similar genetic approaches have been tried in non-human primates (NHPs) in neuroscience studies for dissecting the neural circuits involved in sophisticated behaviors and clinical brain disorders, although they are still very preliminary. In this review, we introduce the progress made in the development and application of genetic tools for brain studies on NHPs. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of each approach and provide a perspective for using genetic tools to study the neural circuits of NHPs.
Topics: Animals; Primates; Brain; Connectome
PubMed: 37258795
DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01067-0