Anatomical Sciences Journal
Volume:18 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2021

The present research aimed to determine the minimum level of theoretical orthopedic learning for trainees and interns.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 3 Universities of Medical Sciences from 2013 to 2014. In total, 25 questions were obtained from third-year medical students (before entering the clinical course) and seventh-year medical internship students (with completed orthopedics internship course). Total test scores and minimum acceptance scores were considered 100 and 70, respectively.

In total, 396 students [168(42.4%) from the third-year & 228(57.6%) from seventh-year students]; 130(32.8%), 189(7.47%), and 77(19.5%) individuals were from Gulilan, Kerman, and Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences, respectively. Moreover, 2(1.2%) third-year students and 84(36.8%) seventh-year students passed the exam.

Despite the global attention to the importance and high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases, the medical education system was detected as inefficient in Iran. Immediate and substantial actions, such as compulsory orthopedic courses for all students and the improvement of the length and educational approaches, must be designed to overcome this issue. Otherwise, increased levels of healthcare quality seem entirely unavailable

The radial artery is an essential artery supplying the structures in the forearm. Variations in the radial artery concerning its origin, course, branching pattern, and mode of termination have been commonly reported. The high origin of the radial artery from either brachial or axillary artery was detected in numerous studies. Clinically-radial artery is used in cardiac catheterization and bypass graft; thus, the knowledge of these variations is of utmost significance to the surgeons. 

In the present study, dissection was conducted on 51 upper limb specimens. The explored specimens were obtained from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (NUST), Oman. Moreover, variations observed in the origin and course of the radial artery were noted and later photographed.

Out of the 51 upper limb specimens studied, variation in the origin of the radial artery was observed from the axillary artery in one specimen and the brachial artery in 3 limbs. The course of these varied arteries was superficial in the forearm.

The knowledge of the variations in the origin and course of the radial artery will help prevent any untoward side effects that can occur during any procedures involving the radial artery.

AMONIA, as a bioadhesive wound healer, is a milky white solid powder. It contains various biomolecules and trace elements. This composition, with numerous physiological properties, was developed as a healer for the skin wounds of livestock. Per the instructions, this composition has a biological basis that causes wound adhesion and healing rate acceleration. In this study, the therapeutic effects of AMONIA on skin injury of male rabbits were evaluated based on microbiological and macroscopic assessments.

This experimental study was conducted on 10 white male rabbits. Following animal anesthesia, 3 skin wounds (1˟1 cm with total dermis excision) were created on the back of each animal (3 incisions for each). The wounds were divided into 3 groups; negative control (no treatment), positive control (phenytoin 1% ointment), and AMONIA (1 gr/1˟1 cm wound). Wound healing rate (the area & percentage of wounds and the time of total regeneration), animal weight, and the level of bacterial growth were assessed in all study groups. The examined animals were treated for 22 consecutive days at 10 AM.

The percentage of wound healing and wound area were significantly (P<0.05) increased and decreased, respectively, in the AMONIA and control groups. Wound healing rate was measured as 15%, 52%, 74%, and 100% in treatment days of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, respectively in the AMONIA group, compared with the control animals. In contrast, no significant (P>0.05) alterations were found between the positive and negative control groups. Furthermore, no complete dermal recovery was found in the control groups until the treatment day of 22. No bacterial growth was detected in wounds treated with AMONIA, besides some infections with positive and negative gram bacteria were detected in both control groups.

AMONIA with inhibitory effects on bacterial growth and regenerative property for dermal layer caused accelerated skin wound regeneration rate in rabbits 2 times faster than the control animals.

Rosmarinus officinalis is a useful medicinal plant with numerous ethnopharmacological applications and widespread use in the industry. The main constituent of this plant is essential oil. There is a misconception that there is no restriction to using medicinal plants. The present study examined the effects of the chronic administration of Rosemarinus officinalis essential oil on the liver and kidney.

Twenty-Eight Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups. Moreover, the study animals were Intraperitoneally (IP) injected for 21 days with 0.2%, 1%, and 2% Rosemarinus officinalis essential oil and the solvent, respectively. After this period, the study animals’ blood samples were collected for renal and hepatical biochemical evaluations. Tissue samples from these organs were obtained for histomorphometric and histopathological studies. 

The chronic treatment of animals with Rosemarinus officinalis essential oil increased blood urea nitrogen and aspartate aminotransferase in the study samples’ blood (P<0.05). The diameter of the hepatocytes distal to the central vein significantly increased, compared to the proximal ones (P<0.05). Atrophic and degenerative changes in the liver and kidney tissues were observed by 1% and 2% administration of Rosemarinus officinalis essential oil.

 Our findings indicated that chronic and high administration of Rosemarinus officinalis may harm the liver and kidney.

Plastination is a technique of long-term preservation of the natural tissues without the typical problems related to wet specimens. Plastinated specimens are durable, dry, and flexible. In this process, the water and fat in biological tissues are substituted by a curable polymeric resin, i.e., subsequently cured. In this study, a new unsaturated polyester resin (P96) was synthesized and formulated to improve plastination techniques. These approaches were applied in the plastination laboratory at Isfahan Medical School based on our previous synthesized resin (P87) and the commercial resin (P35).

P96 was formulated using different polyols, saturated, and unsaturated poly-acids, as the ploy esterification monomers. Then, the resulted pre-polymer was cured by the reaction of a vinyl monomer (hardening agent) in the presence of a radical initiator (hardening promoter) to form a tough durable film. The components of the resin were finely tuned to achieve the desired properties for organ plastination. Then, forced impregnation in a vacuum chamber was performed in the presence of P96 at 25oC following the conventional protocol, fixation, slicing (if necessary), dehydration, and defatting (if necessary). Finally, the curing (hardening) of P96 specimens was achieved by UVA-light irradiation.

According to the mechanical test results, P96 presented higher tensile strain and flexibility than P35 and P87. P87 had higher bending capability, compared to P35 and P96. P96 specimens were lighter, compared to P35 and P87 specimens. P96 specimens were more odorless than P87 specimens. In the naked survey of specimens, P96 specimens presented a better appearance concerning natural color and texture for plastinated specimens as well as the resin uniformity, consistency, and transparency of cadaveric tissues.

The current study introduced a novel plastination method using a new formulated resin, P96. This technique is a quick and less expensive method for producing sheet as well as bulk plastinated specimens of different organs, i.e., appropriate in teaching anatomical sciences. P96 can be considered an upgraded resin, i.e., transparent and flexible with an easy and controllable hardening process. It has resolved the deficiencies of previous polyester resins.

The pectoralis minor muscle originates from third to fifth ribs of the chest wall and inserts at the medial side of the coracoid process of Scapula. It contributes to the abduction of the scapulothoracic joint and downward movement of the shoulder. The anomalous insertion of pectoralis minor beyond the coracoid process is known since the 19th century.

Aim of the study:

 To report the curious case of anomalous insertion of pectoralis minor at greater tuberosity via rotator interval.

The Case Report: 

A unilateral anomalous insertion of pectoralis minor muscle was found on the right side during routine dissection of the upper limb in a sixty-year male cadaver. The anomalous attachment was present beyond the coracoid process which extended, underneath of coracoacromial ligament. After cutting the coracoacromial ligament, the tendon was located in the rotator interval, which was followed to its final insertion at greater tuberosity along with the tendon of Supraspinatus muscle. Three types of variations of anomalous tendon insertion were known based on the classification of Le Double. In this case, type IIIM of Le Double classification was found in which muscle belly (not tendon) crossed the coracoid process and attached at greater tuberosity. The muscle was separated from coracoid process by very thin bursa.

The pectoralis minor tendon may be found in the rotator interval, and surgeons should be careful during rotator cuff repairs.