Abnormal Communication between Lateral Thoracic Artery and Anterior Circumflex Humeral Artery - a Case Report.

Variations in the branching pattern of axillary artery are observed by many anatomists all over the world. A unique bilateral variation in the axillary artery was observed during the routine dissection of the upper limbs on an approximately 65 year old male cadaver. An abnormal communicative channel was observed between lateral thoracic artery and anterior circumflex humeral artery. It passed between the two roots of median nerve. Arterial anomalies in the upper limb are due to defective remodelling of vascular plexus of the upper limb bud during embryogenesis. Knowledge of variations in axillary artery is quintessential for surgeons, radiologists and anaesthesiologists to avoid treacherous complications during procedures.

The oppressive pressure to publish.

I had read the editorial by Bandewar et al on the Medical Council of India's amended requirements for medical teachers with great interest and wish to highlight two issues seldom addressed in Indian academia. It is not uncommon for new faculty showing serious involvement in their teaching and patient-care related commitments to be warned about their "misplaced priorities". In other words, the number of publications listed is becoming the priority at medical job fairs, and young doctors who are interested in genuine teaching or humane clinical practice are being side-lined in the rat race. Besides, the undue emphasis on publication as a criterion for recruitment prompts authors to perform malpractices like adding the names of their benefactors to the list of authors, amounting to fake authorship and academic nepotism. Assessing the ability of an individual by mere calculation of the H-index without giving weightage to other contributions made at the departmental / institutional / community level, might not yield an accurate evaluation.