Early Onset of Atherosclerosis of The Carotid Bifurcation in Newborn Cadavers.

INTRODUCTION: The anatomy of arterial bifurcations affects blood flow and has a significant role in the development of vascular disease. Therefore, it is important to know the structural characteristics of the Common Carotid Artery (CCA) and its branches for early onset of atherosclerosis in newborns. AIM: The present study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of CCA in newborn cadavers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight carotid arteries obtained from newborn cadavers were used. The outflow to inflow area ratios was calculated to evaluate vessel diameters. Additionally, scanning electron and light microscopic investigations were conducted with tissue samples. The brachial artery of each cadaver was used as controls. Correlation between area ratios and atherosclerotic endothelial damage was determined. RESULTS: Light microscopic investigations demonstrated that control group sections showed no positivity for Oil red O staining, while carotid bifurcation regions depicted widespread occurrence of intimal lipid accumulations. Scanning electron microscopic examination of control group sections presented regular endothelial topography, while carotid bifurcation region topography exhibited numerous blood cells and separated endothelial cells. Fibrin accumulation on endothelial surface in low area ratios was another important finding in the examination of its endothelial surface degeneration. The above-mentioned morphological findings seemed to be quite parallel to outflow to inflow area ratio data favouring low area and degeneration. CONCLUSION: The correlation between area ratios and the histological characteristic of cerebral vessels of newborn cadavers indicate that early stages of atherosclerosis began in early embryologic life.

Myocardial bridges of the coronary arteries in the human fetal heart.

During the last century, many investigators reported on myocardial bridges in the adult human heart. In the present study, 39 human fetal hearts (the mean gestastional age was 30 weeks) were studied for myocardial bridging, and the results were correlated with adult data. Among the 39 (27 male and 12 female) fetal hearts studied, 26 bridges were observed on 18 fetal hearts (46.2%). Ten of the bridges had one myocardial bridge, whereas double myocardial bridges were observed in eight fetal hearts. The most frequent myocardial bridges were observed on the left anterior descending artery (LAD), which had 13 bridges (50%). Eight (30.7%) myocardial bridges were on the diagonal artery, and on the posterior descending artery there were five (19.3%). Myocardial bridges were not observed on the circumflex artery. The data presented in this study may provide potentially useful information for the preoperative evaluation of the newborn and may have a clinical implication for sudden fetal death.

Unique case of trifurcation of the brachial artery: its clinical significance.

The variability of the arteries in the upper extremity is considerable. This case is a report of a trifurcation of the brachial artery that divided into radial, ulnar, and superior ulnar collateral arteries high in the arm; the length of the brachial artery was only 4.9 cm. Because the upper extremity is a frequent site of injury, various surgical and invasive procedures are performed in this region; consequently, it is of utmost importance to be aware of arterial variations. For some medical procedures, there may be an increased risk of complications because of variant vessels; however, for other procedures, they may be beneficial. In addition to presenting a detailed anatomic study of the case, the clinical significance of the variation has been addressed.