Rare high branching pattern from the first part of the right axillary artery.

A 77-year-old female cadaver was observed to have a rare branching pattern of the right axillary artery (AA). The first part of the AA typically gives off only a superior thoracic artery (STA) but was observed to give off three branches in the case: a lateral thoracic artery (LTA), a thoracoacromial trunk, and a large common trunk (CT). The LTA travelled to provide a variant STA to the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces. The CT provided an accessory LTA and accessory thoracodorsal artery before bifurcating into a subscapular artery (SA) and posterior humeral circumflex artery. As expected, the SA further divided into the circumflex scapular artery and thoracodorsal artery. A pectoral artery and the anterior humeral circumflex artery originated directly from the second and third parts of the AA, respectively. Knowledge of AA branching variations is of great clinical significance to anatomists, radiologists, and surgeons due to the high rate of injury to this artery.

A Unique Presentation of an Upper Subscapular Nerve Variation Accompanied by an Accessory Subscapular Artery.

The presence of an upper subscapular nerve branching from the posterior division of the superior trunk, and it being accompanied by an accessory subscapular artery, is of both clinical and surgical significance. During routine dissection of the root of the neck in a 75-year-old male cadaver, an unusual branch from the third part of the right subclavian artery was observed lateral to the dorsal scapular artery. Continued dissection revealed that this artery traveled between the anterior divisions of the superior and middle trunks of the brachial plexus before traveling alongside a nerve from the posterior division of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. This artery and nerve descended on the anterior aspect of the subscapularis muscle before piercing into its muscle belly. We believe this to be a previously unreported unique variation of the upper subscapular nerve that is accompanied by an accessory subscapular artery on its course to the subscapularis muscle. Knowledge of anatomical variations like this may lead to decreased complications in nerve blocks and surgical procedures related to the shoulder.

A Unique Branching Pattern of the Brachial Artery: Coexisting Superficial Ulnar Artery and Persistent Median Artery.

The presence of both a superficial ulnar artery (SUA) and persistent median artery (PMA) of antebrachial type is of both clinical and surgical significance. In an 84-year-old female cadaver received through the Gift Body Program at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, the right brachial artery was seen divided into an SUA and radial artery (RA) slightly below the interepicondylar line of the humerus. At the level of the radial neck, the RA sent out the common interosseous artery that then gave off the radial recurrent artery before bifurcating into anterior interosseous artery (AIA) and posterior interosseous artery. The AIA continued to appear to branch into the anterior ulnar recurrent artery and posterior ulnar recurrent artery, as well as a PMA of the antebrachial type. In the hand, the SUA and RA contributed to the complete superficial palmar arch seemingly equally, and the RA was the dominant contribution to the deep palmar arch. Ninety-one other arms were assessed for this variation, and none were observed. Knowledge of an anatomical variation such as this may lead to decreased complications in the planning of surgical bypass grafting.

A Unique Variation of Quadratus Plantae in Relation to the Tendons of the Midfoot.

A novel combination of variations involving the quadratus plantae muscle (QP) and its relationship to the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon was observed unilaterally in the right foot of an 88-year-old female cadaver during routine dissection. The medial head of QP was observed inserting onto the tendon of FHL rather than the tendon of flexor digitorum longus (FDL), while also contributing to an anomalous tendinous slip to the second digit in conjunction with the tendon of FHL. The tendon of FHL also gave off a slip to the third digit. Both tendinous slips attached distally to the digital tendons of FDL. Lastly, the lateral head of QP inserted onto the tendinous slip from FHL to the third digit. Ninety-five additional feet were assessed for these variations, but none were observed. This combination of variations expands upon the proposed actions of QP in the literature. Furthermore, connections between the tendons of the midfoot are of clinical significance for harvesting tendon grafts.

A Case of Multiple Posterior Intercostal Artery Common Trunks in Conjunction with Additional Arterial Variations.

Several thoracic vasculature variations were observed in an 81-year-old male cadaver during routine dissection. These included 5 common trunks of posterior intercostal arteries, a descending branch of the right vertebral artery, and atypical neurovascular relationships within intercostal spaces. On the right side, two common trunks of posterior intercostal arteries were observed supplying the 4th-7th intercostal spaces and 9th-11th intercostal spaces, respectively. There was also a small accessary branch supplying the 9th intercostal space. The first three posterior intercostal spaces on the right were supplied by a descending branch of the vertebral artery. On the left side, three common trunks of posterior intercostal arteries were encountered, supplying intercostal spaces 3-5, 6-7, and 11 plus the subcostal space. An atypical neurovascular relationship was observed in the right 6th intercostal space, as well as the left 2nd, 3rd, and 6th intercostal spaces. This is the first case report that presents 5 common trunks of posterior intercostal arteries, as well as common trunks in conjunction with other arterial variation in the posterior thoracic wall. These variations carry a high level of clinical significance and may be helpful in guiding decision-making related to surgical procedures related to the posterior thoracic cavity and spine.

A Case of Left Retroexternal Iliac Artery Megaureter Associated with Additional Renal and Vascular Congenital Anomalies.

Introduction. A number of rare anatomical anomalies, including retroexternal iliac ureter, extrarenal calyces (ERCs), and vascular anomalies, were observed in a 96-year-old female cadaver during a routine dissection. Description. A markedly dilated left extrarenal pelvis (ERP) with a diameter of 3.15 cm was noticed. Three major calyces were found outside of the normal-sized left kidney. The abdominal aorta (AA), instead of normal bifurcation, branched to the right common, left external, and left internal iliac arteries. The median sacral artery was a direct branch from the right common iliac artery. No hydronephrosis was observed on the affected side, and no urinary tract anomalies were observed on the right side. Significance. The retroiliac megaureter is a rare congenital anomaly, with fewer than 25 cases reported to date. Additionally, the ERCs are amongst the rarest anomalies of the renal collecting system. Further, the current case is one of few reported cases where the particular branching pattern of the AA was observed. The combination of such anatomical anomalies is rare, and the relationship between them is unclear. Common clinical manifestations of retroiliac ureters are the results of ureteric obstruction, hydronephrosis, and secondary infection. Precise knowledge of anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract can help radiologists and surgeons make a definitive diagnosis and prevent inadvertent injury during surgery.

A novel cerebellar commissure and other myelinated axons in the Purkinje cell layer of a pond turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans).

Parallel fibers in the molecular layer of the vertebrate cerebellum mediate slow spike conduction in the transverse plane. In contrast, electrophysiological recordings have indicated that rapid spike conduction exists between the lateral regions of the cerebellar cortex of the red-ear pond turtle (Trachemys scripta). The anatomical basis for this commissure is now examined in that species using neuronal tracing techniques. Fluorescently tagged dextrans and lipophilic carbocyanine dyes placed in one lateral edge of this nonfoliated cortex are transported across the midline of living brains in vitro and along the axonal membranes of fixed tissues, respectively. Surprisingly, the labeled commissural axons traversed the cortex within the Purkinje cell layer, and not in the white matter of the molecular layer or the white matter below the granule cell layer. Unlike thin parallel fibers that exhibit characteristic varicosities, this commissure is composed of smooth axons of large diameter that also extend beyond the cerebellar cortex via the cerebellar peduncles. Double labeling with myelin basic protein antibody demonstrated that these commissural axons are ensheathed with myelin. In contrast to this transverse pathway, an orthogonal myelinated tract was observed along the cerebellar midline. The connections of this transverse commissure with the lateral cerebellum, the vestibular nuclear complex, and the cochlear vestibular ganglia indicate that this commissure plays a role in bilateral vestibular connectivity.

Recent progress in graphene-related nanotechnologies.

Currently there is great interest in graphene-based devices and applications. The main advantages of graphene include excellent conductive and mechanical properties. The applications of graphene cover a wide range of possibilities, from next-generation transistors to light-weight, high-strength composite materials. However, commercial use of graphene will depend on the development of an industrially-viable method of fabricating and handling graphene. The recent advances in manipulating graphene and patents will be reviewed with a focus on the progress of graphene nanoparticle synthesis and applications.

Ionic liquid-based preparation of cellulose-dendrimer films as solid supports for enzyme immobilization.

Surface-active cellulose films for covalent attachment of bioactive moieties were achieved by codissolution of cellulose with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers in an ionic liquid followed by regeneration of the composite as a film. Different generations of PAMAM were used for the formation of cellulose-dendrimer composites, as well as films with the dendrimer covalently bonded to the cellulose by means of the linker 1,3-phenylene diisocyanate. Surface characterization, thermal stability, and utility for immobilization of laccase were determined. The presence of the dendrimer amino groups was confirmed by detailed characterization of the films' surfaces. These modified films exhibit acceptable thermal stability, comparable to that of other regenerated cellulose films, but the number of active functional groups on the surface is much smaller than the theoretical amount expected. Films made with 1,3-phenylene diisocyanate as linker for covalently bound cellulose and dendrimers exhibit a better performance for immobilization of laccase than those prepared by simple mixing of the cellulose and dendrimer. In general, a linear correspondence between the dendrimer generation within the films and the specific activity of immobilized laccase in such films was not observed.

Ionic liquid-reconstituted cellulose composites as solid support matrices for biocatalyst immobilization.

Preparation of cellulose-polyamine composite films and beads, which provide high loading of primary amines on the surface allowing direct one-step bioconjugation of active species, is reported using an ionic liquid (IL) dissolution and regeneration process. Films and bead architectures were prepared and used as immobilization supports for laccase as a model system demonstrating the applicability of this approach. Performance of these materials, compared to commercially available products, has been assessed using millimeter-sized beads of the composites and the lipase-catalyzed transesterification of ethyl butyrate.