Frequently applied ketamine, medetomidine and thiopental anaesthesia induces high mortality in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: Fatal reactions to the combination of ketamine-medetomidine and thiopental in Wistar rats are described in two different models of orthodontic tooth movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male rats were divided into two groups that required repeated anaesthesia during a 42-day study period, once a week or more frequently depending on the experimental group. The combination of ketamine [50 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] and medetomidine (67 µg/kg b.w.) was administered intraperitoneally. Thiopental (8.3 mg/kg b.w.) was administered intraperitoneally 5 minutes later, barring any observable adverse reactions to the anaesthesia. RESULTS: Twelve animals died, though none during the first two procedures. Three animals died shortly after the administration of a ketamine-medetomidine combination, and the remainder died 10-25 minutes later. Only four of the affected animals received thiopental before their death on a particular day. As ten rats died in the more frequently anaesthetized group, repeated anaesthesia was suspected to be the cause of the increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Obstruction of the respiratory airways by saliva with subsequent suffocation may have been one of the causes of death, as it appeared in all the affected animals. Although the combination of ketamine and an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist is generally considered to be safe in rats, we propose that studies utilizing protocols requiring repeated anaesthesia adhere to a minimum safety period of 8.5 days between anaesthesia events. Alternative anaesthetic protocols should be employed if adherence to this is not possible due to the nature of the study.

Periodontal ligament regulatory role in experimental diabetic rat model of periodontium remodelling.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes, among multiple systemic harmful health issues, also may deteriorate normal regenerative and reparative functions of periodontium. The aim of this research was to study the role of periodontal ligament in tissue remodelling under the orthodontic appliance stimulation in two rat experimental models (healthy Wistar rats and Goto-Kakizaki, rodent model of non-obese type 2 diabetes). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of rats were defined: Wistar (WI; n = 8) and Goto-Kakizaki (GK; n = 8) control groups without orthodontic appliances, and Wistar (n = 16) and Goto-Kakizaki (n = 16) appliance groups with orthodontic appliances. After 42 days, rats were sacrificed and histopathology descriptive analysis about periodontal ligament and adjacent structures was performed as well as cellularity of periodontal ligament and Kappa curvature of tooth roots were measured. RESULTS: Goto-Kakizaki control rats showed statistically significantly higher cellularity in comparison with Wistar control rats (p < 0.001). Both applied groups (WI 44.63 ± 6.68; GK 79.58 ± 10.06) also showed statistically significantly higher cellularity (p < 0.001) in comparison with control groups (WI 34.48 ± 6.92; GK 45.31 ± 11.18). Applied groups (WI 0.197 ± 0.2; GK 0.126 ± 0.083) had statistically significant higher values of Kappa curvature in comparison with control groups (WI 0.023 ± 0.011; GK 0.037 ± 0.011) (WI appliance vs. WI control: p < 0.001; GK appliance vs. GK control: p < 0.05). Agitated periodontal ligament caused different degrees of cementoclasia and additionally dentinoclasia, altering the natural root curvature. CONCLUSIONS: Although not significantly different (WI and GK appliance groups) according to degree of molar roots odontoclasia, higher cellularity of agitated GK periodontal ligament could be influencing factor for, as previously reported, elevated osteoclast mobilization and possible prolonged periodontium reconstitution.

Double unilateral fenestration of the anterior cerebral artery in the pre-communicating segment: a report of a unique case.

A unique example of two fenestrations of the pre-communicating (A1) segment of the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA) in a 78-year-old woman was a special case among 388 cadaveric specimens. It was found by a retrospective review of the personal data obtained during graduate and undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine. Two unequal fenestrations of the right A1 segment were associated with the presence of a pseudo anterior communicating artery, hypoplasia of the right posterior communicating artery and the left superior cerebellar artery, absence of the right anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and ectasia of the basilar artery; however, the cerebral arteries were without aneurysm(s) or other pathology. The reason could be the almost equal ACA diameter on both sides.

Endometrial immunocompetent cells in proliferative and secretory phase of normal menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND: Menstruation was presented as a result of inflammatory process. The total and relative numbers of the endometrial immunocompetitive cells vary during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. The aim of this morphological study is to make a contribution to understanding different distribution of leukocyte types during proliferative and secretory phase of normal menstrual cycle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 40 women (20 in proliferative and 20 in secretory phase of the menstrual cycle). Exploratory curettage performed as preoperative preparation due to uterine myomas. Immunophenotyping was performed by immunoalkaline phosphatase (APAAP) using monoclonal antibodies: CD15, CD20, CD30, CD45RO, CD56, CD57 and CD68. The results were statistically analysed using SPSS 20.0 software. RESULTS: Natural killer (NK) cells are dominant during secretory, and CD45RO T lymphocytes are dominant during proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. During the secretory phase of menstrual cycle, leukocytes make 30% of total endometrial cells. NK cells (CD56+ bright subpopulation), activated T lymphocytes, macrophages and B lymphocytes significantly increase in their number during the secretory phase of menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes in endometrial leukocyte populations during proliferative and secretory phase of the menstrual cycle are emphasized. Changes in dominance of different leukocyte subpopulations are determined by hormonal and microenvironmental changes in modulatory factors that have not yet been fully explained.

Position and size of massa intermedia in Serbian brains.

BACKGROUND: Massa intermedia, a midline bar-shaped structure, connects two thalami across the third ventricle in 70-80% of healthy humans. It has become clinically important since its absence was comprehended as a midline malformation of the brain and brought in connection with schizophrenia indicating that some symptoms could be a consequence of disturbed neuron chains underlying the mechanisms of attention and processing of information. The aim of the investigation was to find out the incidence, position, and size of massa intermedia in the brains of the Serbian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our investigation was performed on 41 brains of adult Serbian cadavers using a macro dissection method. RESULTS: Massa intermedia was present in 80.49% of cases, in 1 case it was double. In most of the cases it was located in the superior quadrants of the lateral wall of the third ventricle, the larger part being in the anterosuperior one. Some other combinations were also present. The horizontal diameter of the cross-section was larger than vertical and was not in correlation with the length of the third ventricle. The average cross-sectional area was 29.58 mm2, significantly larger in females. CONCLUSIONS: Massa intermedia is present in most of the investigated brains, usually connecting the anterior-superior quadrants of the lateral walls of the third ventricle. Different in shape and size its cross-section is a horizontal ellipse, significantly larger in females. The cross-sectional area and the size of the third ventricle are not in correlation.

Congenital Aplasia of the Common Carotid Artery: A Comprehensive Review.

In an attempt to describe the morphofunctional consequences of uni- and bilateral aplasia of the common carotid artery (CCA), which is usually a vascular source of the external carotid (ECA) and internal carotid (ICA) arteries, we investigated online databases of anatomical and clinical papers published from the 18th century to the present day. We found 87 recorded cases of uni- and bilateral CCA aplasia in subjects from the first hours to the eighth decade of life, which had been discovered in 14 (known) countries. Four crucial parameters were described: the embryology of the carotid arteries, morphophysiology of the carotid arteries, CCA aplasia, and unilateral versus bilateral CCA aplasia, including history, general data, diagnosing, vascular sources, caliber, course of the separated ECA and ICA, associated vascular variants, and pathological disorders. To complete the knowledge of the morphofunctional consequences of the absence of some artery of the carotid system, and risking the possibility of repeating some words, as "carotid artery", or "carotid aplasia" and the headings from our previous article about bilateral ICA absence, this review is the first in the literature that recorded all cases of the CCA aplasia published and/or cited for the past 233 years. Main characteristic of the CCA absence is its association with 21 different diseases, among which the aneurysms were in 13.69% of cases, and 17.80% of cases were without pathology.

Significance of the Ki-67 proliferation index in the assessment of the therapeutic response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to examine the therapeutic response of advanced cervical cancer to Ki-67 proliferative index (Ki-67 PI) dependent cisplatin chemotherapy, and to determine Ki-67 PI referential value that is expected to provide a satisfactory therapeutic response of cervical cancer to cisplatin chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 59 patients treated for cervical cancer at Clinic for Oncology, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. According to the obtained Ki-67 PI values, patients were divided into three groups, and all the patients received the same cytostatic, cisplatin. Therapeutic response to chemotherapy was evaluated in relation to disease progression presence or absence and progression-free survival after a year follow-up since the first chemotherapy. RESULTS: Survival rate increases with an increase of Ki-67 PI by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, meaning that survival rate is statistically significantly shorter in the group of patients with Ki-67 PI < 40% in comparison to patients from other two groups (p=0.010). Mann-Whitney test confirmed a statistically significant increase in survival rate among the groups of patients formed according to Ki-67 PI (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis confirmed that the mean survival rate in the group of patients with Ki-67 PI values over 60% is statistically significantly longer in comparison to patients with Ki-67 PI values below or equal 60% (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced cervical cancer with a high Ki-67 PI expression responds better to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, thus resulting in a longer survival rate. The values of Ki-67 PI were determined: high Ki-67 PI (≥ 60%), moderate Ki-67 PI (40-60%), and low Ki-67 PI (≤ 40%).

Erratum to "Unilateral Aplasia versus Bilateral Aplasia of the Vertebral Artery: A Review of Associated Abnormalities".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/7238672.].

Unilateral Aplasia versus Bilateral Aplasia of the Vertebral Artery: A Review of Associated Abnormalities.

Morphological characteristics of 108 cases of uni- and bilateral aplasia of the vertebral artery (VA) in reports or images of retrospective studies, including one recent case, published between 1967 and 2016 are analyzed. Incidence, gender, persistence of carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis (CVBA), associated with other vascular variants, and vascular pathology in each group of uni- and bilateral VA aplasia are mutually compared. Most of the cases of VA aplasia in ages 31 to 80 were discovered in USA, Japan, and India. The bilateral VA aplasia is more common in the male gender than in the female one. The side of the VA aplasia had a significant effect on the side of CVBA persistence. Associated aplasia of other arteries was more common in cases of unilateral VA aplasia. The left VA was more commonly hypoplastic in cases of single right VA aplasia than the right VA in cases of single left VA aplasia. Aneurysms of definitive arteries were more frequent in cases of single right VA aplasia than in cases of single left VA aplasia. We claim that the aplasia of the VA probably depends on genetic factors in some races, while diseases are expressed usually in persons over 30 years of age.