International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 050-059, October, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Review Article

Toxic effects of formaldehyde on the nervous system

Hussein Abdu¹, Yamrot Kinfu² and Asrat Agalu^1*

¹Wollo University, college of medicine and health sciences, Dessie,  Ethiopia.

²Addis Ababa University, College of health sciences, school of medicine; department of anatomy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Email: asratagl@yahoo.com

Accepted 22 January, 2014

Abstract

Formaldehyde is a flammable, colourless gas with pungent odour and readily polymerized at ambient temperature. It is one of the major pollutants in indoor air. It is found in the environment as a result of natural processes and from man-made sources and it is widely used in industries and medical settings. Several symptoms might be manifested related to formaldehyde –exposure among which lethargy, decrease in motor activity, and loss of appetite is common. Formaldehyde resulted in minor headache to irreversible neurotoxicity and brain cancer. The neurotoxic effects produced by formaldehyde exposure are dependent on the concentration of formaldehyde and duration of exposure which is more pronounced in concentrated and increased duration of exposure. Acute exposure to low concentrations it leads to stimulation while in higher concentrations it acts as central nervous system depression. The formaldehyde exposure in adult and postnatal period results in an increase oxidant substances though it causes a decrease in the antioxidant enzymatic activity in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. It was indicated that formaldehyde induces several characteristics of neurotoxicity. Anatomists, histologists, pathologists, medical students, embalmers and members of industries utilizing formaldehyde is more exposed to formaldehyde gas. Therefore, it is recommended to use personal protective equipment, maintaining high room air exhaust rates and concentrations of formaldehyde in work places should be monitored by using standard measuring machines.

Key words: Toxicity, neurotoxic, formaldehyde, nervous system, concentration.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 048-049, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Geometric assessment of facial beauty in female participating in beauty pageants of Nepal: Establishing a universal standard in Morphometry

*Koirala S, Bhattacharya S, Shah S

^{1, 2,3} Department of Human Anatomy, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal.

E-mail: poksun@rediffmail.com

Accepted May, 2014

Abstract 

A descriptive prospective study was carried with sample size of 100, female participants selected for final round by the panel of judges from various field in beauty pageants “Miss Purbhancal” in Dharan municipality, Sunsari district of Eastern Nepal in the year of 2011 and 2012. Anthropometric measurements were taken from standard anatomical landmarks and various facial geometric proportions were selected. Paired –t test was applied to see the significance between the measured value by using SPSS -11.5 version. The ratio of height of eye (EH) with total facial height (TFH), the ratio of chin length(CL) with  total height of face and  the ratio of width of  mouth  with the width of face was significant (p =0.00). Also the ratio of, width of eye (EW) with the facial width measured at eye was significant (p <0.005). The study concluded female faces are judged more attractive when the vertical distance between their eyes and the mouth.

 Key words: Morphometry, anthropometric measurements, facial geometrical proportion, facial width, chin length, total facial height.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 042-047, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Deviation of the tunica media of aorta of goat from conventional structural concept: Case for including collagen

Julius A. Ogeng’o,  Adel K. Malek, Kevin W. Ongeti and Phillip M. Mwachaka   

Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi P.O. BOX 30197 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

*Corresponding author. E -Mail: jogengo@uonbi.ac.ke

Accepted 13 September, 2013

Abstract

Knowledge of the structural organization of the aortic tunica media is important in understanding the physicomechanical properties and alterations which underpin aortic aging and pathologies such as atherosclerosis, aneurysms and aortitis. Recent studies have cast doubt on the exclusivity of the medial lamella unit and musculoelastic fascicle concepts of the aortic structure. The goat is a suitable model for studying cardiovascular disease. Therefore the structure of tunica media of its aorta was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Materials were obtained from 6 healthy adult male goats [age range 12 – 24 months]. Specimens from the mid thoracic aortic segment were fixed in 3% phosphate buffered glutaraldehyde and processed for durcupan embedding and sectioning. Ultrathin sections were stained with uranyl acetate, counterstained in lead citrate and examined by Philips 210 transmission electron microscope. Besides medial lamella units and musculoelastic fascicles in the tunica media, we observed longitudinal elastic lamellae, and cells surrounded by collagen bundles both of which were sandwiched by elastic lamellae. In some instances, cells were disposed between collagen bundles on one side, and elastic lamella on the other. These observations imply that the aortic tunica media is heterogeneous with a mosaic structure, rather than the uniform one conventionally known.

Key words: Aorta, tunica media, musculoelastic fascicles, collagen, elastic lamella.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 2 (1), pp. 036-041, November, 2013. © International Scholars Journals                         

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of visfatin on blood glucose and serum lipids in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic Rats

Mohamad Yosof Rezk

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: myosof@gmail.com

Accepted 08 October, 2013

Abstract

Visfatin is a novel adipokine showing altered plasma levels in different disorders, for example type-2 diabetes mellitus, obesity fetal growth retardation and gestational diabetes mellitus. We found that no study demonstrated the effect of visfatin on blood glucose and serum lipids in rats. Therefore, we investigated the effect of visfatin on blood glucose and serum lipids in rats. We found that visfatin produced an inhibitory effect on blood glucose level in a dose dependent manner and it caused further reduction in blood glucose level when combined with oral hypoglycemic drugs. We also found that visfatin produced a significant inhibitory effect on triglycerides, LDL and VLDL. These data are the first to show that visfatin can inhibit blood glucose in a dose dependent manner and the first to find an inhibitory effect on some serum lipids.

Key words: Visfatin, glucose, diabetic rats, oral hypoglycemic, obesity, adipose tissue.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 2 (12), pp. 027-035, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and correlation with coronary artery stenosis among 200 patients undergoing cabg

T. Sumalatha¹*, Sreelatha², T.K. Rajasree³ and T. Sivaprasad⁴

¹Department of Anatomy, Osmania medical college, Hyderabad, India.

²Department of Anatomy, Gandhi medical college, Hyderabad, India.

³Department of Anatomy, Mallareddy medical college, Hyderabad, India.

⁴Consultant cardiac intensivist, Hyderabad.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sivasuma_2@yahoo.co.in.

Accepted 04 July, 2013

Abstract

The aim of this study is to find out the incidence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis among patients undergoing CABG. To find its correlation with age, sex and any predilection to side and site of carotid artery. Doppler ultrasound of carotid arteries was done in 200 patients undergoing Carotid Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Patients including both sexes were aged between 35 and 75 years. Patients without any pre existing neurological deficits in the last 6 months were included in the study. Among the study population, 34 cases (17%) of carotid artery stenosis cases were found. The highest number of patients 17 (50%) was found in the age group of 56-65 years. The prevalence of carotid artery stenosis among patients aged more than 55 years  (21.5%) is significantly high  (p<0.05), than patients  less than 55 years (10.1%) old. Out of 34 cases, 38% had bilateral carotid artery stenosis, 32% had right side and 30% had left side carotid stenosis. The commonest site involved was at carotid bulb and internal carotid artery (CB and ICA) in 61.9% of cases. The average IMT of patients who had normal carotid arteries was found to be 0.1193mm on right side and 0.1151mm on left side. Males are at more risk than females. In the age group of 56-65yrs, there is a peak incidence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. The carotid stenosis is highly prevalent among patients with severe coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis predominantly affects the carotid artery bifurcation due to its typical flow characteristics. The average IMT of carotid arteries of indian patients who had normal carotid arteries was found to be 0.1193mm on right side and 0.1151mm on left side.

Key words: Atherosclerosis, screening, intima-media thickness, Indian population.

Abstract

Calcanei with certain talar facet patterns predispose to subtalar arthritis. Knowledge about variations in the talar facets of the calcanei is essential for orthopedic surgeons while correcting foot deformities like pes planus. This study was undertaken after finding a scarcity of such data in the Gujarat population. The objective was to identify the patterns of the talar facets of calcanei and their clinical implications. Calcanei (n=205) from the Gujarat was utilized. Only four patterns were described as follows: Pattern (I): Fusion of the middle and the anterior facets, Pattern (2): The middle and the anterior facets separate, Pattern (3): Absent anterior facet, Pattern (4): Fusion of all the three facets. And surface area was also measured. Pattern (I) was predominant (65.82%), followed by Pattern (2) in (33.33%) of cases. In the Pattern (2), the subtype b with (3-5) mm separation was the commonest. Pattern (3) found in 4.39% cases. Rare cases of pattern (4) was found in (1.39%) of cases. There is a dominance of pattern (I) calcanei in Indians as compared to the Europeans whose present pattern (2) are common. This fact necessitates the orthopedic surgeons in India to modify the surgical techniques when they perform calcaneal osteotomy. Indians may be at a greater risk of developing subtalar arthritis due to the dominance of Pattern (1) calcanei according to different studies performed. In our study we measured surface area of facets which shows more available surface area for articulation in pattern (I) which provides better stability. So chances of subtalar arthritis are less. We have to correlate it with clinical data.  

Key words: Calcaneum, facets for the talus, pattern, variation, arthritis.