PURPOSE: There is a paucity of information on the serum soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2) concentrations, membranous VEGFR-2 expression and the mechanism involved in their modulations during the clinical onset of pre-eclampsia. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of sVEGFR-2 in serum and to investigate the expression of membranous VEGFR-2 in placentae of pre-eclampsia group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum levels of sVEGFR-2 (n = 120) and the expression of membranous VEGFR-2 in placentae (n = 100) were analysed at third trimester of pregnancy by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry respectively. The diagnostic parameters of sensitivity, specificity and association of soluble and membranous VEGFR-2 in these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The serum levels of sVEGFR-2 in pre-eclampsia patients were found to be significantly reduced (p = 0.01, p = 0.001) in early and late pre-eclamptic sub-groups as compared to their respective third trimester control sub-groups. Also, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a cut-off value of 7350.4 pg/mL, higher sensitivity (76%) and specificity (76%) for sVEGFR-2 in late onset (> 34 weeks) pre-eclamptic group. Significant down-regulation of membranous VEGFR-2 immunoreactivity was observed in all the placental cells (p = 0.0001) at > 34 weeks preeclamptic group. CONCLUSION: The reduced serum levels of soluble VEGFR-2 and the down-regulated expression of membranous VEGFR-2 in the study group denoted abnormality in VEGF mediated placental function in all placental cells and thus VEGFR-2 may be a key factor, intimately associated with pre-eclampsia. This study shows the clinical utility of soluble and membranous VEGFR-2 in pre-eclampsia patients.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Down-Regulation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Placenta/metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia/*blood/metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solubility ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/*blood/metabolism

Anatomical variations of pancreatic head and uncinate process are rarely encountered in clinical practice. These variations are primarily attributed to the complex development of the pancreas. An unduly enlarged uncinate process of the pancreas overlapping the third part of duodenum was discovered during dissection. This malformation of the pancreatic uncinate process was considered to be due to excessive fusion between the ventral and dorsal buds during embryonic development. On further dissection, an avascular pancreatico-duodenal fold guarding the pancreatico-duodenal recess was observed. The enlarged uncinate process can cause compression of neurovascular structures and also cause compression of adjoining viscera. The pancreatico-duodenal recess becomes a potential site for internal herniation. This case is of particular interest to the gastroenterologists and surgeons performing surgical resections. Precise knowledge of embryogenesis of such pancreatic anomalies is necessary for understanding and thus treating many diseases of the pancreas.
Duodenum ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Head ; Hypertrophy ; Pancreas* ; Pregnancy ; Viscera

Descriptions of the variant hepatic arterial pattern are common and frequently reported in anatomy archives. We describe a noteworthy deviation from the usual branching pattern in a single cadaver. There was a unique division of the hepatic artery proper into two right gastric arteries (RGAs), apart from the usual branches. Furthermore, an arterial loop was formed by these two RGAs, giving off another RGA, which we termed 'right gastric proper'. This report attempts to evaluate the embryological basis of the anomaly. The significance of this anomalous hepatic arterial pattern is appreciated while performing liver transplantations, hepatic artery infusion of chemotherapeutic drugs and Doppler angiographic procedures. We advocate meticulous familiarisation with the anatomy of the coeliac trunk and its topographic relationship to vital viscera for the operating hepatobiliary surgeon and radiologist.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Hepatic Artery ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach ; abnormalities ; blood supply

The anomalous orientation of musculature of the first dorsal fibro-osseous compartment of the wrist is clinically relevant to De Quervian's stenosing tenosynovitis and reconstructive surgeries. Split insertion of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) is commonly found in chimpanzees, gorillas and gibbons. A comparable identical pattern of anomalous slips in humans is of anthropological and phylogenetic importance and could be a result of atavism. This case report describes an unusual fused muscle belly of the APL and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB), which split into three slips--medial, intermediate and lateral. Further, the medial slip was seen to divide into two tendons, inserting on the base of the first metacarpal along with the intermediate slip. The lateral slip divided into three tendons, inserting into the base of the proximal phalanx, base of the first metacarpal and abductor pollicis brevis muscle. The fusion and unusual insertion pattern of the APL and EPB merits documentation for reconstructive procedures such as tendon transfer and interposition arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty ; Cadaver ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; abnormalities ; anatomy & histology ; Phylogeny ; Tendons ; abnormalities ; anatomy & histology ; physiopathology ; Wrist ; abnormalities ; anatomy & histology

Morphological variations of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle assume relevance during attempted surgical interventions in the cervical region. The present study reports bipartite clavicular attachment of the SCM in the neck of an adult male cadaver during performance of a routine anatomy demonstration. The anomaly was unilaterally observed on the left side of the neck. The clavicular head of the muscle exhibited two bellies, one medial and one lateral. While the medial belly was fused with the sternal head, the lateral belly appeared to blend with the medial. Cranially, the SCM attached to the mastoid process and superior nuchal line. We have attempted to elucidate the embryological basis of the above muscular variant. Additionally, we discuss its clinical relevance, highlighting the utility of the SCM in various reconstructive procedures. We assert that detailed anatomical knowledge of such SCM variants is of utility not only to the gross anatomist, but also for neck and orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthetists. Moreover, radiologists require familiarity with such aberrations to decipher magnetic resonance imaging scans of the cervical region.
Adult ; Anatomists ; Cadaver ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mastoid ; Muscles ; Neck ; Recognition (Psychology)