Seetharama Bhat

A comparative in vitro evaluation of cytotoxic effects of EDTA and maleic acid: Root canal irrigants

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare aqueous solutions of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with that of maleic acid (MA) for their cytotoxic effect on Chinese hamster fibroblasts (V79) cells growing in vitro. STUDY DESIGN Exponentially growing V79 cells were treated with various concentrations of EDTA (0.05% to 1.0%) or MA (0.05% to 1.0%) alone for 30 minutes. After treatment, the media was removed, cells were trypsinized, and the cytotoxic effect of EDTA or MA was analyzed by Pratt Willis test and MTT assay. Similarly surviving fraction (clonogenic assay) was performed by treating the V79 cells with different concentrations of EDTA (0.0025% to 0.25%) or MA (0.025% to 0.25%) for 30 minutes. The statistical significance between the various groups was evaluated using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student t test (unpaired) for 2 group comparisons. RESULTS There was a significant (P < .01) decrease in the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner indicating the cytotoxic effect of both EDTA and MA when compared with the control group. However, all the dilutions of EDTA were significantly (P < .01) more cytotoxic over that of MA in all 3 assays. CONCLUSION This study for the first time, clearly demonstrated the significantly less toxic effect of MA at a comparable dose of EDTA, suggesting its potential for use as root canal irrigant.

Trifurcation of brachial artery with variant course of radial artery: Rare observation

Variations in the arterial pattern of the upper limb have been observed frequently, either in the routine dissections or in clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to describe the anatomical, surgical and embryological importance of major arteries of upper limbs of human beings. The present article is the report of low division and trifurcation of brachial artery and abnormal course of radial artery (passing deep to the pronator teres muscle) found in a 45-year-old embalmed male cadaver. Knowledge of the arterial variations in the upper limb is of considerable importance during invasive and non-invasive investigative procedures or orthopedic, reconstructive, or surgical procedures.

Four cases of variations in the forearm extensor musculature in a study of hundred limbs and review of literature

All surgeons must bear in mind the existence of muscular variations when performing common tendon transfers. Presence of additional bellies and tendons of existing muscles or presence of additional muscles in unusual locations might misguide a surgeon, during surgery and also during diagnosis. In the present paper we are reporting four cases of variations encountered during the study of extensor muscles of the forearm in 100 limbs. In Case 1, additional bellies of extensor carpi radialis longus and extensor carpi radialis brevis and multiple tendons of insertion of abductor pollicis longus were observed in a single limb. In Case 2, an additional belly of the abductor pollicis longus was observed. In Case 3, a short muscle on the dorsum of the hand going to the index finger [extensor indicis brevis (EIB)] was found in addition to the normal extensor indicis (EI). It was also observed that some of the most superficial fleshy fibers of EIB were getting inserted into the tendon of EI. In Case 4, a rare incidence of extensor digiti medii proprius was observed. Further, the related literature is reviewed and the clinical and surgical importance of these muscular variations in diagnosis and proper planning of treatment is discussed.

Ulnar and Humeral Heads Forming Separate Bellies: A Rare Case of Digastric Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle

SUMMARY: Proper knowledge of muscular variations is essential for both anatomists and surgeons. Variations of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) are not very common. We are reporting an unusual case of FCU muscle with two bellies. The two heads (ulnar and humeral) of the muscle continued as two separate bellies and the tendons of which joined each other slightly proximal to the wrist before getting inserted to pisiform bone. Further, detailed literature review of variations of FCU muscle is done and the developmental basis for the variation and its surgical importance are discussed.

Anatomical variation of obturator vessels and its practical risk: a case report from an anatomic study

Obturator artery is frequently a branch of anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It has drawn attention of pelvic surgeons, anatomists and radiologists because of the high frequency of variations in its course and origin. The obturator vein is usually described as a tributary of the internal iliac vein. During routine dissection classes to undergraduate medical students we have observed obturator artery arising from external iliac artery, obturator vein draining into external iliac vein, communicating vein between obturator vein and external iliac vein and inferior epigastric artery arising from the obturator artery. The anomalous obturator vessels and inferior epigastric artery in the present case may be in a dangerous situation in pelvic surgeries that require dissection or suturing along the pelvic rim. Developmental reasons and clinical significances of the variations are discussed.

A Common Trunk of Origin of the Right Testicular and Middle Suprarenal Arteries with a Retrocaval Course

A common trunk of origin of the right testicular and middle suprarenal arteries with a retrocaval course was observed during the dissection of a male cadaver. The Common trunk (CT) arose from the anterior aspect of the abdominal aorta (AA) at the level of the right renal artery (RRA) and after a short course behind the inferior vena cava (IVC), the CT divided into right testicular and middle suprarenal arteries. The middle suprarenal artery (MSA) passed upwards behind the IVC to the right suprarenal gland. The right testicular artery (RTA) descended posterior to the RRA and anterior to the IVC. It then continued on its normal route distally with the right testicular vein. The awareness of such variations of testicular and middle suprarenal arteries and their unusual origin and course might complicate the interpretation of angiograms and surgical procedures in the posterior abdominal area.

Unusual origin of radial collateral artery noted in quadrangular space syndrome.

In this paper, an unusual origin of the radial collateral artery of the arm is reported. The radial collateral artery in one of the cadavers dissected by us originated from the posterior circumflex humeral artery. The importance of this abnormal origin of the radial collateral artery from the posterior circumflex humeral artery in quadrangular space syndrome is discussed.

Additional Muscle Slip of Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Associated with Anomalous Ulnar Nerve and Ulnar Artery in the Distal Forearm

During routine dissection classes to under graduate medical students, we observed an anomalous flexor carpi ulnaris muscle associated with abnormal ulnar nerve and ulnar artery in the distal part of forearm. There was an additional belly arising from the lower part of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and crossed ulnar nerve and vessels, median nerve and ended in a broad aponeurosis which crossed the tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis and merged with the deep fascia and flexor retinaculum. The ulnar nerve and ulnar artery divided into their terminal branches in the lower part of the forearm. However, the distribution of the terminal branches of both ulnar nerve and artery were normal. An understanding of these unusual findings may be clinically relevant in describing the anterior compartment of the forearm.