Second hand tobacco smoke adversely affects the bone of immature rats.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of secondhand cigarette smoke exposure on longitudinal growth of the tibia of growing rats and some parameters of bone quality.

Methods: Forty female rats were randomly divided into four groups: control: rats were sham exposed; 30 days: rats were exposed to tobacco smoke for 30 days; 45 days: rats were exposed to tobacco smoke for 45 days; and 60 days: rats were exposed to tobacco smoke for 60 days. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the levels of cotinine and alkaline phosphatase.

An anatomical study on the lingual-facial trunk.

Purpose: We quantified variations of the lingual artery origin, measured the lingual artery origin distance from clinical relevant landmarks and compared the lingual artery diameters with normal and variable origin.

Methods: Forty-two formalin fixed male cadavers were bilaterally evaluated. Measurements were performed with the aid of an electronic digital caliper.

Anomalous origin and cervical course of the vertebral artery in the presence of a retroesophageal right subclavian artery.

The vertebral artery is usually described as the first branch of the subclavian artery, originating medial to the scalenus anterior muscle. During its cervical course, the vertebral artery presents a prevertebral segment and then enters the foramen transversarium of the sixth cervical vertebra. We describe a case of an unusual origin and course of the right vertebral artery in a cadaver specimen wherein the right vertebral artery originates from the right common carotid artery at the inferior border of the thyroid gland.

Superficial palmar arch: an arterial diameter study.

Although anatomical variations in the arterial pattern of the hand have been the subject of many studies, information on the diameter of the superficial palmar arch contributing vessels and its branches are rarely found in the literature. The objective of the current study was to evaluate these arterial variations, with special attention to the diameter of the superficial palmar arch contributing vessels and its major branches. Forty-six hands from male embalmed human cadavers were evaluated, 21 right hands and 25 left hands.