Impact of gross anatomy laboratory on student written examination performance: A 3-year study of a large-enrollment undergraduate anatomy course.

The efficacy of the various pedagogies that are used in human anatomy laboratories has been extensively debated. Nevertheless, an important question remains relatively unexamined-how the learning experience in the anatomy laboratory impacts students' mastery and application of anatomical knowledge beyond the laboratory setting. In this study, the effect of a prosection-based anatomy laboratory on overall comprehension and mastery of anatomical knowledge was evaluated in an upper division undergraduate anatomy curriculum that consists of a mandatory lecture course and an optional laboratory course.

Variations of accessory thoracic muscles identified in the ethnically diverse whole-body donation population in Northern California.

Accessory thoracic muscles in humans are relatively common and it is important to draw awareness to their variable presentations and potential clinical implications owing to their close association with the axilla. Here we report four cases of accessory thoracic muscle variations identified in the ethnically diverse whole- -body donation population in Northern California (4 out of 48 donors, 8.3%).

Cautionary note: linewidth effect in dynamic NMR.

In using NMR spectroscopy to evaluate the effects of kinetic processes taking place in the solute molecules being studied, one must estimate the inherent width w of each line, which is hidden from view throughout the kinetic thermal region due to the line-width broadening effected by the processes. We have herein built a self-consistent model function w(T) to attempt to evaluate the variation in the Arrhenius activation energy obtained with the model parameters present in w(T). As it turns out, a sizable number of such line-width parameters yields excellent spectral fits, and these lead to a considerable range of possible activation energies.

Dynamic NMR spectroscopy of three 2,2'-dialkyl/aryl-1-picrylhydrazines in liquid solution.

We have studied and compared the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of a series of three 2,2'-di(alkyl/aryl)-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazines at 500 MHz in liquid toluene-d(8), with a view to learning details of the internal conformation changes taking place, as a function of temperature. Herein "alkyl" denotes 'methyl', and "aryl" denotes 'phenyl'. The synthesis and characterization of 2-phenyl,2'-methyl-1-picrylhydrazine is reported.

Magnetic resonance in systems with equivalent spin-1/2 nuclides. Part 3: Ket analysis and spectral intensities.

In earlier papers (Parts 1 and 2), featuring group-theoretical analysis, it was shown that the isotropic EPR spectra of free radical (S=1/2) species XL(n), where the n equivalent nuclei also have spin 1/2, have a more complicated form than disclosed by the usual (first-order) oversimplified analysis. Explicit solutions for n=3 (analytic, as well as computational) of the spin-hamiltonian matrix H(s) for the energies and spin states were obtained and given in Part 2, but are amplified herein, and differences in several important representations of H(s) are discussed. In the present work, we focus also on details of relative spectral intensities, some of which are not straightforward.

Magnetic resonance in systems with equivalent spin-1/2 nuclides. Part 2: energy values and spin states.

In an earlier paper (Part 1), featuring group-theoretical analysis, it was shown that the isotropic EPR spectra of free radical (S=1/2) species XL(n), where the n equivalent nuclei also have spin 1/2, have a more complicated form than anticipated from the usual (first-order) oversimplified analysis. The nucleus of X is taken to be spin-less. The latter predicts n+1 lines with intensity ratios given by the coefficients of the binomial expansion; for systems with n=3, the EPR spectrum in fact consists of 6 lines.

Magnetic resonance in systems with equivalent spin-1/2 nuclides. Part 1.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of S=1/2 systems XL(n) with n equivalent nuclei having spin I=1/2 have been simulated for microwave frequencies in the L-, X-, and W-bands. It has been shown that for n>2 nuclei, the EPR spectra have a more complicated form than anticipated from the usual oversimplified analysis, which predicts n+1 lines with intensity ratios given by the coefficients of the binomial expansion. For the XL(n) system with n=3, the EPR spectra in fact consist of six lines.

Generalization of the lineshape useful in magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

A new lineshape function is derived from the Tsallis distribution to describe electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, and possibly nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra as well. This lineshape generalizes the Gaussian and Lorentzian lineshapes that are widely used in simulations. The main features of this lineshape function are presented: the normalization, moments, and first derivative.

Neuroprotective effects of hypothermia and U-78517F in cerebral ischemia are due to reducing oxygen-based free radicals: an electron paramagnetic resonance study with gerbils.

Free radicals are implicated as causative agents in various forms of tissue destruction. Considerable circumstantial evidence suggests that oxygen-based free radicals generated as blood flow returns to formerly ischemic brain areas are mainly responsible for the neurodegeneration that follows periods of cerebral ischemia. In general, oxygen-based free radicals are highly reactive and exist for only a brief period of time.

Free radical formation in autopsy samples of Alzheimer and control cortex.

The formation of free radicals in homogenates of frontal cortex from brains taken at autopsy and verified histologically to be from five patients with Alzheimer's disease or from six age matched normal controls, was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. During incubation at 37 degrees C, the formation of free radicals by Alzheimer's samples was 22% higher (P < 0.05) than controls.

An in vitro EPR study of the free-radical scavenging actions of the lazaroid antioxidants U-74500A and U-78517F.

Oxygen-based free radicals have been shown to play a major role in the acute destruction of neurons following cerebral ischemia and may be involved in the chronic neurodegeneration seen in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions characterized by the progressive death of neurons in the central nervous system. Drugs belonging to a group of antioxidant compounds, collectively known as the lazaroids, have strong neuroprotective effects in experimental models of acute ischemia. However, the specific mechanisms by which these drugs reduce the harmful actions of free radicals have not been established.

Quantitative PET imaging of bone marrow glucose metabolic response to hematopoietic cytokines.

Unlabelled: To evaluate the effects of hematopoietic cytokines on bone marrow glucose metabolism noninvasively, we studied serial quantitative FDG-PET images in 18 patients with metastatic melanoma and normal bone marrow who were undergoing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) or macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) administration as an adjunct to chemotherapy.

Methods: All patients received 14 days of cytokine therapy in three groups: four patients were treated with GMCSF (5 micrograms/kg/d SQ), eight patients were treated with GMCSF (5 micrograms/kg/d SQ) and monoclonal antibody (MAbR24) and six patients were treated with MCSF (80 micrograms/kg/d IVCI) and MAbR24. Dynamic FDG-PET imaging was performed over the lower thoracic or upper lumbar spine at four time points in each patient.

Neonatal ventilatory changes following in utero cocaine exposure: a minireview of the guinea pig and rabbit models.

Only three animal studies have been published on the consequences of prenatal cocaine exposure for neonatal ventilation. The one in guinea pigs examines the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide inhalation and two in rabbits consider the response to hypoxia. Cocaine exposure during intrauterine development causes modest and reversible increases in room air breathing and the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide in the neonatal guinea pig.

Noninvasive breathing analysis: repetitive chloral hydrate in neonatal guinea pigs.

A noninvasive method was used to record neonatal breathing, heart rate (HR), and the electroencephalogram (EEG) in guinea pig pups. Neonates were randomly assigned at birth to chloral hydrate (CH) or placebo (PLA) treatment. Treatments were administered 30 min before each study on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 after birth.

In utero cocaine exposure: effect on neonatal breathing in guinea pigs.

Cocaine (COC) abuse during pregnancy may be a factor in the development of neonatal breathing abnormalities. To examine this possibility, pregnant Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were treated daily with s.c.