Geometric morphometric analysis of the brainstem and cerebellum in Chiari I malformation.

Background: Chiari I malformation (CMI) is characterized by inferior descent of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum and is associated with headache and neck pain. Many morphometric research efforts have aimed to describe CMI anatomy in the midsagittal plane using classical measurement techniques such as linear dimensions and angles. These methods are less frequently applied to parasagittal features and may fall short in quantifying more intricate anatomy with fewer distinct homologous landmarks.

Rare case of divided phrenic nerve variation: a cadaveric case report.

The phrenic nerve innervates the respiratory diaphragm, the primary muscle active during ventilation. The canonical path of the phrenic nerve originates from the cervical spine at C3-C5 spinal nerves and travels inferiorly through the neck and thoracic cavity to reach the diaphragm. During a cadaver dissection, a variation of the phrenic nerve was discovered in a 93-year-old male specimen.

Rare discovery of sacral "ribs": a cadaveric case report.

Supernumerary ribs are a well-documented congenital anomaly that can occur at any point of the vertebral column, most commonly in the cervical or lumbar region. However, accessory ribs found in the sacrococcygeal region are exceptionally rare and may be difficult to distinguish from other bony manifestations of the pelvic girdle. During cadaveric dissection, a pair of sacral "ribs" were found projecting from the left posterolateral sacral region.

Morphology and morphometry of the human obturator nerve in males and females.

Peripheral nerve injury and the nerves' subsequent repair and regeneration continues to be marked clinically by poor functional recovery. The analysis of nerve morphology is an aspect which may provide an impact on successful clinical outcomes through better prediction of donor and recipient matching. In this study, we evaluated the morphological aspects of the human obturator nerve for a better understanding of its potential in nerve transplantation.

Extracellular ubiquitin modulates cardiac fibroblast phenotype and function via its interaction with CXCR4.

Aims: β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation increases extracellular levels of ubiquitin (UB), and exogenous UB plays an important role in β-AR-stimulated myocardial remodeling with effects on heart function, fibrosis and myocyte apoptosis. Cardiac fibroblasts are vital for maintaining the normal function of the heart, and in the structural remodeling of the heart in response to injury. Here we hypothesized that extracellular UB modulates cardiac fibroblast phenotype and function via its interaction with CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4).