The behavior of three types of large sinus node arteries with regard to the blood supply of the atrial myocardium.

Purpose: We describe angiographic findings of sinus node arteries (SNAs), focusing in the large sinus node artery (LSNA) variants, regarding the blood supply of the SN and atrial myocardium.

Methods: We examined the SN arteries via postmortem angiographic visualization in six hundred hearts derived from victims of various accidents.

Results: The main stem or a branch of the SNA supplied the right atrium (RA) and part of the interatrial septum (IS) in 32% of cases (Group A), one atrium, the IS and a small part of the other atrium (Group B) in 39% and the entire atrial myocardium (LSNAs) (Group C) in 29%.

Histological findings of the atrioventricular conductive system in street heroin addicts, victims of sudden unexpected death.

A study of the atrioventricular (AV) conducting tissue was considered necessary for the examination of probable histologic changes that could justify the arrhythmias observed in street-heroin addicts. Postmortem coronary angiography and microscopic examination were performed in 50 heroin addicts (group A) and in 50 nonaddicts (group B), all male 16-40 years old. In group A, fatty and/or fibrous tissue replaced the AV node in 50% of cases while in group B in 14%.

Histologic findings of the sinus node and the perinodal area in street heroin addicts, victims of sudden unexpected death.

Sudden unexpected death is frequent in street heroin addicts. We conducted a histologic study of the sinus node (SN) to offer some evidence about the possible arrhythmogenic cause of death. Postmortem coronary angiography and microscopic examination of the SN and the perinodal area were performed in 50 heroin addicts (group 1) and in 50 nonaddicts (group 2), all men (16-40 years old).

The phenomenon of multifocality does not affect the biologic behavior of histologic prostate carcinoma.

Background: The affect of multifocality on the biologic behavior of histologic prostate carcinoma is a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to determine if tumor multifocality influences the prognosis of patients with prostatic cancer.

Material/methods: Samples consisted of 264 autopsy tissues from men older than 40 years of age and less than 98 years of age who died (between August 2002 and December 2005) of diseases other than clinically diagnosed prostate carcinoma.

Kugel's artery: an anatomical and angiographic study using a new technique.

In this study, we tried to resolve the confusion in the literature regarding the existence and course of Kugel's artery. With the aid of a new technique, we studied 100 human hearts ex vivo by radiography and by direct observation through dissection, to demonstrate anatomical and postmortem angiographic findings of Kugel's artery. Kugel's artery was found in only 6 hearts out of 100 (6%).