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Hands-on courses utilizing preserved human tissues for educational training offer an important pathway to acquire basic anatomical knowledge. Owing to the reevaluation of formaldehyde limits by the European Commission, a joint approach was chosen by the German-speaking anatomies in Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to find commonalities among embalming protocols and infrastructure. A survey comprising 537 items was circulated to all anatomies in German-speaking Europe. Clusters were established for "ethanol"-, formaldehyde-based ("FA"), and "other" embalming procedures, depending on the chemicals considered the most relevant for each protocol. The logistical framework, volumes of chemicals, and infrastructure were found to be highly diverse between the groups and protocols. Formaldehyde quantities deployed per annum were three-fold higher in the "FA" (223 L/a) compared to the "ethanol" (71.0 L/a) group, but not for "other" (97.8 L/a), though the volumes injected per body were similar. "FA" was strongly related to table-borne air ventilation and total fixative volumes =1000 L. "Ethanol" was strongly related to total fixative volumes >1000 L, ceiling- and floor-borne air ventilation, and explosion-proof facilities. Air ventilation was found to be installed symmetrically in the mortuary and dissection facilities. Certain predictors exist for the interplay between the embalming used in a given infrastructure and technical measures. The here-established cluster analysis may serve as decision supportive tool when considering altering embalming protocols or establishing joint protocols between institutions, following a best practice approach to cater toward best-suited tissue characteristics for educational purposes, while simultaneously addressing future demands on exposure limits.

Transient receptor potential channel canonical 5 (TRPC5) is a non-selective ion channel; ion influx through TRPC5 causes activation of downstream signaling pathways. In addition, TRPC5 has been identified as having a potential role in pathological processes, particularly in diseases caused by cellular cation homeostasis dysregulation, such as bronchial asthma or pulmonary hypertension. However, the expression and distribution of TRPC5 in the human lung remain unclear. To date, TRPC5 has only been detected in a few cell types in the human lung, such as airway, pulmonary venous and arterial smooth muscle cells. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the protein expression of TRPC5 in the human lung and to evaluate its histological distribution. Human lung samples were obtained from six preserved body donors. After processing, both hematoxylin & eosin staining, as well as immunohistochemistry were performed. Microscopic analysis revealed medium to strong immunostaining signals in all lung structures examined, including the pleura, pulmonary arteries and veins, bronchioles, alveolar septa, type 1 and 2 pneumocytes, as well as alveolar macrophages. Current research suggests that TRPC5 may be involved in various pathological processes in the human lung and some pharmacological compounds have already been identified that affect the function of TRPC5. Therefore, TRPC5 may present a novel drug target for therapeutic intervention in various lung diseases. The results of the present study indicate that the TRPC5 protein is expressed in all examined histological structures of the human lung. These findings suggest that TRPC5 may be more important for physiological cell function and pathophysiological cell dysfunction in the lung than is currently known. Further research is needed to explore the role and therapeutic target potential of TRPC5 in the human lung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During routine dissections of cadavers as part of the medical curriculum, we identified a rare unilateral variation in the brachial plexus on the right side of a female body donor. This variation consisted of four unusual changes to the regular pattering of nerve bundles and the dorsal scapular artery permeating the complex neural network. The variation included contributions of root C4 to the plexus by a root C4/C5 anastomosis, a rare fusion of the superior and middle trunks to a 'superomiddle' trunk, a preliminary, proximal branching of the suprascapular nerve off the C5 root. We further observed an accessory 'medial anterior division' branching off the fused upper and middle trunks merging with the anterior division of the inferior trunk forming the medial cord. The latter event potentially introduced nerve fibers from C5 to C7, which are absent in common patterns. We aim to relate these observations to previous categorizations and quantifications of brachial plexus patterns. We believe that the combination of different variations in this case resulted in a unique pattern. Since this observation was made in the dissection class, we further aim to raise awareness among medical students and anatomical instructors for the likelihood of variations to textbook patterns. This will hopefully foster an appreciation of uniqueness and individuality in the interaction with future patients demonstrating that proper preparation prior to surgical interventions is always a necessary prerequisite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient receptor potential canonical sub-family channel 3 (TRPC3) is considered to play a critical role in calcium homeostasis. However, there are no established findings in this respect with regard to TRPC6. Although the parathyroid gland is a crucial organ in calcium household regulation, little is known about the protein distribution of TRPC channels—especially TRPC3 and TRPC6—in this organ. Our aim was therefore to investigate the protein expression profile of TRPC3 and TRPC6 in healthy and diseased human parathyroid glands. Surgery samples from patients with healthy parathyroid glands and from patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) were investigated by immunohistochemistry using knockout-validated antibodies against TRPC3 and TRPC6. A software-based analysis similar to an H-score was performed. For the first time, to our knowledge, TRPC3 and TRPC6 protein expression is described here in the parathyroid glands. It is found in both chief and oxyphilic cells. Furthermore, the TRPC3 staining score in diseased tissue (pHPT) was statistically significantly lower than that in healthy tissue. In conclusion, TRPC3 and TRPC6 proteins are expressed in the human parathyroid gland. Furthermore, there is strong evidence indicating that TRPC3 plays a role in pHPT and subsequently in parathyroid hormone secretion regulation. These findings ultimately require further research in order to not only confirm our results but also to further investigate the relevance of these channels and, in particular, that of TRPC3 in the aforementioned physiological functions and pathophysiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Flexor hallucis longus (FHL) transfer is a well-established method for treating chronic Achilles tendon ruptures and tendinopathy. Harvesting of the FHL tendon in zone 2 results in greater length but is also associated with an increased risk of injury to the medial plantar nerve and requires an additional plantar incision. Because of the anatomic proximity of the FHL tendon to the tibial neurovascular bundle in zone 2, the purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of vascular or nerve injury with arthroscopic assisted percutaneous tenotomy in zone 2 of the FHL tendon. Methods: Endoscopically assisted percutaneous FHL transfer was performed on 10 right lower extremities from 10 cadaveric human specimens. The FHL tendon lengths and the relationship between FHL tendon and the tibial neurovascular bundle at zone 2 was analyzed. Results: We observed a complete transection of the medial plantar nerve in 1 case (10%). The mean length of the FHL tendon was 54.7 ± 9.5 mm and the mean distance from the distal stump of the FHL tendon to local neurovascular structures was 1.3 ± 0.7 mm. Conclusion: There is a risk of neurovascular injury after endoscopic FHL tenotomy in zone 2. The tenotomy site is within 2 mm of the local neurovascular structures in the majority of cases. The additional length gained from this technique is unlikely to be required for the majority of FHL tendon transfer procedures. If additional length is needed, we would recommend the use of intraoperative ultrasonography or a mini-open approach to minimize injury risk. Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Revision hip arthroplasty presents a surgical challenge, necessitating meticulous preoperative planning to avert complications like periprosthetic fractures and aseptic loosening. Historically, assessment of the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) versus two-dimensional (2D) templating has focused exclusively on primary hip arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we examined the accuracy of 3D templating for acetabular revision cups in 30 patients who underwent revision hip arthroplasty. Utilizing computed tomography scans of the patients' pelvis and 3D templates of the implants (Aesculap Plasmafit, B. Braun; Aesculap Plasmafit Revision, B. Braun; Avantage Acetabular System, Zimmerbiomet, EcoFit 2M, Implantcast; Tritanium Revision, Stryker), we performed 3D templating and positioned the acetabular cup implants accordingly. To evaluate accuracy, we compared the planned sizes of the acetabular cups in 2D and 3D with the sizes implanted during surgery. Results: An analysis was performed to examine potential influences on templating accuracy, specifically considering factors such as gender and body mass index (BMI). Significant statistical differences (p < 0.001) in the accuracy of size prediction were observed between 3D and 2D templating. Personalized 3D templating exhibited an accuracy rate of 66.7% for the correct prediction of the size of the acetabular cup, while 2D templating achieved an exact size prediction in only 26.7% of cases. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2D and 3D templating methods regarding gender or BMI. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that 3D templating improves the accuracy of predicting acetabular cup sizes in revision arthroplasty when compared to 2D templating. However, it should be noted that the predicted implant size generated through 3D templating tended to overestimate the implanted implant size by an average of 1.3 sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]