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Although the methods for medical education continue to evolve due to the development of medicines, the cadaver dissection course still plays a fundamental role. The cadaver dissection course allows students to learn to handle instruments correctly while actively exploring three-dimensional anatomy. However, dissection comes with the risk of accidental injury. In recent years, the number of classes offered for the cadaver dissection course has decreased while the amount of knowledge required in clinical medicine has increased. Simulation-based education (SBE) has been proven to be an effective educational method that enhances the development of practical skills by integrating learners' knowledge and skills. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SBE as a preparatory education course when taken prior to a medical student's enrollment in the cadaver dissection course. In the present study, an SBE assuming practical cadaver dissection course was performed in the Clinical Simulation Center. The frequency of injury rates per 1000 h of cadaver dissection course was significantly less in 2017 and 2018 compared to that in 2016. Two years after the implementation of the SBE, average student self-efficacy scores and written examination scores significantly increased, whereas self-contentment scores were relatively unchanged. The results showed that the implementation of SBE decreased the incidence of injuries and improved students' overall self-efficacy scores and increased acquisition of knowledge evident on written examination score. Therefore, SBE as a preparatory education course may effectively promote the combined development of dissection skills and anatomical knowledge in the subsequent fundamental cadaver dissection course.

Canine oral melanoma is a highly malignant cancer with a poor prognosis. Statins, commonly used drugs for treating dyslipidemia, exhibit pleiotropic anticancer effects and marked anti‐proliferative effects against melanoma cells. The anticancer effects among statins vary; in human cancers, lipophilic statins have shown stronger anticancer effects compared with hydrophilic statins. However, data on the differences in the effects of various statins on canine cancer cells are lacking, hence the optimal statins for treating canine melanoma remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the most effective statin by comparing the anticancer effects of hydrophilic rosuvastatin and lipophilic atorvastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin and pitavastatin on three canine oral melanoma cell lines. Time‐dependent measurement of cell confluence showed that lipophilic statins had a stronger anti‐proliferative effect on all cell lines than hydrophilic rosuvastatin. Quantification of lactate dehydrogenase release, an indicator of cytotoxicity, showed that lipophilic statins more effectively induced cell death than hydrophilic rosuvastatin. Lipophilic statins affected both inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. The anticancer effects of statins on canine oral melanoma cells differed in the following ascending order of IC50 values: pitavastatin < fluvastatin = simvastatin < atorvastatin < rosuvastatin. The required concentration of pitavastatin was approximately 1/20th that of rosuvastatin. Among the statins used in this study, pitavastatin had the highest anticancer effect. Our results suggest lipophilic pitavastatin as the optimal statin for treating canine oral melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of using MyotonPRO to quantify the mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit through in vivo measurements and preliminary in situ measurements using formalin-fixed tissues. The mechanical properties of gastrocnemii and the Achilles tendon of 12 healthy adults (six males and six females, 34.9 ± 5.8 years) were examined for in vivo test twice within a day and once post-24 hours using MyotonPRO, while nine human cadavers (formalin-fixed, 3 males and 6 females, 89.9 ± 5.1 years) were assessed for preliminary in situ test with identical time schedule to evaluate the within-day and inter-day reliability and validity. In vivo tests had very high within-day (ICC: 0.96–0.99) and inter-day reliability (ICC: 0.83–0.96), while in situ tests (formalin-fixed tissues) showed high within-day (ICC: 0.87–0.99) and inter-day reliability (ICC: 0.76–0.98) for the results of tone and stiffness. There was no significant difference in the stiffness of the free part of the Achilles tendon between in vivo and in situ conditions. The stiffness of the lateral gastrocnemius (r = 0.55, p = 0.018), proximal part of the Achilles tendon (r = 0.56, p = 0.015), and free part of the Achilles tendon (r = 0.47, p = 0.048) before removing the skin was significantly correlated with that after removing the skin condition. The findings of the current study suggest that MyotonPRO is reliable and valid for evaluating tendon stiffness both in vivo and in situ (formalin-fixed tissues). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphatic venous anastomosis is associated with a low incidence of lower extremity lymphoedema-associated cellulitis; however, the exact relationship is unknown. This multicentre RCT evaluated the effect of lymphatic venous anastomosis on prevention of cellulitis. Methods: Patients with secondary lower extremity lymphoedema who underwent at least 3 months of non-operative decongestive therapy were assigned randomly to lymphatic venous anastomosis or conservative therapy. The primary and secondary outcomes were cellulitis frequency, and assessments of circumference, hardness, and pain respectively. Results: Overall, 336 patients were divided into two groups: 225 in the full-analysis set (primary outcome 225; secondary outcomes 170) and 156 in the per-protocol set (primary outcome 156; secondary outcomes 110). In both analyses, lymphatic venous anastomosis with non-operative decongestive therapy was more effective in preventing cellulitis than non-operative decongestive therapy alone; the difference between groups in reducing cellulitis frequency over 6 months was −0.35 (95 per cent c.i. −0.62 to −0.09; P = 0.010) in the full-analysis set (FAS) and −0.60 (−0.94 to −0.27; P = 0.001) in the per-protocol set (PPS) Limb circumference and pain were not significantly different, but lymphatic venous anastomosis reduced thigh area hardness (proximal medial and distal and lateral proximal). Four patients experienced contact dermatitis with non-operative decongestive therapy alone. Conclusion: Lymphatic venous anastomosis in combination with non-operative decongestive therapy prevents cellulitis. Registration number: UMIN00025137, UMIN00031462. Cellulitis in patients with lymphoedema is a factor that significantly reduces the patient's quality of life. This RCT demonstrated that lymphatic venous anastomosis surgery was more effective in reducing the incidence of cellulitis than conservative therapy. This will be useful for patients with lymphoedema and their healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter to the editor proposes a modification to the division of the orbicularis oculi muscle, which is currently divided into three parts: pre-tarsal, preseptal, and orbital. The authors suggest adding a new part called the pre-fascial part, which is located between the superior edge of the tarsal plate and the confluent line between the levator aponeurosis and the orbital septum. This new part plays a significant role in creating a higher natural eyelid crease and is relevant to double eyelid surgery. The authors express their gratitude to body donors and report no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]