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Background: The foramen transversarium is a vital anatomical structure found in the cervical vertebrae of the spine. Typically, it serves as a passageway for important neurovascular structures, including the vertebral artery and vein, as well as the vertebral nerve. However, abnormal calcification or ossification of soft tissues in and around this area can lead to various clinical implications. Understanding the presence and implications of abnormal ossified structures in and around the foramen transversarium is crucial for clinicians involved in the diagnosis and management of cervical spine disorders., Aims: Accordingly, this present study was designed to evaluate the abnormal ossified structures anatomically and radiologically within and around the foramen transversarium., Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 182 (26 sets of cervical vertebrae) dried human cervical vertebrae obtained from the respective departments of anatomy and on 190 (95 males and 95 females) adult patients who visited the radiology department for neck-related problems such as stiff neck, neck/shoulder pain, dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, visual disturbances, and cognitive impairment., Results: Among 182 examined cervical vertebrae, unilateral complete accessory foramen transversarium was found in 23 vertebrae (12.63%), bilateral complete in 19 (10.44%), bilateral incomplete in 6 (3.29%), unilateral complete double in 4 (2.19%), and unilateral complete absence of foramen transversarium in 3 (1.64%). Stenosis due to aberrant osteophytes was noted in 9 vertebrae (4.9%). Out of 190 patients, three males presented with cervical kyphosis, severe spinal canal stenosis, and spinal cord compression due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and osteophyte complexes at C3-C6, with the most significant compression at C5-C6., Conclusion: A thorough understanding of abnormal ossifications in and around the foramen transversarium is crucial for the management of cervical spine disorders; imaging modalities such as X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are crucial for recognizing and intervening in these cases, which is essential to prevent adverse neurological outcomes associated with vertebral artery involvement., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Annals of African Medicine.)

There are various herbicides which were used in the agriculture industry. Atrazine (ATZ) is a chlorinated triazine herbicide that consists of a ring structure, known as the triazine ring, along with a chlorine atom and five nitrogen atoms. ATZ is a water-soluble herbicide, which makes it capable of easily infiltrating into majority of the aquatic ecosystems. There are reports of toxic effects of ATZ on different systems of the body but, unfortunately, majority of these scientific reports were documented in animals. The herbicide was reported to enter the body through various routes. The toxicity of the herbicide can cause deleterious effects on the respiratory, reproductive, endocrine, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems of the human body. Alarmingly, few studies in industrial workers showed ATZ exposure leading to cancer. We embarked on the present review to discuss the mechanism of action of ATZ toxicity for which there is no specific antidote or drug. Evidence-based published literature on the effective use of natural products such as lycopene, curcumin, Panax ginseng , Spirulina platensis , Fucoidans, vitamin C, soyabeans, quercetin, L-carnitine, Telfairia occidentalis , vitamin E, Garcinia kola , melatonin, selenium, Isatis indigotica , polyphenols, Acacia nilotica , and Zingiber officinale were discussed in detail. In the absence of any particular allopathic drug, the present review may open the doors for future drug design involving the natural products and their active compounds.