Prevalence of Galen's anastomosis: an anatomical and comparative study

An anatomical study of 50 fresh adult human cadavers was performed in order to verify prevalence of Galen's anastomosis (GA) and to evaluate whether factors such as gender, ethnicity, side of the neck, and individual stature may interfere with GA prevalence. The results were analysed using the Chi-square test, Student t-test, and F-Snedecor test. GA was observed in 87 of 100 dissections. There was no statistically significant difference regarding GA prevalence between groups separated by ethnicity (p = 0.853), gender (p = 0.198), side of the neck (p = 0.766), or individual height (p = 0.199). Therefore, the GA was a frequent anatomical finding, and this result was not influenced by any studied factor. Comparing our data with previous studies, we also concluded that the GA seems to play an important role in the innervation of the larynx, even though its function remains unclear. Also, it is reasonable to consider GA a constant anatomical constituent.     

Uredinorubellins and caeruleoramularin, photodynamically active anthraquinone derivatives produced by two species of the genus ramularia

Both the phytopathogenic fungus Ramularia collo-cygni and the hyperparasite R. uredinicola biosynthesize a number of red and yellow anthraquinone derivatives called rubellins. The new compounds uredinorubellins I and II, which were isolated from R. uredinicola, contribute to understanding the biosynthesis pathway that leads from simple anthraquinones to the rubellins. In addition, we isolated for the first time such simple compounds as chrysophanol and helminthsporin from both Ramularia species. A blue compound isolated from the mycelium of R. collo-cygni was revealed to be a unique 9,4-anthracenedione derivative. Structure elucidation by (1)H and (13)C NMR of the new but unstable compound caeruleoramularin was possible only by feeding the fungus different labeled (13)C acetates. The photodynamic activity of the uredinorubellins was comparable to rubellin D, whereas chrysophanol and caeruleoramularin did not display such activity.     

Lessons learned from four advanced abdominal pregnancies at an East African Health Center

AIMS: To analyze diagnosis and treatment of four advanced abdominal pregnancies in a low-resource setting of a developing country. METHODS: Extrauterine pregnancies occurring between 1997 and 2003 were identified from hospital records of the Mikumi Health Center in Tanzania/East Africa. RESULTS: A total of 45 extrauterine pregnancies were diagnosed four of which were advanced and located in the abdominal cavity. At the time of diagnosis, pregnancies were at 33, 34, 36 and 39 weeks of gestation, respectively. All four mothers survived but three of four fetuses died. One child is alive and well three years after delivery. CONCLUSION: Abdominal pregnancy is rather difficult to detect in a low-resource setting of a developing country. Persistent abdominal pain and tenderness, as well as fetal movements in the upper abdomen associated with abnormal fetal lie, may lead to its diagnosis. Localizing the fetal heart sounds in the maternal epigastrium especially in patients with abdominal pain may also be helpful in diagnosing an abdominal pregnancy. In addition, the lack of cervical changes or a displaced cervix should lead to the suspicion of an abdominal pregnancy.