Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 by anatomical embalming solutions

Teaching and learning anatomy by using human cadaveric specimens has been a foundation of medical and biomedical teaching for hundreds of years. Therefore, the majority of institutions that teach topographical anatomy rely on body donation programmes to provide specimens for both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of gross anatomy. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to anatomy teaching because of the suspension of donor acceptance at most institutions. This was largely due to concerns about the potential transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the absence of data about the ability of embalming solutions to neutralise the virus. Twenty embalming solutions commonly used in institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland were tested for their ability to neutralise SARS-CoV-2, using an established cytotoxicity assay. All embalming solutions tested neutralised SARS-CoV-2, with the majority of solutions being effective at high-working dilutions. These results suggest that successful embalming with the tested solutions can neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus, thereby facilitating the safe resumption of body donation programmes and cadaveric anatomy teaching.     

Three dimensional analysis of microaneurysms in the human diabetic retina

The retinal vasculature of postmortem normal human and diabetic eyes was studied using an immunohistochemical technique in conjunction with confocal laser scanning microscopy. The technique, which stained for von Willebrand factor, allowed both large areas of the retinal vasculature to be visualised and abnormalities to be studied in detail without disturbing the tissue architecture. Only one microaneurysm, defined as any focal capillary dilation, was observed in 10 normal eyes but numerous microaneurysms were seen in 4 out of 5 diabetic retinas; counts varied between 0 and 26 per 0.41 mm² sample area. Microaneurysms were classified into 3 categories according to morphology: saccular, fusiform and focal bulges. Most were saccular, these having no preferred orientation. The majority of microaneurysms were associated with just 2 vessels suggesting they were unlikely to develop at vascular junctions. The majority were observed to originate from the inner nuclear layer and were therefore in the deeper part of the inner retinal capillary plexus. Variation in the staining of microaneurysms may correlate with endothelial dysfunction seen clinically as dye leakage during fluorescein angiography.     

EFFECT OF BILIARY EXCRETION ON KETAMINE ANAESTHESIA IN THE RAT

Ligation of the common bile duct in rats resulted in a significantprolongation of ketamine sleeping time and a significant increaseof plasma concentration of ketamine and its N-demethylated metabolite,when compared with sham-operated control animals. The treatedanimals also showed significant increases of plasma bilirubinand glutamate pyruvate transaminase. Cannulation of the commonbile duct in rats allowed collection of samples of bile whichshowed high concentrations of ketamine and its N-demethylatedmetabolite very shortly after i.p. injection of ketamine, theamount of ketamine alone accounting for 10% of the injecteddose after 2 h; including the metabolite up to 25% of the injecteddose could be accounted for. In view of this we would suggestthat ligation of the bile duct in rats produced a prolongationof ketamine anaesthesia by increasing plasma concentrationsthrough interference with a major excretory route for the drugand its main metabolite.     

视网膜色素上皮、Bruch膜及脉络膜老年性改变的定量分析

目的 研究及定量分析视网膜色素上皮（retinal pigment epithelium,RPE)、Bruch膜及脉络膜的老年性改变。方法 应用改良Masson三色组织染色法及电脑图像分析软件对36例不同年龄(3～93岁)正常眼RPE数量和高度、Bruch膜厚度、脉络膜毛细血管的密度及脉络膜厚度的老年性改变进行定量分析。 结果 与年龄有显著相关性的老年性改变包括RPE细胞数量的减少(8个/ mm²·年)、RPE细胞高度的增加(0.01μm/年) 以及Bruch膜增厚(0.02μm/年);脉络膜毛细血管密度及脉络膜厚度的改变与年龄之间无显著的相关关系。 结论 RPE细胞数量减少、高度增加以及Bruch膜的增厚可能是黄斑区最早的老年性改变。(中华眼底病杂志,2000,16:236-239)     

The management of the patient with abnormal vaginal cytology following hysterectomy

Summary. Thirty-two patients presenting with abnormal vaginal cytology following hysterectomy were studied. Seven (21·8%) had had hysterectomy for benign conditions whilst 25 (78·1%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or invasive cervical carcinoma. Twenty-five patients had partial or total vaginectomy (15 as the primary procedure), and one required laser treatment following vaginectomy. Of 11 (34·3%) patients treated primarily by laser, five subsequently required vaginectomy because of persistent or recurrent cytological abnormality. All four patients treated with topical 5-fluorouracil or dinitrochlorobenzene subsequently required surgery. Nine of the 32 patients (28·1%) proved to have invasive carcinoma of the vagina on histological examination of the vaginectomy specimen. At the time of writing all patients in the study are well with no evidence of disease.