The present study reports the anti-allergic activity of ethanolic extract of Zizyphus jujubaMill., Rhamnaceae, and its possible mode of action. The effect of extract of Z. jujuba at different doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, orally) was simulated on studied animal models of asthma and allergy: a) milk induced eosinophilia and leukocytosis; b) compound 48/80 induced mast cell degranulation; and, c) active and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In addition, extract of Z. jujuba's effect on sensitized guinea pig ileum (ex vivo) and tracheal chain preparations (in vitro) were investigated.Treatment with extract of Z. jujuba at all doses significantly: prevented the milk-induced eosinophilia and compound 48/80 induced degranulation of mesenteric mast cells; decreased passive cutaneous and active anaphylactic reactions. In addition, extract of Z. jujuba inhibited acetylcholine as well as histamine induced tracheal chain contraction, and also antigen induced contraction of sensitized guinea pig ileum (Shultz-Dale inhibition test). Furthermore, it exhibited also free radicals scavenging activity (in vitro). The observed anti-allergic and anti-anaphylactic activity of extract of Z. jujuba may be largely through the stabilization of mast cells by the membrane presence of phytoconstituents (steroidal saponins and flavonoids).

The increasing use of invasive diagnostic and interventional procedures in cardiovascular diseases makes it important that the type and frequency of vascular variations are well documented and understood. Sound knowledge of neurovascular variations is important for surgeons who remove axillary lymph nodes, to anesthesiologists, and orthopedic surgeons, considering the frequency of procedures done in this region. An unusual variation in the branching pattern of axillary artery was observed on the left side of a 60 year old female cadaver. In the present case the course and distribution of the first and second part of the axillary artery were normal. But a rare case of unusual origin of subscapular, anterior and posterior circumflex humeral, profunda brachii artery and ulnar collateral arteries from a common trunk were found on the left side during routine dissection. This common trunk was found arising from the third part of the axillary artery and at its commencement it was found passing between the two roots of the median nerve. Cases with this kind of variations should be examined or operated carefully during surgical or electrophysiological procedures.

El incremento del uso de diagnósticos invasivos y procedimientos de intervención en las enfermedades cardiovasculares hace que sea importante que el tipo y la frecuencia de las variaciones vasculares estén bien documentados y entendidos. Un buen conocimiento de las variaciones neurovasculares es importante para los cirujanos que extirpan linfonodos axilares, para anestesiólogos y cirujanos ortopédicos, considerando la frecuencia de los procedimientos realizados en esta region. Una inusual variación en el patrón de ramificación de la arteria axilar se observó en el lado izquierdo de un cadaver de sexo femenino de 60 años de edad. En el presente caso, el curso y la distribución de la primera y segunda parte de la arteria axilar fueron normales. Sin embargo, fue encontrado en el lado izquierdo, durante la disección de rutina, un caso raro, de origen inusual, de las arterias subescapular cirunflejas humerales anterior y posterior, braquial profunda y arterias colaterales ulnares desde un tronco común. Este tronco común se encontró derivado de la tercera parte de la arteria axilar y en su comienzo se comprobó que pasaba entre las dos raíces del nervio mediano. Los casos con este tipo de variaciones deben ser examinados u operados cuidadosamente durante prodecimientos quirúrgicos o electro fisiológicos.

A rare case of additional slip in the origin of the clavicular head of sternocleidomastoid muscle was found during our routine dissection, on both sides of the neck in an elderly male cadaver. However, on both side of the same muscle no such additional slip of origin was found at the sternal head of the sternocleidomastoid near its origin nor at its insertion of the muscle

Durante una disección de rutina, fue encontrado un raro caso de un fascículo adicional en el origen de la cabeza clavicular del músculo esternocleidomastoideo, en ambos lados del cuello, en un cadáver de un anciano de sexo masculino. Sin embargo, en ambos lados, no se encontró un fascículo adicional en el origen de la cabeza esternal ni en la inserción del músculo esternocleidomastoideo

Awareness of the variations and anomalous existence of some structures serve as useful guide for both in studies of human anatomy and in clinical practice today. Identification of ectopic thyroid tissue and variations in origin, number and course of the branches of the superior thyroid artery are of significant practical importance for the general, vascular surgeons and radiologist. Angiographic images with such vascular patterns may lead to confusion in interpretation. The relations of these vessels with the other structures are important for accurate diagnostic and invasive techniques and to prevent further complications during surgical interventions. In our routine dissections with the purpose of preparation of the teaching and museum specimens, it was observed that in one of the elderly male cadaver showed median thyroid tissue at a site other than in its usual pretracheal region. It was situated in the median plane extending from the hyoid bone to the front of cricoid cartilage. Normal thyroid gland in the pretracheal region was absent. Added to this rare anomaly a vascular anomaly was found in the same ectopic thyroid tissue. Solely the superior thyroid arteries supplied this median thyroid tissue. The inferior thyroid arteries were found to be absent on both sides supplying this median thyroid tissue

Conocer la existencia de variaciones y anomalías de algunas estructuras, sirve usualmente como guía para estudios de anatomía humana y práctica clínica. La identificación de tejido tiroideo ectópico y variaciones en origen, número y curso de ramas de la arteria tiroidea superior son, por lo general, de importancia práctica significativa para cirujanos vasculares y radiólogos. Imágenes angiográficas con tales patrones vasculares pueden llevar a confusión en su interpretación. La relación de estos vasos con otras estructuras son importantes en un diagnóstico acucioso, en técnicas invasivas y para prevenir complicaciones durante intervenciones quirúrgicas. En una disección de rutina, con el propósito de preparar piezas anatómicas de museo para la enseñanza, se observó en un cadáver de sexo masculino, tejido tiroideo mediano en un sitio diferente a la región pretraqueal. Estaba situado en el plano mediano extendiéndose desde el hueso hiodes a la parte anterior del cartflago cricoides. La glándula tiroides normal en la región pretraqueal estuvo ausente. Agregada a estainusual variación, una rara anomalía vascular fue encontrada en el mismo tejido tiroideo ectópico, sólo las arterias tiroideas superiores irrigaban este tejido tiroideo mediano. No se encontraron arterias tiroideas inferiores irrigando este tejido

In routine anatomical dissections for the purpose of preparation of teaching and museum specimens, it was observed that three cadavers of elderly Trinidadian males (of African descent) showed uncommon origin and variations in the number of branches of the aortic arch.

En disecciones de rutina con el propósito de preparar la enseñanza así como especímenes de museo, se observó que tres cadáveres de hombres mayores trinitenses (de descendencia africana) mostraban un origen poco común y variaciones en el número de ramas del arco aórtico.

Foram feitos estudos de sedimentação para otimizar as condições de dispersão de suspensões aquosas de pós de alumina nanométrica com e sem dispersantes (sais de amônia de ácido poliacrílico ou rhamnolipídeos a 15%). Foram examinados diferentes dosagens de dispersante, cargas de sólidos, densidades de pasta e valores de pH. O ponto isoelétrico do pó de alumina nanométrica obtido foi pHiep = 9,2. Os experimentos mostraram que numa ampla faixa de pH e para todas as condições de carga de sólidos testadas, o ácido polimetacrílico foi mais efetivo como dispersante que o rhamnolipídeo. Os teores otimizados de dispersante para que as dispersões de alumina nanométrica atinjam estabilidade máxima, obtidos para o ácido polimetacrílico e para o rhamnolipídeo foram, respectivamente, 9,25 mg/g e 57,75 mg/g de sólidos.

Sedimentation studies have been carried out to optimize the dispersion conditions of aqueous alumina nanopowder suspensions with or without dispersants (ammonium salt of polymethacrylic acid or rhamnolipids at 15%). Different dispersant dosages, solid loadings, pulp densities and pH values were examined. The iso-electric point (IEP) of the alumina nanopowder was found to be pHiep= 9.2. The experiments revealed that the polymethacrylic acid was more effective as dispersant than rhamnolipids in a wide range of pH at all solid-loading conditions tested. Optimum dispersant dosages for polymethacrylic acid and rhamnolipids to achieve maximum stability of alumina nanodispersion at iso-electric point were found to be 9.25 mg/g and 57.75 mg/g solids, respectively.