Muscular Region Research Articles

Unusual body division and epithelium structure in unusual phoronid Phoronis embryolabi

Phoronida is a small phylum of benthic marine invertebrates that can occur in large numbers globally. The study of phoronid morphology and anatomy is important for understanding phoronid biology and the function of benthic communities dominated by phoronids. Because all phoronids are tube-living animals, the study of the morphology and ultrastructure of the body wall is an important step toward understanding the processes of the tube formation, growth, and renovation. This study used epoxy histology, scanning and transmission electron microscopy to describe the body regionalization and ultrastructure of the body wall epithelium of the unusual Phoronis embryolabi, which lives as a commensal in burrows of digging shrimps. The trunk of P. embryolabi consists of 8 zones, which are clearly distinguishable in living individuals. These zones are as follows: long head region, median sphincter with its three different parts (waist, upper and lower), muscular region, reproductive region, zone 7, and ampulla. Such body division can correlate with specificity of life style of P. embryolabi. The ultrastructure of the epithelium of all zones differ from each other in thickness, set and abundance of gland cells, structure of the extracellular matrix that underlies the epithelium, and abundance of neurites. The capacity and distribution of glandular cells correlate with tube formation and remodelling. Bacteria of two different types are described along body wall of all parts of the trunk; reciprocally advantageous phoronid-bacteria interaction is suggested. Our data suggest that P. embryolabi is able to build the tube at the anterior end rather than at the posterior end, as previously suggested for other phoronid species. At the same time, the certain mechanism of phoronid tube growth and remodelling is still unknown for phoronids as well as for many other tube-living invertebrates.

Pattern Recognition of EMG Signals by Machine Learning for the Control of a Manipulator Robot

Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) principles are for the development of interfaces for assistance or support systems in physiotherapy or rehabilitation processes. One of the main problems is the degree of customization when applying some rehabilitation therapy or when adapting an assistance system to the individual characteristics of the users. To solve this inconvenience, it is proposed to implement a database of surface Electromyography (sEMG) of a channel in healthy individuals for pattern recognition through Neural Networks of contraction in the muscular region of the biceps brachii. Each movement is labeled using the One-Hot Encoding technique, which activates a state machine to control the position of an anthropomorphic manipulator robot and validate the response time of the designed HMI. Preliminary results show that the learning curve decreases when customizing the interface. The developed system uses muscle contraction to direct the position of the end effector of a virtual robot. The classification of Electromyography (EMG) signals is obtained to generate trajectories in real time by designing a test platform in LabVIEW.

Evaluation of efficiency and safety of muscular region's acupuncture treatments for knee osteoarthritis: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background:As a chronic degenerative disease, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is mainly characterized by loose ligaments around the knee joint, degeneration of cartilage in the knee joint, and atrophy of surrounding muscles. According to related investigations, the incidence of knee osteoarthritis in China is 8.1%, of which 10.3% are women and 5.7% are men. Therefore, in order to improve the therapeutic effect of KOA, we must constantly explore new ways to treat the disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture with needle knife, blade needle, long-round needle, fire needle, micro-needle knife with conventional acupuncture intervention in KOA.Methods:Computer search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wangfang, and VIP database, search for randomized controlled trials of muscular region's acupuncture therapy on KOA, the search time limit is to build the database until July 9, 2021. To ensure the comprehensiveness of the search, relevant references and conference literature are also included. After 2 researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies, the Stata 14.0 software was used for data analysis.Results:The effectiveness and safety of muscular region's acupuncture in the treatment of patients with KOA will be systematically evaluated.Conclusion:The results of this study will provide strong evidence to determine whether muscular region's acupuncture is effective in the treatment of KOA.Registration number:INPLASY202170031 (https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-7-0031/)

Probing an AI regression model for hand bone age determination using gradient-based saliency mapping

Understanding how a neural network makes decisions holds significant value for users. For this reason, gradient-based saliency mapping was tested on an artificial intelligence (AI) regression model for determining hand bone age from X-ray radiographs. The partial derivative (PD) of the inferred age with respect to input image intensity at each pixel served as a saliency marker to find sensitive areas contributing to the outcome. The mean of the absolute PD values was calculated for five anatomical regions of interest, and one hundred test images were evaluated with this procedure. The PD maps suggested that the AI model employed a holistic approach in determining hand bone age, with the wrist area being the most important at early ages. However, this importance decreased with increasing age. The middle section of the metacarpal bones was the least important area for bone age determination. The muscular region between the first and second metacarpal bones also exhibited high PD values but contained no bone age information, suggesting a region of vulnerability in age determination. An end-to-end gradient-based saliency map can be obtained from a black box regression AI model and provide insight into how the model makes decisions.

Efficacy of dry needling in TMD treatment: clinical case report

The purpose of this article is to report a clinical case of a patient with TMD, evaluating the efficacy of dry needling as a treatment. The study was carried out in a dental clinic of higher education, where the evaluation of the patient was performed in order to conclude a correct diagnosis complementing with the use of dry needling. Patient, female, 38 years old, reported pain throughout the muscular region of the face, where it was more pronounced in the parotid-massometric region, with spreading to the temporal region. After performing the evaluation in addition to the percussion and palpation tests, the patient was diagnosed with spreading myofascial pain, in addition to headache attributed to TMD bilaterally. As a therapeutic approach, the dry needling technique was performed, in addition to the orientation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, since the patient reported having parafunctional habits. The techniques used produced an effective improvement to the patient, where the patient reports a relief of the muscular pains when performing the dry needling.

A Global Perspective of Muscular System Coverage in Undergraduate Human Anatomy and Anatomy & Physiology Courses: General Instructional Trends in Muscular System Coverage

There is a widely variable breadth of coverage of anatomical content across undergraduate human anatomy courses. A previous study by Saladin (2008) assessed muscle coverage in undergraduate anatomy courses, but the sample size was about 20 individuals who self‐reported their data in response to a listserv question. Thus, a larger, more representative sample was required to be able to assess more accurately the variation among these courses. In response to the need for a more global understanding of the content taught in undergraduate anatomy courses, we prepared a muscular system survey where human Anatomy (or Anatomy & Physiology) faculty could report the extent to which they discuss skeletal muscles in these classes. The survey also collected demographic institutional data such as the type of institution (community college versus 4‐year), course format, and geographic location of the undergraduate institution, so comparisons could be made. The muscular system coverage survey was created and administered to participants online via Qualtrics. Muscles that were surveyed were those listed and described in a typical undergraduate human anatomy text (Human Anatomy, 5th edition textbook by McKinley, O'Loughlin, and Pennefather‐O'Brien (2017)). Participants were recruited via a poster presentation at HAPS 2018 and recruitment emails sent out through AAA, HAPS and AACA listservs. The survey has been examined and the study deemed exempt by Indiana University IRB ‐ Protocol # 1805378498. All data was de‐identified prior to analysis. The data indicated some interesting instructional trends regarding muscular system coverage. First, the identification of specific muscles and their actions are taught at a higher frequency than the teaching of either attachments or innervation. Innervation of specific muscles is the least taught concept across all assessed regions. In each muscular region, certain muscles were taught with higher frequency than others and that is demarcated on the graphs of the poster. This research shows there is a global trend in teaching identification of specific muscles within each region of the human body and often this is accompanied by teaching actions of said muscles. These general instructional trends may increase our understanding of the anatomical education undergraduate students are receiving and will lead to further critical conversations about content development and curriculum.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Enhanced taxane uptake into bladder tissues following co-administration with either mitomycin C, doxorubicin or gemcitabine: association to exfoliation processes.

To investigate the effect of three anticancer drugs (mitomycin c (MMC), doxorubicin or gemcitabine) on bladder wall morphology and the uptake of paclitaxel or docetaxel following coadministration. The primary objective of this study was to measure the uptake of MMC, doxorubicin or gemcitabine with or without exposure of the tissue to amine terminated cationic nanoparticles (CNPs) and to investigate any possible exfoliation effects of the three drugs on intact bladder tissue. The secondary objective was to investigate the uptake of taxane drugs (docetaxel, DTX) and paclitaxel, (PTX) from surfactant micelle formulations in the presence of MMC, doxorubicin or gemcitabine. Sections of fresh pig bladder tissue were incubated in Franz diffusion cells with the urothelial side exposed to solutions of doxorubicin, MMC and gemcitabine containing radioactive drug for 90min. Some tissue samples were simultaneously exposed to each of the three drugs in combination with the surfactant micelle formulations of PTX (Taxol) or DTX (Taxotere). Tissue sections were then cryostat sectioned for drug quantitation by liquid scintillation counting or fixed for scanning electron microscopy and haematoxylin and eosin staining. All three drugs caused exfoliation of the urothelial layer of bladder tissues. Drug uptake studies showed that all three drugs effectively penetrated the lamina propria through to the muscular layer over a 2-h incubation and these levels were unaffected by pre-treatment with CNPs. The uptake levels of the taxane drugs PTX and DTX were significantly enhanced following simultaneous treatment of bladders with MMC, doxorubicin or gemcitabine. The exfoliation effects of MMC, doxorubicin and gemcitabine allow for good tissue penetration of these drugs with no additional effect from CNP treatment of bladders. The observed exfoliation effect of these amine-containing drugs probably arises from a cationic interaction with the mucus and urothelium cell layer in a manner similar to that previously reported for CNPs. These studies suggest that the lack of long-term clinical efficacy of these drugs may not arise from poor intravesical drug penetration but may result from a rapid diffusion of the drugs into the deeper vascularised muscular region with rapid drug clearance. The enhanced uptake of PTX or DTX following co-administration with MMC, doxorubicin or gemcitabine probably arises from the removal of the urothelial barrier by exfoliation allowing for improved taxane partitioning into superficial layers. These effects may allow for dual drug intravesical strategies offering greatly improved taxane uptake and potential additive drug effects for improved efficacy.

Diversity in Myosin Heavy Chain Composition of the Papionin Masseter Muscle Indicates the Importance of Hybrid Phenotypes for Feeding

The contractile performance of a muscle fiber is directly related to fiber type. Variation in fiber type within and among muscles leads to a diversity of phenotypes, providing the flexibility needed to perform an assortment of behaviors with varying functional demands. Previous analyses have demonstrated variation in fiber phenotype of the chewing muscles in a number of primates and nonprimate mammals. Some of this variation has been linked to species‐specific feeding behaviors. To further evaluate the relationship between fiber phenotype and feeding behavior, we compare the distribution of masseter muscle fiber types in four papionin species: the hard‐object feeding sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) and three papionin species that do not specialize on hard objects.Immunohistological staining was used to determine the presence of slow (MyHC‐1 and MyHC α –cardiac) and fast (MyHC‐2 and MyHC‐M) isoforms. Samples were taken from the anterior superficial masseter of C. atys (n=8), M. mulatta (n=2), M. fascicularis (n=2), and P. anubis (n=2). Histological sections were subsequently digitized to determine the relative proportions of MyHC types and fiber phenotype in each specimen.The presence of MyHC α‐cardiac was ubiquitous throughout the sample (C. atys=99%; M. mulatta=76%; M. fascicularis=77%; P. anubis=79%). MyHC α‐cardiac maintains fatigue resistance while producing twitch tension more rapidly than MyHC‐1, thus providing an advantage for animals that require a fiber phenotype combining fatigue resistance and intermediate speed of contraction. Previously, we reported high proportions of MyHC α‐cardiac in C. atys, which we functionally linked to the need for sustained and repetitive high bite forces required for crushing hard seeds. Our finding that C. atys consistently express a higher percentage of MyHC α‐cardiac in comparison to the other papionins further supports this interpretation. The presence of hybrid fibers in all four papionin species was notable. Slow types MyHC‐1 and MyHC α‐cardiac were co‐expressed in nearly 100% of fibers sampled in each of the species. Hybrid fibers co‐expressing slow and fast‐type phenotypes were also prevalent. The abundance of hybrid fibers across papionins suggests a shared fiber phenotype that provides for versatility in the contractile properties of the anterior superficial masseter, a muscular region that must meet diverse performance requirements. This initial work is part of a larger ongoing study to assess jaw‐muscle fiber phenotype in non‐human primates. Future analyses will include larger samples and a greater diversity of species to enable us to test key functional hypotheses about fiber type diversity in primates.Support or Funding InformationFunded in part by National Science Foundation Grants (BCS 1719743, BCS 0962677, BCS 0095522) and Yerkes National Primate Research Center Base Grant ORIP/OD P51OD011132 and the Comparative AIDS CoreThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Cyanosis in a calf with a double outlet right ventricle

A 4-day-old female Holstein Friesian calf was presented for evaluation of cyanosis and dyspnea. On auscultation, severe bronchovesicular sounds and a systolic heart murmur of grade IV/VI above the tricuspid valve were found. On echocardiography, a marked dextroposition of the aorta (>50% originating from the right ventricle), leading to both great arteries arising from the right ventricle - a so-called double-outlet right ventricle - was detected. Two ventricular septal defects were present, one in the perimembranous, subpulmonary region, the other non-committed in the muscular region. The subpulmonary ventricular septal defect was responsible for the shunting of unoxygenated blood into the aorta. Additionally, an aneurysma-like atrial septal defect (type secundum) and a large patent ductus arteriosus were visualized. The main pulmonary artery was severely enlarged without the presence of a stenotic defect. The findings could be verified by angiography. Additionally, a diffuse hypoplastic ascending aorta was visualized. Necropsy confirmed the echocardiographic and angiographic findings.

Muscular Movement Model-Based Automatic 3D/4D Facial Expression Recognition

Facial expression is an important channel for human nonverbal communication. This paper presents a novel and effective approach to automatic 3D/4D facial expression recognition based on the muscular movement model (MMM). In contrast to most of existing methods, the MMM deals with such an issue in the viewpoint of anatomy. It first automatically segments the input 3D face (frame) by localizing the corresponding points within each muscular region of the reference using iterative closest normal point. A set of features with multiple differential quantities, including coordinate, normal, values, are then extracted to describe the geometry deformation of each segmented region. Meanwhile, we analyze the importance of these muscular areas, and a score level fusion strategy is exploited to optimize their weights by the genetic algorithm in the learning step. The support vector machine and the hidden Markov model are finally used to predict the expression label in 3D and 4D, respectively. The experiments are conducted on the BU-3DFE and BU-4DFE databases, and the results achieved clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The clinical anatomy of the musculotendinous part of the diaphragm.

The thoracoabdominal diaphragm is a composite musculotendinous structure, separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Reemphasis of the already well-delineated variations of the muscular and tendinous portions, and blood and nerve supply of the diaphragm is becoming apparent. Scientific reports concerning reconstruction of the pericardium, activation of the muscle and the phrenic nerves by use of laparoscopically placed intramuscular electrodes, and repair of congenital and traumatic hernias reemphasize the importance of the muscular to tendinous relationships. The objective of this study, therefore, was to measure the ratio of the surface area of the tendinous central region to the muscular region of the diaphragm and provide a clear description across various specimens. We classified diaphragmatic measurements from 104 adult human diaphragms into six classes (I-VI) based on the ratio of surface area between its tendinous and muscular components. The majority of specimens, 56.7%, was attributed to class II and indicated a tendon-to-muscle ratio of between 10 and 15%; however, a small number of specimens indicated a very large tendon area at the expense of muscle bulk. Future research should be geared toward assessing the relationship between surface area of the musculature and its motor points with focus on interventions for herniation repair and recovery. Our results have shown that surgical interventions should be tailored to the individual, as diaphragm size may not necessarily predict tendon-to-muscle ratio.

A study on assessment of the length of styloid process in digital panoramic radiographs

Introduction: The styloid process (SP) is an anatomical structure whose clinical importance is not well understood. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to study the type of SP as per Langlais' classification and to assess the feasibility of digital panoramic radiographs in measuring the length of SP. Materials and Methods: Eighty digital panoramic radiographs of patients with dental problems were retrieved from archives of our department as soft copies. The radiographs were taken using a digital panoramic system. The radiographic length of SP was measured on both sides using measurement toolbars on accompanying analysis software. The type of elongation patterns of SP was classified as per Langlais' classification. Finally, the data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The average length of the left and right side SPs was 29.1882 ± 6.86 and 28.16 ± 6.44, respectively. Majority of patients were found to be asymptomatic, and Langlais' Type I elongated SP was more common than others. Conclusion: Digital panoramic radiographs are valuable tools in early detection of elongated SP. Digital radiographs help in avoiding a misdiagnosis of tonsillar pain or pain of dental, pharyngeal, or muscular region.

Histology and Histometric Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System of Bat (Eidolon helvum)

The male reproductive system of fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) was studied histologically using light microscope. Thirty males (17 adults and 13 juveniles) were captured using net, weighed, aged using relative ossification of the wing bone, and dissected and reproductive tissue was processed for histomorphometry. On the basis of histological sections, the structures of a pair of testis containing the seminiferous tubules of adults were compacted in organization with spermatogenic cells. The epididymis has a thinner muscular region than the vas deferens with longitudinal folds on the mucosal lining. Two portions were observed in the prostate gland, while seminal vesicle has numerous trabeculae and bulbourethral gland was observed to have multiacini. There was increase in thickness of muscular region, epithelial height, and luminal diameter of epididymis and vas deferens between adults and juveniles. This work has documented the histology of the male reproductive system in bats, and ultrastructure and histochemistry are recommended for further insight into the reproductive biology.

Ultrastructure of the digestive system and experimental study of feeding in the monogenean skin and fin parasite Macrogyrodactylus congolensis

In the present study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to study the ultrastructure of the digestive system, namely the pharynx, oesophageal glands and intestine, of the monogenean skin and fin parasite Macrogyrodactylus congolensis. The pharynx consists of an anterior highly muscular region and a posterior mainly glandular syncytial region. The anterior region is provided with six pharyngeal papillae, the centre of each of which is occupied by electron dense secretory bodies, identical with those in the posterior region of the pharynx. The intestine has an uninterrupted syncytial gastrodermis and the luminal surface is provided with many unbranched lamellae. The intestine of living specimens contains large and small granules which give it a reddish brown colour. Large particles, presumed to be lipid droplets, and small granules, presumed to be melanin granules, were found in the gastrodermis and in the intestinal lumen. Parasites were induced to feed and then preserved for TEM at the following intervals: just after feeding, 30 min after feeding, 1 h 30 min after feeding and 2 h after feeding. The specimens were then processed for TEM and sections cut through the intestine of each specimen were examined with the transmission electron microscope. Three types of vacuoles (V1, V2, V3) were detected in the gastrodermis. Vacuoles V1 have thick walls and are likely to be endocytotic, enclosing luminal contents at the surface of the gastrodermis. V2 vacuoles may be lysosomes that fuse with V1 vacuoles. V3 vacuoles may serve to dispose of residual digestive material into the lumen.

Alterations in the large peripheral circulation in dogs with heart failure

The femoral artery is responsible for perfusion of a large muscular region that can be involved in the exercise intolerance shown by dogs with spontaneous heart failure. The objective of the present study was to evaluate blood flow in the femoral artery by transcutaneous duplex Doppler ultrasonography (TDU) in 50 healthy dogs and 50 dogs with spontaneous heart failure. The group of dogs with heart disease was divided according to the functional class of the heart failure. The TDU measurements were: peak systolic velocity (PSV), early retrograde (EDV) and end diastolic velocities (EnDV), mean velocity (MV), pulsatility index (PI), resistivity index (RI) and femoral flow volume (FFV). In healthy dogs, PSV and FFV were significantly higher than in dogs with heart disease. FFV was reduced mainly in patients with moderate and severe heart failure. TDU allowed for non-invasive detection and quantification of pathological alterations in peripheral hemodynamics.

Changes in contractile and electrical activity in the ileum of DSS-induced colitis model W/Wv mutant mice

In the ileum of W/W(v) mutant mice (W/W(v)), the absence of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the myenteric region (ICC-MY), and cross-talk between ICC in the deep muscular region (ICC-DMP) and enteric nitrergic motor nerves leads to irregular spontaneous electrical and contractile activity. The aim of the present study was to reveal changes in this irregular spontaneous electrical and contractile activity in the ileum of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS: m.w. 40,000)-induced colitis model W/W(v) mice. Electrical and contractile activity was recorded with a suction electrode and with both an isometric force transducer and a pressure transducer in the ileum of W/W(v) mice either with DSS-induced colitis (DSS (+)) in the distal colon or without in controls (DSS (-)). Neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) immunoreactivity in the ileum was compared between the following groups of mice: W/W(v) DSS (+), W/W(v) DSS (-), wild type (WT) with (DSS (+)) and WT without DSS-induced colitis (DSS (-)). DSS induced colitis in the distal colon of W/W(v) mice is reduced compared with that in WT mice, despite the reduction in the number of mast cells in the W/W(v) mutants. Irregular contractions in the ileum without colitis were strongly suppressed in W/W(v) DSS (+) mice. The mean interval of irregular contractions in W/W(v) DSS (+) mice was 5-fold larger than that in W/W(v) DSS (-) mice. N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) facilitated the frequency of irregular contractions in the ileum without colitis in W/W(v) DSS (+) mice. L-NAME decreased the mean interval of contractions to one-fourth in the ileum of W/W(v) DSS (+) mice, where strong iNOS immunoreactivity in nitrergic motor nerves was found with unchanged nNOS immunoreactivity. The stronger suppression of irregular contractions of the ileum in DSS-induced colitis model W/W(v) mice was elicited and mediated by cross-talk between ICC-DMP and enteric nitrergic motor nerves expressing iNOS/NO, even though the ileum was not demonstrating colitis.

Developmental Pattern of the Right Atrioventricular Septal Valve Leaflet and Tendinous Cords

No consensus exists regarding the precise contribution of myocardium and the atrioventricular (AV) cushion mesenchyme to the development of leaflets, tendinous cords (TCs) and papillary muscles. Furthermore, the origin and fate of the myocardium embedded in the immature mesenchyme of the AV cushions at the beginning of AV valvulogenesis is controversial. Some authors have suggested that these cells result from a mesenchyme-to-myocardium transformation. In contrast, other researchers have concluded that they are derived from the myocardial ventricular wall and the interventricular septum (IVS). On the other hand, it has been assumed that the AV mural and septal leaflets have the same pattern of development. However the supporting structures of the two types of leaflets are anatomically different, which could reflect some differences in the pattern of development. We have therefore investigated the morphogenetic processes involved in sculpting and maturation of the right septal leaflet (RSL) and TCs in embryonic and post-hatching chicken hearts. The origin and fate of the myocardium embedded in the immature cushion mesenchyme at the beginning of RSL morphogenesis was also studied. For this purpose, scanning electron microscopic analysis, histological studies and immunohistochemical detection of Nkx2.5 and MEF2C were performed. Our findings indicate that the RSL and TCs present a distinct morphogenetic pattern from that of the mural leaflets. Our results also provide evidence that myocardial recruitment from the IVS, but not mesenchyme-to-myocardium transformation, participates in the development of the muscular region of the TCs adjacent to the IVS.

The role of predation in variation in body shape in guppies Poecilia reticulata: a comparison of field and common garden phenotypes

The body shapes of both wild-caught and laboratory-reared male and female Trinidadian guppies Poecilia reticulata from two low-predation and two high-predation populations were studied, but predation regime did not seem to be the most important factor affecting body shape. Instead, complicated patterns of plasticity in body shape among populations and the sexes were found. In particular, populations differed in the depth of the caudal peduncle, which is the muscular region just anterior to the tail fin rays and from which most swimming power is generated. Strikingly, the direction of population differences in caudal peduncle depth observed in wild-caught individuals was reversed when P. reticulata were raised in a common laboratory environment.

Neuromuscular morphometry of the vaginal wall in women with anterior vaginal wall prolapse

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in hystomorphometry and innervation of the anterior vaginal wall in women with and without anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Eighty-nine biopsy specimens were obtained from the anterior vaginal wall of women having a cystocele repaired (stage >or=II; prolapse group, 49) and the same location in patients with no prolapse (stage <II; control group, 40). Routine H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining for protein gene product 9.5 (PGP-9.5) and smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMA) were performed for all specimens. Number and diameter of the submucosal nerve fibers were significantly lower, submucosal distance to muscular region was significantly higher in the vaginal wall of patients with cystocele than in women with normal vaginal support. We found that there was a negative correlation between the vaginal delivery and the nerve number and diameter measurements, and positive correlation between the vaginal delivery and submucosal distance of muscular level. Results indicate that women with a cystocele have a significantly lower total innervation and higher muscular distance of the anterior vaginal epithelium than the control subjects.

Normal Development of the Muscular Region of the Interventricular Septum. II. The Importance of Myocardial Proliferation

In a first paper, we concluded that the muscular region of the interventricular septum is developed by the trabecular branches and showed evidence that the developing interventricular septum elongates in a direction opposite to that of atria. Nevertheless, to date the literature is lacking precise information on the importance of myocardial proliferation not only in this process but also in the morphogenesis of the ventricular cavities. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of high-intensity foci of cycling myocytes in the ventricular region of the heart of chicken embryos during cardiac septation. Histological studies, detection of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen by light and confocal microscopy and flow cytometric analysis were carried out. The results corroborate that the developing interventricular septum grows in a direction opposite to that of atria. A remoulding mechanism that results in fenestrated trabecular sheets and trabecular branching is discussed. Our findings allowed us to summarize the normal morphogenesis of the muscular region of the interventricular septum in a way that is different from that suggested by other researchers.