ABSTRACT
The thyrocervical trunk most commonly arises from the upper portion of the first segment of the subclavian artery, close to the medial edge of the scalenus anterior muscle and after short distance is divided to the inferior thyroid, transverse cervical, and suprascapular artery. This study reports important variations in branches of the thyrocervical trunk in a singular female cadaver. On the right side, no thyrocervical trunk was found. The two branches which normally originate from the thyrocervical trunk had a different origin. The superficial cervical, suprascapular and internal thoracic arteries arose from the common trunk artery. An awareness of this rare variation is important because this area is used for diagnostic and surgical procedures
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Melissa officinalis, a major antioxidant plant, against neuron toxicity in hippocampal primary culture induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA] or ecstasy, one of the most abused drugs, which causes neurotoxicity. 3-[4,5-dimethyl2 thiazoyl]2,5-diphenyketrazolium bromide [MTT] assay was used to assess mitochondrial activity, reflecting cell survival. Caspase-3 activity assay and Hoechst / propiedium iodide [PI] staining were done to show apoptotic cell death. A high dose of ecstasy caused profound mitochondrial dysfunction, around 40% less than the control value, and increased apoptotic neuronal death to around 35% more than the control value in hippocampal neuronal culture. Co-treatment with Melissa officinalis significantly reversed these damages to around 15% and 20% respectively of the MDMA alone group, and provided protection against MDMA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in neurons. Melissa officinalis has revealed neuroprotective effects against apoptosis induced by MDMA in the primary neurons of hippocampal culture, which could be due to its free radical scavenging properties and monoamine oxidase [MAO] inhibitory effects