Transversus menti muscle in a thai cadaver / Músculo transversus menti en un cadaver tailandés

In submental and around the mouth areas, the superfacial muscles are considered in surgery of some deformities of mouth angle. Herein, we report a rare case of the Transversus menti muscle (TM) in a Thai 74 year-old male cadaver. This TM originated from both sides of the oblique line of depressor anguli oris and formed as transverse fibers in submental area. Their fiber ran under the chin and was superficial to platysma muscle. The TM was innervated and supplied by mandibular branches of facial nerve and small branches of the submental artery. This report attempted to discuss the possible function and clinical significance of the TM.

Alrededor de la boca y en áreas submentonianas, los músculos superficiales son considerados en la cirugía de algunas deformidades del ángulo de la boca. Este estudio presenta un caso raro de músculo transversus menti (TM), en un cadáver tailandés de sexo masculino de 74 años de edad. El músculo TM se originó a partir de los dos lados de la línea oblicua del músculo depresor del ángulo oral y se formó como fibras transversales en el área submentoniana. Sus fibras se desplazaron debajo del mentón y superficialmente al platisma. El músculo TM estaba inervado e irrigado por ramos mandibulares de nervio facial y pequeñas ramas de la arteria submentoniana. Se discute su posible función y el significado clínico del músculo TM.

Prevention of indomethacin - induced gastric ulcers in rats by extract from leaves of centella asiatica.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of Centella asiatica extract on gastric ulcers caused by indomethacin in rats. Methods: Male rats were orally given extract of C.asiatica prior to the administration of indomethacin. The stomach was dissected and the number of bleeding spots and histological features were determined. Results: Giving extract of C.asiatica at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg for 30 minutes prior to oral administration of indomethacin decreased the number of bleeding spots are about 11 times lower than those given indomethacin alone. Histological findings of indomethacin-treated group showed the depth of injury of gastric mucosa which is about half the thickness of the mucosal layer. Treatment with C.asiatica decreased the depth of tissue erosion, down to one-third of the thickness of the mucosa. Conclusion: The results showed protective effect of C.asiatica on gastric ulceration caused by the anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase of people in Khon Kaen, the northeastern Thailand.

Serum gamma-glytamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the normal population in Northeastern Thailand were measured. The median serum GGP and ALP levels of females was significantly lower than the values for males, i.e., 21 (range=9-260) versus 32 (range=9-459) and 73 (range= 20-428) versus 83 (range=13-171) U/L, respectively. Serum ALP level tended to increase with age in both male and female populations, whereas serum GGT level did not show any age dependence. Serum GGT and ALP levels of cigarette smokers were significantly higher than those of the non-smokers. Alcohol, coffee or tea drinking also resulted in higher serum GGT value whereas serum ALP values were not changed. Beta l nut chewing caused only lower serum GGT but not serum ALP values. The total population in Ban Fang district seemed to have lower serum GGT than those in Chonnabot district. The results from our study give the base line data of serum GGT and ALP in a Thai population. We also confirm the association of serum GGT with cigarette smoking, alcohol and coffee/tea drinking which are risk factors of cancer.

Serum antioxidant vitamin levels of people in Khon Kaen, northeastern Thailand.

Three antioxidant vitamins, the alpha- and beta-carotenes as well as vitamin E, were measured in sera of a normal population in Northeastern Thailand using HPLC. The mean serum beta-carotene level of females was significantly higher than the value for males, i.e, 37.55 (95%CI=34.59-40.51) versus 32.97 (95% CI=30.01-35.93) micro/dl. The beta-carotene level tended to decrease as age increased, particularly in the male population. The mean serum beta-carotene level was also higher in females than in males, i.e., 7.08 (95%CI=6.57-7.59) and 6.26 (95% CI=5.77-6.75) micro/dl, respectively. The average serum alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) level of the whole population was 1.08 (95% CI=1.04-1.12) micro/dl and did not show age or sex differences. In general, the serum antioxidant vitamins of smokers were lower than those of the non-smokers but a significant difference was observed only for alpha-tocopherol. Alcohol drinking resulted in slightly lower serum beta-carotene values, whereas coffee or tea drinking and betel nut chewing did not cause any differences with these three antioxidant vitamins. However, we report higher in serum beta-carotene levels of people in Ban Fang district than in Chonnabot district. The results from our study give the base line data of serum antioxidant vitamins in a Thai population and also suggest future intensive study on the relationship of dietary intake and cancer prevention.