Can permanent cell lines originate from low-grade astrocytomas: overgrowth of "glia-like" cells in pilocytic and fibrillary (diffuse) astrocytoma cultures.

OBJECTIVES: Due inter alia to wide-spread cell lines cross-contamination it is not clear, which kind of normal or tumoral tissue give rise to permanent cell lines. BACKROUND: Few permanent cell lines have been established from low-grade astrocytomas. However, recently some of these have been identified as being cross-contaminated with other cell lines. METHODS: Morphology, cell growth and GFAP immunophenotype of low-grade astrocytomas were examined on 9 pilocytic and 15 fibrillary (diffuse) tissue cultures. RESULTS: GFAP-positive process-bearing cells were present in all the cultures, mainly during the first days in vitro (DIV). In pilocytic cultures, cells with hairy (piloid) processes were present. GFAP-positive cells completely disappeared by passages 3 to 5 and all the cultures contained only GFAP-negative "glia-like" cells, which underwent cellular senescence within passages 8 to 15. CONCLUSION: Key differences in the morphology and GFAP expression between the neoplastic astrocytes and normal "glia-like" cells allow the observation of perceptibly more rapid growth of normal cells in astrocytoma cultures. We caution that cultures prepared from macroscopically tumoral brain tissue may contain rapidly proliferating normal cells. Based on this and our previous studies in relation to the high percentage of cross-contaminated cell lines, we conclude that cells in low-grade astrocytoma cultures lack the capacity for spontaneous immortalization (Fig. 14, Ref. 15). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: pilocytic astrocytoma, fibrillary astrocytoma, "glia-like" cells, glioma cell lines, GFAP.

Use of graph algorithms in the processing and analysis of images with focus on the biomedical data.

INTRODUCTION: Image segmentation is a known problem in the field of image processing. A great number of methods based on different approaches to this issue was created. One of these approaches utilizes the findings of the graph theory. METHODS: Our work focuses on segmentation using shortest paths in a graph. Specifically, we deal with methods of "Intelligent Scissors," which use Dijkstra's algorithm to find the shortest paths. RESULTS: We created a new software in Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 integrated development environment Visual C++ in the language C++/CLI. We created a format application with a graphical users development environment for system Windows, with using the platform .Net (version 4.5). The program was used for handling and processing the original medical data. CONCLUSION: The major disadvantage of the method of "Intelligent Scissors" is the computational time length of Dijkstra's algorithm. However, after the implementation of a more efficient priority queue, this problem could be alleviated. The main advantage of this method we see in training that enables to adapt to a particular kind of edge, which we need to segment. The user involvement has a significant influence on the process of segmentation, which enormously aids to achieve high-quality results (Fig. 7, Ref. 13).

The variable communicating branches between musculocutaneous and median nerves: a morphological study with clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: The course of the brachial plexus, its relations with surrounding structures and unique primary and secondary divisions result in its wide range of anatomical variations. Most of these variations were detected during anatomical dissections and studies. It has been found that 53% of studied brachial plexuses contained variations. The communication between musculocutaneous and median nerves is the most common variation of infraclavicular part of brachial plexus. METHODS: During gross anatomical dissections of peripheral nerves, we observed neuronatomical variations in upper limbs of four formalin embalmed adult cadavers. Musculocutaneous and median nerves were connected by a communicating branch at distinct level in each cadaver. The formation and relations of both nerves were noted in each case to exclude the existence of other anatomical variations. The connections were measured and documented by digital camera. RESULTS: The communicating fibers of variations 1 and 2 were located in the upper third of arm and proximally to musculocutaneous nerve penetration through coracobrachialis muscle. In variations 3 and 4, the communicating branch was situated in the lower third of arm and distal to the nerve penetration point. CONCLUSION: Variable interconnections between musculocutaneous and median nerve have to be considered in diagnosis of nerve lesions in axillary and arm regions. Compound musculocutaneous and median nerve neuropathy would occur in lesions of the interconnecting branches. Injuries of musculocutaneous nerve proximal to these branches can cause particular and unexpected symptoms, such as weakness of forearm flexors and thenar muscles (Fig. 6, Ref. 28).

[Position variability of the vermiform appendix and effect on diagnosis of appendicitis in children]. / Variabilita polôh apendix vermiformis a vplyv na diagnostiku apendicitídy u detí.

Vermiform appendix, seemingly inconspicious anatomical structure, may cause many complications. These result from its topographico-anatomical relations to surrounding structures in abdominal cavity, but also from potential position variability of the vermiform appendix. Variable position of the vermiform appendix can have effect on appendicitis diagnostic, as one of the most often cause of the acute abdomen in children.

The microscopical structure of the hippocampus in the rat.

The aim of this work was to study the rat's hippocampal formation by applying the light microscopic methods. The histological methods used to explore this region of the rat's brain were the Nissl technique, the Bielschowsky block impregnation method and the rapid Golgi technique. In the Nissl preparations, we identified only three fields of the hippocampus proprius (CA1, CA3 and CA4). CA2 was distinguished in the Bielschowsky impregnated blocks. The rapid Golgi technique, according the available literature, gives the best results by using the fresh samples. In this study, we reached good results by using formalin fixed sections. The layers of the hippocampal formation were differentiated. The pyramidal and granular cells were identified together with their axons and dendrites (Fig. 9, Ref. 22). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

A variable origin of the vertebral artery.

This study presents and describes the variation of the vertebral artery arising from the aortic arch as a case report. This variation was found in one of the cadavers at the Institute of Anatomy of Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava. Anomalous arising was discovered during the student's dissection of thorax and abdomen. Non standard arising of the vertebral artery is compared to the standard arising in the anatomical literature and atlases. The variable arising was confronted to the possible variations of the vertebral artery reported in literature (Fig. 4, Ref. 9). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

History, anatomical nomenclature, comparative anatomy and functions of the hippocampal formation.

The complex structures in the cerebral hemispheres is included under one term, the limbic system. Our conception of this system and its special functions rises from the comparative neuroanatomical and neurophysiological studies. The components of the limbic system are the hippocampus, gyrus parahippocampalis, gyrus dentatus, gyrus cinguli, corpus amygdaloideum, nuclei anteriores thalami, hypothalamus and gyrus paraterminalis Because of its unique macroscopic and microscopic structure, the hippocampus is a conspicuous part of the limbic system. During phylogenetic development, the hippocampus developed from a simple cortical plate in amphibians into complex three-dimensional convoluted structure in mammals. In the last few decades, structures of the limbic system were extensively studied. Attention was directed to the physiological functions and pathological changes of the hippocampus. Experimental studies proved that the hippocampus has a very important role in the process of learning and memory. Another important functions of the hippocampus as a part of the limbic system is its role in regulation of sexual and emotional behaviour. The term "hippocampal formation" is defined as the complex of six structures: gyrus dentatus, hippocampus proprius, subiculum proprium, presubiculum, parasubiculum and area entorhinalis In this work we attempt to present a brief review of knowledge about the hippocampus from the point of view of history, anatomical nomenclature, comparative anatomy and functions (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 33).

Atypical course of the median nerve.

Work in the form of anatomical casuistry is presenting and describing the atypical course of the median nerve found in both upper limbs of one of the cadavers in the Department of Anatomy of Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava. This atypical course was found during the students' dissection of the peripheral nerves and vessels. This non-standard course of the median nerve is compared with standard course described in anatomical literature and atlases, and confronted with the possible variations of the median nerve and its course described by the available literature. (Fig. 4, Ref. 4.)