Cannabinoid and Serotonergic Systems: Unraveling the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Analgesia.

The perception of "stress" triggers many physiological and behavioral responses, collectively called the stress response. Such a complex process allows for coping with stress and also triggers severe pathology. Because of the multidirectional effect of stress on the body, multiple systems participate in its pathogenesis, with the endogenous cannabinoid and the serotoninergic ones among them. These two systems also take part in the pain perception decrease, known as stress-induced analgesia (SIA), which can then be taken as an indirect indicator of the stress response. The aim of our study was to study the changes in cold SIA (c-SIA) resulting from the exogenous activation of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) receptor type 1A (5-HT1A). Various combinations of agonists and/or antagonists of CB1 and 5-HT1A, before or after 1 h of cold exposure, were applied, since we presumed that the exogenous activation of the receptors before the cold exposure would influence the pathogenesis of the stress response, while their activation after the stressful trigger would influence the later development. Our results show that the serotonergic system "maintained" c-SIA in the pre-stress treatment, while the cannabinoids' modulative effect was more prominent in the post-stress treatment. Here, we show the interactions of the two systems in the stress response. The interpretation and understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between CB1 and 5-HT1A may provide information for the prevention and control of adverse stress effects, as well as suggest interesting directions for the development of targeted interventions for the control of specific body responses.

A Rare Case of Thyroidea Ima Arising From the Internal Thoracic Artery and Reaching Up to the Parathyroid Gland.

The thyroidea ima artery (TIA), also known as the Neubauer artery, is a variable artery that takes part in the blood supply of the thyroid gland. The overall prevalence rate of the thyroidea ima artery is 3.3%. Though it most commonly branches off the brachiocephalic trunk or the arch of the aorta, the artery has a highly variable origin point. Herein, we present a rare case of a thyroidea ima originating from the left internal thoracic artery, found during routine dissection of a Caucasian, 76-year-old, male, formalin-fixed cadaver. The artery is a normal finding during embryological development as a part of a more extensive network of vessels supplying the thyroid gland. The latter undergoes significant remodeling, and only four superior and inferior thyroid arteries remain. Thus, the presence of the thyroidea ima is considered to be due to changes in the said remodeling process. Due to its course, anteriorly to the trachea, the thyroidea ima artery might pose problems during different surgical procedures regarding the inner anterior region of the neck, such as tracheotomy, thyroidectomy, laryngeal transplantation, and selective embolization of the thyroid arteries (SETA). Furthermore, complications during the operative treatment of parathyroid conditions and mediastinal bleeding are to be expected. The variable presence and origin of the thyroidea ima have clear and significant clinical and surgical implications. They must be considered when procedures in the neck's anterior region occur.

Tissue changes and tissue reactivity following osteotomy by a conventional rotary device, an ultrasonic unit, and an Er: YAG laser - A comparative study in humans.

INTRODUCTION: Innovative technologies from other fields of science are constantly being introduced in medicine. Research works on animals strongly confirm the belief in better results following ultrasound and laser surgery. The main conclusions are based on observations from different animal species, whose biological characteristics differ from those of humans. This requires scientific experiments to be performed and confirmed in humans. MATERIAL & METHODS: Human mandible specimens harvested in vivo by a conventional low-speed rotary device, an ultrasonic unit, or an Er: YAG laser were studied and analyzed to compare their effects on bone morphology and tissue response following surgery. RESULTS: The cutting surface of eighty biopsies was studied, as well the facial edema, pain levels, and jaw dysfunction were followed up in the same eighty patients from whom the slices were obtained. In the piezosurgery and drill groups, the borders exhibited irregular edges full of bone fragments and debris. Thermal alterations within the superficial surface in all bone samples were generally minimal. In all specimens, intact osteocytes were detectable away from the area of direct action of the bone-cutting device. It was established, that the reactive facial edema, pain levels, and jaw disfunction were with milder values following in vivo osteotomy by an ultrasonic unit and Er: YAG laser compared to the conventional drilling. Moreover, the recovery of the patients in these two groups was more pronounced. The observed tissue changes proved to affect the follow-up tissue reactions in the postoperative period (p ≤ 0.05). DISCUSSION: Based on the established effects on human bone by its in vivo cutting, it can be concluded that laser and ultrasonic bone surgery was a superior alternative osteotomy method in humans to conventional drilling.

The Endogenous Cannabinoid and the Nitricoxidergic Systems in the Modulation of Stress Responses.

The effects on stress-induced analgesia (SIA) from endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) and nitric oxide (NO) interaction after 1 h of restraint stress were evaluated in male Wistar rats. The animals were subjected to 1 h of restraint and then injected with different combinations of cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonist anandamide (AEA) or antagonist AM251 along with an NO donor, NO precursor, or inhibitor of NO synthase. Nociception was evaluated using paw pressure (PP) or hot plate (HP) tests. AEA was administered immediately after the end of restraint-SIA (r-SIA). Administration of NO precursor reversed the pronociceptive effect of the CB1 agonist on r-SIA. Both the CB1 antagonist and the NOS inhibitor neutralized the pro-analgesic effect of L-arginine (L-arg). Administration of an NO donor, instead, increased r-SIA. Our experiments confirmed that the endogenous cannabinoid and the NO-ergic systems interact in the modulation of r-SIA. This interaction probably implies NO as a second messenger of the ECS.

Abnormal attachments between a plantar aponeurosis and calcaneus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The plantar aponeurosis or fascia is a thick fascial seal located on the lower surface of the sole. It consists of three parts central, lateral, and medial. The central portion is the thickest. It is narrow behind and wider in front. The central portion has two strong vertical intermuscular septa which are directed upward into the foot. The lateral and medial portions are thinner. The medial portion is thinnest. The lateral portion is thin in front and thick behind. The main function of the plantar fascia is to support the longitudinal arch of the foot. In May 2013 during a routine dissection in the section hall of the Department of Anatomy and Histology in Medical University - Sofia, Bulgaria we came across a very interesting variation of the plantar aponeurosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the present morphological study tissues from a human corpse material were used. This unusual anatomical variation was photographed using a Nikon Coolpix 995 camera with a 3.34 Megapixels. RESULTS: We found some fibrous strands which started from the proximal portion of the plantar aponeurosis on the left foot. The fibrous strands resembled the tentacles of an octopus and started from the proximal portion of the aponeurosis. Two of fibrous strands were directed laterally to adipose tissue and one was directed medially and backward. The first lateral fibrous strand was divided into several fascicles. We found very few data in literature about the varieties of the plantar fascia. CONCLUSION: It is very important to consider the occurrence of above mentioned variations in the plantar aponeurosis when surgical procedures are performed on the sole.

A rare variation of the digastric muscle.

The digastric muscle is composed by two muscle bellies: an anterior and a posterior, joined by an intermediate tendon. This muscle is situated in the anterior region of the neck. The region between the hyoid bone and the mandible is divided by an anterior belly into two triangles: the submandibular situated laterally and the submental triangle which is located medially. We found that the anatomical variations described in the literature relate mainly to the anterior belly and consist of differences in shape and attachment of the muscle. During routine dissection in February 2013 in the section hall of the Department of Anatomy and Histology in Medical University - Sofia we came across a very interesting variation of the digastric muscle. The digastric muscles that presented anatomical variations were photographed using a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 camera, with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. We found out bilateral variation of the digastric muscle in one cadaver. The anterior bellies were very thin and insert to the hyoid bone. Two anterior bellies connect each other and thus they formed a loop. The anatomical variations observed of our study related only to the anterior belly, as previously described by other authors. It is very important to consider the occurrence of the above mentioned variations in the digastric muscle when surgical procedures are performed on the anterior region of the neck.

Disease and treatment outcome in chronic active hepatitis C with occult HBV infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the clinical course and effect of antiviral treatment in chronic active hepatitis C with coexisting occult hepatitis B infection. METHODOLOGY: Basic liver enzymes, histological activity of hepatitis (Ishak score), biochemical and virological response rate at the end of treatment and 6 months later of 30 patients (15 of them positive for hepatitis B core antibody in serum) with chronic active hepatitis C are compared. All patients were treated with Interferon alpha-2b 3ME three times weekly and oral Ribavirin 1000/1200 mg daily for six months. RESULTS: The pure hepatitis C group demonstrates markedly higher biochemical and histological (necroinflammatory) activity. After treatment the pure hepatitis C group shows normalization of serum ALT in 73% (vs. 66% in hepatitis B core antibody-positive patients); loss of detectable HCV-RNA in serum in 47% (vs. 35%) and sustained biochemical response 6 months later in 28% vs. 40% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with circulating hepatitis B core antibodies might develop some degree of immune tolerance against hepatitis C virus, with less advanced hepatolysis and necroinflammation even in the presence of HCV viremia and worse virological therapeutic response, associated with frequent sustained ALT normalization.