Comparing the Clinical Orientation Benefits of Endoscopic demonstration on the Nose, Paranasal Sinuses, and Skull Base Versus Cadaveric Dissection for First-Year Medical Undergraduates.

The study aims to evaluate the advantages of using endoscopic demonstrations to teach nose, paranasal sinuses, and skull base anatomy compared to traditional cadaveric demonstrations. Traditional dissection methods do not provide an accurate representation of in vivo visualization of these anatomical areas. The goal is to align the teaching approach with the perspective students will have during clinical practice for better clinical orientation. In this study, 100 first-year medical students were split into two groups: Group A and Group B, each with 50 students. Group A received teaching through endoscopic demonstrations, while Group B had cadaveric demonstrations, both focused on nose, paranasal sinuses, and skull base anatomy. To assess comprehension and clinical orientation, both groups completed a questionnaire with clinically relevant questions, and their responses were collected and compared for analysis. Students who received endoscopic training showed better accuracy in addressing clinical queries than those only exposed to cadaveric dissection. Many participants favored incorporating endoscopic instruction, either as a replacement or addition to traditional cadaveric dissection, for the studied topics. The endoscopically trained group performed better in understanding anatomical landmarks, mentally reconstructing 3D images, and conceptualizing surgical approaches for the targeted anatomical areas. Incorporating endoscopic training for the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and skull base into the undergraduate medical curriculum would substantially augment students' clinical understanding and provide a more profound grasp of the dynamic anatomy in these areas.

The Efficacy of Utilizing the Anatomage Table as a Supplementary Educational Resource in Osteology Instruction for First-Year Medical Students.

Introduction Osteology is the detailed study of the structure of the bones. This study assesses the effectiveness of employing the 3D visualization tool Anatomage table as a learning adjunct to osteology training in first-year medical students by post-test evaluations related to the humerus, radius, and ulna bones. Method This study was conducted in first-year medical graduate students in the Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Raipur, India. Students included in the study were divided into two groups by simple random sampling after voluntary consent. The study group students, Group A, were taught osteology by traditional teaching and visualizing bone with a tool, an Anatomage table. The control group (Group B) is for traditional teaching. The study involved demonstrating each group's humerus, radius, and ulna bones, with sessions lasting 60 minutes. After each topic, a post-test was administered. A total of 94 students for the test for the humerus bone, 98 students for the radius bones, and 85 students for the ulna bones responded to the post-test conducted after sessions. Descriptive statistics were assessed using mean and standard deviation. Independent sample t-tests compare the mean marks obtained post-test by two groups of students. Results The results indicated that students in Group A scored higher mean marks than their counterparts in Group B across all three bone post-tests, but the significance of the differences varied. For humerus, mean marks obtained by students of Group A (Anatomage table teaching) (mean±SD: 4.00± 1.10) were higher than those of Group B (traditional teaching) (mean±SD: 3.63± 1.36). Still, we do not observe a statistically significant difference in mean marks of students of Group A vs. students of Group B (P=0.166, P>0.05). For radius, we observe statistically higher mean marks among students of Group A (mean±SD: 3.72±0.944) compared to students of Group B (mean±SD: 3.22±1.08) (P=0.021, P<0.05). Similarly, for ulna, we observe higher mean marks for Group A (mean±SD: 3.18.00±1.55) as compared to Group B (mean±SD: 3.13±1.21) but do not observe a statistically significant difference in mean marks of students of Group A vs. students of Group B (P=0.875, P>.05). Conclusion Including the Anatomage table for visualization during osteology sessions yielded benefits for all three sessions. Future studies could employ more extensive and diverse samples to validate the findings further and incorporate qualitative methods to gain insights into students' perceptions of both teaching methods.

Comprehensive Study of Arrangement of Renal Hilar Structures and Branching Pattern of Segmental Renal Arteries: An Anatomical Study.

Background The knowledge of renal artery (RA) and its segmentation is critical before attempting any surgical procedure of kidney. The RA receives blood supply from various arteries during its descent in the embryonic period. As a result, the segmental RAs show a lot of variability in the site and pattern of origin as well as its point of entry in the kidney. Aim/objective The aim is to study the variable pattern existing in different segmental RAs and the arrangement of structures at the renal hilum. Methods The RA of 205 kidneys (68 paired and 69 unpaired) was studied and the segmental pattern was exclusively observed in cadavers by dissecting 161 kidneys, making resin/silicon casts of 34 kidneys and radiological imaging of 10 kidneys. Results The results obtained were quite significant and provided in detail understanding of the five main segmental arteries and the arrangement of structures at the renal hilum. Great variations were seen in the disposition of structures at the renal hilum. Six different patterns of structures at the renal hilum were obtained. Pattern 1 was the commonest pattern with an incidence of 30.3% followed by pattern 2. The site of origin of segmental arteries and their point of entry into the kidney were recorded and tabulated. The segmental arteries were classified into different types based on the frequency of their occurrence in decreasing order. In each of them, Type 1 is the commonest variant seen based on the origin of the apical artery (A), anterior upper segmental artery (AU), anterior middle segmental artery (AM), lower segmental artery (L), and posterior segmental artery (P). Conclusions The arrangement of hilar structures has been classified into six patterns and the variations existing in each of the segmental branches of the RA have been categorized as well. The knowledge will be invaluable for accurate radiographic interpretation of the renal vasculature and effective surgical planning in cases involving kidney transplantation, renal trauma, and partial nephrectomy. Furthermore, it will serve to prevent complications during surgical procedures.

Functional Connectivity of Prefrontal Cortex in Various Meditation Techniques - A Mini-Review.

Meditation is a practice of concentration and relaxation. In philosophical terms, it is a process of gaining self-consciousness. Although there is diversity in meditation (Mindfulness, compassion, transcendental, and focused attention meditation), interventions show that meditation practices improve prefrontal cortex (PFC) functions like cognition, self-awareness, attention, and memory and reduce psychological symptoms. These results are thought to be due to meditation increasing functional connections of different brain regions. We reviewed to show the functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex in various meditation practices. We were viewed various neuroimaging interventions of functional connectivity associated with the prefrontal cortex and different brain areas during meditation techniques on healthy meditators compared with non-meditators. fMRI findings show that meditation practices are associated with increased neural function and processing, default mode network, gray matter volume, and functional coupling in the brain area related to different parts of PFC. PFC's functional connectivity is associated with increased attention, working memory, cognitive control, executive control, emotion regulation, counteracting adverse effects, self-perception, and self-compassion. Furthermore, PFC's functional connectivity decreases anxiety, depression, perceived stress, negative emotion, and hyperarousal symptoms. In this review, we outlined the published effect of meditation on the function and structure of the different parts of the prefrontal cortex. We suggest a positive theoretical correlation between meditation and the functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex. Altered prefrontal connectivity is seen in some neurological and psychosocial disorders. Therefore meditation can also play an influential role in treating these disorders.

Implication of Asana, Pranayama and Meditation on Telomere Stability.

Telomeres, the repetitive sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes, help to maintain genomic integrity and are of key importance to human health. Telomeres progressively shorten throughout life and a number of studies have shown shorter telomere length to be associated with lifestyle disorders. Previous studies also indicate that yoga and lifestyle-based intervention have significant role on oxidative DNA damage and cellular aging. However, very few publications investigate telomere stability and its implication from the point of view of asana, pranayama, and meditation. In this context, a review was conducted to systematically assess the available data on the effectiveness of asana, pranayama, and meditation in maintaining telomere and telomerase. Literature search was performed using the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, NCBI, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Web of Science. We explored the possible mechanisms of how asana, pranayama, and meditation might be affecting telomere length and telomerase. Moreover, results showed that asana and pranayama increase the oxygen flow to the cells and meditation reduces the stress level by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Summing up the result, it can be concluded that practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation can help to maintain genomic integrity and are of key importance to human health and lifestyle disorders.

Anatomical Correlation of Core Muscle Activation in Different Yogic Postures.

Faulty postures due to sedentary lifestyle cause weakening of core muscles which contributes to increased incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Although a few research studies have quantified the core muscle activity in various yogic exercises used in rehabilitation programs, evidence correlating it to functional anatomy is scarce. Such information is important for exercise prescription when formulating treatment plans for MSDs. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to examine the literature and analyze the muscle activity produced across various yoga postures to determine which type of yoga posture elicits the highest activation for the core muscle in individuals. Literature search was performed using the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, NCBI, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and web of science. The search terms contained: Core muscle activation and yogic posture OR yoga and rehabilitation OR intervention AND Electromyography. Activation of specific core muscle involved asanas which depended on trunk and pelvic movements. Description of specific yogic exercise as they relate to core muscles activation is described. This information should help in planning yogic exercises that challenge the muscle groups without causing loads that may be detrimental to recovery and pain-free movement. Knowledge of activation of muscles in various yogic postures can assist health-care practitioners to make appropriate decisions for the designing of safe and effective evidence-based yoga intervention for MSDs.

Crista terminalis, musculi pectinati, and taenia sagittalis: anatomical observations and applied significance.

Background. The complex architecture of the right atrium, crista terminalis (CT), and the musculi pectinati (MP) poses enormous challenges in electrophysiology and cardiac conduction. Few studies have been undertaken to substantiate the gross features of MP, in relation to the CT, but there is still scarcity of data regarding this. We tried to reinvestigate the gross arrangement of muscle bundles in the right atrium. Methods. Utilizing 151 human hearts and orientation of MP and its variations and relationship to the CT were investigated along with taenia sagittalis (TS). Patterns of MP were grouped in 6 categories and TS under three groups. Result. A plethora of variations were observed. Analysis of all the specimen revealed that 68 samples (45%) were of type 1 category and 27 (18%) fell into type 2 category. Prominent muscular columns were reported in 12 samples (8%). 83 samples (55%) presented with a single trunk of TS. Multiple trunks of TS were reported in 38 samples (25%). Conclusion. Samples with type 6 MP and type B/type C TS, which have a more complex arrangement of fibers, have a tendency to be damaged during cardiac catheterization. Nonetheless, the area as a whole is extremely significant considering the pragmatic application during various cardiac interventions.