Virgin coconut oil - its methods of extraction, properties and clinical usage: a review.

Abstract: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a processed edible oil, which is removed from the mature coconuts. It is a colourless water insoluble liquid and obtained by the hot and cold extraction processes. The nutritional components of VCO are mainly contributed to by lauric acid, its primary content. VCO has shown its anticancer, antimicrobial, analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory properties. Because of these medicinal properties, VCO has gained the wider attention among the medical field. Most evidently VCO has shown its potential antioxidant property, because of its phenolic compounds and medium chain fatty acids. It is one of the beneficial compounds used to prevent and treat the oxidative stress induced neurological disorders like stress, depression and Alzheimer's disease. Dietary supplementation of VCO is easy and economical and safer in daily life among all age groups. It is also beneficial for the cardiovascular, respiratory, dermatological, reproductive and bone health. It can also be applied to the skin as a moisturizer in the paediatric age group. Hence, exploration of antioxidant property as well as other beneficial effects of VCO in various health conditions will be valuable.

Unique case of duplex interventricular branching from the left coronary artery.

We report a rare morphological variant of the left coronary artery in this case of a female embalmed cadaver, where in the heart was nourished by double anterior and posterior interventricular arteries. These were branches of the left coronary artery and it was also observed that distribution of right coronary artery was very limited. The deceased may have been without symptoms in her life, but a prior knowledge of this kind of presentation would be very much informative to the interventional cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeons in their protocol of treatment. This has implications for the coronary angiography and subsequent management of the ischemic heart disease.

Synostosis of dorsolumbar spine: an anatomical investigation with emphasis on clinical and embryological details.

PURPOSE: The objectives were to study the morphology of fused vertebrae in thoracolumbar region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 729 thoracolumbar vertebrae which were macroscopically observed for the fusion and morphological details were observed. RESULTS: It was observed that, there was fusion in three of our specimens. One specimen was having fusion between the two typical thoracic vertebrae. The other one had fusion among the three typical thoracic vertebrae. The third specimen had fusion between the twelveth thoracic vertebrae and the first lumbar vertebra. The average length of body of thoracic vertebrae was 1.8 mms, vertebral foramen diameter was 1.4 mms, length of lamina was 1.9 mms and the length of spinous process was 2.6 mms. The same parameters for the fused vertebrae of two typical thoracic was 3.2 mms, 1.1 mms, 4 mms and 4.7 mms respectively. The parameters of fused three typical thoracic vertebrae were 5.2 mms, 1.4 mms, 6.6 mms and 7.9 mms respectively. The average morphometric parameters of the fused thoracolumbar vertebrae were 3.7 mms, 1.4 mms, 4 mms and 3.5 mms respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has provided additional information on the anatomy and morphology of dorsolumbar spine synostosis with their embryological basis and clinical implications. We believe that the details are clinically important as they might be associated with neurological signs and symptoms.

Cervical spine synostosis: an anatomical study with emphasis on embryological and clinical aspects.

PURPOSE: The objectives were to study the anatomical features of fused vertebra in the cervical region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 363 cervical vertebras which were macroscopically observed for the fusion and their morphology was studied. RESULTS: Among our specimens, one fusion was observed between the C1 and C2 and the other was between C2 and C3. The mean anteroposterior diameter of normal atlas and axis were 42.1 +/- 0.9 mm and 46 +/- 0.5 mm respectively. The fused C1-C2 had 39 +/- 0.6 mm anteroposterior diameter. The mean lengths of anterior arch of normal atlas and body of axis were 16 +/- 0.9 mm and 23 +/- 0.7 mm respectively and the fused C1-C2 body length was 30 +/- 0.3 mm. The mean anteroposterior diameter of normal C2 and C3 vertebra were 46 +/- 0.5 mm and 47 +/- 0.8 mm respectively and of fused C2-C3 was 44 +/- 0.2 mm. The body length of C2 was 23 +/- 0.7 mm and C3 was 33 +/- 0.1 mm. The body length of fused C2-C3 was 36 +/- 0.8 mm. CONCLUSION: The present study has provided additional information on the anatomy, morphology of cervical spine synostosis with their embryological basis and clinical implications.

An unusual morphological variant of the extensor digitorum brevis manus in an Indian male cadaver.

The extensor digitorum brevis manus is a supernumerary muscle of the dorsum of hand and is a relatively rare finding during dissection. Only 2-3% of the cases are found world wide. Here we report the case of extensor digitorum brevis manus in an approximately 65-year-old Indian male cadaver. This report discusses the variant anatomy, morphology, review of literature and clinical implications of this muscle. We believe that it is of importance to report the observation of this muscle as the variation reported herein should be of interest to clinicians, surgeons and anatomists for academic purposes.

A cadaveric study of the testicular artery in the South Indian population.

INTRODUCTION: The male gonadal arteries, namely the testicular arteries, may vary at their origin and arise from the renal artery, suprarenal artery or lumbar artery. They may also be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled and may arise as a common trunk. With the advent of new intra-abdominal operative and laparoscopic techniques, the anatomy of the gonadal vessels has assumed much more importance. Therefore, a study was designed to assess the percentage of normal and aberrant origin and course of the testicular artery in the Indian population. METHODS: The posterior abdominal walls of 34 male cadavers (68 sides) were dissected and studied for the variations in the origin and course of the testicular arteries. RESULTS: In 85.3 percent of the cases, the male gonadal artery was normal in origin, number and course. However, in the remaining 14.7 percent, various anomalies in the testicular artery were noted. CONCLUSION: The variations in the testicular arteries are attributed to their embryological origin. A deep knowledge of these variations and their relations to the adjacent structures is very important in avoiding the complications in operative surgery.

Accessory brachialis muscle: a case report.

Variations of arm flexors are not uncommon with the exception of brachialis muscle. The role of brachialis is critical as it is the primary flexor of the elbow joint. Variations of brachialis are rare in literature. We present a case of an accessory-brachialis muscle (AcBr), found during routine cadaveric dissection. The AcBr originated from the lateral aspect of the brachialis muscle and lateral intermuscular septum. During its course towards the elbow, it crossed over the radial nerve and the distal tendon splits into two. The medial slip ran over the ulnar artery and merged with the deep fascia covering the pronator teres muscle, whereas lateral slip was inserted to the fascia covering the supinator. In the ipsilateral arm, an additional lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm (LCNF) was found coursing over the brachialis muscle medial to the LCNF. Clinical consideration of the present variations has been discussed. The present variation should be considered in the etiology of radial-tunnel syndrome (RTS).

An unusually lengthy styloid process.

The close proximity of the styloid process to many of the vital neurovascular structures in the neck makes it clinically significant. Abnormal elongation of the styloid process may cause compression on a number of vital vessels and nerves related to it, producing inflammatory changes that include continuous chronic pain in the pharyngeal region, radiating otalgia, phantom foreign body sensation (globus hystericus), pain in the pharyngeal region, and dysphagia. The normal length of the styloid process is usually 2.0-2.5 cm long. We report a dry human skull that showed bilateral styloid processes measuring 6.0 cm on the right side and 5.9 cm on the left side. The variation in dimension of the process and its clinical implication are discussed.