Anatomy Scholars Program for Medical Students Entering a Surgical Residency.

A near-peer teaching experience for upper-level medical students could help prepare them for surgical residency by providing specific education opportunities and exposure to the field of surgery. Five medical students were selected to be near-peer teachers (NPTs) in gross anatomy, and then they reflected on their experiences. The NPTs spent the majority of effort in a teaching role, and reported improved NTS, anatomy knowledge, and dissection skills. MS1s and faculty also reported on the value of the ASP. Further development and evaluation of the ASP may be an excellent opportunity for future surgeons.

Utility of MRI neurography in neurofibromatosis type I: Case example and review of MRI neurography literature.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominant disorder of the nerves, resulting in café-au-lait spots, axillary freckling, macules, and neurofibromas throughout the nervous system. Diagnosis of this condition has in the past been mainly clinical, but the usage of magnetic resonance imaging neurography (MRN) is a new diagnostic modality. Here, we report on a case of neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1) that was diagnosed using MRN after a protracted clinical course. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 23-year-old female presented with several months of worsening right upper and lower quadrant abdominal pain. The patient underwent computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrating multiple neurofibromas involving the psoas muscle and mesentery of the lower abdomen. Subsequent total neuronal axis magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the neurography protocol (MRN) showed multiple neurofibromas in both the right brachial plexus and lumbar plexus. CONCLUSION: We present a case of NF-1 that was diagnosed using MRN following a protracted clinical course. MRN is a diagnostic modality for NF-1 and other peripheral nerve disorders.

The Incremental Value of Magnetic Resonance Neurography for the Neurosurgeon: Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is a newer imaging technique that is increasingly used for detailed visualization of peripheral nerves not reliably achieved with conventional imaging modalities. Although MRN has been previously characterized in the literature, few studies have assessed its utility to neurosurgery, where there is potentially substantial impact particularly with preoperative assessment. In this article, we performed a retrospective review of cases in which MRN was used for clinical evaluation and surgical decision making. METHODS: MRN, clinical assessment, and operative decision making were retrospectively assessed in 206 consecutive patients at our institution between 2015 and 2018. RESULTS: MRN was determined to lead to a change in diagnosis or surgical decision making in 44 patients (21.4%: 27 female, 17 male). These were classified into 6 major diagnostic categories: trauma, postsurgical evaluation, compressive/degenerative conditions, tumors, neuritis/inflammation, and other neurogenic lesions. Nine representative cases were selected from these categories to highlight the range of neurosurgical pathologies in which MRN was useful in diagnostic assessment and surgical decision making. CONCLUSIONS: MRN is an underused resource with great potential value in the diagnoses, surgical planning, and postoperative assessment of various neurosurgical conditions. These present incremental utility to the neurosurgeon as well as socioeconomic benefit in the detection of potentially surgically treatable lesions.

A Developmental and Molecular View of Formation of Auxin-Induced Nodule-Like Structures in Land Plants.

Several studies have shown that plant hormones play important roles during legume-rhizobia symbiosis. For instance, auxins induce the formation of nodule-like structures (NLSs) on legume roots in the absence of rhizobia. Furthermore, these NLS can be colonized by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which favor nitrogen fixation compared to regular roots and subsequently increase plant yield. Interestingly, auxin also induces similar NLS in cereal roots. While several genetic studies have identified plant genes controlling NLS formation in legumes, no studies have investigated the genes involved in NLS formation in cereals. In this study, first we established an efficient experimental system to induce NLS in rice roots, using auxin, 2,4-D, consistently at a high frequency (>90%). We were able to induce NLS at a high frequency in Medicago truncatula under similar conditions. NLS were characterized by a broad base, a diffuse meristem, and increased cell differentiation in the vasculature. Interestingly, NLS formation appeared very similar in both rice and Medicago, suggesting a similar developmental program. We show that NLS formation in both rice and Medicago occurs downstream of the common symbiotic pathway. Furthermore, NLS formation occurs downstream of cytokinin-induced step(s). We performed a comprehensive RNA sequencing experiment to identify genes differentially expressed during NLS formation in rice and identified several promising genes for control of NLS based on their biological and molecular functions. We validated the expression patterns of several genes using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and show varied expression patterns of these genes during different stages of NLS formation. Finally, we show that NLS induced on rice roots under these conditions can be colonized by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Azorhizobium caulinodans.