bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using Interactive Online Learning Modules in Histology to Improve Long‐term Retention and Efficiency of Learning
Authors: Russell Rae L. , Luna Patty , Chico Diane E. 
Published: November 2023

INTRODUCTIONAnatomical sciences are integral to the first year of medical education. With decreasing medical school curricular hours devoted to the anatomical sciences, course directors utilize computer‐based modalities as ancillary resources that aim to achieve long‐term retention of material. There is high student demand for such online resources in medical education. The goal of this study is to provide self‐directed, interactive, and highly efficient online learning modules that will improve efficiency of curriculum delivery and increase retention of material by first year medical students.METHODSResearch was conducted on examination answers submitted by historical controls: first year medical students attending Texas A&M in the fall of 2015. Four subjects in medical histology where historical controls scored low on examinations were: blood and hematopoiesis; digestive system; immune system; and male and female reproductive systems. A module on digestive system histology was created using Articulate Storyline 2 software (Articulate, New York, NY) and included narration, histological images, several interactive options, and practice questions. The module included a pre‐quiz, post‐quiz, and survey, to measure the effectiveness and to address the students' perceived value of the module, respectively. First year medical students taking Foundations of Medicine I in the fall of 2016 were offered the module as an optional study tool. The module was made available to the students 6 weeks after examination of the material, and 3 weeks prior to the customized National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) board exam. Results from the quizzes and survey were collected and stored on the learning management system, eCampus (Blackboard Inc., Washington D.C., USA).RESULTSTiming of module deployment matters; these students were given the module after attending 3 lectures and 2 laboratories on the subject. Therefore, the effectiveness of the module could not be determined from quiz score comparisons alone. The eCampus system allows for scores and results tracking, and reports content usage statistics. The outcome of student perceptions on the usefulness of the digestive system histology module is expected to be positive. First year medical students have commented that outline modules offer the opportunity to self‐assess their current knowledge base.CONCLUSIONSProviding an online learning module on digestive system histology could serve as a review tool for the customized NBME board exam. Familiarity with technology and flexibility of time, place, pace, and participation are some reasons why online modules are well received. Future directions of this project include testing the timing of module delivery and publishing more highly efficient modules that are available nation wide.
The Long‐Term Effectiveness of Online Learning Modules for the Study of Anatomy
Authors: Aziz Ben , Lee Vaughan 
Published: November 2023

Education has been evolving in the past decade to accommodate the application of electronic devices. With the use of newer advances in technology in their personal lives, students anticipate the implementation of these same forms of media in their studies. Shorter videos that convey broad understanding have become the standard from Kaplan, USMLE Rx, and Pathoma. This project aims to further establish the effectiveness, and student satisfaction of course‐specific online learning modules for an entire medical school block at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (TTUHSCSOM). Interactive online modules were developed using Adobe Captivate 8™, which included interactive images, captions, and questions. The modules covered every lecture and laboratory component throughout the anatomy block in the 1st year medical school curriculum and were limited to no more than 15 minutes per module. Students had access to all of the modules at the beginning of the block, with each one also posted with the corresponding lecture or laboratory. The quality of the modules was measured by comparing exam scores for the class of 2020 to the class of 2016 (years with similar course structure). A post‐block survey was also used to determine the usefulness of the modules via Likert scale. Upon comparing the exam grades between the class of 2016 and the class of 2020, there was no significant difference between the two. Class average was very high in both cohorts, with an 86.39 (13.84) and 86.25 (6.88). The final exam grades were also not significantly different, with an 89.13 (6.93) and 88.58 (8.31). Results from the post‐block survey completed by 53 students were overwhelmingly positive in total. Of the 29 survey questions, the lowest rated was a 4.28 out of 5. The majority of students viewed modules for 30 minutes to an hour. They also viewed each individual module on average of 2.45 times. We looked at the difference between the groups who viewed the modules for less than 30 minutes and those who viewed for more than 30 minutes. This revealed some statistical differences in categories involved with perceived level of difficulty, purpose, and how likely they would recommend these modules to others. We also looked at the differences between those who watched the modules just once, compared to those who watched 2 or more times, which showed some statistical differences in their understanding of the material, the design of the modules, and how likely they would recommend the modules. We concluded that the interactive modules were a significantly beneficial study resource for the students during anatomy. The perceived value of the modules was very high, although that didn't reflect in the grades compared to the class of 2016. In response to the positive feedback, modules are being created for the second block in the medical school curriculum at TTUHSC.Support or Funding InformationThis study was supported by the TTUHSC/SOM.
Morphological analysis of bronchial arteries and variants with computed tomography angiography, and its relevance in the treatment of massive hemoptysis
Authors: Omaña Rodrigo E Elizondo , Hernandez Claudia N Esparza , Gonzalez Juan Manuel Ramirez , Lozano Rolando Alberto Cuellar , Arocha Carla Sofia Gonzalez , Gonzalez Brenda Martínez , Razo Ricardo Pinales , Riojas Guillermo Elizondo , López Santos Guzmán 
Published: November 2023

Massive hemoptysis is a life‐threatening clinical event. Its main etiology is secondary to rupture of the bronchial arteries and rarely from other systemic arteries or the pulmonary artery. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of anatomical variants of bronchial arteries using computed tomographic angiography in a population of northeastern Mexico.Materials and MethodsAn observational, transversal, descriptive, comparative, retrospective study was performed using 139 imaging studies of Mexican patients in which we evaluated the following parameters from the left and right bronchial arteries: artery origin, branching pattern, arterial ostium, vertebral level of origin, diameter, and mediastinal trajectory.ResultsThe anatomy of the bronchial arteries was similar in both genders, except distribution for vertebral origin level (p 0.006) and the diameter (p 0.013). Left and right arteries were similar, except for the mediastinal trajectory in reference to the esophagus (p <0.001) as well as the arterial diameter (p <0.001).ConclusionOur study is the first to assess comprehensively by computed angiotomography the anatomy of the bronchial arteries, common trunks and intercostobronquiales trunks in the same population. We are the first to report all branching patterns found and perform statistical analysis for all parameters according to gender and side.
Geometric Morphometric Comparison of Retinal Veins between Healthy Individuals and Individuals Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Koons Aaron W , Zdilla Matthew J 
Published: November 2023

Segmentation algorithms have been investigated for the identification of ophthalmic diseases via fundus images; however, patterns of vasculature in the retina have not been assessed via geometric morphometric techniques to differentiate normal and pathologic fundus images. This study utilized the High‐Resolution Fundus Image Database to compare 15 images of healthy patients, 15 images of patients with diabetic retinopathy, and 15 images of glaucomatous patients. Retinal veins were selected for pattern analysis due to the ease of identification. Segments from the most prominent inferior and superior retinal veins traveling from the edge of the optic disk to a vertical line drawn through center of the fovea were selected for analysis. Canonical variate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the shapes of retinal vein patterns in healthy eyes, eyes with glaucoma, and eyes with diabetic retinopathy. Geometric morphometric analysis may be a useful tool in the identification of diseases from anatomical differences of blood vessels identified in fundus images.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13]
Anatomy of the aortic arctic branches and visceral collars of the abdominal aorta of the Night Monkey (Aotus sp)
Authors: Silva Carolina Freitas , Sena Elizeu Farias , Júnior Sérgio Seigi Moringa , Bortolini Cristiane Soares Ferreira , Bortolini Miguel Junior Sordi , Carvalho Yuri Karaccas , Silva Romeu Paulo Martins 
Published: November 2023

The Brazilian territory has the largest diversity of primates in the world. There are 120 species and subspecies, of which 70% are in the Brazilian Amazon. The Aotus sp, usually called the “Night Monkey” are the only current anthropoids of nocturnal habits. On the other hand, even knowing the great importance of this species it is noted that there is a shortage of anatomical information, including about its circulatory system. The objective of this study was to describe the aortic arctic branches and visceral collateral branches of the abdominal aorta of Night Monkey. The proposed study was carried out at the Federal University of Acre, near the Anatomy laboratory, located in Cruzeiro do Sul/Brazil. For the present study, 05 Night Monkeys, adult natural death, was donated by ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade). The macroscopic analysis was performed with accuracy and richly photo documented. The information pertinent to the morphology was described according to the International Comitee on Veterinary Gross Anatomical Nomenclature. From the aortic arch we noticed the direct emergence of the left and right subclavian arteries. The left and right subclavian arteries give rise to the branches: vertebral artery; Internal thoracic artery and costocervical trunk, being later called the left and right axillary arteries, respectively. It was found that the abdominal aorta of Night Monkey originated just below the diaphragm, anterior to the vertebral column, emerging in the abdominal cavity after crossing the aortic hiatus, accompanying the spinal column and closely correlated with the inferior vena cava. Starting from upper to lower, the following blood vessels were found, namely: Artery Celiac; Upper Mesenteric Artery; Arteries Renais; Lower Mesenteric Artery; External Iliac Arteries; Internal Iliac Arteries and Medial Sacral Artery. Based on the findings found, there are great similarities with the vascular arrangement of humans.Support or Funding InformationFundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Acre
Quantification of Structural Heterogeneities within the Human Left Atrium Throughout the Lifespan
Authors: Sakowski Jonna A , Hurley Mary I , Olivieri Marion P , Gervasi Megan E , Swartz Michael F 
Published: November 2023

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia requiring chronic anticoagulation to reduce the risk of stroke and thrombo‐embolism. Previous studies have suggested that structural heterogeneities (fibrosis, fatty infiltration) as well as changes to the atrial myocardium (myocyte hypertrophy), may be associated with the maintenance of AF. However, an understanding of what these left atrial changes are in adults without cardiac disease is not well defined. Biopsies from the left atrial appendage were obtained from during organ donation from patients without a history of cardiac disease. The absence of cardiac disease was confirmed following review of the electrocardiogram as well as echocardiogram. Specimens were divided in half, and placed in either RNA later, or immersed in paraffin. Fixed specimens were sectioned at 6 um, and stained with Hemotoxylin and Eosin to identify the percentage of fatty infiltration and the myocyte dimensions, and with picrosirius red to quantify the percentage of fibrosis within each sample. In addition, from specimens placed in RNA later, the RNA was extracted using an RNA easy kit, and primers for collagen I and collagen III were designed to flank the intron for the respective transcript. RT‐PCR was conducted in duplicate for all samples, and all transcripts were normalized to GAPDH. Potential implications of this work include understanding the expected structural heterogeneities within the left atrium of patients without cardiac disease.Support or Funding InformationWork supported by the Department of Biology and Mathematics, D'Youville College.
Quantification of Potassium Ion Channel Transcripts within the Human Left Atrium Throughout the Lifespan
Authors: Coello Joseph A. , Hurley Mary I. , Olivieri Marion P. , Gervasi Megan E. , Swartz Michael F. 
Published: November 2023

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia requiring chronic anticoagulation to reduce the risk of stroke and thrombo‐embolism. The most common risk factor for the development of AF, is advanced age. Previous studies have suggested that changes in the expression of potassium (K+) ion channel transcripts such as Kir 2.1 and 2.3 which govern IK1, an inwardly rectifying K+ current which allows cardiac muscle to be stimulated sooner because of lower refractory periods, thus sustaining AF. In addition, changes to Kir 3.1 and 3.4 which govern IKACH, may stabilize AF sources within the left atrium. However, an understanding of what the expected changes to left atrial potassium transcripts throughout the human lifespan is not well defined. Biopsies from the left atrial appendage were obtained from patients requiring cardiac surgery, and from samples derived during organ donation. Specimens were placed in RNA later, and the RNA extracted using a RNA easy kit. Primers were designed to flank the intron for the respective transcript. RT‐PCR was conducted in duplicate for all samples, and all transcripts were normalized to GAPDH. Potential implications of this work include understanding the expected K channel transcript changes to the left atrium throughout the lifespan as well as developing a standard for which AF patients could be compared.Support or Funding InformationWork supported by the Department of Biology and Mathematics, D'Youville College.
Rare Variant of the Great Cardiac Vein. A Case Report
Authors: Dăescu Ecaterina , Enache Alexandra , Sztika Dorina , Zahoi Delia Elena 
Published: November 2023

The great cardiac vein, the longest coronary vein, opens into the coronary sinus in most cases, with very few exceptions documented in the literature. During a routine dissection of a 63‐year old male cadaver within our Department of Anatomy and Embryology, a rare morphological variation of the great cardiac vein was observed. In this particular case, the vein started at the mid‐level of the anterior interventricular sulcus. From this origin point, it ascended alongside and on the right of the anterior descending branch. At the point where the circumflex artery originated from the left coronary artery, the great cardiac vein crossed over the anterior descending branch and underneath the circumflex artery towards the transverse pericardial sinus. After crossing the sinus, the great cardiac vein opened directly into the superior vena cava. The coronary sinus, formed of the middle cardiac vein, the posterior cardiac vein and the small cardiac vein, opened into the vena cava separately, by the right atrium. Familiarity with such morphological variations is becoming increasingly important, as invasive procedures through coronary catheterization are becoming more commonplace.Support or Funding InformationN/A
CABG in a Cadaver: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Gardner Seth 
Published: November 2023

Routine dissection was carried out on an 89‐year‐old female cadaver and new cardiac vasculature was identified and photographed. Dissection showed new vessels were anastomosing about the coronary circulation. The left internal thoracic artery (internal mammary) was harvested for the CABG procedure. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains one of the most common procedures worldwide, and remains the gold standard therapy for symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) that involves the left main coronary artery. The review will focus on current advances in conduit harvest and use.Support or Funding InformationThis dissection opportunity was provided by Firelands Regional Medical Center, South Campus. Sandusky, Ohio 44839
Cautery Injury Response in the Zebrafish Heart
Authors: Hockaden Natasha , Pillai Neil , Lafontant Pascal J 
Published: November 2023

Using cauterization of the ventricular myocardium, previous studies in our lab have shown evidence of matrix remodeling as well as robust cardiac regeneration in the giant danio, a species closely related to the zebrafish. Various approaches to ventricular injury, including resection, cryoinjury, and genetic ablation have been used in zebrafish, resulting in differential responses in cardiac remodeling, the initiation and the rate of progression of cardiac regeneration. To date, responses to cardiac cautery injury have not been studied in the zebrafish heart. Hence, we aimed to characterize the ventricular myocardium response to this particular approach to heart injury. Using light and electron microscopy, in conjunction with myeloperoxidase staining, Edu incorporation in cardiac myocytes, Masson's Trichome and picrosirius red/fast green staining, we studied the repair of cauterized zebrafish hearts from 3 to 90 days post‐surgery. We found that cauterization results in regional tissue necrosis that was followed by marked infiltration of inflammatory cells, subsequent accumulation and resorption of connective tissue, and a gradual regenerative response. In addition, we used wheat germ agglutinin staining to document the progressive reconstruction of the damaged compact/cortical myocardium. Our study shows that ventricular cauterization is a simple and reproducible alternative approach to create myocardial necrosis, and to elicit matrix remodeling and cardiac regenerative responses in the zebrafish heart.Support or Funding InformationP.J.L. is supported by NIH 1 R15 HD084262‐01, Donald E. Town Faculty Fellowship, and Faculty Development Funds at DePauw University
Loss of lnx1 impairs vascular development mediated by reduction of VEGF/ERK and BMP signalings
Authors: Chen Zih‐ying , Wu Chang‐Yi 
Published: November 2023

Using zebrafish as a model organism to study vascular development have been intensively identified many molecules that control artery‐vein identity, intersegmental vessel (ISV) patterning and caudal vein plexus (CVP) formation. However, molecular mechanisms of ISV patterning and CVP formation are not fully discovered. We previous identified nr2f1b controls vein, ISV and CVP growth. We further investigated the potential regulated targets of nr2f1b by microarray strategy, and identified ligand of numb‐protein X1 (lnx1) as a potential target that may mediate vascular development. Amino acid sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that lnx1 is highly conserved in vertebrates and we showed that lnx1 mRNA is expressed in developing vessels.Morpholino knockdown of lnx1 impairs the growth of ISV and CVP, suggesting the role of lnx1 in promoting ISV and CVP growth. We further observed the edema and circulation defects associated with the vessel impairment. We next demonstrated the reduction of ISV cells and decrease of CVP endothelial cells sprouting in lnx1 morphants is due to a decrease of cell proliferation and migration, but not results from cell death in non‐endothelial cells. Consistent with the vascular defects in lnx1 morphants, the expression of vascular markers was decreased. To test the specificity of lnx1 morpholino knockdown, we performed the 2nd MO interfere block splicing site and knockdown efficiently by probing lnx1 expression products. Meanwhile, know down of lnx1 by 2 different morpholinos led to similar defects of vasculature and reduced expression of vascular markers; we also performed mRNA rescue experiments. Finally, we examined the interaction between signaling pathways and lnx1. We found inactivation of VEGF and BMP signals reduced the expression of lnx1, and knockdown of lnx1 caused reductions in vegfaa and ERK expression. Together, we conclude that the loss of lnx1 impairs vascular development, which is mediated by VEGF‐ERK and BMP signals.
The Morphological Mapping of Mesenteric Lymphatic Network
Authors: Nizamutdinova Irina Tsoy , Davis Caleb A , Moreno Michael R , Zawieja David C 
Published: November 2023

ObjectivesThe lymphatic system provides routes for lymph flow in the body systems and is tightly involved in the maintenance of fluid and macromolecule homeostasis, as well as transport of newly absorbed dietary lipids and immune cells. In contrast to advancements in the biology of the blood vasculature, knowledge of the basic principles of lymphatic function, especially related to the mechanisms of lymph flow, is still poorly understood. In this study, we are developing multiscale lymphatic network flow models combining theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches. Important parameters for LV network morphology, including typical diameters, vessel lengths, branching characteristics are not readily available in the literature. Therefore, we conducted studies to quantitatively map lymphatic vessel morphology in the rat mesentery.Materials and MethodsMale Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. The vessels at the root of the mesentery were tied off to minimize bleeding and preserve more blood in the vessels, distinguishing them from lymphatics by their red color. Each loop of the small intestine was spread and pinned for imaging. The images of the vascular bundles were taken using a digital camera mounted on a dissecting microscope. Images were taken starting at the central nodal tissue and following each vascular bundle to the edge of the gut wall. The images were stitched together into montages using Hugin Photo Stitcher software. Microscopic images of calibration slides were taken for scaling. Additionally, unmagnified photographs of the entire gut loops were taken for referencing overall vessel location. The patterns and morphometric information of the lymphatic networks (branching pattern, vessel order, and length) were obtained from all the collected images through analysis with ImageJ software.ConclusionThis study provided valuable morphological data to be incorporated into lymphatic network models, e.g., the average number of branching and average length of vessels of each order. Due to limitations of the imaging, some of the smallest lymphatics may be missed. Thus network characterization of the higher‐order lymphatics near the gut wall will require higher resolution/contrast imaging to better identify them. In the future, these techniques can also be adapted to identify individual lymphangions and measure lymphatic vessel radius for use in the multiscale modeling of the lymphatic network. This data will form the basis of improved multiscale lymphatic network models, greatly increasing our ability to investigate the complex behavior of the lymphatic system in health and disease.Support or Funding InformationAcknowledgements: Funding provided by NIH U01 HL123420.