In the light of increased incidence of coronary arterial diseases, knowledge of the variations in the number and location of coronary ostia is essential in the planning of various interventional and surgical procedures on the coronary arteries as well as aortic valve replacements. Aim: To investigate the variations in the origin, number, size and location of coronary ostia in relation to aortic leaflets. Methods: Eighty adult human cadaveric hearts with great vessels in situ were studied for coronary ostia. Results: 78 hearts had tricuspid aortic valve and two hearts had bicuspid aortic valve. Anomalous origins of right coronary artery from the left posterior aortic sinus in one heart and the left coronary artery from the noncoronary sinus in another heart were noted. Both right and left coronary arteries arose from the anterior aortic sinus in two hearts with bicuspid aortic valve. Single right coronary ostium was seen in 63 hearts (78.75%), two right coronary ostia were found in 14 hearts (17.5%), three right coronary ostia were found in two hearts (2.5%), and four were found in one heart(1.25%). The left coronary ostium was single in all hearts. The mean diameter of right coronary ostium (RCO) was 3.17±0.87 mm and of the left coronary ostium (LCO) was 4.1±0.83 mm. The relation of the right and left coronary ostia to the sinu-tubular junction, to the bottom of the related sinus and to the commissures was also analyzed in detail. Conclusion: This study provides data on normal coronary ostial morphometry and topography and there were significant differences in the number of right coronary ostia than of the left coronary ostium. The observed large variations of coronary ostial position in relation to the sinu-tubular junction and to the bottom of the aortic sinus emphasize the importance of considering such anatomic variations in the development of treatments for coronary artery occlusion.

Umbilical arteries normally originate from a pair of allantoic arteries. A failure of allantoic vascular system in early fetal life results in substitution by the vitelline vascular system, an inherent safety mechanism. This gives rise to anomalous course and origin of the umbilical artery. In these cases, the umbilical artery originates from the abdominal aorta and continues as a single umbilical artery. Aim: The aim of this study is to elaborate upon our current understanding about the origin, course and associated anomalies of Type2 single umbilical artery. Material and Methods: Fifty five foetuses, terminated for severe congenital anomalies over a period of 10 years, were sent to the department of anatomy for academic evaluation of congenital anomalies. All the foetuses were dissected systematically to delineate the abnormalities. Results: Thirty fetuses had two umbilical arteries with normal course on either side of allantois (urachus) and urinary bladder. Single umbilical artery was observed in 25 cases. Twenty had type 1 single umbilical artery and coursed normally. Five cases had single anomalous origin and course of umbilical artery, which was similar to type 2 single umbilical artery (SUA). After opening the abdominal cavity, the umbilical artery was not seen beside the urachus: instead it coursed posteriorly between the coils of intestine. When it was traced further, its origin was from the abdominal aorta. The aorta was hypoplastic below the origin of the single umbilical artery. All these cases were associated with cardiac, gastro-intestinal, vertebral, renal and limb abnormalities. Conclusion: Very few cases of this abnormality have been described in literature. Only a few of these cases were diagnosed prenatally as a vitelline artery abnormality: our study will thus help refine prenatal diagnosis and management.

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stress induced by general anesthesia and surgery on the peripheral mobilization of stem cells in horses. Methods: The study was conducted in 12 horses that reported for elective surgical procedures warranting general anesthesia and were randomly divided into group I and group II each consisting of 6 horses. The study included evaluation of plasma cortisol level, stress leukogram and mobilization of peripheral blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)/progenitor cells. Group I horses were pre-medicated with a butorphanoldexmedetomidine-acepromazine combination and further induced and maintained with ketamine-midazolam. Group II horses were pre-medicated with butorphanol-xylazine and induced and maintained with ketamine alone. Results: The change in the pattern of the differential count in terms of stress leukogram was marked when the horses were induced and maintained with ketamine. The mean percentage of CD34 positive cells in pre-anesthesia, during anesthesia and post-anesthesia were 0.13 ± 0.00, 0.31 ± 0.02 and 0.64 ± 0.03 in group I and in group II, 0.12 ± 0.00, 0.30 ± 0.01 and 0.70 ± 0.03 respectively. Similarly, the mean percentage of CD105 positive cells in preanesthesia, during anesthesia and post-anesthesia were 0.01 ± 0.00, 0.01 ± 0.00 and 0.02 ± 0.00 in group I and in group II, 0.01 ± 0.00, 0.01 ± 0.00 and 0.03 ± 0.00 respectively. The Perusal of mean revealed a significant increase in CD34 positive cells in both the groups on the 6 th postoperative day and revealed no significant increase in CD105 positive cells in both the groups. Conclusion: Though the stress indicators in terms of plasma cortisol level and stress leukogram were high after sedation and during anesthesia; mobilization of HSCs was appreciated only after 6 th postoperative day indicating mobilization was occurring during the reparative and healing period.