2017, Vol.30, No.3

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.33

pISSN : 2671-5651 / eISSN : 2671-566X
https://journal.kci.go.kr/aba

The axillary artery (AA) is often referred to as having three parts, with these divisions based on its location relative to the pectoralis minor muscle. In third part, AA gives off the subscapular (SSA), anterior circumflex humeral, and posterior circumflex humeral arteries (PCHA). However, variations in these arteries were extremely diverse. So, we observed actually some branching patterns of these arteries in this study. Method: We studied the pattern of SSA in 128 upper limbs from donated cadavers. Result: SSA was originated directly from the third and second parts of AA in 37.5% (48/128) and 4.7% (6/128), respectively. A PCHA made a common trunk with SSA in 25.8% (33/128), and these trunks arose from the third and second parts of AA in 21.1% (27/128) and 4.7% (6/128), respectively. A lateral thoracic artery (LTA) arose from SSA in 12.5% (16/128), and these were originated from the third and second parts of AA in 4.7% (6/128) and 7.8% (10/128), respectively. In 19.5% (25/128) of upper limbs, LTA, SSA, and PCHA have a common trunk, and these arose from the third and second parts of AA in 12.5% (16/128) and 7.0% (9/128), respectively. According to the branching pattern of the SSA, its origin was significantly different.

Macrodactyly is one of the most difficult hand anomalies to treat not only surgically but medically as well. Little is known about the molecular pathways and lipid metabolism of this disease. To elucidate the potential mechanism of macrodactyly progress, we used the bioinformatical analysis including quantile normalization, principal component analysis, heatmap and volcano plot. For the functional bioinformatical study, lipid, lipoprotein and phospholipid metabolism of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Wiki Pathways, and Reactome Pathway were utilized to compare the differentially expressed genes in macrodactyly with control group. We found up-regulation of CDK6 and E2F1, which are associated with the mitotic cell cycle of cancer cells. PIK3CG, associated with cancer and lipid metabolism, was also enriched in macrodactyly. In down-regulated genes, PTEN was highlighted in lipid metabolism, phosphatidylinositol signaling system and insulin signaling. ABCD3, related in peroxisomal import of fatty acids, was also down-regulated. In this study, we predicted the pathogenic candidate genes as well as the potential molecular pathways related to macrodactyly by identifying the signature genes. Signature genes through systems bioinformatical analysis can be utilized to catch the insight of the molecular pathogenesis of macrodactyly.

Hypokalemia causes metabolic alkalosis and morphological changes of the kidney. K+ balance is regulated not only by ion channels or pump gene, but also by various genes including NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Previous study suggested the possibility that Akt and ERK kinase may be involved in Nrf2 transcriptional gene activation. In present study, we investigate the alterations of Akt, p-Akt, ERK, p-ERK protein in both normal kidney and K+-deficient diet kidney using Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemisrty. Our western blot data showed that the expression of Akt and p-Akt was increased gradually in K+-depleted diet (from 1W-3W) compared to normal group. The expression of ERK and p-ERK was markedly increased in K+-depleted diet 2W in comparison with normal group. Based on our immunostaining results, Akt protein immunoreactivity was prominently increased in outer medullary collecting duct, especially in K+-depleted diet 2 weeks. The localization of p-Akt proteins in K+-depleted groups was not different from normal group, but the immunoreactivity was significantly increased in distal convoluted tubule, macula densa and outer medullary thick ascending limb in K+-depleted diet 1 and 2 weeks groups. ERK protein immunoreactivity was prominently increased in outer medullary collecting duct, especially in K+-depleted diet 2 and 3 weeks. The localization of p-ERK proteins in K+-depleted groups was not different from normal group, but the immunoreactivity was prominently increased in the nucleus of outer medullary collecting duct especially in K+-depleted diet 2 weeks. Taken together, we suggest that the expression of p-Akt was gradually increased in K+-depleted groups of kidney, but the expression of p-ERK was markedly increased in K+-depleted diet 2 week group. Hence, the promotion of AKT and ERK phosphorylation in hypokalemic condition may be involved in the regulation of ion channels, ion transporters and subsequent intracellular signal transduction.