Anatomy of the lumbar interspinous ligament: findings relevant to epidural insertion using loss of resistance

Background and objectivesThe ‘loss of resistance’ technique is used to determine entry into the epidural space, often by a midline needle in the interspinous ligament before the ligamentum flavum. Anatomical explanations for loss of resistance without entry into the epidural space are lacking. This investigation aimed to improve morphometric characterization of the lumbar interspinous ligament by observation and measurement at dissection and from MRI.MethodsMeasurements were made on 14 embalmed donor lumbar spines (T12 to S1) imaged with MRI and then dissected along a tilted axial plane aligned with the lumbar interspace.ResultsIn 73 interspaces, median (IQR) lumbar interspinous plus supraspinous ligament length was 29.7 mm (25.5–33.4). Posterior width was 9.2 mm (7.7, 11.9), with narrowing in the middle (4.5 mm (3.0, 6.8)) and an anterior width of 7.3 mm (5.7, 9.8).Fat-filled gaps were present within 55 (75%). Of 51 anterior gaps, 49 (67%) were related to the ligamenta flava junction. Median (IQR) gap length and width were 3.5 mm (2.5, 5.1) and 1.1 mm (0.9, 1.7).Detection of gaps with MRI had 100% sensitivity (95% CI 93.5 to 100), 94.4% specificity (72.7, 99.9), 98.2% (90.4, 100) positive predictive value and 100% (80.5, 100) negative predictive value against dissection as the gold standard.ConclusionsThe lumbar interspinous ligament plus supraspinous ligament are biconcave axially. It commonly has fat-filled gaps, particularly anteriorly. These anatomical features may form the anatomical basis for false or equivocal loss of resistance.

Morphopathological and molecular morphometric characterization of Waitea circinata var. prodigus causing a novel sheath spot disease of maize in India

Maize brown sheath spot (MBSS), a new disease of maize, was discovered while surveying for maize leaf and sheath blight diseases in the Indian states of Assam, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Odisha. Maize is the third most important cereal after rice and wheat in India. Unlike banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, MBSS symptoms on maize were discrete and limited to sheaths only. Symptoms of MBSS in the field were initially water soaked necrotic lesions of 1 to 2 cm in diameter on the lowermost leaf sheaths, which then progressed to the upper sheaths. Lesions coalesced and covered approximately 2 to 5% of the sheath area. Infected dried lower leaves were shed while infected upper leaves remained on the stem. The pathogen was isolated, characterized morphologically, pathologically, and molecularly, and identified as Waitea circinata var. prodigus (Wcp); a basidiomycete known to cause basal leaf blight of seashore paspalum. The internal transcribed spacer sequence 2 (ITS2) of rDNA from MBSS isolates formed a well-supported clade with known Wcp isolates. Molecular morphometric analysis of the ITS2 regions of the five known varieties of W. circinata detected distinguishing variations in GC content, compensatory base changes (CBCs), hemi-compensatory base changes (hCBCs), indels, and altered base-pairing of helices. Variation in these characteristics may indicate that varieties are distinct biological species within W. circinata sensu lato. The geographical distribution and potential impacts of MBSS on the maize crop in India necessitates further investigations on pathogen identification and disease management.

Morphological and morphometric characterization of Bulgarian local chicken breed – Southwest Bulgarian dzinka

The poultry genetic resources of the Republic of Bulgaria cover mostly the domestic chicken and domestic pigeon species. A number of introduced breeds of chickens are bred in the country, but also some local primitive and decorative breeds. Southwest Bulgarian dzinka is one of the three bantam chicken breeds that originated in Bulgaria. The aim of the study is to make a complete exterior characteristic of the Southwest Bulgarian dzinka breed. A phenotypic evaluation of a total of 29 roosters and 61 hens was performed. The mean body weight of roosters was 620.7±18.9 g and 492.7±8.42 g of hens. The birds are characterized by the presence of a small rose comb, beard and well feathered legs. The most common color of the plumage is spangled. The legs and beak are light in color, except for the black color of the plumage. The eyes are orange-red. The calculated Index for massiveness, Index of compactness and Index of long-leggedness for roosters were 5.35±0.13, 218.57±4.15 and 46.36±1.83, respectively, and 4.62±0.09, 214.62±3.60, 41.03±1.25 for hens.