Cluster analyses of contemporary embalming protocols in central European anatomy institutions: A collaborative effort to minimize chemical exposure

IF 1.7 3区医学 Q2 ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY

Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger Pub Date : 2025-03-19 DOI:10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152403

Sara Mohebimoushaei , Veronica Antipova , Uta Biedermann , Beate Brand-Saberi , Lars Bräuer , Svenja Caspers , Sara Doll , Maren Engelhardt , Timm J. Filler , Martin Gericke , Yakup Gümüsalan , Stefanie Gundlach , Gregor U. Hayn-Leichsenring , Stephan Heermann , Laura Hiepe , Bernhard Hirt , Lena Hirtler , Christoph Kulisch , Marko Konschake , Stefanie Kürten , Niels Hammer

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Anatomical embalming forms a mainstay in the provision of teaching materials based on human post-mortem tissues. As a consequence of regulations worldwide to minimize the use of formaldehyde due to its harmful nature, effective measures must be taken to minimize its application in the anatomy laboratory. This study aimed to identify commonalities among embalming protocols used in Austrian, German and Swiss anatomies to reduce formaldehyde usage and provide a foundation for joint accreditation.

Methods

Survey data on all procedures, technologies and chemicals related to embalming were collected from 28 participating institutions and analyzed using an automated clustering approach. Special attention was given to chemicals, explosion-proof facilities, and air ventilation technology. After conducting principal component analyses, the data was evaluated using an unsupervised K-means learning algorithm.

Results

Six distinct clusters of common chemical usage were identified, namely (1) Thiel embalming with explosion-proof facilities, (2) potassium- and sodium salt-based embalming with downdraft ventilation, (3) ethanol/glycerin/glutaraldehyde/sodium alkyl ether sulphate-based embalming, (4) ethanol-based embalming, (5) formaldehyde-based embalming, and (6) ethanol/phenoxyethanol/alkyl (C12–16) dimethylbenzyl ammoniumchloride-based embalming. All clusters included the use of formaldehyde to varying extent. These clusters demonstrated high stability for fixation, combined fixation and conservation, as well as the incorporation of explosion-proof facilities and air ventilation technology. Moreover, a number of institutions used more than one similar protocol, so-called ‘Superclusters’, with Clusters (4) and (1) or Clusters (5) and (1) combined being the most common observation.

Conclusion

These findings provide a basis for optimizing, streamlining and sharing embalming protocols among central European anatomy institutions.

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中欧解剖机构当代防腐规程的聚类分析：减少化学接触的合作努力。

背景：解剖防腐是提供基于人体死后组织的教学材料的主要内容。由于甲醛的有害性质，世界各地都有规定尽量减少甲醛的使用，因此必须采取有效措施尽量减少其在解剖实验室中的应用。本研究旨在确定奥地利、德国和瑞士解剖机构使用的防腐方案的共性，以减少甲醛的使用，并为联合认证提供基础。方法：从28家参与调查的机构收集有关防腐处理的所有程序、技术和化学品的调查数据，并采用自动聚类方法进行分析。特别关注的是化学品、防爆设施和通风技术。在进行主成分分析后，使用无监督K-means学习算法对数据进行评估。结果：确定了6种不同的常用化学用途，即(1)防爆设施的Thiel防腐，(2)下通风的钾钠盐基防腐，(3)乙醇/甘油/戊二醛/烷基醚钠硫酸盐基防腐，(4)乙醇基防腐，(5)甲醛基防腐，(6)乙醇/苯氧乙醇/烷基（C12-16）二甲基苄基氯化铵基防腐。所有类别都不同程度地使用了甲醛。这些集群具有较高的固定稳定性，结合了固定和保护，并结合了防爆设施和通风技术。此外，许多机构使用了不止一种类似的协议，即所谓的“超集群”，集群(4)和(1)或集群(5)和(1)组合是最常见的观察结果。结论：本研究结果为中欧解剖机构间防腐方案的优化、精简和共享提供了依据。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger 医学-解剖学与形态学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

22.70%

发文量

137

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： Annals of Anatomy publish peer reviewed original articles as well as brief review articles. The journal is open to original papers covering a link between anatomy and areas such as •molecular biology, •cell biology •reproductive biology •immunobiology •developmental biology, neurobiology •embryology as well as •neuroanatomy •neuroimmunology •clinical anatomy •comparative anatomy •modern imaging techniques •evolution, and especially also •aging