Epilepsy cases: fMRI and MR tractography as qualitative and quantitative tools for proper localization and pre-operative planning

Functional MRI is a relatively new noninvasive brain imaging technique that has been used for neuroscience research applications since the early 1990s. This technique relies on the blood oxygenation level dependent [BOLD] effect. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging [DTI] is a noninvasive technique that can be used to assess the integrity of cerebral tissue. We evaluated 16 patients with unilateral MTLE. We did MRI for language and memory areas for localization and lateralization of the dominating cortical areas concerned with language and memory. Diffusion-weighted images along twelve different directions with a b value of 1000 s/mm2. A 1.5-T scanner was used to acquire those examinations. For DTI we compared the mean diffusivity [MD] and fractional anisotropy [FA] from symmetrical voxels by sampling the basal ganglia, thalamus, hippocampus and parahippocampus regions bilaterally. We compared measurements with the EEG, high-resolution MR imaging, as well as clinical data. For MR tractography, various tracts were traced including the Meyer's loop. Among the study group only 5 patients with partial epilepsy out of 16 are promising candidates for surgery representing only 31.25% among the study population 68.75% of our study population were excluded according to our quantitative and qualitative tools. Combined fMRI with MR tractography are valuable qualitative and quantitative tools for proper localization and lateralization of the eloquent areas including memory, language areas and Meyer's loop in the selection of promising epilepsy surgery candidates and for pre-operative planning

Stature estimation of ancient Egyptians from the Greco-Roman period

The aim of the study was to evaluate the stature estimation regression equations derived from the Egyptian sample from Giza Old Kingdom and those derived from another Egyptian sample from Naqada. The best equation was chosen on the basis of the least difference between the estimated and anatomical stature. The chosen regression equations were used to estimate the living stature of the Greco-Roman ancient Egyptians from Bahriyah Oasis. The material consists of 8 skeletons with at least one complete side and a number of disarticulated skeletal elements. The skeletons were excavated from big rocky tombs in Bahriyah Oasis and belonged to the Greco-Roman period [332-30 B.C]. The best bone for stature estimation has been found to be the femur for males and females. The estimated statures of the Greco-Roman ancient Egyptians based on the chosen equation were 163.3 cm and 153.9 cm for males and females respectively. Using equations derived from the Egyptian sample from Giza Old Kingdom is better for estimating the ancient Egyptian stature as it gives the least difference than the anatomical. Moreover, the Greco Roman ancient Egyptians were shorter than ancient Egyptians from Giza whose statures were 165.8 and 153.9 cm males and females respectively