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ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the anatomical characteristics of mandibular incisive canal and to describe the occurrence of anatomical variations according to side, age and gender using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: A retrospective study using CBCT images was performed to evaluate mandibular incisive canal in mandible of 100 patients. Both right and left sides were studied (n = 200). Axial, sagittal, cross-sectional and panoramic images were evaluated, and three dimensional images were also reconstructed and evaluated, as necessary. The morphology, course and length of mandibular incisive canals and the inner and outer diameters of the canals were measured. Results: The incisive canal was found in 87% of the scans. The mean endpoint was approximately 10.98 and 10.26 mm anterior to the mental foramen for left and right side, respectively, without a significant difference (p > 0.05). The mean distance from the lower border of the mandible was 10.7 mm and its course was closer to the buccal border at the starting point while it deviates lingually through the anterior of the mandible. Significant difference was found between gender, side and age groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Awareness of these anatomical variations is important to avoid neurovascular damage during surgical intervention and anaesthetic applications. Cone beam computed tomography is an effective imaging modality in the detection of lingual foramina and canals. Further studies with larger data samples are necessary in comparison and estimation of anatomical results.
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@#Tularemia is a zoonotic disease and endemic in the northern hemisphere. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of tularemia patients, and to re-analyze their lymphadenopathy during the follow-up. The patients who were diagnosed with tularemia were reviewed. They were invited for the long term, physical and radiological evaluations. 69.8% patients had lived in rural areas. 54.7% patients were associated with animal husbandry, the 18.9% had contact with rodents. The most common form was the glandular type (62.3%). The frequency of granulomatous lymphadenitis was significantly higher in patients diagnosed later than 30 days from the onset of symptoms. Lymphadenopathy was undetectable in 61.5% patients, its severity was reduced in 38.4% patients compared to its state at the admission. In rural areas, avoiding contact with wild animals can ensure the protection from the pathogen. Public communities should be made aware of the disease.
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PURPOSE: To determine the serum levels of proinflammatory and some of the Th1/Th2 cytokines in brucellosis and their alterations with treatment and outcome. METHODS: Twenty-eight acute and seven subacute brucellosis patients diagnosed clinically were included in the study. Twenty healthy volunteers were also included. Brucella standard tube agglutination tests and blood culture were conducted on all subjects. Cytokine levels of pre- and post-treatment period serum samples were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in brucellosis patients compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between patient and control groups in terms of IL-1beta , TGF-beta 1, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-8 levels. There was a positive correlation between IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels with CRP levels. IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels measured after treatment were statistically significantly lower than pre-treatment values ( P < 0.001). No differences were found in the levels of these cytokines between acute and subacute patients' sera. IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were higher in acute or subacute brucellosis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the levels of the cytokines were decreased significantly with effective and adequate treatment these alterations did not correlate with the extent or activity of the disease.