Radiological examinations of the anatomy of the inferior turbinate using digital volume tomography (DVT).

BACKGROUND: Since the last 120 years there were only few descriptions of the anatomical sizes of the inferior turbinate in the literature. On this background the current study should evaluate the radiological dimensions of the inferior turbinate and the septum using DVT. METHODS: The latest generation of the Accu-I-tomo was used. The data of 100 adult patients have been evaluated. RESULTS: The bony length was found to be 38.9 mm, the mucosal length 51.0 mm. The findings of the total mucosal thickness at different measuring points were between 8.1 mm and 10.9 mm, those of the bony thickness were between 0.9 mm and 2.3 mm and those of the bony height were between 3.9 mm and 20.8 mm. CONCLUSION: The results of this radiological study are able to point out the importance of preoperative anatomical evaluation of radiological images. The preoperative focus on the individual anatomy is very important because of the choice of an adequate surgical treatment. Today new radiological techniques can help to find out whether the reason for hypertrophied turbinates is caused by bone, mucosa or both. This knowledge enables a concerted treatment concept.

Plasma zinc and copper levels of infants fed different milk formulas.

The plasma zinc and copper levels of 32 full-term healthy infants, aged 3-4 months, using different infant formulas, were measured. The plasma zinc levels of infants using soy formula (45.1 +/- 19.1 micrograms/dl) and iron-fortified cow's milk formula (61.6 +/- 12.9 micrograms/dl) were significantly lower than those of the infants using cow's milk formula not fortified with iron (77.5 +/- 13.4 micrograms/dl). The plasma copper levels of the infants using the different formulas were not significantly different from each other. Fortification of infant formulas with high levels of iron may reduce the zinc absorption from such formulas.