An atypical anatomical variation of the petrosphenoidal ligament in a newborn cadaver.

PURPOSE: To report an atypical anatomical variation of the petrosphenoidal ligament in a newborn cadaver and to discuss its clinical significance. METHODS: During a study of ten newborn cadavers, the skull base was dissected to reveal the anatomy of the petrosphenoidal ligament and its relationship with the abducens nerve. An atypical anatomical variation was observed, and this is described. The length of the right and left ligaments to the point where it splits into two arms, the joint length of the two ligaments at the junction of the clivus, the length of the ligament proceeding to the posterior clinoid process, and the abducens nerve's diameter as it passes below the ligament were measured on ImageJ software. RESULTS: The petrosphenoidal ligaments were y-shaped, and the attachment of the proximal ligaments was bifid. In the midline above the clivus, some ligament bundles joined the contralateral petrosphenoidal ligament, whilst another group of bundles originated at the posterior clinoid process. At the entry to Dorello's canal, the abducens nerve had a diameter of 0.59 mm on the left and 0.65 mm on the right. The part of the ligaments converging on the clivus in the midline after dividing into two arms was 10.68 mm. CONCLUSIONS: We think that this case report will provide useful information for surgical procedures to the petroclival region, transnasal surgical approaches, and surgical interventions involving the carotid artery.

Comparative assessment of auricular measurements in young males and females / Evaluación comparativa de las medidas auriculares en hombres y mujeres jóvenes

SUMMARY: Personal identification is mostly done by facial assessment. The auricle plays a key role in the evaluation and recognition of the craniofacial complex. The aim of this study was to provide normative database using the measurements of the auricle among young males and females by anthropometric methods. Anthropometric measurements were taken from 115 participants, (56 men and 59 women) between 18-30 years old. Participants werestudents at Yasar Dogu Faculty of Sport Sciences of Ondokuz Mayis University. Each participant signed an informed consent form and then participated to the study. We found that the mean length of the right and left auricles were 58.30-58.52 mm, the mean width of the right and left auricles were 30.04-29.73 mm, the mean length of right and left lobules were 16.05-16.45 mm, and the mean width of the right and left lobules were 17.61-18.76 mm in female participants. The mean length of right and left auricles were 62.33-62.49 mm, the mean width of the right and left auricles were 33.60-33.96 mm, the mean length of right and left lobules were 18.49-18.11 mm, and the mean width of the right and left lobules were 19.19-20.47 mm in male participants. The data obtained from the present study may be useful for further studies. Also, the results may be useful for reconstructive surgeons to analyze the size and shape of the auricle.

RESUMEN: La identificación personal se realiza principalmente mediante evaluación facial. El pabellón auricular tiene un papel clave en la evaluación y el reconocimiento del complejo craneofacial. El objetivo de este estudio fue proporcionar una base de datos normativa utilizando las medidas de la oreja entre hombres y mujeres jóvenes por métodos antropométricos. Se tomaron medidas antropométricas de 115 participantes, (56 hombres y 59 mujeres) entre 18 y 30 años. Los participantes eran estudiantse de la Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte Yasar Dogu de la Universidad Ondokuz Mayis. Cada participante firmó un formulario de consentimiento informado y luego participó en el estudio. Encontramos que en las mujeres la longitud media de las aurículas derecha e izquierda era de 58,30-58,52 mm, el ancho medio de las aurículas derecha y izquierdas era de 30,04 a 29,73 mm, la longitud media de los lóbulos derecho e izquierdo era de 16,05 a 16,45 mm y el ancho medio de los lóbulos derecho e izquierdo era de 17,61 a 18,76 mm. En los hombres, la longitud media de las aurículas derecha e izquierda era de 62,33-62,49 mm, el ancho medio de las aurículas derecha e izquierda era de 33,60-33,96 mm, la longitud media de los lóbulos derecho e izquierdo era de 18,49-18,11 mm, y el ancho medio de los lóbulos derecho e izquierdo era de 18,49-18,11 mm. Los datos obtenidos del presente estudio pueden ser útiles para estudios posteriores. Además, los resultados pueden ser útiles para que los cirujanos reconstructivos analicen el tamaño y la forma del pabellón auricular.

Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors protect cerebellar Purkinje cells from zinc-induced cell loss in adult rat.

Zinc is an important trace element in biological systems; however, excessive extracellular zinc could lead to neuronal cell death following ischemia, seizures, and brain trauma. In this study, we investigated whether the intracortical injection of zinc sulphate (200 µg/kg, i.c.) changes total number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and whether different types nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, N-(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), aminoguanidine and 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), have protective effects against zinc neurotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups: control, zinc, zinc+L-NAME (100 mg/kg, i.p.), zinc+L-NNA (100 mg/kg, i.p.), zinc+7-NI (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and zinc+aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) groups. Total number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum was estimated using unbiased stereological technique as 318,947 ± 20,549, 123,483 ± 23,762, 206,537 ± 43,128, 178,135 ± 26,635, 193,148 ± 46,104 and 212,910 ± 26,399 in the control, zinc, zinc+L-NAME, zinc+L-NNA, zinc+7-NI and zinc+aminoguanidine groups, respectively (mean ± SD). The number of Purkinje cells in zinc group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P<0.001). It was found that the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors have neuroprotective effect against zinc neurotoxicity on Purkinje cells. These data show that the inhibition of the nitric oxide synthase could prevent some of the deleterious effects of zinc on Purkinje cells.

Volumetric evaluation of the paranasal sinuses in normal subjects using computer tomography images: a stereological study.

OBJECTIVE: The size and shape of paranasal sinuses are especially relevant when considering endoscopic sinus surgery. For this reason, the size of the paranasal sinuses has been the subject of many studies, none of which has used stereological methods to estimate the volume. In the present stereological study, we estimated the volume of paranasal sinuses of normal males and females. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used a combination of the Cavalieri principle and computer tomography scans taken from 39 male and 38 female patients to estimate the volumes of frontal, maxillary, ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses. RESULTS: The mean volumes of frontal, maxillary, ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses were estimated bilaterally, producing mean volumes of 11.6+/-0.8, 35.9+/-1.3, 11.8+/-0.4 and 13.6+/-0.7 cm(3), respectively. When the correlations between estimated volumes were analyzed statistically a positive relation was found for the paranasal sinuses. The size of the sinuses tends to decrease with age. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study using the stereological methods could provide data for the evaluation of normal and pathological volumes of the paranasal sinuses.

The average values of the nasal anthropometric measurements in 108 young Turkish males.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the average values of the nasal anthropometric measurements in young Turkish male population. METHODS: Study group consisted of 108 volunteer young Turkish males whose age were 18-30 years (mean age 22.31 year). All subjects were students in Yasar Dogu School of Physical Education and Sport of University of Ondokuz Mayis. RESULTS: The means total length and nasal bridge length of the nose were 56.92 and 55.26 mm, respectively. The means of the nasal bridge width and morphologic nose width were 29.74 and 33.63 mm, respectively. The mean width of the anatomic nose was 23.14 mm. The mean width of the nostril floor was 11.00 mm. The means length and width of the ala were 19.93 and 4.81 mm, respectively. The means of length and width of the columella were 9.34 and 5.34 mm, respectively. The mean frontonasal angle was 134.96 degrees and the mean nasolabial angle was 90.32 degrees. CONCLUSION: The nose was the dominant feature in the facial region. Anthropometric measurements related with the nose measured were compared with the available literature. Average values of the nose in this population may be used as a landmark for guidance to plan corrective surgery of the nose.

The effects of section thickness on the estimation of liver volume by the Cavalieri principle using computed tomography images.

Estimation of liver volume using routine CT scans has been described previously. We have, however, not found a gold standard study which analyzes the effect of section thickness on the estimation of liver volume using CT images. In the present study, five normal livers obtained from cadavers were scanned using a Spiral CT Scanner (Xpress/GX Toshiba, Tocigi-Ken) in the horizontal plane. Consecutive sections at a thickness of 10, 5 and 1mm were used to estimate the total volume of the livers by means of the Cavalieri principle. With a view to evaluating inter-observer differences, liver volume was estimated by three observers. The estimated volume using the classical volume estimation formula did not concur with the actual volume of the livers obtained by the fluid displacement technique. The section thickness has an over- or under-projection effect on the estimated volume. The obtained volume estimation results were, therefore, calibrated using three different approaches. The volume obtained by the calibration formulae did not differ statistically from actual liver volumes (P<0.05). There were also no significant differences between the performers' estimates (P>0.05). Results showed that the effect of section thickness on the volume estimates could not be omitted and the obtained values could be calibrated using the proposed approaches presented in this study.

A deep femoral artery passing in front of the femoral vein.

It is known that a different ramification pattern can occur as a function of the development of the arteries of the lower limb. During a routine dissection, a variation of the deep femoral artery was found passing in front of the femoral vein in the left lower limb of a 43-year-old male cadaver. This case is reported because of its rare occurrence in the literature. The variation is discussed on the basis of the possible embryological development of the lower limb arteries.

Unbiased estimation of the liver volume by the Cavalieri principle using magnetic resonance images.

OBJECTIVE: It is often useful to know the exact volume of the liver, such as in monitoring the effects of a disease, treatment, dieting regime, training program or surgical application. Some non-invasive methodologies have been previously described which estimate the volume of the liver. However, these preliminary techniques need special software or skilled performers and they are not ideal for daily use in clinical practice. Here, we describe a simple, accurate and practical technique for estimating liver volume without changing the routine magnetic resonance imaging scanning procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, five normal livers, obtained from cadavers, were scanned by 0.5 T MR machine, in horizontal and sagittal planes. The consecutive sections, in 10 mm thickness, were used to estimate the whole volume of the liver by means of the Cavalieri principle. The volume estimations were done by three different performers to evaluate the reproducibility. RESULTS: There are no statistical differences between the performers and real liver volumes (P > 0.05). There is also high correlation between the estimates of performers and the real liver volume (r = 0.993). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the combination of MR imaging with the Cavalieri principle is a non-invasive, direct and unbiased technique that can be safely applied to estimate liver volume with a very moderate workload per individual.