Examination of upper respiratory tracts of Siirt-coloured mohair goats by scanning electron microscopy before and after plastination.

Present study was conducted to determine the changes in the surface structure of the upper respiratory tract of Siirt-coloured mohair goats by the silicone plastination method. Accordingly, the heads of 10 Siirt-coloured mohair goats procured from slaughterhouses were divided into two halves. Half of each head was plastinated. After macro-comparisons were made, the deformations of silicone plastination on the surface were examined by comparing the scanning electron microscope (SEM) findings of both upper respiratory tract tissue samples collected from plastinates and fresh material. When the data from scanning electron microscopy were analysed, cilia, cobblestone patterns, goblet cells and gland ducts on the epithelial surface were identified in areas on the upper respiratory tract. The SEM images of the plastinated tissues showed that the surface structures were degenerated due to the deformation of the surface epithelium. The plastination technique damaged the structures on the surface epithelium. Since the plastination technique and scanning electron microscopy have been studied together for the first time, we believe this would contribute to the scientific literature.

Evaluation and 3D imaging of mineral structure changes of the rabbit (New Zealand) skull during developmental periods.

This study aimed to determine the morphometric measurements anatomically and CT images of skulls of healthy male and female rabbits during postnatal development, to analyse the data statistically and to demonstrate the structural changes in bone. A total of 40 rabbits (20 females and 20 males) were divided into four groups including prepubertal period (group I (0-1 month)), period between adolescence and adulthood (group II (3-5 month)) and later (young adult period as group III (1-3 years) and old adult period as group IV (3-5 years)), with five animals in each group. After the morphometric measurements, the surface area and volume values of the skull were calculated. The skulls were reconstructed using a 3D Slicer (5.0.2), which is used for 3D modelling. The cranial bones in each group were then crushed using a grinder so that the powdered samples were obtained for XRF (X-ray fluorescence technique). The p-value was statistically highly significant between group and gender (p < 0.001). In morphometric measurements, males were generally higher than females. Only PL, GBOC and GNB measurements were higher in females. The p-value between groups (in all measurements), between genders (in TL, GLN, FL, VL, OZB and GBN parameters) and between groups and genders (in TL, DL and VL parameters) was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). The p-value between the groups, p-value between sexes and p-value between group and sex in Si, P, K, Ca, Ni, Zn, Sr, Sr and Ca/P elements were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Consequently, metric, volume and surface area measurements were taken through 3D modelling of skull bone in prepubertal period (group I), period between adolescence and adulthood (group II) and later (young adult period as group III and old adult period as group IV) of rabbits and the change in the mineral structure during postnatal development and effect of sex on this change were investigated. This might be the first study to assess both metric and mineral changes at four age intervals taken during the life span of rabbits.

Morphometric analysis of the skulls of a ram and ewe Romanov sheep (Ovis aries) with 3D modelling.

BACKGROUND: With the development of technology, 2D images have left their place for 3D models. The 3D modelling technique is widely used in plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, traumatology, dentistry and medical education. The skull is important in terms of containing the starting parts of systems with vital functions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to reveal the difference between male and female and other species by 3D (three-dimensional) modelling and craniometric measurements of Romanov heads. METHODS: In our study, skulls of Romanov sheep (10 females and 10 males) older than 1-year-old were used. The heads of Romanov sheep were scanned with computed tomography and modelled in 3D. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the study, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between male and female sheep in terms of the largest nose length, facial width, molar row length, viscerocranium length, and foramen magnum height parameters (p < 0.05). It was determined that the greatest width of the foramen magnum measurement parameter and the skull index showed statistically significant differences between the genders at the p < 0.01 level. No statistically significant difference was found in other measurements (p > 0.05). The data obtained as a result of the study will help in the racial discrimination and classification of bones obtained from zoo archaeological excavations.

Three-dimensional modelling and morphometric analysis of skull of badger (Meles meles) with computed tomography images.

BACKGROUND: Morphometric measurements help to understand the skull morphology in different animal species, detect skull deformations and figure out their causes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to make a three-dimensional (3D) modelling of the badger skull using computed tomography, to show its anatomical structures and to reveal the morphometric measurement values. METHODS: Skull measurements were carried out using a digital calliper at 27 measurement points based on metric measurement points. After the scanned images were stored in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format, they were transferred to MIMICS 20.1 (The Materialize Group) programme and 3D models the skulls were created. The surface area and volume values of the skulls were calculated on these models. RESULTS: The volume and surface area parameters were expressed as mean ± SE. Four different indices were calculated using osteometric measurements. Statistical analyses were made by determining the mean value and standard deviation of the examined properties and the correlation coefficients among these properties. In the metric measurement points taken as a basis, the longest measurement in the skulls was the total length and its mean value was 124.60 ± 0.64 mm. The shortest measurement was the breadth dorsal to the external auditory meatus, and its mean value was 6.75 ± 0.24 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, statistical differences in the craniometric values of badgers' skulls were determined by using CT and 3D modelling software. In addition, it was concluded that the badger skull can be easily distinguished from other carnivore species by carrying out morphometric measurements.

Osteometric and topographic measurement of the skull and mandible of Siirt colored Mohair goat with three-dimensional (3D) modeling technique.

Siirt-colored Mohair goat is one of the breeds that contributed significantly to the existence of Mohair goats reared in Turkey. Morphological and morphometric characteristics of the Siirt-colored Mohair goat remained vague owing to a lack of studies. Recent advances in high-tech imaging have replaced conventional two-dimensional anatomical structures with three-dimensional (3D) models. In our study, morphometric features were determined by 3D modeling from computed tomography images obtained from the skull and mandibular bones of Siirt-colored Mohair goats. For this purpose, the skulls and mandibular bones of 20 Siirt-colored Mohair goats (10 females and 10 males) were used. The images were reconstructed with the help of a particular software program. The craniometric data were analyzed in terms of sexual dimorphism, and statistically significant difference was found in the A5, A18, and A31 measurement parameters (P<0.05) and Skull index (P<0.01) parameters. In the mandible measurements, there was a statistically significant difference between the sexes in C5, C10 measurement points (P<0.05), C2, C8, C12, C18, C21 measurement points (P<0.001) and surface area parameter (P<0.01). The morphometric data obtained is a resource in the fields of zoo archaeology, anatomy, forensics, anesthesia, surgery, and treatment.

Radiological examination of the skull of Siirt-coloured mohair goat, Romanov and Hamdani sheep.

The skull is a vitally important complex structure formed by the combination of many bones. Craniometric studies are performed with various imaging methods to determine morphometric characteristics in animals. One of these methods is radiography. In our study, skulls of 14 Hamdani sheep, 20 Siirt-coloured mohair goats and 20 Romanov sheep breeds were used. Skull sections were taken with a computed tomography device and saved in DICOM format. Nine separate measurements and six index calculations were made from the images. In the study, firstly, the gender difference was ignored and the similarities and differences between the species were recorded. In addition, gender differences were determined statistically, without making any distinction between species. Correlation analysis was performed to compare measurement parameters between animal species. As a result of the study, the highest skull length (SL) and cranial length (CL) values were determined in the Siirt-coloured mohair goat. It was determined that the difference between Romanov sheep and Siirt-coloured mohair goat in CL parameter was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed between the Romanov sheep breed and the Hamdani sheep breed (p < 0.01). The external length of the cranium (ELC) measurement parameter was found to have a statistically significant difference in three animals (p < 0.01). According to the results of the correlation analysis, the highest correlation value was determined between cranial width (CW) and CL parameters (r = 0.920). When the species difference was ignored, and the statistical difference of the internal height of the cranium (IHC) parameter was found to be significant between female and male animals (p < 0.05). In addition, it was determined that SL, CW and internal cranium index (ICI) parameters had a significant difference depending on sex (p < 0.01). It is foreseen that the obtained data can be used in sciences such as zoo archaeology, anatomy, surgery and forensic medicine.

Physical and chemical characterization of the femur during and after the body development period in male and female guinea pigs.

In this study, it was aimed to reveal the physical and chemical characterization of the bone structures during body development periods (prepubertal period, period between adolescence and adulthood) and after (young adult period and old adult period) in male and female guinea pigs. In this study, 40 guinea pigs (20 male, 20 female) were used. Morphometric measurements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for mineral levels, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis for surface area, and porosity analysis were applied to the bones. The male guinea pigs had greater values than females in the other three categories, with the exception of the second group, when the females have higher values in morphometric measurements. Ca levels rose up to the third group, as did P levels in the males, peaking in the third group and declining in the fourth. As with phosphorus, there was a progressive rise in females from the first to the fourth group. Fe, Zn, and Sr elements had the greatest values in both genders in the first group. In all four groups, the females had greater Zn levels than males. The highest Ca/P ratio was found in the third male group and the fourth female group. This study revealed that adolescence, adulthood, and gender are effective in the physical and chemical characterization of bone structure in guinea pigs.

Morphometric analysis of the mandible of ram and ewe romanov sheep (Ovis aries) with 3D modelling: A CT study.

2D images view hardly measurement points due to the overlap of anatomical features. This challenge is overcome by 3D modelling. In particular, images obtained by computed tomography are converted into 3D models through certain software. In sheep breeds with high polymorphism, some changes have occurred in their morphology due to both environmental and genetic factors. In this context, determining the osteometric measurements of sheep and revealing breed-specific characteristics provide very important data for forensic, zooarchaeological, and developmental sciences. Mandibular reconstruction measurements are used to reveal differences between species and between sexes and for treatment and surgery in many fields of medicine. In the present study, morphometric characteristics were determined by 3D modelling from computed tomography images obtained from mandibles of Romanov ram and ewe. For this purpose, mandibles of 16 Romanov sheep (eight females and eight males) were used. They were scanned using a 64-detector MDCT device at 80 kV, 200 MA, 639 mGY, and 0.625 mm slice thickness. CT scans were recorded in DICOM format. Reconstructions of the images were made using a special software program. Volume and surface area measurements were made with 22 osteometric parameters of the mandible. GOC-ID had a statistically significant positive correlation with GOC-ID, PC-ID, GOC-MTR, GOC-PTW, GOC-FMN, PMU, MDU, PDU, DU, GOV-PC, GOV-IMD, MTR-MH, MO-MH, FMN- ID, BM, MG, and CG (p < 0.01). GOC-ID had a statistically significant correlation with MTR-ID, GOV-CR, PTW-MH and SI (p < 0.05). When the CR-PC measurement point was examined, it was observed that it had no statistically significant correlation with all measurement points (p > 0.05). As a result of the measurement, it was found that the volume and surface areas were higher in rams than in ewes. The morphometric data obtained would be a reference income in the fields of zoo-archaeology, anatomy, forensics, anaesthesia, surgery, and treatment.

Morphometric analysis of the skull of Hamdani sheep via Three-Dimensional modelling.

The aim of the present study was to determine the craniometric characteristics of the crania of Hamdani sheep, one of local breeds of Turkey, by using computed tomography (CT). In the study, 13 (six female and seven male) skulls were used. After CT images of the skulls were taken, their three-dimensional models were created by MIMICS 20.1 (The Materialise Group, Leuven, Belgium) program. Thirty-eight craniometric measurements were taken over the models created and nine indices were calculated by using these measurements. All the characteristics examined were expressed as mean ± SE. In the study, statistically significant differences were found between females and males in terms of greatest neurocranium breadth, facial breadth, greatest palatal breadth (p < 0.05) and height of the foramen magnum (p < 0.01) parameters. No statistically significant difference was observed between the sexes in the calculated index values (p > 0.05). In conclusion, it is thought that the findings obtained from the study will contribute to the zooarchaeology and sheep taxonomy of Mesopotamian region.

Targeting soluble guanylate cyclase with Riociguat has potency to alleviate testicular ischaemia reperfusion injury via regulating various cellular pathways.

Testicular ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury results with serious dysfunctions in testis. This study aims to explore effects of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator Riociguat on experimental testicular I/R injury in rats. Twenty-one male rats were divided into three groups (Control, IR and IRR). The control group was not exposed to any application. Bilateral testis from IR and IRR animals were rotated 720° in opposite directions for 3 h to induce experimental testicular ischaemia. Animals in IR and IRR groups were subjected to 3 h of reperfusion. Isotonic and Riociguat were administered to the animals 30 min prior reperfusion by oral gavage. At the end of experiment, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were used for analyses. Riociguat treatment significantly decreased tissue malondialdehyde and Luminol levels compared to the IR group (p < 0.05). The pathological changes, pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9) and apoptotic index in the IR group were down regulated in Riociguat treated animals (p < 0.05). Riociguat treatment was also significantly increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, but alleviated tissue injury via modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß levels and significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulating NF-κB activity. Moreover, mTOR and ERK phosphorylation increased in IR group (p < 0.05), but Riociguat treatment reduced protein phosphorylation. Our experiment indicated that targeting sGC might support surgical interventions in testicular I/R injury by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic protein expression levels, but more detailed studies are required to explore the protective activity of Riociguat and underlying mechanisms in testicular I/R injury.

Evaluation of skull and mandible morphometric measurements and three-dimensional modelling of computed tomographic images of porcupine (Hystrix cristata).

Although there have been morphological and morphometric studies on the porcupine skull, three-dimensional modelling of the skull is performed for the first time with the present study. In this study, it was aimed to model the skull and mandible of Hystrix cristata in 3D to reveal its morphometric values and the differences between the sexes. Morphometric analyses were performed on a total of eight (four male and four female) adult porcupine skulls and mandibles. Skulls and mandibles of porcupines were scanned usinf a 64-detector MDCT (General Electric Revolution) device at 80 kV, 200 MA, 639 mGY and 0.625 mm slice thickness. Skull and mandible reconstructions were made with the help of MIMICS 20.1 (Materialize) software program and the surface area and volume values of the skull and mandible were calculated. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 22.0 software. The longest measurement in the skulls, based on the metric measurement points, was the total length (TL), and it was measured as 135.4750 ± 0.54976 mm in males and 134.4725 ± 0.86681 mm in females (p < 0.5). The highest value was the foramen magnum index (p < 0.5), and the lowest value the was skull index (p < 0.1). While the total volume ratio of the mandibles was 29901.64 mm3 in males, it was 27296.20 mm3 in females (p > 0.5). Statistical differences in the morphometric values of skulls and mandibles of male and female porcupines were demonstrated for the first time using CT and three-dimensional modelling software.

Colorimetric evaluation of cross-sectional silicone plastination of the Total head region of sheep and Deplastination of the histological sections of brain tissue.

The aim of the study is to protect and preserve the cross-sectional diagnostic characteristics of the anatomy samples by using silicone plastination method, to examine them both macroscopically and microscopically, and to use them as an educational material. After the dissection procedures of 10 total sheep heads obtained from the slaughterhouse were completed, they were freshly frozen and sliced to prepare cross-sectional samples. Then, statistical analysis was performed after the colorimetric measurements. For microscopic examination, 30 brain samples were divided into three groups (Fresh-F, plastination-P, plastination/deplastination-P/D). Of the total brain samples, 20 were subject to routine plastination protocol. After the plastination/deplastination procedure, the changes occurring in cerebral histology were compared. In terms of tissue preservation, the effect of plastination and deplastination was examined using a light microscope. Plastinates subject to silicone plastination under room temperature were very similar to their natural appearance, and it was observed that they preserved their morphological features. Colour changes in the tissues were statistically evaluated. Volumetric shrinkages were observed as qualitative, especially in the brain. As a result of the evaluation done, it was seen that deplastination with toluene is not possible for the brain tissues. In addition, it was not possible to take cross sections of the plastinated tissues that were not deplastinated. On the contrary, findings regarding that deplastination with 5% sodium methoxide dissolved in methanol can allow microscopic examination in long-term preserved plastinated brain tissues were obtained.

Investigating metacarpi of Hamdani sheep via different measurement and modelling methods: A methodological study.

The aim of the study was to perform the morphometric analyses on metacarpi of Hamdani sheep via different measurement methods and to compare the methods. Thus, metacarpal bones of 15 females and 15 males were used in the study. Measurements were taken from the measurement points determined on metacarpus via four methods, and their statistical analyses were performed. When both male and female metacarpal bones were examined in the De parameter in the comparison with the methods, it was observed that the four measurement methods were different from one another (p < 0.01). When DEM and DEL measurement parameters were examined in male metacarpus, the highest value was measured in ImageJ and the smallest value was measured in 3D Slicer software; however, it was found that the statistical difference was not significant when compared numerically (p > 0.05). As a result, while it was observed that the measurements made by using digital calliper measurements, photometric analysis, and 3D software were similar in some of the parameters but there was no statistically significant difference; whereas, Statistical difference was detected in some parameters.