Cerebellar volume in early-onset schizophrenia and its association with severity of symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) cases differ from controls regarding volumes of the total cerebellum and the right and left cerebellar hemispheres, and volumetric asymmetry. Correlations of cerebellar volumes and asymmetry indices with severity of symptoms and general functioning in cases of EOS were also assessed. METHODS: Adolescents with EOS (n = 23) were compared with controls (n = 23). Sociodemographic and clinical data, and magnetic resonance imaging scans that were acquired for routine clinical purposes were collected retrospectively. Cerebellar volumes were evaluated using the stereological method. Asymmetry indices were subsequently calculated. Scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Children's Global Assessment Scale were used to assess the severity of symptoms and general functionality. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any of the cerebellar volumes and asymmetry indices between the two groups. Neither cerebellar volumes nor asymmetry indices were correlated with the severity of symptoms and general functionality in EOS. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the early-onset form of schizophrenia does not show apparent volumetric changes of the cerebellum. Additionally, the neural circuits involved in formation of symptomatology may not reflect any correlation with cerebellar volumes at mid-adolescence.

Comparison of Three Methods Used for Estimating Area of Foramen Magnum.

OBJECTIVE: To compare whether there are any differences between the 3 methods used for measure area of foramen magnum (FM) in skulls. METHODS: The FMs of 150 skulls were examined. Antero-posterior diameter, transverse diameter were measured using by Vernier caliper. The area of the FM was calculated by using 2 different formulas as described previously by Radinsky and Teixeira.The authors also applied stereological assessment method for estimating the surface area of FMs. The area was calculated 3 times manually using stereological point grid system for each skull.The authors compared the mean surface area of FMs obtained from each of these 3 methods estimating surface area of FMs whether there were any significant differences in between their results. RESULTS: The mean areas of the FMs estimated according to Teixeria formula, Radinsky formula, and Cavalieri stereological method were respectively as follows: 790.47 ±â€Š99.86 mm, 783.66 ±â€Š99.34 mm, and 748.06 ±â€Š100.19 mm. The authors observed significant differences (P < 0.05) in between the mean surface areas of FMs obtained from each of these 3 methods used for estimating the area. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in between the mean surface areas of FMs obtained from each of these 3 methods used for estimating the area.

Morphometrical aspect on angular branch of facial artery.

Anatomic variability and anastomosis of the angular artery of the facial artery with the other arteries are important for both anatomists and surgeons. In particular, the angular artery is a significant landmark in dacryocystorhinostomy. Because of variations on anatomy of the angular artery, there are limited numbers of anatomic studies on the flaps of facial region. Hence, the aim of the cadaveric study was to evaluate the anatomic features of the angular artery in detail to help surgical procedures.The artery was represented under ×4 loop magnification in 32 sides of 16 formalin-fixed adult cadavers. The angular artery's position, diameter, and branch patterns relevant to the nose arterial supply were evaluated. The facial artery ended symmetrically in 10 (62.5%) of the cadavers. The facial artery was terminated as angular artery in all of the cases. The types of the angular artery were as follows: classical angular type in 8 cases (25.0%), nasal type in 15 cases (46.9%), alar type in 4 cases (12.5%), and labial type in 5 cases (15.6%) on the facial halves. We studied the topographic anatomic features of the angular artery for increasing reliability of the flaps on the region. The angular arterial anatomic details are critical and essential for surgical cosmetic and functional results.

The volume prediction on the experimental design hippocampus using stereological method.

The application of stereologic techniques to the analysis of the nervous system has greatly contributed to the evaluation of the normal and pathological anatomy of the aging brain. Currently, the hippocampus still holds secrets about the aging process. Experimental researches on hippocampus morphology may contribute to the future researches. This study presents the volume and weight of left hippocampus using a stereological technique on light microscope. The mean weight of the encephalon without cerebellum was 6.1 ± 0.1 g. The mean weight and the volume of the hippocampus were (mean ± SD) 0.28 ± 0.02 g and 0.28 ± 0.02 cm3, respectively. The mean coefficient of error for the stereological volume estimation of the hippocampus was 0.03. The individual volume estimation of the subjects may be achieved by the Cavalieri method. Investigators believed that the findings and the applied technique in this study may be useful for clinicians.

Anatomic features of metopic suture in adult dry skulls.

The metopic suture (MS) lies on the midline of the forehead and extends from the frontal bone to the root of the nose. The aim of the current study was to evaluate morphologic features of the complete and incomplete MSs of skulls in the West Anatolian population and rates of the suture types. One hundred sixty crania of West Anatolian people with unknown ages and sex belonging to the anatomy department laboratory of Dokuz Eylül University Medical School were examined. When the MSs that extend from the nasion to the bregma are complete, this condition was named as metopism. The length of the complete sutures was measured using a flexible millimeter calibrated ruler. If the suture was not present throughout between these 2 landmarks (nasion and bregma), these were considered as the incomplete MSs. The incomplete MSs were classified as linear, V-shaped, and double types. The incidence of the complete and incomplete sutures was 75%. The complete (metopism) and incomplete MSs were found in 7.50% and 67.50% of the skulls, respectively. The most common type was linear (39.40%), followed by double shaped (23.10%) and V shaped (5%). The mean length of the complete MS was 12.30 cm. Because the localization and types of MSs are important during clinical approaches, while evaluating patients with head trauma in the emergency department, these should be considered.

Stereological volumetric evaluation of the cerebellum in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cerebellar volume changes and the asymmetry of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). METHODS: The cerebellar hemispheres` volumetric symmetry were evaluated using a stereological method on MR images. The study included 15 patients with BPPV, and 14 age-, and gender-matched control subjects. The cases were admitted to the Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery in the Faculty of Medicine, Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey with the complaint of vertigo between January 2004 and December 2008. RESULTS: The right hemi cerebellum volumes of the subjects with BPPV and the controls were measured smaller than the left hemi cerebellar volumes, however, there was no statistically significant quantitative evidence detected in terms of cerebellar asymmetry between sagittal and axial plane estimates in the cases with vertigo. There was statistical significance between the right and left cerebellum in both the patient and control groups (p=0.023), however, the difference did not change according to gender. There were no statistically significant age and gender dependent cerebellar atrophy and asymmetry between BPPV and control subjects. CONCLUSION: There was no cerebellar atrophy and asymmetry between BPPV and age matched control groups. The stereological evaluation of hemi cerebellar symmetry and atrophy in humans is important for both clinicians and anatomists. The technique is simple, inexpensive, and reliable.

Morphometric analysis of hemicerebellar asymmetryn with central vertigo cases: a stereological study / Análisis morfométrico de la asimetría hemicerebelar en casos de vértigo central: un estudio estereológico

We aimed to evaluate the relevant methods of stereology to estimate hemicerebellar asymmetry according to sex in both adult right handed vertigo cases and comparing with healthy cases. The study included 14 adult control subjects and 18 patients with vertigo. The volumes of the cerebellar hemispheres were determined by MRI using the point-counting approach of stereological methods. The mean ( +/- SD) of the right cerebellar hemispheres in the patients with vertigo were 52.49 +/-5.42 cm3 in males, 50.11 +/- 4.02 cm3 in females. The mean ( +/- SD) of the left cerebellar hemispheres in the patients with vertigo were 53.11 +/- 3.70 cm3 in males, 49.73 +/- 4.69 cm3 in females. There was not significant quantitative evidence detected in terms of cerebella asymmetry between sagittal plane estimates in the cases with vertigo in both genders (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences according to the genders between both vertigo and control subjects (p>0.05). There was only statistical significance between right and left hemispheres in male control subjects (p=0.039). There was no cerebella asymmetry between control and vertigo cases according to genders. The stereological evaluation of cerebella asymmetry or atrophy in humans correlate with gender is of importance for both clinicians and anatomists. The technique is simple, reliable, inexpensive and unbiased.

Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar los métodos relevantes de estereología para estimar la asimetría hemicerebellar según el género, tanto en adultos diestros, casos de vértigo y al compararlos con casos control. El estudio incluyó a 14 sujetos adultos como control y 18 pacientes con vértigo. Los volúmenes de los hemisferios del cerebelo se determinaron en la RM utilizando el recuento de los puntos del método de estereología. La media ( +/- DE) de los hemisferios derecho del cerebelo en los pacientes con vértigo fueron 52,49 +/- 5,42 cm3 en los hombres, 50,11 +/- 4,02 cm3 en las mujeres. La media ( +/- DE) de los hemisferios izquierdo del cerebelo en los pacientes con vértigo fueron 53,11 +/- 3,70 cm3 en los hombres, 49,73 +/- 4,69 cm3 en las mujeres. No hubo evidencia cuantitativa importante detectada en cuanto a la asimetría entre las estimaciones del cerebelo entre plano sagital en los casos con vértigo en ambos sexos (p> 0,05). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas según los géneros entre ambos el vértigo y los sujetos control (p> 0,05). Sólo hubo significancia estadística entre los hemisferios derecho e izquierdo en los sujetos control masculino (p = 0,039). No hubo asimetría entre el cerebelo control y de los casos el vértigo de acuerdo a los géneros. La evaluación de la asimetría estereológica o atrofia del cerebelo en el ser humano se correlaciona con el género es de importancia para los clínicos y anatómicos. La técnica es simple, confiable, de bajo costo e imparcial.