Ayla Kurkcuoglu

Body Height Estimation from Head and Face Dimensions: A Different Method*

Abstract:  As there are cases brought for forensic examination where only the craniofacial region is available, estimation of stature from craniofacial dimensions is without doubt important in forensic cases. The study presented here attempts to estimate stature from craniofacial dimensions in the Turkish population. In the second phase of the study, the correlations between craniofacial dimensions and stature were also evaluated according to different head and face types. All measurements were taken from 286 healthy males with a mean age of 22.71 ± 4.86 years. The sample was then reclassified according to different head and face indexes. For the whole sample, correlation coefficients were low, changing only between 0.012 and 0.229. Thus, no significant increase in correlation coefficients was observed after the samples had been reevaluated according to different head and face types. As a conclusion, craniofacial dimensions are not good predictors for body height for the Turkish population.

Facial soft tissue thickness in individuals with different occlusion patterns in adult Turkish subjects

Knowledge of variation in facial soft tissue thickness is important for forensic anthropologists, dentists, and plastic surgeons. Forensic anthropologists use such information as a guide in facial reconstruction and superimposition methods. The purpose of this study was to measure facial tissue thicknesses of adult males and females of Turkish origin across different types of occlusion, and to compare the results with each other and with values obtained for other populations. The study was conducted on 200 healthy individuals. The analysis of facial tissue thickness included 20 landmarks (10 dentoskeletal and 10 soft tissue) and 10 linear variables. Sex-based variation in facial tissue thickness was noted. The highest soft tissue thickness values were observed in the group with Class III occlusion type at Sn-A point for both the females (16.9, SD=2.4) and the males (17.8, SD=3.3). In the Class I group, the highest tissue depth was observed at Sn-A point (15.3, SD=2.1) in females, and at Li-Id point (17.1, SD=1.9) in males. In the Class II group, contrary to the findings for Class I, the highest soft tissue depth was at Li-Id point (16.0, SD=1.4) in females, and at Sn-A point (18.1, SD=2.6) in males. In conclusion, facial tissue thickness varied in adults depending on the sex and on the type of occlusion.

Morphometric Study of a Horseshoe Kidney

Objective: To describe a horseshoe kidney, a congenital anomaly of the upper urinary tract. Clinical Presentation: A case study of horseshoe kidney harvested from a 62-year-old cadaver at Gazi University Medical School is presented. Results: The right and left kidneys were fused at their lower poles by a parenchymal isthmus located ventral to the abdominal aorta and formed a U-shape with two unequal arms.The isthmus of the ectopic kidney was placed obliquely to the left at the level of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebra. The left kidney was larger and longer than the right one. The kidneys were supplied by three renal arteries arising from the abdominal aorta. Two arteries on the right side supplied blood of the two kidneys, while the third artery that directly originated from the aorta, above the origin of inferior mesenteric artery, supplied the isthmus. Venous drainage of the both kidneys and the isthmus were drained by three veins that opened independently into the inferior vena cava. The right ureter was duplicated in origin. Conclusion: This report shows that knowledge of anomalies such as this is very important in planning and conducting surgical procedures.

The Relationship between Balance, Muscles, and Anthropomorphic Features in Young Adults.

Posture can be defined as the form of the body when sitting, walking, or standing. There would be no problem if muscles interact in harmony with musculoskeletal system or nervous system. Posture analysis is crucial for clinical assessments in physical medicine and rehabilitation. However, studies into this issue are limited. In this study, the relationship between static standing balance and anthropomorphic features in healthy subjects was investigated. The study was carried out with a total of 240 students at Baskent University (116 females, 124 males) aged between 18 and 25 years. Type of balance of the subjects was determined with lateral posture analysis. Additionally, muscle shortness tests, subcutaneous fat thickness, and waist and thigh circumference were measured. As the results of lateral posture analysis, 107 subjects (71 males, 36 females) were detected to have anterior balance, 89 (41 males, 48 females) posterior balance, and 44 (12 males, 32 girls) neutral balance. Values of waist circumference, thigh circumference, and waist/thigh ratio were compared with all three balance types. A statistically significant difference was detected between these values in the subjects who had anterior balance (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a significant relationship was detected between muscle shortness, waist and thigh circumferences, and postural balance type.

Age-Related Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Changes in Rat Oculomotor Nerve

During ageing process, multiple changes occur on nervous tissue composed of cells and extracellular matrix. Changes on nervous tissues are usually known as degenerative changes on axon structure and connective tissue covering the nerve such as a decrease in the number of fibre or general structural changes. For this purpose, we have studied age‐dependent ultrastructural changes in the rat oculomotor nerve with electron microscopy and also demonstrated collagen structure of the neural sheaths with immunohistochemical techniques. This study was conducted in Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy with a total of nine Wistar albino rats. We observed strong collagen type I immunoreactivity in endoneurium and slight to moderate reactivity in fibroblast cytoplasm in 3‐month‐ and 12‐month‐old groups and mild reactivity in 24‐month‐old group. Collagen type IV immunoreactivity was stronger in endoneurium and perineurium in the 3‐month‐ and 12‐month‐old groups compared with collagen type I and fibroblast cytoplasm showed a very strong reactivity. On the other hand, in the 24‐month‐old group, there was slight reactivity in endoneurium and a strong reactivity in perineurium. NGF staining showed moderate to strong reactivity on Schwann cells of the 3‐month‐old group. The immunoreactivity decreased in the 12‐month‐ and 24‐month‐old groups. In the 3‐month‐old rat group, Schwann cell cytoplasm, mitochondrial structure and neurofilaments were normal. In the 12‐month‐old group, there were no changes in organelle distribution, mitochondrial structure and neurofilaments, but there was an increase in the connective tissue. An inconsiderable number of degenerated myelinated nerves were observed. We detected an important decrease in the collagen type I immunoreactivity, which could suggest that the endoneurium, perineurium and epineurium are less resistant to the age‐related collagen loss and that the peripheral nerve is protected by a weaker barrier in the old group. The collagen type IV immunoreactivity was significantly decreased with age. NGF synthesis decreases with age because of Schwann cell structural degeneration or for different reasons. Thus, this could explain the diminished capacity of regeneration and damage of the myelination of the peripheral nerve.

Stereological Evaluation of Temporal Lobe/Telencephalon Volume in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Using the Cavalieri Principle

AIM Epilepsy is a temporary electric discharge in the brain cells due to shortterm brain function disorder. Epileptic seizures mostly stem from the temporal lobe. The prevalence is the same for women and men. It is thought that there are both microscopic- and macroscopic-level localized changes in the temporal lobe epilepsy. This study aims to assess the volumetric changes that might occur in temporal lobe epilepsy and compare these with normal brains. MATERIAL AND METHODS Volumetric assessment of temporal lobes and telencephalons was performed using the stereological method on the magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 30 female temporal lobe epilepsy patients and 30 healthy females (control group). The volume ratio of temporal lobe to the whole telencephalon was calculated by means of the Cavalieri principle over the coronal MR images of all participants. The section images were transformed into a series of images by Image j program and the measurements were performed by using a point grid. RESULTS The patient groups temporal lobe/telencephalon volumetric ratios were found to be significantly lower than that of the normal participants. CONCLUSION The pattern of temporal lobe volume decrease in TLE may be due to a combined effect of the electrical discharges during seizures and secondary damage due to disconnection.

Perception of Symmetry in Aesthetic Rhinoplasty Patients: Anthropometric, Demographic, and Psychological Analysis

Visual perception of symmetry is a major determinant of satisfaction after aesthetic rhinoplasty. In this study, we sought to investigate the existence of any relationship between anthropometric characteristics of the face and visual perceptions of asymmetry among rhinoplasty patients and to evaluate tools that can shed light on patients who appear at high risk for exaggerating potential asymmetries. In the first part, 168 rhinoplasty patients were asked to fill out the demographic questionnaire, nasal shape evaluation scale, and the somatosensory amplification scale. In the second part, we examined the relationship between anthropometric characteristics of the face and visual perceptions of asymmetry using standardized photographs of 100 medical students. In the third part, patients answered the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation questionnaire 6 months after the surgery. Objectively, no symmetrical face was observed in the anthropometric evaluation. Subjectively, only 73% and 54% of the faces were considered asymmetrical by the rhinoplasty and the control groups, respectively. The rate of asymmetry perception was significantly greater in revision patients when compared with primary rhinoplasty patients. The relationship between the rate of subjective perception of asymmetry and the somatosensory amplification scale scores was statistically significant. We found a significant inverse relationship between the rate of asymmetry perception and the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation scores. Plastic surgeons should be aware of this high selectivity in asymmetry perception, which is associated with poor postoperative satisfaction. Somatosensory amplification scale may help identify rhinoplasty patients at a high risk for exaggerating potential asymmetries. Level of Evidence: III.

Anatomic variations of the celiac trunk and hepatic arterial system with digital subtraction angiography.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Anatomical variation of the abdominal arteries is important. Historic and modern anatomists, radiologists, as well as surgeons have reported and accumulated anatomical variations with a morphological and clinical interest. During graft procurement and reconstruction, accidental injury of the hepatic artery is more likely in the presence of hepatic arterial variation, which can be a common clinical entity. During cadaveric dissection and diagnostic radiological imaging, various types of vascular anomalies are frequently found in human abdominal viscera, especially the celiac trunk. The aim of the present study is to determine anatomical variations in the celiac trunk and hepatic arterial system. MATERIALS AND METHODS Digital subtraction angiography data were collected from 152 consecutive donor patients (103 males and 49 females, aged between 6 and 77 years) who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. RESULTS We examined the anatomy of the celiac trunk in a total of 152 consecutive patients. In total, 62.5% (95/152) of patients showed the classical trifurcation of the celiac trunk. Variant right hepatic arteries arising from the superior mesenteric artery were observed in 17.8% (27/152), the hepatic arteries arising from the left gastric artery were found in 13.1% (20/152), and common hepatic arteries arising from the superior mesenteric artery were observed in 6.6% (10/152) of patients. CONCLUSION These data are useful for planning and performing surgical and radiological procedures of the upper abdomen.

Morphological variation of carotid artery bifurcation level in digital angiography.

Knowing of the level of carotid artery bifurcation (CB) is important for vascular surgery in the neck, radical neck dissections, carotid sinus baroreceptor stimulation, catheterisations, and aneurysms. The aim of this study was to determine the CB level in relation with the cervical vertebral levels, compare them on the right and the left sides, and investigate the relation of CB level with the length of neck. In this study, 100 conventional carotid angiographies were performed. The CB level was determined in relation with 10 different levels which were the levels of the cervical vertebrae and intervertebral disks, and the relation of CB level with the length of neck was investigated. The right and left CB levels of the patients were also determined, and compared. The highest level of CB was at the level of C2 vertebra, and the lowest level of CB was at the level of C6-C7 intervertebral disk in both male and female. When all patients were taken into consideration, CB level was most frequently seen at the level of C4-C5 (29%) on the right side, and at the level of C4 (26%) on the left side. The CB levels were not symmetrical in 10 female and 23 male. Knowing of the anatomical variations of CB level is important in surgical procedures. The anatomical differences must be taken into consideration since the neighbouring structures of CB change in case of variations. We believe that the results of this study will shed light to planning of all interventional methods concerning common carotid artery and its branches as well as surgery in the neck, and will help to minimise the complications.

Upper and Lower Lip Soft Tissue Thicknesses Differ in Relation to Age and Sex

This study was performed to determine ageand sex-related differences in lip thickness. Lateral cephalometric images of 220 healthy individuals were taken and the thicknesses of the upper and lower lips were measured. The measurements we re performed in three different age groups. Our results indicate that the lower lip thickness, as well as the distance between the most a terior point of contact between the upper and lower lips and the most protruding point of the upper incisor teeth, differed between th e t o sexes. The lips of males were thicker than those of females. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to determine the c utoff values to differentiate thickness between males and females. Our results showed that knowledge of upper and lower lips thicknes s in relation to age and sex may be beneficial to forensic anthropologists, to plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and to orthodont ists for m re detailed examination, effective treatment, and optimised outcomes.