Ekin Özgür Aktaş

Sex determination from the sternal end of the rib by osteometric analysis

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to establish a sample group of Turkish population to determine sex from the sternal end of the ribs. Sex determination from the human skeleton bones is a simple and specific method. MATERIALS AND METHODS The specimens consisted of right fourth (4th) ribs of 78 females and 173 males of known age, sex and race during 1994-1997 in Izmir, Turkey. A discriminant function analysis showed that the most helpful parameter in the young group was superior-inferior height (SIH), and both SIH and anterior-posterior breadth (APB) in the older group. Modified discriminant score formulae for both young and old groups to determine sex for Turkish population was calculated. RESULTS The results indicated that the accuracy of sex determination was 88.6% in the young group (phase 1-4, age 15-32), 86.5% in the older group (phase 5-8, age 33-89). CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that sexual dimorphism can be assessable by using a single rib, right fourth rib in a Turkish population from ages 13 to 89. SIH of the rib is the most reliable parameter; APB follows it.

The importance of tenascin and ubiquitin in estimation of wound age.

Human wound age determination is of prime importance in forensic sciences. Ubiquitin is a small protein required for ATP-dependent, nonlysosomal intracellular protein degradation, which eliminates most of the intracellular defective proteins. Tenascin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of ubiquitin and tenascin in wound age. Ubiquitin and tenascin were immunohistochemically applied on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of 170 wound biopsies taken from 89 autopsy cases with known wound age. Pearson correlation analysis was performed for statistical analysis. The mean age was 39.44 years. Tenascin was negative in 123 cases (72.4%) in all series, and it was negative in 98.3% in cases with wound age under 24 hours. It was positive in 91.8% in cases with wound age over 24 hours. Mean number of cells which expressed ubiquitin was 10.56%, while it was 4.25% in cases with wound age under 24 hours, and it was 26.14% in cases with wound age over 24 hours. The correlation analysis showed that both tenascin and ubiquitin were positively correlated with wound age. But in cases with wound age over 40 days, tenascin was found to be negative and ubiquitin was still expressed in fibroblasts. We concluded that tenascin and ubiquitin together was useful in determining wound age semiquantitatively.

Determination of the effects of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) 1B and ADH1C polymorphisms on alcohol dependence in Turkey

Alcoholism is a complex genetically influenced disorder which refers to alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. There are controversial results on the role of gene polymorphisms in alcohol dependence in the literature. Differences in population groups and selective inclusion criteria for alcohol dependence may affect results. In this study, we investigated the role of ADH1B Arg48His (rs1229984) and, ADH1C Ile350Val (rs698) gene polymorphisms in Turkish population. 100 healthy volunteers and 75 patients who were admitted to Ege University Alcohol Dependence Unit enrolled in the study. We found significant increase both in ADH1B (Arg48His) polymorphism Arg allele and Arg/Arg genotype frequency in patients. No profound connection between alcohol dependence and ADH1C Ile350Val gene polymorphism was detected. Alcohol dependence is an important health problem that depends on many genetic and environmental factors but we think that it is possible to interpret genetic risk for developing early diagnostic methods and treatment strategies by comprehensive linkage and association studies.

Childhood sexual abuse and supportive factors

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be a devastating life experience and is associated with a higher incidence of mental disorders and suicide attempts. The aim of this study was therefore to identify predictors of mental disorder and suicide attempt in children and adolescents with a history of CSA.

Anatomoradiological identification of intrasutural bones for importance of cranial fracture.

AIM Intrasutural bones are often found within sutures and fontanelles of the skull. It is important that the anatomy of these bones in the field of non-accidental injury with respect to medicolegal complications. Skull fracture lines are critical in their differential diagnosis, and the features of bone formations, their appearance and position give us a more definitive diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Intrasutural bone location, its number and symmetry were investigated in totally 300 adult skulls. RESULTS 27 intrasutural bones were identified as interparietal (2%), preinterparietal (3%) and sutural bones (4%) were in the lambdoid sutures. It was detected that the interparietal and preparietal bones were single, and the sutural ones were in a multiple number. The sutural bones were superposed in significant structures such as sagittal sinus and sinus sigmoideus. CONCLUSION The ones that should be paid attention to in the differential diagnosis of the skull fracture lines are preinterparietal and interparietal bones in larger sizes. These findings prompted us to report these cases as their presence can lead to confusion in diagnosis in cases of skull fractures.

Evaluation of attempted older adults suicides admitted to a University Hospital Emergency Department: Izmir study

INTRODUCTION Advanced age is one of the risk factors for attempting suicide. Suicide attempts are one of the reasons for elderly patients to admit emergency services. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between suicidal behavior and sociodemographic factors and concurrent somatic diseases. METHODS The medical records of patients aged 60 years and over who presented to the emergency department of our university hospital for attempted suicide between the dates of January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2015 were screened retrospectively. Individuals recorded as cases of suicide on the forensic case report form were identified, the data recorded at our hospital were obtained, and telephone interviews were conducted to acquire any missing data. RESULTS A total of 63 patients with a mean age of 65.88 years were included in the study. A large proportion of the suicide attempts occurred in the years 2014 and 2015. Overall, 23.8% of the patients had a previous history of suicide attempt. Overdose was the method in 74.6% of the suicide attempts, and 70.2% were impulsive; 63.5% of the patients had a history of psychiatric disease. The most common psychopathology was major depressive disorder. CONCLUSION We found that suicide attempts were more common among older adults with a history of depression, that approximately one in four had previously attempted suicide, and that the majority of individuals attempting suicide chose to use their own medication.