Sacide Karakas

Morphometric examination of the paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells using computed tomography.

BACKGROUND The paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells vary considerably in size and shape from person to person. The main structures are pneumatic. In this study, we investigated the relationship between right and left sides and evaluated the volume changes according to age and sex. METHODS Of all patients attending the radiology department, 91 cases without paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells pathology (i.e., inflammation, operation or trauma) were selected for evaluation. Axial computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained for both paranasal sinuses and temporal bones. In all scans, the volumes of each area (maxillary sinus, frontal sinus, sphenoid sinus and mastoid air cell) were calculated and analyzed statistically. RESULTS The volumes of paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells increased with age and women had a lower mean volume. There was a positive correlation between right-left and ipsilateral structures (paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells). CONCLUSIONS These results are helpful in understanding the normal and pathological conditions of the paranasal sinuses and the mastoid air cells.

Obesity and Its Diagnostic Methods in Turkish Children

OBJECTIVE The application of body mass index (BMI) for obesity classification in all population studies has been questioned by the scientific community. It has been found that the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an accurate method for screening obesity. This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracies of BMI, skinfold thickness (SFT), leptin and BIA measurements in obesity classification and to find correlations between BIA and the other indicators for obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case-control study included 178 children of whom 90 were in the obese group and 88 in the control group. The study measured BMI, SFT, leptin level and BIA-mediated body fat percentage (BIA BFP) in each child. RESULTS The BMIs, leptin levels, SFTs and BIA BFPs of children in the obese group were found to be higher than those in the control group (p<0.001). The measurement of BIA BFP strongly correlated with BMI, SFT and waist circumference, whereas BIA BFP measurement showed weak-moderate correlation with leptin level. CONCLUSION Bioelectrical impedance analysis was found to be an accurate measure of BFP in obesity. In addition, BIA may prevent the incorrect diagnosis of obesity as determined by BMI alone, especially in boys during the pubertal period.

[Investigation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in beta-thalassemia major patients in Aydın province].

OBJECTIVE Blood transfusion therapy for Thalassaemia patients may cause transmission of some infectious agents to the recipients. As Toxoplasma gondii is a transfusion-transmitted parasite, we aimed to investigate anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. METHODS We arranged two groups: patients and controls. There were 36 Thalassaemia cases in the patient group. The control group also included 36 healthy people (of the same ages and gender) who were selected by the one-to-one mapping method. Mean age was 18.1 ± 8.3 (4-35). Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were analyzed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA). RESULTS We determined parasite-specific Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in 7 (19.4%) and borderline levels of IgM antibody in 2 Thalassaemia major cases (5.5%). In the control group, parasite-specific IgG antibody was found in 5 cases (14%). Serum samples of patients with borderline levels were analyzed with an avidity test and were found to have high avidity. There were no significant differences between patient and control groups when considering the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (p=0.752). CONCLUSION Although there is no significant statistical difference, we suggest that blood transfusion donors should be investigated for infectious agents such as Toxoplasma gondii.

Evaluation of morphologic and morphometric characteristic of foramen transversarium on 3-dimensional multidetector computed tomography angiography (mdcta)

AIM To investigate the size and variations of the foramen transversarium (TF). In addition, to study the anatomical variations of the vertebral artery entering the transverse foramen of the cervical vertebrae. MATERIAL AND METHODS The images of 141 (90 males, 51 females) patients aged 18-79 years (mean: 52.7 years) were analyzed. As a result, 987 cervical spines (C1-C7) and 1974 foramina transversaria were individually evaluated. Each TFs anterior-posterior (AP) and transverse diameter (T) was measured bilaterally from multidetector computed tomography (CT) images. The absence of TF was considered as agenesis and a diameter of less than 2 mm as hypoplastic. Double foramina and incomplete double foramina were also noted. We evaluated the levels at which the vertebral arteries entered the transverse foramina. RESULTS The most frequent variation was duplication of TF, which was noted in a total of 88 (8.91%) cervical vertebrae. Agenesis of TF was seen in 37 (3.74%), and hypoplasia of TF in 26 (2.63%) cervical vertebrae. The vertebral artery entered into the transverse foramen of the 5th cervical vertebra from both sides in 4 (1.84%) patients. The vertebral artery entered into the transverse foramen of the 7th cervical vertebra in 4 (1.84%) patients. The vertebral artery entered into the transverse foramen of the 4th cervical vertebra in only 1 (0.45%) patient. CONCLUSION We believe that the determination of foraminal variations could be an important guide for neurosurgeons and radiologists in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in this area.AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the size and variations of the foramen transversarium (TF). In addition, to study the anatomical variations of vertebral artery entering the transverse foramen of the cervical vertebrae. MATERIAL AND METHODS The images of 141 (90 males, 51 females) patients aged between 18-79 years (mean: 52.7 years) were analyzed. As a result, 987 cervical spines (C1-C7) and 1974 foramen transversariums were individually evaluated. Each FTs anterior-posterior (AP) and transverse diameter was measured bilaterally from multidetector computed tomography (CT) images.The absence of TF as agenesis and a diameter of less than 2 mm was considered to be hypoplastic. Double foramina and incomplete double foramina were also noted. We evaluated the levels at which the vertebral arteries entered the transverse foramina. RESULTS TThe most frequent variation was duplication of TF, which was noted in a total of 88 (8.91%) cervical vertebrae. Agenesia of TF was seen in 37 (3.74%), and hypoplasia of TF was seen in 26 (2.63%) cervical vertebrae. The vertebral artery entered into the transverse foramen of the 5th cervical vertebra from both sides in 4 (1.84%) patients. The vertebral artery entered into the transverse foramen of the 7th cervical vertebra in 4 (1.84%) patients. The vertebral artery entered into the transverse foramen of the 4th cervical vertrebra in only 1 (0.45%) patient. CONCLUSION We believe that the determination of foraminal variations could be an important guide for neurosurgeons and radiologists in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in this area.

Craniofacial Characteristics of Thalassemia Major Patients

OBJECTIVE Thalassemias major are the most common autosomal recessive disorders; they are characterized by anomalies in the synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin and are often associated with varying degrees of craniofacial anomalies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial dimensions of β-thalassemia patients and to identify differences by comparing them to those of a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study comprised 43 thalassemia major patients and 26 age- and sex- matched healthy control subjects. Anthropometric measurements were performed in six different craniofacial regions (head, face, nose, mouth, eyes, and ears); a total of 23 craniofacial variables were measured. RESULTS Craniofacial measurements in the regions of the face, nose, lips and mouth, and ears in the thalassemia major patient group yielded statistically significant differences compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the measurements of the head and eye regions. CONCLUSION The study increased our understanding of the craniofacial anatomy of thalassemia major patients and enabled us to obtain quantitative results.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status in Children during Predialysis, or Treated By Peritoneal Dialysis or Hemodialysis

OBJECTIVE Malnutrition is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study was to evaluate nutritional status of children with stage 3-4 CKD and treated by peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis using anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and bioelectrical impedance analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included a total of 52 patients and 46 healthy children. RESULTS In anthropometric evaluation, the children with CKD had lower values for standard deviation score for weight, height, body mass index, skinfold thickness and mid-arm circumference than those of healthy children (p < 0.05). The fat mass (%) and the body cell mass (%) measurements performed by bioelectrical impedance analysis were lower compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION It is considered that bioelectrical impedance analysis measurement should be used with anthropometric measurements, which are easy to perform, to achieve more accurate nutritional evaluation in children.