Sex estimation using foramen magnum measurements, discriminant analyses and artificial neural networks on an eastern Turkish population sample.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have been conducted using the foramen magnum for sex estimation, recent findings have indicated that the discriminant and regression models obtained from the foramen magnum may not be reliable. Artificial Neural Networks, was used as a classification technique in sex estimation studies on some other bones, did not used in sex estimation studies on the foramen magnum until now. The aim of this study was sex estimation on an Eastern Turkish population sample using foramen magnum measurements, discriminant analyses and Artificial Neural Networks. METHODOLOGY: The study was performed on the CT images of a total of 720 cases, comprising 360 males and 360 females. For sex estimation, discriminant analysis and Artificial Neural Networks were used. RESULTS: The accuracy rate was 86.7% with discriminant analysis and when sex estimation accuracy was determined according to cases with posterior probabilities above 95%, the accuracy ranged from 0% to 33.3%. With the use of the discriminant formulas of 2 other studies, obtained from different Turkish samples, sex could be determined at a rate of 84.6%. Some formulas were found to be unsuccessful in sex estimation. Sex estimation accuracy of 88.2% was achieved with Artificial Neural Networks. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was found that sex could be determined to some extent with discriminant formulas from other samples from the same population, although some formulas were unsuccessful. With the use of image processing techniques and machine learning algorithms, better results can be obtained in sex estimation.

Sex estimation from the clavicle using 3D reconstruction, discriminant analyses, and neural networks in an Eastern Turkish population.

Sex estimation of skeletal remains is an important aspect of forensic anthropology. The clavicle is a bone with relatively high accuracy in sex determination. In this study, 7 clavicular parameters were obtained using the CT images and 3D reconstruction of 360 cases equally distributed as 180 males and 180 females. Sex determination was made using univariate, linear, and stepwise discriminant analyses, and multilayer perceptron neural networks. Maximum sex determination accuracy of 85.3% was achieved with univariate analysis, 89.4% with linear discriminant analysis, 90.0% with stepwise discriminant analysis, and 91.4% with multilayer perceptron neural networks. Significant changes were observed in the MLC, APMD-R and CDC parameters according to age, and these were determined to affect the accuracy of sex determination in different age groups. In forensic anthropological studies, more reliable results can be obtained by considering the confounding factors during sampling. Although high accuracy rates can be achieved with neural networks, the results should be approached with caution.

Comparison of placental elasticity in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnant women by acoustic radiation force impulse elastosonography.

AIM: The aim of this research was to study and compare placental elasticity with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies. METHODS: A total of 107 singleton pregnancies in the third trimester (38 healthy control subjects, 34 patients with gestational hypertension, and 35 pre-eclampsia patients) were included in the study. ARFI elastography was used to determine the placental elasticity in the three predetermined regions of the placenta (the fetal edge, maternal edge, and central part of the placenta). The obstetrical data regarding grayscale and Doppler ultrasonography and perinatal outcomes were reviewed. A mean placental shear wave velocity cut-off value that predicts the presence of pre-eclampsia was determined. RESULTS: The shear wave elasticity values in the pre-eclampsia group in all three regions were significantly higher than in the gestational hypertension and healthy control groups (P = 0.001). The most significant difference was found in the peripheral edge of the placenta from the fetal surface in the pre-eclampsia group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The stiffness of the placenta determined by the ARFI technique is significantly higher in pre-eclampsia patients. ARFI elastography of the placenta might be used as a non-invasive and easy method in the diagnosis and evaluation of pre-eclampsia as a supplement to the already existing methods.

Relationship of PCNA, C-erbB2 and CD44s expression with tumor grade and stage in urothelial carcinomas of the bladder.

In the present study, the intention was to reveal the relationship of histological grade and stage with c-erbB2, CD44s, and PCNA immunoreactivity in bladder urothelial carcinomas (UC). In our study, we evaluated 46 items of transurethral resection material of patients submitted by YYU Faculty of Medicine, Main Department of Pathology, with a mass revealed in their bladder after clinical and radiological studies at our laboratories and who were diagnosed with urothelial carcinomas. PCNA, c-erbB2, and CD44s were applied in an immunohistochemical manner comprised from nine low-malignant potential papillary urothelial neoplasia, 23 low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, and 14 high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. Immunostaining was scored according to the percentage of positive cells. The immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the c-erbB2 and PCNA staining ratio increased when an increase occurred in stage and grade. The CD44s staining ratio decreased. C-erbB2, PCNA, and CD44s appear to be a useful marker in the assessment of the prognosis and treatment options in urothelial carcinomas.

Three-dimensional measurements of the nasal interdomal fat pad.

The interdomal fat pad (IFP) is an important structure related to tip deformity in rhinoplasty. This study aimed to evaluate the IFP by ultrasonography before surgery, and to demonstrate the existence of the IFP as a distinct anatomic structure in cadavers and patients. Three dimensions of the IFP were measured in 23 patients using ultrasound before rhinoplasty and in 10 cadavers using dissection. All fat pads were examined by histopathologic methods. In the cadavers, three dimensions of the IFP were found: 2.3 x 3.7 x 12.8 mm. In the patients, three dimensions of IFP were measured by ultrasonography: 2.8 x 4.1 x 13.7 mm. Histopathologic examinations showed that the IFP is a structure differentiated from subcutaneous tissue. The IFP was demonstrated in all cadavers and patients by surgical and radiologic methods. All cases had a fat pad in the interdomal space with varying sizes.