Anthropometric measurements of the orbita and gender prediction with three-dimensional computed tomography images.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate the orbital anthropometric variations in the normal population using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) images and to define the effects of age and gender on orbital anthropometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional orbita CT of 280 patients, obtained for various reasons, were retrospectively evaluated in 772-bed referral and tertiary-care hospital between April 2011 and June 2012. Using 3D images, orbital width, height, biorbital-interorbital diameter and orbital index were measured. Measurements were obtained comparing right and left sides and male to female. The relation of the results with age and gender was analysed. RESULTS: Right orbit was found to be wider than left (p < 0.0001). Male patients had wider (p < 0.0001) and higher (p = 0.0001) orbits. Right orbital index was found to be smaller than the left one (p = 0.005). No differences were found between the genders in terms of right and left orbital indexes (p > 0.05). Biorbital (p < 0.0001) and interorbital (p = 0.01) widths were found to be higher in males. There was no relation between the age change and the parameters defined (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No relation was found between age and orbital measurements. It was concluded that orbital images obtained with 3D-CT may be used as a method for gender evaluation.

Sonographic examination of the common extensor tendon of the forearm at three different locations in the normal asymptomatic population.

PURPOSE: The aim is to examine the common extensor tendon (CET) thicknesses at three locations in the normal population with ultrasound (US), to determine changes related to dominancy, age, gender, body mass index and to evaluate structural changes in normal tendons. METHODS: The study included 100 normal volunteers (200 elbows). CET was examined at three landmark locations bilaterally (humeral, articular and radial) and if present, other structural abnormalities such as tendinosis (focal or diffuse tendon echogenicity changes), tears, bone changes (enthesophytes, spurs, irregularities), tendon calcification, effusion and neovascularization were noted. RESULTS: Common extensor tendon was thicker on the dominant side at all three locations (humeral 4.60 versus 4.22 mm, articular 3.55 versus 3.23 mm, radial 3.17 versus 2.88 mm, p < 0.001) and gradually tapered from proximal to distal, moderate relation with age and BMI was present, most pronounced at the humeral location. Bone changes (spurs, irregularities) correlated positively with age and CET thickened in the dominant arm after 42.5 years of age which was also a cut-off age for bone changes (p < 0.05). Asymptomatic tendinosis (12%) within the normal population was significantly related to the dominancy (p = 0.032) but was not influenced by age, gender, BMI, bone degeneration or tendon thickening. CONCLUSION: When interpreting CET thickness, caution should be placed on tendon measurement points in addition to variables such as age, gender, BMI, dominancy and bone changes. Structural tendon changes (tendinosis) may be encountered in the symptom free (healthy), normal population and, not tendon thickening but dominancy is a feature of this asymptomatic tendinosis.

Is there a concordance between carotid and penile cavernosal artery intima-media thickness in patients with erectile dysfunction?

This study aimed to investigate the predictive accuracy of carotid and cavernosal Doppler ultrasound findings for discriminating patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). Fifty patients with complaints of ED were included. B-mode ultrasound of bilateral carotid arteries were performed and peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and intima-media thickness (IMT) values were measured. Afterwards, corresponding values of cavernosal arteries were obtained by penile color duplex ultrasonography (P-CDU). Of total 50 patients, 29 (58%) were included in vasculogenic ED group and 21 (42%) in non-vasculogenic ED group according to P-CDU findings. There was a significant difference between groups for cavernosal IMT (P=0.012) but not for carotid IMT (P=0.601). When patients were reclassified according to carotid IMT values (IMT of the first group <0.9 mm and the second ≥0.9 mm), carotid PSV and EDV values were different (P=0.033 and 0.018, respectively). Cavernosal PSV and EDV displayed no difference (P=0.816 and 0.123) while cavernosal IMT and percent change of cavernosal caliper were significantly different (P=0.014 and 0.018). Carotid PSV and EDV successfully mirrored respective measurements in cavernosal artery. However, carotid IMT failed to demonstrate such a correlation. Cavernosal IMT seems promising as an additional tool in the evaluation of cavernosal function.

Insect intestinal mucins and serine proteases associated with the peritrophic matrix from feeding, starved and moulting Mamestra configurata larvae.

Insect intestinal mucins (McIIM2-4) expressed in the midgut of feeding, starved and moulting Mamestra configurata larvae were identified. McIIM2 and McIIM4 were associated with the peritrophic matrix (PM). PMs from feeding and starved larvae were translucent and contained organized chitin bundles perpendicular to their long axis, whereas PM from moulting larvae consisted of an inner opaque mass surrounded by an outer translucent sleeve. Serine protease genes (McSP1, McSP2, McSP25 and McSP29) were also expressed in these larvae and several serine proteases were associated with the PM. Serine protease activity was also detected in the midgut of feeding, starved and moulting larvae.

A chitin deacetylase and putative insect intestinal lipases are components of the Mamestra configurata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) peritrophic matrix.

One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify cDNA encoding a chitin deacetylase (McCDA1) and three insect intestinal lipases (McIIL1, McIIL2 and McIIL3) associated with the Mamestra configurata (bertha armyworm) peritrophic matrix. Recombinant McCDA1 was active and chitin deacetylase activities were detected in the midgut. McCDA1 and the McIIL genes were expressed exclusively in the midgut; however, McCDA1 and McIIL2 were expressed in all larval stages, whereas McIIL1 was expressed mainly in feeding larvae and McIIL3 primarily during the moult.