Anatomical Evaluation of the Alveolar Antral Artery in the Turkish Population: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study.

Background Injury to the alveolar antral artery (AAA) is one of the most common complications in oral surgical procedures. This study aimed to determine the diameter and anatomical position of the AAA, establish reference values for the Turkish population, and contribute to the literature. Methodology The diameter of the AAA at the level of the first molar tooth, its distance from the sinus floor, its vertical distance to the alveolar crest, its oblique distance to the sinus floor, the width of the maxillary sinus, the thickness of the lateral sinus wall, the residual alveolar protrusion height, the residual alveolar protrusion width at the basal level, and the distance from the sinus lateral wall to the sinus floor were all measured using cone-beam computed tomography. Age, gender, and oral health were used to evaluate the collected data. Results The average age of the participants in the study was 42.63 ± 16.07 years. The average AAA diameter was 1.1 ± 0.25 mm, the average height of the residual alveolar protrusion was 0.44 ± 0.13 cm, the average width of the residual alveolar protrusion at the basal level was 0.79 ± 0.12 cm, and the average width of the residual alveolar ridge at the crest level was 0.55 ± 0.11 cm. No significant differences were observed in these parameters based on gender and dental status (p > 0.05). The average AAA distance to the sinus floor was 1.02 ± 0.26 cm, the average vertical distance to the alveolar crest was 1.21 ± 0.25 cm, the average oblique distance to the sinus floor was 1.38 ± 0.25 cm, the average maxillary sinus width was 1.63 ± 0.28 cm, the average thickness of the lateral sinus wall was 0.12 ± 0.06 cm, and the average distance from the sinus lateral wall to the sinus floor was 1.28 ± 0.22 cm. Significant differences based on gender were observed in all these parameters (p < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the vertical distance from AAA to the alveolar crest and the oblique distance to the sinus floor based on dental status (p < 0.05), with shorter distances in dentate individuals. Only the AAA diameter showed a weak negative correlation with age (p < 0.05, 0.2 < r < 0.04). Conclusions The results obtained were within a reliable range for oral surgery. Detailed reference findings for the proximity and location of structures can be established for the Turkish population during dental surgery. It is recommended that physicians performing surgical interventions in the maxillary region carefully consider these reference values preoperatively.

Anatomical Variations in Aortic Arch Branching Pattern: A Computed Tomography Angiography Study.

INTRODUCTION: Variations in the branching pattern of the aortic arch (AA) are common. Modification of intravascular stents should be considered taking into account these AA branching variations. Identification of supra-aortic branching types and frequencies is important for specialists planning surgery in this region. In endovascular interventions to the AA, aortic stent grafts should be modified according to the variations of the branching patterns of the AA. In any surgical intervention to the region where the supra-aortic branches are located, ignorance of the variations may cause unwanted injuries or complications. METHODS: In this study, 699 computed tomography angiography (CTA) images were reviewed to investigate AA branching variations using the Horos software (an open-source image viewer). Four groups were constructed based on the number of branches emerging from the aortic arch, which were further divided into subtypes. RESULTS: A total of 699 CTA images from 320 males and 379 females were included in this study. The usual AA branching pattern (type 3b1) was found in 68.5% of the patients. The combined prevalence of other eight branching patterns, designated as variations, was 31.5%. Variation types 1b1, 3b2, and 4b5 were identified in one patient each. Overall, types 2b1 and 2b2 had a prevalence of 28.3%. The type 2b3 variation was observed in 1.6% of the patients. The least common variations were type 4b1 (0.7%) and type 3b2 (0.1%). CONCLUSION: The identification of variations in AA branching patterns by CTA prior to surgical or endovascular interventions involving the aortic arch is important. Thus, specialists planning interventions in this region need to be aware and have knowledge of atypical aortic branching patterns. Higher prevalence rates of AA branching patterns compared to previous studies were identified in the Turkish population in this study and therefore, a comprehensive, multicenter study is needed to determine the cause of this differential finding.

Morphometric Examination of the Sacroiliac Region and Variable Positions of the Sacral Auricular Surface: Anatomical Classification and Importance.

OBJECTIVES: Anatomical variations of the sacrum involve alterations in the number of sacral segments, auricular surface area, and neural arch dimensions and are associated with biomechanical, surgical, and obstetric implications. Due to the complex functional structure of the sacroiliac (SI) joints, it was aimed to evaluate their morphometric structure, classify the sacrum, and group different locations of the auricular surface in the sacrums. METHODS: Sex determination was made in 91 dry human sacra. Determination of the alpha angle on the sagittal axis of the auricular surface of the sacrum and classification of the auricular surface of the sacrum was performed. The sacra were studied to determine the position and extent of their auricular surfaces in relation to the sacral segments. Specimens were grouped as "normal," "high-up," and "low-down" auricular surface-bearing sacra. The sacral surface areas were measured, and SI joints were classified into three types morphologically (types I, II, and III). The depth and anterior-posterior length of the cranial, middle, and caudal impressions observed in the posterior sacrum and anterior-posterior lengths were measured. RESULTS: The measurements made for sex determination showed that 46 of the sacra were from females and 45 were from males. The alpha angle on the sagittal axis of the sacral auricular surface was found to be greatest at the level of the first posterior sacral foramina. While the most common sacrum type was Type III, the least common type was Type I. The surface area of facies auricularis was found to be larger in males than in females. With regard to facies auricularis in all sacrum groups, although it covered approximately 2.5 sacral vertebrae, there was a difference in the location of facies auricularis in the sacral vertebrae. A statistically significant difference was found between right and left in the depth values of the impressions in the dorsal surface of the sacrum (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The position of the auricular surface in the sacrum differed among individuals. These differences are associated with variable load-bearing in the SI joints. The biomechanical classification of the sacrum and localization of the auricular surface can provide information about the anatomic source of low back pain or help predict the location of low back pain. Changes in the synovial surface morphology of the SI joints may elicit sacroiliac joint pain. This study was conducted because it is considered that the location of the auricular surface can significantly affect load-bearing patterns of the sacrum.

Basilar artery formed by persistent primitive trigeminal artery: a case report.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present a case of basilar artery (BA) formed by persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA), which was diagnosed using digital subtraction angiography (DSA). DISCUSSION: PPTA is a common branching variation of embryological origin. The prevalence of PPTA ranges between 0.1 and 0.6%. It has been reported that PPTA typically joins the BA proximally and supplies the superior cerebellar artery (SCA), anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) or posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) branches. This is the first report of a case where the vertebral artery (VA) terminates in the PICA, and PPTA forms the BA and solely supplies the posterior circulation. CONCLUSION: No study or case report has been identified in the English literature on persistent primitive trigeminal artery serving as the sole source of blood supply to basilar artery alone.

Evaluation of attitudes and opinions of medical faculty students against the use of cadaver in anatomy education and investigation of the factors affecting their emotional responses related thereto.

INTRODUCTION: The encounter with the cadaver is one of the few experiences that have a profound effect on the educational life of the medical students. The objective of this study was to investigate medical student's attitudes and opinions towards the use of cadaver in anatomy education, as well as the factors affecting the emotional reactions they demonstrate in their repeated encounter with the cadaver. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Before the study, ethics committee approval for the study was obtained from the Gaziantep University Clinical Researches Ethical Committee (decision date and number: 2016/40). Two different questionnaires were administered to 351 students who participated in the study. Questionnaire-I was administered before the student's first encounter with the cadaver, whereas Questionnaire-II was administered twice, one after student's first encounter with the cadaver and the other after student's fifth encounter with the cadaver. RESULTS: The females got significantly more excited before their first encounter with the cadaver, and that they felt more fear and more sadness for the cadaver (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.019, respectively). On the other hand, the males felt significantly readier to see the cadaver (p = 0.002). It was found that statements of emotional shock, excitement, sadness, and fear coming from the participants decreased significantly after their fifth encounter with the cadaver (p = 0.028, p = 0.001, p = 0.048, and p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: Repeated encounters with cadavers were found to have reduced the negative emotions felt by the students, but have negatively affected the thoughts of the students in respect of donating their bodies.

Prenatal diclofenac sodium administration increases the number of Purkinje cells in female rats: a stereological study.

Diclofenac sodium (DS) may affect the number of Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum since DS can easily be transported from the maternal to the fetal physiological system during the pregnancy. In the present study, the effects of prenatal exposure to DS on the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of 4-week-old (4W-old) and 20-week-old (20W-old) female rats were investigated. There were two main groups: the drug-treated group (DTG) and the control group (CG). Beginning from the 5th day after mating for a period of 15 days, a daily dose of 1 mg/kg of DS (Voltaren, 75 mg/3 ml ampul, Novartis, Mefar Ilaç Sanayi A.S., Kartal, Istanbul, Turkey) was intraperitoneally injected in the DTG of pregnant rats. In contrast, a daily dose of 1 ml/kg of isotonic saline was intraperitoneally administered to the CG of pregnant rats during the same period. After spontaneous delivery, female offspring were obtained, and the main groups' offspring were divided into two subgroups as a 4W-old group and a 20W-old group. Therefore, there were four groups at the end of the experiment: the 4W-old DTG and the CG, and the 20W-old DTG and the CG. At the end of 4W and 20W, offspring were perfused, their brains were dissected, and the number of cells estimated via the optical fractionator technique. Our results showed that while the total number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of offspring of DT 20W-old female rats was significantly higher than that of the CG, there was no significant difference between the 4W-old DTG and the control groups. Therefore, it could be suggested that DS administration during the prenatal period increases the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of a developing female rat throughout postnatal 20W.

Effects of aminoguanidine against renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Aminoguanidine is an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), with high selectivity for the inducible isoform (iNOS). In addition to being an inhibitor of NOS, aminoguanidine also exhibits antioxidant activity. Recent studies suggest that aminoguanidine reduces ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced damage. However, the role of aminoguanidine, in renal injury associated with I/R remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the effects of aminoguanidine on renal I/R injury. There were three groups of eight rats each. I/R was induced by occlusion of the left renal vessels for 60 min, followed by 24 h reperfusion in rats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a stable metabolite of the free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation cascade, were found to be significantly higher in the I/R group (30.3 +/- 0.1 nmol g(-1) tissue) than in the control group (10 +/- 0.05 nmol g(-1)). Aminoguanidine (100 mg kg(-1)) administration to rats significantly reduced the MDA values. We also demonstrated that I/R leads to structural change but aminoguanidine did not reverse this change. Aminoguanidine, according to the biochemical finding is protective but histopathological findings did not reveal protection against I/R injury in kidney. The effects of aminoguanidine on I/R-induced damage remain a subject for future investigations.