The Internal Cerebral Vein: New Classification of Branching Patterns Based on CTA.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The internal cerebral vein begins at the foramen of Monro by the union of the thalamostriate and the anterior septal veins. The lateral direct vein is its other major tributary. Numerous researchers have reported differences in internal cerebral vein branching patterns but did not classify them. Hence, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the anatomy of the internal cerebral vein and its primary tributaries and classify them depending on their course patterns using CTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Head CTAs of 250 patients were evaluated in this study, in which we identified the number and termination of the anterior septal vein and the lateral direct vein. The course of the lateral direct vein and its influence on the number of thalamostriate veins and their diameters and courses were assessed. The anterior septal vein-internal cerebral vein junctions and their locations in relation to the foramen of Monro also were evaluated. RESULTS: We classified internal cerebral vein branching patterns into 4 types depending on the presence of an extra vessel draining the striatum. Most commonly, the internal cerebral vein continued further as 1 thalamostriate vein (77%). The lateral direct veins were identified in 22% of the hemispheres, and usually they terminated at the middle third of the internal cerebral vein (65.45%). The most common location of the anterior septal vein-internal cerebral vein junction was anterior (57.20%), with the anterior septal vein terminating at the venous angle. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the deep cerebral veins is of great importance in neuroradiology and neurosurgery because iatrogenic injury to the veins may result in basal nuclei infarcts. A classification of internal cerebral vein branching patterns may aid clinicians in planning approaches to the third and lateral ventricles.

Exploring the determinants of pedestrian-vehicle crash severity in New York City.

Pedestrian-vehicle crashes remain a major concern in New York City due to high percentage of fatalities. This study develops random parameter logit models for explaining pedestrian injury severity levels of New York City accounting for unobserved heterogeneity in the population and across the boroughs. A log-likelihood ratio test for joint model suitability suggests that separate models for each of the boroughs should be estimated. Among many variables, road characteristics (e.g., number of lanes, grade, light condition, road surface, etc.), traffic attributes (e.g., presence of signal control, type of vehicle, etc.), and land use (e.g., parking facilities, commercial and industrial land use, etc.) are found to be statistically significant in the estimated model. The study also suggests that the set of counter measures should be different for different boroughs in the New York City and the priority ranks of countermeasures should be different as well.

Cesarean section deliveries in one health insurance hospital in Alexandria.

Cesarean section (CS) rates have been increasing world wide, raising the question of the appropriateness of the selection of cases for the procedure. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that no region in the world is justified in having a cesarean rate greater than 10 to 15 percent. The aim of the work was to determine the trend of cesarean section deliveries in Gamal Abdel Naser Hospital which is affiliated to the Health Insurance Organization (HIO). The study was conducted through a descriptive retrospective approach. The study sample included the a)recorded deliveries between 1998-2005 (n=15917) for estimating the trend of cesarean section deliveries, and b) the medical records of CS deliveries at 2002 in the hospital (n=837) for identifying the indications of CS and their adequacy as a source of information for evaluation of CS deliveries . The study revealed that; cesarean section rate was high and increasing during the period from 1998 - 2005. The highest percent was in the year 2004 (57.9%). The trend of increase was significant (c for linear trend = 162.717, p= 0.000). Thursdays accounted for the highest percent of both admissions and deliveries, while Fridays accounted for the lowest percent . More than one half of deliveries occurred between 2 pm to before 8 pm. More than three quarters of the study sample (77.9%) did not have trial labour. Only 12.8% of the total study sample had induction and the outcome of induction was dystocia in 85%. The main indication of cesarean section was previous CS (41.2%), fetal distress (17.6%), failed trial and failure to progress (11.4%), cephalo-pelvic disproportion (10.3%), abnormal presentation (5.6%) and ante-partum hemorrhage (3.2%). Patient's records lack most of the essential information so it was not possible to verify recorded indication to justify caesarean section.

Palatal rugae area: a landmark for analysis of pre- and post-orthodontically treated adult Egyptian patients.

We aimed to evaluate the stability of the palatal rugae area before and after orthodontic treatment in adult Egyptian patients, and to suggest whether it could be used in superimposition in order to analyse orthodontic treatment change. Fifty pre- and post-dental casts of orthodontically treated adult Egyptian patients were collected from the clinic of the Orthodontic Department the University of Cairo. All patients were indicated to have symmetrical extraction of first premolars. The casts were scanned and analysed. The most reliable points were found to be the lateral third rugae points, which could be used as reference points for cast superimposition.

Palatal rugae area: a landmark for analysis of pre- and post-orthodontically treated adult Egyptian patients

We aimed to evaluate the stability of the palatal rugae area before and after orthodontic treatment in adult Egyptian patients, and to suggest whether it could be used in superimposition in order to analyse orthodontic treatment change. Fifty pre- and post-dental casts of orthodontically treated adult Egyptian patients were collected from the clinic of the Orthodontic Department the University of Cairo. All patients were indicated to have symmetrical extraction of first premolars. The casts were scanned and analysed. The most reliable points were found to be the lateral third rugae points, which could be used as reference points for cast super-imposition