Vertebrobasilar insufficiency and gamma-glutamyltransferase: An emerging relationship demonstrating inflammation and atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) is a pathology arising from the reduction in flow rate of vertebral arteries and mainly caused by inflammation and atherosclerosis. Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a marker which has been recently recognized as a marker of inflammation and atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the relationship between GGT levels and VBI for the first time. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, of 3100 subjects who had vertebrobasilar doppler ultrasonography (VBU) were evaluated and 1042 of them who met the inclusion criterias were included. VBU reports, GGT levels, blood chemistry, lipid profile were received from patients' files. Patients were evaluated according to VBU measurements and divided into two groups,VBI and non-VBI. RESULTS: Mean vertebral arterial blood flow volume values were 149.99±32.93 mL/m in VBI group and 286.88 ± 70.98 mL/m in non-VBI group. Mean GGT and CRP values were significantly higher in the VBI group than in the non-VBY group (p < 0.001) ( p < 0.001), respectively. Vertebral artery blood flow volume was negatively correlated with GGT (r: -0.208, p < 0.001) and CRP (r: -0.119, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a significant correlation between serum GGT levels and VBI. In addition, higher GGT level was an independent risk factor for the presence of vertebrobasilar system inflammation and atherosclerosis (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 27).

MDCT evaluation of nasopalatine canal morphometry and variations: An analysis of 100 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the possible variations in morphology of nasopalatine canal (NPC) morphometry depending on age, gender and absence of anterior incisors using multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients (50 men, 50 women) with a mean age of 43.29±18.81 (SD) years (range: 18-90 years) who have undergone head MDTC were included into the study. Foramen nasalis diameter (P1), foramen incisivum diameter (P2), NPC length (P3), distance between buccal wall of incisive foramen and facial side of the buccal bone (P4), distances between buccal bone wall of NPC and facial side of buccal bone (P5), distance between mid-NPC buccal wall and facial side of buccal bone (P6), distance between buccal wall of NPC and the apex of anterior central incisors (P7) and NPC angle (P8) were measured. Formal variations in NPC were searched for. Differences in morphometric data were searched using Student t-test or Mann-Whitney test. Gender-based analysis of the variations was done with the χ2 test. Pearson's test was used to search for correlation between morphometric data and age. RESULTS: P1 was larger in men (3.72±1.41mm) than in women (3.07±1.34mm) (P<0.001). Similarly, P3 was larger in men (13.68±2.73mm) than in women (11.43±2.78mm) (P<0.001). No differences in the other NPC measurements (P2, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8) were found between men and women. Morphological variations in NPC (cylindrical, hourglass, banana shape, funnel shape, single canal, Y-type canal, parallel canal and others) were detected with frequencies ranging from 8 to 65.3%. A significant negative correlation was found between NCP measurements and patient age for P3 (r=-0.311; P=0.002), P4 (r=-0.267; P=0.007) and P8 (r=-0.318; P<0.001). New NPC variations, which were not reported before were found in 19% of our patients. CONCLUSION: NPC shows myriad potential variations that have various prevalences. It is assumed that familiarity with these variations may help decrease the incidence of complications during facial or dental surgery.

Adrenal gland volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE: To determine adrenal gland volume (AGV) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by comparison with healthy control subjects and to investigate the relationship between AGV and hormonal status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AGV was measured on transverse sections of T1-weighted MRI imaging data in 27 PCOS patients and 40 age-matched control subjects for this prospectively designed study. A comparative analysis of AGV in PCOS and controls was performed and possible correlations between AGV and hormonal parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: PCOS patients had significantly larger AGV compared to controls ((11.7±4.4 cm(3), 7.2±1.9 cm(3), respectively, P<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between total AGV and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 17-OH progesterone, and total and free testosterone levels in the PCOS group (r=+0.51, +0.48, +0.43, +0.62, respectively; P values<0.05). In addition, AGV was significantly negatively correlated with LH and LH/FSH ratio in the PCOS group (r= -0.55, P=0.02; r=-0.51, P=0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: PCOS patients have significantly increased AGV as well as a positive correlation of AGV and androgens. We conclude that the assessment of AGV with MRI shows a significant correlation with the androgenic activity of the gland, and that hypertrophy of the adrenal gland may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.