Persistent left superior vena cava: the anatomical and surgical importance

OBJECTIVE

Persistence of the left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a congenital anomaly resulting from failure of degeneration of the left cardinal vein. The prevalence of this anatomical variant is approximately 0.3% in the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the persistence of the left superior vena cava in order to avoid potential complications.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study was conducted during a five-year period in 152 patients (64 males, 88 females) aged 1-65 years who underwent cardiac surgery for congenital heart diseases.

RESULTS

The persistence of the left superior vena cava was found in 5 of 152 patients (3.3%). All persistent left superior vena cavae opened into the coronary sinus. Furthermore, the coronary sinus was enlarged in all patients. The right superior vena cava was absent in one of the five cases (20%) in this study.

CONCLUSION

This anatomical variant must be recognized to avoid the potential complications.

The pterion in Turkish male skulls

This study was conducted to determine the location and type of pterion in Turkish males. The importance of the pterion is its relation to the middle meningeal artery, Broca's motor speech area on the left side, and surgical interventions relating to pathologies of the sphenoid ridge and optic canal. Specific measurements were taken on both sides of 26 Turkish human male skulls, none of which showed any obvious pathology or trauma. The sphenoparietal type of pterion was the most common (96% right side, 79% left side), followed by the frontotemporal (4% right side, 17% left side), and finally the epipteric type (4% left side only). The distances on the right and left sides respectively from the center of the pterion to the frontozygomatic suture were 3.30+/-0.40 cm and 3.44+/-0.39 cm, to the zygomatic arch 4.05+/-0.39 cm and 3.85+/-0.25 cm, to the optic canal 4.39+/-0.40 cm and 4.36+/-0.40 cm, and to the sphenoid ridge 1.40+/-0.33 cm and 1.48+/-0.32 cm. The thickness of the skull at the center of the pterion was 0.41+/-0.14 cm and 0.39+/-0.12 cm on the right and left sides respectively. These findings should be of use in surgical approaches and interventions via the pterion.

Vertical and horizontal neoclassical facial canons in Turkish young adults

Four vertical and three horizontal measurements were taken to assess the validity of neoclassical facial canons in 500 (272 female, 228 male) healthy, young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years from Turkey and to compare them with a different population. The measurements were made by a millimetric compass. The special head height was longer than the special face height in the majority of our group (women/men: 97.8%/91.7%). The three-section facial profile canon was equal in only one male subject (women/men: 0/0.4%). Faces with four equal profile sections were not seen in either of the sexes. The nose length was longer than the ear length in the minority of our population (women/men: 1.5%/1.3%). The intercanthal distance was shorter than the nose width and left eye fissure length in the majority of our subjects (women/men: 50.4%/78.9% and 50.0%/52.2% respectively). The mouth width was greater than 1.5 times the nose width in the majority of this study (women/men: 66.9% vs 49.1%).

Measurements of soft tissue orbits in Turkish young adults

The present study was undertaken to determine the normal values of the intercanthal distance, biocular distance, interpupillary distance and palpebral fissure length and height for the Turkish population. These measurements were taken from 500 (272 females, 228 males) healthy young adults aged 18-25 years. The measurements were made with a millimetric compass. The mean values of intercanthal distance, biocular distance, interpupillary distance, right palpebral fissure length and palpebral fissure height were 30.7+/-3.0 mm, 95.9+/-6.0 mm, 63.9+/-3.6 mm, 32.6+/-2.4 mm and 10.3+/-1.6 mm respectively in males. In females the equivalent values were 30.0+/-2.6 mm, 92.0+/-5.4 mm, 60.8+/-3.2 mm, 31.0+/-2.4 mm and 10.4+/-1.5 mm respectively.

Morphometric measurements from various reference points in the orbit of male Caucasians

The aim of this study was to determine the morphometric variations from various reference points to decrease risks in orbital surgery. Sixty-two orbits obtained from 31 skulls of male adult Caucasians were measured with a millimetric compass. On the medial orbital wall, the midpoint of the anterior lacrimal crest was the reference point; from this point we measured distances of 23.9+/-3.3 mm, 35.6+/-2.3 mm, 41.7+/-3.1 mm and 6.9+/-1.5 mm respectively to the anterior ethmoidal foramen, posterior ethmoidal foramen, midpoint of the medial aspect of the optic canal and posterior lacrimal crest. On the same wall, distances from the plane of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina to the ethmoido-maxillary suture and distance from the posterior ethmoidal foramen to the anterior ethmoidal foramen and midpoint of the medial margin of the optic canal were 14.9+/-2.3 mm, 9.8+/-2.9 mm and 6.8+/-2.2 mm respectively. On the inferior orbital wall, the main reference point was the infraorbital foramen, and from this point to the midpoints of the lateral margin of the fossa for the lacrimal gland, inferior orbital fissure, inferior orbital rim and inferior aspect of the optic canal was 23.8+/-7.2 mm, 31.9+/-3.9 mm, 6.7+/-1.9 mm and 50.3+/-3.2 mm respectively. On the superior orbital wall, the distances from the supraorbital foramen to the midpoints of the superior orbital fissure, fossa for the lacrimal gland and superior aspect of the optic canal were 45.7+/-3.6 mm, 26.0+/-2.5 mm and 45.3+/-3.2 mm respectively. Furthermore, on the same wall, the distance from the posterior ethmoidal foramen to the midpoint of the superior orbital fissure was 14.6+/-2.8 mm. Finally, on the lateral orbital wall the frontozygomatic suture was the reference point. From this point distances to the midpoints of the fossa for the lacrimal gland, superior orbital fissure, lateral aspect of the optic canal and inferior orbital fissure were 17.5+/-2.1 mm, 37.7+/-3.6 mm, 44.9+/-2.5 mm and 33.4+/-3.1 mm respectively.

Evaluation of location of mandibular and mental foramina in dry, young, adult human male, dentulous mandibles

The present study was undertaken to determine the precise location of the mental and mandibular foramina and the surrounding anatomic landmarks. Measurements were made on both right and left sides of each of 34 dried young Turkish adult (30-40 years old) human male mandibles. The mandibles were moderately robust and were from dentulous subjects. The results obtained in the study showed that the distance of the mandibular foramen to the angle of the anterior ramus were 16.9 mm on the right and 16.78 mm on the left. The distance to the posterior side of the ramus was 14.09 mm on the right, and 14.37 mm on the left. The narrowest anteroposterior diameters were 32.8 mm on the right and 32.05 mm on the left. The mandibular foramen is 0.5 mm posterior to the centre of the ramus on the right and 0.75 mm on the left. The distance of the lowest point of mandibular notch to the foramen was 22.37 mm on the right and 22.17 mm on the left. The distance from the mandibular foramen to the inferior border of the ramus in the mid position of the ramus was 30.97 mm on the right and 29.75 mm on the left. The average angle of the mandible (gonial angle) was 120.17 degrees on both sides. The distance of the mental foramen to the inferior border of the mandible was 14.61 mm and 14.29 mm on the right and left, respectively. Its distance to the superior border was 13.62 mm on the right and 14.62 mm on the left. The horizontal dimensions of the mental foramen was 2.93 mm on the right, 3.14 mm on the left and its vertical dimension was 2.38 mm on the right and 2.64 mm on the left. The mental foramen was located below the root of the second premolar in 21 bones (61.76%) on the right and 17 bones (50%) on the left while in the remaining mandibles, the foramen was present between the roots of the first and second premolars in 13 bones (38.2%) on the right and in 17 (50%) on the left. The average angle of the mental foramen was 96.82 degrees.

Prevalence of hand x-ray abnormalities in female patients with osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

This study was to determine the patho-anatomical features of oseoarthritis by means of hand radiographs.

METHODS

Individual hand joint radiographs of 38 female patients (33 bilateral, 5 unilateral, aged 50-80 years) were utilized for grade, incidence and localization of osteophytes, joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis and erosion.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that the most frequent osteophytes were in the distal interphalangeal of ring (38%), the least frequent ones in the proximal interphalangeal of little (1%). In addition, the joint space narrowing was most frequent found in the distal interphalangeal of little (93%), the least frequently in the metacarpophalangeal of ring (25%). Subchondral sclerosis was most frequently seen in the distal interphalangeal of index (70%), the least in the metacarpophalangeal of little 35%). Erosion was most prevalent in the distal interphalangeal of index (65%), and least in the metacarpophalangeal of thumb (1%).

CONCLUSION

This study was carried out to determine the radiographic characteristics of osteoarthritis by means of hand radiographs.

Ultrastructural and biochemical changes of the brain after peripheral administration of phorbol myristate acetate

The ultrastructural and biochemical changes in the brain tissue of 20 mice were studied. The mice, separated into acute and chronic groups, were injected with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to trigger the release of free radicals. Malondialdehyde measurement and electron microscopic examination were applied for the evaluation of the effects of the free radicals. The level of lipid peroxide in the chronic PMA group was found to be significantly higher than it was in the acute PMA group (P < 0.005). An electron microscopic examination of the acute group revealed disruption of the mitochondrial cristae and dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum in the neurons. Myelin sheaths of the nerve fibers exhibited focal structural changes. Neurons and neuroglial cells in the chronic group, however, exhibited distinct ultrastructural alterations. The ultrastructural and biochemical findings showed that free radicals lead to brain damage.