This study is to evaluate whether it is possible to predict living stature from sacral and coccygeal vertebral dimensions. Individual vertebral body heights, sacral height(SH), and sacrococcygeal height (SCH) were recorded from the magnetic resonance images of 42 adult males. Sum of the heights of five sacral vertebrae (ΣS), the first four coccygeal vertebrae (ΣC), and the total height of the sacral and the first four coccygeal vertebrae together (ΣSC) were also recorded. Linear regression equations for stature estimation were produced using the above mentioned variables. The regression equations were constructed and tested by using jack-knife procedure. Statistical analyses indicated that the combined variables (SH, SCH, ΣS, ΣC, ΣSC) were more accurate predictors of stature than the heights of individual vertebrae. The results of the study pointed out that the equations derived from sacrococcygeal dimensions perform somewhat better than ones based on foot and head variables, but worse than those based on long-bone length. As a conclusion, the dimensions of sacral and coccygeal vertebrae could be used for stature estimation when long bones are not available.

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Background/Aims: Anatomical variation of the abdominal arteries is important. Historic and modern anatomists, radiologists, as well as surgeons have reported and accumulated anatomical variations with a morphological and clinical interest. During graft procurement and reconstruction, accidental injury of the hepatic artery is more likely in the presence of hepatic arterial variation, which can be a common clinical entity. During cadaveric dissection and diagnostic radiological imaging, various types of vascular anomalies are frequently found in human abdominal viscera, especially the celiac trunk. The aim of the present study is to determine anatomical variations in the celiac trunk and hepatic arterial system. Materials and Methods: Digital subtraction angiography data were collected from 152 consecutive donor patients (103 males and 49 females, aged between 6 and 77 years) who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Results: We examined the anatomy of the celiac trunk in a total of 152 consecutive patients. In total, 62.5% (95/152) of patients showed the classical trifurcation of the celiac trunk. Variant right hepatic arteries arising from the superior mesenteric artery were observed in 17.8% (27/152), the hepatic arteries arising from the left gastric artery were found in 13.1% (20/152), and common hepatic arteries arising from the superior mesenteric artery were observed in 6.6% (10/152) of patients. Conclusion: These data are useful for planning and performing surgical and radiological procedures of the upper abdomen.

There was no cerebellar asymmetry between compared groups. The stereological evaluation of cerebellar asymmetry in humans correlate with both gender and age groups is of importance for both clinicians and anatomists. The technique is simple, reliable, unbiased and inexpensive.

In forensic and anthropological studies, body height is usually estimated from a single regression formula of the population of interest. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of regression formulae devised for different stature groups (short, medium, tall) within the same population. Our study is based on 242 adult male subjects aged 18.1-44.6 years. Body height, tibia length, and ulna length were measured by standard anthropometric techniques. The subjects were randomly divided into a study group (Group 1, n = 121) and a cross-validation group (Group 2, n = 121). In the first stage of the study, general regression formulae based on ulna length, tibia length, and a multiple equation based on ulna and tibia lengths were created for Group 1, and these equations were tested using the data and actual heights of the Group 2 subjects. In the second stage of the study, stature group-specific formulae were constructed for the same variable(s) (ulna length, tibia length, and both of them). Since the body height of the victims is unknown in cases for which estimations need to be made, Group 2 was categorized according to long bone (ulna, tibia, and ulna + tibia) lengths, using the 15th and 85th percentiles as cut-off points. Each set of group-specific formulae were tested with the cross-validation sample. The differences between the true and estimated heights were evaluated using the paired t-test, and results of the general formulae were compared with those of each of the stature group-specific formulae. Our results suggest that stature group-specific formulae give more accurate estimates of height, and that this is particularly significant for individuals who are short or tall relative to the average of a population.

As there are cases brought for forensic examination where only the craniofacial region is available, estimation of stature from craniofacial dimensions is without doubt important in forensic cases. The study presented here attempts to estimate stature from craniofacial dimensions in the Turkish population. In the second phase of the study, the correlations between craniofacial dimensions and stature were also evaluated according to different head and face types. All measurements were taken from 286 healthy males with a mean age of 22.71 ± 4.86 years. The sample was then reclassified according to different head and face indexes. For the whole sample, correlation coefficients were low, changing only between 0.012 and 0.229. Thus, no significant increase in correlation coefficients was observed after the samples had been reevaluated according to different head and face types. As a conclusion, craniofacial dimensions are not good predictors for body height for the Turkish population.

Posture can be defined as the form of the body when sitting, walking, or standing. There would be no problem if muscles interact in harmony with musculoskeletal system or nervous system. Posture analysis is crucial for clinical assessments in physical medicine and rehabilitation. However, studies into this issue are limited. In this study, the relationship between static standing balance and anthropomorphic features in healthy subjects was investigated. The study was carried out with a total of 240 students at Baskent University (116 females, 124 males) aged between 18 and 25 years. Type of balance of the subjects was determined with lateral posture analysis. Additionally, muscle shortness tests, subcutaneous fat thickness, and waist and thigh circumference were measured. As the results of lateral posture analysis, 107 subjects (71 males, 36 females) were detected to have anterior balance, 89 (41 males, 48 females) posterior balance, and 44 (12 males, 32 girls) neutral balance. Values of waist circumference, thigh circumference, and waist/thigh ratio were compared with all three balance types. A statistically significant difference was detected between these values in the subjects who had anterior balance (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a significant relationship was detected between muscle shortness, waist and thigh circumferences, and postural balance type.

Taurine has several biological processes such as hypoglycemic action, antioxidation, detoxification, etc. To assess the effect of taurine administration on the guinea pigs with hyperglycemia, blood glucose, C-peptide levels together with morphologic alterations in the pancreatic ultrastructure were investigated in terms of hypoglycemic action and malondialdehyde and total sulfhydryl group levels with regard to oxidation-antioxidation relation. Animals were divided into four groups of six. Glucose supplementation group was administrated a single dose of glucose (400 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. Glucose and taurine supplementation group was administrated glucose treatment (a single dose, 400 mg/kg, i.p.) following taurine (a single dose, 200 mg/kg, i.p.). Taurine and glucose supplementation group was administered taurine treatment (a single dose, 200 mg/kg, i.p.) following glucose treatment (a single dose, 400 mg/kg, i.p.). Control animals received no treatment. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiments for the determination of glucose, C-peptide (indicator of insulin secretion), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), and total sulfhydryl groups levels. Pancreatic tissue samples were then collected and processed for transmission electron microscopy. The findings showed that glucose supplementation following taurine administration significantly decreased blood glucose level by increasing C-peptide level and the pancreatic secretion stimulated morphologically and insignificantly changed thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total sulfhydryl group levels. These observations suggest that taurine administration may be useful in hyperglycemia because of its hypoglycemic and protective effects.