BACKGROUNDThe paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells vary considerably in size and shape from person to person. The main structures are pneumatic. In this study, we investigated the relationship between right and left sides and evaluated the volume changes according to age and sex.METHODSOf all patients attending the radiology department, 91 cases without paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells pathology (i.e., inflammation, operation or trauma) were selected for evaluation. Axial computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained for both paranasal sinuses and temporal bones. In all scans, the volumes of each area (maxillary sinus, frontal sinus, sphenoid sinus and mastoid air cell) were calculated and analyzed statistically.RESULTSThe volumes of paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells increased with age and women had a lower mean volume. There was a positive correlation between right-left and ipsilateral structures (paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells).CONCLUSIONSThese results are helpful in understanding the normal and pathological conditions of the paranasal sinuses and the mastoid air cells.

Objective: Thalassemias major are the most common autosomal recessive disorders; they are characterized by anomalies in the synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin and are often associated with varying degrees of craniofacial anomalies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial dimensions of b-thalassemia patients and to identify differences by comparing them to those of a control group. Materials and Methods:The study comprised 43 thalassemia major patients and 26 age-and sexmatched healthy control subjects. Anthropometric measurements were performed in six different craniofacial regions (head, face, nose, mouth, eyes, and ears); a total of 23 craniofacial variables were measured.Results: Craniofacial measurements in the regions of the face, nose, lips and mouth, and ears in the thalassemia major patient group yielded statistically significant differences compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the measurements of the head and eye regions. Conclusion:The study increased our understanding of the craniofacial anatomy of thalassemia major patients and enabled us to obtain quantitative results.Keywords: Thalassemia major, craniofacial measurements, Turkey ÖZ Amaç: Talasemi major; otozomal resesif kalıtım paterni gösteren, hemoglobin beta zincirinin sentezinde bozukluklar ile karakterize ve genellikle değişen derecelerde kraniyofasiyal anomalilerin eşlik ettiği bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, talasemi major' hastalarının kraniofasial boyutlarını değerlendirmek ve kontrol grubuna göre farklılıkları tespit etmektir.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmamız; 43 Talasemi Major'lü hasta ve aynı yaş ve cinsiyet gruplarından eşleşme ile seçilen 26 sağlıklı kontrol üzerinde yapıldı. Antropometrik ölçümler altı farklı kraniofasiyal bölgeden (baş, yüz, burun, ağız, göz ve kulak bölgeleri) alındı ve toplam 23 ölçüm yapıldı.Bulgular: Yüz, burun, ağız ve kulak bölgelerinde yapılan ölçümler açısından olgu ve kontrol grupları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar bulundu (p<0.05). Baş ve göz bölgesi ölçümleri bakımından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmadı(p>0,05).

As a result of our study, the metric data we obtained will be useful in cases where the skeletons' sex could not be determined by any other methods. We believe that, our study may be useful for other studies in determining of sex from foramen magnum. Our measurements could give some information of the normal ranges of the foramen magnum in normal population, so that this can contribute to the diagnosis process of some diseases by imaging. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 1: 99-104).

Nutritional depletion and weight loss are two features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the association between low body mass index (BMI) and poor prognosis in patients with COPD is a common clinical observation. Mechanisms of weight loss are still unclear in COPD. Excessive energy expenditure partly due to increased work of breathing was shown, but other mechanisms have been searched for. Leptin is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that plays an important role in energy homeostasis and regulates body weight through control of appetite and energy expenditure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of circulating leptin levels and measures of body composition in COPD patients. Thirty male COPD outpatients (mean age 66.3 +/- 8.4) and 20 controls (mean age 65.9 +/- 10.8) were included in the study. After standard spirometry and body composition measurements, serum leptin concentration was measured by ELISA assay. COPD patients were grouped according to BMI. Mean BMI was 19.01 +/- 2.26 kg/m2 in group 1 (COPD patients with low BMI), 26.85 +/- 4.51 in group 2 COPD (COPD patients with normal/high BMI) and 27.64 +/- 2.75 kg/m2 in healthy controls (group 3). Mean serum leptin concentration was 1.41 +/- 1.86 ng/ml in group 1, 2.60 +/- 1.38 ng/ml in group 2 and 2.82 +/- 1.46 ng/ml in group 3 (p = 0.002). Leptin correlated to not only BMI but also body weight, waist circumference, triceps and biceps skinfold thickness and body fat percent (p < 0.05 for all). Results of this study suggest that the cause of weight loss is not increased circulating leptin in COPD. Instead, leptin remains regulated in COPD and further decreased in patients with low BMI, probably as a compensatory mechanism to preserve body fat content, which should be evaluated in further studies.