Sonoelastographic Evaluation of the Masseter Muscle before and after Mandibular Setback Surgery

Aims: The purpose of this study is to compare the thickness and elasticity of the masseter muscle before and after  orthognathic surgery in patients with class III skeletal deformity and to investigate the relationship between the sonographic changes in the masseter muscle and the amount of mandibular setback. Subjects and Methods: The study group consisted of 14 patients with skeletal class III malocclusions who had orthognathic surgery. The control group consisted of 14 patients who had dental and skeletal class I occlusion. Muscle thickness measurements were performed with B-mode and high-frequency linear scanning probe of the ultrasound device. Elastography feature and muscle hardness ratio were obtained by applying compression and decompression on muscles at rest and during maximum contraction in the transverse plane. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the mandibular setback as <5 mm and ≥5 mm. Results: The masseter muscle thickness after surgery was found statistically increased bilaterally in both at rest and during contraction for the study group (P < 0.05). No difference was found between preoperative orthognathic measurements and postoperative measurements for elasticity index ratio measurements      (P > 0.05).  Conclusion: We believe that in the present study important findings have been emphasized for further research aiming to investigate the possible relationship between masticatory alterations and surgical outcomes after orthognathic surgery

Pulpal necrosis with sickle cell anaemia

PubMed ID: 15317563Aim: To investigate radiographic manifestations of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and whether or not a pulpal necrosis may develop without a pathological history. Methodology: Thirty-six patients with homozygous SCA were evaluated, and a further 36 individuals without SCA were included in the study as a control group. All 72 patients participating in the study ranged between the ages of 16 and 40 years. General and dental histories of the individuals were recorded. Electrical pulp test, percussion and thermal tests were applied to all the teeth having no restorations. Orthopantomograms of all the subjects were taken. Data obtained from questionnaires, sensitivity tests and radiographic examinations were evaluated by chisquare and Fischer's exact test. Results: Fifty-one (6%) of the teeth having no restorations or history of trauma were determined as being nonvital in the SCA group. In 30 (83%) of these patients orofacial and dental pain with no obvious cause was detected and in 24 (67%) of the patients the quality of the bone tissue as examined radiologically had deteriorated. In eight (22%) of the patients cortical thinning and irregularity in the mandible was noted. A statistically significant difference between the SCA and control groups (P < 0.05) was found in terms of pulpal sensitivity and radiological findings. Conclusion: SCA is a genetic and systemic disease which may cause pulp necrosis without necessarily having an identifiable aetiology. SCA causes radiographically observable differences in jaw structure especially in the mandible

The effect of application of phosphate fertilizer on the yield of corn and mycorrhizae in a long period of time

Çalışmada uzun süreli olarak değişik oranlarda fosforlu gübre uygulamasının mısır bitkisinin verim, fosfor alımı ve doğal mikoriza sporlarının etkinliği üzerine etkisinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Deneme Ç.Ü. Ziraat Fakültesi Toprak Bölümü araştırma alanında bulunan Arık toprak serisi (Typic Haploxerert) üzerine uzun yıllar fosforlu gübre uygulaması yapılan çakılı parseller deneme alanına kurulmuştur. Deneme parsellerine ekim öncesi 0-50-100-200 kg P2O5 /ha oranlarında triplesüperfosfat (TSP) gübresi uygulanmıştır. Deneme parselleri 20x10 m olup, tesadüf parselleri deneme planına göre 3 yinelemeli olarak kurulmuştur. Araştırma bulgularına göre artan fosfor uygulamaları bitkinin verimini arttırmıştır. Ancak bu artış bitkinin besin elementleri içeriği ile koreje edilememiştir. Artan fosfor uygulamaları bitkinin kök infeksiyonunu ve spor sayılarını düşürmüştür. Araştırmada artan fosfor uygulamasına bağlı olarak toprakta bitkilerce alınabilir fosfor içeriğinin arttığı belirlenmiştir.The aim of the study was to investigate the effect application of long term different rates of phosphate fertilizer on the yield of corn P the uptake and distribution of indigenous mycorrhizae spores in the soil. The experiment was carried out in the Arık soil series (Typic Haploxerert) which is located in the Research Station of Soil Science Department of Agricultural Faculty of Univeristy of Çukurova, Adana. In the experiment, 0,50,100 and 200 kg P2O5 /ha were applied to the plots as triplesüperfosfat (TSP) before the sowing. The plots (20x10 m) were arranged in a randomized complete block design in three replications. According to the results, increased application of phosphate increased the yield of corn plant. But this increase was not correlated with nutrient the content of plant with the increasing P application. Number of mycorrhizal spores and root colonization dramatically decreased. With the increasing of P application soil P content was also increased

Sonoelastographic evaluation of the masseter muscle before and after mandibular setback surgery

Aims: The purpose of this study is to compare the thickness and elasticity of the masseter muscle before and after orthognathic surgery in patients with class III skeletal deformity and to investigate the relationship between the sonographic changes in the masseter muscle and the amount of mandibular setback. Subjects and Methods: The study group consisted of 14 patients with skeletal class III malocclusions who had orthognathic surgery. The control group consisted of 14 patients who had dental and skeletal class I occlusion. Muscle thickness measurements were performed with B-mode and high-frequency linear scanning probe of the ultrasound device. Elastography feature and muscle hardness ratio were obtained by applying compression and decompression on muscles at rest and during maximum contraction in the transverse plane. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the mandibular setback as = 5 mm. Results: The masseter muscle thickness after surgery was found statistically increased bilaterally in both at rest and during contraction for the study group (P 0.05). Conclusion: We believe that in the present study important findings have been emphasized for further research aiming to investigate the possible relationship between masticatory alterations and surgical outcomes after orthognathic surgery

An overview of biodiversity and conservation status of steppes of the Anatolian Biogeographical Region

The Anatolian Biogeographical Region is unique in the Palearctic realm, with high plant and butterfly species richness and populations of globally threatened birds, mammals and herptiles (amphibians and reptiles). It is a place of diverse land-use practices, dating back to the earliest farming practices in the world. Among 10,930 species of vascular plants, birds, butterflies, mammals and herptiles distributed in Turkey, we identified 1130 living predominantly in steppic environments and being classified either as threatened, near-threatened or data deficient at the national level, if not globally. A total of 28 effective protected areas were present in the region, covering 1.5 % of the 391,597 km(2) land area. Only 16.2 % of the threatened and near-threatened species (n = 809) were distributed within the protected area network, ranging from 94.1 % for birds to as low as 12.9 % for vascular plants. The total area of steppe and steppe forest vegetation has been reduced by at least 44 % of its former extent due to diverse habitat destructive activities. The most significant threats arise from unsustainable agricultural activities including overgrazing, conversion to croplands and afforestation. To maintain steppe diversity, we propose a "to-do list", including mainstreaming biodiversity, effective implementation of Turkey's Rangeland Act, conducting effective environmental impact assessments, establishing an effective site network for steppe biodiversity conservation and filling gaps in scientific knowledge