Background and Objectives: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder affecting approximately 24 million people worldwide, characterized by structural and functional brain abnormalities. Despite its prevalence, automated segmentation tools like Vol2Brain have been underutilized in large-sample studies examining limbic system anatomical volumes in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to assess volume differences in all major limbic system structures between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls using Vol2Brain. Method: This retrospective study included 68 schizophrenia patients and 68 healthy controls, with MRI scans obtained from OpenNeuro. Limbic system volumetric and cortical thickness measurements were conducted using Vol2Brain, an automated segmentation platform. Results: Schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly reduced volumes in the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and middle cingulate gyrus compared to controls. However, the left amygdala volume was larger in schizophrenia patients. A cortical thickness analysis revealed that schizophrenia patients had thinner limbic cortices, particularly in the anterior and posterior cingulate gyri and the right parahippocampal gyrus. In contrast, the right anterior cingulate gyrus was thicker in schizophrenia patients. The differences in total and left parahippocampal gyrus volumes and cortical thickness did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: These findings reinforce previous evidence of limbic system abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia, which may contribute to cognitive and emotional dysregulation. The study also highlights Vol2Brain’s potential as a rapid, cost-free, and reliable alternative for brain volume analysis, facilitating more standardized and reproducible neuroimaging assessments in psychiatric research.
Aim: In literature, anatomical variations of the odontoid process in the sagittal plane have been suggested to influence the magnitude of cervical lordosis. This study investigated the effects of odontoid process morphology on the degree of cervical lordosis. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included individuals who underwent cervical computed tomography (CT) scans and had no cervical vertebral disease. The age and gender of these individuals were recorded. Their CT images were analyzed for the morphologic relationships and morphologic measurements of the C2 vertebra and other cervical vertebrae in relation to their adjacent formations.Results: Thirty-five subjects (male=23, female=12) were included in the study. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between C2-C7 Cobb angle and age, sagittal odontoid height, and sagittal C2 vertebral height values. In addition, positive correlations were found between sagittal C2-C7 height values and sagittal odontoid mid-thickness, sagittal odontoid base thickness, and C2 vertebral height values. Linear Regression analysis revealed that the T1 slope angle, sagittal C2 vertebral height, and sagittal C2-C7 height values could predict the C2-C7 Cobb angle. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cervical lordosis may decrease over time when the T1 slope angle, sagittal odontoid height, sagittal C2 vertebral height, and sagittal C2-C7 height are measured low, and thus, those individuals may be more exposed to cervical vertebral alignment disorders.
12 March 2026 in Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency, laterality, morphology, and coexistence of clinically relevant cranial bony bridges (interclinoid bridge, caroticoclinoid bridge, pterygospinous bridge and pterygoalar bridge ) in dry human skulls. Methods: Forty adult dry human skulls of unknown age and sex were examined. Only specimens allowing visualization of the sphenoid bone were included. The presence and morphology of the caroticoclinoid foramen (CCF), interclinoid foramen (ICF), pterygospinous bridge, and pterygoalar bridge were assessed. Variants were classified according to completeness, laterality, and associated spicules, and all findings were documented photographically.Results: Examination of 40 skulls identified infrequent sphenoidal bony bridges: one specimen showed bilateral complete caroticoclinoid foramina concomitant with bilateral interclinoid foramina, without spicular components. Unilateral pterygospinous bridging occurred in two skulls on opposite sides, whereas pterygoalar bridges were not observed.Conclusion: Cranial bony bridges represent clinically relevant anatomical variants that warrant careful consideration during diagnostic evaluation, particularly in patients presenting with atypical or unexplained neurological symptoms. Recognition of these variations is essential for preoperative planning, as their presence may increase the risk of neurovascular injury and intraoperative complications. A thorough understanding of the incidence and clinical implications of cranial bony bridges, as demonstrated in our laboratory observations and supported by the existing literature, is therefore critical for optimizing diagnostic accuracy and ensuring safe and effective surgical management.
30 September 2026 in Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası
Objectives: Bleeding of the upper gastrointestinal system originating from gastroduodenal artery (GDA) may require radioembolization when endoscopic interventions are insufficient. Knowledge of the distance between origin of GDA and origin of common hepatic artery (CHA) may reduce complications of this procedure. The aim of this study was to radiologically evaluate the origin of GDA.Material and methods: This study was designed as an observational, non-randomized and retrospective study. GDA-CHA distance of 150 patients who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were retrospectively examined. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between age and GDA–CHA distance. Independent samples t-test was applied for comparisons between groups (gender and bleeding status). A p-value of 0,05). Subgroup analyses by sex similarly showed no significant differences between bleeding and non-bleeding groups (p>0,05). Also, no statistically significant association was found between CHA–GDA distance and age, sex, or bleeding status (p>0.05).Conclusions: Precise localization of the GDA may reduce life threatening complications during radiological embolization. The important GDA measurement values obtained in this study may assist interventional radiologists in achieving embolization accuracy in GDA bleeding.