Intracranial calcification is referred to calcification of parenchyma and vascular structures in brain which can be physiologic or pathologic. This study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the frequency, location, pattern, dimensions and estimated volume of intracranial physiologic calcification (IPC) by computer tomography in different age groups. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, brain computed tomography scans of 216 patients were analyzed in 9 age groups each containing 24 patients from 2 to 89 years old. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA, post hoc Tukey), chi square, and linear regression tests (P≤0.05 was considered significant). Rate of calcification in different areas were as follows: pineal gland (75.0%), habenula (36.4%), pineohabenula (15.0%), right lateral ventricle choroid plexus (RCP) (67.7%), left lateral ventricle choroid plexus (LCP) (62.7%), falx cerebri (26.8%), petroclinoid ligament (13.2%), tentorium cerebelli (6.8%), third ventricle choroid plexus (0.9%), fourth ventricle choroid plexus (2.7%), basal ganglia (0.9%). A significant correlation exists between the presence of calcification in pineal, habenula, RCP, and LCP (P≤0.001). Nodular shape of calcification was dominant (47.9%). Estimated volume of pineal calcification showed increased levels in group 8 (70–79 years old) compared to group 2 (10–19 years old) (P≤0.05). Since the accurate description of radiologic appearance of IPCs (location, shape, and size) accompanied with age and clinical manifestation is of great importance in diagnosis and distinguishing from pathologic calcification—for example in patients with melatonin dysregulation or schizophrenic patients—this study was required.

Anatomy as an indispensable part of the medical curricula, offering impeccable knowledge, prepares the students to enter the practical atmosphere. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of anatomy courses of the medical students in Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 with census sampling on all clinical students (trainees and interns). To collect feedback from students, the questionnaire designed by researchers was used. The Likert rating scale of very high, high, medium, low, and very low was considered and scores of 5 (very high) to 1 (very low) were applied. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Among the courses of anatomy, trunk anatomy has the greatest impact on clinical courses of medical students (P<0.001). Subjects of muscular system, lymphatic system, vascular system, and nervous system were of significant clinical application during clinical periods; however, no significant clinical application observed for skeletal system (P<0.05). Teaching clinical tips by professors can help improve the performance of medical students in clinical education. In addition, using three-dimensional anatomical software is suggested as well.
Atmosphere ; Censuses ; Clinical Medicine* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Education ; Humans ; Lymphatic System ; Nervous System ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Morphologic changes in the brain through aging, as a physiologic process, may involve a wide range of variables including ventricular dilation, and sulcus widening. This study reports normal ranges of these changes as standard criteria.Normal brain computed tomography scans of 400 patients (200 males, 200 females) in every decade of life (20 groups each containing 20 participants) were investigated for subcortical/cortical atrophy (bicaudate width [BCW], third ventricle width [ThVW], maximum length of lateral ventricle at cella media [MLCM], bicaudate index [BCI], third ventricle index [ThVI], and cella media index 3 [CMI3], interhemispheric sulcus width [IHSW], right hemisphere sulci diameter [RHSD], and left hemisphere sulci diameter [LHSD]), ventricular symmetry. Distribution and correlation of all the variables were demonstrated with age and a multiple linear regression model was reported for age prediction. Among the various parameters of subcortical atrophy, BCW, ThVW, MLCM, and the corresponding indices of BCI, ThVI, and CMI3 demonstrated a significant correlation with age (R 2 ≥0.62). All the cortical atrophy parameters including IHSW, RHSD, and LHSD demonstrated a significant correlation with age (R 2 ≥0.63). This study is a thorough investigation of variables in a normal brain which can be affected by aging disclosing normal ranges of variables including major ventricular variables, derived ventricular indices, lateral ventricles asymmetry, cortical atrophy, in every decade of life introducing BW, ThVW, MLCM, BCI, ThVI, CMI3 as most significant ventricular parameters, and IHSW, RHSD, LHSD as significant cortical parameters associated with age.