Intervertebral disc heights and concavity index of the lumbar spine in young healthy adults

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate lumbar intervertebral disc heights and concavity index of the lumbar spine, and the influence of age, gender, weight, height and body mass index (BMI) on these parameters. Methods: The study was conducted on 150 health young subjects (age 18 to 27) without any disorder which affects the lumbar spine and the discs. Subjects underwent standard standing lateral lumbar radiography. Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Of the 150 subjects (age range, 18–27 years), 80 (53.3%) were women and 70 (46.7%) were men. Men presented higher lumbar disc values than women. In both genders, disc height increased from T12–L1 to L4–L5, and then decreased at L5–S1. The heights of all lumbar discs increased with age, weight, height and BMI in both genders. Women demonstrated a higher concavity index at L2, L3 and L4 vertebrae compared to men, whereas men showed a higher concavity index value at L5 vertebra. The concavity index of T12, L1, L2, L3 and L4 vertebrae decreased with age. Conclusion: Our results will serve as guidelines and references for further studies, radiologists and spinal surgeons. Keywords: concavity index; intervertebral disc; lumbar vertebrae; radiography, spin

WITH ANTROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENT VALUES OF THE SUSPENDANT SLEEP APNE SYNDROME INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE APNE-HYPOPLINE INDEX

Bu çalışmada Tıkayıcı Uyku Apne Sendrom'lu (TUAS) hastalara ait antropometrik ölçüm değerleri ile Apne-Hipopne İndeksi (AHİ) arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi amaçlandı. Çalışmaya 110 hasta (77 erkek, 33 kadın) dahil edildi. Hastaların yaş, boy, vücut ağırlığı, beden kitle indeksi (BKİ), boyun çevresi (BÇ) ve tiromental açı ölçümleri kaydedildi. Ayrıca hastalarda Epworth uykululuk skorları (EUS), Mallampati ve Cormack-Lehane sınıflandırması yapıldı. Verilerin analizinde One-Way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson ve Spearman korelasyon katsayısı testleri kullanıldı. Boyun Çevresi ölçümleri (normal grupta 39.46±3.55 cm, hafif TUAS'lı grupta 40.91±4.23 cm, orta TUAS'lı grupta 42.32±3.48 cm ve ağır TUAS'lı grupta 43.8±4.65 cm) ve Mallampati sınıflandırması (normal grupta2.41±0.70, hafif TUAS'lı grupta 2.58±0.69, orta TUAS'lı grupta 3.25±0.79 ve ağır TUAS'lı grupta 2.90±0.64) grupları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu (sırayla p=0.001 ve p=0.000). AHİ ile BÇ (r=0.385, p=0.000), EUS (r=0.215, p=0.025) ve Mallampati sınıflandırması (r=0.308, p=0.001) arasında ilişki bulundu. Yaptığımız çalışma sonucunda; TUAS tanısının konulmasında BÇ uzunluğu, Mallampati sınıflandırması ve EUS değerlerinin kullanılabilirliği gösterilmiştir. TUAS tanısında bu değerlerin belirleyici bir faktör olabileceği düşünülmektedir.In this study, we aimed to estimate the relationship between anthropometric measures and Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) values of the patients who were evaluated with polisomnography (PSG) and diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). 110 patients (77 male, 33 female) were included in this study. Age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC) and thyromental angle were recorded. Epworth Sleepiness Scores(ESS) were determined. Mallampati classification and Cormack and Lehane classification were also noted. Data were analyzed with One-Way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson and Spearman Correlation Coefficient tests. Between neck circumference (39.46±3.55 cm in the normal group, 40.91±4.23 cm in the mild OSAS group, 42.32±3.48 cm in the moderate OSAS group and 43.8±4.65 cm in the severe OSAS group) and Mallampati classification groups (2.41±0.70 in the normal group, 2.58±0.69 23 in the mild OSAS group, 3.25±0.79 in the moderate OSAS group and 2.90±0.64 in the severe OSAS group) was a statistically significant difference (respectively p=0.001 and p=0.000). AHI was correlated with neck circumference (r=0.385, p=0.000), ESS (r=0.215, p=0.025) and Mallampati classification (r=0.308, p=0.001). In our study; neck circumference, Mallampati classification and Epworth Sleepiness Score values were shown to be useful determinants in diagnosing OSAS. It is thought that these values may be a predictive factor in the diagnosis of OSAS

Personal and professional values held by baccalaureate nursing students

Background: Values are ideals and beliefs that individuals and groups uphold and lie at the core of the diverse world of human behaviour and are expressed in every human decision and action, both consciously and unconsciously. They represent basic beliefs of what is right, good or desirable and motivate both personal and professional behaviour. In the context of nursing profession, values are essential in order to maintain high standards of the nursing care