Do gender and torus mandibularis affect mandibular cortical index? A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The interactions between torus and several factors such as age, gender, and dental status have not been studied comprehensively. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gender on the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and to investigate a possible association between torus mandibularis (TM) and MCI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study consisted of 189 consecutive patients referred to Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology of Hacettepe University within 30 workdays. Patients who did not have systemic disorders affecting bone density were included; and the age, gender, dental status and existing TM of the patients were recorded. Morphology of the mandibular inferior cortex was determined according to Klemitti's classification on panoramic radiographs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MCI was affected by age and gender (<it>P </it>< 0.05). No significant relationship was found between TM and MCI (<it>P </it>> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the study population, MCI was affected by age and gender. As age increased, semilunar defects could be seen on the cortex of the mandible and MCI values increased. Women appeared to have higher MCI values than men.</p

Ultrasound measurements at the calcaneus in men: differences between healthy and fractured persons and the influence of age and anthropometric features on ultrasound parameters. Osteoporos Int 10: 47e51

Abstract. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the ability of quantitative ultrasound at the calcaneus to discriminate between fractured and unfractured men, fracture probability, and the relationship of ultrasonic parameters to age and body size. The study included 224 men (age range 36-86 years) with no history of diseases or therapy affecting bone metabolism. The subjects were divided into two groups (unfractured, n = 148; fractured, n = 76) matched for age and body size. Bone status was assessed by ultrasound measurements at the calcaneus. Long-term in vitro CV% values were 0.88% for speed of sound (SOS) and 0.54% for broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). In vivo CV% values were 0.33% for SOS and 2.48% for BUA, while sCV% values were 4.66% and 6.58%, respectively. The following SOS/BUA values were obtained: in unfractured men, SOS = 1517.5 + 35.3 m/s and BUA = 114.0 + 13.3 dB/MHz; in fractured men, SOS = 1492.6 + 24.6 m/s and BUA = 106.1 + 11.6 dB/MHz. The differences were significant (p50.0001). The odds ratio for BUA for all fractures was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.03-2.07) and for SOS 2.13 (95% CI, 0.77-3.49). Only the agerelated decrease in SOS in unfractured men was significant (r = 70.17, p50.05). In fractured men, weight and body mass index (BMI) were found to correlate significantly with BUA (r = 0.31, p = 0.007, r = 0.31, p = 0.007, respectively). The areas under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were 0.706 for SOS and 0.665 for BUA. Ultrasound measurements at the calcaneus thus enable discrimination between fractured and healthy males. Different patterns of the relationship between age and body size in the two groups suggest the presence of other, unknown factors affecting bone status. Their identification requires further prospective studies

Common ophthalmic problems of urban and rural postmenopausal women in a populatin sample of Raciborz district, a RAC-OST-POL Study

Introduction and objective. We wished to establish the prevalence of eye diseases and eye disease risk factors at postmenopausal age and to compare ophthalmic problems in urban and rural areas of Raciborz. Patients and methods. The study was performed in 2010. Out of the whole population of Raciborz, Poland, 10 percent (1750) of women were randomly selected for the reported study. Finally, ocular diseases, ophthalmic agents, health status (physical activity level, body mass index – BMI, reproductive history, the use of psychotropic drugs and hormone replacement therapy – HRT) were recorded in 623 women. The women underwent visual acuity test and anterior segment examination, applanation tonometry and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Results. The mean age of the selected patients was 66.01±7.76 years, 275 (44%) of them originating from rural and 348 (56%) from urban regions. The average woman was obese (BMI=30.54±5.38 kg/m2), with near normal agility and reproductive history of 2.59±1.55 births, 147 (24%) subjects remained under regular HRT support. According to the WHO, the visual acuity was classified as normal or near normal in 87.5%, while no blindness was recorded at all. Visual acuity depended, first of all, on lens status and was better among subjects with good agility (R=-0.31, p=0.001). Dry eye prevalence increased significantly over age of 67 years (p=0.000) and HRT seemed to be a dry eye protective factor (p=0.010). Except age, No other risk factors of cataract, other than age, were identified. Normal agility (p=0.003) and HRT (p=0.032) were associated with lower AMD (age-related macular degeneration) prevalence rates. The differences between urban and rural participants were presented only in education, reproductive history, hypertension and frequency of ophthalmic examinations. Conclusions. Older adult women living in neighboring urban and rural areas present no differential in ophthalmic health problems