scholarly journals Association Between Malocclusion and Academic Performance Among Mongolian Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomin Badrakhkhuu ◽  
Yusuke Matsuyama ◽  
Miyu Yoshizawa Araki ◽  
Yuko Unnai Yasuda ◽  
Takuya Ogawa ◽  
...  

Objective: Malocclusion has been reported to affect the daily lives of schoolchildren adversely, but little is known regarding the association between malocclusion and academic performance. We aimed to investigate the association between malocclusion and academic performance among adolescents in Mongolia.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 767 students aged 7–16 years from two public schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Three orthodontists evaluated the need for malocclusion treatment in the participants and determined the type of malocclusion using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and dental casts. The academic scores of study participants in 20 subjects were provided by their schools. Z-scores within subjects were calculated and aggregated into both overall and in six groups of subject categories comprised of mathematics, science, social science, language, arts, and physical education. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the association between malocclusion, malocclusion type, and academic score adjusted for gender, age, school, and family income.Results: Of the 767 students, 32.6% had malocclusion, and dental crowding was the most prevalent type (162 cases, 21.1%). Malocclusion was not significantly associated with the z-score of overall academic score [coefficient: 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.11 to 0.19]; however, dental crowding was significantly associated with the overall academic score (coefficient: −0.19, 95% CI: −0.35 to −0.03), after adjusting for covariates. Other types of malocclusion were not associated with academic scores. Among the six subject categories, arts (coefficient: −0.20, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.04) and physical education (coefficient: −0.24, 95% CI: −0.42 to −0.07) were significantly associated with dental crowding.Conclusions: Schoolchildren in Mongolia with dental crowding may be prone to poor academic performance, particularly in arts and physical education classes. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether the treatment of crowding boosts academic performance.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e027212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Ye ◽  
Shengxin Liu ◽  
Wenlei Li ◽  
Qifan Wang ◽  
Wei Xi ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo identify associations between anthropometric indicators (height, weight and body mass index (BMI)) and both refraction and ocular biometrics in Chinese schoolchildren in Tianjin, China.DesignCross-sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 482 (86.07%) students (6–15 years old) with no history of ocular or systemic pathologies were enrolled in this study.MethodologyHeight and weight were measured using standardised protocols. Ocular biometrics (axial length (AL), vitreous chamber depth (VCD) and corneal curvature (CC)) were measured by a low-coherence optical reflectometry device. Cycloplegic refraction was measured using autorefraction. The AL/CC ratio and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) were calculated. Myopia was defined as SER ≤−0.50 dioptres (D). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the associations between anthropometric indicators (height, weight and BMI) and both refraction and ocular biometrics.ResultsThe overall prevalence of myopia was 71.16%. Overall, only height was associated with ALs, VCDs, AL/CC ratios and refractions after controlling for age, gender, parental myopia, family income, reading and writing distance and time spent outdoors. Furthermore, age-specific results demonstrated that height and weight were independently associated with refraction in participants aged 6–8 years and 9–11 years participants. Higher heights in schoolchildren were associated with longer ALs (regression coefficientb=+0.25 for each 10 cm difference in height, p<0.01), deeper VCDs (b=+0.23, p<0.01), higher AL/CC ratios (b=+0.04, p<0.01) and more negative refractions (b=−0.48, p<0.01). Heavier weights were also associated with longer ALs (+0.29 mm, p<0.01), deeper VCDs (+0.29 mm, p<0.01), higher AL/CC ratios (+0.04, p<0.01) and more negative refractions (−0.48 D, p<0.01).ConclusionsHeight and weight remained independently related to refraction and various ocular biometrics during the early adolescent growth period after adequately controlling for covariates, which could support the idea that a shared mechanism may regulate the coordinated growth of body and eye size in children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama Al-Wutayd ◽  
Ali E. Mansour ◽  
Ahmad Hamad Aldosary ◽  
Hamdan Z. Hamdan ◽  
Manal A. Al-Batanony

AbstractHandwashing (HW) with water and soap is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of protecting oneself and others against the coronavirus. Here, the HW knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Saudi adults were assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic using a cross-sectional study conducted between May 8 and June 8, 2020, during a partial lockdown period. A web-based validated questionnaire was distributed through different social media platforms, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, seven items related to knowledge, four items related to attitudes, and thirteen items related to the practice of HW were assessed. A total of 1323 (51% male and 49% female) adults from all regions of Saudi Arabia responded to the questionnaire. The overall mean (± SD) was 5.13 (± 1.18) for knowledge of HW and COVID-19, 2.79 (± 0.77) for attitude toward HW, and 7.8 (± 2.56) for HW practice. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed factors associated with knowledge to be age and family income. Sex, educational level, family income, and HW knowledge were associated with negative and neutral attitude, whereas age, sex, family income, and HW knowledge were associated with practice. These results suggest that HW knowledge was strongly associated with positive attitudes toward HW and correct HW practice in Saudi adults during the COVID-19 lockdown.


Author(s):  
Noboru Nakahara ◽  
Yusuke Matsuyama ◽  
Shiho Kino ◽  
Nomin Badrakhkhuu ◽  
Takuya Ogawa ◽  
...  

The regular consumption of sweets has been shown to have an adverse association with the academic performance of children in developed countries; however, the situation in developing countries is less clear. Therefore, we examined the association between the consumption of sweets and academic performance among Mongolian children via a cross-sectional study employing data from 787 children aged 8–16 from two public schools in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The frequency of the consumption of sweets by the children was captured using a questionnaire and then linked to their academic scores; the association between the consumption of sweets and scores in mathematics and the Mongolian language was evaluated using multiple linear regression adjusted for other covariates. It was found that out of 787 students, 58.6% ate sweets every day. After adjusting for covariates, no significant association was observed between the consumption of sweets and mathematics scores (coefficient: 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.02–0.32), while a higher consumption of sweets was significantly associated with higher scores in the Mongolian language (coefficient: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.09–0.41). The associations established in this study are inconsistent with the reports of other studies.


Author(s):  
Venkatashiva Reddy B ◽  
Arti Gupta ◽  
Amit Kumar Singh

Background: Undergraduate medical education is facing many basic problems in India today. This study aimed to identify and analyze factors that affect the students’ academic performance in Community Medicine. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the Department of Community Medicine, VCSGGMS & RI, Uttarakhand, India among the third and sixth semester medical students from February to July 2016. The questionnaire was used to interview 182 students. The questionnaire covered demographic factors, physical fitness in terms of refractive error, use of technology in the form of smart phones and internet, stress level in the form of sleeping hours before examination, pattern of meals before examination and material used for study and others. The student was scaled based on an achievement marks percentile. Results: The research population included 182 students (85 male and 97 female). The mean age of the studied students was 21.62 ± 1.61 years. About 48.9% of the students were using spectacles. Over 90% of the students reported using smart phones, computer, and access to the internet. The mean hours of sleep day before the examination were 5.14± 1.94 hours. About three fourth of the students, reported consuming meals before the examination. Demographic factors, i.e. age and gender were significantly associated with students’ overall academic achievement in multiple linear regression analysis (p<0.05). Conclusions: Various factors determine the academic performance of students. To understand better about the factors that contribute in the academic performance of students there is need for a qualitative study.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Guillermo Mendez-Rebolledo ◽  
Ann M. Cools ◽  
Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo ◽  
Elias Quiroz-Aldea ◽  
Fernanda A.P. Habechian

Context: Knowing the possible association between the isometric strength of the shoulder rotators, scapular muscles, and the Y-balance test upper quarter (YBT-UQ) performance could help identify which indicators of shoulder stability should be considered in this field test. This study aimed to determine whether the isometric strength of the shoulder rotators and scapular muscles is associated with the YBT-UQ performance of the dominant upper limb in amateur volleyball players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A convenience sample of 22 male and 18 female volleyball players (≥12 h of training/week) between 18 and 26 years of age. The isometric strength of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, internal, and external rotator muscles was assessed with a handheld dynamometer. Participants performed the YBT-UQ in the superolateral, medial, and inferolateral directions. The absolute isometric peak force (in Newtons) was normalized to body weight (in Newtons per kilogram) for each muscle test. For each YBT-UQ direction, the distance (in centimeters) was normalized for upper limb length (in percentage). A backward multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between variables. Results: The analysis revealed that the isometric strength of the lower trapezius (β = 26.82; 95% confidence interval, 21.24–32.40) is associated with inferolateral YBT-UQ performance (adjusted R2 = .706; P < .001). This factor explains 70% of the variability of the YBT-UQ in the inferolateral direction. Conclusions: Lower trapezius isometric strength is associated with inferolateral YBT-UQ performance of the dominant upper limb in amateur volleyball players. These findings could help in the development of more specific training programs and rehabilitation goals according to the performance of the athletes in the test.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 2217-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Gustavo Bergmann ◽  
Mauren Lúcia de Araújo Bergmann ◽  
Alexandre Carriconde Marques ◽  
Pedro Curi Hallal

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of physical inactivity and associated factors in adolescents, using a cross-sectional design with a sample of 1,455 adolescents (741 females). Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic, perceptual, and behavioral variables. Physical activity was estimated with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and Adolescents. Prevalence of physical inactivity was 68% (95%CI: 65.6%-70.4%). The following variables remained associated with physical inactivity in the adjusted analysis (p < 0.05): living in an apartment, female gender, older adolescents, lower self-rated physical activity compared to peers, low perception of maternal physical activity, passive commuting to school, non-participation in physical education at school, non-enjoyment of physical education classes, and limited involvement in other types of physical exercise besides physical education at school. There were a high proportion of inactive adolescents. Strategies to prevent physical inactivity in adolescents should be elaborated with a central role for the school and family.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Te Hsu ◽  
Yi Liao ◽  
Jorn-Hon Liu ◽  
Tao-Hsin Tung

Purpose. The utility evaluation was an effective method to incorporate all of the contributing variables for multiple diseases into one outcome measure. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the utility values associated with varying states of gallstone disease among outpatient clinics participants at a teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.Methods. The utility values were measured by using time trade-off method. A total of 120 outpatient clinics participants (30 subjects with no gallstone disease, 30 subjects with single stone, 30 subjects with multiple stones, and 30 subjects with cholecystectomy) evaluated utility values from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. The diagnosis of gallstone disease was performed by a panel of specialists using ultrasound sonography.Results. The overall mean utility value was0.89±0.13(95% CI: 0.87–0.91) indicating that study participants were willing to trade about 11% (95% CI: 9–13%) of their remaining life in return for being free of gallstone disease perpetually. The significant associated factors of utility values based on the multiple linear regression analysis were older age and different degrees of gallstone disease.Conclusion. Our results found that in addition to older age, multiple stones and cholecystectomy could influence utility values from the patient’s preference-based viewpoint.


2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1334-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Hickner ◽  
P. M. Mehta ◽  
D. Dyck ◽  
P. Devita ◽  
J. A. Houmard ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to determine whether greater body fat mass (FM) relative to lean mass would result in more severe muscle damage and greater decrements in leg strength after downhill running. The relationship between the FM-to-fat-free mass ratio (FM/FFM) and the strength decline resulting from downhill running (−11% grade) was investigated in 24 male runners [age 23.4 ± 0.7 (SE) yr]. The runners were divided into two groups on the basis of FM/FFM: low fat (FM/FFM = 0.100 ± 0.008, body mass = 68.4 ± 1.3 kg) and normal fat (FM/FFM = 0.233 ± 0.020, body mass = 76.5 ± 3.3 kg, P < 0.05). Leg strength was reduced less in the low-fat (−0.7 ± 1.3%) than in the normal-fat individuals (−10.3 ± 1.5%) 48 h after, compared with before, downhill running ( P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the decline in strength could be predicted best by FM/FFM ( r2= 0.44, P < 0.05) and FM-to-thigh lean tissue cross-sectional area ratio ( r2= 0.53, P < 0.05), with no additional variables enhancing the prediction equation. There were no differences in muscle glycogen, creatine phosphate, ATP, or total creatine 48 h after, compared with before, downhill running; however, the change in muscle glycogen after downhill running was associated with a higher FM/FFM ( r = −0.56, P < 0.05). These data suggest that FM/FFM is a major determinant of losses in muscle strength after downhill running.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Qi ◽  
Yuan-Yuan Wang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Xu-Ze Liu ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To investigate the effect of syphilis infection on the microstructure of white matter (WM) in HIV-infected male patients through comparing the differences of WM between HIV-infected male patients with and without syphilitic infection using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods 27 HIV-infected male patients with current syphilis or a history of syphilis (HIV+/syphilis+) and 29 HIV-infected male patients without syphilis co-infection history (HIV+/syphilis-) were enrolled. All patients received DTI and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Clinical data were compared between the two groups with T-test, Mann-Whitney U Test and Chi-square Test. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was adopted to analyze the DTI metrics. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between DTI metrics and clinical variables and cognitive performance. Results In the HIV+/syphilis+ group, decreased AD was found in the right superior corona radiata (SCR-R) and body of corpus callosum (BCC); increased RD was found in the bilateral posterior corona radiata (PCR), the right posterior thalamic radiation (PTR-R), the left SCR (SCR-L), splenium of corpus callosum (SCC) and BCC; decreased FA was found in multiple regions. AD in BCC was negatively correlated with CD4/CD8 ratios. AD in SCR-R was positively correlated with CD4/CD8 ratios. Patients in HIV+/syphilis+ group had a lower score in complex motor skills (CMS). RD in SCC and SCR-L was negatively correlated with CMS; RD in PTR-R was positively correlated with CMS. AD in SCR-R was positively correlated with CMS. Conclusions Compared with patients simply infected with HIV, the integrity of WM is more seriously impaired in HIV-infected patients with syphilis co-infection, and it may accelerate the impairment of cognitive function.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
Cecília Bertuol ◽  
Kelly Samara da Silva ◽  
Rafael Miranda Tassitano ◽  
Adair da Silva Lopes ◽  
Markus Vinicius Nahas

ABSTRACT Introduction Although the benefits of regular physical activity (PA) for adolescents are well-described in the literature, there is little evidence of the role of psychosocial aspects on levels of PA in this population. Objective To investigate the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with enjoyment of PA and preference for leisure-time activities in boys and girls. Methods A cross-sectional study, with 6529 adolescents (aged 15 to 19 years) enrolled in secondary education in public schools in the South of Brazil. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between sociodemographic factors and the variables of interest, with data collection using a standardized questionnaire. Results Boys enjoyed (87.1%) and preferred (44.4%) PA more than girls (enjoyment: 79.2%; preference: 29.5%). Among the boys, enjoyment was associated with family income(OR3-5 wages=1.53; OR≥6 wages=1.62) and, among the girls, it was associated with age (OR19 years=0.28), occupational status (ORworkers=1.45), and income (OR3-5 wages=1.35). Preference was associated with age (OR19 years=2.48) and income (OR≥6 wages=0.70) among the boys and, among girls, it was associated with area of residence (ORrural=1.47) and occupation (ORworkers=1.31). Conclusion Boys (enjoyment: 87.1%; preference: 44.4%) had more positive attitudes toward PA than girls (enjoyment: 79.2%; preference: 29.5%), and some sociodemographic variables appear to be more closely associated with these attitudes than others. Enjoyment was associated with family income for boys, and with age, occupation and income for girls. Preference, in turn, was associated with age and family income for boys, and area of residence and occupational status for girls. Level of evidence II, Diagnostic studies - Investigation of a diagnostic test.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document