The Pattern of Palatal Rugae in sub-population of Pakistani adults

Background: Despite the existence of the most reliable and authentic tools of personal identification such as fingerprints, dental, and DNA analysis, the palatal rugae are recommended as an adjuvant aid in forensic diagnosis. Palatal rugoscopy or palatoscopy aims to specify a person’s identity and gender discrimination. Aim: To determine the morphological pattern of palatal rugae considering gender. Settings and design: Cross-sectional study, calcorrugoscopy, chi-square test Material: This incorporated 360 subjects encompassing an equal ratio of the male and female genders. Undertaking the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, calcorrugoscopy technique was utilized in which maxillary casts were obtained through irreversible hydrocolloid impression material (Cavex cream alginate – fast set) and poured in type III dental stone. The assessed morphological parameters were shape and unification. Trobo’s classification and Thomas and Kotze’s criteria were used to assess shape and unification respectively to assess the qualitative aspect of palatal rugae. Descriptive analysis was generated in terms of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Results: The most frequently occurred rugae pattern was sinuous followed by a line with divergent unification. Sexual dimorphism was not evident among the selected subjects regarding rugae shape and unification configuration.Moreover, the same trend regarding shape and unification was repeated on both sides of the palate, with no significant difference noted in number of palatal rugae undertaking both sides. Conclusions: Every individual possesses a unique rugae pattern irrespective of gender. Keywords: Cross- sectional, Adults, Gender dimorphism, Pakistan, Palatal rugae

Clustering of Parkinson Subtypes: Strong Influence of D2 Receptor Polymorphism and Gender

Next to motor and non-motor symptoms some more basic features are relevant in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease subtype classification influencing basal ganglia circuitry via dopamine receptor polymorphism and gender dimorphism. By kmeans-clustering algorithm we found an influence of D2 receptor polymorphism and gender on treatment response to dopaminergic drugs -reflected by daily levodopa dosage- opening the door for a more personalized individual therapy in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

Pharyngeal Airway Space Dimensions and Hyoid Bone Position in Various Craniofacial Morphologies

Objective: To assess the relationship of pharyngeal airway dimensions and the position of the hyoid bone in several craniofacial morphologies among Nepali adults. To assess the relationship between dimensions of the pharyngeal airway and position of the hyoid bone and compare gender dimorphism. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional observational research comprised lateral cephalograms of 150 subjects aged 16 to 30 years. Samples were separated into three sagittal craniofacial morphological groups based on the ANB (A point, nasion, B point) angle and into gender groups. Different parameters (linear and angular) for measuring dimensions of the pharyngeal airway and position of the hyoid bone were assessed. An ANOVA test and a Pearson correlation test were performed. Results: Dimensions of the pharyngeal airway were largest in skeletal Class III when compared to skeletal Class I and Class II subjects, with a lower pharyngeal airway space and the length of the nasal fossa being significantly larger. The hyoid bone was anteriorly and inferiorly placed in Class III skeletal subjects. Males had greater pharyngeal airway dimensions and a hyoid bone positioned more inferiorly and anteriorly. The nasal fossa length had a strong positive correlation with the hyoid bone position vertically. Conclusion: There were differences in the dimensions of the pharyngeal airway and position of the hyoid bone in various craniofacial morphologies among Nepali adults. Gender dimorphism was observed in both dimensions of the pharyngeal airway and the position of the hyoid bone.

The effect of gender, age, and body mass index on the medial and lateral posterior tibial slopes: a magnetic resonance imaging study

Background The posterior tibial slope (PTS) is crucial in knee joint stability and in maintaining the natural movement of the knee. An increase in the PTS is associated with various knee pathologic conditions, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and anterior tibial translation (ATT). In the present study, we aimed to establish native medial and lateral PTS values for adult Saudis and to identify any association between PTS and gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). Materials and methods A total of 285 consecutive, normal, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the knee were included in the study. The PTS was measured using the proximal anatomical axis of the tibia. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the medial and lateral PTS angles between age groups. The difference between the medial and lateral posterior tibial slopes was assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the medial and lateral PTS angles between men and women. Age, gender, and BMI were analyzed by multivariate linear regression to determine whether they positively predict the medial and lateral PTS angles. Results The mean physiological medial PTS was 5.86 ± 3.0° and 6.61 ± 3.32°, and the lateral PTS was 4.41 ± 3.35° and 4.63 ± 2.85° in men and women, respectively. This difference showed no statistically significant gender dimorphism (p > 0.05). The medial PTS was significantly larger than the lateral PTS (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the medial and lateral PTS angles between age groups (p > 0.05). Higher BMI was significantly associated with a steeper medial PTS (p = 0.001). Conclusions This study provided native values for medial and lateral PTS angles in Saudis, which can assist surgeons in maintaining normal knee PTS during surgery. The PTS was not influenced by age. The medial PTS was significantly larger than the lateral PTS in men and women. The PTS showed no significant gender dimorphism. BMI was significantly associated with the medial PTS.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Bryophyte With Facultative Nannandry

Among plants, gender dimorphism occurs in about 10% of all angiosperms and more than 50% of all moss taxa, with dwarf males (DM) found exclusively in some unisexual mosses. In this study, we explore the role of male dwarfism as a reproductive strategy in the widespread acrocarpous moss Dicranum scoparium, which has facultative male dwarfism, having both dwarf males (DMs) and normal-sized males (NMs). We retrieved 119 SNP markers from transcriptomes which were used to genotype 403 samples from 11 sites at seven localities in southern Sweden. Our aims were to compare the genetic variability and genetic structure of sexually reproducing populations at different geographic levels (cushion, site, and locality) and compare in particular the relative contribution of females, dwarf males and normal-sized males to the observed genetic diversity. The numbers of DMs differed strongly between sites, but when present, they usually outnumbered both females and NMs. Low genetic differentiation was found at locality level. Genetic differentiation was strongest between cushions for females and NMs and within cushions for DMs indicating small scale structuring and sometimes inbreeding. NMs were more clonal than either DMs or females. Genetic diversity was similar between females and DMs, but lower for NMs. Two haplotypes were shared between females and DMs and one haplotype was shared between a DM and a NM. In conclusion, our results show that DMs and NMs play different roles in reproduction, inbreeding may occur at cushion level, but gene flow is high enough to prevent substantial genetic drift.

Applicability of Two Non-Radiographic Mixed Dentition Analysis Methods in Orthodontic Patients

Background: Using erupted components of a dental arch to estimate the width of the unerupted dental components are the basis of mixed dentition analysis. Non-radiographic mixed dentition analysis employs a regression equation to assess the width of the unerupted canines and premolars. In this study, we assessed the applicability of two non-radiographic methods of mixed dentition analysis in orthodontic patients. Methods: This cross-sectional research was carried out from the records of Ziauddin College of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, from November 2019 to March 2020. Pre-treatment dental casts of 120 subjects (60 males and 60 females) aged between 12-30 years undergoing orthodontic treatment were selected. The mesiodistal widths from the left first molar to the right first molar were measured using a digital Vernier caliper on pretreatment dental casts of both arches. Bachman’s and Tanaka-Johnston methods were applied to estimate the widths of canine and premolars. Gender dimorphism for actual and estimated values was assessed using an independent t-test and a paired t-test was applied for the comparison between the actual and estimated mesiodistal widths of canine and premolar. Results: The actual and estimated widths of canine and premolars reported 14.3±1.4 years for males and 13.4±1.2 years for females. In addition, the Bachman’s and Tanaka-Johnston method overestimated the actual widths of unerupted canine and premolar but the difference was statistically insignificant (p≥ 0.05) in both the genders. Conclusion: The two non-radiographic methods were reliable for mixed dentition analysis with minor overestimation between actual and estimated widths (ICC=0.79). This makes both the methods applicable interchangeably in regular clinical practice.

Correlation of frankfort horizontal with the sellanasion line angular data in different sagittal skeletal bases

It is of interest to establish the cephalometric correlation of angular data between frankfort horizontal and the sella-nasion line in different sagittal skeletal bases. Beta angle was used to divide the sample based on their sagittal skeletal base relationship. The FH-SN angle was measured for each group. The data were tabulated into IBM SPSS software. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk test was done to test the normal distribution of the data. One-way ANOVA analysis was done to test the difference of the FH-SN angle among the groups. Independent samples t-Test was done to test for gender dimorphism. The mean FH-SN angle of the sample was 6.33°3.35°. The results of the One-Way ANOVA and independent samples t-Test were insignificant. Results show that is no statistically significant difference in FHSN angle between skeletal class I, II and III.The mean FH-SN angle of the sample was 6.33°3.35°. The distribution of the data was normal. The results of the One-Way ANOVA and Independent samples t-Test were insignificant. There was no statistically significant difference in FH-SN angle between skeletal class I, II and III.

Assessment of Gender Dimorphism Using Cephalometry in Iranian Population

Cephalic indices is useful for evaluating racial and gender differences. In this study, we aimed to asses Gender Dimorphism Using cephalometry in the Iranian Population. Different variables like cranial length (CL), cranial width (CW), and cranial height (CH) were measured and cranial index (CI), cranial capacity (CC), and brain weight of 400 Iranian volunteers were calculated. Data were analyzed by means of SPSS 22.0. There were significant differences in the mean value of all nasofacial parameters (P<0.05). The highest sensitivity and specificity to predict the gender dimorphism were related to FL and FW (0.990 and 0.97) and (0.970 and 0.94), respectively. Considering the differences between male and female cranial structures, can be useful in forensic medicine and designing neurosurgical and ergonomic instruments in addition, to distinguish and discover the gender of the humans related to the many years ago.