ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship between body mass index and knee alignment angle using non-radiographic methods, and to propose a regression equation to define the relationship.Method: A total of 300 students (200 males, 100 females) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus participated in the study. Knee alignment was measured using body landmarks (umbilicus, right knee and right second toe) with a goniometer and calliper; the body mass index was also determined.Result: The male subjects had a mean body mass index of 24.2 kg/m2 and knee alignment angle of 176.5o. The female participants had a mean body mass index of 22.7 kg/m2 and knee alignment angle of 180.9o. Body mass index had no significant relationship with knee alignment in both males and females respectively (r = 0.009, p > 0.05; r = 0.065, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study showed no significant positive relationship between body mass index and knee alignment, and body mass index is therefore not a good determinant for the control of knee alignment-based knee osteoarthritis.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The present study aimed at measuring the length and width of the head and face of children under the age of six years in Anambra state, a South Eastern state of Nigeria. Data obtained was used to calculate their respective craniofacial indices. Methods: Four hundred and fifty four children (226 males and 228 females) below the age of six were randomly sampled from pre-nursery and nursery schools. Subjects with signs of deformities or history of head and facial injuries and mental retardations were excluded from the study. Measuring tape and spreading callipers were used to measure the length and width of the head and face. Results: Results indicated that the mean head length and breadth, face length and breadth, cephalic index and facial index did not indicate significant gender differences. Mesocephalic head type was the predominant, accounting for 39.9% of the study population; brachycephalic, dolicocephalic, hyperbrachycephalic heads accounted for 35.9%, 12.1% and 7.7% respectively, while ultrabrachycephalic was the least prevalent (4.4%). The dominant type of face was found to be hypereuryprosopic accounting for about 44.5% of the study population. Euryprosopic, mesoprosopic, and leptoprosopic types of face accounted for 39.2%, 11.2%, and 4% of the sampled population respectively, while the rare type was found to be hyperleptoprosopic with 1.1%. Conclusion: This study indicates no significant gender differences in the craniofacial variables in a cross-section of Nigerian children under 6 years of age. The most prevalent type of head was the mesocephalic type while the most dominant type of face shape was hypereuryprosopic in both male and female subjects.
ABSTRACT
Background: There is paucity of data on cardiac sizes and other related parameters among Africans. This study aims to establish normal values of aortic, cardiac and thoracic diameters and the cardiothoracic ratio in a normal Nigerian population. Methods: The cardiothoracic ratio of 200 males and 200 females aged between 5 and 95 years were calculated from the cardiac and thoracic diameters in posteroanterior chest radiographs in a cross-sectional study at two imaging and radiodiagnostic centres. The mean and standard deviation of aortic, cardiac, thoracic diameters and cardiothoracic ratio were established. Results: The mean values for cardiac diameter for males and females were 13.8±1.89 and 13.2±1.28cm respectively. The mean values of cardiothoracic ratio for both male and female were 46% and 48% respectively. Conclusion: The cardiothoracic ratio increased with age in both sexes. These values were larger than those reported for the Caucasians.