Variations in radiographic appearance of articular cartilage of knee joints in persons of 35 to 65 years of age.

Background: Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive degenerative disease characterized by gradual loss of articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis is not a normal process of ageing processes. Age related changes are distinct from osteoarthritic changes but when coupled with certain precipitating factors like obesity, muscle weakness and neurological dysfunction may play an important role in the causation of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurrence appears to increase with patient’s age in a non-linear fashion. The prevalence of disease increases dramatically after the age of 50 years, likely because of age related alterations in collagen and proteoglycan synthesis coupled with diminished nutrient supply to the cartilage. Methods: In this paper presenting the naked eye assessment of radiographic appearance of articular cartilage of knee joints of 100 persons (both men and women) of 35 to 65 years of age with symptoms like pain and stiffness of the joint. Results: Parameters like changes in the joint space width, the presence or absence of osteophytes and subchondral sclerosis and cysts were noted. The correlation between the patient’s age, sex, symptoms and radiological appearance were observed. Conclusion: Osteoarthritis has a higher prevalence and more often generalized in women than in men. Before the age of 50 years, the incidence of osteoarthritis is low and men have a slightly higher prevalence than women, but after the age of 50 years, the disease becomes more frequent and women have a much higher prevalence with a female to male ration of about 12:1. The reason for this is sex difference in cartilage volume.

Morphometric study of sacrum in sex determination in Telengana region people.

Assessment of sex of the bone comes under the Canopy of Forensic Anthropology, which has it’s main roots in anatomy. Hence sound knowledge of anatomy particularly morphometric data is essential for identification of sex, race and region. Bones of pelvic girdle play key role for determination of sex. In addition to hip bones, sacrum also has it’s own importance in determination of sex. Hence in this study we have taken various parameters (maximum length of sacrum, maximum breadth of sacrum, Curved length of sacrum, transverse diameter of S1) and different indices (sacral index, curvature index, corpobasal index). From the above parameters and indices we have extracted demarcating points for each, which have statistical significant role in determining the male and female sex, which were discussed in detail in this publication.