Cranial measurements; estimation of stature from cranial measurements

Human body exhibits regular age, sex and race dependent proportions amongst its various segments relative to its height. Knowledge of the cranial morphometry is important from clinical and forensic view point. The stature of a person being genetically predetermined is an inherent characteristic, the estimation of which is considered to be important assessment in identification of human remains. Norms of regression formulae for calculation of height are required for different populations. To document norms for cranial dimensions and present linear regression formulae for stature prediction in adult male and female population of Southern Punjab. The study was conducted at the Multan Medical and Dental College, Multan and took about fourteen months to complete. The study was conducted on 672 adult individuals [430 males and 242 females] from in and around the city of Multan in Punjab. Measurements of the head including maximum cranial length [glabella-inion length], maximum cranial breadth [maximum bi-parietal diameter] and maximum auricular head height were taken. Results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Height was measured in standing anatomical position. Correlation coefficient of Pearson was used to find the relationship between various cranial dimensions using which the linear regression formulae to predict the stature were derived. The mean height of the study population was found to be significantly different between genders. The males appeared to be considerably taller than females. The mean cranial length, cranial breadth and auricular head height the measurements were larger significantly in the males as compared to females. Pearson's correlation coefficient between stature and cranial measurements was found to be highly positive for both sexes. Linear regression formulae to predict the stature from the cranial dimensions were derived. The study is conducted to document norms for cranial dimensions and it presented gender specific linear regression models for stature prediction in adult South Punjab population

Chronic experimental diabetes mellitus; quantitative changes in dorsal root ganglion cells

Background: multiple factors operate in the development of diabetic neuropathy. Sensory neurons are not protected by blood-brain or blood-nerve barrier; also the dorsal root ganglion cells [DRG] have a higher metabolic requirement than the nerve trunks. Oxygen level at the dorsal root ganglions also appears to be lower. All these physiological characteristics suggest that DRG may be particularly susceptible to damage in prolonged diabetic conditions

Objectives: to observe the quantitative cellular changes in dorsal root ganglion cells in rats with prolonged experimental diabetes

Study Design: an experimental study

Setting: Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Umm al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Period: fifteen months to complete

Material and methods: observations were made on six control and six streptozotocin-treated male Sprague-Dawley rats after 12 months of diabetes. Cell count was done on silver-stained paraffin sections. DRG cells were arbitrarily grouped as large A-type and small B-type. Statistical examination of the cell count was done using a two-tailed t-test. Values were considered significant at P

Results: in the control group of animals the mean total number was 15856.33 +/- 552.538 while in the diabetic animals it was 11836.666 +/- 583.177; the reduction in the number of cells was significant. The number of A-type and B-type cells and their percentages in the control group and the diabetic group of animals were 2753.833 +/- 257.683 [17.36%], 13102.5 +/- 443.092 [82.63%] and 1202.833 +/- 87.082 [10.16%], 10633.833 +/- 517.900 [89.83%] respectively. The differences in the number of A-type and B-type of cells when compared between control and diabetic groups of animals were statistically highly significant

Conclusion: selective cells damage to DRG cells may be the harbinger of diabetic neuropathy in experimentally induced diabetic rats

Quadriceps Tendon and Patellar Ligament; a morphometric study

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] is commonly injured especially in sportsmen. Autografts using tissue from various sources including the quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament are popular but still controversial due to varying degree of success. The morphological characteristics of the quadriceps tendon and the patellar ligament are of prime importance for this purpose

Objectives: This cadaveric study was undertaken to evaluate the morphometric characteristics of the quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament as an autograft for ACL reconstructive surgery

Study design: Qualitative cadaveric study

Material and Methods: The morphometric observations of the quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament on 36 [18 male and 18 female] adult formalin fixed cadavers were recorded by dissection. The observations included the length, breadth and thickness of the quadriceps tendon and the patellar ligament and were recorded on both sides separately in the male and female subjects. The data were tabulated, compared and statistically analyzed

Results: There was no significant difference in measurements on the right and left sides both in the male and in the female specimens. However the length and width of the quadriceps tendon was more in the males as compared to the females. The patellar ligament was significantly longer in the male specimens as was its width. Thickness of the patellar ligament, however, was not significantly different in the two genders

Conclusion: Both the quadriceps tendon and the patellar ligament are safe and convenient sources of autograft tissue for reconstruction of the ACL

cephalometric study in Southern Punjab

Background: Morphological characteristics of various races and population groups usually appear in geographical knots and clusters. Standardized cephalometricrecords are immensely valuable for clinical and forensic purposes.In spite of its clinical significance no data is available about the cephalic indices and prevalence of cephalic phenotypes in Southern Punjab

Objectives: This study was undertaken to record baseline cephalometric data, cephalic indices and craniotypes

Study design: A cross-sectional population study

Place and duration of study: The study was carried out at the Multan Medical and Dental College, Multan and took about fourteen months to complete

Material and methods: The study was conducted on 672 adult individuals [430 males and 242 females] from in and around the city of Multan in Southern Punjab. Linear measurements of the head including maximum cranial length [glabella-inion length], maximum cranial breadth [maximum bi-parietal diameter] and maximum auricular head height were recorded using a digital spreading caliper. Results of measurements were expressed as mean +/- SD. Comparison of the mean values and various proportions between sexes was performed. The horizontal, vertical and transverse cranial indices were calculated using these measurements. Craniotyping was based on the ranges in various cephalic indices

Results: Differences regarding the mean of cranial length, cranial breadth and height were significantly larger in males as compared to females [P<0.001]. The mean vertical, horizontal and transverse cephalic indices in the males and females were 79.13 +/- 5.56, 78.31 +/- 5.19, 103 +/- 7.78 and 78.32 +/- 6.40, 78.32 +/- 4.67, 100 +/- 8.67 respectively.Most of the samples depicted craniotypes as mesocephalic and dolichocephalic both in the males and the females

Conclusion: The study provides baseline cephalometric data from a population of Southern Punjab that may have its potential in clinical application and future research