Radiology trainee retirement programs: Options and participation.

BACKGROUND: Financial security and retirement planning are essential for all medical professionals including radiology residents. Given the available discretionary income during residency it is crucial to have insights into investment. We aimed to assess the prevalence of retirement plans offered to radiology residents, the available choices, and their degree of participation. METHODS: Two surveys were created using Qualtrics platform, one targeting program directors and another one oriented to radiology residents with items focused on demographic, financial status, offered plans, and participation. Analysis was performed using chi square whenever appropriate using Qualtrics platform. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 199 radiology residents (72.6% attending university-based programs) responded to the survey. 83.7% participated in retirement plans; university-based programs had the highest rate of offering plans; 82.8% vs 70% and 53.8% for university, community and hybrid programs respectively. The most frequently offered retirement plan was a 403(b). Most of the residents (94.3%) started investment in the retirement program as early as PGY1 and PGY2. A considerable proportion of programs lacked formal training on retirement plans; however, residents emphasized the significance of financial education during their residency. CONCLUSION: Radiology residents are more likely to participate in a retirement plan if it is offered by their program. Providing proper guidance by incorporating financial education into radiology residency curricula can optimize residents' decision making and economical planning, leading to a more secure financial future.

Sexual Dimorphism in the Buccolingual Dimensions of Permanent Anterior Teeth in the Young Iranian Population.

Objective: Evaluation of sexual dimorphism is a crucial concern for anthropologists, forensic scientists, and archaeologists. Teeth have been used as an alternative tool to determine sex in forensic anthropology. However, it is necessary to use data specific to a particular population, as different populations exhibit varying degrees of sexual dimorphism. This study aimed to determine the sexual dimorphism in the buccolingual dimensions of permanent anterior teeth in the young Iranian population. Materials and methods:A total of 100 students (50 females and 50 males) participated in the current study. A total of 1200 permanent anterior teeth were examined. The buccolingual dimension of all anterior teeth was measured using Vernier Calipers with a calibration of 0.01 mm. Data were analyzed using an independent sample T-test and paired sample T-test, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The mean values of the buccolingual dimension of the maxillary canines on the right and left sides (13, 23) were statistically greater in males than females (P=0.04, P=0.03) and had the greatest percentage of sexual dimorphism (4.08% and 5.26%, respectively). Conclusion:The buccolingual dimension of Iranian canines could be used as a reliable material to identify gender in forensic studies, and the degree of sexual dimorphism varies among different populations. Therefore, it is essential to use the relevant data samples for each population. It was concluded that Europeans had the greatest amount of sexual differences in the anterior teeth, while Iranians had the least amount of sexual dimorphism in the anterior teeth.

Facial Anthropometric Norms of the Young Iranian Population.

INTRODUCTION: Facial anthropometric measurement is considered an essential concern of surgeons, orthodontists, artists and forensic scientists. The aim of this study is to investigate facial anthropometric norms of the young Iranian population. METHODS: The study participants consisted of 200 healthy Iranian students (100 males, 100 females) aged 18-25 years old. Twenty-three liner and four angular measurements were investigated twice by a dentist. Independent-samples t test was used to compare indices between males and females and also between countries. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: It was found that the mean measurements of c'-sn' of both sides, nasolabial angle, trichion-gnathion, tragion-tragion and gnathion-gnathion were statistically greater in Iranian males than in females (p < 0.05). Comparing Iranian anthropometric norms with North American Whites, Malays, Turkish and African American women demonstrated that there were statistically significant differences in most anthropometric measurements between Iranians and other populations (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In Iranians, mean measurements of c'-sn' of the right and left sides, nasolabial angle, trichion-gnathion, tragion-tragion and gnathion-gnathion were greater in men than in women. Comparing Iranian males and females with different ethnicities indicated several interracial differences, which should be taken into consideration when dealing with patients or also practitioners originated in this region.

Prevalence and Length of the Anterior Loop of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve in Iranians.

The anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve is a sensitive anatomical feature that should be taken into account during installation of dental implants anterior to the mental foramen. This study was conducted to explore the controversy regarding prevalence and length. A total of 452 mandible quadrants of 234 patients (age: 50.1 ± 13.3 years, 113 males, 121 females) were studied using cone-beam computerized tomography. After reconstructing axial, frontal, and sagittal slices, the region between the most anterior point on the mental foramen and the most anterior part of the mandibular nerve was inspected for signs of anterior loop presence. If positive, the length of the anterior loop was measured in mm as the distance between the anterior border of mental foramen and the anterior border of the loop. Prevalence and length of the anterior loop were compared statistically between sexes and age groups. The anterior loop was observed in 106 quadrants (23.5% of 451 quadrants) of 95 patients (40.6% of 234 patients), of whom 11 had bilateral anterior loops. Prevalences were similar in males (41%) and females (39%, chi-square P =.791). The mean anterior loop length was 2.77 ± 1.56 mm (95% CI: 2.5-3.1 mm), without significant sex (regression beta = -0.159, P = .134) or age (beta = -0.059, P = .578) differences. The anterior loop might exist in about 40% of patients, regardless of their gender. The mean safe anterior distance from the anterior loop is about 3 mm + (2.5-3.1 mm) = 5.5-6.1 mm, regardless of age.

Cephalometric risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies on risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are highly controversial and mostly identifying a few cephalometric risk factors. METHODS: OSA diagnosis was made according to the patients' apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Included were 74 OSA patients (AHI > 10) and 52 control subjects (AHI ≤ 10 + free of other OSA symptoms). In both groups, 18 cephalometric parameters were traced (SNA, SNB, ANB, the soft palate's length (PNS-P), inferior airway space, the distance from the mandibular plane to the hyoid (MP-H), lengths of mandible (Go-Gn) and maxilla (PNS-ANS), vertical height of airway (VAL), vertical height of the posterior maxilla (S-PNS), superior posterior airway space (SPAS), middle airway space, distances from hyoid to third cervical vertebra and retrognathion (HH1), C3 (C3H), and RGN (HRGN), the maximum thickness of soft palate (MPT), tongue length (TGL), and the maximum height of tongue). These parameters were compared using t-test. RESULTS: Significant variables were SPAS (p = 0.027), MPT, TGL, HH1, C3H, HRGN, PNS-P, S-PNS, MP-H, VAL, and Go-Gn (all p values ≤ 0.006). CONCLUSION: OSA patients exhibited thicker and longer soft palates, hyoid bones more distant from the vertebrae, retrognathion, and mandibular plane, higher posterior maxillae, longer mandibles, and smaller superior-posterior airways.

Cephalometric risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea: A pilot case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its craniofacial anatomic risk factors might play a role in several cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). However, there are no data about cephalometric findings among OSA patients with MI. METHODS: In this pilot case-control study, about 2000 individuals referred to the sleep center were evaluated according to apnea - hypopnea index (AHI) and other inclusion criteria. Included were 62 OSA male patients (AHI > 10), of whom 6 had an MI history. In both control (n = 56) and MI groups (n = 6), 18 cephalometric parameters were traced. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test. RESULTS: Compared with control OSA patients, OSA patients with MI showed a significantly larger tongue length (p = 0.015). The other cephalometric variables were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: An elongated tongue might be considered a risk factor for MI in OSA patients. The role of other variables remains inconclusive and open to investigation with larger samples (determined based on pilot studies such as this report) collected in longitudinal fashion.