Nasal Morphology as an Indicator of Maxillomandibular Skeletal Pattern.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of nasal morphology with maxillary and mandibular patterns. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Orthodontics, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry and Qamar Dental Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, , Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry and Darul Sehat Hospital Karachi, Pakistan from January to June, 2022. METHODOLOGY: The pre-treatment lateral cephalograms of 120 patients, aged 18-35 years were included in the study. Eleven nasal parameters were traced on lateral cephalograms and correlated with four maxillary and mandibular skeletal parameters by Pearson correlation coefficient test using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: Nasal bone length and nasal base angle showed a negative correlation with maxillary and mandibular position. Nasal upward tip angle was correlated positively with maxillary position whereas nasal tip angle was found to be negatively correlated with maxillary length. A negative correlation was observed between nasolabial angle and mandibular position. Nasal bone angle depicted a positive correlation with maxillary position and a negative correlation with jaw lengths and mandibular inclination. CONCLUSION: Nasal morphology has a strong correlation with maxillary as well as mandibular base lengths and position but not with inclination of the jaws. The acquaintance of the relationship of different nasal parameters with jaw parameters might be helpful in diagnosis and treatment planning and to attain the favourable treatment outcomes in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, orthopedic interventions, orthognathic, genioplasty, rhinoplasty, profiloplasty and other procedures. KEY WORDS: Nasal morphology, Maxillomandibular skeletal pattern, Jaw length, Jaw position, Jaw inclination.

Reliability Of Orthopantomogram In Comparison To Lateral Cephalogram For Linear Mandibular Measurements.

Background: Mandibular asymmetries are commonly seen as asymmetric traits among orthodontic and orthognathic patients which require bilateral mandibular assessment for diagnosis and treatment. An orthopantomogram can be used to measure and compare right and left sides of mandible. The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability of left and right sides of orthopantomogram for determining the linear mandibular measurements and to check whether these values are identical with the values of linear mandibular measurements determined from lateral cephalogram. Methods: Orthopantomogram and lateral cephalogram were taken from 118 patients of age group 12-35 years from Orthodontic department, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry and Darul Sehat Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Linear mandibular measurements were detected and compared between orthopantomograms and lateral cephalograms. Right and the left sides of orthopantomograms were compared for all of the linear mandibular parameters by using paired t-test. Independent sample t-test was performed for the comparison between orthopantomogram and lateral cephalogram using SPSS version 26.0. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed when orthopantomograms were compared with lateral cephalograms for mandibular body length (p=0.000) and total mandibular length (p=0.000). No statistically significant difference was found between orthopantomograms and lateral cephalograms for ramus height (p=0.226, p=0.177). Neither any significant difference was observed between right and left sides of an orthopantomogram. Conclusion: An orthopantomogram can be used to evaluate vertical mandibular measurements as reliably as a lateral cephalogram. However, it is required for clinicians to be vigilant when determining horizontal mandibular measurements from orthopantomograms as they are unpredictable.

Risk Analysis and Assessment of Lipid Abnormalities as the Earliest Complication in Newly Diagnosed Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Individuals of a Local Population.

Lipid variations have been frequently observed in global populations that can affect health status. Mainly studies have been conducted on the type 2 diabetic population, but limited data is available on newly diagnosed ones to unravel complications and risk predictors independent of disease progression. This study comprising 244 individuals was carried out to assess the lipid abnormalities in newly diagnosed diabetics and non-diabetics. The clinical and socio-demographic data were collected and analyzed using independent samples t-test and linear regression. Serum lipid variations were observed individually and in combination. The individuals in group I (diabetics with dyslipidemia) revealed elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein and serum triglycerides higher than in group II (non-diabetics with dyslipidemia). The frequency of deranged total cholesterol in group I was observed to be higher than in group II. Independent samples t-test showed a significant mean difference in variables between the two groups. Linear regression analysis showed a significant variable outcome for predictors between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and physical activity (B= -0.043, 95% CI: -0.80, -0.006) and total cholesterol (TC) with family history (B= -0.062, 95% CI: -0.123, -0.001). The findings conclude that lipid levels deranged independently regardless of type 2 diabetes mellitus and present as an early onset in type 2 diabetes instead of later stage complication. These derangements of lipid levels are an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular pathology.