Liver Size and its Correlation with Anthropometric Parameters and Age / El Tamaño del Hígado y su Correlación con los Parámetros Antropométricos y la Edad

SUMMARY: The liver has over 500 physiological and biochemical roles in our organism so checking of liver size and function is a part of every clinical examination. Aim of our research was to estimate liver size on computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen images and to determinate relations between liver dimensions and anthropometric parameters. The research included 99 patients, 49 men and 50 women, who were referred for CT of abdomen. We measured body height (BH) and body mass (BM), and calculated body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA). Also, on CT images we measured anteroposterior (AP), laterolateral (LL) and two craniocaudal liver diameters (one at the level of midclavicular line - CCmcl, and the other was maximal - CCmax). Liver volume (LV) was calculated with formula. Our results showed that AP diameter positively correlated with BSA (r=0.30) in women. LL diameter positively correlated with BH (r=0.43), and BSA (0.31) in men. CCmcl diameter positively correlated with BH (r=0.33), BM (r=0.31), and BSA (r=0.34) in men, while in women it correlated only with BH (r=0.38). CCmax diameter positively correlated with BH (r=0.33) and BSA (r=0.33) in men. LV positively correlated with BH and BSA in both men (r=0.36, r=0.33, respectively) and women (r=0.42, r=0.31, respectively), and in men also with BM (r=0.34). LL, CCmcl, CCmax, and LV negatively correlated with aging in both sexes After the age of 60, there was a decrease in size of LL, CC diameters, as well as in LV. We concluded that liver dimensions decrease with aging, regardless of sex at the expanse of LL and CC diameters which are related to the size of body parameters, so that for a precise evaluation of liver size all three diameters should be measured, LV as well as BH, BM, and BSA.

El hígado desempeña más de 500 funciones fisiológicas y bioquímicas en nuestro organismo, por lo que comprobar el tamaño y la función de este órgano es parte de cada examen clínico. El objetivo de nuestra investigación fue estimar el tamaño del hígado mediante tomografía computarizada (TC) de imágenes del abdomen y determinar las relaciones entre las dimensiones del hígado y los parámetros antropométricos. La investigación incluyó a 99 pacientes, 49 hombres y 50 mujeres, que fueron remitidos para TC de abdomen. Medimos la altura corporal (BH) y la masa corporal (BM), y calculamos el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y el área de superficie corporal (BSA). Además, en las imágenes de TC medimos los diámetros hepáticos anteroposterior (AP), laterolateral (LL) y dos craneocaudales (uno a nivel de la línea medioclavicular - CCmcl, y el diámetro máximo - CCmax). El volumen del hígado (VI) se calculó con una fórmula. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el diámetro AP se correlacionó positivamente con BSA (r = 0,30) en mujeres. El diámetro de LL se correlacionó positivamente con BH (r=0,43) y BSA (0,31) en hombres. El diámetro CCmcl se correlacionó positivamente con BH (r=0,33), BM (r=0,31) y BSA (r=0,34) en hombres, mientras que en mujeres se correlacionó solo con BH (r=0,38). El diámetro CCmax se correlacionó positivamente con BH (r=0,33) y BSA (r=0,33) en hombres. El VI se correlacionó positivamente con BH y BSA tanto en hombres (r=0,36, r=0,33, respectivamente) como en mujeres (r=0,42, r=0,31, respectivamente), y en hombres también con BM (r=0,34). LL, CCmcl, CCmax y LV se correlacionaron negativamente con el envejecimiento en ambos sexos. Después de los 60 años, hubo una disminución en el tamaño de los diámetros LL, CC y LV. Concluimos que las dimensiones del hígado disminuyen con la edad, independientemente del sexo, en la extensión de los diámetros LL y CC que están relacionados con el tamaño de los parámetros corporales, por lo que para una evaluación precisa del tamaño del hígado se debe medir LV como BH, BM y BSA.

Attitudes of medical and allied medical students from Serbia toward whole body donation / Atitudes dos estudantes de medicina e áreas médicas afins da Sérvia em relação à doação completa do corpo

Anatomy, one of the key pre-clinical subjects in medical and allied medical disciplines, has traditionally relied on instruction based on the utilization of cadavers. Acquiring cadavers for anatomy education has presented a challenge in many countries. This challenge has been met through the organization of well informed and culturally sensitive body donation programs. Attitudes of the general population, medical professionals and students are important in devising these programs. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes of medical and allied medical students from the University of Novi Sad toward whole body donation. A survey was carried out on the first and third year students enrolled in all degrees taught at the University and the sixth year medical students. A large number of respondents (87.38%) perceived cadavers as important in anatomy education. The majority of students (51.26%) would support the body donation of a stranger, while a much smaller proportion of respondents would become donors (19.51%) or support their family members (21.67%) to bequeath their body. There were differences in attitudes toward body donation related to respondents' year of study, ethnicity and religion. The main reasons for donation were altruistic, while the main reasons not to donate were lack of information and religious factors. Most of the respondents were in favor of introducing memorial services for the body donors. The results of the study highlight the importance of a culturally sensitive approach to students in the anatomy laboratories and the enrichment of anatomy education through the humanities. They also underscore the significance of well-organised and informative body donation programs.

Anatomia, um dos principais temas pré-clínicos em disciplinas da medicina e áreas médicas afins, tradicionalmente tem contado com a instrução baseada na utilização de cadáveres. A aquisição de cadáveres para o ensino da anatomia tem se mostrado um desafio em muitos países. Este desafio tem sido enfrentado através da organização de programas de doação de corpo bem informados e culturalmente sensíveis. Atitudes da população geral, de profissionais e estudantes de medicina são importantes na elaboração desses programas. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as atitudes de estudantes de medicina e áreas médicas afins da Universidade de Novi Sad em relação à doação completa do corpo. A pesquisa foi conduzida com todos os estudantes do primeiro e terceiro anos inscritos em todos os cursos oferecidos pela universidade e com os estudantes do sexto ano de medicina. Uma grande parcela dos entrevistados (87,38%) reconhece a importância dos cadáveres no ensino da anatomia. A maioria dos estudantes (51,26%) apoiaria a doação de corpo de um estranho, enquanto que uma proporção muito menor dos entrevistados se tornariam doadores (19,51%) ou apoiariam seus familiares a doarem os corpos deles (21,67%). Houve diferenças nas atitudes em relação à doação de corpo relacionadas aos anos de estudo, etnia e religião dos entrevistados. As principais razões para as doações foram altruísticas, enquanto que os principais motivos para a não doação foram a falta de informação e fatores religiosos. A maioria dos entrevistados foi a favor da introdução de serviços memoriais para os doadores de corpos. Os resultados do estudo destacam a importância de uma abordagem culturalmente sensível aos estudantes nos laboratórios de anatomia e do enriquecimento do ensino da anatomia através das humanidades. Eles também ressaltam a importância de programas de doação de corpo bem organizados e informativos.

Somatotype characteristics of normal-weight and obese women among different metabolic subtypes.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a well known risk factor for the development of metabolic abnormalities. However, some obese people are healthy and on the other hand some people with normal weight have adverse metabolic profile, therefore it can be assumed that there is a difference in physical characteristics amongst these people. The aim of this study was to establish whether there are somatotype differences between metabolically healthy and metabolically obese women who are obese or of normal weight. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Study included 230 women aged 44.76 ± 11.21y. Metabolic status was assessed according to IDF criteria, while somatotype was obtained using Heath & Carter method. RESULTS: Significant somatotype differences were observed in the group of women with normal-weight: metabolically healthy women had significantly lower endomorphy, mesomorphy and higher ectomorphy compared to metabolically obese normal-weight women (5.84-3.97-2.21 vs. 8.69-6.47-0.65). Metabolically healthy obese women had lower values of endomorphy and mesomorphy and higher values of ectomorphy compared to 'at risk' obese women but the differences were not statistically significant (7.59-5.76-0.63 vs. 8.51-6.58-0.5). Ectomorphy was shown as an important determinant of the favorable metabolic profile (cutoff point was 0.80). CONCLUSION: We concluded that, in addition to fat mass, metabolic profile could be predicted by the structure of lean body mass, and in particular by body linearity.