Correlation between the middle phalanx of the third finger skeletal maturation staging system and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels among Indian children - A 3-year longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: Tracking insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level alongside the middle phalanx of the third finger (MP3) staging modification could provide valuable insights into the relationship between hormonal factors and skeletal maturation during different stages of growth. Longitudinal studies indeed play a crucial role in understanding these complex relationships over time, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of how IGF-1 might serve as a marker for pubertal growth stages. METHODOLOGY: The present longitudinal prospective cohort study was done among 26 boys and 26 girls. For each child, once in every 6 months for 3 years, blood samples (to estimate IGF-1 level) and X-rays of the left hand middle finger were taken. DRG IGF-1 600 Human Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit was used for the quantitative measurement of IGF1 from serum. The MP3 stages of the middle phalanx of the middle finger were evaluated using a modified MP3 system. The collected data were subjected to suitable descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The mean IGF1 levels were significantly higher in girls compared to boys across all the stages of MP3 skeletal maturity indicators. However, in both boys and girls, IGF-1 levels showed increasing trends from Stage F to H where it peaked and showed deceleration to Stage I (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The observed increase in serum IGF-1 levels during pubertal stages, followed by a decline in late puberty, aligning with the stages of skeletal maturation, suggests a close relationship between hormonal changes and bone development.

A Study to Compare and Correlate the Status of Maturation in Growing Individuals Using Chronological Age Dental Maturation and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To compare and correlate the status of maturation in growing individuals using orthopantomograph (OPG) and lateral cephalogram to establish a reliable relationship between chronological age (CA) and dental maturation (DM) with cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs and OPGs of 50 children within the circumpubertal period were collected (male n = 25, age 12-17 years, female n = 25, age 10-15 years) and evaluated for the status of maturation using CA, DM (of mandibular left canine and second molar using Demirjian Index-DI), and CVMI stages. RESULTS: Chronological age shows a positive correlation with CVMI stages in both groups. Gender-based association and distribution between DI stages of canine and CVMI stages shows that in both male and female sample groups DI G correlates with CVMI stage 1 and 2, DI H correlates with CVMI stage 3. Gender-based association and distribution between DI stages of 2nd molar and CVMI stages show that in the male sample group DI E shows a higher correlation with CVMI stage 1, DI F shows a higher correlation with CVMI stage 1 and 2. DI G shows a higher correlation with CVMI stages 2 and 3. DI H shows a higher correlation with CVMI stage 3. In the female sample group, DI F shows a higher correlation between CVMI stage 1 and 2, DI G and F show a higher correlation with CVMI stage 3. CONCLUSION: Mandibular canine, second molar calcification stages, and CA show a positive correlation with CVMI stages in the present study, hence, this can be considered as a reliable indicator in skeletal maturity assessment. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Pooja U, Lokesh NK, Alle RS, et al. A Study to Compare and Correlate the Status of Maturation in Growing Individuals Using Chronological Age Dental Maturation and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(S-1):S50-S53.

Assessment of Cervical Vertebral Bone Mineral Density in Adolescents Undergoing Functional Appliance Treatment.

AIM: The cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method has proved to be effective to assess the adolescent growth peak in both body height and mandibular size. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images can be used to detect the changes of cervical vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) distribution and whether these changes are associated with CVM changes and mandibular length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were collected from the patients of age group between 9 years and 15 years of both sexes, who reported to the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, RajaRajeswari Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru. All the measurements were done on constructed CBCT three-dimensional images. Gray levels, which are equivalent to the BMD, were obtained for C2 and C3 vertebrae at pretreatment (T1) and six months after starting the treatment (T2). The vertebral variables [mean, standard deviation (SD)], CVM stages, and mandibular length between T1 and T2 were compared. RESULTS: Significant changes in the examined variables were detected during the observation period. The BMD values showed a positive correlation with mandibular length increments. CONCLUSION: The CBCT is an effective tool to analyze the volumetric parameter of BMD in routine dentofacial orthopedics and the BMD distribution changed because of active bone remodeling during the maturation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study proves that CBCT imaging can provide additional information about the growth status of a patient above and beyond that obtained from two-dimensional cephalometric radiographs. CBCT is an effective tool to analyze the volumetric parameter of BMD in routine dentofacial orthopedics with better accuracy and minimum distortion.

Comparison of landmark identification and linear and angular measurements in conventional and digital cephalometry.

The purpose was to compare the reliability of landmark identification and linear and angular measurements in conventional versus digital cephalometry. Using 50 cephalometric radiographs, four orthodontic residents identified 19 cephalometric landmarks followed by 18 linear and angular measurements of the same radiographs. The values of 18 measurements were compared to quantify the measurement difference and interobserver errors between these two methods. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that the "cephalometric radiograph" and "landmark" variation had greater influence than that of "method" (landmark identification on original radiograph/on digital). A statistically significant difference for interobserver errors between the two methods was noted only for 5 out of 19 cephalometric landmarks. The most accurately identified landmark in conventional and digitized method was Sella (S), followed by Nasion (N). Landmarks requiring further scrutiny in digital images were Porion (P) Articulare, ANS, UM, and LM. The advantages of digital cephalometry were also substantiated.