Estimation of Stature from Nasal Length.

INTRODUCTION: Estimation of stature for the purpose of identification has a significant forensic importance. This technique is based on a principle that bones or human body parts correlate positively with the stature. Stature can be estimated from measurements of various body parts such as arm, leg, feet, finger, facial height, nasal height etc. The aim of study was to correlate Stature of Nepalese with Nasal height and estimate Stature from Nasal height. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 214 healthy adults comprising 110 males and 104 females in the age group of 25 to 35 years were carried out. Study was carried out in central Nepal where people from various parts of Nepal are migrated. Total body height and Nasal height were recorded with stadiometer and sliding caliper respectively. RESULTS: The mean of total body height in the male and female was 160.4 (±6.80) cm and 151.8 (±4.88) cm respectively. The mean of nasal height in the male and female was 4.6 (±0.31) cm and 4.3 (±0.29) cm respectively. This study observed that in both male and female nasal height had positive partial correlation with stature; r = 0.18 for male and 0.19 for female. Stature in nepali population could be calculated as: Stature=148.22+3.02x nasal height in male where as Stature=133.01+3.12x nasal height in female. CONCLUSIONS: Both Nepali male and female nasal height had positive partial correlation with stature; r = 0.18 for male and 0.19 for female. Stature in Nepali population could be calculated as: Stature=148.22+3.02x nasal height in male where as Stature=133.01+3.12x nasal height in female.

Pulmonary Functions are Impaired among Carpet Factory Workers: A Spirometric Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Carpet factory produces various types of dusts and workers occupationally get exposed to them continuously. It has adverse health effects and most notably to the pulmonary functions. Nepal is one of the carpet exporter developing countries and still does have many factories within Kathmandu valley. However, the health hazards especially the status of pulmonary function of carpet factory workers from Nepal has not been studied. METHODS: A cross-sectional comparative study was designed to recruit carpet factory workers and healthy controls to assess their pulmonary functions. A total of 118 subjects (59 males and 59 females) were recruited (60 carpet factory workers and 58 controls). Pulmonary function tests were carried out using Medical International Research Spirolab II portable spirometer. RESULTS: The carpet factory workers had significantly less FEV1 (90.37 ±16.6 % vs. 103.89±9.79%, p<0.001), FVC (87.78 ± 15.48 % vs. 102.81 ± 8.41 %, p < 0.001) and PEFR (66.19 ± 20.29 % vs. 102.81 ± 11.09 %, p < 0.001) as compared to control group. Similarly the carpet factory workers had significantly higher FEV1/FVC ratio (89.96 ± 6.42 % vs. 87.12 ± 4.58 %, p = 0.007) as compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Carpet industry dusts exposure adversely affects pulmonary functions among its workers. The findings significant increase in the FEV1/FVC ratio and decrease in FEV1, FVC, and PEFR suggest that the effects are both restrictive and obstructive patterns of lung disease.