Skeletal Maturation in Different Vertical Facial Growth Pattern.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there are differences in skeletal maturation among subjects with horizontal, vertical, and neutral facial growth patterns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on 48 latero-lateral craniographs of patients with horizontal, 48 with vertical and 50 with neutral growth patterns aged 12 to 18 years. Eight variables from the Zagreb 82 MOD, Bracchetti and Accord analysis, were selected for measuring angular and linear parameters on latero-lateral craniographs. The assessment of skeletal maturation was done by using the CVMS method. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant differences in skeletal maturity (p <0.001) between subjects with horizontal and vertical growth pattern and between the subjects with neutral and vertical growth pattern (p <0.05), while no significant difference was found between patients with horizontal and neutral growth pattern. In the younger group (12 - 15 years) there was a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) among subjects with horizontal and vertical growth patterns. In the older group (16 - 18 yrs) there was a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in skeletal maturity among subjects with vertical growth patterns compared with horizontal and neutral. In terms of stages of skeletal maturity, patients with a horizontal and neutral growth pattern in the younger group were on average in the fourth stage, and those with a vertical growth pattern in the third stage. In the older group, patients with a horizontal and neutral growth pattern were on average in the fifth stage of skeletal maturity and those with a vertical growth pattern in the fourth stage. CONCLUSION: According to the growth pattern, patients differ in the stage of skeletal maturity.

Quality of life of patients after stroke in county Osijek-Baranya.

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine quality of life of patients after stroke in Osijek-Baranya County. The research included 161 patients (82 men and 79 women) who had their first acute stroke and were treated at Department of Neurology, Osijek University Hospital Center The Barthel Index (BI) was used to assess functional deficiency and SS-QOL (Stroke-Specific Quality of Life) questionnaire was used for self-evaluation of patients' physical and mental health. The first assessment was carried out in the acute phase of the disease, and control assessments 30, 90 and 180 days after the stroke. Mean Barthel Index score was higher at every successive measurement (55, 80, 95, 95). All BI items were statistically significant (Friedman, p < 0.001) apart from dressing and bowel control. BI score indicated greater dependence in women in all assessments except for those taken 90 days after onset of symptoms (chi2-test, p = 0.111). Mean values of SS-QOL for physical health were: 105.2, 98.3, 105.7, 117.5 and for mental health: 64.24, 57.9, 64.3, 68.1. Statistically significant difference was present in men, both for physical health (Friedman p = 0.009) and total SS-QOL (Friedman p = 0.014), while in women there was no statistically significant difference between the measurements (Friedman p = 0.719). The research showed that stroke has significant influence on basic and specific daily life activities and interferes with the quality of life of stroke patients. Women have lower level of independence. Patients who live with their families make better evaluation of their physical and mental health.

The importance of thorough preoperative diagnostics of maxillary ameloblastoma: report of three cases.

Ameloblastoma, especially maxillary, is a rare benign neoplasm of odontogenic origin. Diagnosis of significant number of lesions is usually established postoperatively, because ameloblastoma, especially the unicystic form, mimics wide range of more frequent jaw lesions. From January 1993 to December 2005, three cases of the maxillary ameloblastoma were surgically treated at our Department. The authors present clinical, radiological and pathohistological features of the ameloblastomas in this rare localization with special attention to need of accurate preoperative diagnostics.

Proportions in the upper lip-lower lip-chin area of the lower face as determined by photogrammetric method.

This study is concentrated on the lower face profile, the emphasis being given to the lips and chin area which have been analysed by various proportions. A sample consisted of 110 subjects (52 males and 58 females) with good soft tissue profile, dental class I and Caucasian type. All the records were taken in the natural head position (NHP) and all measurements were performed using the computer and by the same operator. Using the photographs of the facial profile, seven vertical measurements were taken and seven indices used to determine the relationships between measurements of the lower third of the face, lower lip, chin and upper lip. Almost all the vertical profile measurements were greater in males than in females. The only variables with no gender differences were lower (Li-Sto) and upper vermilion heights (Ls-Sto). The largest portion of the lower face was occupied by the chin and the smallest by the lower lip height in both genders. All indices were greater in females except (IND7) representing chin/lower third of the face proportion, which was greater in males. Some acknowledged aesthetic guidelines must be followed when determining orthodontic plan for optimal aesthetics. The proportional relationships found in our sample are a valuable contribution and might serve as a template for vertical facial analysis of the lower face in this patient population.

Regional pattern of smoking in Croatia.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the regional smoking pattern in Croatia. The data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey from 2003 were used for the study (N = 9,070). The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of smoking among men was the highest in the Eastern parts of the country, followed by the Mountainous region. In contrast, the prevalence of smoking among women was the highest in City of Zagreb. The results support the strong regional pattern, with more pronounced differences in women (those from the City of Zagreb had more than twice higher prevalence than those from the Northern parts of the country). Smoking is still relatively highly prevalent in Croatian adult population (24-33% in men, and between 10 and 21% in women, depend on region). This suggesting that preventive actions and public health interventions are needed to reduce the smoking prevalence and thus improve the population health.