RESUMO
Introducción: Durante el hallazgo arqueológico o forense de un esqueleto incompleto, con vértebras sin características identificativas, no es posible determinar el nivel regional de la columna vertebral porque existen pocas determinantes que distingan los niveles a los que pertenece una vértebra. Objetivo: Proponer una fórmula matemática para la identificación de las vértebras lumbares que no son particulares. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo en la osteoteca de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Matanzas. Se analizaron todas las vértebras lumbares entre lii y liv de la colección para un total de 87 huesos. Se midieron y calcularon los índices para el cuerpo y el agujero, y se utilizó un cociente matemático para asociar ambas partes. Resultados: El diámetro transversal predominó sobre el anteroposterior en el cuerpo y en el agujero. La media del cociente entre ambos fue de 0,60 cm y permitió dividir las vértebras en 2 grupos: superior e inferior; morfológicamente, deben coincidir con las vértebras lumbares lii y liv. Conclusiones: La relación morfométrica del cociente del cuerpo-agujero puede diferenciar las vértebras lumbares que no son particulares.
Introduction: During the archaeological or forensic discovery of an incomplete skeleton, with vertebrae without identifying characteristics, it is not possible to determine the regional level of the spine because there are few determinants that distinguish the levels to which a vertebra belongs. Objective: To propose a mathematical formula for the identification of lumbar vertebrae that are not particular. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted in the osteotheque of the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas. All lumbar vertebrae between LII and LIV in the collection were analyzed for a total of 87 bones. The indices for the body and hole were measured and calculated, and a mathematical quotient was used to associate both parts. Results: The transverse diameter predominated over the antero-posterior in the body and in the hole. The mean ratio between the two was 0.60 cm and allowed the vertebrae to be divided into 2 groups: upper and lower; morphologically, they must coincide with the lumbar vertebrae LII and LIV. Conclusions: The morphometric relationship of the body-hole ratio can differentiate lumbar vertebrae that are not particular.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: ß-thalassemia minor (BTM) and iron deficiency (ID) are common disorders characterized by microcytosis and/or hypochromasia, leading to a challenge in their discrimination during mass-screening programs especially in developing countries where resources are limited. It has been shown with varying reliability that quick exclusion of either disorder could be achieved mathematically using RBC-based indices and formulas. However, none of these proposed indices and formulas considered the sex-based hematological differences. This comparative retrospective study examined the efficacy of using sex-based RBC indices in the mathematical discrimination BTM and ID in adult males and females. METHODS: The CBC of randomly selected eight hundred adults diagnosed with BTM or ID (200M & 200F BTM, and 200M & 200F ID) were used in the comparisons. The discrimination power, in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and Youden index were calculated for all subjects and separately for males and females for 20 mathematical indices and formulas. RESULTS: Data revealed significant differences in the RBC-based indices between males and females for both BTM and ID groups. Significant variation in reliability indicators for the different indices and formulas were discovered between males and females samples. CONCLUSION: Sex-based indices and formulas are necessary to improve the reliability in mathematically discriminating between BTM and ID in mass screening programs. We also advocate for a large-scale multicenter study to establish the parameters of such indices and formulas with sex and age.
