Gender Estimation from Morphometric Measurements of Mandibular Lingula by Using Machine Learning Algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks.

BACKGROUND: Sex determination from the bones is of great importance for forensic medicine and anthropology. The mandible is highly valued because it is the strongest, largest and most dimorphic bone in the skull. AIM: Our aim in this study is gender estimation with morphometric measurements taken from mandibular lingula, an important structure on the mandible, by using machine learning algorithms and artificial neural networks. METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography images of the mandibular lingula were obtained by retrospective scanning from the Picture Archiving Communication Systems of the Department of Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Inönü University. Images scanned in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format were transferred to RadiAnt DICOM Viewer (Version: 2020.2). The images were converted to 3-D format by using the 3D Volume Rendering console of the program. Eight anthropometric parameters were measured bilaterally from these 3-D images based on the mandibular lingula. RESULTS: The results of the machine learning algorithms analyzed showed that the highest accuracy was 0.88 with Random Forest and Gaussian Naive Bayes algorithm. Accuracy rates of other parameters ranged between 0.78 and 0.88. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the study, it is thought that mandibular lingula-centered morphometric measurements can be used for gender determination as well as bones such as the pelvis and skull as they were found to be highly accurate. This study also provides information on the anatomical position of the lingula according to gender in Turkish society. The results can be important for oral-dental surgeons, anthropologists, and forensic experts.

Sex prediction with morphometric measurements of first and fifth metatarsal and phalanx obtained from X-ray images by using machine learning algorithms.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to predict sex with machine learning (ML) algorithms by making morphometric measurements on radiological images of the first and fifth metatarsal and phalanx bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, radiologic images of 263 individuals (135 female, 128 male) between the ages of 27 and 60 were analysed retrospectively. The images in digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format were transferred to personal workstation Radiant DICOM Viewer programme. Length and width measurements of the first and fifth metatarsal and foot phalanx bones were performed on the transferred images. In addition, the ratios of the total length of the first proximal and distal phalanx and length of the first metatarsal and total length of fifth proximal, middle, and distal phalanx and maximum length of fifth metatarsal were calculated. RESULTS: As a result of machine learning algorithms, highest accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and Matthews correlation coefficient values were found as 0.85, 0.86, 0.85, and 0.71, respectively with decision tree algorithm. It was found that accuracy rates of other algorithms varied between 0.74 and 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of our study, it was found that sex estimation was made with high accuracy rate by using machine learning algorithms on X-ray images of the first and fifth metatarsal and foot phalanx. We think that in cases when pelvis, cranium and long bones are harmed and examination is difficult, bones of the first and fifth metatarsal and foot phalanx can be used for sex estimation.

Comparison of anthropometric and conic beam computed tomography measurements of patients with and without difficult intubation risk according to modified mallampati score: New markers for difficult intubation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the anthropometric and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) measurements taken from risk-free and risky groups by using the modified Mallampati score (MMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 176 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 in four different MMS classes were included in the study. The patients in classes MMS I and MMS II were accepted as risk-free and the patients in classes MMS III and MMS IV were accepted as risky for intubation. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed on the data to compare the anthropometric and radiological measurements taken from the risk-free and risky groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to the parameters that had a statistically significant difference. RESULTS: According to the analysis results, statistically significant differences were found in the neck circumference (NC), maximum interincisal distance (MID), thyromental distance (TMD) and sternomental distance (SMD) of the anthropometric measurements of men and women between the risk-free and risky groups (P < 0.05). In terms of CBCT measurements, the thickness of the tongue (TT), distance between the uvula and posterior wall of pharynx (U-Ph), distance between posterior nasal spine and nasopharynx (Snp-Nph) and length of the epiglottis (LE) were found to have statistically significant differences between the risk-free and risky groups of men and women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The NC, MID, TMD and SMD anthropometric measurements and TT, U-Ph, Snp-Nph and LE radiologic measurements were found to support MMS, which is one of the most widely used bedside intubation prediction tests. In addition to the inclusion of CBCT for intubation prediction, U-Ph and Snp-Nph radiologic measurements were added as difficult intubation markers.

Is amygdala size correlated with stress?

BACKGROUND: One of the important mechanisms that regulate the stress response of the body is hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. One of the structures activating this axis is amygdala. We have seen people around who react calmer and cooler to very stressful situations. Are people with smaller amygdala really calmer? Or, can we say that the bigger the amygdala, which is the trigger of the body's response to stress, the more a person panics? Aim of the study is to compare the saliva cortisol levels and amygdala volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study conducted with 63 male students. Magnetic resonance images of students were taken before their final exam to calculate amygdala volumes. Saliva samples of all students were taken two times to detect cortisol levels in saliva. First one was 20 days before the final exam and second one was on the exam day. We assumed that the students were stressful on exam day. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant correlation was found between saliva cortisol levels and amygdala volume in the study.

The effect of maternal fatigue on breastfeeding.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum fatigue means tiredness, sense of suffocation, and decreased physical and mental capacity. Fatigue reduces postpartum women's ability of concentrate, which may increase the frequency of postpartum depression, and their babies and cause babies' weaning off breastmilk earlier. AIM: Postpartum fatigue reduces the ability of mothers to concentrate and has a negative effect on communication between mothers and their babies. This study was performed to determine the effect of fatigue on breastfeeding and breastfeeding behaviors in postpartum women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study had a descriptive desing and was carreid out in a postpartum clinic of a maternal, obstetric, and pediatric diseases hospital. It included 374 women giving normal vaginal birth. Data were gathered with a socio-demographic features form and Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue. RESULTS: The mean score was 6,91 ± 2,25 for the subscale fatigue and 2,38 ± 0,91 for the subscale energy. The women reporting that it was not difficult to give birth and that they had little or some fatigue had significantly higher scores for energy (P = 0.001). The women starting to breastfeed in the hour of giving birth (P = 0.003) and the women breastfeeding at 1-hour intervals (P = 0.100) had a lower score for fatigue. The women not needing help while breastfeeding had a significantly lower score for fatigue (P = 0.001), while those reporting to give additional food had a significantly higher score for fatigue (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Women feel tired in the early postpartum period due to giving birth and their tiredness is increased by breastfeeding and infant care.

Exercise is good also for a healthy hippocampus.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the hippocampus sizes of healthy medical faculty students, who were exposed to an intense data input and who underwent serious learning activity and those of healthy sport faculty students who did sports regularly by using MR images and to examine the relationship between a hippocampus size and intelligence. METHODS: We made the study with 58 healthy young males (27 sport sciences faculty students and 31 medical faculty students). R. B. Cattell 3A Culture Fair Intelligence Test was administered to the volunteers. Following this, we got MR images of our volunteers. RESULTS: We could not find a statistically significant difference between medical faculty students and sport sciences faculty students in terms of hippocampus volumes. We could not find a correlation between IQ values and hippocampus volumes. Also, we could not find a significant difference between a right and left hippocampus. CONCLUSION: While doing sport, blood flow increases in the hippocampus, as in all areas of the body. This increased blood flow creates a stimulating effect on neurogenesis. Neurons, which develop as the result of neurogenesis, mean an increase in volume (Tab. 4, Ref. 54).