The normative values for resting length of pectoralis minor muscle among individuals with asymptomatic shoulder in South Bengaluru: a cross-sectional pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the normative values for resting length of pectoralis minor muscle among males and females with an asymptomatic shoulder in South Bengaluru. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six subjects with asymptomatic shoulders were taken by convenience sampling. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group A (123 males) and Group B (123 females). Pectoralis minor muscle resting length was measured on their dominant side in all subjects. Post measurement, the PMI was calculated. The normative values for both groups were determined. The mean PMI was compared between Group A and Group B and was analyzed using statistical tools. RESULTS: In Group A, the mean average Pectoralis minor length (PML) was 14.59 ± 1.61 cm and in Group B, the mean average PML was 12.95 ± 1.42 cm which was statistically significant (p-value <0.00001). In Group A, the mean Pectoralis Minor Index (PMI) was 8.54 ± 0.88 and in Group B, the mean PMI was 8.22 ± 0.90 which was statistically significant (p-value <0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The normative values for resting length of pectoralis minor muscle for males are 8.54 ± 0.88 and for females 8.22 ± 0.90 with an asymptomatic shoulder. There is a difference in the normative values for the resting PML in the asymptomatic shoulder by gender.

The impact of tooth colour on the perceptions of age and social judgements.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological research has established that the presence of dental anomalies negatively impact social judgements. This study sought to determine the effects of tooth colour on the subjective ratings of social judgements in a group of Caucasian adults. METHODS: A cross sectional experimental analogue design comprised fifty Caucasian adults: 25 women and 25 men. A total of 54 digitally modified photographs of Caucasian males and females (darkened, natural, whitened teeth) were evaluated. All participants evaluated each of the images on 12 characteristics: popularity, friendliness, social life, success, graduation, happiness, intelligence, perceived age, introversion/extraversion, self-confidence, attractiveness and satisfaction with the tooth shade. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare ratings. RESULTS: Participants associated darkened teeth with poorer subjective ratings, with the highest ratings been given to whitened teeth, and natural teeth being intermediate. These trends were similar across all participant age groups and gender. Further, the gender and age groups of the images had a significant effect on the appraisals. Faces of younger models received higher ratings than the faces of older models and female images were rated higher than the males. CONCLUSION: In the absence of other information, tooth colour exerts an influence upon the appraisals made in social situations. It appears that whitened tooth appearance is preferred to natural tooth appearance, irrespective of age and gender of the judge. The faces with more whitened dentition are perceived to be younger across all age groups and gender of the judges. Participants dissatisfied with their own tooth shade drew out more stereotypic behaviour. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This research used standardised tooth colour as a basis to investigate perceived age and social functioning. As clinicians face daily challenges to achieve patient satisfaction with respect to dental aesthetics, standardizing the colour may enhance the patients' satisfaction. Further, participants dissatisfied with their own tooth shade drew out more stereotypic behaviour. The whitened dentition may impair the psychological well-being of the individuals and is probably a reason for the increasing demand for cosmetic dental procedures. These results may be instructive for the development of a psycho-educational intervention to prevent any unrealistic expectations.

Investigations of nicandrenone--a withanolide-like aromatic plant steroid from Nicandra physaloides.

On the basis of IR, UV, ORD, NMR and high resoluted mass spectral data as well as chemical transformations, evidence for structure 1 of the D-homo-aromatic plant steroid nicandrenone from Nicandra physaloides (Solanaceae) was given. The sterochemistry of both epoxy lactol functions in this compound was established using intramolecular hydrogen bonding investigations. Biogenetical aspects are discussed.