Gender-associated dimensional differences among normal to non-flow limiting coronary artery dimensions.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To study gender-specific differences in coronary artery diameters among subjects with normal to non-flow limiting disease (NFLD) coronary arteries (up to 0 - 20% of stenosis) and to assess the possible association of body-mass index (BMI) with coronary dimensions, among the west coastal population of Karnataka and Kerala. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted for a period of one year. Two thousand angiograms samples were collected and assessed from two study centers (one from each state), after obtaining the ethical clearance. Patients with past history of myocardial infarction and those with recanalized normal looking coronary arteries and those who had diabetes for more than five years were excluded. Ten segments of coronary arteries- left main coronary artery, ostial and proximal segments of left anterior descending artery and its first diagonal branch, ostial and proximal segments of left circumflex coronary artery and its obtuse marginal branch, ramus intermedius and the ostial and proximal segments of the right coronary artery- were included in diameter measurement. BMI values of the patients were calculated. RESULTS: Out of 2000 patients included in the study, 454 (22.7%; mean age 53.4 ± 14.2 years) had normal to NFLD coronaries of which 253 (55.7%) were males and 201 (44.3%) were females. As compared to women, men had larger diameters of coronary arteries for eight segments, except the obtuse marginal branch and the proximal right coronary artery. A weak, yet statistically significant, negative correlation existed between BMI and coronary artery diameters in total cohort, indicating that an increase in BMI was associated with a decrease in artery diameters. No such association was seen when men and women were assessed separately. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that men have higher caliber for coronary arteries compared to women. The study also indicates that when BMI increases there is a relative decrease in the coronary artery diameter.

Binary logistic regression analysis of hard palate dimensions for sexing human crania / 대한해부학회지

Sex determination is the preliminary step in every forensic investigation and the hard palate assumes significance in cranial sexing in cases involving burns and explosions due to its resistant nature and secluded location. This study analyzes the sexing potential of incisive foramen to posterior nasal spine length, palatine process of maxilla length, horizontal plate of palatine bone length and transverse length between the greater palatine foramina. The study deviates from the conventional method of measuring the maxillo-alveolar length and breadth as the dimensions considered in this study are more heat resistant and useful in situations with damaged alveolar margins. The study involves 50 male and 50 female adult dry skulls of Indian ethnic group. The dimensions measured were statistically analyzed using Student's t test, binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve. It was observed that the incisive foramen to posterior nasal spine length is a definite sex marker with sex predictability of 87.2%. The palatine process of maxilla length with 66.8% sex predictability and the horizontal plate of palatine bone length with 71.9% sex predictability cannot be relied upon as definite sex markers. The transverse length between the greater palatine foramina is statistically insignificant in sexing crania (P=0.318). Considering a significant overlap of values in both the sexes the palatal dimensions singularly cannot be relied upon for sexing. Nevertheless, considering the high sex predictability of incisive foramen to posterior nasal spine length this dimension can definitely be used to supplement other sexing evidence available to precisely conclude the cranial sex.

Sexual dimorphism of the craniofacial region in a South Indian population

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>To the best of our knowledge, the sexually dimorphic characteristics of the craniofacial region among the South Indian population are not available in the current literature. We aimed to determine these characteristics using discriminant function analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 recent skulls (40 male, 40 female) from the Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Karnataka, India, were analysed. Ten craniofacial parameters were measured and subjected to univariate and multivariate statistical analyses using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 13.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Statistical analyses revealed that the differences in the bizygomatic, orbital and biorbital breadths of males and females were significant (p < 0.05). Direct method gave an accuracy of 68.8% for sex determination. In stepwise analysis, bizygomatic breadth and upper facial height were selected, giving a 65.0% accuracy for sex prediction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Craniofacial parameters are sexually dimorphic. The present study established several features of craniofacial morphometry that can be used for sex determination among the South Indian population. The findings of the present study serve as a foundation for future studies that aim to compare craniofacial parameters among various ethnic groups in South India.</p>