Calcification of Thyroid Cartilage: A Radiographic Tool for Age Determination Among Adults and Middle-aged of Malnad Region, India

Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the incidental prevalence of heterotopic soft tissue calcifications in the neck region, on Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images, and their relationship with age and sex. Methods: A total of 6620 CBCT images were examined. CBCT images of 503 patients aged between 20 and 86 years were included in the study. Patients were grouped into five age groups: 20-30 (N = 132), 31-40 (N = 68), 41-50 (N = 92), 51-60 (N = 104), and 61 and above (N = 107). The images were assessed according to the presence of lymph node calcification, carotid artery calcification, thyroid cartilage, and triticeous cartilage calcification in the neck region. Descriptive statistics, crosstabs, and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The significance level was set to 0.05 Results: At least one calcification was detected in 372 (73.9%) patients. The difference between the prevalence of each calcification according to age groups was statistically significant. A significant relationship was found between the presence of carotid artery calcification and the sex variable (p< .05). The presence of other calcifications did not show statistically significant differences associated with sex (p> .05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed a significant amount of soft tissue calcification in the neck region. The most common calcifications were thyroid cartilage calcifications, and the least common calcification was lymph node calcification.

Thyroid cartilage changes begin in the second decade of life with the horn of the thyroid cartilage, and spread throughout the individual’s lifetime to other cartilage plates. However, the objective of the present study is to assess if there is an association between thyroid calcification (TC) and sella turcica bridging (STB). Forty patients, 11 men and 29 women, aged between 40 and 62 years with a mean age of 48.6 years were studied. The sample inclusion criteria of this study were age in the fourth decade, no craniofacial deformities, no history of craniofacial surgical intervention, good-quality lateral cephalometric radiographs, and good visualization of the sella turcica (ST). A total of 40 registered patients were included in the assessment of calcification of the thyroid cartilage. Of these, 75% presented with thyroid calcifications, and 25% did not. Data on sex was available for all 40 registered patients. A total of 72.5% were female, and 27.5% were male. While in a comparison between calcification of the thyroid and calcification of the sella turcica, no statistical relationship was observed between the two variables. Thyroid cartilage calcification could be considered a normal part of the ageing process, while STB could appear on lateral radiographs due to superimposition of the anatomical structures. In this study, we found no relationship between thyroid cartilage calcification and STB, and a larger patient sample is required for evaluating calcification of the thyroid and STB.

Virtual Reality Helps Describe the Progression of Thyroid Cartilage Calcification

Positive psychology provides a framework for studying the determinants of successful aging. This study investigated how character strengths in middle and older age may relate to subjective and physical wellbeing. Additionally, subjective importance of different character strengths in both age groups was investigated. Two hundred seventeen persons (50% female) aged 46–94 participated. Results revealed that gratitude and appreciation of beauty were given significantly more value in older age than in middle age. Hope and zest belong to the five strengths with the highest positive correlation with cognitive and affective aspects of subjective wellbeing in both age groups, whereas hope belongs to the five strengths with the highest positive correlation with physical wellbeing over the age ranges. However, some differences in strengths and their relation to subjective and physical wellbeing were uncovered. As predicted, positive associations between spirituality and life satisfaction were found in older, but not in middle age. Practical implications for practitioners are outlined, as regards the consideration of strengths in successful aging as well as the application of strength-based interventions for promoting subjective and physical wellbeing in middle and older age.

Background: Several research studies have identified breastfeeding as a significant factor for normal infant growth and development. Childhood obesity is the major ailment seen in formula fed infants which clearly demonstrates the protective role and effect of the exclusive breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to compare the physical health among exclusive breastfed and formula fed infants. The aim of our study was to find the impact of Exclusive Breastfeeding on child’s physical growth parameters among formula fed and exclusive breastfed infants. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done to compare the growth patterns of breast fed and formula fed babies of Duwakot. The growth patterns of 81 exclusive breastfed babies (39 male, 42 female) and 81 formula fed babies (44 male, 37 female) were compared. The weight for age (WA), Height for age (HA), and weight for Height (WH) Z scores were calculated in 6 to 24 months babies by WHO Anthro Software Version 3.2.2. Results: The prevalence of overweight in exclusively breastfed infants was 6.1% (> +2SD) and in formula fed infants was 17.3%. The prevalence of overweight was significantly higher among formula fed infants. The prevalence of obesity in formula fed infants was 2.5% (> +3SD) and 1.2% in breastfed infants. The study revealed that overweight was significantly associated with formula feeding but no statistically significant difference was observed in the other physical parameters like wasting, stunting and underweight. In Breastfed infants the mean Z score for WA was -0.22, WH was 0.1 and BMI was 0.06 whereas in formula fed infants the mean Z score for WA was 0.3, WH was 0.68 and BMI was 0.71. Conclusion: The physical growth pattern of exclusive breast fed and formula fed Nepalese babies showed overweight tendency in formula fed babies as compared to breastfed babies. Keywords: Exclusive breastfeeding; Formula fed; Growth pattern.

A follow up study on the effects of massage on preterm infants: A randomized controlled research

This study was carried out to assess the allelopathic potential of Calotropis procera against lentil. Four different concentrations of Calotropis procera leaf extracts (100%/, 75%, 50% and 25% concentrated) were used to irrigate pots containing lentil seeds. Allelopathic effects of C. procera on lentil crop were gauged using different germination indices and physical growth parameters like root and shoot growth, number of leaves and branches and other morphological growth parameters. Results concluded that C. procera leaf extract has obvious suppressing effects on lentil since at higher concentration of leaf extract, lentil seeds showed significantly lower germination percentage and reduced growth in all physical growth parameters.

Placental redistribution has been shown to improve haematological outcomes in the immediate neonatal period and early infancy. This study compared the effects of delayed cord clamping (DCC) and umbilical cord milking (UCM) on haematological and growth parameters at 12months of age. This was a follow-up study of a randomised control trial, conducted in a tertiary care paediatric centre from August 2013 to August 2014. We studied 200 apparently healthy Indian infants randomised at birth to receive DCC for 60-90seconds or UCM. The outcome measures were iron status and physical growth parameters at 12months. Of the 200 babies, 161 completed the follow-up and baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. The mean haemoglobin in the DCC group (102.2 (17.2)g/L and serum ferritin 16.44 (2.77)μg/L) showed no significant differences to the UCM group (98.6 (17.1)g/L and 18.2 (2.8)μg/L) at one year. In addition, there were no significant differences in weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference in the two groups. Term-born Indian infants who had DCC at 60-90seconds or UCM showed no significant differences in ferritin and haemoglobin levels and growth parameters at 12months of age.

Changes in epiphyseal bone, subchondral bone plate and epiphyseal trabecular bone in surgically and chemically induced rat models of osteoarthritis

Potassium-argon age determinations for 84 volcanic, intrusive, and hydrothermally altered rocks from the Port Moller, Stepovak Bay, and Simeonof Island quadrangles are reported here. Of these age determinations, 78 samples were analyzed as part of Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP) studies in the Port Moller, Stepovak Bay, and Simeonof Island quadrangles. Age deter- minations for 6 of the samples have been previously published (Burk, 1965; Kienle and Turner, 1976; Wilson and others, 1981). This report consists of a sample location map, analytical data (table 1), and rock descriptions (table 2).

To evaluate the effect of the extremes of long term high and low physical activities on musculoskeletal heath in middle age, a historical cohort study was performed. The MRI knee and back findings of 25 randomly selected subjects who were inducted into the armed forces in 1983 and served at least 3 years as elite infantry soldiers were compared 25 years later, with 20 randomly selected subjects who were deferred from army service for full time religious studies at the same time. Both cohorts were from the same common genome. The two primary outcome measures were degenerative lumbar disc disease evaluated by the Pfirrmann score and degenerative knee changes evaluated by the WORMS score. At the 25-year follow up, the mean Pfirrmann score (8.6) for the L1 to S1 level of the elite infantry group was significantly higher than that of the sedentary group (6.7), (P = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference between the WORMS knee scores between the two cohorts (P = 0.7). In spite of the much greater musculoskeletal loading history of the elite infantry cohort, only their lumbar spines but not their knees showed increased degenerative changes at middle age by MRI criteria.

In forensic anthropological analysis, the pelvis is of particular interest as it is often a comparatively well-preserved part of the skeleton. This study in age determination uses the acetabulum, the central element of the pelvis, as a complement to the examination of the auricular surface. The test sample consisted of 30 individuals. First, the authors studied the auricular surface using the Lovejoy criteria. Second, they isolated four criteria based on chronological changes in the acetabulum. Third, they conducted an evaluation of each of these variables. The study examines the correlation between these criteria and the age of the individuals. A significant correlation was found between the acetabular criteria and age, and between the acetabular criteria and the Lovejoy criteria of the auricular surface. For forensic purposes, the acetabulum is an effective predictor in the determination of age. This newly proposed method explores the same criteria of ageing as the Lovejoy method. The combination of the two methods produces relatively consistent results in the estimation of age.

BackgroundMethylphenidate (MPH) is the first-line medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The results regarding its potential negative impact on the physical growth of children and adolescents with ADHD are inconsistent. Accordingly, the present research aimed to systematically evaluate the influence of MPH monotherapy on physical growth parameters in children and adolescents with ADHD.MethodsA systematic search was conducted across the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science up to December 2025 to identify clinical studies reporting pre- and post-treatment measurements of physical growth parameters—including height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)—in children and adolescents with ADHD receiving MPH monotherapy. EndNote was employed for literature screening. Eligible studies underwent data extraction and quality evaluation. Cohort studies were evaluated utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, whereas randomized controlled trials were assessed with the RoB 2.0. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Statistical analyses were implemented in STATA 18.0.ResultsThirty-three studies were incorporated, of which 16 were rated as high quality and 17 as moderate quality. Meta-analysis indicated that MPH-treated children with ADHD exhibited significant reductions in height Z-score (mean difference [MD] = -0.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.18 to -0.09; I² = 91.1%, p < 0.001), weight Z-score (MD = -0.25, 95% CI = -0.36 to -0.15; I² = 96.8%, p < 0.001), short-term mean weight (MD = -0.34, 95% CI = -0.51 to -0.18; I² = 0.0%, p = 0.449), and body mass index Z-score (MD = -0.26, 95% CI = -0.32 to -0.20; I² = 96.3%, p < 0.001), while mean BMI showed no statistically significant difference (MD = 0.20, 95% CI = -0.24 to 0.64; I² = 96.0%, p = 0.449). For outcomes with substantial heterogeneity, subgroup and regression analyses were conducted, but no clear sources were identified.ConclusionsMPH use is significantly associated with reductions in growth parameters in children and adolescents with ADHD. Even though the effect sizes were small, clinicians should prioritize individualized monitoring. Future research should employ more standardized prospective designs to minimize potential confounders.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251117485, identifier CRD420251117485.

Cross-sectional magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) study. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relation of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra to signs of disc degeneration in MRI and to low back pain (LBP). An association between the transitional vertebra and herniation in the disc above has been found in patients with LBP, but knowledge of the relation to other degenerative disc changes detected in MRI and to LBP is lacking. MR images of the lumbar spine of 138 middle-aged working men and 25 healthy young men were evaluated. The presence and type of lumbosacral transitional vertebra and of degenerative changes in intervertebral discs were evaluated. The history of low back symptoms was obtained with a questionnaire from the middle-aged men. The prevalence of transitional vertebra was 30%. Transitional vertebra was associated with an increased risk of degenerative changes in the disc above among the young men and with a decreased risk in the disc below among the middle-aged men. Transitional vertebra, symmetric or asymmetric, was not associated with any type of LBP in the middle-aged men. Lumbosacral transitional vertebra increases the risk of early degeneration in the upper disc. This effect seems to be obscured by age-related changes in the middle age. The degenerative process is slowed down in the lower disc. For these effects, the presence of a transitional vertebra should be noticed when morphologic methods are used in research on lumbosacral spine. Transitional vertebra is not associated with any type of LBP.

This meta-analysis addresses the use of mandibular computed tomography (CT) scans for age and/or sex determination in forensic science. Six databases were searched until June 2023, using the keyword "mandible" combined with keywords related to "multislice computed tomography" (MCT) or "cone-beam computed tomography" (CBCT) and keywords related to "skeletal age determination" or "sex determination analysis." Among the 23 studies included, 11 used MCT and 12 used CBCT to perform forensic assessments. Age determination was the aim of a single study, sex and agedeterminations were the objective of five studies, and the other studies investigated the determination of sex only. Metaanalysis could be performed only for sex determination. Mandible measurements are useful in sex determination, as the bicondylar and bigonial breadth are larger in males than in females. For the mandible angle, the meta-analysis results confirm sex dimorphism in CBCT scans but not in MCT scans. For age estimation, further studies are needed to prove that the mandible hole is a reliable parameter for age estimation. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021260967.