The purpose of this study was to analyse the linear and area dimensions and morphological shape of sella turcica to determine if differences exist due to gender or age and compared with available global data. A total of 183 (113 men and 70 women) Malay subjects who had their computed tomography (CT) scan at the Radiology Department, Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM) for ordinary diagnosis not related to craniofacial deformities. The selected age groups were divided into four groups as children (0-6 years), preadolescents (7-12 years), adolescents (13-20 years) and adults (21-35 years). The images were processed using Mimics V17.0 software. Conventional measurements included three different heights of the sella turcica (anterior, posterior, median), its length, diameter, area and width, measured in relation to the Frankfort reference line (FH). Morphometric methods were used to assess shape. No significant differences in size of the sella were found except at sella height anterior between genders. When age was evaluated, significant differences were found among all age groups. The study found that sella turcica presented with a three different shapes: in a U shape (57.9 %), in a J shape (24.5 %) and shallow (17.5 %). Sella shape and dimensions reported in the current study can be used for discovering Pathological enlargement of the pituitary fossa and may also be helpful in providing reference data in the assessment of racial, gender and age specific variation in Malay population.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sella turcica morphology, calculate its size and area in subjects with Down syndrome (DS), and compare them with normal subjects. A total of 100 (50 normal and 50 DS) Malay subjects who had their computed tomography (CT) scan at the Radiology Department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) for ordinary diagnosis. The selected age groups were divided into four groups as children (0-6 years), pre-adolescents (7-12 years), adolescents (13-20 years) and adults (21-35 years). The images were processed using Mimics V17.0 software. Conventional measurements included three different heights of the sella turcica (anterior, posterior, median), its length, diameter, area and width, measured in relation to the Frankfort reference line (FH). Morphometric methods were used to assess sella shape. Significant differences were found between control and DS groups in most parameters except for the sella height anterior and median, and sella area. No significant differences in size of the sella were found for control and DS groups in most parameters between genders. When age was evaluated, there were significant differences among some age groups and non-significant in other. The study found that sella turcica in DS presented with a three different shapes: U shape (50%), J shape (42%) and shallow (8%). The size and shape of the sella turcica is different between control and DS subjects. It was found that males had more significant differences in measured parameters compared to female. Among the age groups, the children age between 0-12 years old showed highly significant difference between DS and normal individuals, compared to adolescent and adults groups.

The purpose of this study was to describe the morphology and measure the size of the sella turcica in Iraqi population and compared with available global data. Computed Tomography (CT) images of 71 individuals (49 males and 22 females) with an age range of 33.9 years were taken. Conventional measurements included three different heights of the sella turcica (anterior, posterior, median), its length, diameter and width, measured in relation to the Frankfort reference line (FH). In addition, the area of sella turcica was calculated. Morphometric methods were used to assess shape. Multiple statistical analyses were done to calculate differences in dimensions and to establish if any relationship exists between age, sex and the morphometry of the sella turcica. No significant differences in size of the sella were found between genders. When age was evaluated, all dimensions showed positive correlation with the age. Sella size of the older age group was as a rule larger than the younger age. The study found that sella turcica presented with a three different shapes: in a U shape (50.7 %), in a J shape (32.4 %) and shallow (16.9 %). Sella shape and dimensions reported in the current study can be used for discovering pathological enlargement of the pituitary fossa and may also be helpful in providing reference data in the orthodontic diagnosis, assessment and treatment plan and assessment of racial, gender and age specific variation in the Iraqi population.

The purpose of this study was to determine the dimensional accuracy of the linear and angular craniofacial measurements obtained from three dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) images using Mimics V17.0 and InVesalius 3.0 software programs. CT images were taken from archive of Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM) for ten Malaysian patients. The resultant two dimensional (2D) images were stored in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format. The segmentation of the images was prepared in Mimics V17.0 and InVesalius 3.0 softwares. Linear and angular measurements were based on craniometric anatomical landmarks pre-defined by the authors and were identified by radiologist. Ten linear and three angular measurements were repeatedly made between identified landmarks on each of the selected ten patients. Each of the linear and angular measurements was repeated 3 times and the average was taken to determine the absolute difference and percent difference between Mimics V17.0 and InVesalius 3.0 softwares. The results demonstrated no statistically significant difference in all linear and angular measurements (P>0.05) performed by two different imaging software programs and obtained from 3D CT images. Mimics and InVesalius craniofacial measurements have the same values.

To clinically evaluate the retention and marginal discoloration of pit and fissure sealants applied to primary and permanent teeth. Material and Methods: The study population encompassed of 5-15 yearsold children. After consenting, a light-curing sealant was applied to etched pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces of selected sound teeth. The retention rate and marginal discoloration were assessed, 3 months after application of the sealants based on the criteria proposed by Simonsen's criteria (total retention: score 0, partial loss: score 1, and total loss: score 2). Each tooth was considered as an independent sample during analysis. Results: The achieved sample size was 43 children aged 5-15 years (mean age=10.0 years). Therefore, data of 100 teeth from 43 children were used for the final analysis. The percentage of completely retained sealants (59%) was higher than the percentage of partially retained sealants (23%) and completely missing sealants (18%) after 3 months follow up. Out of 100 sealed teeth, 60% were either had marginal discoloration or completely missing. Using the Mann-Whitney test, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between primary and permanent teeth in terms of retention. However, there was no statistical difference (p>0.05) between upper and lower teeth in terms of retention. Conclusion: The success rate of fissure sealants after 3 months follow-up was satisfactory.

Aim. To investigate and compare the cell cytotoxicity, proliferation, cell attachment, and morphology of human fetal osteoblasts (hFOB) cells of coated samples (titanium nanocopper (Ti Cu), titanium nanohydroxyapatite (Ti HA) and titanium nanocopper ion doped hydroxyapatite (Ti Cu/HA) and uncoated samples (Ti) in order to assess the suitability of these surface modifications on Ti-6Al-7Nb for dental implant application. Materials and Methods. The cytotoxicity was studied by examining the hFOB cell response by MTT assessment. The cell morphology was evaluated by inverted microscopy and observed under scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Results. MTT assay results displayed that the Cu content on the surface of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloys did not produce any cytotoxic effect on cell viability. The cell viability rate in all samples ranges from 97% to 126%, indicating that hFOB cells grew at a high proliferation rate. However, no significant differences in cell viability were observed between Ti and Ti Cu and between Ti HA and Ti Cu/HA groups. Microscopic examination demonstrated no difference in the cell morphology of hFOB among all samples. In addition, SEM observation indicated favorable adhesion and spreading of the cells on the coated and uncoated samples. Conclusions. The surface modification of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy with Cu, HA, and Cu/HA exhibits good cell biocompatibility, and the Cu has no influence on the cell proliferation and differentiation of hFOB.

Objective: The mandible is the strongest bone in the human skeleton. The uses of the morphological characters of such jawbone is a predominantly used approach in forensic dentistry to determine the gender of a severely damaged cadaver. Distinguishing sex, race and personal stamp of the unknown skeleton still has been the most challenging job in forensic dentistry. This research aimed to clarify the gender of Babylon population by mental foramen (MF) assessment using Orthopantomography (OPG). Method: The present retrospective study was conducted on 120 digital panoramic radiographs. The radiographs were of 60 male and 60 female dentate patients aged between 18-62 years. Morphometric analysis was performed on bilateral mental foramina. Lines were drawn from superior (S) and inferior (I) borders of the foramen and perpendiculars to the lower (L) border of the mandible (S-L and I-L lines respectively). Data were distributed and subjected to statistical analysis using the Independent-Samples T test. Results: The average values of S-L and I-L were significantly higher in males than in females (p<0.05). Conclusion: The distance from the MF to the lower border of the lower jaw reveals gender differences in Babylon city population. Findings also suggest that OPG could be a useful technique for gender identification from the remnants of the human body skeleton. There was a statistical significant difference in the average S-L distance and average I-L distance between males and females at 3 different age groups (young adult, middle age and old age groups), except in the average I-L distance at the middle age group (p<0.05). Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21(1) 2022 Page : 79-83

Background. This paper reports the corrosion behavior of uncoated commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V samples and these coated with hydroxyapatite, partial stabilized zirconia (PSZ), and the mixture of partial stabilized zirconia and hydroxyl-apatite by measuring passivation current density and see if there are any differences between them using electrochemical polarization tests in 37°C Hank’s solution. Materials and Methods. The electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) was elected to keep the coating materials which are HA, PSZ, and the mixture of 50% HA and 50% PSZ on Cp Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy samples. The electrochemical corrosion test was achieved by exposing the coated and uncoated samples to Hank’s solution which prepared in the laboratory and measuring the polarization potential, passivation current density, and the open circuit potential for all samples. Results. The results indicated that the passivation current density for all Cp Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy groups that coated with HA, PSZ, and with mixture of 50/50 HA and PSZ was less than uncoated groups. There are no significant differences between all Cp Ti groups when compared with all Ti-6Al-4 V alloy groups. The open circuit potential (OCP) for both Cp Ti and Ti -6Al -4V samples was in the following sequence PSZ > HA > mixture of HA and PSZ > uncoated . Conclusions. Coating significantly decreased the passivation current density of Cp Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy.