The estimation of lumbar intervertebral disc volumes before and after exercise using the Cavalieri method

Abstract

Purpose: Our aim in this study is to determine the volume differences of the lumbar intervertebral discs by using the Cavalieri method. Subjects and methods: In our study, lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 20 male (mean age, 22 years; age range, 19-25 years) athletes without any known disease on the lumbar vertebra and discs immediately after resting and after a 50-minute loading exercise. The lumbar intervertebral disc volumes were measured by Cavalieri method and compared after resting and after exercise. Statistical analyses of the results were carried out to evaluate changes in the disc volume. Results: The mean volume of the three lower lumbar intervertebral discs (L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5) was 17 centimetres cube after resting and 15 centimetres cube after exercise. Total volume decreased from 51 centimetres cube to 45 centimetres cube. After a 50-minute loading exercise, a 12% reduction was detected (p<0.05). Conclusion: The reduction in the lumbar intervertebral disc volumes after exercise may be useful in providing predictive short-term information through the Cavalieri method.

Volumetric Changes of the Paranasal Sinuses with Age: A Systematic Review

“…The four pairs of paranasal sinuses (maxillary, sphenoidal, frontal, and ethmoidal) are not only a fundamental part of the upper airway but also contribute to the development of the jaw and face and constitute the largest air cavity of the skull. The radiographic study of the paranasal sinuses is quite frequent because they are usually the site of chronic infectious processes, allergies, hypoplasia, pneumosinus dilatans, or atelectasis [39,45]. For example, sinusitis is one of the most common paranasal diseases, affecting almost 30 million people in the United States and 11% of the European population, making it one of the main causes of antibiotics prescription [41].…”

“…A decrease in frontal sinus volume was observed in the studies of Kumar et al, 2022 [20]; Karakas and Kavakli, 2005 [27]; Tatlisumak et al, 2008 [15]; Emirzeoglu et al, 2007 [39]; and Ozdikici, 2018 [45]. In the studies of Jasso-Ramirez et al, 2022 [11]; Demiralp et al, 2019 [33]; Fatu et al, 2006 [42]; and Soman et al, 2016 [44], an increase in sinus area was observed, while Kim et al, 2010 [6]; Sahlstrand-Johnson et al, 2011 [31]; Cohen et al, 2018 [32]; Marino et al, 2020 [36]; Takahashi et al, 2016 [40]; Yilmaz et al, 2020 [12]; and Rubira-Bullen et al, 2010 [41], did not observe sinus volumetric alterations with age.…”

“…The most studied paranasal sinuses were the maxillary, frontal, and sphenoidal sinuses, either individually or in different combinations between them, which are detailed in Figure 3. Only three studies included the ethmoid sinuses [20,39,45].…”

“…Most authors who studied the maxillary sinus concluded that it begins its development from birth until the maximum peak of growth, from which it begins to decrease in volume with age [12,20,24,25,27,29,30,32,35,37,39,40,43,45,46,[48][49][50]. In contrast, Jasso-Ramirez et al, 2022 [11], and de Barros et al, 2022 [28], concluded that maxillary sinus volume increases with age.…”

“…The three studies that include the ethmoidal sinus in their measurements conclude that the sinus volume decreases with age after reaching its maximum growth peak [20,39,45].…”