Osteoporosis, osteoporotic fractures, and carotid artery calcification detected on panoramic radiographs in Japanese men and women

Relationship between the prevalence of soft tissue radiopacities on panoramic radiographs and medical conditions

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to describe radiographic characteristics and the prevalence of selected anatomical structures and soft tissue radiopacities on panoramic radiographs and their relationship to medical conditions.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 814 consecutive patients aged 35-88 years and their panoramic radiographs. Soft tissue calcifications found in the mandibular angle area were recorded according to gender, age, and bilaterally. Patient medical records were reviewed for atherogenic risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic renal disease, menopause, drug usage and any other systemic condition. Data were analyzed with the χ² test and Fisher's Exact test; P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among the 814 patients, a total of 74 (9.1%) calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAA) were identified, of which 34 (4.17%), 40 (3.19%), and 14 (1.7%) were right, left, and bilateral, respectively. Orthopantomographic examination revealed triticeous cartilage (7.3%) in the cervical bifurcation region, asymptomatic styloid process elongation 192 (23.5%), tonsilloliths 27 (3.3%), sialoliths 37 (4.5%), calcified lymph nodes 46 (5.7%), impacted roots 109 (13.4%), and foreign radiopaque materials 23 (%2.8). There was a significant age and gender difference between type II diabetes and CCAA. A positive correlation was found between styloid process elongation and temporomandibular joint disorders and antidepressant use.

CONCLUSIONS

Soft tissue radiopacities can be a validated risk indicator of cardiovascular events or misdiagnosed pain. Dental practitioners must be aware of these atypical findings as they may be related to serious disease states and may require referral for further investigation.

Prevention of osteoporosis in female students based on the Orem self-care model

Background

The World Health Organization has introduced osteoporosis as the fourth main enemy of mankind. Self care has served as a new trend in health care.

Objective

Educational intervention for osteoporosis related preventive self care in female university students using the Orem model.

Methods

This study is a controlled filed trial, carried out with female students of Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord Branch, Iran, from October 28, 2014 to November 15, 2016. Two-stage random stratified sampling was performed and the data were collected through a validated questionnaire developed by the researcher for osteoporosis preventive self-care based on the Orem model. The intervention group received education about osteoporosis preventive self-care through two months training, as per the dimensions in the Orem model. For statistical analysis, independent-samples t-test and paired t-test were used in SPSS version 23.

Results

As revealed, mean scores for self-care agency, self-care demand, self-care operation structures and total self-care in the intervention group were significantly different before and after the intervention (p=0.014, p<0.001, p=0.002, and p<0.001, respectively). Accordingly, educational intervention seems to be effective in promoting self-care for the prevention of osteoporosis. While the control group, showed no significant difference in any of the above-mentioned aspects before and after intervention (p=0.90, p=0.53, p=0.51, and p= 0.97, respectively).

Conclusion

The results are in favor of the effects of educational intervention on osteoporosis preventive self-care among female students. It can be suggested that education during a woman’s young age, can be very beneficial for the prevention of osteoporosis in the future.

Trial registration

The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: IRCT201510028742N8.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.