Background: The infraorbital foramen is situated in the maxilla and it conveys infraorbital nerve and vessel, the knowledge of its morphometry and variations is therefore mandatory to do therapeutic infraorbital nerve block or any clinical procedures. Aims & Objective: To study the gender wise morphometry of infraorbital foramen and its laterality in dry adult skulls of south Indian population. Materials and Methods: In the present study we examined 100 infraorbital foramina and measured its distance with bony features adjacent to it and the shape, presence of accessory foramina were analysed in relation to gender. The infraorbital foramen was the landmark from which the distance between the following bony structures were examined; Nasion (NAS), Zygomatico-maxillary suture (ZMS), Anterior nasal spine (ANS), and the distance between the inferior orbital rim(IOR) to optic canal (OC), infraorbital foramen IOF), inferior and superior orbital fissure (IF & SF). The average mean and standard deviation were calculated for every measurement. Paired t-test was used to compare the parameters between sides and gender for each measurement. Results: The most common shape of infraorbital foramen found in the present study is oval (39%) followed by semilunar (27%). Round shaped foramen was found in 22% of skulls, triangle shaped foramen was found in 12% and accessory foramina were present in 11% of the skulls. In the present study, we found triangle shaped foramen in 12% skulls and also the number of accessory foramina was found to be higher which emphasise the need to take ethnicity into account as triangle shaped foramen is unique in south Indian population as affirmed by previous authors. Conclusion: The results show significance with respect to gender and side which makes the knowledge of its morphometry obligatory for clinical procedures.

Byssinosis is a disabling occupational lung disease caused by cotton dust. It is a well known occupational respiratory disease in cotton industry workers caused by cotton dust pollution. Many studies have been documented the effects of cotton dust on pulmonary function among workers employed in cotton-spinning mills. However, little data exist on the prevalence of this disorder in female workers particularly in western part of India. The present study was conducted to analyze the effects of exposure to cotton dust on pulmonary functions among female workers. The study was designed to assess the effects of exposure to cotton dust on lung functions among female cotton industry workers. Study group comprises 50 Female workers of cotton industry and control group comprises 50 age matched females who were neither worked in cotton industry nor exposed to cotton dust. Information was collected using standardized questionnaires, physical examination and spirometric measurements. Student’s T-test was used to find the difference between spirometric parameters. All the respiratory parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF 25-75 % PEFR and MVV) were reduced in cotton industry workers as compared with control subjects (p<0.0001) and no significant difference of SpO2 between groups. Cotton dust exposure makes huge impact on respiratory parameters of the cotton industry workers. This deterioration in respiratory health deteriorates with increasing duration of exposure. The health hazards caused by cotton dust should be controlled by creating awareness among the workers & employers.

Introduction: Occupational lung illness is a significant problem among textile factory workers. Occupational cotton dust exposure has been linked to lung involvement in many epidemiological studies of cotton industry workers. The maximum oxygen intake is one of the measures used to estimate functional capacity (VO2 max) of cardiopulmonary efficiency. The integration of the ventilatory, cardiovascular and neuromuscular system is necessary for attainment of VO2 max. Aim: To assess the VO2 max among women employees in cotton textile industry and to study the correlation between VO2 max and anthropometric parameters like Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Surface Area (BSA), fat percent (fat %) and Lean Body Mass (LBM). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to June 2021 at Nootan Medical College and Research Centre/Nootan General Hospital, Visnagar, Dt. Mehsana, North Gujarat, India, which included study and control group which comprised 50 female workers of cotton industry and 50 age matched females respectively (n=50 each) who had never worked in the cotton industry or been exposed to cotton dust. The labourers of cotton industry were chosen from the Mehsana district’s numerous cotton factories. Physical examinations (resting heart rate, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and a standardised proforma were used to gather data. VO2 max and anthropometric measurements such as BMI, BSA, fat % and LBM were measured by standard procedure. The statistical analysis was done by using Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation test. The correlation between BMI, BSA, fat percent and LBM with maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) was assessed by using Karl-Pearson’s correlation with level of significance was considered statistically significant if p<0.05. Results: The mean value of VO2 max in study and control group was 35.62±0.34 mL/kg/min and 36.80±0.58 mL/kg/min respectively. It was decreased significantly (p<0.001) in study group. The r values of BMI, BSA, LBM and body fat % were 0.262, 0.132, 0.236, 0.224 respectively. In the present study correlation between BMI, BSA, LBM, body fat % with VO2 max was reported as weak positive correlation which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: VO2 max was significantly decreased in cotton industry workers compared to non exposed control subjects. More studies on the effects of cotton dust on VO2 max should be conducted in future in both genders.

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