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Structural equation modelling to estimate facial soft tissue thickness parameters based on ethnicity, gender and body mass index: a secondary study on an Iranian dataset

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Abstract

Purpose

According to the anthropological importance of soft facial tissue thickness parameters, we aimed to find the association of these parameters with Lur and Arab ethnicities, gender and body mass index (BMI). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used.

Methods

As a secondary analysis, SEM was performed on a dataset of 100 participants. The participants were from Lur and Arab populations of Ahvaz province, Iran, from those who referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to headache.

Results

Multivariate regression illustrated that mental eminence (ME), chain-lip fold (CLF) and end of nasals (END) could not be predicted by the independent variables (p > 0.05). Right masseteric region (RMST) had the maximum predictability with R2 = 0.365, followed by middle philtrum (MID) with R2 = 0.358 (p < 0.001). With respect to our criterion to enter SEM, i.e. existing at least two significant covariates at significance level of 0.05, among staying parameters, only parameters of nasion (NA), MID, superior lip (SL), RMST and left masseteric region (LMST) remained. Among these cases, MID was the only parameter that its three covariates illustrated significant association.

Conclusion

MID parameter can be predicted by gender, BMI and Arab ethnicity. By carrying out such studies and creating database, such information can be used in plastic surgery, corpse identification, and facial reconstruction software in archeology.

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Availability of data and materials

Data are available by the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The present study has been approved by the Student Research Committee of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences with the number 2124. We thank Vice-Chancellor for Research and Technology.

Funding

Lorestan University of Medical Sciences with grant number 2124.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Mohammad Javad Nourmohammadi

  2. Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Seyyed Amir Yasin Ahmadi

  3. Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Jafar Rezaian

Authors
  1. Mohammad Javad Nourmohammadi
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Contributions

MJ Nourmohammadi: data management, data analysis, and manuscript writing. SAY Ahmadi: protocol/project development, interpretation, and manuscript writing. J Rezaian: protocol/project development and manuscript editing. All the authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jafar Rezaian.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the ethics committee of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences with the code IR.LUMS.REC.1400.219. As a secondary analysis, there was no direct human or animal subject.

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Consent for publication had been obtained in the primary study done before.

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Nourmohammadi, M.J., Ahmadi, S.A.Y. & Rezaian, J. Structural equation modelling to estimate facial soft tissue thickness parameters based on ethnicity, gender and body mass index: a secondary study on an Iranian dataset. Surg Radiol Anat 45, 739–746 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-023-03147-2

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