Background Leg volume (LV) is an important reference in nutrition, physiology in exercise, or clinical diagnosis. Therefore, how to evaluate LV easily and quickly with accuracy is important in these areas. Aim To develop a simple anthropometric estimation formula with ease of use and good accuracy for leg volume (LV) of female labourers. Subjects One hundred and thirty female labourers (110 subjects for formula regression procedure and 20 subjects for the comparison phase) were recruited as subjects with no reported leg surgery history, trauma, or deformity. Methods A set of 3 D scanners was used to measure the range data of each subject’s leg. Results The resultant LV estimation formula is LV = 0.215 × LL × CTH1.620 with R 2 = 0.967, in which LL stands for leg length and CTH for circumference of thigh. Mean error of this LV estimation is 0.10% and much smaller than that of the previous study (25.11% with significant difference). Conclusion An anthropometric estimation formula for female labourers’ leg volume was developed in this study. Estimation mean error of this formula is much smaller than the one in the previous study. This formula is easy to use and shows good accuracy in estimating female labourers’ leg volume.

Background While obesity is recognisably associated with changes in heart rate variability (HRV), the association between skeletal muscle mass and HRV is less clear. Aims In this cross sectional study, we analysed the association of body fat (four parameters) and muscle mass (five parameters) with indicators of HRV activity. Subjects and methods Assessment of body composition and HRV was performed in n = 180 young-to-middle age healthy men exposed to high occupational physical activity, using the multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance device and the PPG-StressFlow® HRV photoplethysmography device, respectively. Results Mean values of parameters of fat tissue were above normal/reference values. Muscle tissue indicators were higher or within the reference ranges. Fat tissue parameters were significantly higher in participants with lower parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) indicators. Weight-adjusted skeletal muscle index (wSMI) was significantly lower in men with reduced PNS parameters. Fat tissue parameters were negatively correlated with PNS parameters, while wSMI was positively correlated with PNS parameters. Conclusions Participants with higher fat mass and lower muscle mass had poorer parasympathetic activity. Since mean values of HRV parameters indicated mild parasympathetic dominance, we conclude that physical activity and consequently good muscle mass potentially compensated for the negative interaction between fat tissue and HRV.

Aim To assess the growth status of North Korean refugee adolescents (NKRA) living in South Korea (SK) and compare their growth status with that of SK adolescents (SKA). Subjects and methods NKRA were interviewed from 2017 to 2020, whereas the data for SKA were from the 2016 to 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. SKA and NKRA were matched by age and gender in a 3:1 ratio and 534 SKA and 185 NKRA were enrolled. Results After adjusting for the covariates, NKRA had greater prevalences of thinness (odds ratio [OR], 11.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9–45.6) and obesity (OR, 12.0; 95% CI, 3.1–46.1) than SKA, but were not of short stature. In comparison with SKA in low-income families, NKRA had similarly greater prevalences of thinness and obesity, but not of short stature. As the length of stay of NKRA in SK increased, the prevalence of short stature and thinness did not decrease, while the prevalence of obesity increased significantly. Conclusion Although they had lived in SK for several years, NKRA had greater prevalences of thinness and obesity than SKA and the prevalence of obesity increased significantly with the length of stay in SK.

Background A prerequisite for applying short tandem repeat (STR) kits is obtaining population allele and/or haplotype frequencies and forensic parameters. Aim Firstly, we aimed to investigate the population data of 19 X-chromosomal STRs (X-STRs) included in the AGCU X19 STR kit in the Han people residing in Hubei Province, Central China, and the Zhuang people residing in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of South China. Furthermore, we compared these population data with those for other Chinese populations. Subjects and methods In total, 509 unrelated Han males and 266 unrelated Zhuang males were genotyped using the AGCU X19 STR kit. Allele frequencies, haplotype frequencies, and forensic parameters were computed, and genetic differences among 15 Chinese populations were analysed. Results The 19 X-STRs showed a high power of discrimination and high mean chance of exclusion, whether calculated using allele or haplotype frequencies. Major differences were found between Han and Oroqen, Uyghur, Mongolian, Tibetan, Li, and Yi populations. Aberrant biallelic patterns at DXS10159, DXS10134, and DXS10079 and allelic dropouts at DXS10164 were observed. Conclusion The 19 X-STRs were highly polymorphic in the Hubei Han and Guangxi Zhuang populations, and the AGCU X19 STR kit was shown to be suitable for forensic casework.

Background Previous studies of the genetic polymorphism of the Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) of Huis were focussed on the northwest of China. However, the population genetic characteristics of Chinese Hui residing in Yunnan province, Southwest China, remain unclear. Aim To provide genetic data for 37 Y-STRs in the Chinese Hui population of Yunnan province, as well as to investigate population genetic relationships between the Chinese Hui and another 26 populations from China and neighbouring countries. Subjects and methods In total, 326 unrelated healthy male individuals were genotyped using the GoldeneyeTM Y Plus PCR Amplification Kit. Genetic relationships between different populations were analysed using YHRD’s AMOVA tools. Results A total of 279 haplotypes were detected, out of which 244 were unique. The overall haplotype diversity (HD) and discrimination capacity (DC) were 0.9989 and 0.8611, respectively. The gene diversity (GD) ranged from 0.0544 (DYS645) to 0.9656 (DYS385). Conclusions The population comparison indicated that Muslim populations (Hui, Salar and Uighur) showed significantly more genetic affinity than other populations. Our results could be applied in forensic practice and population genetic studies.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the existence of uniform sexual dimorphism in some radioulnar contrasts between different finger ridge counts within the same hand in a large set of populations, thus confirming the universal nature of this dimorphism in humans.Subjects and methods: We analysed individual finger ridge counts (10 values on each hand) of both hands from archival sources (mainly the Brehme-Jantz database). In total, these included 4412 adults from 21 population samples covering all permanently inhabited continents and encompassing very different and geographically distant human populations. We calculated the contrasts (differences) of all pairs of ridge counts (45 per hand) and used diverse methods to assess the direction and degree of dimorphism of them across all population samples.Results: The highest sexual dimorphism was observed for nine contrasts involving the ridge count of the dermatoglyphic pattern on the radial side of the second finger of the right hand (R2r). Among these contrasts, we then found four that had the same direction of dimorphism in all 21 populations. The most dimorphic was the contrast R1rR2r – the difference between the ridge count of the radial side of the thumb and the radial side of the index finger.Discussion: Thus, these dermatoglyphic traits can be further investigated as potential markers of prenatal sex differentiation from ca. 10th week of intrauterine development. However, it will be useful to address the detailed factors and mechanisms for differences in the degree of dimorphism of these traits in different populations.

Background Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) polymorphisms are widely used in forensic DNA analysis. However, there is a lack of information about the Chinese Va population in the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database. Aim To establish the Y-chromosome Haplotype Reference Database of the Yunnan Va population and investigate the population genetic relationships with other geographically adjacent groups. Subjects and methods In total, 23 Y-STR loci were genotyped with the PowerPlex Y23 Kit in 368 unrelated healthy Va males from Yunnan Province, Southwest China. Genetic polymorphism was analysed using the YHRD’s AMOVA tools and the MEGA 6.0 software. Results The gene diversity (GD) of the 23 Y-STR loci ranged from 0.3092 (DYS19) to 0.7868 (DYS385a/b). According to haplotype analysis, 204 different haplotypes were obtained, out of which 144 were unique. The haplotype diversity (HD) and discrimination capacity (DC) were 0.9852 and 0.5543, respectively. By comparing the Yunnan Va group with the other 22 referential groups, the results revealed that Yunnan Va was isolated from other groups. Conclusions The 23 Y-STR loci were highly polymorphic and informative in the Yunnan Va population, and the results enriched the basic genetic information for forensic investigation and population genetic studies.

Background The Jomon period of Japan is characterised by a unique combination of sedentary and hunting/gathering lifestyles, spanning for more than 10,000 years from the final Pleistocene to the Holocene. The transition from the preceding Palaeolithic period to the Jomon period is known to have begun with the appearance of pottery usage. However, knowledge of the genetic background of the Jomon people is still limited. Aim We aimed to determine the population-scale complete mitogenome sequences of the Initial Jomon human remains and compare the occurrence of mitochondrial haplogroups in the Jomon period from temporal and regional perspectives. Subjects and methods For human remains dated to 8200–8600 cal BP, we determined their complete mitogenome sequences using target enrichment-coupled next-generation sequencing. Results We successfully obtained the complete mitogenome sequences with high depth of coverage and high concordance on consensus sequences. These sequences differed by more than three bases each, except for two individuals having completely identical sequences. Co-existence of individuals with haplogroups N9b and M7a was first observed at the same archaeological site from the Initial Jomon period. Conclusion The genetic diversity within the population was not found to be low even in the Initial Jomon period.

Background Although adolescent basketballers differ in body size, shape, and composition, less is known about how these factors interact during physical development. Aim We used ontogenetic allometry to identify the optimal body size and shape characteristics associated with physical performance in adolescent basketball players, and investigated the effects of training experience, training volume, maturity status, and club characteristics on physical performance development. Subjects and methods Two hundred and sixty-four male basketballers, from five age-cohorts (11–15 years of age), were followed consecutively over three years. Three physical performance components, anthropometrics, training information, and biological maturation were assessed bi-annually. Longitudinal multiplicative allometric models were developed. Results Players with a physique that had a dominant ectomorphic component performed better in all physical performance components. When adjusting for confounders other than size, the development of running speed was independent of body size. Players advanced in maturation were physically fitter. Training data had no significant effect on developmental trajectories of running speed or lower body explosive strength. Club characteristics had no significant association with any physical performance trajectories. Conclusion Leaner players have advantages in physical performance and individual characteristics play an important role, over and beyond club structure, in developing physical performance.

Background Reference ranges for bone turnover markers (BTMs) are still lacking in the healthy Chinese population. Aim To establish reference intervals for BTMs and to investigate the correlations between BTMs and bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese older adults. Subjects and methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2511 Chinese subjects aged over 50 yrs residing in Zhenjiang, Southeast China. Reference intervals for BTMs (i.e. procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide, P1NP; β cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, β-CTX) were calculated as the central 95% range of all measurements in Chinese older adults. Results The reference intervals of P1NP, β-CTX and P1NP/β-CTX were 15.8–119.9 ng/mL, 0.041–0.675 ng/mL and 49.9–1261.5 for females and 13.6–111.4 ng/mL, 0.038–0.627 ng/mL and 41.0–1269.1 for males, respectively. In the multiple linear regression analysis, only β-CTX was negatively associated with BMD after adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI) in both sex-stratified groups (all p < .05). Conclusion This study established age- and sex-specific reference intervals for BTMs in a large sample of healthy Chinese participants ≥ 50 and < 80 years of age and explored the correlations between BTMs and BMD, which provides an effective reference for the assessment of bone turnover in the clinical practice of osteoporosis.