Determination Of Stature Research Articles

Determination of stature from cephalo-facial dimensions in a North Indian population

A forensic medicine specialist, while a conducting medico-legal autopsy, is often asked to opine about the identity of the deceased in unknown fragmentary and dismembered remains. Determination of stature is an important aspect in establishing identity in such cases. Sometimes, cephalo-facial remains are brought for postmortem and forensic examination. The aim of the present study was to estimate the stature from cephalo-facial dimensions in a sample of 252 Koli male adolescents from North India. As a part of Indian caste system, Kolis are an endogamous group of North India. Along with stature, sixteen cephalo-facial measurements were taken on each subject. The findings suggest that all the cephalo-facial measurements are significantly correlated with stature ( P < 0.001, P < 0.01); the measurements of the cephalic region have strong correlation with stature than those of the facial region. This was also supported by the regression analysis, which shows that the cephalic measurements give better prediction of stature. Reliability of the regression formulae was checked by comparing the estimated and actual stature within the same sample (genetically homogeneous population, n = 252) and in another sample taken from a mixed population of North India (genetically heterogeneous population, n = 90).

Estimation Stature from X-rays of Metacarpals in the Turkish Population

Determination of stature is as important as the determination of sex and age when analyzing and identifying the remains of skeletons. Stature, in an approximate and widespread manner, is determined by the femur and tibia, i.e. those long bones that affect stature directly. However, when long bones are not available or when they are found in a very badly preserved condition that does not permit any estimation on stature, then other bones of the body can also be used for this purpose. The aim of this study is to determine stature with the help of metacarpals in the Turkish population. In this study, by using the X-ray films of metacarpal bones of 100 females and 100 males, regression equations have been set up for 5 metacarpal bones. The coefficients of correlation existing between the metacarpal bones and stature, together with the standard errors of these equations, have been intensively examined in this study. The results of studies conducted by other researchers such as Musgrave & Harneja (1978) and Meadows & Jantz (1992) have been compared with the results of our study. As a result of this comparison, the difference existing between them has been found to be significant according to the results of the t-test (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). The significance of such results proves that the general body characteristics and body proportions of populations are differing from each other and therefore specific regression equations for the different populations have to be set up.

Prevalence of Mutations in the FGFR3 Gene in Individuals with Idiopathic Short Stature.

FGFR3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3) is a gene responsible for the most common form of osteodysplasia, achondroplasia, which results in extreme short stature. An allelic disorder, hypochondroplasia, however, presents with a much milder phenotype and is sometimes indistinguishable from idiopathic short stature. In this study, in order to test the possibility of the mildest end of hypochondroplasia being labeled as idiopathic short stature and the possibility of polymorphism of FGFR3 acting as one of the stature genes of normal individuals, we examined the prevalence of sequence alterations of the FGFR3 gene among individuals diagnosed clinically with idiopathic short stature. Sequencing analysis of all exons of the FGFR3 gene on 54 individuals with idiopathic short stature did not reveal any sequence variations related to the stature of the individuals. These results suggest that hidden hypochondroplasia among idiopathic short stature individuals is not a common occurrence and the contribution of polymorphism of the FGFR3 gene as a determinant of stature in normal individuals is small if any.

Study of the Relationship between a Person's Stature and the Height of an Ear Imprint from the Floor

Occasionally ear prints are found at crime scenes. The height of the ear imprint may provide the police with information regarding the stature of the perpetrator and may therefore help to narrow down the number of suspects. The research provides calculations for the determination of stature from the height of the tragus imprint found at crime scenes. It takes into account various variables such as age, stature and gender.

Etiology of azoospermia in 100 consecutive nonvasectomized men

History was taken systematically for 100 azoospermic, nonvasectomized men referred consecutively to a Danish fertility clinic. The men were examined by ultrasound, and their blood samples were analyzed for karyotype, Y microdeletions, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene mutations. In 29% of patients, the condition could be explained by genetic abnormalities; in 22%, by diseases or external influence; and in 27%, by former cryptorchidism. The azoospermic condition remained unexplained in only 22%.

Effects of acute diarrhea on linear growth in Peruvian children.

Linear growth retardation during childhood is a determinant of short stature and impaired capacities in adults of developing countries. To study the effect of diarrhea on height during childhood, the authors followed a birth cohort of 224 Peruvian children for 35 months with records of daily diarrhea and monthly anthropometry. This study was conducted from April 1995 to December 1998. At 24 months of age, study children were 2.5 cm shorter than the US National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization growth reference. A diarrheal prevalence of 2.3% in the first 24 months of life explained 2-27% of this growth deficit. There was a 2-month delay before the effects of diarrhea on height became manifest. Height deficits were proportional to diarrheal prevalence. For example, children ill with diarrhea 10% of the time during the first 24 months were 1.5 cm shorter than children who never had diarrhea. In addition, the adverse effects of diarrhea on height varied by age. Diarrhea during the first 6 months of life resulted in long-term height deficits that were likely to be permanent. In contrast, diarrhea after 6 months of age showed transient effects. Study results indicate that diarrhea control, especially during the first 6 months of life, is likely to improve linear growth in Peruvian children.

Egyptian Mummies at the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, Lisbon: A Proposed Programme of Study

Introduction This project is a multidisciplinary study of mummified remains held in the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia in Lisbon, Portugal. The project will employ a range of bioarchaeological methodologies (Larsen 1997) in order to derive the maximum possible information from the remains, including age, sex and stature determination, dietary reconstruction, biological affinity, pathology and childhood health. The cultural context of human and animal mummification will also be addressed. The Lisbon Mummy Project (LMP) is headed by an international team of specialists from the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, ERA Arqueologia, the Instituto Portugues de Arqueologia (Lisbon), the Institute of Archaeology (UCL), The British Museum and The American University in Cairo. The project aims to study the mummified remains using non-destructive and selected invasive analytical methods, including visual observation, conventional radiography, Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scanning, endoscopy, histology and genetic analyses.

Growth hormone binding protein, insulin-like growth factor-I and short stature in two pygmy populations from the Philippines.

The molecular basis and biochemical mediators of genetic growth propensity and adult height achievement in the general population are largely unknown. Pygmies represent one extreme of the height spectrum that may provide important clues regarding this issue. Previous studies in pygmies from Africa and Papua-New Guinea have shown decreased serum levels of growth hormone binding protein (GHBP), the circulating ectodomain of the growth hormone receptor (GHR). By inference, a similar limitation in tissue GHR expression has been assumed to be responsible for the partial growth hormone (GH) resistance observed in African pygmies. It is not clear how generalizable this concept is to other populations. To address this question, we studied two pygmy populations from the Philippines (Aeta and Mamanwa people) that are unrelated to the African pygmies. Serum GHBP and IGF-I levels were significantly decreased in both pygmy populations, compared to normal-statured Philippino controls. The results, together with previous observations in African and New Guinean pygmies, indicate that short stature is associated with low serum GHBP levels in pygmy populations of diverse origins and in different parts of the world. This strengthens the tentative postulate that the GHBP/GHR system plays an important role in the genetic and perhaps nutritional determination of adult stature in humans. Molecular genetic studies of the GHR gene in various pygmy populations may shed further light on the mystery of pygmy short stature.

Patterns of GH output and their synchrony with short-term height increments influence stature and growth performance in normal children.

GH is the principal hormone driving growth throughout childhood, but the mechanism by which changing GH secretion is translated into height (Ht) remains undefined. We previously demonstrated that variability in urinary GH (uGH) output over weeks is an important statistical determinant of stature in normal children. We now examine the relationship between the temporal pattern of uGH output and growth using approximate entropy (ApEn) in 29 healthy prepubertal children, monitored serially three times a week from September to June [13 males and 16 females; age, 5.7-7.8 yr; Ht SD score, -2.9 to +2.3; median, 85 measurements per subject]. ApEn is a measure of process irregularity, with low values indicating strong regularity or subpattern persistence and high values indicating greater irregularity. The bivariate extension of this method, cross (X)-ApEn, provides a measure of the strength of interaction between two paired time series (joint signal synchrony). Low values of X-ApEn indicate synchrony, whereas high values indicate asynchrony. Weekly Ht gain, weight (Wt) gain, and uGH output showed significant orderliness in 20 of 29, 26 of 29, and 29 of 29 subjects, respectively, with weekly changes in uGH output being significantly more ordered than Ht gain (P < 0.001) and Wt gain (P < 0.01). ApEn(GH) was positively correlated with Ht gain over the whole year (r = 0.42) and Ht velocity SD score (r = 0.42; both, P < 0.05). Thus, increased irregularity in successive weekly GH output was associated with increased Ht gain and growth rate. There was significant synchrony between Ht and uGH, Wt and uGH, and Ht and Wt in 16 of 29, 22 of 29, and 25 of 29 subjects, respectively, as measured by X-ApEn. The degree of synchrony between Ht and GH output [X-ApEn(Ht:GH)] was inversely correlated with Ht SD score (r = -0.45) and Ht velocity SD score (r = -0.40; both P < 0.05), indicating that increased joint signal synchrony between Ht and GH accompanies tall stature and increased growth rate. These results extend the concept that variability in GH output over time is an important determinant of growth in normal children by indicating that an irregular temporal pattern of GH contributes to growth. Furthermore, synchrony between GH output and short-term Ht increments is associated with tall stature and good growth.

Patterns of GH Output and Their Synchrony with Short-Term Height Increments Influence Stature and Growth Performance in Normal Children

GH is the principal hormone driving growth throughout childhood, but the mechanism by which changing GH secretion is translated into height (Ht) remains undefined. We previously demonstrated that variability in urinary GH (uGH) output over weeks is an important statistical determinant of stature in normal children. We now examine the relationship between the temporal pattern of uGH output and growth using approximate entropy (ApEn) in 29 healthy prepubertal children, monitored serially three times a week from September to June [13 males and 16 females; age, 5.7–7.8 yr; Ht sd score, −2.9 to +2.3; median, 85 measurements per subject]. ApEn is a measure of process irregularity, with low values indicating strong regularity or subpattern persistence and high values indicating greater irregularity. The bivariate extension of this method, cross (X)-ApEn, provides a measure of the strength of interaction between two paired time series (joint signal synchrony). Low values of X-ApEn indicate synchrony, whereas high values indicate asynchrony. Weekly Ht gain, weight (Wt) gain, and uGH output showed significant orderliness in 20 of 29, 26 of 29, and 29 of 29 subjects, respectively, with weekly changes in uGH output being significantly more ordered than Ht gain (P < 0.001) and Wt gain (P < 0.01). ApEn(GH) was positively correlated with Ht gain over the whole year (r = 0.42) and Ht velocity sd score (r = 0.42; both, P < 0.05). Thus, increased irregularity in successive weekly GH output was associated with increased Ht gain and growth rate. There was significant synchrony between Ht and uGH, Wt and uGH, and Ht and Wt in 16 of 29, 22 of 29, and 25 of 29 subjects, respectively, as measured by X-ApEn. The degree of synchrony between Ht and GH output[ X-ApEn(Ht:GH)] was inversely correlated with Ht sd score (r = −0.45) and Ht velocity sd score (r =− 0.40; both P < 0.05), indicating that increased joint signal synchrony between Ht and GH accompanies tall stature and increased growth rate. These results extend the concept that variability in GH output over time is an important determinant of growth in normal children by indicating that an irregular temporal pattern of GH contributes to growth. Furthermore, synchrony between GH output and short-term Ht increments is associated with tall stature and good growth.

Adult height and age at menarche in childhood cancer survivors

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effects of cancer treatments on adult height and age at menarche in survivors of various types of childhood cancer. 285 childhood cancer survivors (161 men and 124 women), at least 18 years old and having been off treatment for at least 5 years, were examined. The effects of cranial (CrRT) and craniospinal irradiation (CrSpRT), other treatments and age at diagnosis on adult height and age at menarche were investigated. Patients who did not receive CrRT or CrSpRT, reached normal adult heights. However, a significant reduction in adult height was observed in men and women treated with CrRT or CrSpRT, especially if the treatment was given at the age of 8 years or younger. In girls, CrRT resulted in a significantly earlier menarche, compared with the Dutch population. Chemotherapy, radiation dose and age at menarche did not affect adult height. The relative risk (RR) of attaining an adult height below the 3rd percentile (20% 49/244) of the study population) was 6 times increased (RR=6.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–28.52) after CrSpRT, 4 times (RR=4.2; 95% CI 1.81–9.63) after Crth and 5 times (RR=51; 95% CI 2.23–11.59) when irradiation was administered at the age of 8 years or younger. CrRT and CrSpRT and age at treatment are the main determinants of short stature in male and female childhood cancer survivors.

Sex determination and estimation of stature from the long bones of the arm

The determination of sex and the estimation of stature from bones play an important role in identifying unknown bodies, parts of bodies or skeletal remains. In medico-legal practice statements on the probable sex of a decomposed body or part of a body are often expected even during autopsy. The present study was, therefore, restricted to few easily accessible dimensions from bones which were prepared only by mechanically removing soft tissues, tendons and ligaments. The specimens came from the Anatomical Institutes in Munich and Cologne from the years 1994–1998 including a total of 143 individuals (64 males and 79 females). The mean age was 79 years (46–108), the mean body height 161 cm (134–189). The following measurements were taken: maximum humeral length (mean: 33.4 cm in males; 30.7 cm in females), vertical humeral head diameter (mean: 5.0 cm in males, 4.4 cm in females), humeral epicondylar width (mean: 6.6 cm in males; 5.8 cm in females), maximum ulnar length (mean: 26.5 cm in males, 23.8 cm in females), proximal ulnar width (mean: 3.4 cm in males, 2.9 cm in females), distal ulnar width (mean: 2.2 cm in males; 1.8 cm in females), maximum radial length (mean: 24.6 cm in males; 22.0 cm in females), radial head diameter (mean: 2.6 cm in males, 2.2 cm in females) and distal radial width (mean: 3.6 cm in males; 3.2 cm in females). The differences between the means in males and females were significant ( P<0.0005). A discriminant analysis was carried out with good results. A percentage of 94.93% of cases were correctly classified when all measures of the radius were applied jointly, followed by humerus (93.15%) and ulna (90.58%). Applied singly, the humeral head diameter allowed the best distinction (90.41% correctly grouped cases), followed by the radial length (89.13%), the radial head diameter (88.57%) and the humeral epicondylar width (88.49%). The linear regression analysis for quantifying the correlation between the bone lengths and the stature led to unsatifactory results with large 95%-confidence intervals for the coefficients and high standard errors of estimate.

FISH deletion mapping defines a single location for the Y chromosome stature gene, GCY

At least 1 in 1000 males lacks part of the long arm of the Y chromosome. This chromosomal aberration is often associated with short stature and infertility. Deletion mapping and...

The Y-chromosome and reproductive disorders.

Over the past decade the tools of modern molecular biology have provided unique insights into our fundamental understanding of developmental systems. These insights have been gleaned from the study of a wide variety of model organisms including yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), fly (Drosophila), worm (Caenorhabditis elegans), and mouse. In man, the first analysis of developmental systems started with sexual differentiation and focused on the role of Y-linked genes. The presence of living developmental mutants in man affecting sexual development and the early technology of deletion mapping facilitated the isolation and identification of small segments of putative DNA suspected to contain sex-determining genes. The isolation of genes such as SRY (Sex Related gene on Y) has provided the first insights into the molecular biology of human sexual differentiation. The focus on the Y chromosome has brought further insights into chromosomal pairing, statural determinants in man, oncogenesis, spermatogenesis, haploid genomes, and the lineage of man himself. This paper provides the circumstantial and direct evidence to illustrate the importance of the Y chromosome in reproductive disorders, and in the analysis of haploid genomes.

The phenotype of a 45, X male with a Y/18 translocation

In this report, we describe a male infant with a 45,X karyotype; the entire short arm and the centromere of the Y chromosome were translocated onto the short arm of chromosome 18, resulting in an unbalanced dicentric chromosome. Breakpoints were identified by in situ fluorescence hybridization (FISH) on the proximal Yq11 and 18p11.2. Both Y and 18 centromeric alphoid sequences were identified on the derived 18 chromosome. Clinical features were compatible with 18p- syndrome and no Turner stigmata were present in our propositus. Short stature was likely to be related to the deletion of 18p and/or Yq, where a gene involved in stature determination has been located proximal to a gene involved in spermatogenesis (AZF).

Estimation of stature from footstep length

Estimation of stature from various foot and shoe measurements with the help of statistical methods is well known. However, very little work has been reported on stature determination from foot and shoe stride lengths. As the stride length of a person is related to the height of the person and speed at which he is walking, certain constants and equations for stature determination from stride length can be formulated.

Dicentric Y Chromosome in Azoospermic Males

Two azoospermic, infertile men with a pseudodicentric Y chromosome are reported. The small isodicentric Y chromosomes were composed of duplicated short arm and proximal long arm Y, as proven by fluorescence in situ hybridisation using a Y centromere-specific DNA probe, pDP97, and a short arm probe pY-80. Both lacked germinal cells in the gonads. It was assumed that the azoospermia was caused by deletion or disruption of the azoospermic factor gene located at distal Yq11. Patient 2 measured 147 cm (-4.1 SD) in height and so it was assumed that he had also lost the "statural determinants" gene.

Localization of the gene encoding insulin-like growth factor I on mouse Chromosome 10

The peptide hormone, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), is a major determinant of growth in mammals, and also plays a role in differentiation of adipocytes and other cells (Van Wyk, 1984). Although IGF-I is synthesized in many cell types, the liver appears to be the principal organ in which IGF-I is synthesized in response to pituitary growth hormone. In mice, there is a spurt of IGF-I synthesis in liver at about three weeks of age. In human pygmies, the absence of a growth spurt at adolescence is associated with the absence of an increase in serum levels of IGF-I (Merimee et al., 1981). Thus deficiency of IGF-I may be the primary determinant of short stature in pygmies and in other isolated cases of growth hormone resistant dwarfism. Although the murine Igf-1 locus has not been assigned to a chromosome, the human homolog (IGF1) has been mapped to chromosome region 12q22----q24.1 (Francke et al., 1986). Since there appears to be extensive homology between this human chromosomal segment and the distal part of murine Chromosome 10, linkage to this chromosome was suspected. Because the growth deficient mutation of the mouse, pygmy (pg), has also been mapped to Chromosome 10 (Falconer and Isaacson, 1965), we were interested in localizing Igf-1 in order to investigate the possibility that pg might be allelic to Igf-1. We show that the Igf-1 locus is located in the central part of Chromosome 10, a considerable distance from pg.

Adult body height, self perceived health and mortality in the Swedish population.

The purpose of the study was to examine adult body height as an indicator of general health. The study was a survey of a randomly selected sample of the adult Swedish population obtained by the Swedish National Central Bureau of Statistics. The sample studied was identified in 1980-81 and comprised 14,757 persons aged 16-74. Of these, 12,695 (86%) consented to interview. Information was obtained on adult height, socioeconomic status in childhood and adult life, self perceived health, self reported longstanding illness, and mortality during a six year follow up. The numbers of people in three height groups who considered their general health as bad, who reported any longstanding illness or who died during the follow up were compared with the expected numbers in the same groups. The number of persons with reduced health and the number of deaths was larger than expected in the shortest height group. The excess risk of dying in the shortest group (about 20% higher compared to the tallest group) was reduced but not eliminated when present and childhood socioeconomic group was taken into account. Coronary heart disease mortality in particular was linked to height. The shortest group of men and women reported the largest proportion with bad general health and longstanding illness. For the latter the differences between height groups disappeared after controlling for present socioeconomic status. There is a detectable excess risk of morbidity and mortality from being short. Assuming that the childhood environment is an important determinant of adult stature it is also important for adult health.

Determination of adult stature from metatarsal length.

The results of a study to determine the value of foot bones in reconstructing stature are presented. The data consist of length measurements taken on all ten metatarsals as well as on cadaver length from a sample of 130 adults of documented race, sex, stature, and, in most cases, age. Significant correlation coefficients (.58-.89) are shown between known stature and foot bone lengths. Simple and multiple regression equations computed from the length of each of these bones result in standard errors of estimated stature ranging from 40-76 mm. These errors are larger than those for stature calculated from complete long bones, but are approximately the same magnitude for stature calculated from metacarpals and fragmentary long bones. Given that metatarsals are more likely to be preserved unbroken than are long bones and given the ease with which they are accurately measured, the formulae presented here should prove useful in the study of historic and even prehistoric populations.