Differences In Body Height Research Articles

Polygenic Selection and Environmental Influence on Adult Body Height: Genetic and Living Standard Contributions Across Diverse Populations.

We analyzed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 51 populations and combined WGS and array data from 89 populations. Multiple types of polygenic scores (PGS) were employed, derived from multi-ancestry, between-family genome-wide association study (GWAS; MIX-Height), European-ancestry, between-family GWAS (EUR-Height), and European-ancestry siblings GWAS (SIB-Height). Our findings demonstrate that both genetic and environmental factors significantly influence adult body height between populations. Models that included both genetic and environmental predictors best explained population differences in adult body height, with the MIX-Height PGS and environmental factors (Human Development Index [HDI] + per capita caloric intake) achieving an R2 of .83. Our findings shed light on Deaton's 'African paradox', which noted the relatively tall stature of African populations despite poor nutrition and childhood health. Contrary to Deaton's hypotheses, we demonstrate that both genetic differences and environmental factors significantly influence body height in countries with high infant mortality rates. This suggests that the observed tall stature in African populations can be attributed, in part, to a high genetic predisposition for body height. Furthermore, tests of divergent selection based on the QST (i.e., standardized measure of the genetic differentiation of a quantitative trait among populations) and FST (neutral marker loci) measures exceeded neutral expectations, reaching statistical significance (p < .01) with the MIX-Height PGS but not with the SIB-Height PGS. This result indicates potential selective pressures on body height-related genetic variants across populations.

Dietary inflammatory index, physical activity, body composition, and high sensitivity c-reactive protein levels in adolescent athletes in Central Java

Inflammation is the body's response to tissue damage and infection. Prolonged inflammation can increase the risk of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Some factors that can trigger inflammation are dietary patterns, high physical activity, and body composition. This study examined the correlation between dietary inflammatory index (DII), physical activity, body composition, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. It examined differences in characteristics based on gender. This study was a cross-sectional design of 55 adolescent athletes at the Student Sports Education and Training Center in Central Java. The exclusion criteria were an athlete who had a physical injury (did not participate in training) and a smoker. The DII score was calculated based on the dietary pattern using SQFFQ, anthropometric data (weight, height, and nutritional status based on BMI/age), body composition (body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat-free mass) using the BIA tool, physical activity data for the last seven days using IPAQ and hs-CRP levels using the FIA method. Our result showed that the DII score was significantly correlated with hs-CRP (p=0.013). There was no correlation between physical activity, body composition, and anthropometry with hs-CRP levels (p0.05). There were differences in body height, body weight, body fat percentage, and fat-free mass between males and females (p0.001). The diet of athletes had anti-inflammatory potential (83.6%), as evidenced by the intake of vitamins and minerals, and athletes had low hs-CRP levels 1 mg/L (85.5%), indicating that no inflammation occurred. Future longitudinal research is needed with a large population of adolescent athletes to explain the role of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory diets on the incidence of inflammation and measure physical exercise in athletes to reduce inflammatory bias.

Normative Data and Quantile Regression Analysis of the Sural-to-Radial Nerve Amplitude Ratio.

The aim of this study was to establish normative data for the sural-to-radial nerve amplitude ratio (SRAR) and develop a quantile regression model for individualized cutoff values. A cohort of 68 healthy individuals (36 female participants) aged 20 to 59 years was recruited. Sensory nerve conduction studies were conducted to measure sural and radial sensory nerve action potential amplitudes. Quantile regression analysis was used to determine the fifth percentile of SRAR after adjusting for age, sex, and other demographic variables. This study found significant differences in body height and weight between the sexes, with radial sensory nerve action potential being higher in female participants. The sural-to-radial nerve amplitude ratio was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.3, p = 0.007) and showed significant sex differences. The final regression equation, SRAR = 0.519 - 0.006 × age + 0.046 × sex (1 = male, 0 = female), was developed for the fifth percentile cutoff, accounting for age and sex. This study establishes normative SRAR data and introduces a novel quantile regression approach to determine individualized cutoff values. Age and sex are critical factors for SRAR variation, necessitating tailored diagnostic criteria for neuropathy assessment. This model enhances diagnostic accuracy and potentially reduces misdiagnosis in clinical settings. Further research is recommended to validate the clinical applicability of SRAR across different types of neuropathies.

Role of Physique and Nutrition in the Performance of Sports

In present day sports, performance demands are continually increasing. It is crucial to note here that sports performance of athletes is highly regulated by their age, stature, weight and body structure. Body composition and body physique play crucial role in sports and activities by directly influencing the biomechanics of movement and performance. It is obvious to have differences in body size, body proportion, height and weight among different people.

Physical attributes and performance differences: Server vs. spiker players in men’s doubles sepak takraw

Background Problems: Scientific research exploring the comparative analysis of the physical, physiological, and anthropometric characteristics associated with the server and spiker positions in double-category sepak takraw remains relatively scarce. Research Objectives: This study aims to compare the physical, physiological, and anthropometric characteristics between players in the server and spiker positions in the double category of sepak takraw. Methods: The research method used is an observational study with a quantitative approach. This study consisted of 18 male sepak takraw athletes, with 9 athletes each playing as servers and 9 athletes playing as spikers. The statistical analyses were conducted utilizing the SPSS Version 22 application. Findings and Results: The results of this study showed that there were statistically significant differences in body height, aerobic capacity, and leg strength between server and speaker positions (p &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the variables age, weight, BMI, fat percentage, speed, agility, and flexibility. Dynamic, attractive game requirements and manoeuvres in the air for players in the spiker position have the potential to contribute to superior VO2max values and increased leg muscle strength compared to players in the server position. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that athletes in the spiker position show superior anthropometric and physiological attributes compared to those in the server position. Different understandings of the different characteristics associated with each position in the sport of sepak takraw provide new insights and views for coaches and athletes themselves. In addition, it is hoped that this research will have implications for optimizing training programs that adapt to the demands of each position. Furthermore, these findings serve as a reference for talent search events that assist in the identification and development of athletes with optimal physiological profiles for their respective roles in double-category sepak takraw.

Disproportion of Corpus Callosum in Fetuses With Malformations of Cortical Development.

To evaluate corpus callosum (CC) size in fetuses with malformations of cortical development (MCD) and to explore the diagnostic value of three CC length (CCL) ratios in identifying cortical abnormalities. This is a single-center retrospective study in singleton fetuses at 20-37 weeks of gestation between April 2017 and August 2022. The midsagittal plane of the fetal brain was obtained and evaluated for the following variables: length, height, area of the corpus callosum, and relevant markers, including the ratios of corpus callosum length to internal cranial occipitofrontal dimension (CCL/ICOFD), corpus callosum length to femur length (CCL/FL), and corpus callosum length to cerebellar vermian diameter (CCL/VD). Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate measurement consistency. The accuracy of biometric measurements in prediction of MCD was assessed using the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curves (AUC). Fetuses with MCD had a significantly decreased CCL, height (genu and splenium), and area as compared with those of normal fetuses (P < .05), but there was no significant difference in body height (P = .326). The CCL/ICOFD, CCL/FL, and CCL/VD ratios were significantly decreased in fetuses with MCD when compared with controls (P < .05). The CCL/ICOFD ratio offered the highest predictive accuracy for MCD, yielding an AUC of 0.856 (95% CI: 0.774-0.938, P < .001), followed by CCL/FL ratio (AUC, 0.780 (95% CI: 0.657-0.904), P < .001), CCL/VD ratio (AUC, 0.677 (95% CI: 0.559-0.795), P < .01). The corpus callosum biometric parameters in fetuses with MCD are reduced. The CCL/ICOFD ratio derived from sonographic measurements is considered a promising tool for the prenatal detection of cortical malformations. External validation of these findings and prospective studies are warranted.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Intercepting Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus.

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), especially in Asia, is a key target in the global elimination of HBV. This study assessed the effects of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in pregnant women for mother-to-infant transmission of HBV. A total of 122 pregnant women at our hospital met the inclusion criteria for high HBV DNA viral loads. They were randomly divided into TDF-treatment (n=70) and placebo (n=52) groups. Maternal liver function and serum HBV DNA load were tested before and after treatment. Clinical and laboratory data of infants were assayed at delivery and 7-months post-partum visit and compared between the two groups. There was no difference in clinical characteristics of participants between the two groups. There were no significant differences in liver function markers, including alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, blood creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels before and after TDF treatment. The serum HBV DNA viral load of the TDF-treated group became significantly lower than those of the control group and their own pre-medication levels. Infants showed no significant difference in body growth, including weight, height, head size, and five-min Apgar score. At 7 months after birth, 94.29% of infants in the TDF group and 86.54% of control-group infants had protective HBsAb levels ≥ 10 mIU/ml (p>0.05). The HBV infection rate of infants in the TDF-treated group was lower than that in the non-treated group. In high-HBV-DNA-load pregnant women, TDF administered from 28 weeks gestational age to delivery was associated with a lower risk of mother-to-infant transmission of HBV.

Assessment of anthropometric measurements of premature children with physical developmental delays at preschool age

Assessment of child growth and development is crucial for paediatricians, as delays in these areas have significant socio-economic implications and their treatment can be costly. Aim. To evaluate the anthropometric measurements of premature children with physical developmental delay at preschool age. Materials and methods. The retrospective and prospective studies were conducted. A total of 108 children participated in the study. The children were classified into three groups: the main group, the comparison group, and the control group. The average age of children in the main group was 3.9±0.20 years, in the comparison group it was 4.2±0.19 years, and in the control group - 4.1±0.15 years. The main group (group I, n=57) was further divided into two subgroups: subgroup IA comprised 45 children born with a body weight appropriate for gestational age, subgroup IB consisted of 12 children with low body weight for gestational age (LBWGA). The comparison group (group II; n=31) was also divided into two subgroups: subgroup IIA included 26 children born with a normal body weight for their gestational age, subgroup IIB consisted of five children born with a low body weight for their gestational age. The control group comprised 20 premature infants born at 29-36 weeks of gestation with relatively satisfactory antenatal and intrapartum periods and no physical developmental delays. Physical development was evaluated based on anthropometry measurements, including height and body weight. Results. The study included 57% male and 43% female children. Among the children with physical developmental delay, 37% were from the first gestation, 44.3% from the second gestation, and 18.7% from the third gestation. When analysing the data, a significant difference was found in height (p=0.0002) and body weight (p=0.0006). In the main group, children born with low body weight for gestational age showed more pronounced growth retardation, while in the comparison group, premature children differed from full-term ones with more significant growth retardation. Conclusions. The study revealed that children born with low birth weight for gestational age have differences in body weight and height compared to children with appropriate weight for gestational age. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee the aforementioned institution. Informed consent for the study was obtained from the parents of the children. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Associations between Ocular Biometry, Refractive Error, and Body Characteristics

Myopia is a refractive error widely spread throughout the world, usually related to excessive axial length (AL) of the eye. This elongation could have severe consequences, even leading to blindness. However, AL varies among subjects, and it may be correlated with other anthropometric parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between AL, body height, refractive error, and sex. A total of 72 eyes of 36 myopic participants with a mean age of 11.1 ± 1.42 years (ranging from 8 to 14 years) were included in the study. Participants underwent objective refraction by NVision-K5001, AL measurement by Topcon MYAH biometer, and body height measurement. Significant correlations were observed between AL, body height, and spherical equivalent (SE) (Spearman’s correlation, all p ≤ 0.016). When participants were grouped by AL, significant differences were observed for body height and SE, and when grouped by height percentile, significant differences were observed for AL and SE (Kruskal–Wallis test, all p ≤ 0.006). There was a significant difference in SE, AL, and body height between genders (Mann–Whitney U test, all p ≤ 0.038). AL relates to the refractive state of the eye and is also influenced by individual anatomical characteristics.

Percutaneous versus traditional open approaches for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures in patients without neurologic deficits: a meta-analysis of 35 cohort studies.

At present, percutaneous surgery is widely used to treat thoracolumbar fractures. However, the actual safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of percutaneous surgery are not clear. Through systematic review and meta-analysis, we compared the efficacies of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and open pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures without nerve root symptoms. We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries for articles published on or before June 2023. All results were evaluated by standard methods recommended for meta-analysis, continuous data were expressed by standard mean differences (SMDs), and binary variables were analyzed by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). We also explored the main sources of heterogeneity and the stability of the results through sensitivity analysis, Begg's funnel plots, and Egger's test. Thirty-five cohort studies with a total of 3039 patients were included. The study found that patients who undergo percutaneous approaches have less intraoperative blood loss (IBL), shorter length of hospital stay (LOS), shorter operation time, and shorter incision. Moreover, percutaneous approaches had more advantages in terms of visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and infection rates. However, there was no significant difference in anterior vertebral body height (AVB), Cobb angle (CA), or screw errors between the two groups. In the long run, the clinical and surgical results of the percutaneous approach are better than those of the open approach, but the radiological results of both operations do not seem to show an advantage for any specific approach. Because of publication bias and heterogeneity, our findings must be interpreted with caution. However, this paper will provide some support for clinicians to choose suitable surgical methods for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.

Vitamin D as a predictor of severe course of inflammatory bowel diseases in children

Background. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) develop in childhood more often, last throughout life, and their frequency is rapidly increasing in industrialized countries. Most researchers identify vitamin D (VD) as a key regulator of gastrointestinal homeostasis, an innate immune response and a biomarker for the activity and severity of IBD. The purpose was to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with the course of inflammatory bowel diseases in children. Materials and methods. The study included 36 patients: 13 with IBD (main group) and 23 children of the comparison group with irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. The average age of children was 13.09 ± 2.28 years, with a median of 14.5 years; 63.6 % were boys. Patients with IBD were evaluated for clinical disease manifestations, disease localization (Paris Classification) and disease activity (PCDAI/PUCAI). Irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain were diagnosed based on the Rome IV Criteria. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was assessed by the electrochemiluminescence method (Elecsys Vitamin D total, Cobas). Results. Severe IBD prevailed among the examined children (61.5 %). There was no significant difference in overall body weight and height between the groups, which may be due to the short duration of IBD. However, children with IBD showed a tendency to lower physical development indicators. Significant differences in hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, number of platelets, fecal calprotectin were observed among the studied groups (p &lt; 0.05). The concentration of VD in the blood of the examined children ranged from 39.9 to 10.8 ng/ml, with an average of 21.8 ± 5.8 ng/ml. In 76.9 % of patients with IBD, blood concentration of VD reduced, while only 21.7 % children in the comparison group had its level below the norm. Children with IBD were characterized by significantly lower levels of VD in the blood (average of 16.7 ng/ml). Lower levels of VD were associated with female sex, Chron’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), as well as disease duration of more than 3 years and disease severity. There was an inverse correlation between VD and the degree of IBD activity (CD: r = –0.33; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.38; p = 0.01) and the severity of the course (CD: r = –0.35; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.36; p = 0.01), the levels of C-reactive protein (CD: r = –0.39; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.37; p = 0.01) and fecal calprotectin (CD: r = –0.42; p = 0.01; UC: r = –0.46; p = 0.01). Conclusions. In most children (76.9 %) with inflammatory bowel diseases, the concentration of VD in the blood is significantly lower than in those with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with female sex, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis, as well as disease duration of more than 3 years, activity level, and severity, supporting the role of vitamin D as a possible predictor of severity of these diseases in childhood.

Functional physical training improves fitness and cognitive development in 4~5 years old children.

Development of physical and cognitive function is very critical in 4~5 years children. It has been addressed in this research if the 18 weeks of specific functional training with or without cognitive training can be effective on improving fitness and cognitive development in 4~5 years preschool children. A total of 126 preschool children in the 4~5 age range were selected as participants and randomly assigned to one of four groups: the control group (C), the functional physical training group (P), the cognitive training group (CT), and the functional physical training combined with cognitive training group (PCT). The results revealed significant pre/post differences in body height and weight among all four groups of children. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in physical fitness between the C group and the CT group after the intervention. However, the children in the P group and the PCT group showed significant improvements in three indicators including standing long jump, continuous jump, and 10-meter shuttle running. Additionally, the children in P group, CT group, and the PCT group demonstrated significant improvement in simple reaction time, attention, and spatial memory. No significant cognitive improvement was found in C group. Functional physical training with or without cognitive intervention can promote both physical fitness and cognitive development in children aged 4~5 years. Cognitive training alone can significantly improve cognitive function but not physical. Therefore, functional physical training can be used alone to improve the physical and cognitive abilities for aged 4~5 years old children.

Effect of acrylic bone cement mixed with calcium sulfate combined with percutaneous kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures

To investigate the clinical efficacy of acrylic cement (PMMA) mixed with calcium sulfate combined with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of osteoporotic fracture (OVCF). The clinical data of 191 patients with OVCF treated with PKP from January 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 82 patients with 94 vertebral bodies were treated with PMMA mixed with calcium sulfate as the observation group, and 109 patients with 125 vertebral bodies were treated with pure PMMA as the control group. Among the 82 patients in the observation group, there were 16 males and 66 females, with a mean age of (75.35±11.22) years old, including 36 thoracic vertebrae and 58 lumbar vertebrae. In the control group, there were 109 patients, 22 males and 87 females, with an average age of (74.51±9.21) years old, including 63 thoracic vertebrae and 62 lumbar vertebrae. The visual analog scale (VAS) before operation and 1 day, 3 months and 1 year after operation were calculated. The Oswestry disability index (ODI), Cobb's angle, vertebral body height and the probability of postoperative bone cement leakage were used to analyze the efficacy of the two groups. All the patients were followed up for more than one year. Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in operation time, bleeding volume and bone cement injection volume between the two groups(P>0.05), while the leakage rate of bone cement was significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in VAS, ODI, Cobb angle, and vertebral body height between the two groups before operation, and 1 day, 3 months, and 1 year after operation (P>0.05), but each index was improved compared with that before operation (P<0.05). PMMA mixed with calcium sulfate has equivalent efficacy in treating OVCF than PMMA alone, but can effectively reduce the probability of cement leakage.

Refractive Error and Axial Length and Their Related Factors in 8-Year-Old Japanese Children: The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

To investigate the distribution of visual acuity, refractive error, and axial length in 8-year-old children who participated in an additional survey in Yamanashi Prefecture of the Japan Environmental Children's Study (hereafter referred to as JECS-Y) conducted from 2019 to 2021. Eight-year-old children who participated in the JECS-Y study were subjected to noncycloplegic measurements of refractive error and axial length. If the uncorrected visual acuity was less than 20/20, the best corrected visual acuity was evaluated in accordance with the autorefraction data. A questionnaire was administered regarding the parent's history of eyeglass wear or contact lens use. Among the 400 participating children, the rate of uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in both eyes was 70.4%. The mean equivalent spherical equivalent error for both eyes was -0.366 ± 1.016 D. The mean axial length was 23.08 ± 0.225 mm in all patients. The males showed significantly longer axial length than the females despite no differences in body height. There was a significant correlation between axial length, spherical refractive, and uncorrected visual acuity. The children of parents with a history of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses showed a significantly more myopic equivalent refractive error than those without a history. This study clarified the current state of refractive error in 8-year-old children and the association of inheritance with refractive error. In addition, the axials were significantly longer in male patients.

The Classification of Suspected Predominant Nociplastic Pain in People with Moderate and Severe Haemophilia: A Secondary Exploratory Study.

In people with haemophilia (PwH), joint pain is a major comorbidity that is often overlooked and under-treated. It is believed that, to ensure the most successful outcome, pain management should be tailored to the predominant pain phenotype (i.e., nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic). The 2021 clinical criteria and grading system for nociplastic pain, established by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), emphasize the necessity of early-stage identification and predominant pain type classification. Consistent with findings in other chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, studies suggest that a subgroup of PwH suffers from nociplastic pain, i.e., pain arising from altered nociception rather than structural damage, but this has not yet been explored in PwH. This study aimed to identify PwH with "unlikely", "possible" and "probable" nociplastic pain and investigate differences in anthropometric, demographic and clinical characteristics and psychological factors between subgroups of PwH and healthy individuals.: The IASP clinical criteria and grading system were used to classify pain types in adult men with moderate or severe haemophilia recruited from two Belgian haemophilia treatment centres. Statistical analyses were applied to study between-subgroup differences. Of 94 PwH, 80 PwH (85%) were classified with "unlikely" and 14 (15%) with "at least possible" nociplastic pain (including 5 PwH (5%) with "possible" and 9 PwH (10%) with "probable" nociplastic pain). PwH in both the "unlikely" and "at least possible" nociplastic pain groups showed significantly higher levels of unhelpful psychological factors compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, age may partially account for the observed differences in body height and psychological factors. Larger sample sizes may be needed to detect more subtle between-group differences. study confirmed the presence of nociplastic pain in haemophilia, categorising a notable subgroup as individuals who experience at least possible nociplastic pain. These exploratory insights may provide a starting point for future studies and the development of more effective and tailored pain management.

Therapeutic effect of recombinant human growth hormone on children with growth hormone deficiency and different pituitary developmental conditions: a prospective study

To investigate the therapeutic effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and different pituitary developmental conditions. A prospective study was performed on 90 children with GHD who were admitted to Xuchang Maternity and Child Health Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021. According to pituitary height on the median sagittal plane, they were divided into three groups: pituitary dysplasia group (n=45), normal pituitary group (n=31), and enlarged pituitary growth group (n=14). The changes in body height, growth velocity, height standard deviation score and serum levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were examined after treatment in the above three groups, and the differences of the above indices before and after treatment were compared among the three groups. After treatment, all three groups had significant increases in body height, growth velocity, height standard deviation score, and the serum levels of IGFBP-3 and IGF-1 (P<0.05). Compared with the normal pituitary group, the pituitary dysplasia group and the enlarged pituitary growth group had significantly higher values in terms of the differences in body height, growth velocity, height standard deviation score, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 before and after treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions among the three groups (P>0.05). In GHD children with different pituitary developmental conditions, rhGH can promote bone growth and increase body height, especially in children with pituitary dysplasia and pituitary hyperplasia, with good safety.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Curved Vertebroplasty in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed to provide higher quality evidence regarding the efficacy and safety between PCVP and PVP/KP in OVCFs. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (cohort or case-control studies) that compare PCVP to PVP/KP for OVCFs. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used to evaluate the quality of the RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. A total of seven articles consisting of 562 patients with 593 diseased vertebral bodies were included. Statistically significant differences were found in the postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) at 1 day (MD = -0.11; 95% CI: [-0.21 to -0.01], p = 0.03), but not at 3 months (MD = -0.21; 95% CI: [-0.41-0.00], p = 0.05) or 6 months (MD = 0.03; 95% CI: [-0.13-0.20], p = 0.70). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative Oswestry disability index (ODI) at 1 day (MD = -0.28; 95% CI: [-0.62-0.05], p = 0.10), 3 months (MD = -1.52; 95% CI: [-3.11-0.07], p = 0.06), or 6 months (MD = 0.18; 95% CI: [-0.13-0.48], p = 0.25). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in Cobb angle (MD = 0.30; 95% CI: [-1.69-2.30], p = 0.77) or anterior vertebral body height (SMD = -0.01; 95% CI: [-0.26-0.23], p = 0.92) after surgery. Statistically significant differences were found in surgical time (MD = -8.60; 95% CI: [-13.75 to -3.45], p = 0.001), cement infusion volume (MD = -0.82; 95% CI: [-1.50 to -0.14], P = 0.02), and dose of fluoroscopy (SMD = -1.22; 95% CI: [-1.84 to -0.60], p = 0.0001) between curved and noncurved techniques, especially compared to bilateral PVP. Moreover, cement leakage showed statistically significant difference (OR = 0.40; 95% CI: [0.27-0.60], p < 0.0001). Compared with PVP/KP, PCVP is superior for pain relief at short-term follow-up. Additionally, PCVP has the advantages of significantly lower surgical time, radiation exposure, bone cement infusion volume, and cement leakage incidence compared to bilateral PVP, while no statistically significant difference is found when compared with unilateral PVP or PKP. In terms of quality of life and radiologic outcomes, the effects of PCVP and PVP/KP are not significantly different. Overall, this meta-analysis reveals that PCVP was an effective and safe therapy for patients with OVCFs.

Endoscopic landmarks corresponding to anatomical landmarks for esophageal subsite classification.

Individual treatment strategies for esophageal cancer have been investigated based on the anatomical subsite classification. Accurate subsite classification based on these anatomical landmarks is thus important. We investigated the suitability of the existing endoscopic classification and explored alternative landmarks for esophageal subsite classification. Patients who received endoscopic ultrasonography (and computed tomography scans for surveillance of esophageal cancer treatment or esophageal submucosal tumors were included. Distances between anatomical landmarks, including the inferior cricoid cartilage border, superior border of the sternum, and tracheal bifurcation, were measured using a combination of endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, and other information. The mean (standard deviation) distances from the superior incisor dentition to the pharynx-esophagus, cervical-upper thoracic esophagus, and upper-middle thoracic esophagus boundaries were 16.9 (1.7), 21.7 (1.9), and 29.0 (1.9) cm, respectively. However, variances in the differences between the mean and individual distances were large (2.8, 3.4, and 3.7, respectively), mainly because of differences in body height. However, variances in the differences between individual distances and novel endoscopic landmarks, including the lower end of the pyriform sinus and lower end of compression of the left main bronchus, were lower (1.7, 1.2, and 0.6, respectively). Existing indicators of esophageal subsite boundaries were not consistent with anatomical boundaries. Modification of the distance from the superior incisor dentition based on average distances from anatomical landmarks or the use of alternative endoscopic landmarks is recommended to provide more suitable anatomical boundaries.

Morfometrik Ikan Cere (Gambusia affinis) dan Ikan Putian (Rasbora argyrotaeni) yang Terpapar Merkuri di Sungai Tambang Saweak Kabupaten Lebong

Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant that is dangerous because it is toxic when it accumulates in living tissue and is difficult to decompose in the environment, if it is polluted it will be very dangerous for the environment and living things around it. In this study the aim was to determine the mercury content of the morphometrics of fish in the Selikat River, Tambang Saweak Village. Based on the results of the study, it was found that 2 species of fish were exposed to mercury and not exposed, namely Cere fish (Gambusia affinis) exposed to mercury of 0.47 mg/Kg and Putian fish (Rasbora argyrotaenia) exposed to mercury of 0.43 mg/Kg. Where in the two fish there are morphometric differences, namely differences in body height (TB), tail stem height (TBE), dorsal fin length (PDO) and anal fin length (PA). This happens because fish that are exposed to toxic compounds or heavy metals such as mercury (Hg) can experience tissue damage and affect the body size and body shape of the fish. If fish exposed to mercury are eaten by humans, it will have consequences for human health such as poisoning and can cause ataxia, decreased speech and hearing ability, tremors, dysarthria and ultimately death.

Sex-specific reference values for total, central, and peripheral latency of motor evoked potentials from a large cohort.

Differentiating between physiologic and altered motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is crucial in clinical practice. Some physical characteristics, such as height and age, introduce sources of variability unrelated to neural dysfunction. We provided new age- and height-adjusted normal values for cortical latency, central motor conduction time (CMCT), and peripheral motor conduction time (PMCT) from a large cohort of healthy subjects. Previously reported data from 587 participants were re-analyzed. Nervous system disorders were ruled out by clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging. MEP latency was determined as stimulus-to-response latency through stimulation with a circular coil over the "hot spot" of the First Dorsal Interosseous and Tibialis Anterior muscles, during mild tonic contraction. CMCT was estimated as the difference between MEP cortical latency and PMCT by radicular magnetic stimulation. Additionally, right-to-left differences were calculated. For each parameter, multiple linear regression models of increasing complexity were fitted using height, age, and sex as regressors. Motor evoked potential cortical latency, PMCT, and CMCT were shown to be age- and height-dependent, although age had only a small effect on CMCT. Relying on Bayesian information criterion for model selection, MEP cortical latency and PMCT were explained best by linear models indicating a positive correlation with both height and age. Also, CMCT to lower limbs positively correlated with height and age. CMCT to upper limbs positively correlated to height, but slightly inversely correlated to age, as supported by non-parametric bootstrap analysis. Males had longer cortical latencies and CMCT to lower limbs, as well as longer PMCT and cortical latencies to upper limbs, even when accounting for differences in body height. Right-to-left-differences were independent of height, age, and sex. Based on the selected regression models, sex-specific reference values were obtained for all TMS-related latencies and inter-side differences, with adjustments for height and age, where warranted. A significant relationship was observed between height and age and all MEP latency values, in both upper and lower limbs. These set of reference values facilitate the evaluation of MEPs in clinical studies and research settings. Unlike previous reports, we also highlighted the contribution of sex.