Stature Research Articles

The Secular Trend in Sicily. Proposal for Long Bones Measures and Statures open access databases

Human Stature is a widely used index of both individuals and populations. Stature is a sensitive measure of a series of factors including gender, age, social status, and environment. Human biologists and historians can use information on stature to betterunderstand the human condition through the ages. There are three goals of this paper: 1. review previous studies of height; 2. remeasure adult bones and expand sample sizes; 3. provide three free databases (long bone length; average height of populations; average agerelated stature. However, the aim of this paper is not to present an exhaustive analysis of the Secular trend in Sicily. The samples range from the Paleolithic to the Contemporary Age. The data consist of measures from 82 adult specimens and includes the average stature of 28 Sicilian populations and the average stature from 11 different periods (plus modern Italians). A few examples of statistical analyses are presented to illustrate the potential, reliability, and reproducibility of the databases.

EVALUATION OF TRENDS IN THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF STUDENTS AT THANH THUY SECONDARY SCHOOL, HANOI: A THREE-YEAR CONSECUTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

This study aims to assess the changes in nutritional status among students aged 11 to 14 at Thanh Thuy Secondary School, Hanoi, over three consecutive years (2021 to 2023). The study involved a total of 606 students in 2021, 638 in 2022, and 694 in 2023. Nutritional status was evaluated based on WHO 2007 guidelines using the WHO AnthroPlus software. Results showed a statistically significant decline in median height from 152 cm in 2021 to 150 cm in 2022 and 2023 (P = 0.036), indicating a decrease in physical stature. The percentage of students with normal nutritional status decreased from 75.4% in 2021 to 69.2% in 2023. Concurrently, moderate thinness increased from 9.6% to 13.3%, and severe thinness rose from 1.5% to 3.2%. Overweight prevalence remained stable at around 11%, while obesity slightly increased from 2.1% to 2.7%. The overall prevalence of malnutrition significantly increased from 24.6% in 2021 to 33% in 2023 (P < 0.05), primarily due to a significant rise in undernutrition, which rose from 11.1% in 2021 to 17.6% in 2023 (P < 0.05). For 11-year-olds, overweight prevalence significantly decreased (P < 0.001), while moderate thinness significantly increased (P = 0.037). Among 12- and 13-year-olds, significant increases in moderate thinness and overweight were observed. These findings underscore the growing issue of the double burden of malnutrition and highlight the need for targeted nutritional interventions among school-aged children.

Association of Production and Selected Dimensional Conformation Traits in Holstein Friesian Cows.

The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of dairy production traits and that for dimensional traits and to calculate the correlation between the two heritability values in a Holstein Friesian cow herd bred in Hungary. Data of 15,032 Holstein Friesian cows born in the period 2008-2018 from 666 sires were collected for the study in 6 large dairy herds. Among the conformation traits, stature (ST), chest width (CW), body depth (BD), and rump width (RW), and for production traits, in the first lactation of cows, the 305-day milk yield (MY), milk butterfat yield (FY), and milk protein yield (MY) were evaluated. Heritability estimates of ST, CW, BD, and RW were 0.49, 0.25, 0.31, and 0.30, and those of MY, FY, and PY were 0.40, 0.35, and 0.30, respectively. BD and RW had no phenotypic (b = -0.01) or genetic (b = 0.00-0.01) change. The production traits (MY, FY, PY) increased to a greater extent (b = 2.2-43.3) than the examined conformation traits over time. Consequently, it is indicated that the selection for dairy production did not result in an increase in the studied dimensional traits.

Nutrition, Other Environmental Influences, and Genetics in the Determination of Human Stature.

Linear growth during three distinct stages of life determines attained stature in adulthood: namely, in utero, early postnatal life, and puberty and the adolescent period. Individual host factors, genetics, and the environment, including nutrition, influence attained human stature. Each period of physical growth has its specific biological and environmental considerations. Recent epidemiologic investigations reveal a strong influence of prenatal factors on linear size at birth that in turn influence the postnatal growth trajectory. Although average population height changes have been documented in high-income regions, stature as a complex human trait is not well understood or easily modified. This review summarizes the biology of linear growth and its major drivers including nutrition from a life-course perspective, the genetics of programmed growth patterns or height, and gene-environment interactions that determine human stature in toto over the life span. Implications for public health interventions and knowledge gaps are discussed.

Mendelian randomization analyses clarify the effects of height on cardiovascular diseases.

An inverse correlation between stature and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been observed in several epidemiologic studies, and recent Mendelian randomization (MR) experiments have suggested causal association. However, the extent to which the effect estimated by MR can be explained by cardiovascular, anthropometric, lung function, and lifestyle-related risk factors is unclear, with a recent report suggesting that lung function traits could fully explain the height-CAD effect. To clarify this relationship, we utilized a well-powered set of genetic instruments for human stature, comprising >1,800 genetic variants for height and CAD. In univariable analysis, we confirmed that a one standard deviation decrease in height (~6.5 cm) was associated with a 12.0% increase in the risk of CAD, consistent with previous reports. In multivariable analysis accounting for effects from up to 12 established risk factors, we observed a >3-fold attenuation in the causal effect of height on CAD susceptibility (3.7%, p = 0.02). However, multivariable analyses demonstrated independent effects of height on other cardiovascular traits beyond CAD, consistent with epidemiologic associations and univariable MR experiments. In contrast with published reports, we observed minimal effects of lung function traits on CAD risk in our analyses, indicating that these traits are unlikely to explain the residual association between height and CAD risk. In sum, these results suggest the impact of height on CAD risk beyond previously established cardiovascular risk factors is minimal and not explained by lung function measures.

TRMT10A dysfunction perturbs codon translation of initiator methionine and glutamine and impairs brain functions in mice.

In higher eukaryotes, tRNA methyltransferase 10A (TRMT10A) is responsible for N1-methylguanosine modification at position nine of various cytoplasmic tRNAs. Pathogenic mutations in TRMT10A cause intellectual disability, microcephaly, diabetes, and short stature in humans, and generate cytotoxic tRNA fragments in cultured cells; however, it is not clear how TRMT10A supports codon translation or brain functions. Here, we generated Trmt10a null mice and showed that tRNAGln(CUG) and initiator methionine tRNA levels were universally decreased in various tissues; the same was true in a human cell line lacking TRMT10A. Ribosome profiling of mouse brain revealed that dysfunction of TRMT10A causes ribosome slowdown at the Gln(CAG) codon and increases translation of Atf4 due to higher frequency of leaky scanning of its upstream open reading frames. Broadly speaking, translation of a subset of mRNAs, especially those for neuronal structures, is perturbed in the mutant brain. Despite not showing discernable defects in the pancreas, liver, or kidney, Trmt10a null mice showed lower body weight and smaller hippocampal postsynaptic densities, which is associated with defective synaptic plasticity and memory. Taken together, our study provides mechanistic insight into the roles of TRMT10A in the brain, and exemplifies the importance of universal tRNA modification during translation of specific codons.

The Correlative Study of Human Body Stature with Foot Dimensions in Rajasthan Population

The Correlative Study of Human Body Stature with Foot Dimensions in Rajasthan Population

Pre-hypertrophic chondrogenic enhancer landscape of limb and axial skeleton development

Chondrocyte differentiation controls skeleton development and stature. Here we provide a comprehensive map of chondrocyte-specific enhancers and show that they provide a mechanistic framework through which non-coding genetic variants can influence skeletal development and human stature. Working with fetal chondrocytes isolated from mice bearing a Col2a1 fluorescent regulatory sensor, we identify 780 genes and 2'704 putative enhancers specifically active in chondrocytes using a combination of RNA-seq, ATAC-seq and H3K27ac ChIP-seq. Most of these enhancers (74%) show pan-chondrogenic activity, with smaller populations being restricted to limb (18%) or trunk (8%) chondrocytes only. Notably, genetic variations overlapping these enhancers better explain height differences than those overlapping non-chondrogenic enhancers. Finally, targeted deletions of identified enhancers at the Fgfr3, Col2a1, Hhip and, Nkx3-2 loci confirm their role in regulating cognate genes. This enhancer map provides a framework for understanding how genes and non-coding variations influence bone development and diseases.

A monoallelic UXS1 variant associated with short-limbed short stature.

Serine residues in the protein backbone of heavily glycosylated proteoglycans are bound to glycosaminoglycans through a tetrasaccharide linker. UXS1 encodes UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase 1, which catalyzes synthesis of UDP-xylose, the donor of the first building block in the linker. Defects in other enzymes involved in formation of the tetrasaccharide linker cause so-called linkeropathies, characterized by short stature, radio-ulnar synostosis, decreased bone density, congenital contractures, dislocations, and more. Whole exome sequencing was performed in a father and son who presented with a mild skeletal dysplasia, as well as the father's unaffected parents. Wild-type and mutant UXS1 were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Enzyme activity was evaluated by LC-MS/MS. Invivo effects were studied using HeparinRed assay and metabolomics. The son had short long bones, normal epiphysis, and subtle metaphyseal changes especially in his legs. The likely pathogenic heterozygous variant NM_001253875.1(UXS1):c.557T>A p.(Ile186Asn) detected in the son was de novo in the father. Purified Ile186Asn-UXS1, in contrast to the wild-type, was not able to convert UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-xylose. Plasma glycosaminoglycan levels were decreased in both son and father. This is the first report linking UXS1 to short-limbed short stature in humans.

Influence of childhood trauma and traumatic stress on a woman's risk of having a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Maternal risk factors for having a child diagnosed on the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) continuum are complex and include not only the quantity, frequency, and timing of alcohol use but also a woman's physical stature, socio-economic status, and pregnancy-related factors. Exposure to trauma may predispose women to a range of physiological and mental disorders. A woman's mental and physical health may in turn influence her probability of having a child with FASD. This study investigated the role of maternal childhood trauma and lifetime traumatic stress on prenatal alcohol consumption and on the risk of having a child with FASD. A nested, case-control study was conducted for maternal risk assessment. Study participants were mothers of first-grade learners from five rural communities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa who were assessed for FASD. Face-to-face surveys were conducted, which included mental health and trauma assessment questionnaires. In logistic regression analyses, higher maternal childhood trauma scores were associated with an increased likelihood of having a child diagnosed with FASD, although the increase in risk was modest (OR = 1.014, p = 0.015). In addition, structural equation modeling investigated relationships between maternal drinking, childhood trauma, traumatic stress, and a child's FASD diagnosis. Traumatic stress and drinking during pregnancy, but not lifetime alcohol use, were associated with maternal childhood trauma. Lifetime alcohol use influenced drinking during pregnancy, which in turn was significantly associated with having a child diagnosed on the continuum of FASD. No direct influence of maternal childhood trauma on FASD diagnosis could be demonstrated. However, maternal trauma may indirectly contribute to the risk of having a child diagnosed with FASD.

Comic Objectification of Concept of UGLINESS: Axiological Approach

The article examines the features of the comic objectification of the aesthetic concept of UGLINESS from the perspective of axiological linguistics. The author applies an algorithm of axiological analysis, which includes the following stages: evaluating the audience’s reaction to relevant comic statements; identifying the ridiculed characteristics of the analyzed concept; analyzing remarks aimed at evaluating these characteristics; studying the linguistic features of concept actualization. As practical material, over 70 stand-up comedy shows and 700 episodes of various sitcoms were used. It is proposed to divide physical flaws into two groups: acquired and congenital. The main ridiculed acquired physical flaws of a person include excess weight, poor memory, and missing / deforming body parts / organs. Common ridiculed congenital physical flaws include non-standard shapes and sizes of human organs, short or tall stature, and speech defects. The main linguistic means of actualizing the concept of UGLINESS include direct designation, euphemisms, comparison, and hyperbole. It has been established that in English-language stand-up comedies and sitcoms, the gender characteristics of the comic object are primarily subjected to ridicule when actualizing the concept of UGLINESS.

Genome-wide association and functional genomic analyses for body conformation traits in North American Holstein cattle.

Body conformation traits are directly associated with longevity, fertility, health, and workability in dairy cows and have been under direct genetic selection for many decades in various countries worldwide. The main objectives of this study were to perform genome-wide association studies and functional enrichment analyses for fourteen body conformation traits using imputed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes. The traits analyzed include body condition score (BCS), body depth (BD), bone quality (BQ), chest width (CW), dairy capacity (DC), foot angle (FAN), front legs view (FLV), heel depth (HDe), height at front end (HFE), locomotion (LOC), rear legs rear view (RLRV), rear legs side view (RLSV), stature (ST), and a composite feet and legs score index (FL) of Holstein cows scored in Canada. De-regressed estimated breeding values from a dataset of 39,135 North American Holstein animals were used as pseudo-phenotypes in the genome-wide association analyses. A mixed linear model was used to estimate the SNP effects, which ranged from 239,533 to 242,747 markers depending on the trait analyzed. Genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) located up to 100Kb upstream or downstream of the significant SNPs previously cited in the Animal QTLdb were detected, and functional enrichment analyses were performed for the candidate genes identified for each trait. A total of 20, 60, 13, 17, 27, 8, 7, 19, 4, 10, 13, 15, 7, and 13 genome-wide statistically significant SNPs for Bonferroni correction based on independent chromosomal segments were identified for BCS, BD, BQ, CW, DC, FAN, FLV, HDe, HFE, LOC, RLRV, RLSV, ST, and FL, respectively. The significant SNPs were located across the whole genome, except on chromosomes BTA24, BTA27, and BTA29. Four markers (for BCS, BD, HDe, and RLRV) were statistically significant when considering a much stricter threshold for the Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. Moreover, the genomic regions identified overlap with various QTL previously reported for the trait groups of exterior, health, meat and carcass, milk, production, and reproduction. The functional enrichment analyses revealed 27 significant gene ontology terms. These enriched genomic regions harbor various candidate genes previously reported as linked to bone development, metabolism, as well as infectious and immunological diseases.

Personality and its Worldview

Only spirited books should be published and active, that fortify and open the way. Jose Marti. The personality and its worldview, by Prof. Juan D. Quintana Mendoza, docent retired of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Havana, is the title, whose author makes available, not only to professionals and students of Marti’s science of the spirit, but also of those people who try to achieve great intellectual, human and spiritual stature

Dental Abnormalities in Two Dental-Skeletal-Retinal Anomaly-Positive Cane Corso Dogs: A Case Series.

Dental-skeletal-retinal-anomaly (DSRA) is a newly described collagenopathy in Cane Corso dogs. The causative mutation has been linked with splice defects within the melanoma inhibitory activity member 3 (MIA/3) gene that codes for the TANGO1 protein. This case series presents the first dental-related radiographic and histopathological abnormalities in two dogs with genetically confirmed DSRA. The clinical, radiological, and histological features are similar to those reported for MIA3/TANGO1 splice defects previously reported in humans and knockout mice. Common clinical features of these patients include generalized opalescent discoloration of the permanent dentition (intrinsic dyschromia), enamel defects, fractured teeth, vision loss, shortened physical stature, and orthopedic abnormalities that resulted in chronic, early-onset lameness. Intraoral radiography revealed delayed dentin deposition, evidence of endodontic disease, and dental hard tissue loss in both cases. Histopathologic findings for both cases were consistent with dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI). DSRA exhibits autosomal recessive heritability and commercial diagnostic tests are now available. Clinicians should be aware of the etiopathogenesis, genetic inheritance and associated comorbidities in order to treat and counsel clients on the management of this condition. It is recommended that all breeding individuals be tested, and carriers be sterilized or omitted from the breeding population. This case study describes intraoral diagnoses, treatments, and follow-up of two DSRA-positive dogs.

Beyond ‘heightism’ and ‘height premium’: An anthropology and sociology of human stature

AbstractThis review article examines the meanings and materialities of human stature, from serving as a marker of human difference to shaping the socio‐spatial experiences of individuals. I introduce existing perspectives on height from various disciplines, including biomedical discourses on the factors (e.g. nutrition, genetics) that determine height, economic discourses on how the average heights of populations have changed over time, sociobiological and psychological discourses that assume a pre‐cultural, evolutionary “height premium”, and popular discourses on heightism and height discrimination. Drawing from a diverse range of scholarship since Saul Feldman called for a “sociology of stature” in the 1970s, I then present ways in which height and height differences have figured in various domains of human experience, from employment and education to sports and social relationships. Finally, I survey people's attempts to become taller or shorter, and the implicit values that inform such height‐making practices. What these figurations and practices show, I argue, is that height intersects with notions of race, class, gender, and beauty – but is irreducible to any of them, and is thus best viewed as a distinct, embodied form of distinction, difference, and inequality. I conclude by proposing a research agenda for future work.

Abstract 18794: Relationships Between Sex and Size and Morbidity and Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Procedures

Background. Recent large studies reported improvements in outcomes of cardiovascular procedures over time but have not benefited women. Objective. To explore the role that smaller physical stature may play in explaining differential outcomes of these procedures among men and women. Methods. We used regional data (2003-17) to examine differences in in-hospital complications (bleeding, infection, stroke, low output failure, respiratory failure, RF), mortality and long-term survival among men and women of different body surface area (BSA) categories (<1.6, 1.6-1.7, 1.8-1.9, >=2) undergoing PCI (n=97,205), isolated CABG (27,128), or valve (17,414) while controlling for baseline age, comorbidity, disease severity, and year. Results. Smaller size was associated with worse outcomes among both men and women. In-hospital mortality rates were highest among the smallest men for CABG (5.1% versus 1.8% in largest men (OR=3.1; 95%CI=1.5-6.5; p=0.002)) and PCI (2.4% versus 1.1% (OR=2.5; 95%CI=1.4-4.3; p=0.002)) but not valve where smallest women had the highest mortality (9.3% versus 4.6% in the largest men (OR=2.3; 95%CI=1.7-3.2; p<0.001)). In-hospital complications were highest among smallest men for CABG (18% versus 13% (OR=1.5; 95%CI=0.9-2.3; p=0.100)) and valve (29% versus 26% (OR=1.2; 95%CI=0.7-2.1; p=0.502)) but highest among smallest women for PCI (5.9% versus 2.4% in the largest men (OR=2.7; 95%CI=2.3-3.1; p<0.001)). Long-term survival was worst among smallest men for CABG (HR=2.0; 95% CI=1.5-2.7; p<0.001) and PCI (HR=1.9; 95% CI=1.7-2.2; p<0.0001). Bleeding complications were significantly higher in smaller men (3.4% versus 1.6% (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.4-3.6; p=0.001)) and women (4.8% versus 1.6% (OR=3.2; 95%CI=2.8-3.8; p<0.001)) undergoing PCI. Conclusions. Peri-operative devices and/or processes of care better tailored to the size of the patient might help to improve outcomes of cardiovascular procedures among women as well as smaller men.

An Inquiry Into Human Dignity According to George Kateb

Discrimination, slavery, and violence have always been distinctive colors in the painting of human history. There have been men or groups feeling greater than others. There have been unending oppressions among the human species. When confronted with these cases, most immediately think of human rights. On another side of human history, there has also been environmental detriment caused by uncontrolled human expansion. It is oppression among men and ‘vertical suppression’ of inter-species. The main actors are humans. This phenomenon leads to a fundamental question about our actual Being (ὄντος). In the name of human dignity, George Kateb raises it in two fundamental concepts: human status and human stature. A philosopher should be able to examine human dignity as fundamental to human rights. Human dignity is human’s actual Being as [a] Being of human rights. This essay uses qualitative methods through literature research to examine human dignity ontologically, based on the primary sources of George Kateb, namely the palpable distinction between human status and human stature. While providing technological and natural phenomena, this paper gives a contextualization of existential human dignity from George Kateb’s ontological perspective.

Stature Estimation from Femur and Tibia Bone Using Regression Equation Method: A Pilot Study

Anthropometry plays a crucial role in the field of forensic anthropology, particularly in the identification of human remains. Among the various parameters used for personal identification, stature holds significant importance. It is a key factor in medico-legal investigations, especially when dealing with unknown fragmentary and mutilated remains. The objective of present pilot study was to develop a mathematical formula for estimating human stature based on the measurement of long bones, specifically the femur and tibia. A sample of 150 randomly selected girls, aged between 18 and 24 years, was chosen from Nagpur’s Institute of Forensic Science, Maharashtra. The length of the right tibia and femur bones was measured, calculated and regression formulae was derived to estimate stature for the female population of Maharashtra. To assess the relationship between bone length and stature, Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed and revealed regression coefficient (r) of 0.92 for the femur and 0.77 for the tibia, indicating a significant positive correlation between bone length and stature. Consequently, the findings of this study demonstrate that the length of the femur and tibia bones can serve as reliable predictors for estimating the stature of an individual. In conclusion, anthropometric measurements, particularly those involving long bones such as the femur and tibia, hold immense value in the identification of human remains in the field of forensic anthropology.

Leaving the bike unlocked: trust discrimination in inter-ethnic encounters

Abstract Migration and ethnic diversity are said to hamper the cultivation of social trust, as native citizens may hesitate to trust ethnic out-groups and racial minorities. This article examines trust discrimination against ethno-racial minorities in everyday interactions. In a field intervention, cyclists were approached with a request for help that required them to leave their bicycles alone for a short time. I experimentally manipulated the presence and the ethnic background of a bystander positioned close to the spot where the cyclists left their bikes behind and operationalized trust as the decision to leave the bike unlocked and unattended. I found that cyclists showed significantly less trust in the presence of ethno-racial minorities compared to natives. Furthermore, trust in the wild depends on the stakes involved, as measured by the value of the bike, and one’s vulnerability to trust betrayal, as indicated by the physical stature of the cyclists. By examining a real-life indicator of trust in inter-ethnic encounters, this study advances our knowledge of the ethnic boundaries of social trust and forms of covert discrimination in anonymous and multi-ethnic societies.

In memoriam: Leif Svanström (1943–2023)

Leif Svanström, born in Västervik, Sweden, on 30 October 1943, was a big man in physical and intellectual stature, persona and impact. Leif trained at Lund University, obtaining a BA...