Sex and race differences in the relative lengths of metacarpals and metatarsals in human skeletons

Background

Previous research has revealed that the ratios of the lengths of various pairs of human fingers differ in males and females.

Method

In an attempt to determine whether parallel sex differences also exist in the relative lengths of human metacarpals and metatarsals, the lengths of the metapodials for both hands and both feet were measured in a collection of human skeletons. For each hand and each foot, all of the 10 possible pairwise ratios for length of the five metapodials were calculated.

Results

For the skeletons of European/Caucasian extraction (Ns = 89 males, 50 females), there were substantial sex differences for several of the metacarpal-length ratios, but the pattern was not identical with the pattern previously reported for human fingers. Namely, the largest sex differences were for the three ratios involving metacarpal 5 on the left hand, while the sex difference for the ratio comparing the second and fourth metacarpals (the comparison commonly showing the largest sex difference for fingers) was small and non-significant for both hands in these European-Americans. For the skeletons of African extraction (Ns = 65 males, 55 females), no sex differences were found in any of the 20 metacarpal-length ratios. This outcome was unexpected because past research had shown sex differences in finger-length ratios for people of African extraction. For metatarsals, none of the 20 ratios exhibited a substantial sex difference for either group of skeletons.

Conclusions

A discrepancy apparently exists between the length ratios based on fingers and those based on metacarpals.     

Agreement between maternal report and antenatal records for a range of pre and peri-natal factors: the influence of maternal and child characteristics

BACKGROUND: Events during pregnancy and labour may influence the future health and well-being of offspring. Many studies rely on maternal reports of pre and peri-natal factors. Both maternal and child characteristics may potentially influence the reliability and accuracy of maternal recall. However, this has not been previously examined. AIMS: To examine agreement between information from maternally reported questionnaires and medical records for a range of pre and peri-natal factors. To examine whether maternal and child characteristics influence the level of agreement with medical records. METHODS: A survey of women who had school aged children born following in vitro fertilization (IVF) was carried out. Mothers completed a postal questionnaire booklet which included the Lewis and Murray scale which asks about antenatal and obstetric complications and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire which assesses child behaviour problems. Antenatal case notes were also reviewed. Multi-centre ethical approval was obtained. Complete data were available for 126 women. RESULTS: The agreement between maternal report and medical records was very good for the majority of outcomes examined (infant birth weight, infant admission to special care baby unit, method of delivery, smoking during pregnancy, high blood pressure/oedema during pregnancy). Exceptions were length of labour and alcohol use during pregnancy. However, alcohol use during pregnancy was not routinely recorded in medical records. Maternal characteristics did not substantially influence level of agreement for the majority of outcomes examined. Exceptions were that agreement for length of labour was better in women with more educational qualifications and that agreement for pre-natal smoking was worse in women from higher socio-occupational groups. There was little evidence that child behaviour problems influenced the level of agreement between maternal recall and medical records. CONCLUSIONS: For the majority of pre and peri-natal events examined, mothers can provide accurate reports in comparison to information from medical records.     

Research review: the relation between child and parent anxiety and parental control: a meta-analytic review

Background: There is growing research interest in the association between parental control and child anxiety. Parental control may enhance child anxiety and parents may exert control in anticipation of their child’s anxiety‐related distress. Moreover, high levels of anxiety in parents could influence the development of parental control. Whereas past reviews have solely examined the relation between child anxiety and parental control, this meta‐analysis focuses on the associations between both child and parent anxiety and parental control. Methods: The associations of parent anxiety and child anxiety with observed parental control (k = 23 studies, N = 1,305 parent–child dyads) were investigated using a meta‐analytic approach. Moreover, factors were identified that may function as moderators of these relations, such as parent and child gender, family socioeconomic status, child age, and design and measurement characteristics. Results: A substantial association between child anxiety and parental control (d = .58) was found. Moderator analyses yielded the strongest effect sizes for studies with an overrepresentation of girls, for school‐aged children, for families from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, and for studies using a discussion task to assess parental control. Although a nonsignificant relation was found for the relation between parent anxiety and parental control (d = .08), small but significant effects were found for school‐aged children, for studies using a discussion task to assess parental control, and for samples with an overrepresentation of boys. Conclusions: As the direction of the association between child anxiety and parental control is unknown, future studies should use experimental designs to further explore the causal link between child anxiety and parental control.     

Electrocortical reactivity to emotional faces in young children and associations with maternal and paternal depression

Background: The late positive potential (LPP) is an event‐related potential component that indexes selective attention toward motivationally salient information and is sensitive to emotional stimuli. Few studies have examined the LPP in children. Depression has been associated with reduced reactivity to negative and positive emotional stimuli, including reduced LPPs in response to emotional faces. The current study sought to identify the time course and scalp distribution of the LPP in response to emotional faces in young children and to determine whether reduced reactivity is observed among children at risk for depression. Methods: Electrocortical reactivity to emotional faces was examined in a large sample of young children and as a function of maternal and paternal depression. Results: In the overall sample, emotional faces were associated with increased positivities compared to neutral faces at occipital sites 200–600 ms after stimulus onset and at parietal sites 600–1,000 ms after stimulus onset. Children of mothers with a history of depressive disorders exhibited reduced differentiation in the early occipital LPP for emotional compared to neutral faces. Conclusions: Results suggest that children as young as 6 years exhibit LPPs to emotional faces, and patterns of electrocortical reactivity to emotional stimuli may be associated with vulnerability to depressive disorders.     

产前检查及手术策略对新生儿脑积水分流障碍的影响研究CSCD

目的以接受新生儿脑积水脑室腹腔分流术治疗的患者为研究对象,探讨产前检查及手术策略与新生儿脑积水分流障碍发生的关系,寻找相关风险因素。方法将2013年1月至2020年8月复旦大学附属儿科医院因新生儿期脑积水行脑室腹腔分流术的53例患儿纳入研究。按照是否发生分流障碍将患儿分为无分流障碍组(n=37)和分流障碍组(n=16),比较两组患儿一般资料(含母亲资料)、母亲妊娠期合并症资料以及胎儿合并症、脑积水病因、影像学特点、手术治疗情况。通过单因素、多因素及生存曲线分析,总结影响新生儿脑积水治疗结局的相关因素。结果53例患儿平均随访时间4年6个月(2年3个月至9年4个月),其中16例发生分流障碍。单因素分析结果显示,感染后脑积水(P=0.04)、脑脊液蛋白水平高(P=0.002)的患儿分流障碍发生率高。采用额角穿刺(P=0.04)和使用Strata分流阀(P=0.02)的患儿分流障碍发生率低。先天性脑积水常在产前检查过程中被发现(6/8),患儿母亲多为剖宫产(6/8)。而继发性脑积水(出血及感染后发生)产前检查中胎儿多无异常(35/37),但患儿母亲妊娠合并症多,且患儿母亲多为顺产(34/36)。多因素分析结果显示,术前脑脊液蛋白水平(OR:2.198,95%CI:1.015~4.758,P=0.04)、脑室端入点(OR:3.600,95%CI:1.257~7.088,P=0.03)是导致分流障碍发生的风险因素。结论新生儿脑积水中,先天性脑积水多见于足月分娩儿,产前诊断率高,分流障碍发生率低;继发性脑积水多见于早产儿,产前妊娠合并症多,分流障碍发生率高。采用额角穿刺可提高新生儿脑积水脑室腹腔分流术的成功率。     

Interaction between endocrine and paracrine peptides in prenatal growth control

The evidence reviewed here shows that the endocrinology of fetal growth is very different from that operating postnatally. Pituitary hormones play little part in stimulating growth of the lean body mass or skeleton although growth hormone (GH) may be involved, in some as yet ill defined way in the ontogeny of the fetal pancreatic islet and insulin secretion. Insulin is important because it stimulates fetal cellular anabolism but acts in a permissive manner: with too little insulin growth is inhibited, with too much growth proceeds at a genetically predetermined rate. Placental lactogen (PL), or other peptides within the GH/PL family, may act as a true growth-promoting hormone in the fetus; it stimulates both cellular metabolism and mitosis. The part played by endocrine control mechanisms in the fetus is set in context by an appreciation of the importance of locally acting tissue growth factors, and in particular the somatomedins. Their part in fetal growth control is intimately bound up with the plane of nutrition experienced by the fetus. It is concluded that the simplest analysis that makes biological sense involves a consideration of hormones, tissue growth factors and nutrition, not hierarchically but as mutually interacting variables.     

学龄期儿童神经性尿频与心理状况关系的临床研究

目的：探讨焦虑、抑郁心理与学龄期儿童神经性尿频发生的关系。方法：选取136例9~12岁神经性尿频患儿为病例组,136例9~12岁健康儿童为对照组。以儿童焦虑性情绪障碍筛查表（SCARED）评价患儿焦虑心理,以儿童抑郁障碍自评量表（DSRSC）评价患儿抑郁心理,比较两组焦虑和抑郁的发生率以及两组SCARED和DSRSC评分,并运用logistic 多元回归分析探讨焦虑和抑郁心理与神经性尿频发生的关系。结果：病例组焦虑和抑郁的发生率均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P23分者(即存在焦虑)神经性尿频发病风险为SCARED≤23者的1.224倍;DSRSC筛查≥15分者(即存在抑郁)神经性尿频发病风险为DSRSC<15者的1.148倍。结论：焦虑和抑郁心理参与了学龄期儿童神经性尿频的发病。     

Prenatal maternal stress: effects on pregnancy and the (unborn) child

Background: Animal experiments have convincingly demonstrated that prenatal maternal stress affects pregnancy outcome and results in early programming of brain functions with permanent changes in neuroendocrine regulation and behaviour in offspring. Aim: To evaluate the existing evidence of comparable effects of prenatal stress on human pregnancy and child development. Study design: Data sources used included a computerized literature search of PUBMED (1966–2001); Psychlit (1987–2001); and manual search of bibliographies of pertinent articles. Results: Recent well-controlled human studies indicate that pregnant women with high stress and anxiety levels are at increased risk for spontaneous abortion and preterm labour and for having a malformed or growth-retarded baby (reduced head circumference in particular). Evidence of long-term functional disorders after prenatal exposure to stress is limited, but retrospective studies and two prospective studies support the possibility of such effects. A comprehensive model of putative interrelationships between maternal, placental, and fetal factors is presented. Conclusions: Apart from the well-known negative effects of biomedical risks, maternal psychological factors may significantly contribute to pregnancy complications and unfavourable development of the (unborn) child. These problems might be reduced by specific stress reduction in high anxious pregnant women, although much more research is needed.     

Sex and ethnic differences in 2nd to 4th digit ratio of children

BACKGROUND: The ratio between the length of the 2nd or index finger and the 4th or ring finger (2D:4D) differs between the sexes, such that males have lower 2D:4D than females, and shows considerable ethnic differences, with low values found in Black populations. It has been suggested that the sex difference in 2D:4D arises early in development and that finger ratio is a correlate of prenatal testosterone and oestrogen. In children, 2D:4D has been reported to be associated with measures of fetal growth, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, developmental psychopathology, autism and Asperger's syndrome. However, little is known of the patterns of sex and ethnic differences in the 2D:4D ratio of children. AIM: To investigate sex and ethnic differences in 2D:4D in Caucasian, Oriental and Black children. STUDY DESIGN: Population survey. METHOD: The 2D:4D ratio was measured from photocopies of the right hand of Berber children from Morocco, Uygur and Han children from the North-West province of China, and children from Jamaica. RESULTS: There were 798 children in the total sample (90 Berbers, 438 Uygurs, 118 Han, and 152 Jamaicans). The 2D:4D ratio was lower in males than in females and this was significant for the overall sample and for the Uygur, Han and Jamaican samples. There were significant ethnic differences in 2D:4D. The Oriental Han had the highest mean 2D:4D, followed by the Caucasian Berbers and Uygurs, with the lowest mean ratios found in the Afro-Caribbean Jamaicans. The sex and ethnic differences were independent of one another with no significant interaction effect. In the overall sample there were no associations between 2D:4D and age and height. CONCLUSIONS: In common with adults, the 2D:4D ratio of children shows sex and ethnic differences with low values found in a Black group. There was no overall association between 2D:4D and age and height suggesting that the sex and ethnic differences in 2D:4D appear early and do not show appreciable change with growth.     

Association between maternal depressive symptoms in the early post‐natal period and responsiveness in feeding at child age 2 years

Maternal depression is a known risk factor for poor outcomes for children. Pathways to these poor outcomes relate to reduced maternal responsiveness or sensitivity to the child. Impaired responsiveness potentially impacts the feeding relationship and thus may be a risk factor for inappropriate feeding practices. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationships between self‐reported maternal post‐natal depressive symptoms at child age 4 months and feeding practices at child age 2 years in a community sample. Participants were Australian first‐time mothers allocated to the control group of the NOURISH randomized controlled trial when infants were 4 months old. Complete data from 211 mothers (of 346 allocated) followed up when their children were 2 years of age (51% girls) were available for analysis. The relationship between Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score (child age 4 months) and child feeding practices (child age 2 years) was tested using hierarchical linear regression analysis adjusted for maternal and child characteristics. Higher EPDS score was associated with less responsive feeding practices at child age 2 years: greater pressure [β = 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04–0.32, P = 0.01], restriction (β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.001–0.28, P = 0.05), instrumental (β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.005–0.27, P = 0.04) and emotional (β = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.01–0.29, P = 0.03) feeding practices (ΔR² values: 0.02–0.03, P < 0.05). This study provides evidence for the proposed link between maternal post‐natal depressive symptoms and lower responsiveness in child feeding. These findings suggest that the provision of support to mothers experiencing some levels of depressive symptomatology in the early post‐natal period may improve responsiveness in the child feeding relationship.     

Neurologic development of the newborn and young child in relation to maternal thyroid function

A prospective observational study was performed in pregnant women with known thyroid disease. We studied the effect of maternal thyroid function in the first half of pregnancy on the neurologic development of the infant in the first 2 y of life. Clinical and thyroid function data were collected from 20 pregnant women with known thyroid disease and their newborn children. Infants were divided into three groups according to their maternal thyroid function within the first half of pregnancy: Group A (n = 7): maternal subclinical hypothyroidism, Group B (n = 6): maternal euthyroidism, and Group C (n = 7): maternal hyperthyroidism or subclinical hyperthyroidism. Neurophysiologic, i.e. motor nerve conduction velocity and somatosensory evoked potentials and neurologic and developmental (Bayley scales) assessments were done. One infant, born to a mother with Graves' disease, developed transient hyperthyroidism. At the age of 6 and 12 mo, the mean mental developmental index (MDI) score was 16 points lower for infants in Group A than for those in Group B (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). At the age of 24 mo, the mean MDI score was 6 points lower, which was not statistically significant. Neurophysiologic and neurologic assessments and the mean Psychomotor Developmental scores did not differ among the three groups. In conclusion, maternal subclinical hypothyroidism in the first half of pregnancy was associated with a lower mean MDI score in their infants during the first year of life.     

Association between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression: the chain mediating effect of maternal depression and parenting style北大核心CSCD

目的研究母亲职业倦怠与青少年抑郁的关系,以及母亲抑郁、教养方式在其中的中介作用。方法采用横断面研究设计,于2021年4—5月在上海市7所初中进行整群随机抽样,对7所初中2572名青少年及其母亲进行问卷调查。研究工具包括一般资料调查表、职业倦怠量表、流调中心抑郁量表、简式父母教养方式问卷及儿童抑郁量表。建立结构方程模型,使用Bootstrap法进行中介效应检验。结果青少年抑郁症状检出率为12.71%(327/2572)。母亲职业倦怠得分、母亲抑郁得分、消极教养方式得分与青少年抑郁得分呈显著正相关(P<0.05),而积极教养方式得分与青少年抑郁得分呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。母亲抑郁、教养方式在职业倦怠与青少年抑郁间起中介作用,包括母亲抑郁的独立中介、积极教养方式的独立中介及抑郁-消极/积极教养方式的链式中介。结论母亲的职业倦怠可通过抑郁、教养方式、抑郁-教养方式3条中介路径影响青少年抑郁,提示降低母亲职业倦怠、改善母亲的抑郁情绪、增加积极教养行为、减少消极教养行为,有助于减少青少年抑郁症状的发生。     

Cervical teratoma: prenatal detection and management in the neonate

Routine prenatal ultrasonography in a 34-year-old woman at 28 weeks gestation, revealed a large right cervical mass in the fetus. Subsequent sonographies showed no increase in size of the mass, but polyhydramnios developed. Cesarean section was performed at 38 weeks. At birth a very right cervical mass was present which on palpation was partly cystic and partly solid. CT scan revealed heterogeneous tissue with numerous irregular calcifications. Because of increasing difficulty with breathing and swallowing the tumor was removed surgically. The microscopic findings were compatible with teratoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. Although malignancy has been described, mainly in adults, histologically cervical teratoma is a benign tumor. The importance of its recognition in utero is stressed, as this allows the planning of obstetrical and surgical strategy.     

Changes in unsettled infant sleep and maternal mood following admission to a parentcraft residential unit

BACKGROUND:: Maternal mood disorders are common in the first postnatal year, particularly if the infant has sleep problems. AIMS:: This study explored the effectiveness of a residential parentcraft unit's treatment for infant sleep problems, and also its impact on the mother's depression, anxiety, and bonding. STUDY DESIGN:: A one-group pretest-posttest design with follow-up was used. Assessments were conducted while participants were at the service, and at 5 weeks and 4 months after discharge. PARTICIPANTS:: Mothers (n=116) with infants 3 weeks to 3 years old presenting to a five-day program at an Australian residential parentcraft service because of unsettled infant sleep were recruited. OUTCOME MEASURES:: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale (maternal mood), the Being a Mother & Bonding Scale (maternal experience and mother-infant bonding), and a Change Questionnaire (for infant sleep and maternal emotional health). RESULTS:: By 5 weeks post-discharge significant improvements were reported for infant sleep behavior, maternal mood (depressive and anxious symptoms), and maternal-infant bonding. 80% of the women reported an improvement on both their infants' sleep and their own emotional health, with strategies and support provided in the unit being cited by most women as the reason for improvement. Emotional health improvements were most often attributed to the improvement in the infant's sleep. All improvements by 5 weeks were maintained by the 4 four months assessment. CONCLUSION:: Where postnatal mood difficulties are reported along with unsettled infant sleep difficulties, the evidence from this uncontrolled study, together with previously research, suggests that treatment which principally focuses on the baby-care issue can have a significant impact on many women's emotional health.     

早产胎盘病理改变与早产儿并发症的分析

目的 分析早产儿胎盘病理改变特点,探讨胎盘病理与早产及早产儿结局的关系.方法 选择2008年5月至2010年5月我院产科分娩的单胎早产儿及其胎盘为早产组,同期分娩的单胎足月儿及其胎盘为足月组,检测所有新生儿胎盘组织病理学改变,早产儿脐血C反应蛋白(CRP)、相关细胞因子白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF),以及神经元特异性烯醇酶(NSE),记录早产儿并发症情况.结果 与足月儿胎盘(42例)比较,早产儿胎盘(109例)形状不规则发生率高(17.4%比9.5%),但差异无统计学意义(P=0.226),胎盘子面血管分支计数少[(4.4±0.7)支比(5.4±0.7)支],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).胎盘组织病理学显示早产儿胎盘感染性病变发生率高(77.1%比40.5%,P<0.05).早产并胎盘感染性病变时,脐血细胞因子IL-8、TNF及NSE增高,颅内出血发生率高于非感染组(P均<0.05).结论 早产胎盘形状不规则多见,血管数目少,感染性病变发生率高;早产胎盘感染性病变发生率高及脐血感染相关因子水平增高均提示感染可能是早产的原因之一,且与早产儿高患病率相关.     

Sex differences in the association between sleep and body mass index in adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an association between short sleep duration and increased body mass index (BMI) exists in a sample of U.S. adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: Public-use dataset of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Final sample included 4486 adolescents (51% female). Main outcome was BMI transformed into z-scores for age and sex using reference values from the Centers for Disease Control/National Center for Health Statistics. Overweight was defined as > or =95th percentile. Linear and logistic regression models were calculated. Sleep duration was self-reported in hours. A quadratic term for sleep was added to test curvilinear association. Covariates included age, race, parental education, activity and inactivity scores. RESULTS: Among males, linear regression indicated that sleep duration significantly predicted BMI z-score (Beta = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.12, -0.03). Logistic regression indicated that sleep duration predicted risk of overweight among males (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.00). Sleep duration was not a significant predictor among females in either regression model. Quadratic term for sleep was not significant for either sex. CONCLUSIONS: Longer sleep duration was weakly associated with lower BMI and risk of overweight among male adolescents only. This sex-related difference may be due to differences in the physiology of puberty or in sleep characteristics.