Ovarian volume, age, and menopausal status

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to verify whether ovarian volume differs according to chronological age and menopausal status in healthy women and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ovarian volume alone and ovarian volume associated with age in predicting menopausal status. DESIGN: The participants in this study were premenopausal (n = 121) and postmenopausal (n = 71) women between 40 and 55 years of age who were interviewed about social, demographic, and medical conditions. These women underwent transvaginal ultrasound to determine ovarian volume. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to evaluate the correlation between ovarian volume, age, and menopausal status. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were elaborated to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ovarian volume and age related to menopausal status. RESULTS: The difference in ovarian volume was significant and uniform as age increased in both groups (P = 0.03). Premenopausal women presented larger ovaries than did postmenopausal women. Menopausal status and age were correlated with ovarian volume. Menopausal status seemed more important than age in determining ovarian volume decrease (R = 0.36) because age contributed little when added to a model already containing menopausal status. ROC curves indicated that ovarian volume and age were effective in determining menopausal status. The best cutoff points in terms of sensitivity and specificity were ovarian volume less than 4 cm and age 48 years or older. The areas under the ROC curves of ovarian volume and ovarian volume plus age were similar. CONCLUSION: Ovarian volume differs according to age in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Menopausal status is more important than age in determining ovarian volume. The data suggest that ovarian volume and age are quite accurate in predicting menopausal status.     

Estimated maximal and current brain volume predict cognitive ability in old age

Brain tissue deterioration is a significant contributor to lower cognitive ability in later life; however, few studies have appropriate data to establish how much influence prior brain volume and prior cognitive performance have on this association. We investigated the associations between structural brain imaging biomarkers, including an estimate of maximal brain volume, and detailed measures of cognitive ability at age 73 years in a large (N = 620), generally healthy, community-dwelling population. Cognitive ability data were available from age 11 years. We found positive associations (r) between general cognitive ability and estimated brain volume in youth (male, 0.28; females, 0.12), and in measured brain volume in later life (males, 0.27; females, 0.26). Our findings show that cognitive ability in youth is a strong predictor of estimated prior and measured current brain volume in old age but that these effects were the same for both white and gray matter. As 1 of the largest studies of associations between brain volume and cognitive ability with normal aging, this work contributes to the wider understanding of how some early-life factors influence cognitive aging.     

Trends in cranial capacity and cranial index in Subsaharan Africa during the Holocene

Craniometric data have been collected from published and unpublished reports of numerous authors on 961 male and 439 female crania from various sites in Subsaharan Africa spanning the last 100 ka. All data available in the literature, irrespective of their “racial” affinities, were used to cover the prehistoric and early historic times (up to 400 a BP). Samples covering the last 400 years do not include European colonists and consist of skeletons exavated at archeological sites, collected by early European travelers and derived from anatomical collections. Cranial capacity, depending on the mode of its calculation, has decreased by 95–165 cm³ among males and by 74–106 cm³ among females between the Late Stone Age (30-2 ka BP) and modern times (last 200 years). Values of the cranial index did not show any trend over time and their averages remained in the dolichocephalic category. The decrease in cranial capacity in Subsaharan Africa is similar to that previously found in Europe, West Asia, and North Africa, but, unlike the latter, it is not accompanied by brachycephalization. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

On the effect of cranial deformation in determining age from ectocranial suture closure

Available techniques for determining age from human cranial remains are limited. This study examines the efficacy of Meindl and Lovejoy's (1985) method of determining age based on ectocranial suture closure patterns as compared to a baseline of ages developed from a multifactorial approach employing various age determining factors from across the skull. What makes this study different is that the sample upon which this comparison is performed contains a large number of artificially deformed crania. Our hypothesis is that aging techniques that rely on suture closure patterns as markers are complicated by the results of artificial modification of the cranial vault. The study is conducted on adult, human crania from prehispanic archaeological sites in South America. Results demonstrate a significant difference between the two aging methods, more particularly when applied to deformed skulls. We conclude that when a skull is deformed age should be estimated utilizing multiple factors that exclude Meindl and Lovejoy's ectocranial suture aging technique.     

Reference values for pulmonary tissue volume, membrane diffusing capacity, and pulmonary capillary blood volume

Pulmonary tissue volume (Vti), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, membrane diffusing capacity, pulmonary capillary blood flow and pulmonary capillary blood volume were measured in ninety (54 men and 36 women) healthy lifetime nonsmokers using an inert gas rebreathing technique. Prediction equations were generated using multiple linear regressions with height and age as the independent variables. Normalizing the data by dividing by functional residual capacity eliminated all sex differences. In contrast to the other variables, normalized pulmonary tissue volume did not correlate with any of the independent variables tested. Therefore, an average normalized Vti value can be recommended as a reference value     

Comparative effects of scaffold pore size, pore volume, and total void volume on cranial bone healing patterns using microsphere-based scaffolds

Bony craniofacial deficits resulting from injury, disease, or birth defects remain a considerable clinical challenge. In this study, microsphere-based scaffold fabrication methods were use to study the respective effects of scaffold pore size, open pore volume, and total void volume fraction on osseous tissue infiltration and bone regeneration in a critical size rat cranial defect. To compare the healing effects of these parameters, three different scaffolds types were fabricated: solid 100 microm spheres, solid 500 microm spheres, and hollow 500 microm spheres. These constructs were implanted into surgically created rat calvarial defects. By 90-days post op, results of micro computed tomography (CT) analysis showed that all scaffolds generated similar amounts of new bone which was significantly greater than untreated controls. Interestingly, the spatial distribution of new bone within the defect area varied by scaffold group. MicroCT and histological analysis demonstrated healing restricted to the dural side in the hollow 500 microm group, whereas the solid 500 microm group demonstrated healing along the dural side and within the center of the defect. Solid 100 microm groups demonstrated healing along the dural layer, periosteal layer, and within the center of the defect. These results suggest that pore size and closed void volume may both play important roles in scaffold degradation patterns and associated bone healing.     

Glomerular size and volume distributions for cranial,medial, and caudal divisions of domestic fowl kidneys

Separate renal arteries and renal portal veins supply the three divisions of domestic fowl kidneys, leading to uncertainty concerning the structural and functional homology of the different divisdions. To assess the degree of anatomical similarity, separate glomerular size and volume distribution profiles were constructed for cranial, medial, and caudal divisions from the left and right kidneys of male and female domestic fowl. There were no significant differences between left and right divisions (intradivision comparisons) or between cranial, medial, and caudal divisions (interdivision comparisons) when the total number of glomeruli or total glomerular volumes were compared on a per gram kidney weight basis. Glomerular size distribution profiles were unimodal in shape, with the peaks for all divisions falling in the 0.15–0.22 mm circumference range in males and in the 0.19–0.26 mm circumference range in females. There were no significant differences in glomerular size distribution profiles for intradivision (left vs. right) comparisons. Interdivisional comparisons revealed that medial divisions had significantly lower values than caudal divisions in one of 11 glomerular circumference categories. For all remaining comparisons, there were no significant dífferences in glomerular size distribution profiles, nor were there any significant interdivisional differences when glomerular volume distribution profiles were compared. These data indicate that the three divisions of domestic fowl kidneys are structurally homologous on a per gram kidney weight basis, suggesting the separate divisions also are functionally homologous.     

Social relationships,gender, and allostatic load across two age cohorts

OBJECTIVE: This article addresses the question of biological pathways through which social integration and support may affect morbidity and mortality risks. A new concept of cumulative biological risk, allostatic load, is used to test the hypothesis that social experiences affect a range of biological systems. Data from two community-based cohorts are examined to evaluate the consistency of findings across two different age groups. METHODS: One cohort included older adults aged 70 to 79 years (N = 765); the other cohort included persons aged 58 to 59 years (N = 106). Allostatic load was assessed using identical protocols in the two cohorts. Measures of social experience were similar but not identical, reflecting levels of social integration and support for the older cohort vs. childhood and adult experiences of loving/caring relationships with parents and spouse for the younger cohort. Gender-specific analyses were examined to evaluate possible gender differences in patterns of association. RESULTS: In the younger cohort, positive cumulative relationship experiences were associated with lower allostatic load for men and women. In the older cohort, men who were more socially integrated and those reporting more frequent emotional support from others had lower allostatic load scores; similar but nonsignificant associations were seen for women. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from two cohorts provides support for the hypothesis that positive social experiences are associated with lower allostatic load. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that social experiences affect a range of biological systems, resulting in cumulative differences in risks that in turn may affect a range of health outcomes.     

Search for secular trends in calvarial diameters,cranial base height,indices, and capacity in South African Negro crania

Two hundred eighteen South African Negro male crania were arranged in 5-year birthdate cohorts from 1880–1884, 1890–1894, up to 1930–1934 inclusive and investigated for the presence of a secular trend in their dimensions. Maximum breadth, maximum length, basibregmatic height, cranial base height, and bi-auricular breadth (BAB) were measured, and cranial index (CI), cranial capacity (CC), and cranial base height index (CBHI) were determined. Cranial length exhibited a significant increase from 1890 to 1930. Cranial base height and CBHI exhibited statistically significant declines over the same period. The absence of secular trends in the other dimensions studied corresponds to previous analyses of the lengths of the femora and tibiae of the same sample. The secular trends in cranial length, cranial base height and its index, and the absence of trends in the other dimensions, are discussed in relation to an apparent decrease in the standard of living occurring in this population after 1900. It is unlikely that the absence of a positive secular trend denotes the attainment of a genetically determined ceiling to the physical size of the subjects represented by these skeletons. It is more likely that the environmental factors believed to produce a positive secular trend were absent in the years from which this sample was drawn and that signs of improvement in these factors, if any, would be so recent that evidence of their effect is not yet available from our cadaver-derived skeletons.     

Skeletal age and submaximal working capacity in boys.

Skeletal age (SA) and Vo2 at a heart rate of 130 (Vo130) during work on a bicycle ergometer were measured in 237 boys 8-18 years of age. Analysis indicates that Vo130 is well correlated with SA, but also is equally well correlated with chronological age (CA), height and body weight. Age-specific correlations show that Vo130 is associated with SA from 12 through 16 years of age. Partialing out SA results in a significant decrease in the correlations of either height or weight with Vo130 only in the 12-16 year subgroup. The total common variance explained in Vo130 when regressed over CA, height and weight is affected by the presence of SA only in the 12-16 age subset. In spite of the high degree of multicollinearity among the independent variates, correlation data seem to indicate that SA and Vo130 have a slightly higher degree of relationship circumpuberally, i.e. between 12 and 16 years of age.     

Effects of gender and age on anterior commissure volume

The purpose of this study was to measure the average anterior commissure (AC) volume of normal subjects in their 20s or 40s and to determine the effects of gender and age on AC volume. Magnetic resonance brain images were obtained for 93 people in their 20s (46 men, 47 women) and 87 in their 40s (36 men, 51 women). To investigate the effect of gender and age on AC volume, two-way analysis of variance, which used gender (two levels) and age (two levels) as independent variables, was employed. For subjects in their 20s, there was no difference in AC volume between genders, but for those in their 40s, the AC volume of males was less than that of females. There was no difference in AC volume between females in their 20s or 40s; however, the AC volume of men in their 40s was less than that for those in their 20s. There were gender-influenced differences in AC volume changes related to aging.     

Effects of gender, age, and body parameters on the ventricular volume of Korean people

The purpose of this study was to measure the average ventricular volume of normal Koreans (aged in their 20s or 40s) and to analyze the effects of gender, age, and body parameters, such as height and weight on ventricle size. Magnetic resonance brain images were recorded for 118 people in their 20s (58 men, 60 women) and 100 in their 40s (41 men, 59 women). Using automatic and manual segmentation techniques, the volumes of the lateral and the third and fourth ventricles were calculated. To investigate the different and interactive effects of gender and age on ventricular volume, two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with gender and age as independent variables was carried out. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of body parameters, such as height and weight according to gender on changes in ventricular volume. The average ventricular volume for people in their 20s was 16.2 cm3, and that for people in their 40s was 24.9 cm3. The average ventricular volume for men and women was 22.9 and 18.1 cm3, respectively. The average ventricular volume for men was greater than that for women, and that for people in their 40s was greater than that in their 20s. Enlargement of the ventricles on aging was more markedly observed in men than in women. There was a positive relationship between the body height and ventricular volume for men but not for women. There was no relationship between weight and ventricular volume for either men or women.     

Influence of age, sex, and aerobic capacity on forearm and skin blood flow and vascular conductance

This study investigated the influence of age, sex, and aerobic capacity on resting and peak forearm and cutaneous blood flow (FBF, CBF). We recruited 93 female and 129 male subjects (age range 16–76 years). FBF and CBF were assessed by plethysmography and laser-Doppler flowmetry, respectively. Peak FBF was obtained following 5 min forearm vascular occlusion and peak CBF in response to local skin heating of 42°C. Blood pressure was measured manually and by Finapres. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) was obtained from a treadmill exercise stress test. Age was associated with declines in resting FBF (y = −1.176 ln(x) + 6.6899, r ² = 0.45) and peak FBF (y = −17.21 ln(x) + 93.843, r ² = 0.53) (both p < 0.05). Peak CBF decreased with increasing age (y = −223.6 ln(x) + 1,102.9, r ² = 0.34) (p < 0.05), but resting CBF was unchanged (p > 0.05). Males had higher resting and peak FBF than females (p < 0.05) and these variables were related to ageing better in males (y = −1.245 ln(x) + 7.188, r ² = 0.71 and y = −18.53 ln(x) + 102.82, r ² = 0.69) than in females (y = −1.149 ln(x) + 6.4307, r ² = 0.38 and y = −16.59 ln(x) + 88.872, r ² = 0.55). There were no sex differences in resting CBF (p > 0.05). Peak CBF was much better related to ageing in males than females (y = −276.1 ln(x) + 1,365.4, r ² = 0.53 vs. y = −183.1 ln(x) + 907.86, r ² = 0.28). VO_2max decreased with advancing age and this decline was associated with the decline in peak FBF (y = −0.5933x + 10.91, r ² = 0.36, p < 0.05) but not with peak CBF (p > 0.05). These results suggest that healthy ageing is associated with a curvilinear decline in resting and peak forearm and peak cutaneous vasodilator capacity, with males more severely affected than females. The data indicate that peak FBF is influenced by VO_2max but peak CBF is not.     

Craniofacial serial dimensions related to age, sex, and cleft-type from six months of age to two years.

The first two postnatal years are a time of rapid craniofacial growth. We selected 30 cleft lip/palate children, each seen at 6, 12, 18, 24 months, at which time lateral X-ray headfilms were taken. There were five boys, five girls, in each of three cleft-types: cleft palate only (CP), unilateral cleft lip/palate (UCLP), and bilateral cleft lip/palate (BCLP). Three dimensions were selected: 1) anterior cranial base (S-N); 2) upper face height (N-Pt.A); 3) maxillary depth (Pt.A-Ptm). All were in the midsagittal plane. This is a repeated measures study on the factor patient age, so that for each combination of sex and cleft-type the same subject was measured at the four levels of patient age. The multiple comparison technique utilized was the Newman-Keuls Procedure. There is no significant joint effect in the 6-24 months period. The factors seem to operate singly. There is no main effect due to the factor sex. Dimensions N-Pt.A. and Pt.A-Ptm show a significant main effect due to the factor cleft-type. There is a highly significant main effect due to the patient age factor.