Correlation of Proteinuria with Podocyte Foot Process Effacement in IgA Nephropathy: An Ultrastructural Study

Background: Proteinuria is an uncommon clinical manifestation of IgA nephropathy and is usually seen in cases with severe lesions like endocapillary proliferation. However, it is occasionally seen even with cases with mild glomerular manifestations and may even be of nephrotic range.

Predictor: Podocyte foot process effacement.

Outcome: Severity of proteinuria.

Measurements: Podocyte foot process effacement was measured. Morphometric analysis was performed on transmission electron microscope images using a computerized digital photomicrograph system (BioWizard 4.2 Image analysis software, New Delhi, India). Proteinuria was measured quantitatively assigned into five grades.

Results: It was found that as the extent of proteinuria increased, the effacement ratio also increased, and this was most significant between “no” proteinuria and the rest of the categories.

Conclusion: Nephrotic presentation in IgA nephropathy is a known phenomenon and in certain cases may show near normal glomerular morphology with severe foot process effacement on EM being the only significant finding to explain the proteinuria. Proteinuria in these cases shows a significant correlation with degree of foot process effacement. Renal biopsy is important in these cases because they are known to have a better prognosis and are usually steroid responsive.     

Secular trends in cranial morphological traits: a socioeconomic perspective of change and sexual dimorphism in North Americans 1849–1960

Background: The human body has undergone significant changes in stature and other areas, which reflect secular trends associated with socioeconomics.

Aim: To analyse cranial morphological traits for deciphering if they are subject to secular trends.

Subjects and methods: Two documented skeletal collections were sampled for a total of 525 individuals from 1849–1960. Cranial morphological traits were scored and input into time series statistics (logistic regression).

Results: In females, nuchal crests have enlarged, while glabella has decreased. In males, supraorbital margins have dulled, while glabella decreased. Sexual dimorphism increased in supraorbital margins.

Conclusion: The patterns in the data here reflect those found in other areas of the skeleton, namely height, as regards to secular trends. These findings can be extended to stature and cranial changes that parallel socioeconomic trends during the Industrial Revolution, antebellum period and after.     

Multi-level modelling of longitudinal child growth data from the Birth-to-Twenty Cohort: a comparison of growth models

Background: Different structural and non-structural models have been used to describe human growth patterns. However, few studies have compared the fitness of these models in an African transitioning population.

Aim: To find model(s) that best describe the growth pattern from birth to early childhood using mixed effect modelling.

Subjects and methods: The study compared the fitness of four structural (Berkey-Reed, Count, Jenss-Bayley and the adapted Jenss-Bayley) and two non-structural (2nd and 3rd order Polynomial) models. The models were fitted to physical growth data from an urban African setting from birth to 10 years using a multi-level modelling technique. The goodness-of-fit of the models was examined using median and maximum absolute residuals, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC).

Results: There were variations in how the different models fitted to the data at different measurement occasions. The Jenss-Bayley and the polynomial models did not fit well to growth measurements in the early years, with very high or very low percentage of positive residuals. The Berkey-Reed model fitted consistently well over the study period.

Conclusion: The Berkey-Reed model, previously used and fitted well to infancy growth data, has been shown to also fit well beyond infancy into childhood.     

Neurological soft signs are associated with attentional dysfunction in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Introduction: Inattention is one of the core symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Most of patients with ADHD show motor impairment, consisting in the persistence of neurological soft signs (NSS). Our aim was to evaluate attentional and motor functioning in an ADHD sample and healthy children (HC) and possible link between attentional dysfunction and motor impairment in ADHD.

Method: Twenty-seven drug-naive patients with ADHD and 23 HC were tested with a test battery, measuring different aspects of attention. Motor evaluation has provided three primary variables: overflow movements (OM), dysrhythmia and total speed of timed activities.

Results: Compared to HC, patients were impaired in a considerable number of attentional processes and showed a greater number of NSS. Significant correlations between disturbances of attention and motor abnormalities were observed in ADHD group.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that attentional processes could be involved in the pathophysiology of the NSS and add scientific evidence to the predictive value of NSS as indicators of the severity of functional impairment in ADHD. Given the marked improvement or complete resolution of NSS following treatment with methylphenidate, we suggest that evaluation of NSS is useful to monitor the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment with MPH in ADHD.     

Body image,body dissatisfaction and weight status in children from Emilia-Romagna (Italy): comparison between immigrant and native-born

Background: Cross-sectional study among immigrant and native children from Emilia-Romagna (Italy).

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relative contribution of weight status, ethnicity and sex on body dissatisfaction in a sample of children from Emilia-Romagna (Italy).

Subjects and methods: Primary school children (226 immigrants and 1206 Italians) aged 6–11 years were measured: immigrant children were divided into Asians, Africans, Latin Americans and East Europeans. Height and weight were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Body image perception was assessed using Body Silhouette Charts. A body dissatisfaction score (BDS) was derived by subtracting the "ideal self" from the "self" score.

Results: Weight status disorders were higher in immigrants than in native-born males; Italian females had higher prevalence of underweight and overweight and lower prevalence of obesity than immigrants peers. BDS rose with the increase of weight status categories.

Conclusions: Awareness of body image size and increasing body dissatisfaction with higher weight status is established in childhood, regardless of ethnicity and gender.     

Bone growth,limb proportions and non-specific stress in archaeological populations from Croatia

Background: The effect of environmental factors and, in particular, non-specific stress on the growth patterns of limbs and other body dimensions of children from past populations is not well understood.

Aims: This study assesses whether growth of mediaeval and post-mediaeval children aged between 0–11.5 years from Adriatic (coastal) and continental Croatia varies by region and by the prevalence and type of non-specific stress.

Methods: Dental ages were estimated using the Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt (MFH) scoring method. Growth of long bone diaphyses (femur, tibia, humerus, radius and ulna) was assessed by using a composite Z-score statistic (CZS). Clavicular length was measured as a proxy for upper trunk width, distal metaphyseal width of the femur was measured as a proxy for body mass and upper and lower intra-limb indices were calculated. Differences between sub-sets sampled by (a) region and (b) active vs healed non-specific stress indicators and (c) intra-limb indices were tested by Mann--Whitney U-tests and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).

Results: Adriatic children attained larger dimensions-per-age than continental children. Children with healed stress lesions had larger dimensions-per-age than those with active lesions. No inter-regional difference was found in intra-limb indices.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the complexity of growth patterns in past populations and indicate that variation in environmental conditions such as diet and differences in the nature of non-specific stress lesions both exert a significant effect on long bone growth.     

Isometric torso muscle endurance profiles in adolescents aged 15–18: normative values for age and gender differences

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish normative values for torso muscle endurance in adolescents aged 15–18 years. It was hypothesized that torso endurance profiles of adolescents differs between males and females and between adolescents and adults.

Background: Decreased torso muscle endurance has been identified as a potential personal risk factor for low back pain development in both adolescents and later years together with being detrimental for athletic performance.

Design: Measurement of torso muscle endurance, established through four tests performed in random order in a healthy adolescent population.

Setting: High school in Novi Sad, Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia.

Methods: Two hundred and ninety-four adolescents from one high school (178 males and 116 females) were grouped into four age strata. Selected isometric torso muscle endurance tests were: Biering-Sørensen test for extensor endurance; Flexor endurance test; right and left Side Bridge tests. The mean, ratio, standard deviation and 25th, 50th and 75th percentile scores were determined for each gender/age strata.

Results and conclusion: Males had higher lateral torso endurance than females. Adolescents in general demonstrate their peak lifetime endurance as they appear more endurable than children and comparable adult groups. These data of endurance times, their ratios and percentiles in healthy normal subjects form a database bridging existing data for children and adults that may be useful for guiding training and rehabilitation.     

Malaysian growth centiles for children under six years old

Background: Growth references are useful for the screening, assessment and monitoring of individual children as well as for evaluating various growth promoting interventions that could possibly affect a child in early life.

Aim: To determine the growth centiles of Malaysian children and to establish contemporary cross-sectional growth reference charts for height and weight from birth to 6 years of age based on a representative sample of children from Malaysia.

Methods: Gender- and age-specific centile curves for height and weight were derived using the Cole’s LMS method. Data for this study were retrieved from Malaysian government health clinics using a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Assessment of nutritional status was done with the SD scores (Z-scores) of WHO 2006 standards.

Results: Boys were found to be taller and heavier than girls in this study. The median length of Malaysian children was higher than the WHO 2006 standards and CDC 2000 reference. The overall prevalence of stunting and underweight were 8.3% and 9.3%, respectively.

Conclusions: This study presents the first large-scale initiative for local reference charts. The growth reference would enable the growth assessment of a Malaysian child compared to the average growth of children in the country. It is suggested that the use of WHO 2006 Child Growth Standards should be complemented with local reference charts for a more wholesome growth assessment.     

Height of South Asian children in the Netherlands aged 0–20 years: secular trends and comparisons with current Asian Indian,Dutch and WHO references

Background: People from Asian populations are generally shorter than other ethnic groups. It is unknown if current universal height references are suitable for affluent South Asian children in the Netherlands.

Aims: To develop height-for-age charts for contemporary South Asian children aged 0–20 years living in the Netherlands, to evaluate secular trends, and to compare the charts with current Asian Indian, Dutch and WHO references.

Subjects and methods: A population-based study measured 3315 South Asian children aged 0–20 years between 2007–2010. Among this cohort, 6876 measurements were taken. Another 7388 measurements were taken of a historical cohort of 1078 children born between 1974–1976 (aged 0–18 years).

Results: An upward trend in height was observed for South Asian children living in the Netherlands between 1992–2010. The height-for-age charts of the South Asian historical cohort were similar to current Asian Indian charts. South Asian children in the Netherlands were shorter than their Dutch contemporaries at every age; and these differences increased further during adolescence. Compared to the WHO height-for-age references, there were considerable discrepancies in height, with curves intersecting twice.

Conclusion: The discrepancies between the South Asian and Dutch and WHO height-for-age references indicate differences in growth patterns between the source populations.     

Body shape indices and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents

Background: “A Body Shape Index” (ABSI) is a recently proposed index that standardizes waist circumference for body mass index (BMI) and height using the scaling exponents 2/3 and 1/2, respectively, estimated from adults. Incidentally, waist-to-height ratio has been suggested as an indicator of cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.

Aims: This study aims to estimate the scaling exponents for standardizing waist circumference for BMI and height in Chinese adolescents and to estimate and compare the ability of various body shape indices in predicting cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.

Subjects and methods: Participants aged 10–17 years in the 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey were analysed.

Results: The appropriate scaling exponents for standardizing waist circumference for BMI and height in this adolescent sample were 0.45 and 0.55, respectively. A new ABSI-adolescents was defined accordingly. Ignoring the age dependence in the scaling exponents would lead to confounded associations. The ABSI-adolescents and the waist-to-height ratio were more associated with glycated haemoglobin and pre-diabetes, but not blood pressure, than the BMI was.

Conclusion: The scaling exponent for standardizing waist circumference for BMI is age-dependent. Indices based on waist circumference adjusted for BMI are more associated with glycated haemoglobin than BMI in adolescents.     

IgA directly inhibits antigen-dependent B cell activation following distinctive distribution of the antigen in mice

Context: Serum IgA suppresses immune responses when exposed to antigens recognized by the antibody; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Objective: We herein clarified the relationships between changes in antigen distribution and antigen-dependent B cell activation in the presence or absence of IgA against the antigen in mice.

Materials and methods: DBA/1J and HR-1 mice were intravenously injected with ovalbumin (OVA) and anti-OVA monoclonal IgA OA-4. The distribution of the antigen and B cell responses were measured.

Results: B cell activation by injected OVA, namely, increases in anti-OVA IgG production and the populations of B220⁺GL7⁺ and B220⁺CD69^high splenocytes, was diminished by the co-injection of OA-4. Co-injected OA-4 increased OVA in the serum as well as in the bile and gut. This was coincident with its decrease in the urine due to the inhibition of OVA monomer secretion through the formation of immune complexes. The apparent similarities in the association between fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-OVA and splenic B cells in the presence and absence of OA-4 in vivo appeared to be attributed to compensation between the two effects of OA-4; an increase in serum OVA in vivo and inhibition of the association between OVA and B cells, as suggested by in vitro experiments.

Discussion: Based on these results, the stimulation of B cells by OVA may be directly reduced, at least partly, by the neutralization of OVA by OA-4.

Conclusion: IgA may be an effective drug for the treatment of immune disorders due to its ability to blunt antigen-specific B cell activation.     

The role of physical activity,body mass index and maturity status in body-related perceptions and self-esteem of adolescents

Background: Adolescence represents a transitional period which is marked by physical, social and psychological changes. Changes in body shape and physical activity especially alter and shape the psychological well-being of adolescents.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of physical activity level, body mass index and maturity status in body-related perception and self-esteem of 11–18 years old adolescents.

Subjects and methods: A total of 1012 adolescents participated in this study. The “Social Physique Anxiety Scale”, “Body Image Satisfaction Scale”, “Physical Self-Perception Profile for Children” and “Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory” were administered. Physical activity level and body mass index were assessed using the “Physical Activity Questionnaire” and “Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer”, respectively.

Results: Regression analysis indicated that body mass index was the only predictor of perceived body attractiveness, social physique anxiety, body image satisfaction and self-esteem for female adolescents. For male adolescents, both physical activity and body mass index were correlated with perceived body attractiveness and social physique anxiety. Pubertal status were not correlated with self-esteem and body-related perceptions for both males and females adolescents.

Conclusion: In summary, body mass index and physical activity plays an important role in body-related perceptions and self-esteem of adolescents.     

The place of Slovakian paternal diversity in the clinal European landscape

Background: Several demographic events have been postulated to explain the contemporaneous structure of European genetic diversity. First, an initial settlement of the continent by anatomically modern humans; second, the re-settlement of northern latitudes after the Last Glacial Maximum; third, the demic diffusion of Neolithic farmers from the Near East; and, fourth, several historical events such as the Slavic migration.

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide a more integrated picture of male-specific genetic relationships of Slovakia within the broader pan-European genetic landscape.

Subjects and methods: This study analysed a new Y-chromosome data-set (156 individuals) for both SNP and STR polymorphisms in population samples from five different Slovakian localities.

Results: It was found that the male diversity of Slovakia is embedded in the clinal pattern of the major R1a and R1b clades extending over the continent and a similar pattern of population structure is found with Y-specific SNP or STR variation.

Conclusion: The highly significant correlation between the results based on fast evolving STRs on one hand and slow evolving SNPs on the other hand suggests a recent timeframe for the settlement of the area.     

Isotopic and trace element evidence of dietary transitions in early life

Context: Nursing behaviour has significant implications for individual health and population dynamics. Reconstruction of infant and early childhood diet has become a key focus in studies of past populations.

Objective: This paper reviews knowledge about how trace element and stable isotope composition of bone and dental tissues changes during development and how this may influence interpretation of biology and behaviour in past populations.

Methods: Studies of recent populations and osteological samples were reviewed.

Results: Four distinct stages of nutritional intake are recognized: gestation, exclusive breastfeeding, a transitional or weaning stage and fully weaned. The trace element and stable isotope composition of developing foetal and infant tissues differs during each of these stages due to differences in the source of nutrients and changes in metabolic parameters.

Conclusion: Interpretation of early lifetime diet from trace element or stable isotope values requires a comprehensive and validated physiological model for changes during and at the transition between dietary stages. Micro-sampling of dental tissues offers the potential to reconstruct an individual record of early lifetime diet within a chronological framework and has several advantages over traditional cross-sectional techniques. Further research is necessary to understand the factors influencing intra-tooth variability in recovered signals and their chronological interpretation.     

Associations among facial masculinity,physical strength,fluctuating asymmetry and attractiveness in young men and women

Background: Studies of the process of human mate selection and attractiveness have assumed that selection favours morphological features that correlate with (genetic) quality. Degree of masculinity/femininity and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) may signal (genetic) quality, but what information they harboured and how they relate to fitness is still debated.

Aim: To study strength of associations between facial masculinity/femininity, facial FA, attractiveness and physical strength in humans.

Subjects and methods: Two-hundred young males and females were studied by measuring facial asymmetry and masculinity on the basis of frontal photographs. Attractiveness was determined on the basis of scores given by an anonymous panel, and physical strength using hand grip strength.

Results: Patterns differed markedly between males and females and analysis method used (univariate vs multivariate). Overall, no associations between FA and attractiveness, masculinity and physical strength were found. In females, but not males, masculinity and attractiveness correlated negatively and masculinity and physical strength correlated positively.

Conclusion: Further research into the differences between males and females in associations between facial morphology, attractiveness and physical strength is clearly needed. The use of a multivariate approach can increase our understanding of which regions of the face harbour specific information of hormone levels and perhaps behavioural traits.     

Indigenous populations in transition: An evaluation of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors among the Toba of northern Argentina

Background: The health problems associated with rapidly changing lifestyles in indigenous populations, e.g. cardiovascular disease, are becoming a public health concern.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and analyse the metabolic conditions that define this syndrome, in an indigenous Toba community of northern Argentina.

Subjects and methods: A total of 275 adults participated in this study. Anthropometric (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference) and clinical measures (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides) were taken. Pearson and logistic regressions were used in the statistical analysis of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by sex and by reproductive status in women.

Results: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38%. Nearly a third (31%) of the population was overweight and 45% obese. Men had significantly higher blood pressure and levels of triglycerides than women, while women had higher percentages of body fat. BMI was significantly associated with most of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Menopausal women had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than women of reproductive age.

Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent in this indigenous community, which places them at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.     

Systematic overview of neuroanatomical differences in ADHD: Definitive evidence

Objectives: This article seeks to identify neuroanatomical differences in ADHD through an overview of systematic reviews that report encephalic differences compared to a control group in volume, area, activation likelihood or chemical composition.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search using Cochrane guidelines and PRISMA criteria in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects.

Results: Results revealed broad encephalic involvement that includes a functional frontal and cingulate hypoactivation and structural differences in corpus callosum, cerebellum and basal nuclei.

Conclusions: ADHD symptoms might be due to a multi-network unbalanced functioning hypothesis.     

Educational and social class assortative mating in fertile British couples

Background: Positive assortative mating for education and social position has been widely reported in a number of countries, but very few studies have tested whether or not educational or social class homogamy is related to differential fertility.

Aim: This study examined the relationship between educational and social class assortative mating and fertility in a British national cohort.

Subjects and methods: The analyses were based on 7452 husband–wife pairs from the British National Child Development Study (NCDS).

Results: The mean fertility was 3.22 children per couple; the number of children significantly increased from higher to lower social classes and from the more educated to the less educated. The extent of assortative mating for social class and educational level was related to fertility; as educational assortative mating decreased so did the average number of children, whereas the opposite trend was observed for social class. When assortative mating for education and social class were considered together, educational assortative mating was the more significant predictor of the number of children and educationally homogamous couples had higher fertility independent of their social class assortative mating.

Conclusions: The relationship between assortative mating and fertility for education and social class appeared to be acting in the opposite direction.