Psychophysical study of face identity discrimination in schizophrenia: association with facial morphology

Introduction: Identifying individual identities from faces is crucial for social functioning. In schizophrenia, previous studies showed mixed results as to whether face identity discrimination is compromised. How a social category factor (such as gender and race) affects schizophrenia patients’ facial identity discrimination is unclear.

Methods: Using psychophysics, we examined perceptual performance on within- and between- category face identity discrimination tasks in patients (n = 51) and controls (n = 31). Face images from each of six pairs of individuals (two White females, two White males, two Black males, two Asian females, one Black male and one White male, and one White female and one White male) were morphed to create additional images along a continuum of dissimilarity in facial morphology.

Results: Patients underperformed for five out of the six face pairs (the Black/White male pair was the exception). Perceptual performance was correlated with morphological changes in face images being discriminated, to a greater extent in patients than in controls.

Conclusions: Face identity discrimination in schizophrenia was most impaired for those faces that presumably have extensive social exposures (such as White males). Patients’ perceptual performance appears to depend more on physical feature changes of faces.     

Unusual sleep experiences and dissociation as mediators between sleep quality and proneness to hallucinations in a nonclinical population sample: a preliminary study

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of sleep quality to proneness to hallucinations and the mediating role of dissociation and unusual sleep experiences in a nonclinical sample.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-seven participants completed a questionnaire on sleep quality, a dissociative experiences scale, an unusual sleep experiences scale and a hallucination proneness scale.

Results: The results showed a significant positive association between quality of sleep and hallucination proneness, dissociation and unusual sleep experiences, and that dissociation and unusual sleep experiences fully mediated between sleep quality and hallucination proneness.

Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of variables related to sleep quality and unusual sleep experiences and dissociation in understanding hallucinations, and the importance of taking these variables into consideration in designing intervention directed at reducing distress caused by hallucinations.     

Relation of socioeconomic status to overweight and obesity: a large population-based study of Chinese adults

Background: China has been going through significant changes in social and economical aspects and with great socioeconomic disparity in different regions. However, data on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity are not available in Tianjin, China.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between SES and high adiposity among the adult population in Tianjin.

Subjects and methods: A total of 7351 individuals aged 20–79 were included in this study. Socioeconomic information was collected through an interview following a structured questionnaire. Waist circumference, body weight and height were measured following standard procedures. Overweight and obesity were defined according to the criteria of the Working Group on Obesity in China. Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results: Stratified analysis showed that higher monthly income and education were related to decreased odds of abdominal overweight/obesity in women, while high education was associated with increased odds of general overweight/obesity in men. Retirement increased the odds of abdominal overweight and obesity and non-manual work was associated with low odds of abdominal obesity in women.

Conclusions: SES was associated with general and abdominal overweight/obesity and sex may play a role in such an association.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Modelling foetal growth in a bi-ethnic sample: results from the Born in Bradford (BiB) birth cohort

Background: Attempts to explain the increased risk for metabolic disorders observed in South Asians have focused on the “South Asian” phenotype at birth and subsequent post-natal growth, with little research on pre-natal growth.

Aim: To identify whether divergent growth patterns exist for foetal weight, head (HC) and abdominal circumferences (AC) in a sample of Pakistani and White British foetuses.

Subjects and methods: Models were based on 5553 (weight), 5154 (HC) and 5099 (AC) foetuses from the Born in Bradford birth cohort. Fractional polynomials and mixed effects models were employed to determine growth patterns from ～15 weeks of gestation-birth.

Results: Pakistani foetuses were significantly smaller and lighter as early as 20 weeks. However, there was no ethnic difference in the growth patterns of weight and HC. For AC, Pakistani foetuses displayed a trend for reduced growth in the final trimester.

Conclusion: As the pattern of weight and HC growth was not significantly different during the period under investigation, the mechanism culminating in the reduced Pakistani size at birth may act earlier in gestation. Reduced AC growth in Pakistanis may represent reduced growth of the visceral organs, with consequences for post-natal liver metabolism and renal function.     

Body parameters of Czech breastfed children compared to the Czech references and WHO growth standards

Background: The study concerns the comparison of percentile curves of Czech breastfed children with Czech national references from 1991 and 2001 and WHO growth standards. Growth charts of breastfed children demonstrate different curve shapes, especially in the first months of life. Incorrect interpretation of the growth curve could lead to premature introduction of complementary foods or infant formula.

Aim: The comparison of four body parameters of Czech breastfed children with currently used Czech national references and WHO standards in order to recommend that Czech paediatricians use either Czech references or WHO standards in their practice.

Subjects and methods: Nine hundred and sixty breastfed children were included in the study of length-for-age, head circumference-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-length parameters. All percentile curves were compared. Values of the 50th percentile expressed in z-scores based on both Czech references and WHO standards were tested.

Results: The study confirmed results of previous surveys documenting that growth of breastfed children is specific. Nevertheless, percentile curves of growth parameters of Czech breastfed children are closer to Czech references than WHO standards.

Conclusions: The Czech national references fulfil the needs of Czech paediatricians (with pointing to specifics of breastfed child growth) and WHO standards are suitable, especially for international comparison.     

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.     

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.     

Lyophilized Turkey herpesvirus (HVT): Stability of vaccine and minimum protective dose

The research reported showed that:

the stability of cell‐free HVT vaccine, lyophilized and sealed under vacuum, is very high: after one year at 4°‐6°C and after 10 days at 37°C the titre decreased only about 0.4 log₁₀;

the stability of the vaccine, when reconstituted for use in the diluent (sucrose‐phosphate buffer), is high (80%) for at least 2 hours;

the degree of protection, found in 3 tests, was about 90% with an inoculum of 20 to 100 pfu, and the PD₅₀ was 4.9 pfu of virus per chick.     

Children’s body fatness and prevalence of obesity in relation to height for age

Background: Children who are taller for their age tend to have higher BMI and, as a group, a greater prevalence of overweight/obesity.

Aim: To examine the relationship between height for age with three measures of adiposity.

Subjects and methods: Height, weight, BMI, % body fat (%BF) (by bioimpedance) and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 2298 Caucasian children (1251 boys) aged 4–14 years. Standard deviation scores (SDS) were derived and cases divided into quartiles of height SDS. Mean BMI, %BF and WC SDSs were compared across quartiles. Prevalence of overweight/obesity, over-fat/obesity and abdominal overweight/obesity within each height for age quartile was determined.

Results: Mean BMI, %BF and WC SDSs increased with increasing quartile of height SDS. Overweight/obesity, overfat/obesity and abdominal overweight/obesity prevalence increased from the first quartile (8.8–13%) to the fourth quartile (32.7–45.5%) of height SDS. A significant rising trend in mean SDSs for BMI, %BF and WC was also observed with increasing height SDS in overweight/obese children only.

Conclusion: A higher prevalence of excess weight, measured by BMI SDS among children taller for their age, is replicated when using %BF and WC. Height for age measurement has potential in screening children for later risk of obesity.     

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.     

Parturition lines in modern human wisdom tooth roots: do they exist,can they be characterized and are they useful for retrospective determination of age at first reproduction and/or inter-birth intervals?

Background: Parturition lines have been described in the teeth of a number of animals, including primates, but never in modern humans. These accentuated lines in dentine are comprised of characteristic dark and light component zones.

Aim: The aim of this study was to review the physiology underlying these lines and to ask if parturition lines exist in the third molar tooth roots of mothers known to have had one or more children during their teenage years.

Methods: Brief retrospective oral medical obstetric histories were taken from four mothers and compared with histological estimates for the timing of accentuated markings visible in longitudinal ground sections of their wisdom teeth.

Results: Evidence of accentuated markings in M3 root dentine matched the age of the mother at the time their first child was born reasonably well. However, the dates calculated for inter-birth intervals did not match well.

Conclusions: Parturition lines corresponding to childbirth during the teenage years can exist in human M3 roots, but may not always do so. Without a written medical history it would not be possible to say with confidence that an accentuated line in M3 root dentine was caused by stress, illness or was a parturition line.     

Obesity and body size perceptions in a Spanish Roma population

Background: Roma people are particularly vulnerable to developing overweight and obesity. Self-perception of body image may influence the prevalence of obesity in this ethnic minority.

Aim: The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of obesity, to analyse body size perceptions and preferences and to assess the relationship between body size perceptions and obesity in the Roma population.

Subjects and methods: The analyses were carried out on 372 men, women and children from the Roma population residing in the Greater Bilbao region (Basque Country, Spain). In adults, a standard figural scale was used to analyse body size perceptions and preferences in this ethnic minority.

Results: Overall 51.7% of adult and 24.4% of minor Roma individuals were obese. Both Roma men and women had inaccurate self-perceptions of their body size. Significant differences on body size perceptions were detected based on age, sex, nutritional status and socioeconomic characteristics.

Conclusion: This Roma population presents one of the highest rates of obesity worldwide. Although a certain awareness of the correct weight status was appreciated, the inability of Roma individuals to see themselves as overweight or obese may be a significant factor on the high prevalence of obesity in this population.     

Trends in thin body stature among Japanese male adolescents, 2003–2012

Background: The desire for thin body stature and unhealthy eating behaviours have spread among Japanese boys. The prevalence of thinness in boys is expected to increase; however, recent trends have not been reported.

Aim: To describe changes in the distribution of body mass index (BMI) of Japanese boys, from 2003 to 2012.

Subjects and methods: BMI distribution changes were studied in 2599 relatively affluent Japanese children and adolescents, aged 12.5–17.5 years, during 2003–2012. The 2003 and 2004 data were combined and compared to the combined 2011 and 2012 data. Tukey mean-difference plots were used to study the direction and magnitude of shifts in BMI distributions.

Results: Prevalence of thinness has progressively increased from 2.8–4.7% in 2003–2004 to 5.1–7.6% in 2011–2012 in Japanese boys. Tukey plots showed that the increases in the prevalence of thinness are related to shifts in the entire distribution of BMI in the sample.

Conclusion: Thin body stature was documented in increasing proportion of Japanese male adolescents. BMI z-scores decreased across the entire BMI centile spectrums, indicating that the whole school population may be at risk of thinness.