Safety and cardiovascular behavior during pulmonary function in patients with Marfan syndrome

Cipriano GFB, Peres PAT, Cipriano G Jr, Arena R, Carvalho AC. Safety and cardiovascular behavior during pulmonary function in patients with Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome (MS) is a dominant autosomal connective tissue disease that impacts multiple systems, such as the cardiovascular system, tissue viscoelastic properties, bone calcification matrix and, most specific to the present investigation, pulmonary parenchyma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate pulmonary function (PF) in patients with MS and relate it to thoracic cage abnormalities (TCA) and the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias during the spirometric exam (SE). A sample of 75 subjects (46 with MS) underwent clinical, anthropometric, echocardiographic, radiographic and PF evaluation; 51 subjects (33 with MS) had their electrocardiogram (ECG) information evaluated during PF. These individuals were matched and compared with a healthy control group (CG). Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV) in the first second (FEV₁) in the patients with MS were significantly lower in comparison with the CG (p = 0.012 and 0.0006) and predicted values (p = 0.04 and 0.003). Subgroup analysis based on TCA revealed differences between patients with MS with two combined abnormalities (scoliosis + pectus) in comparison with both the CG (p = 0.012 and 0.002) and patients without abnormalities (p = 0.05 and 0.006). There were no differences regarding the occurrence of arrhythmia during exertion on the SE. There was a correlation between clinical history, cardiovascular behavior and PF. PF is reduced in patients with MS, and deformities in the thoracic cage appear to contribute to this reduction. Despite the apparent structural alterations in the cardiovascular system in this population, exertion during the SE appears to be safe.     

CT study on morphometry of frontal sinus

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and morphological characteristics of the frontal sinus in an adult population. This study was conducted retrospectively on paranasal CT scans in the axial and coronal planes of 300 cases (123 male and 177 female). The mean age was 40.74 +/- 13.34 (range 20-83). Measurements of the width, height and anteroposterior length for each sinus and total width were obtained from CT scans. Measurements were compared statistically with relation to side and sex. The cases were divided into subgroups according to age for each sex and each measurement parameter was also compared among the subgroups. All measurements tended to be larger on the left side and were significantly larger in males than females. There was a significant difference in the anteroposterior lengths of right and left sides in both males and females and height for males and width for females. In both sexes, the highest values of measurements were usually observed at the 31-40 age group and there was a tendency to decrease with aging. The larger diameters of the left frontal sinus imply that it may be more possibly violated during surgical interventions. Morphometric features differed significantly in the two sexes at different ages and comparison with previous studies presented great regional variability. The size of the frontal sinus was seen to be related to age and sex. The knowledge provided in the present study is useful for some surgical procedures and widens the anthropometric knowledge of humanity.     

新疆维吾尔族大学生外鼻部分特征的测量研究

目的观察新疆维吾尔族大学生的外鼻部分特征,为鼻部整形手术提供依据及丰富人体测量学数据。方法按体质人类学测量的要求,对202例(男性99例,女性103例)18～22岁发育正常的新疆维吾尔族大学生的外鼻进行观察与测量。结果各测量值之中鼻指数为女性>男性,鼻高、鼻长、鼻宽、鼻深及鼻深指数均为男性>女性,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论新疆维吾尔族大学生的鼻型以狭鼻型为主,鼻型的差异与性别、年龄有关。     

Reliability of routine clinical measurements of neonatal circumferences and research measurements of neonatal skinfold thicknesses: findings from the Born in Bradford study

Assessing neonatal size reliably is important for research and clinical practice. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of routine clinical measurements of neonatal circumferences and of skinfold thicknesses assessed for research purposes. All measurements were undertaken on the same population of neonates born in a large maternity unit in Bradford, UK. Technical error of measurement (TEM), relative TEM and the coefficient of reliability are reported. Intra-observer TEMs for routine circumference measurements were all below 0.4 cm and were generally within ± 2-times the mean. Inter-observer TEM ranged from 0.20 to 0.36 cm for head circumference, 0.19 to 0.39 cm for mid upper arm circumference and from 0.39 to 0.77 cm for abdominal circumference. Intra and inter-observer TEM for triceps skinfold thickness ranged from 0.22 to 0.35 mm and 0.15 to 0.54 mm, respectively. Subscapular skinfold thickness TEM values were 0.14 to 0.25 mm for intra-observer measurements and 0.17 to 0.63 mm for inter-observer measurements. Relative TEM values for routine circumferences were all below 4.00% but varied between 2.88% and 14.23% for research skinfold measurements. Reliability was mostly between 80% and 99% for routine circumference measurements and ≥ 70% for most research skinfold measurements. Routine clinical measurements of neonatal circumferences are reliably assessed in Bradford. Assessing skinfolds in neonates has variable reliability, but on the whole is good. The greater intra-observer, compared with inter-observer, reliability for both sets of measurements highlights the importance of having a minimal number of assessors whenever possible.     

Analysis of Sport Supplement Consumption and Body Composition in Spanish Elite Rowers

The aim of this study was to analyze the anthropometric characteristics and sport supplement (SS) consumption patterns of heavyweight and lightweight international rowers. Methods: The 13 heavyweights (11 males) and seven lightweights (five males) of the Spanish National Rowing Team were recruited for the study. Body composition was measured by bio-impedance analysis, and the questionnaire used in this investigation was previously validated to assess SS consumption. According to anthropometrics parameters, it was reported that male heavyweight rowers were heavier (p < 0.001) and taller (p < 0.001), but no statistical differences were reported for % body fat (p = 0.104) or % lean body mass (p = 0.161). All rowers reported consumption of at least one SS. Based on the Australian Institute of Sport’s classification, higher medical supplement consumption was observed when comparing heavyweight rowers to lightweight rowers (2.5 ± 1.1 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p = 0.040). There were no differences in the totals of group A (strong scientific evidence for sports scenarios, p = 0.069), group B (emerging scientific support, deserving of further research, p = 0.776), or group C (scientific evidence not supportive of benefit and/or security amongst athletes, p = 0.484). The six most consumed SSs were iron (85%), caffeine (85%), β-alanine (85%), energy bars (85%), vitamin supplements (80%), and isotonic drinks (80%), with no statistical differences between heavyweight and lightweight rowers (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the absence of differences in body composition (expressed as a percentage) do not represent anthropometric disadvantages for heavyweight rowers. In addition, SS consumption was similar between rowers, reporting only higher medical supplement consumption in heavyweight rowers.     

Facial asymmetry in young healthy subjects evaluated by statistical shape analysis

Statistical shape analysis, a relatively a new method for biological research, compares body forms by using specific landmarks determined by anatomical prominences. In this study, we aimed to identify normal facial asymmetry between the right and the left sides of the face. Facial landmark data were collected from two‐dimensional digital images of 321 young healthy subjects (150 males and 171 females). These data were analysed using Euclidean distance matrix analysis. The number of significantly asymmetric linear distances between the two halves of the face was greater in females than in males. We found that the left side of the face was most commonly dominant in both males and females. Such data may be useful in establishing a database for future similar studies.     

Nutritional assessment and intervention in children with cerebral palsy: a practical approach

Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with the presence of feeding disorders in almost 60% of the affected children with subsequent undernutrition reported in up to 46% of the subjects. Since undernutrition may have a detrimental impact on physical and cognitive development, the introduction of an adequate nutritional support should always be considered in children with neurological impairment. The aim of the present review is to provide a practical guide to the assessment of nutritional status in children with CP, in order to identify individuals at risk for malnutrition that need the introduction of an adequate and personalized nutritional support. This review summarizes the methods for the evaluation of oral-motor function, anthropometric parameters, body composition and energy balance in children with CP. Moreover, we reviewed the indications for the introduction of nutritional support, and the suggested modalities of intervention.