Sexual dimorphism in foot length proportionate to stature

BACKGROUND: The preponderance of existing results suggests that, relative to stature, women have smaller feet than men. However, several investigations indicate that the relationship between foot length and stature may be curvilinear, a pattern that, due to the dimorphic nature of stature, would mask the true direction of pedal sexual dimorphism in published results. AIM: The study aimed to determine whether proportionate foot length is sexually dimorphic and, if so, the nature of that dimorphism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surveying genetically disparate populations (USA, Turkey, and Native North and Central American), we examined data from three previous anthropometric studies (Davis 1990, Parham et al. 1992, Ozaslan et al. 2003) and foot tracings from the Steggerda Collection at the US National Museum of Health and Medicine. Analyses explored sex differences in the ratio between foot length and stature, and tested for nonlinearity. RESULTS: Although varying in degree across populations, proportionate to stature, female foot length is consistently smaller than male foot length. CONCLUSION: Given the biomechanical challenges posed by pregnancy, smaller female proportionate foot length is somewhat surprising, as foot length affects dorsoventral stability. It is possible that the observed pattern reflects intersexual selection for small female foot size, a cue of youth and nulliparity.     

Novel 6-Month Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis,United States

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a 6-month regimen of pretomanid, bedaquiline, and linezolid for extensively drug-resistant or multidrug-intolerant tuberculosis after a trial in South Africa demonstrated 90% effectiveness 6 months posttreatment. We report on a patient who completed the regimen using a lower linezolid dose.     

Strand-Specific Reverse Transcription PCR for Detection of Replicating SARS-CoV-2

We developed an assay that detects minus-strand RNA as a surrogate for actively replicating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We detected minus-strand RNA in 41 persons with coronavirus disease up to 30 days after symptom onset. This assay might inform clinical decision-making about patient infectiousness.     

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the premaxilla

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare tumour with radiotherapy playing an important role in its management. This report describes the case history of a man with a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma at an extremely rare site, the premaxilla, that posed certain diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. The patient underwent surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy. The use of two modalities of treatment for this localized tumour has been justified by briefly reviewing the literature and defining the various prognostic factors. These prognostic factors in turn should guide the treatment of these uncommon tumours.