Measuring Cutaneous Lesions: Trends in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Knowing the size of a cutaneous lesion can be important for tracking its progression over time, selecting the proper treatment modality, surgical planning, determining prognosis, and accurate billing. However, providers vary in their consistency, accuracy, and methods of measuring cutaneous lesions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical practices of US dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons regarding how they determine the size of cutaneous lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was electronically distributed to members of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-six dermatologists completed the online survey. When a lesion is suspected to be malignant, 85% of respondents obtained exact measurements most, if not all, of the time; however, only 8% did for benign lesions. Most providers determined lesion sizes themselves rather than delegating to staff. When performing visual estimation, approximately three-quarters believed that they were accurate to within 1 to 2 mm. The top reasons for obtaining exact measurements were for tracking atypical pigmented lesions, determining treatment pathways, and accurate billing. CONCLUSION: The majority of respondents believed that lesion size affected management decisions; however, the need for exact measurement remains controversial, particularly for benign lesions. Future studies may investigate whether taking exact versus estimated measurements has an effect on outcomes.

Secular Trends in Anthropometrics and Physical Fitness of Young Portuguese School-Aged Children.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to analyze secular trends in anthropometrics and physical fitness of Portuguese children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 1819 students (881 boys and 938 girls) between 10 and 11 years old was assessed in their 5th and 6th scholar grade throughout a 20 years' time-frame. ANCOVA models were used to analyze variations in anthropometrics (height, weight and body mass index) and physical fitness (sit and reach, curl-up, horizontal jump and sprint time) across four quinquennials (1993 - 1998; 1998 - 2003; 2003 - 2008; 2008 - 2013). RESULTS: Secular trends showed the presence of heavier boys and girls with higher body mass index in the 5th and 6th grade throughout the last 20 years. There was also a presence of taller girls but just until the 3rd quinquennial. Both boys and girls were able to perform better on the core strength test and sprint time but become less flexible over the years. Mean jumping performance remained unchanged for both genders. DISCUSSION: The present study provides novel data on anthropometrics and physical fitness trends over the last two decades in young Portuguese children, consistent with the results reported in other developed countries. CONCLUSION: Evidence for the start of a positive secular trend in body mass index and in some physical fitness components over the last two decades among the Portuguese youth.

Introdução: Analisar as tendências seculares ao nível da antropometria e aptidão física das crianças portuguesas. Material e Métodos: Um grupo de 1819 crianças (881 rapazes e 938 raparigas) entre os 10 e os 11 anos de idade, foi avaliado no 5º e 6º ano de escolaridade durante 20 anos. A ANCOVA foi usada para analisar as variações de antropometria (índice de massa corporal, peso e altura) e aptidão física (sentar e alcançar, força abdominal, salto horizontal e corrida de velocidade) durante quatro quinquénios (1993 - 1998; 1998 - 2003; 2003 - 2008 e 2008 - 2013). Resultados: As tendências seculares mostraram a presença de crianças mais pesadas e com um índice de massa corporal mais elevado ao longo dos últimos 20 anos. Verificou-se também a presença de raparigas mais altas, mas só até ao terceiro quinquénio. Ambos os géneros melhoraram o desempenho nos testes de força abdominal e corrida de velocidade mas pioram a sua capacidade de flexibilidade ao longo dos anos. O desempenho no salto horizontal permaneceu inalterado em ambos os géneros. Discussão: Este estudo fornece novos dados sobre a tendência dos registos antropométricos e de aptidão física nos últimos 20 anos em crianças Portuguesas, sendo consistente com as tendências reportadas sobre outros países desenvolvidos. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem uma tendência positiva nos últimos 20 anos no índice de massa corporal e em alguns componentes da aptidão física em crianças Portuguesas.

Time changes in the body dimensions of male Australian Army personnel between 1977 and 2012.

The aim of this study was to quantify time changes in the body dimensions of male Australian Army personnel. Following a systematic review, two studies were identified and matched for occupation and age (n = 669) with time changes in 12 absolute and 11 proportional body dimensions assessed between 1977 and 2010-12. Changes in means were expressed as absolute, percent and standardised changes, with changes in variability assessed visually and as the ratio of coefficients of variation (CVs). Time changes in absolute dimensions were typically positive (increases) and moderate in magnitude (median standardised change ± 95%CI: 0.53 ± 0.23), and while changes in proportional dimensions were typically negligible (median standardised change ± 95%CI: 0.16 ± 0.33), substantial changes (standardised changes ≥0.2 or ≤-0.2) were observed in several dimensions. Variability in body dimensions has also typically increased (median ratio of CVs ± 95%CI: 1.10 ± 0.07) and become more right-skewed. These findings have important implications for the design and acquisition of new military vehicles, body equipment and clothing.

Secular trend of anthropometric parameters of newborns in municipalities of Tuzla Canton (1976 - 2007).

Aim To determine the acceleration of birth weight and birth length of newborns in the municipalities of Tuzla Canton in the last four decades. Tuzla Canton (TC) as an administrative territorial unit of the FBiH includes 13 municipalities. Methods In this retrospective study data from the Protocol Book of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, University Clinical Center, from 1976 to 2007 were used. The sample of live-born infants by municipalities was divided into four sub-samples: a subsample of infants born in 1976, 1987, 1997 and 2007. During the monitored years there were 19,312 live births in Tuzla Canton (TC), but the study included 17,907 newborns of both sexes. Statistical data processing was performed using standard methods, descriptive and inference statistics. Results Ascertained results of the secular trend for birth weight showed that this parameter had positive values in seven municipalities, but in six municipalities it was negative. The highest values of increasing birth length of newborns, which were statistically significant, were found in the municipalities of Srebrenik and this increase was 0.06 cm per year. Conclusion Different values of the secular trend in the monitored TC are result of different socio-economic and ecological conditions in these municipalities, as well as of violent mass population migration that occurred as a result of the war in BiH in the period from 1992 to 1995.

A cross-sectional study of newborns over a 20-year period in Szeged, Hungary.

OBJECTIVE: Records of metric data of birth, serve not only the medical needs of the newborn baby, but are also indicators to assess the status of public health. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 4946 newborns (singleton: 2508 boys and 2365 girls) born in 1989 and in 2009 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Szeged. We aimed as to compare and map the metrical changes over 20 years, and to describe the averages of four body parameters of the normal birth weight (2500-4000 g) subgroup (3993 singleton babies) in both years. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: In 1989, the mean birth weight was 3223.770 ± 559.595 g, birth length 49.551 ± 2.729 cm, chest circumference 32.181 ± 2.231 cm, and head circumference 34.122 ± 1.688 cm. In 2009, the birth weight was 3309.673 ± 582.630 g, birth length 49.515 ± 2.658 cm, chest circumference 32.736 ± 2.392 cm and head circumference 33.854 ± 1.768 cm. The mean birth weight, chest circumference and the maximum value of birth weight have thus increased. The mean maternal age shifted to 30.21 ± 4.863 years, which is an increase of 3.57 years in 20 years. CONCLUSION: The body parameters of newborns changed significantly between 1989 and 2009. As underlying causes changes in eating habits and lifestyle of the mother are to be mentioned.

A six decades long follow-up on body size in adolescents from Zagreb, Croatia (1951-2010).

Most studies analysing the influence of socioeconomic deterioration on body size focus on the impact of food shortages and diseases on the growth in early childhood. To evaluate how socioeconomic conditions influence the growth during the adolescence, we tracked the body size of 15-19 year-olds over the last sixty years covering the socialist period (1951-1990), the war (1991-1995) and the transition to capitalistic economy. This study of Zagreb, Croatia, adolescent population provides information on the secular trend in height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) and examines their relation with Real Gross Domestic Product. From 1951 to 2010 the girls' height approximately increased by 6.2cm and weight by 6.8kg, while the boys' height increased by 12.2cm and weight by 17.3kg. Prior to 1991 mean BMI in girls was higher than in boys, but from 1991 on, the interrelation between the sexes has been opposite, possibly mirroring the cultural trends that started in mid-1970s and reflecting higher sensitivity of boys to the socioeconomic changes. In conclusion, the secular trend in body size over the investigated period reflects the positive economic trends interrupted by the war. The recent increase in BMI corresponds to the country's economic recovery and indicates the "nutrition transition".

Pediatrics: Measuring pediatric BMD-the bar raised but the glass half full.

Extensive reference data sets of pediatric bone density measurements are now available, together with equations to translate BMD into relevant Z-scores and correct for abnormal stature. So now is the right time to ask: are you thinking about bone density in children correctly?

Comparing trends in BMI and waist circumference.

The nature of excess body weight may be changing over time to one of greater central adiposity. The aim of this study is to determine whether BMI and waist circumference (WC) are increasing proportionately among population subgroups and the range of bodyweight, and to examine the public health implications of the findings. Our data are from two cross-sectional surveys (the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Studies (NHANES) in 1988-1994 (NHANES III) and 2005-2006), from which we have used samples of 15,349 and 4,176 participants aged ≥20 years. Between 1988-1994 and 2005-2006 BMI increased by an average of 1.8 kg/m² and WC by 4.7 cm (adjusted for sex, age, race-ethnicity, and education). The increase in WC was more than could be attributed simply to increases in BMI. This independent increase in WC (of on average, 0.9 cm) was consistent across the different BMI categories, sexes, education levels, and race-ethnicity groups. It occurred in younger but not older age groups. Overall in each BMI category, the prevalence of low-risk WC decreased and the prevalence of increased-risk or substantially increased-risk WC increased. These results suggest that the adverse health consequences associated with obesity may be increasingly underestimated by trends in BMI alone. Since WC is closely linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, it is important to know the prevailing trends in both of these parameters.

[Comparison of the physical development of 17-18-years old girls in 1996 and 2007].

The screening studies conducted in 2007 indicated that there was a reduction in the physical development of 17-18-year-old girls (n = 530) in the Kirov Region in the past decade (1996-2007). With their higher height, the 2007 girls showed decreases in body weight, chest circumference, vital capacity, diastolic blood pressure, but higher heart rate, as compared with the 1996 population. There were also reductions in weight-to-height ratio, Quetelet index, Rohrer index, and vital index and increases in the Pignet index, effective circulation index, and Quass endurance factor. The use of centile tables showed that 30 and 11% in the 2007 population had disharmonious and very disharmonious development, respectively; and microsomatic body build was seen in 81%. Therefore, the asthenization or deceleration of physical development in 17-18-year-old girls, which was ascertained in the late 20th century, also continues in the early 21st century.

Is the 1975 Reference Man still a suitable reference?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: In 1975, a Reference Man for the estimation of radiation doses without adverse health effects was created. However, during the past few decades, considerable changes in body weight and body composition were observed, as a result of which, new in vivo technologies of body composition analysis are now available. Thus, the Reference Man might be outdated as adequate standard to assess medication and radiation doses. The objective of this study was to compare body composition of an adult population with 1975 Reference Man data, thereby questioning its value as a suitable reference. METHODS: Body composition was assessed in 208 healthy, Caucasian subjects (105 males, 103 females) aged 18-78 years with a body mass index range of 16.8-35.0 kg/m(2). Fat mass (FM) and muscle mass (MM) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, organ masses (OMs) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: There was a considerable variance in body weight and body composition. When compared with Reference Man, great differences in body composition were found. Men and women of the study population were heavier, taller and had more FM, MM and higher masses of brain, heart and spleen. These differences did not depend on age. Relationships between body weight and body composition were investigated by general linear regression models, whereby deviations in FM, MM and heart mass disappeared, whereas differences in brain and spleen mass persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate the need of a modern Reference Man and thus a recalculation of medical radiation doses and medication.

Growth and nutritional status of Portuguese children from Lisbon, and their parents. Notes on time trends between 1971 and 2001.

AIM: To document time trends in growth and nutritional status among Portuguese children from Lisbon, and their parents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two growth surveys were carried out in Lisbon, Portugal in 1991 and in 2001 at the request of the Municipality of Lisbon. The 1991 sample was composed of 2018 children (992 boys and 1026 girls) and the 2001 sample was composed of 3591 children (1787 boys and 1804 girls). The ages range from 4 to 11 years. The data from these surveys is compared with published data from 1971. Data on growth and nutritional status of the children and their parents were analysed. Nutritional status of the family clusters is also documented. RESULTS: There was an increase in the average height of the children between 1971 and 2001, but a more severe increase in overweight and obesity. Stunting in height was virtually non-existent among the children, but leg stunting (leg length relative to height) was high. The main changes between 1991 and 2001 are towards a greater prevalence of overweight/obese family clusters and dual-burden family clusters (at least one underweight member and one overweight/obese member). CONCLUSIONS: In this biological survey article we present two growth databases that may be used in future studies. There is an urgent need to conduct a national growth survey in Portugal, including all age groups, with stratified samples by district and ethnic diversity.

Tendencia secular del peso de nacimiento en Argentina (1992-2002): un estudio poblacional / Secular trent of birth weight in Argentina (1992-2002): a population based study

Introducción. El peso al nacimiento (PN) se asocia con varios resultados perinatales y constituye un fuerte indicador del nivel de salud de una población. Objetivos. Analizar 1) la evolución, entre 1992-2002, del PN promedio, Bajo Peso (menor que 2.500 g) (BP),Muy Bajo Peso (menor que 1.500 g) (MBP) y PN mayor o igual a 3.000 g; 2) los riesgos de ocurrencia de estas categorias y 3) la contribución del subregistro del PN a su variación.Población, material y métodos. Los datos procedieronde los informes anuales de la Dirección deEstadística, Ministerio de Salud, República Argentina(n= 7.113.931). Se calcularon las medias del PNy su distribución residual (DR) según la metodología de Wilcox-Russell y las proporciones de BP,MBP y PN mayor o igual 3.000 g. Resultados. El PN promedio disminuyó 32 g (p=0,577) y 24 g entre 2000 y 2002 (p menor que 0,001). La DR alcanzó el 4 por ciento. El BP y MBP aumentaron 12 por ciento (p=0,034) y 26 por ciento (p= 0,002), respectivamente. El PN mayor o igual 3.000 g disminuyó 3,6 por ciento (p= 0,011) con un promedio del 75,2 por ciento. Los riesgos de BP y MBP fueron 1,13 y1,30, respectivamente, y el de PN mayor o igual 3.000 g 0,86. Elsubregistro alcanzó 5,1 por ciento, y sus correlaciones con la diferencia del BP y del MBP fueron de 0,10 (p=0,877) y 0,01 (p= 0,991), respectivamente.Conclusiones. Se observó una tendencia secular negativa del PN, las categorías de BP y MBP se incrementaron, el PN mayor 3.000 g disminuyó y el subregistro no influyó en estas variaciones

Introduction. Birth weight (BW) is considered an important measure of the health status of a population. Objectives. 1) to assess secular trends in average BW, low birth weight (LBW, less than 2.500 g), very low birth weight (VLBW, less than 1.500 g) and BW more than or equal to 3.000 g of liveborn infants in Argentina; 2) calculate risks of LBW, VLBW and more than or equal to 3.000 g; 3) influence of underreported birth weight. Material and methods. In this national-based study 7.113.931 liveborn infants born in Argentina from 1992 to 2002 were included. BW was assessed from the National Ministry of Public Health. Annuals mean BW and residual distribution (RD) following the Wilcox-Russell approach were calculated, and also LBW, VLBW and more than or equal to 3.000 g proportions. Results. A decrease of 32 g in average BW (p= 0.577) and 24 g between 2000 and 2002 (p less than 0.001) was observed. RD reached 4%. The significant increase in LBW (12%, p= 0.034) and VLBW (26%, p= 0.002) proportions was paralleled by a reduction of 3.6% in BW more than or equal to 3.000 g (p= 0.011, average 75.2%). Risks of being LBW and VLBW were 1.13 (95% CI 1.12-1.15) and 1.30 (1.25-1.35), respectively; for BW more than or equal to 3.000 g was 0.86 (95% CI 0.85-0.87). No significant correlations between underreported BW and proportions of LBW (r= 0.10) or VLBW (r= 0.01) were observed. Conclusion. A negative secular trends of BW was observed, all categories of LBW and VLBW were increased, BW more than 3.000 g was diminished and underreported BW did not influenced these results.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in Lithuania once and now: testing for sex differences, relations with eye and hair color, and a possible secular change.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic somatic trait and has been proposed as a biomarker for the organizational, i.e., permanent, effects of prenatal testosterone on the human brain. Accordingly, recent research has related 2D:4D to a variety of sex-dependent, hormonally influenced traits and phenotypes. The geographical variation in typical 2D:4D is marked and presently poorly understood. This study presents the first investigation into the 2D:4D ratio in a Baltic country. A contemporary sample of 109 Lithuanian men and women was compared with data from a historical sample of 100 Lithuanian men and women, collected and published in the 1880s and rediscovered only now. The findings included the following lines of evidence: (i) seen in an international perspective, the average 2D:4D in Lithuania is low; (ii) there was a sex difference in 2D:4D in the expected direction in both samples; (iii) a previously adduced hypothesis of an association of lighter eye and hair color with higher, i.e., more feminized, 2D:4D received no support in both samples; and (iv) the average 2D:4D in the contemporary sample was higher than in the historical sample. In view of a hypothesized increase in 2D:4D in modern populations, owing to increased environmental levels of endocrine disruptors such as xenoestrogens, this latter finding appears to be of particular notice. However, because finger-length measurement methods differed across the samples, it cannot be safely ruled out that the apparent time trend in Lithuanian 2D:4D in truth is an artifact. The puzzling geographical pattern seen in the 2D:4D ratio and the question of possible time trends therein deserve further investigations.

Recent trends in waist circumference and waist-height ratio among US children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Abdominal obesity may be a better predictor than overall obesity for the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Waist circumference and waist-height ratio are 2 simple, yet effective, surrogate measures of abdominal obesity. We sought to examine the recent trends in mean waist circumference and waist-height ratio and prevalence of abdominal obesity among children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years in the United States. METHODS: Representative samples of the civilian, noninstitutionalized US population from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted during 4 time periods, 1988-1994 (ie, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III), 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004, were examined to estimate the mean waist circumference and waist-height ratio of boys and girls in 4 different age groups. Data from the 3 most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were combined to establish a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 category. RESULTS: Categorized by age group, the unadjusted mean waist circumference for boys increased between National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 from 50.7 cm (aged 2-5 years), 61.9 cm (aged 6-11 years), 76.8 cm (aged 12-17 years), and 81.3 cm (aged 18-19 years) to 51.9, 64.5, 79.8, and 86.6 cm, respectively. During the same time periods and within the same age groups, the unadjusted mean waist circumference for girls increased from 51.0, 61.7, 75.0, and 77.7 cm to 51.8, 64.7, 78.9, and 83.9 cm, respectively. The relative change in waist-height ratio was similar to waist circumference at each age group for both boys and girls. Using the 90th percentile values of waist circumference for gender and age, the prevalence of abdominal obesity increased by 65.4% (from 10.5% to 17.4%) and 69.4% (from 10.5% to 17.8%) for boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mean waist circumference and waist-height ratio and the prevalence of abdominal obesity among US children and adolescents greatly increased between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004.

Body composition measurements: from the past to the future.

UNLABELLED: During growth, the human body increases in size and changes its proportions of various components due to hormone mediators. Growth is a complex, biological process regulated by multiple factors. These factors include genetics, nutritional intake, physical activity, age, gender and endocrine balance, all of which influence a child's body composition during the growth years. Quantifying the main components is integral to the study of growth, as the assessment of human physical characteristics is important both in the anthropological and medical fields. It is important to have the possibility to control the growth process and to predict adult status in order to reduce the risk factors of various diseases. CONCLUSION: This paper examines issues in the measurements of paediatric body composition, describing traditional and new tools in this field.

Secular trends in waist circumference in Spanish adolescents, 1995 to 2000-02.

Two studies, in 1995 and 2000-02, were compared to assess changes in waist circumference in adolescents. Between the two time periods, waist circumference increased significantly in males at 13 years and in females at 14 years. Significant changes in waist circumference were observed during the study period; the rates of change were 0.53 and 0.86 cm/y in boys and 0.67 and 0.87 cm/y in girls. Future morbidity in adolescents may be affected due to accumulation of excess central fat.

[Example of anthropological epidemiology--an evaluation of trend of changes in blood pressure values in children and adolescents]. / Epidemiologia antropologiczna na przykladzie oceny trendu zmian cisnienia tetniczego u dzieci i mlodziezy.

Traditional direction of epidemiology, focused mainly on studying most frequently occurring diseases, is a subject for continuous changes. Complexity of the health evaluation problems brings about the development of new branches of this science. In pediatrics evaluation of the health status is most frequently based on positive and negative health measurements. The aim of this study was the evaluation of trend of changes in blood pressure values in connection with certain morphological features (height & weight). The population studied were children and adolescents age 10-18 from Poznan's cross-sectional blood pressure studies performed in 1986 & 1996. In these studies decrease of blood pressure values and simultaneous deceleration of anthropological features were observed. Presented direction of change of morphological and physiological features shows the need for updating developmental norms in children and adolescents.

The 6th nationwide anthropological survey of children and adolescents in the Czech Republic in 2001.

The 6th nationwide anthropological survey (NAS) of children and adolescents was carried out in the Czech Republic in 2001 to continue the series of surveys repeated at 10-year intervals since 1951 (with the participation of the Slovak Republic up to 1991). The major objective was to find out the following body measurements of children and adolescents: body height and weight, and head, arm, waist and hip circumferences. Questionnaires were used to find out the body measurements of parents (body height and weight) and some socio-economic characteristics of the child's family (number of siblings, education of parents, breast feeding duration, birth weight and length, child's physical activities, TV watching time, computer gaming time, etc.). A school children questionnaire focused on eating habits was also part of the survey in 2001. A total of 59,000 children aged 0.00 to 18.99 years, i.e. about 3% of the population of the same age range, were enrolled in the survey in 2001. The results obtained presented in diagrammatic and tabular forms are reference standards for monitoring growth of the Czech children and adolescents from birth to the age of 19 years. The survey revealed a substantial slowdown in the long-term trend in body height increase for both boys and girls. The most marked increase in the mean body height is currently recorded in boys at the prepubescent age while the pubescent girls show a practically zero increase for this parameter. A more marked increase in body height at the adult age is not expected any more, but the increase in body height and weight at the prepubescent age is likely to continue for some time. The 6th NAS showed a marked slow down to a stop in the trend in the mean body weight increase. No increase in the mean body weight has been recorded in pubescent girls since the 1970's and in pubescent and postpubescent boys since 1991. Nevertheless, the younger age groups, namely those of preschool and primary school children, continue to show increase in the mean body weight. The secular trend in body weight has been less pronounced compared to that in body height. The rates of overweight and obese children (as assessed by body mass index, BMI) have risen in most age groups of school children compared to those reported in 1991. In contrast, a slight decrease in the rate of overweight children can be seen in boys starting from the age of 16 years and in girls starting from the age of 13 years. The obesity prevalence rate is significantly higher in boys than girls. Statistical analysis confirmed a correlation between the BMI values in children and education of parents (the higher the education, the lower the rate of overweight children) and between the BMI values and the population size of the community where the child lives (the higher the population, the lower the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity). Single children suffer more frequently from overweight and obesity than those with siblings.

Clinical perspectives on secular trends of intervertebral foramen diameters in an industrialized European society.

Low back pain origins have been a matter of great controversy. While spinal stenosis is now radiologically traceable, the alteration of intervertebral foramen is less clear. The aim of this study was to assess "secular trends"-alterations occurring from one generation to the next-in osseous intervertebral foramina of the major vertebral segments in an industrialized society, and to discuss their possible clinical implication. The macerated "maximum intervertebral foramen width" and "intervertebral foramen height" of all major vertebral levels in 71 non-pathologic Swiss adult skeletons from the nineteenth and early twentieth century, with known individual age and sex and similar geographic and socio-economic background, were measured by sliding caliper at validated landmarks. A secular trend of the increase in "maximum intervertebral foramen width" is found for most levels, with females showing a more prominent alteration. Additionally, the non-pathologic "maximum intervertebral foramen width" does not change with respect to individual age, nor is a significant side difference detectable. "Intervertebral foramen height," hereby defined as the difference of the dorsal vertebral body height minus pedicle height, demonstrates for most levels, and either sex, an insignificant negative secular trend. Neither stature nor skeletal robustness vary significantly through time within this particular sample. The results of this study, despite obvious inadequacies of methods used, exclude secular narrowing of the "maximum intervertebral foramen width" as the only cause of radiculopathy or spinal stenosis. Furthermore, we found a mild insignificant decrease of the clinically more relevant "intervertebral foramen height." Nevertheless, the detected short-time variability of the bony intervertebral foramen, independent of individual stature, skeletal robustness or age, argues for an enhanced focus on the understanding of clinically relevant changes of spinal morphology from generation to generation.