The influence of sex, age and body mass index on facial soft tissue depths.

Facial soft tissue depth charts are used in the majority of forensic facial approximation methods. In the past, based on the multitude of available soft tissue depth charts, a number of hypotheses were advanced concerning the impact of sex, BMI and age on the depth of tissues. In this study, for the first time, a multivariate analysis was performed on a large-scale study on Caucasian adults to determine the "real" impact of these attributes. The calculation of a robust multiple linear regression of soft tissue thickness versus BMI, age and sex for each landmark separately, allowed us to study the impact from a statistical as well as practical point of view. Former findings were re-evaluated. Additionally, the results confirm the dominant role of BMI in the alterations of facial soft tissue thickness. However, excluding age and sex from the equation should be considered with care and can certainly not be applied to all landmarks. Finally, the regression equation allows increase in the specificity of tissue depths used in real cases by offering practitioners the possibility of calculating individual tissue depths.

Large-scale in-vivo Caucasian facial soft tissue thickness database for craniofacial reconstruction.

A large-scale study of facial soft tissue depths of Caucasian adults was conducted. Over a 2-years period, 967 Caucasian subjects of both sexes, varying age and varying body mass index (BMI) were studied. A user-friendly and mobile ultrasound-based system was used to measure, in about 20min per subject, the soft tissue thickness at 52 facial landmarks including most of the landmarks used in previous studies. This system was previously validated on repeatability and accuracy [S. De Greef, P. Claes, W. Mollemans, M. Loubele, D. Vandermeulen, P. Suetens, G. Willems, Semi-automated ultrasound facial soft tissue depth registration: method and validation. J. Forensic Sci. 50 (2005)]. The data of 510 women and 457 men were analyzed in order to update facial soft tissue depth charts of the contemporary Caucasian adult. Tables with the average thickness values for each landmark as well as the standard deviation and range, tabulated according to gender, age and BMI are reported. In addition, for each landmark and for both sexes separately, a multiple linear regression of thickness versus age and BMI is calculated. The lateral asymmetry of the face was analysed on an initial subset of 588 subjects showing negligible differences and thus warranting the unilateral measurements of the remaining subjects. The new dataset was statistically compared to three datasets for the Caucasian adults: the traditional datasets of Rhine and Moore [J.S. Rhine, C.E. Moore, Tables of facial tissue thickness of American Caucasoids in forensic anthropology. Maxwell Museum Technical series 1 (1984)] and Helmer [R. Helmer, Schädelidentifizierung durch elektronische bildmischung, Kriminalistik Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg, 1984] together with the most recent in vivo study by Manhein et al. [M.H. Manhein, G.A. Listi, R.E. Barsley, R. Musselman, N.E. Barrow, D.H. Ubelbaker, In vivo facial tissue depth measurements for children and adults. J. Forensic Sci. 45 (2000) 48-60]. The large-scale database presented in this paper offers a denser sampling of the facial soft tissue depths of a more representative subset of the actual Caucasian population over the different age and body posture subcategories. This database can be used as an updated chart for manual and computer-based craniofacial approximation and allows more refined analyses of the possible factors affecting facial soft tissue depth.

[Female prostitutes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices between 2000 and 2004]. / Femmes prostituées à Phnom Penh (Cambodge): évolution des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques entre 2000 et 2004.

A survey was carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practice of female prostitutes In Phnom Penh (Cambodia) in 2000 and 2004. A total of 131 women were included both years. The population was 75% Cambodian and 25% Vietnamese. Average age was 22.9 years in 2000 and 25.5 years in 2004. Sixty-seven percent of the women surveyed stated that prostitution was a "voluntary" choice. The awareness rate for sexual transmitted diseases (STD) including AIDS and its main clinical signs and of the protective value of condoms was 90% in 2000 and 96% in 2004. However 30% reported unprotected sexual relations with at least one of their last 10 clients. Twenty-five percent performed oral sex usually without precaution. Drug use was limited to methamphetamines. Monthly income ranged from 15 dollars to 22.5 dollars (mean, 66 dollars). This amount is higher than the salary of a factory worker. Despite good knowledge of STD and prevention measures, prostitutes in Phnom Penh appear to have unsafe sexual practices.