Fluctuating asymmetry of human morphometric features as a marker of developmental instability caused by adverse environmental conditions.

BACKGROUND: This article is an attempt to apply fluctuating asymmetry as amorphometric method of studying changes in specific structures of the right and the left side of the body to determine variables which may affect morphogenesis and, consequently, human morphology in adulthood. The main aim of this study was to use the fluctuating asymmetry level as an indicator of adverse living conditions in childhood by determining the impact of environmental components (socio-economic factors and air pollution) on the level of body asymmetry in young women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from 877 students from various Polish universities, including 483 women and 394 men. Anthropometric data and questionnaire responses were recorded. As part of the surveys, respondents provided information about their place of residence, socio-economic status and lateralisation. The composite body FA (cFA) was assessed based on six bilateral features: the length of fingers II and IV of both hands, the length and width of the ear, and the length and width of the foot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports the hypothesis that asymmetry increases as socioeconomic status decreases and air pollution levels increase. Differences in asymmetry, depending on environmental factors, socioeconomic status (SES) and air quality, were in most cases greater in men than in women. The results confirm that variable asymmetry is a sensitive indicator of an individual's exposure to unfavorable environmental factors during ontogenesis. Moreover, the results of the conducted research suggest that environmental factors may influence the structure of the human body, and irreversible morphological alterations are the result of unfavorable conditions occurring in the early stages of biological development.

Associations between Sleep Duration and Anthropometric Indices of Adiposity in Female University Students.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between sleep duration as well as time of going to sleep and anthropometric indices related to the amount and distribution of adiposity. MATERIAL: A total of 969 female university students, aged 19-24 years. METHODS: Participants self-reported their sleep duration. Body weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. BMI, WHR and WHtR were calculated. Statistical analyses of results involved logistic regression models. Socioeconomic status and level of stress were added as covariates. RESULTS: In 15% of the sample, sleep was too short (<6 h), and 10% slept too long (>8 h). Compared to women who followed the recommended sleep duration, among short sleepers, both underweight and overweight were more frequent, while long sleepers were more likely to be overweight. A higher prevalence of abdominal obesity and increased risk of metabolic syndrome were observed in both short and long sleepers than in recommended sleepers. Irregular sleep times were connected with higher OR, both for BMI < 18.5 and BMI > 25, for WC > 80, and WHtR below 0.4 and above 0.5. Irregular sleep times also led to an increased risk of metabolic diseases prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Both too long and too short sleep increases the risk of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity and, as a consequence, the risk of metabolic syndrome in young women.

Effect of air pollution on age at menarche in polish females, born 1993-1998.

The aim of the study was to analyse the association between the degree of air pollution (suspended particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, benzopyrene levels) in the location of residence during childhood and adolescence and the age at menarche. The research was carried out in the period from 2015 to 2018 in Poland. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and questionnaire data were collected from 1,257 women, aged 19-25 years. The average levels of subjects' exposure to analysed air pollutants, i.e., particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide and benzene during childhood-adolescence was assessed from the data acquired by the Polish Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Negative relationships between age at menarche and suspended particulate matter as well as nitrogen levels were found. A similar trend was observed in an analysis of the relationship between age at menarche and the complex air pollution index. The tendency for age at menarche to decrease together with worsening air quality was also visible after adjusted for socioeconomic status. Girls exposed to high suspended particulate matter levels were characterised by higher risk of early age at menarche. High levels of air pollution are related to younger age at menarche and the risk of the menstruation onset below 11 years.

Reducing socioeconomic differences in anthropometric characteristics among young Polish women.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the socioeconomic differences in adult anthropometric parameters of young women in Poland. The study was cross-sectional and conducted in the years 2015 to 2018 among 1257 women aged 19-24 years. The heights, weights, wrist widths and waist, hip and chest circumferences of the subjects were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and chest-to-height ratio (CHtR) were calculated. A survey was conducted to collect data on the women's socioeconomic characteristics. The application of the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) including all socioeconomic indicators (urbanization level of place of residence in childhood, parental education, number of siblings, material conditions) revealed no significant association of these with any of the analysed anthropometric traits. The results of the logistic regression showed no significant differences in the risk of underweight, too low abdominal adiposity or too high abdominal adiposity. However, the risk of overweight and obesity was significantly affected by the degree of urbanization of the women's place of residence in childhood and by their number of siblings. The results show that the socioeconomic factors that once had a significant influence on anthropometric traits currently do not play such an important role. This change can be explained by the equalization of living conditions and lifestyles of individual social groups in Poland.

Association of age at menarche with adult height and sitting height in young Polish females.

The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between the age at menarche and adult stature as well as sitting height and Cormic index in adulthood. Analyzed traits included also relative body height, expressed as a percentage of mid parental height, which may be regarded as an indicator of individual target height. Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey among 1257 female university students, aged 19-25 y. Height and sitting height were measured. A survey was used to collect data on the examined females' age at menarche, their socio-economic status and their parents' height. The onset of menstruation before 12 years of age was classified as early, aged 12-14 y. as average, and above 14 years as late. The present study reported statistically significant differences in adult stature in relation to the age at menarche. Women with early menarche reached the shortest stature while women with late menarche - the tallest. The differences were statistically significant also when the analysis considered parents' stature and socio-economic status. No statistically significant differences in sitting height or the Cormic index depending on the age at menarche were found. We may conclude that irrespective of genetic factors (short, medium-height or tall parents) and environmental factors (low, medium or high socio-economic status), women whose first menstruation occurs at a younger age reach shorter stature and lower percentage of mid parental height than women who have their first menstruation at an older age. The absence of differences in sitting height and the Cormic index between individuals of different ages at menarche indicates that the variation in stature results from the length of lower limbs.

Effects of obesity on pulmonary function considering the transition from obstructive to restrictive pattern from childhood to young adulthood.

Adults with obesity exhibit a restrictive pattern, whereas children with obesity exhibit an obstructive pattern. However, the transition process remains unclear. We performed a systematic search for studies reporting on body mass index and pulmonary function in children. The main outcomes were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), and their ratio (FEV1 /FVC). We compared individuals with overweight or with obesity with individuals with normal weight. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled estimates. A total of 17 studies were included. Individuals with obesity had a lower FEV1 /FVC ratio (mean difference [MD] = -3.61%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -4.58%, -2.64%) and a higher percent-predicted FVC (MD = 3.33%; 95% CI = 0.79%, 5.88%) than those with normal weight. Obesity impaired pulmonary function in the obstructive pattern during childhood to young adulthood, and the maximum obstruction was observed at the age of 16 years in boys and 20 years in girls. The effects attenuated at approximately 30 years and then shifted to the restrictive pattern after 35 years of age in men and 40 years in women. The effects of obesity on pulmonary function change from the obstructive pattern in childhood to the restrictive pattern in adulthood.

Association between age at menarche and body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, and waist to height ratio in adult women.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine associations between age at menarche and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in young adult women. METHODS: Anthropometric data and age at menarche information were collected in two cross-sectional surveys conducted in the years 2004-2006 (Cohort 1) and 2016-2018 (Cohort 2). A total of 2419 women, aged 19-24 years., were included. RESULTS: Statistically significant relationships between age at menarche and BMI, WHtR, and WC were observed. The values of the anthropometric parameters decreased with increasing age at menarche. The onset of menstruation before the age of 12 years. was linked to a heightened risk of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25) and abdominal obesity defined as WC > 80 cm and/or WHtR ≥ 0.5. First menstruation after the age of 14 y. was associated with a lower risk of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25, WC > 80 cm and/or WHtR ≥ 0.5), as well as a higher risk of being underweight (BMI < 18.5 and/or WHtR < 0.4). Associations between anthropometry and menarcheal timing were stronger in Cohort 1. CONCLUSION: Both early and late onset of menarche are associated with abnormal body composition: Early menarche is associated with overweight, while later maturing girls have a heightened risk of underweight.

The Influence of Age at Menarche on the Menstrual Pattern of Polish University Students.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between age at menarche and menstrual cycle characteristics in young female subjects. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements were performed, and questionnaire data were collected from 1,323 women, aged 19-25 years. RESULTS: No differences were found in terms of cycle duration or the number of days of bleeding between women with early, average, or late menarche. Each of those groups had a similar percentage of women who declared that their cycles last longer than 35 days, those who declared that their cycles are shorter than 21 days, and those who reported prolonged bleeding. Irregular cycles were associated with late age at menarche. Women with early age at menarche complained about menstrual cramps more frequently. The existence of a relationship between age at menarche and menstrual cycle disorders was confirmed by the results of logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: Both early and late age at menarche are associated with increased risk of menstrual cycle disorders.

Associations between childhood and adolescence exposure to air pollution and adult height in polish women.

Exposure to airborne substances harmful to health during pre- and postnatal stage may significantly affect the correct development of organs and systems. Many studies analyze the relationship between air quality and health, but data on the impact of air pollution on human biological development are scanty. The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between adult body height and air quality in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence. The parameters measured included absolute stature (cm) and relative stature defined as a percentage of mean stature of both parents. The analysis covered data collected from 1257 women. Subject's height was measured. Data on parental height were obtained using a questionnaire. The level of each analysed environmental pollution in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence: particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitric dioxide (NO2) and benzene (C6H6) in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence was determined on the basis of the data made available by the Polish Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Results of our study show that mean stature decreases with growing air pollution level. Significant differences were observed both in absolute stature and relative stature (expressed as percentage of mean stature of both parents) depending on PM10 and PM2.5 levels in place of residence during childhood and adolescence as well as on the total index of air quality. The differences remain statistically significant also after adjustment for the degree of urbanisation of the place of residence and factors related to socio-economic status. Our findings suggest that air pollution level in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence has significant impact on the children growth, potentially leading to worse health status later in life.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Thinness in Rural Polish Children.

A lot of attention has been focused on obesity, however, the other extreme-thinness-may lead to inhibition of physical and intellectual development. The aim was to assess the prevalence of thinness and determine the associated factors in children from rural populations. We used data from the cross-sectional sample of 3048 children, examined in schools from a district in southern Poland. The sample included 89% of the district departments, and included a proportion of rural and small town populations-a representative one for the region. Thinness was determined based on the criteria proposed by Cole and Lobstein. Biological, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were analysed. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of thinness was 11.5% in boys and 13.5% in girls. In the younger group, it was similar in boys and girls at 11.8%; whereas in the older group, it was 11.1% and 14.5%, respectively. The prevalence of thinness Grade 3 in girls was two times higher than in boys. The increased index of leisure time physical activity was connected with thinness in prepubertal boys. The mechanism determining the development of thinness is very complex and further exploration of this trend is recommended.

Age at Menarche and Risk of Respiratory Diseases.

Several studies have suggested a relationship between reproductive history and respiratory health. The present study explores the association between the age at menarche and the risk of respiratory diseases during early adulthood. The anthropometrical and questionnaire research was conducted among 1323 female university graduates. In a subsample of 152 non-allergic women spirometry tests were additionally performed. We found that the prevalence of allergic diseases, on average, was slightly higher among females having early menarche than in those with a later onset of menstruation; the difference failed to reach statistical significance. However, the risk of allergic rhinitis was significantly related with early menarche compared with average-time, taken as a reference, or late menarche (OR = 1.61 vs. OR = 1 (Ref.) vs. OR = 1.23, p = 0.020). The difference remained significant after adjusting for adiposity (p = 0.050) and socio-economic status (p = 0.001). There was no significant relationship between the age at menarche and the incidence of respiratory infections. We noticed a tendency for increased spirometry variables with increasing age at menarche. In conclusion, early menarche is a risk factor for allergic rhinitis in early adulthood.

Does an early rural life influence selected health-related parameters of female university students?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to define whether in a group of young women the place of residence in their childhood and adolescence, as well as moving from a rural to an urban area, have affected their biological condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were obtained from 1,305 unmarried and childless women aged 18-25. The respondents were university students. Each person's height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and the BMI, WHR, and WHtR indices were calculated. A survey was used to collect data on the females' socio-economic status, their health condition and course of menstruation cycle. RESULTS: In the whole sample, apart from WHR, there was no significant difference in anthropometric characteristics depending on the urbanization degree of the place of residence before commencing studies. In comparing the two groups of women, changing place of residence from a village to a city and from a city to another city, more differences were visible. Women of rural origin presented significantly higher values of BMI, waist circumference and WHtR than those from the city. They were also more frequently characterized by overweight and abdominal obesity. The women from other cities were characterized by underweight and too low amount of abdominal adipose tissue. Health problems were found in both groups. Students of rural origin more rarely declared changes in body weight and health condition after beginning studies. Students of urban origin were more often affected by sleeping problems and spine pains. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study do not indicate that a change of place of residence has a stronger effect on the biological condition of rural women than their urban peers.

BMI and adiposity based approach to obesity: the need for ethnic specificity. A reply to Kapoor et al. (2019).

The ethnicity of the studied group is one of the key characteristics that should be taken into consideration when analysing the problem of overweight and obesity. It is especially crucial in populations of countries such as India, where the proportion of the fat to lean mass and general adiposity are significantly different from those observed among Europeans. This can cause a higher risk of various metabolic-related diseases to appear at relatively lower absolute adiposity. Therefore, there is a need for further research regarding the issues of body mass and composition in Indian populations, to obtain additional information as well as to develop ethnically specific cut-off points.

Fluctuating body asymmetry in young Polish women in relation to childhood socioeconomic status.

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between childhood socioeconomic conditions and body asymmetry in young Polish women. The study measured fluctuating asymmetry (FA), which refers to small random deviations from perfect symmetry in bilaterally paired body structures. Data were obtained from 620 female students aged from 19 to 25 years recruited from Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. The research was carried out in the period from January 2016 to May 2017. A composite fluctuating asymmetry (cFA) of the women was calculated using five bilateral body traits. The lengths and widths of the women's ears, lengths of their 2nd and 4th digits and wrist widths of the right and left sides of the body were measured twice using standard methodology. The following data were collected in a questionnaire: degree of urbanization of the woman's place of residence during childhood, number of older siblings, parental education and woman's dominant hand. The results showed a tendency for FA to fall with an increase in parental education, and to rise with an increase in number of older siblings. The level of FA was significantly lower in women from rural areas than in those from cities. The results of the study show that FA in early adulthood is significantly associated with socioeconomic status during childhood, and confirm that the level of FA in adulthood may be a good indicator of stress factors in the early stages of development.

Anthropometric variations in different BMI and adiposity levels among children, adolescents and young adults in Kolkata, India.

The objective of the study was to analyse selected anthropometric features of children, adolescents and young adults from middle-class families in Kolkata, India, by BMI and adiposity categories. Standardized anthropometric measurements of 4194 individuals (1999 male and 2195 female) aged 7-21 were carried out between the years 2005 and 2011. The results were compared by BMI and adiposity categories. Statistical significance was assessed using two-way-ANOVA and linear regression analysis was performed. The study population could be differentiated in terms of BMI and adiposity categories for all examined anthropometric characteristics (p ≤ 0.001). After taking age into consideration, differences were observed for males in the case of body height and humerus breadth in BMI and adiposity categories, and for femur breadth in the case of adiposity categories. For females, differences were noted in body height measurements in BMI and adiposity categories, a sum of skinfold thicknesses in BMI categories, and upper-arm and calf circumferences in adiposity categories. The patterns of differences in the BMI categories were found to be similar to those in adiposity categories. The linear regression analysis results showed that there was a significant relationship between BMI and body fat ratio in the examined population. Underweight individuals, and those with low adiposity, were characterized by lower extremity circumferences and skeletal breadths. These features reached highest values in overweight/obese persons, characterized by high body fat. However, the differences observed between each BMI and adiposity category, in most cases, were only present in early childhood.

Association of primary dysmenorrhea with anthropometrical and socio-economic factors in Polish university students.

AIMS: To examine the prevalence and factors correlated with primary dysmenorrhea in young female subjects. METHODS: Cross-sectional research was conducted among 1305 female university students aged 19-25 years. The following measurements were taken: height, body mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, the length of index and ring finger. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on menstrual pains, the characteristics of the menstrual cycles (regularity, duration), the number of the days of menstrual bleeding, age at menarche, overall health and socio-economic status of the subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in the group was 64.85%, of which 69.60% reported mild pain, and 30.40% moderate and severe pain. PD occurs more frequently both in women with excess and insufficient level of abdominal adiposity. PD occurred more frequently in women who experience first menstruation at earlier age than in women with average and late age at menarche. The prevalence of PD grew along with mother's education and fell along with father's education. Painful menstruations occurred most commonly in women from large families. The impact of the age at menarche and the presence of abnormal body mass and abnormal level of abdominal adiposity on the prevalence of painful menstruation was also confirmed by the results of logistic regression analysis. The risk of PD is the highest in women whose finger 4 is longer than finger 2. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that healthy body mass and lack of abdominal obesity may reduce the risk of PD.

Association of Estrogen-Related Traits with Allergic Rhinitis.

Estrogen's role in allergic diseases has recently been of considerable interest. The present article seeks to determine the relationship between estrogen-dependent traits and allergic rhinitis. The following traits were considered: digit ratio, age at menarche, regularity of menstrual cycles, and the waist to hip ratio. The study consisted of surveys and measurement data collected from 768 female university undergraduates. One hundred and sixty eight undergraduates (21.9%) had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. The results of logistic regression show that in women with a high digit ratio, indicating exposure to a higher estrogen level in the prenatal period, the risk of allergic rhinitis was almost twice as high as that in those with an average value of the ratio. The difference in the digit ratio was greater for the right than left hand. A significantly higher risk of allergic rhinitis was also observed in women who experienced first menstruation at a younger age. No differences in risk of allergic rhinitis were noted due to general obesity, abdominal obesity, or irregularity of menstrual cycles. We conclude that a higher digit ratio is suggestive of a propensity to allergies in adulthood plausibly having to do with greater exposure to estrogen at early stages of ontogenetic development.

Determinants of BMI category changes during middle childhood and adolescence in girls.

The aim of the study was to analyse the changes in BMI category between 7 and 16-18 years of age on the basis of continuous studies and evaluate which factors are related to the increase and decrease in BMI category. Data were collected from 1008 secondary school students aged 16-18 y. Body height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Information on height and body mass in earlier periods of life was retrieved from medical records. Age at menarche and socio-economic status was established on the basis of a questionnaire. Most girls who were underweight at 7 y. as well as those who were overweight or obese at 7 y. at the age of 16-18 y. reach correct body weight. The probability of the BMI category changing to higher one at 16-18 y. was related to short stature at 7, 9 and 14 y., low socio-economic status, living in the village and primary level of mother education. A drop in the BMI category was linked to the incidence of overweight and obesity at the age of 9 and 14 y. and tall stature at the age of 7 and 9 years. High socio-economic status was connected with a change in the category from "correct weight" at the age of 7 y. to "underweight" at 16-18 y., whereas the socio-economic status did not have a significant effect on the change of the category "overweight & obesity" at 7 y. to "correct weight" at 16-18 y.

Season of birth influences the timing of first menstruation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the month of birth influences the maturation rate of Polish females from two birth cohorts, namely 1982-1984 and 1992-1994. It was also verified whether socioeconomic status (SES) is capable of altering the above relationship. METHODS: The research material consisted of data collected in two cross-sectional surveys. The first cohort involved 1,008 female secondary-school students, the second, 671 female university students. Information on subjects' date of birth, SES, and the age at menarche was obtained from a questionnaire. The subjects were divided into four groups, according to the month of birth: born in spring (III-V), born in summer (VI-VIII), born in autumn (IX-XI), and born in winter (XII-II). Next, the subjects were divided into two groups: born in summer months (VI-VIII) and born in the other months (IX-V). RESULTS: In the first cohort, subjects born in the summer reach menarche significantly earlier than subjects born in other seasons. The same tendency was noticeable in subjects born in the years 1992-1994; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In both cohorts, girls born in summer months had their first menstruation at a younger age than girls born in other months. The difference in age at menarche between season/months was also seen after dividing the data into uniform groups in terms of SES. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that the season of birth influences sexual maturation rate in women.

[Sexual dimorphism and asymmetry of digit ratio (2D:4D) ­ pilot study].

Introduction: Numerous studies have demonstrated sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D digit ratio. Shall be regarded that the value of the 2D:4D ratio is determined in fetal life by the action of hormones. The aim of the study was to evaluate asymmetry and sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D digit ratio. Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 115 women and 46 men, aged 19­25 years. Individuals, which were included in the study, are students of two universities in Cracow ­ Academy of Physical Education and the Jagiellonian University. The measurement of the length the fingers II and IV both hands was made in each person and the value of digit ratio was calculated for all obtained data. Results: The women had the higher value of the index 2D:4D in both hands, compared with men covered by the survey. In males it was demonstrated higher average value of the length of the finger IV than the finger II.