Different head morphology of full-term gypsy and non-gypsy newborns from Slovak Republic.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of cranial growth defects in childhood is extremely important for subsequent growth, development of head and could be a screening aid for early detection of growth deviations. METHODS: Seven head dimensions and two indexes of 90 Gypsy and 99 non-Gypsy newborns from Slovakia were examined to asses the potential differences between the groups. RESULTS: Gypsy newborns had significantly lower head circumference, lower head length, lower width of head basis and facial width compared to non-Gypsy newborns. Gypsy newborns have shown significantly higher value of the index cephalicus while in non-Gypsy newborns mesocephalic values have been detected. Moreover, Gypsy newborns had significantly higher cranium as compared to non-Gypsy. CONCLUSIONS: Gypsy subpopulation has a different head morphology compared to the majority of the population. Knowledge about the different head morphology between these ethnic groups could give us clues about the genetic influences determining head morphology in the prenatal development and therefore might be a helpful diagnostic tool in neonatology (Tab. 1, Ref. 14).

Anthropometry, nutrition status and thymic size of Gypsy newborns from southwestern Slovakia.

Gypsy population represents a specific minority in Slovakia that differs from the majority population by its origin and genetic markers, as well as by generally lower social and economic status and lower hygienic standards of living. The aim of the present work is the analysis of anthropometric dimensions and indexes, as well as of thymus size, in the group of Gypsy and non-Gypsy newborns from the Southern Slovakia. Our group of 212 physiological newborns consisted of 33 Gypsy and 179 non-Gypsy newborns. All newborns were underwent anthropometric examination and their thymus size was assessed by ultrasonography and calculated as so-called Thymic Index". Gypsy newborns show statistically significant lower anthropometric dimensions (birth weight and birth body length, head and chest circumference) when compared to non-Gypsy newborns, however, they do not differ in the values of nutritional status indicators (arm circumference, Quételet index and Rohrer index). They do not differ even in the thymus size that can be regarded as a "barometer" of the nutrition and of some negative stimuli. In spite of generally deficient nutrition and lower health status of the Gypsy minority in Slovakia, we did not find any significant differences in the indicators of nutritional status or in thymus size (Tab. 2, Ref. 34).

[Correlation between biochemical indicators of physical fitness and age]. / Vztah niektorých biochemických ukazovatel'ov k fyzickej zdatnosti a veku.

16 men in the average age of 23.7 years and 24 juniors in the average of 17 years, ice-hockey players, were investigated. A significant negative correlation between the physical fitness and indicators of lipoprotein metabolism were found. This correlation proved the significance of the intensity of physical activity as a factor decreasing the risk factors of atherosclerosis. Significantly higher levels of triacylglycerols and significantly lower HDL-cholesterol were found in men when compared with the juniors. The comparison of two age categories which were subjected to regular long-term physical activity of high intensity, proved the influence of the age of ice-hockey players who had been trained under the same conditions. Both quantitative and qualitative changes in lipoprotein metabolism proved the increase in atherogeneous risks with the increasing age. (Tab. 7, Ref. 14.)