A morphological study and the variability in the number of infraorbital foramina in the African green monkey (Grivet) (Chlorocebus aethiops) using microcomputed tomography.

Knowledge of the nonhuman primate morphology and anatomy related to craniofacial mechanoreception is essential for a fundamental understanding of the incidents that have occurred during the evolution of craniofacial features. The present study focuses on the variability in the number of infraorbital foramina and associated anatomical structures such as the infraorbital canal (IOC) and the infraorbital groove (IOG), as they are considered to play an important role in the behavioral ecology of these animals. A total of 19 skulls of Chlorocebus aethiops were analyzed. The number of infraorbital foramina was assessed macroscopically using a magnifying glass and a small diameter probe. Three dimensional (3D) projections and morphometric analysis of the infraorbital foramina, IOCs, and IOGs were performed using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) for two skulls that represent one of the most common morphological types. Regardless of sex and body side, the most common morphological type observed in the studied species is the presence of three infraorbital foramina. The IOC takes a funnel or pinched shape. 3D projections were made to assess the course of the infraorbital vascular and nerve bundles in selected individuals. The results indicate a high morphological diversity within the species, although there appears to be a consistent distribution pattern of infraorbital neurovascular bundles in species of the Cercopithecidae family. The use of X-ray micro-CT allowed 3D visualization of the maxillary region to determine the variability of the infraorbital foramina and to track the division of the infraorbital neurovascular bundle in the case of the most common macroscopic expression of the number of the infraorbital foramen in C. aethiops, as well as the morphometric of the IOCs and IOGs which are related to mechanoreception of the primate's snout.

Prevalence and distribution of ossification of the ligamenta flava in a 16th-18th century skeletal population sample from Poland.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the ossification of the ligamenta flava (OLF) among skeletal remains from Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 124 skeletons aged 25 years and older were analyzed. The presence and size of OLF were observed macroscopically. OLF was recorded at the cranial and caudal attachment sites of each vertebra. The following factors were analyzed: age at death, sex, and presence of other spondyloarthropathies. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of OLF in the analyzed series was 68.55 %. OLF was located most frequently in the lower thoracic spine. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the presence of OLF and age at death. OLF coincided with degenerative spondyloarthropathies of the thoracolumbar spine. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that OLF was not a rare condition in past populations of European ancestry. Analysis of OLF prevalence in skeletal materials can contribute to reconstruction of the conditions and lifestyles of past people. SIGNIFICANCE: This study shed new light on the prevalence of OLF and provides information on the variability of OLF in past European populations. The evaluation of the prevalence of OLF represents an important contribution to the field of paleopathology in understanding disease changes in prehistoric and historic human populations. LIMITATIONS: The analyzed material came from unknown populations without demographic data. Sex and age at death were assessed using standard anthropological methods. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: It is important to understand the influence of sociocultural factors and physical activity patterns on the development of OLF.

Influence of body build on hand grip strength, simple reaction time and strength of the abdominal muscles in prepubertal children.

The aim of the study was to assess whether the body build has an impact on hand grip strength, muscle endurance and time reaction in children. The material of the research were 376 children from 6.78 to 11.82 years old in 2018. Body weight, height, waist, hip and mid-upper-arm circumferences, triceps and subscapular folds were measured. The BMI, body fat and AHtR (arm-circumference-to-height ratio) were calculated. The hand grip strength, simple reaction time (Quickstick) and strength of the abdominal muscles (endurance) were tested. Two-way ANOVA and correlation analyses with significance level p < 0.05 were used. Children with normal BMI values are characterized by better simple reaction time than their obese peers, while overweight and obese children estimated on the basis of BMI, AHtR and body fat perform were better in hand grip strength. In the case of strength of the abdominal muscles, there were no differences in children with different body build. The normal build and body weight promotes the proper development of children, which also is reflected in the results of motor performance and fitness tests.

Variability in the number of infraorbital foramina in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

This study aimed to determine the number of infraorbital foramina in monkeys of the Papionini tribe. The authors performed a µCT analysis of the morphology of the infraorbital foramina. A total number of 52 simian skulls belonged to two macaque species: Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis were used in the study. The number of infraorbital foramina was counted macroscopically and with the use of a magnifying glass. Next, the skull representing the most common morphological type was selected and scanned by micro-computed tomography (µCT). The Shapiro-Wilk normality test was used in the study. To compare the differences in the number of infraorbital foramen between species, sex and sides, the Mann-Whitney U test was applied. Three infraorbital foramina were present in most individuals from the test group. The Mann-Whitney test revealed no statistically significant difference between the number of foramina on the right- and left-hand side. Likewise, no statistically significant differences between the numbers of infraorbital foramina across sexes were observed. Volumetric reconstructions revealed the presence of separate infraorbital canals for each infraorbital foramen. Craniofacial innervation in macaques is formed by complex branching patterns of cranial nerves. Variability in the number of infraorbital foramina suggests a variable maxillary innervation pattern in these animals. Based on the analysis of volumetric projections, the presence of two labial branches and a single nasal branch of the infraorbital nerve is suggested. Detailed descriptions are supported by quantitative data and µCT evidence.

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.

Age at maturation, body structure and their relationship with socioeconomic factors.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to identify the differences in body structure between early, average, and late maturing girls, taking into account family characteristics assessing socio-economic and living conditions. Methods: This study was conducted in the years 2003 and 2013 in Warsaw, Poland and comprised 788 girls in the age group of 11-19 years. The data were collected using a questionnaire which included parental education and profession, girls' date of birth, age at menarche, and lifestyle characteristics. The measurements included height; weight; skinfolds on arm, under scapula, and on abdomen; arm circumference; and body mass index (BMI). The girls were divided into three groups: early, average, and late maturing. To eliminate the age differences, for each of the examined somatic variable, a "z" score was calculated. We analysed the combined data of both years (2003 and 2013) due to the lack of difference in the mean age at menarche. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between somatic body structure and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors among early, average, and late maturing girls. Results: Early maturing girls possessed higher body weight and BMI. In families with only one child, the age at menarche was found to be the earliest than in families with more than one child. Body weight, BMI, arm circumference, and fatfold thickness was found to be reduced in case of girls whose parents had better education and profession than their peers. Higher levels of stress were associated with higher body mass, greater BMI, arm circumference, and skinfolds in early maturing girls. The associations between body structure with physical activity and family was mainly correlated with body weight and BMI. Conclusion: Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors may be helpful in some levelling of differences in the body structure between girls differing in the age at menarche, especially the level of stress and the education and profession of parents.

Analysis of the enamel hypoplasia using micro-CT scanner versus classical method.

This article demonstrates the use of micro-CT scanning of the teeth surface for recognizing and evaluating severity of the enamel hypoplasia. To test capabilities of the microtomography versus classical method of evaluation hypoplastic defects of the enamel we selected two human teeth (C, M(2)) showing different types of enamel hypoplasia: linear, pits, and groove. Examined samples derive from archeological material dated on XVII-XVIII AD and excavated in Poland. In the current study we proved that micro-CT scanning is a powerful technique not only for imaging all kinds of the enamel hypoplasia but also allows to perform accurate measurements of the enamel defects. We figure out that contrary to the classical method of scoring enamel defects, the micro-computed tomography yields adequate data which serve for estimating the length of stress episode and length of interval between them.

Effect of socio-economic status on quality of life in people affected with respiratory allergy.

In the present study we investigated the impact of respiratory allergy on quality of life in young people, and examined whether socio-economic status modifies the above dependence. The study was conducted in 458 female and 363 male university students, aged 18-25. Information on socio-economic status (SES) was collected using a questionnaire. The occurrence of allergy was determined on the basis of answers to the questions whether the allergy and specific allergens were medically diagnosed. Quality of life (QoL) was based on the Polish version of the SF-36 test. Respiratory allergy or respiratory and food allergy were declared by 19.2 % of women and 19.0 % of men. The prevalence of allergy was higher in students with high SES. The students suffering from allergy obtained lower scores in all domains of QoL, but the differences were statistically insignificant. However, the overall test result in allergic students was significantly lower than that in non-allergic students. Differences QoL were significantly associated with socio-economic variables. In persons with low SES, the differences in QoL between those suffering from allergy and those who did not have allergy were larger than in persons with high SES. The results indicate that the course of allergic diseases is highly dependent on socio-economic status. The prevalence of allergy among students of low status is lower than among those of high status. However, allergy to a greater extent impairs the quality of life of students with low than high SES.

The influence of age at menarche on the prevalence of disorders of the menstrual cycle among healthy university students.

INTRODUCTION: Many research findings indicate long-term health risks of early age at menarche. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of early and late onset of menarche on menstrual disturbances and anthropometric measures among university students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was carried out among 566 students of the Jagiellonian University. Measurements of the height, weight and waist circumference were taken for each person. The age at the first menstruation was assessed by a retrospective method based on information given by the students. Data related to the pattern of the menstrual cycle were gathered by a survey. RESULTS: The group featured an average age at menarche of 12.71, ranging between 10 and 17 years. The post--menarchal year was at least 5. According to percentiles, the females were divided into three groups of different puberty rate. Significant differences were observed in the pattern of menstrual cycles with relation to age at menarche. Among the early- and late-maturing group irregular cycles were more frequent than among those who reached puberty at the average age. The longest cycles and most frequent oligomenorrhoea were observed in the late-maturing group. There were no differences observed regarding the number of days with menstrual bleeding, although the early-maturing women more frequently declared that bleeding was profuse. Within the group of early-maturing students a significantly larger number declared to have suffered menstrual pain than in the other groups. More early-maturing students also complained of back pain and headaches during the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: Both early and late menarche might be related to menstrual dysfunction among young women. Menstrual disturbances were more prevalent among women who experienced menarche at a younger age. Moreover, in the early-maturing group overweight and obese states, as well as abdominal obesity, were frequent, and they are known as risk factors in many illnesses.

Bridges of the sella turcica - anatomy and topography.

This paper presents anatomy and topography of the inconstant osseous bridges that may occur in the sella turcica region. The interclinoid bridge and the caroticoclinoid bridge can be formed in consequence of abnormal ossification of the dural folds or disturbances in development of the sphenoid bone. Their presence may be of clinical importance because of potential influence on the neurovascular structures passing in the vicinity of the clinoid processes of the sphenoid bone.