Digit ratios and their asymmetries as risk factors of developmental instability and hospitalization for COVID-19.

COVID-19 presents with mild symptoms in the majority of patients but in a minority it progresses to acute illness and hospitalization. Here we consider whether markers for prenatal sex hormones and postnatal stressors on developmental instability, i.e. digit ratios and their directional and unsigned asymmetries, are predictive of hospitalization. We focus on six ratios: 2D:3D; 2D:4D; 2D:5D; 3D:4D; 3D:5D; 4D:5D and compare hospitalized patient and control means for right, and left ratios, directional asymmetries (right-left) and unsigned asymmetries [|(right-left)|]. There were 54 patients and 100 controls. We found (i) patients differed in their digit ratios from controls (patients > controls) in all three ratios that included 5D (2D:5D, 3D:5D and 4D:5D) with small to medium effect sizes (d = 0.3 to 0.64), (ii) they did not differ in their directional asymmetries, and (iii) patients had greater |(right-left)| asymmetry than controls for 2D:4D (d = .74) , and all ratios that included 5D; 2D:5D (d = 0.66), 3D:5D (d = .79), 4D:5D (d = 0.47). The Composite Asymmetry of the two largest effects (2D:4D + 3D:5D) gave a patient and control difference with effect size d = 1.04. All patient versus control differences were independent of sex. We conclude that digit ratio patterns differ between patients and controls and this was most evident in ratios that included 5D. Large |(right-left)| asymmetries in the patients are likely to be a marker for postnatal stressors resulting in developmental perturbations and for potential severity of COVID-19.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in women and men with lung cancer.

A prenatal sex steroid environment of high prenatal testosterone and low prenatal oestrogen inhibits lung development and may predispose individuals to be vulnerable to lung disease in later life. Therefore, the aim of this report was to investigate whether there is an association between right and left 2D:4D (biomarker of prenatal sex steroids exposure) and primary lung cancer in women and men. Also, we considered the relationship between right-left 2D:4D (Δ2D:4D, a negative correlate of high prenatal testosterone and low prenatal oestrogen) and the age of lung cancer diagnosis. The study included 109 patients (61 men) with lung cancer and 197 controls (78 men). In the study we found that: (i) women with lung cancer have lower 2D:4D compared to controls (the effect was independent of smoking), (ii) among women with cancer, age at diagnosis was positively related to 2D:4D, i.e. women with masculinized 2D:4D present earlier with the cancer than women with feminized 2D:4D, (iii) among men with lung cancer, those with the most aggressive form (small-cell lung cancer) had masculinized (low) Δ2D:4D compared to those with the less aggressive form (non-small cell lung cancer). The data suggests that masculinized right 2D:4D and Δ2D:4D are associated with a predisposition to lung cancer and/or the more aggressive forms of lung cancer.

Sublay or onlay incisional hernia repair along with abdominoplasty: which is better? Long-term results.

PURPOSE: Estimation and comparison of results after incisional hernia repair (IHR) modo onlay or sublay with abdominoplasty in patients who lost the weight following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). Analysis and comparison of changes in quality of life (QL) of these patients prior to RYGB, before and after simultaneous IHR and abdominoplasty. METHODS: Clinical analysis involved 40 patients with abdominal disfigurement (following RYGB and massive weight loss) after one-time IHR sublay method with abdominoplasty-group 1 or IHR onlay method with abdominoplasty-group 2. We evaluated postoperative results and long-term QL changes (DAS24, SF-36 scales). RESULTS: We noted abnormal wound healing (2), pneumonia (3) and dysesthesia (3) in patients from group 1, and abnormal wound healing (2), seroma (2), pneumonia (2), and dysesthesia (4) in group 2. Quality of life was improved in the functional, esthetic and psychological aspects. CONCLUSIONS: One stage incisional hernia repair by onlay as well as sublay method with abdominoplasty are safe surgical methods improving the functioning of patients after major weight loss following RYGB. Sublay hernia repair and abdominoplasty was connected with longer time of the: operation, drainage, analgesic agents use, time to mobilization and to full oral diet than the onlay method. Significant improvement of the quality of life was noted after every subsequent step of surgical treatment in both groups. Reduction of the risk of BMI re-growth after bariatric surgery is related to the need for constant, specialized care for these patients at every stage of follow-up after bariatric surgery.

Risk factors of striae gravidarum.

BACKGROUND: Stretch marks are a common skin disorder. Pregnancy-related lesions are defined as striae gravidarum. The root cause of striae formation remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to identify the risk factors associated with striae gravidarum (SG) development. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Clinic and Obstetrics Outpatient Department among 299 Caucasian women maximum 6 months after the delivery, regardless of whether they were primiparas or multiparas. RESULTS: Among the women participating in the study, 71.2% (213 of 299) developed striae gravidarum at least in one site. Logistic regression analysis showed that four of the analysed factors were independent predictors of striae gravidarum occurrence: family history of SG, BMI before pregnancy, the lack of chronic diseases and birthweight (P < 0.0001). It has been found that the presence of striae distensae on the breasts increases the risk of SG development (71.4% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.0008), whereas the presence of these lesions on the thighs decreases the risk (23% vs. 77%, P = 0.0076). CONCLUSION: In this study, we presented a model that can help to predict the risk of SG formation, including family history of SG, BMI before pregnancy, birthweight and chronic diseases. Moreover, women with stretch marks on their breasts should know that the risk of SG development is significantly higher, whereas lesions on the thighs do not increase such a risk.

Is increased constitutive skin and hair pigmentation an early sign of puberty?

The paper analyzes data concerning the constitutive skin and hair pigmentation of 7-10-year-old Polish children to examine whether the hormonal activity of the gonads, which increases in this period, causes changes in pigmentation levels that may be considered an early sign of puberty. The study involved 289 children (151 girls and 138 boys). Skin pigmentation was examined on the medial side of the arm, while hair pigmentation on strands of hair close to the scalp in the occipital area. Additionally, body height (B-v) was measured and compared with population norms. On this basis, it was ascertained that the studied sample was representative of the population from which it was taken and that it represented the prepubertal and early pubertal stages of ontogeny (prior to the pubertal growth spurt or the first menstruation in the studied girls). It was found that in 7-10-year-old Polish children there is a statistically significant (p=0.001) increase in skin and hair pigmentation levels, while the degree of pigmentation of both structures at this stage of ontogeny is sexually dimorphic: girls are characterized by stronger pigmentation than boys. At the age of 10 years, the dimorphic differences in skin pigmentation intensify due to a rapid rise in pigmentation in girls. This change may be deemed an early morphological sign of puberty, as it precedes the pubertal growth spurt and menarche. This fast increase in skin pigmentation is not paralleled by an analogous change in hair pigmentation.

Assessment of early post-operative pain following septorhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pain incidence and intensity in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty, and to assess analgesic treatment effectiveness, in the first 7 days after surgery. DESIGN: Prospective outcomes analysis using visual analogue scale assessment of pain intensity in the first 7 post-operative days. SUBJECTS: Fifty-seven patients were enrolled in the study, 29 women and 28 men, aged 18 to 51 years. All were treated for post-traumatic deformity of the external nose and/or nasal septum, with either septorhinoplasty or septoplasty. RESULTS: In the first 3 days after septorhinoplasty, patients' mean visual analogue scale pain score exceeded the range denoting 'analgesic success', and showed considerable exacerbation in the evening. Patients' pain decreased to a mean score of 15.4 one hour after administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (metamizole). CONCLUSION: Analgesia is recommended for all patients in the first 3 days after septorhinoplasty, especially in the early evening.

Secular changes in the physical development of students of the Medical University of Lódz.

This study analyses, using selected somatometric features, secular trend changes which have occurred over a quarter of a century in female and male students of the Medical University of Lódz. The study is based on the results of an anthropometric survey carried out among first-year students who commenced their studies in the academic years 1978/79 (240 females and 193 males), 1982/83 (347 females and 188 males), 1988/89 (178 females and 165 males) and 2003/04 (188 females and 77 males). The following features were examined in all participants in the survey: body height (B-v), the height of the lower body segment measured from a floor base to the crista iliaca at the point on the mid-axillary line (B-ic), shoulder width (a-a), intertrochanteric distance (tro-tro) and resting chest circumference. To compare average values Student's t-test was used with assumptions of equal and unequal variances. To gauge the magnitude of changes in specific features in the course of a quarter of a century a percentage difference in results was calculated for the years 2003/2004 and 1978/1979. The basis for the calculations was the initial value of a feature at the beginning of the period analysed. It was determined that in the 25-year period analysed (1978-2003) the young people commencing studies at the Medical University of Lódz exhibited an acceleration in the height of the lower body segment (B-ic) and of the intertrochanteric distance (tro-tro) and a deceleration in resting chest circumference. Additionally, an increase in shoulder width has been noted in female students; no significant intergenerational changes were noted in body height, although the last 15 years display certain symptoms of deceleration; there is an emerging tendency towards a blurring of the differences in body proportions between the sexes in the environment of the young people studying at the Medical University of Lódz.

[Selection of patient age for evaluation of treatment results in cleft lip and palate]. / Wybór wieku pacjenta do oceny wyników leczenia rozszczepu wargi i podniebienia.

The results of the complex treatment of 125 patients with unilateral and bilateral lip and palate cleft, aged 3-5, 10-12 and 14-18 years, were evaluated by analysis of medical documentation. The study showed that the results of lip, vestibule and palate reconstruction and speech can be evaluated already at 12 years of age. However, final esthetic and functional assessment of the nose and maxillo-occlusional conditions is indicated after 14 years of age, best between 18-20 years.

[Assessment of long-term results in cleft lip and palate]. / Ocena odleglych wyników zespolowego leczenia rozszczepów wargi i podniebienia.

The study concerned 230 patients (175 UCLP and 55 BCLP) aged 14-20, who had been treated in the years 1972-82 in accordance with the Centre for Congenital Defects programme, at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical University of Lódz. The follow-up comprised: aesthetic and functional assessment of the lip, upper vestibule and nose as well as evaluation of occlusion and speech abilities (intelligibility, articulation, nasality). The assessment of lip and vestibule gave good and acceptable results in 97% of UCLP patients and in 89% of BCLP. The external nose appeared aesthetically and functionally good in 67% of UCLP and in 94% of BCLP. The defects of occlusion, mainly various forms of cross-bite, were found in 48% of UCLP, who had undergone orthodontic treatment. The maxillo-occlusal defects with no prior orthodontics were found in 63% of UCLP. Alike the defects of occlusion in untreated BCLP were most frequent. The intelligibility and articulation of speech were significantly better in patients who had undertaken the postoperational speech therapy (95%:75%). The assessment in general presented better results in UCLP patients, who had been submitted not only to surgery but also took up orthodontic treatment and speech therapy.

Body structure of female-to-male transsexuals.

31 female-to-male transsexuals treated in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical University of Lódz, were examined. Anthropometric measurements were carried out according to Martin's technique. 23 measured characteristics of the examined transsexuals were studied; they were compared with identical characteristics in males and females of the control group. The results indicate that the somatic characteristics in transsexual women are between the values typical for man and women.

[The incidence of cleft lip and (or) palate in children of Lodz in the years 1982-1991]. / Czestosc wystepowania rozszczepów wargi i(albo) podniebienia u dzieci lódzkich w latach 1982-1991.

Over 92 thousand newborns (1982-1991) have been analyzed to reveal 186 infants with cleft lip and(or) palate which produced the mean frequency of clefts as 2:1000. Additionally, the forms and sides of clefts, and sex of children with clefts have been defined. The comparison of results from 1951-1965 research showed a slight increase of frequency of clefts which at that time (1951-1965) amounted at 1.7:1000. Our results correspond to the actual data of the world's literature.

Anthropometrical measurements of the face in infants with bilateral clefts.

The anthropometric measurements of face were taken in 21 infants of 6-9 months (15 boys, 6 girls) with bilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate, prior to surgery. The control group consisted of 30 normal infants, without facial defects. In each child 9 measurements were performed. The comparative analysis revealed an underdevelopment of maxilla and mandible and an increase in nasal width in children with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Epidemiology of cleft lip and palate in Lodz, Poland, in the years 1981-1995.

Over 132,783 newborns from 1981-1995 have been analysed revealing 267 infants with cleft lip and/or palate resulting in a mean frequency of clefts at 2:1000. Additionally, the forms and sides of clefts, and sex of the children with clefts have been defined. The comparison of the studies in Lodz from 1951-65 and 1981-95 indicates a slight increase in the occurrence of clefts.