Anthropometric study of male external genitalia of 320 healthy Nigerian adults

Five basic measurements of the male external genitalia were studied in 320 healthy male medical students belonging to the various parts of Nigeria (West Africa). Their ages range from 17 to 23 years. The measurements were as follows: average length of the penis (81.6 +/- 0.94 mm); circumference of the penis (88.3 +/- 0.02 mm); circumference of the scrotum (212.6 +/- 2.48 mm); length of right testis (46.8 +/- 0.54 mm); width of right testis (32.4 +/- 0.37 mm); length of left testis (46.0 +/- 0.53 mm); and width of left testis (31.4 +/- 0.36 mm). The size of the genitalia increases with the increase in age in younger year groups. The adult stages of genitalia development are reached at the age of 21 years in 89.0% of the individuals. The growth of the genitalia is continued with the increasing height and weight, but this growth slows down after attaining a definite height and weight.     

A skeletochronological study of age and growth in relation to adult size in the water frog Rana epeirotica

The age and growth of individuals in a population of the water frog Rana epeirotica, from northwestern Greece, were studied in 1998 and 1999 using skeletochronology. Analysis of the age structure was based on the enumeration of Lines of Arrested Growth (LAGs) in phalanges. Ages ranged from 1-5 years among 145 males and from 1-5 years among 173 females. The mean snout-vent length was 72.74 +/- 7.96 mm in males and 83.63 +/- 11.73 mm in females. The difference between the sexes in age and size was significant. Endosteal resorption may have eroded away the first LAG in only 9% of the studied individuals and was more frequent in females. Growth of adults was fitted by the Bertalanffy model. The growth coefficient (K) was 0.88 in males and 0.49 in females, reflecting faster male growth between metamorphosis and maturation.     

Palate vault morphology in Down syndrome

Moire topography was used to quantitatively determine the shape of the palatal vault in 57 Spanish patients with Down syndrome (DS) (38 males and 19 females; age range 18-36 years) and in 100 normal controls (N) (76 males and 24 females; age range 20-29 years). The topographic image for each palatal vault was analyzed and approximately 40 sets of coordinates (x, y, z) were recorded. Other parameters, including length, width and maximum height, were recorded from the palate vault images. No appreciable sexual dimorphism in palate dimensions was observed in DS subjects versus the situation in N subjects. Globally, the average N dimensions were significantly greater than those in the DS patients (P < 0.005). A special palatal morphology was found to be associated with DS, with different ratios for the three dimensions (mean factor 0.88 for length, 0.81 for width and 0.73 for height), versus the healthy palatal vaults. It is concluded that palatal morphology in DS fits an elliptic paraboloid. On the other hand, no lineal correlation was observed between height, width and length in the DS and N groups. The scatter plots of bivariate data exhibited a shapeless morphology. The lineal correlation coefficients ranged from 0.008 to 0.33 for the DS and N groups.     

The study of the latent periods of visual object differentiation by different significant characteristics

A total of 645 subjects between the ages of 5 and 24 years were examined by the original computer methods. Test subjects had to differentiate the visual stimuli by shape, color, size, and orientation. The latent periods of visual object differentiation had dissimilar significant characteristics and age dynamics. The obtained results are treated in the context of the concept of multichannel visual information processing.     

Orientation selectivity and visual acuity in schoolchildren and adults

We continued our study of the mechanisms of visual acuity (VA) in ontogenesis. We measured the VA and sensitivity to lines orientation and determined the minimal length of lines for discrimination of the vertical and the horizontal ones in subjects aged 7–25 years. It was found that the thresholds of discrimination of vertical and horizontal lines in subjects with normal VA decreased with age up to 9–10 years and then remained constant, while the orientation selectivity was improving up to the age of 14–16 years. The average VA almost did not depend on age. Individual thresholds of line lengths and orientation discrimination correlated with the VA of subjects.     

A skeletochronological study of age, growth and longevity in a population of the frog Rana ridibunda from southern Europe

Age at sexual maturity and longevity in a population of Rana ridibunda from north-eastern Greece were studied by skeletochronology performed on the phalanges. Analysis of the age structure was based on counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs). Sexual maturity for both sexes arises during the first year or after the first hibernation. Ages ranged from 1 to 5 years (mean=2.96) among 52 males and from 1 to 5 years (mean=3.73) among 56 females. The mean snout-vent length was 69.03+/-12.6mm in males and 82.38+/-13.27 mm in females. The difference between the sexes in age and size was significant. Growth of individuals was fitted on? The von Bertalanffy model. The growth coefficient (K) was 0.57 in males and 0.54 in females, mainly due to faster male growth between metamorphosis and maturation.     

Age and size structure of populations of small marbled newts (Triturus marmoratus pygmaeus) from Doñana National Park (SW Spain). A case of dwarfism among dwarfs

The body size of specimens of Triturus marmoratus pygmaeus from Doñana is the smallest recorded for this subspecies. Snout-vent length averages 42.3 mm in males, and 43.9 mm in females. Mean body mass in males is 2.04 g and 2.29 g in females. The age of newts was estimated by means of skeletochronological methods. The maximum longevity recorded was 10 years in females and nine years in males, with one or two years being the age at maturity. As in other newts, body size is not a good predictor of age, since a wide range of body length was found within each age class. Growth in females was substantial in subsequent years, showing an overall positive tendency. However, males showed slight or even negative growth. Newts from Doñana are different from other nearby localities with similar climatic characteristics. This is mainly due to their short juvenile and terrestrial phase.     

Population structure and growth of the Japanese littleneck clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes philippinarum</Emphasis> in Amursky Bay,Sea of Japan

This paper deals with the size, age, and sex structure of population and growth of the Japanese littleneck clam Ruditapes philippinarum in Amursky Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). One-year-olds and individuals with a shell length less than 19.8 mm were not found in the population under study. The population consisted mostly of 3-4-year-old clams (72.4%) with a shell length of 35–45 mm (67.8%). The maximum recorded age of R. philippinarum was 7 years, and maximum shell length was 52.7 mm. The male to female ratio was approximately 2: 1. Hermaphroditism (2.1%) and parasitic castration (1.4%) were observed. Linear growth rates of clams were found to increase until the age of three years old (11.6 ± 0.6 mm/year). Mollusks reach a commercial size of over 35 mm in shell length in the fourth year of life. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation describing group linear growth were L _∞ = 56.6 mm, k = 0.302 year^?1, and t ₀ = 0.468 year. The relationship between the shell length and the wet body weight is described by the equation W = 0.000253L^2.954.     

Analysis of the African American female nose

The African American nose has been broadly classified as ethnic yet it differs significantly in morphology from that of other ethnic groups with which it is categorized. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish an objective protocol for analysis of the African American female nose using anthropometric measurements, and (2) determine whether subjective subcategorization schemes are a reliable replacement for anthropometry. African American women (n = 107) between the ages of 18 and 30 years consented to participate in this study. Photographs and 14 standard anthropometric measurements were taken of the face and nasal region, including nose length, nose width, special upper face height, intercanthal distance, mouth width, nasal bridge inclination, nasal tip protrusion, ala thickness, nasal root width, nasal bridge length, tangential length of ala, length of columella, nasofrontal angle, and nasolabial angle. Nasal indices including nose width-nose height index, nasal tip protrusion-nose height index, and nasal tip protrusion-nasal width index were calculated. In addition, photographic analysis was performed to evaluate nostril shape, nasal base shape, and nasal dorsal height. Proportional relationships and subcategorization schemes were evaluated. A new method of nasal analysis for the African American woman uses the proportional relationships of the anthropometric measurements. Proportional relationships included a columellar to lobule ratio of 1.5:1, a nasolabial angle of 86 degrees, and an alar width to intercanthal distance ratio of 5:4. The nasal dorsal height classification scheme was the most reliable for subjective analysis. The degree of variability found within this group of young African American women is illustrated by the following indices and their respective ranges: nose width-nose height index mean, 79.7 (range, 57 to 102); nasal tip protrusion-nose height index mean, 33.8 (range, 23 to 46); and nasal tip protrusion-nose width index mean, 42.8 (range, 32 to 61). The guidelines provided are a baseline from which to begin analysis and evaluation.     

Decreased length of telomeric DNA sequences and increased numerical chromosome aberrations in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes

Length of telomeric DNA sequences and numerical chromosome aberrations from uncultured human osteoarthritic (OA) articular chondrocytes were compared with those from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from the same individual and from chondrocytes and PBL from control subjects. Cells were both obtained from 39 OA patients (age range: 43-80 years) and from 20 control subjects (age range: 39-94 years). Mean length of telomeric DNA sequences was determined using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and numerical chromosome aberrations were identified in interphase nuclei by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) using cocktails of specific DNA probes for chromosomes 7, 8 and for 18, X and Y. Chondrocytes revealed higher telomere size than PBL, both in control subjects and in OA patients, being 2 and 1.6 times higher respectively, thus revealing cell type specific differences. However, chondrocytes from OA patients showed significantly shorter telomere size than chondrocytes from control subjects (T/S ratio 1.64±0.41 vs. 1.99±0.54; mean±sd; p=0.008). Regarding the percentage of numerical chromosome aberrations, OA chondrocytes showed 1.7 times higher than chondrocytes from control subjects (19.80±3.31 vs.11.48±4.11; p<0.01) and 1.5 times average higher than that from PBL from the own OA patient (13.06±1.45; p<0.001). Moreover, PBL from OA patients also showed 1.4 times more anomalies than PBL from controls (13.06±1.45 vs. 9.54±1.61; p<0.001). No significant differences were found between chondrocytes and PBL in control subjects. Chromosome loss was the more frequent aneuploidy, mainly monosomy 18. The decreased telomere size and increased chromosome instability in chondrocytes from OA affected joints may imply a local advanced senescence that could contribute to the pathogenesis or progression of the degenerative articular disease. Moreover, the increased chromosomal abnormalities in PBL from OA patients suggest a more general accelerated senescence phenotype that could promote the age-related degenerative joint pathology.     

Mucociliary clearance in chronic sinusitis: related human nasal clearance and in vitro bullfrog palate clearance

Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured in both healthy subjects and patients with chronic sinusitis using saccharin granule technique. Nasal mucociliary transit time (ST) was significantly slower in the patients with chronic sinusitis compared with that in controls (p less than 0.005). Nasal mucus collected from each nasal cavity was used for in vitro bullfrog palate clearance studies and compared to the in vivo nasal ST. Mucociliary clearance rate (MTR) on frog palate was 12.5 +/- 2.5 mm/min in the mucus from control subjects, 6.1 +/- 1.5 mm/min in the mucus from the patients. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The MTR on frog palate in the patients whose nasal ST was within normal range was significantly slower than that in controls (p less than 0.005), but not significantly different from that in the patients whose nasal ST was over the normal range. These results suggest that the nasal mucous properties which decreased the mucociliary clearance on frog palate did not contribute to the mucociliary clearance of the patients who had a normal one. No significant correlation existed between MTR on frog palate and nasal ST in both control and chronic sinusitis. In chronic sinusitis patients, decelerated nasal ST was recovered significantly by normal saline nebulization compared with the value before the nebulization (p less than 0.01). None of the significant change of ST was observed in control before and after the nebulization.     

Intranasal volume and olfactory function

The aim of this exploratory study was to identify the volume intranasal segments as they relate to parameters of olfactory function. Fifty healthy male volunteers (age range 22-59 years, mean age 28.5 years) were included. Olfactory function was measured by lateralized phenyl ethyl alcohol odor thresholds and odor discrimination, and by bilateral odor identification. Magnetic resonance imaging of the nasal cavity was performed immediately following olfactometry. To correlate the results of olfactometry with intranasal volume, each nasal cavity was divided into 11 segments. Significant correlations were found between the odor thresholds and volumes of the anterior part of the lower and upper meatus of the right nasal cavity. These results reveal that two nasal segments are important for inter-individual differences of odor thresholds in healthy subjects: (i) the segment in the upper meatus below the cribriform plate and (ii) the anterior segment of the inferior meatus. The latter finding is of special interest for nasal surgery, which allows modification of this volume through resection of the inferior turbinate and/or septoplasty.     

Regional shape change in adult facial bone curvature with age

Life expectancies have increased dramatically over the last 100 years, affording greater opportunities to study the impact of age on adult craniofacial morphology. This article employs a novel application of established geometric morphometric methods to examine shape differences in adult regional facial bone curvature with age. Three-dimensional semilandmarks representing the curvature of the orbits, zygomatic arches, nasal aperture, and maxillary alveolar process were collected from a cross-sectional cranial sample of mixed sex and ancestry (male and female; African- and European-American), partitioned into three age groups (young adult = 18-39; middle-aged = 40-59 years; and elderly = 60+ years). Each facial region's semilandmarks were aligned into a common coordinate system via generalized Procrustes superimposition. Regional variation in shape was then explored via a battery of multivariate statistical techniques. Age-related shape differences were detected in the orbits, zygomatic arches, and maxillary alveolar process. Interactions between age, sex, and ancestry were also identified. Vector plots revealed patterns of superoinferior compression, lateral expansion, and posterior recession depending on the population/subpopulation, location, and age groups examined. These findings indicate that adult craniofacial curvature shape is not static throughout human life. Instead, age-related spatial modifications occur in various regions of the craniofacial skeleton. Moreover, these regional alterations vary not only through time, but across human populations and the sexes.     

Size, shape and the distribution of organic matter in the Recent Antarctic brachiopod Liothyrella uva

The living terebratulid articulate brachiopod Liothyrella uva (Jackson 1912) was sampled from a shallow water population at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. Neither shell height nor shell breadth were directly proportional to length and as a result there was a change in shell shape with size (and hence age); this change was small but statistically significant. The proportion of the total organic matter found in the shell and internal (mantle) tissues also changed with size. In small (5–7 mm length) brachiopods 70–80% of the total organic matter was located within the shell; this fraction decreased with increasing size until above about 25 mm length the proportion of organic matter in the shell was constant at 30–45%. Variability in this measure was influenced by infection with endolithic red algae. Punctal density was independent of size with a mean value of 95.7 per mm² [SE (standard error) ± 2.2], which was greater than in populations sampled from higher latitudes. With increasing shell length there was a slight increase in the size of puncta close to the shell edge. In all morphometric measures the range of variation observed was similar to that described from populations of Liothyrella from other areas of the Southern Ocean.     

Morphological and functional differences in cardiac parameters between power and endurance athletes: a magnetic resonance imaging study

The present study compared morphological and functional parameters of the left ventricle by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in competitive athletes engaged in endurance and power activities and sedentary control subjects. Twenty male subjects, 7 endurance-trained athletes (ETA) (age 23.8+/-3.5 yr), 7 strength-trained athletes (STA) (age 22.8+/-4.0 yr), and 6 sedentary controls (age 24.1+/-2.2 yr) were studied by MRI. In the ETA group body size related left ventricular mass (rel.LVM) was significantly higher than that in the STA group (71.0+/-9.2 vs 57.4+/-15.7 g/m3). The difference between their size related left ventricular wall thickness (rel.LVWT) values (9.37+/-1.0 vs 8.37+/-1.8 mm/m) was near to the level of significance (p=0.057). Relative left ventricular internal diameter (rel.LVID) was significantly higher in the ETA group compared to the STA group (42.3+/-1.0 vs 40.1+/-2.5 mm/m, p<0.05). The muscular quotient (MQ=LVWT/LVID) of the ETA group was not significantly higher compared to the strength athletes. Relative left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) was also higher in the ETA group than in the STA group (69.5+/-6.7 vs 59.9+/-8.2 ml/m3, p<0.05) and the controls (53.6+/-3.7, p<0.001). Significantly higher relative stroke volume (SV) was measured in the ETA group compared to the STA group and the controls (41.0+/-5.7; 32.6+/-6.9; 32.0+/-3.2 ml/m3). According to the present data, the strongest impact on LV cavity size and wall thickness is caused by long-term high intensity endurance training. Intense strength training does not necessarily induce wall thickening.     

Human gastrocnemius medialis pennation angle as a function of age: from newborn to the elderly.

The aim of the present study was to quantify changes in human skeletal muscle pennation angle (F theta) values during growth and adult life. The human gastrocnemius medialis muscle of 162 subjects (96 males and 66 females) in the age range 0-70 years was scanned with ultrasonography. The subjects were laying prone, at rest, with the ankle maintained at 90 degrees with all muscles relaxed. F theta increased monotonically starting from birth (0 years) and reached a stable value after the adolescent growth spurt. There was a significant (p < 0.05) linear relationship between F theta and muscle thickness (TK). F theta = 0.84 (+/- 0.09) * TK + 3.15 (+/- 1.13). Human gastrocnemius medialis F theta and TK data found in the literature seem to fit the F theta-TK plot in a coherent manner, independent of the physiological or anatomical characteristics of the subject. The present findings indicate that F theta is not a constant parameter but evolves, as is the case for bone length and height, as a function of age.     

84 例基于三脚架结构改建的鼻尖综合整形术的临床总结

目的:总结基于鼻翼软骨三脚架结构的改建技术在鼻尖综合整形术中的应用经验。方法:从2012年09月到2015年02月间,共84例求美者在我院进行初次鼻尖综合整形术。3例为男性,81例为女性。年龄20-45岁,平均年龄31.7岁。其中鼻头肥大伴鼻背低平65例,行鼻翼软骨缝合+鼻翼软骨切除+鼻假体+自体软骨帽状移植术;鼻头肥大、鼻背低平伴鼻小柱短小19例,行自体软骨鼻小柱支撑+鼻翼软骨切除+鼻翼软骨缝合+鼻假体植入+自体软骨帽状移植术。结果:84例求美者术后随访1个月-2年,除1例病例鼻头过于肥大,鼻尖形态改善不明显以外,其余求美者鼻额角及鼻尖角度及均较术前有明显改善,鼻小柱短小组的鼻小柱长度也较术前有明显改善。所有病例切口瘢痕均不明显,无明显并发症出现。结论:针对不同鼻翼软骨发育条件下的病人,个性化的应用鼻翼软骨三脚架结构改建的鼻尖综合整形术具有较好的临床效果,须根据不同病人特点选用。     

中国穿山甲和马来穿山甲头骨量度的测定及比较

全球共有7种穿山甲。本文报道的是中国穿山甲和马来穿山甲的头骨形态学资料,涉及头骨特征描述和一些形态学指标测定。被测定的指标主要有颅全长、基底长、腭长、眶间宽、后头宽、鼻骨长、鼻骨宽、脑颅高、听泡长和下颌长,并且在这两个物种之间进行了比较。结果表明,(1)这两个物种头骨形态十分相似,但马来穿山甲头骨细长,听泡长小于10mm(n=12),鼻骨狭长,前后部宽窄相似,两鼻骨外侧缘内凹或平行,鼻骨宽长之比值小于0 3000(0 2025～0 2811,n=12);而中国穿山甲头骨较粗短,听泡长大于11mm(n=46),鼻骨宽短,后部较前端宽,外侧缘外凸,鼻骨宽长之比值大于0 3000(0 3154～0 5325,n=33)。这些异同之处,可以作为区分这两个物种的依据。(2)中国穿山甲华南亚种与海南亚种头骨各变量之间的差异不显著(P>0 05),用颅全长是否大于83mm来区分这两个亚种不能成立,但海南亚种头骨上颌骨的颧突和鳞骨的颧突通常越过眶颞窝完全相接触,如果不是这样,则在它们之间有一个小的骨质棒状结构将它们连接起来。     

Reproductive biology and implications for management of the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides in the southern Arabian Gulf

The reproductive biology of Epinephelus coioides was determined from the examination of 1455 individuals collected between July 2005 and June 2007 in the southern Arabian Gulf. Histological preparations of gonads indicated that males were either derived from a juvenile phase or the transition of postspawning females, confirming a diandric protogynous sexual pattern. The spawning season was well defined, occurring once a year during April and early May. Peaks in spawning occurred after the full and new moons and was completed within a single lunar cycle. The presence of mature males over the entire size and age range and the absence of inactive mature females during the spawning season suggested that the population was not constrained by sperm limitation. While specimens undergoing sexual transition were only observed in size and age ranges of 335–685 mm total length ( L _T) and 5–6 years, patterns in the proportion of males in size and age classes suggested that sex change occurred at a relatively constant rate after female maturation up to the maximum size (1002 mm L _T) and age (11 years). Relationships between reproductive output and capacity with size and age indicated that conventional regulations that equate the mean size at first capture to sexual maturation are unsuitable for the management of E. coioides . The maximum age, small size and young age at sexual maturation ( L _min= 320 mm L _T, 2 years, for females and 242 mm L _T, 1 year, for males) conflict with the general pattern for large epinepheline groupers and may be a direct result of the intensive demersal fishery in the southern Arabian Gulf.