摘要:

AbstractEstimates of menarcheal age in girls in central Italy based on the status quo and recall methods are compared. Results obtained by the two methods differ significantly in that the recall method underestimates age of menarche even though utmost care was used in data collection (province of Rome: status quo 12.44, retrospective 11.84; Molise: status quo 12.51, retrospective 12.12). Positive and negative aspects of the two methods are discussed. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, I

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060502

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractDuring the last decade, an increased awareness of the importance of breastfeeding patterns in determining maternal fecundity and infant health has led to a dramatic rise in surveys that query mothers on suckling duration and frequency. However, with few exceptions, observational studies have not been undertaken, and the accuracy of the recalled information is not known. This analysis ascertained the concordance of maternal recall and observational data collected for a single sample of Andean women practicing on‐demand nursing. Interviews of 30 women were conducted in their native language; for 10 mother‐infant pairs, breastfeeding behavior was precisely timed during the course of normal daily activities for a total of 86 hours. There is virtually no agreement of recall and observational data, either for each individual or for sample statistics. Rounding is the rule; suckling duration is reported in 5‐minute units when, in fact, women often nurse for only 2–3 minutes. Overestimation is also very common; suckling durations of 30 minutes are frequently reported but almost never observed. These reporting patterns obscure the considerable actual variation in suckling duration—exposed by observation—and bring into serious question the conclusions of studies based on mothers' recall. In particular, given that analyses of these observational data indicate otherwise, the claim that suckling duration is unimportant in the regulation of maternal fecundity should be re‐examined. Further, the design, implementation, and evaluation of breastfeeding promotional programs intended to increase child spacing requires data of greater accuracy than that obtainable from maternal recall. © 1994 W

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060503

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe Preece‐Baines growth model (PBGM) is a family of curves that conform to the shape of the human growth curve. It is most often used to analyze longitudinal records on individuals, but it can be applied to cross‐sectional data from population surveys. The purpose of this study was to determine empirically the validity of applying the PBGM to cross‐sectional data to make inferences about the timing and nature of the adolescent growth spurt. Longitudinal records (n = 339) from the Third Harvard Growth Study were analyzed individually using the PBGM. Results for each sex were pooled to characterize longitudinal growth in this population. Ten independent random cross‐sectional samples were generated from the same data set. These were divided by sex and the age means for height were analyzed using the PBGM. Comparisons between the pooled longitudinal estimates and those from the random cross‐sectional samples indicated that the PBGM can accurately estimate the age at peak height velocity in males, as well as other characteristics of the adolescent growth spurt when using cross‐sectional data. In females, spurious results were obtained when cross‐sectional data are used. Possible sources of bias are discussed. © 1994 W

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060504

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe growth status (stature, weight, body mass index, arm circumference, estimated arm muscle and fat) of Mopan Maya children, ages 9–14 years, from San Antonio, Toledo, Belize, is evaluated with two objectives: (1) to identify associations between growth and factors in the household and local environment that coexist with poverty, and (2) to consider growth in relation to the distribution of national resources. One‐way analyses of variance indicate significant differences among z‐scores for indication of growth status by age, although the direction of the differences is not consistent. T‐tests indicate boys exhibit significantly lower z‐scores for weight, arm circumference and estimated arm muscle, but significantly higher z‐scores for estimated arm fat than girls. Although girls suffer preschool malnutrition at twice the rate than boys, the differences may indicate later female buffering for some aspects of growth. T‐tests, correlations and regression analyses indicate the importance of household socio‐economic and demographic factors for growth. Although the equations that best explain the six growth measures are not identical, they indicate the significance of SES, birth order, home environment and gender in explaining variation in the growth of San Antonio children. At the population level, growth faltering is apparent among San Antonio children compared to U.S. reference data, most likely resulting from chronic mild to moderate undernutrition. Low levels of infrastructure in Toledo District and poor access to resources for Mopan Maya in San Antonio probably contribute to the less than optimal growth status. © 1994

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060505

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe purposes of this study were twofold: (1) to describe the growth of metacarpal bone dimensions in a large sample (n = 819) of Flemish girls, 12–18 years, and (2) to investigate the relationship among cortical bone dimensions, biological maturation, and participation in sports activities. Besides body mass and stature, Tanner‐Whitehouse skeletal age (SA) was estimated and menarcheal status was assessed. Second metacarpal bone dimensions were measured on radiographs. Sports participation was determined by a standardized questionnaire. Results show that whereas medullary diameter decreased, all other second metacarpal dimensions increased significantly with age. When the girls were divided into five subgroups by SA, significant differences were found for metacarpal bone dimensions among the groups. Analysis of covariance revealed that skeletal maturity significantly differentiated for medullary diameter, cortical thickness, cortical area, and percent cortical area, even when chronological age, body mass, and stature were partialled out. However, no differences were found between contrasting SA groups for metacarpal length and periosteal diameter when chronological age, body mass, and stature were held constant. The metacarpals of postmenarcheal girls are ∼4% longer and ∼7% wider, and had ∼14% more bone area than age‐matched, premenarcheal peers. No differences were found in periosteal diameter between pre‐ and postmenarcheal 14–15‐year‐old girls. Finally, sports participation was not associated with cortical bone in this group of healthy females (−0.16 ≤ r ≤ 0.17

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060506

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe molecular phenotypes of ITI were analysed in samples from seven populations of the Iberian Peninsula (Galicia, Central Portugal, Castilla‐Leon, Castilla‐La Mancha, Extremadura, Western Andalusia, and Eastern Andalusia) by means of IEF in ultrathin layer polyacrylamide gels followed by immunofixation‐silver staining. The observed ITI*3 frequencies exhibit the highest values thus far reported in European populations. Regression analysis between ITI*3 frequencies and latitude reveals a negative correlation (r= −0.8798,P<0.001). © 1994 Wiley

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060507

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe ability of populations to cope biologically with seasonal stress may depend upon socioeconomic conditions at the household level. In this study seasonal weight change (i.e., absolute weight change, weight change as a percentage of total body weight, and weight loss episodes) was examined in the context of household socioeconomic status (SES) for women from 195 households in highland Lesotho over a period of three seasons. Households were divided into close (CHHs) vs. distant households (DHHs), according to the distance from the district headquarters, and into female‐managed (FMHs) vs. multiple‐parent households (MPHs). There are no significant differences in SES between FMHs and MPHs. Conversely, CHHs have significantly higher SES, are more involved in the wage economy, and are less dependent upon subsistence agriculture than DHHs. For the total sample there is a significant difference in body weight between seasons (P= 0.005). There are no significant differences in body weight across seasons between FMH and MPH women. However, DHH women have significantly lower body weight throughout the three seasons (P= 0.004 andP= 0.001), and a greater change in body weight as a percentage of total body weight between seasons (P= 0.001) than do CHH women. In addition, more DHH women lose weight seasonally (P<0.001) than do CHH women. These results suggest that seasonal fluctuations in body weight are greater in women from households that depend upon subsistance agriculture than in women from households more involved in the wage economy. © 1994 Wiley‐Lis

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060508

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIf limitations exist in skeletal dimensions, fat‐free mass (FFM) might have an upper limit. To explore the upper limit to FFM, 37 professional Japanese Sumo wrestlers, 14 highly trained bodybuilders, and 26 untrained men were investigated for body composition (fat mass and FFM) and cross‐sectional areas (CSA) of limb muscles, by hydrodensitometry and ultrasound, respectively. Mean % fat of Sumo wrestlers, bodybuilders, and untrained subjects were, respectively, 26.1%, 10.9%, and 12.1%. Sumo wrestlers had a significantly greater FFM than bodybuilders, who had a greater FFM than the untrained men. Six of the wrestlers had more than 100 kg of FFM, including the largest one of 121.3 kg (stature: 186 cm, mass: 181 kg, %fat: 33.0%). The FFM/stature ratio of elite Sumo wrestlers averaged at 0.61 kg/cm, with the highest 0.66 kg/cm. It is suggested that a FFM/stature ratio of 0.7 kg/cm may be an upper limit in humans. © 1994 Wiley‐Lis

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060509

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA total of 1,025 adults belonging to four Brazilian tribes were simulataneously studied for 12–16 anthropometric characteristics and 7–11 blood polymorphic loci. Several comparisons using both univariate and multivariate statistical techniques failed to show the negative correlation between these two sets of variables found by other workers. © 1994 Wiley‐Lis

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060510

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe association between physical growth and gross motor development, particularly self‐produced locomotion, was considered in 557 children 3–18 months of age. Gross motor development was assessed with nine preselected milestones representing the major landmarks in self‐produced bipedal locomotion. Motor development is presented by age and by milestone, and is compared to developmental ranges of the Denver Developmental Screening Test. Consistent with other studies of undernutrition and motor development, length‐for‐age, but not weight‐for‐length, was a significant predictor of gross motor development (i.e., delayed or not delayed). The effect of weight‐for‐age on motor development was not statistically significant after accounting for length‐for‐age.

ISSN:1042-0533    

DOI:10.1002/ajhb.1310060511

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY