We studied the relationships between blood pressure, anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids in 72 low altitude (LA) Uighurs (600 m), 91 LA-Kirghizs (900 m), 117 medium altitude (MA) Kazakhs (2100 m) and 94 high altitude (HA) Kirghizs (3200 m). All subjects were male and had a similar age (p = ns, ANOVA; range for all 374 subjects: 18-66 yr). Body weight (Wt), body mass index (BM1) and the sum of four skinfolds (4SF) were significantly lower in HA-Kirghizs than the remaining groups (p < 0.0005, p < 0.0005 and p < 0.05 respectively, ANOVA). However, no difference was found in body fat distribution as detected by waist:hip circumference (WHR) and triceps:subscapular skinfold ratios (TSR; p = ns, ANOVA). Stage 1 hypertension was detected in 18% of LA-Uighurs, 2% of LA-Kirghizs, 4% of MA-Kazakhs and 1% of HA-Kirghizs; stage 2 hypertension was detected in 2% of LA-Uighurs and none of the remaining groups; no subject had stage 3 hypertension (The Joint National Committee on Prevention. Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure 1997). Blood cholesterol (CH) and triglycerides (TG) did not differ between groups (p = ns, ANOVA). The relationships between systolic (SBP) or diastolic (DBP) blood pressure and age, Wt, BMI, 4SF, WHR, TSR, CH and TG were independent from altitude (p = ns, ANCOVA). In the pooled sample (n = 374), age explained 1 and 3% of SBP (p < 0.05) and DBP (p < 0.005) variance respectively, Wt was the best predictor of SBP and DBP explaining 11 and 10% of their variance respectively (p < 0.0001) and CH explained 5% of DBP variance (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, hypertension is more frequent in LA- than MA- and HA-subjects from Central Asia. However, anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids do similarly contribute to explain blood pressure in these subjects.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biological age in Italian adults: influence of social and behavioural factors.

This study investigated changes with age in biological characters in a sample of 571 Italian males aged between 25 and 64 years. The influence of environmental factors on inter-individual variation in physical efficiency was examined by biological age determination. Data on somatometric, physiometric, haematological variables, personal background and lifestyle, were collected. Principal-component analysis was used to study the patterns of relationship in these characters. Over 45% of the total variance is explained by the ageing process, but the secular trend also affects the variation of height and of height-related characters. Changes with age were investigated clustering the sample in eight 5-year classes: results are in agreement with previous findings in Western populations. Ten selected variables were transformed into biological age scores reflecting a man's status relative to his chronological age peers (Borkan and Norris 1980a). Biological age scores of subsamples characterized by different social and behavioural situations were compared. Occupation, educational level and physical activity seem to have the greatest influence on biological age status. The intensity or duration of some habits can induce a clear trend in biological age scores. Results suggest that the environmental influence could be related to the interindividual differences in physical efficiency and to the increase in variability with age observed for some characters.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics and the population structure of the Upper Bologna Apennine.

Analysis of digital and palmar dermatoglyphics in an Italian mountain population was carried out. Dermatoglyphic variability was particularly investigated in samples from four different valleys. Microgeographical differences in qualitative and quantitative traits among valleys were found. The relationship between degree of endogamy and dermatoglyphic differences is discussed. The biological repercussion of isolation in the history of this Apennine population is also pointed out by means of comparisons with a nearby plains population characterized by low inbreeding.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The prediction of extracellular and total body water from bioelectric impedance in a non-Caucasian population from central Asia.

The availability of only a small number of studies on bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) in non-Caucasian ethnic groups appears to limit reliable utilization of this method in anthropological field studies. In this study, 28 male Turkish-Mongolian subjects native of Kazakhstan (Central Asia) underwent total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) assessment by deuterium oxide (D2O) and sodium bromide (NaBr) dilution respectively. Bioelectric impedance (BI) was recorded at multiple frequencies. ECW and TBW were calculated from BI at 1 and 100 kHz respectively by applying formulae developed on a sample of Caucasian subjects with a hydration status similar to that of the study population. TBW predicted from BI at 1 and 100 kHz (37.5 +/- 3.31) was highly correlated and not significantly different from that obtained by D2O dilution (39.0 +/- 4.11, r = 0.894, p < 0.0001, SEE = 1.91). Similarly, ECW predicted from BI at 1 kHz (15.1 +/- 1.21) was highly correlated and not significantly different from that obtained by NaBr dilution (15.0 +/- 1.61, r = 0.847, p < 0.0001, SEE = 0.81). It is concluded that selected predictive formulae developed on Caucasian subjects may provide a precise and accurate assessment of ECW and TBW in Turkish-Mongolian populations.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Body water distribution in highlanders versus lowlanders.

Acute exposure to high altitude produces characteristic changes in body water distribution from which acclimatized individuals seem to be spared. However, it has been suggested that body water distribution may be different in highlanders (HL) as compared to lowlanders (LL). We studied the distribution of total body water (TBW) between extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) in a group of 20 HL (3200 m above sea level) versus one of 20 LL (900 m above sea level). Subjects were matched for ethnic group (Kirghiz), sex (male), weight (Wt), height and body mass index. TBW:Wt and ECW:TBW were not different in HL as compared to LL (mean +/- SD, 58.5 +/- 5.0% versus 56.0 +/- 4.2% and 40.5 +/- 4.2% versus 40.7 +/- 2.2%; p = n.s. for both). This study does not support the hypothesis that body water distribution is different in HL as compared to LL.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of prognostic significance of circulating interleukin-6 in patients with accident spine injuries.

Our study aimed to verify whether patients with spine accident injury present altered plasma levels of IL-6 and whether the levels of this cytokine are related with the production of acute phase proteins which are elevated after trauma and infection. 34 subjects admitted to an Intensive Care Unit for spine injuries were examined: 26 presented fever over 38.5 degrees C and in 13 of them blood or local cultures were positive for pathogenic bacteria. IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HPT), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2Mg), C3c and C4 Complement factors were determined on admission and in the course of their hospital stay. No changes in IL-6 systemic levels were present in the subjects examined and only CRP was constantly high. Although within the normal range IL-6 levels inversely correlated with fever. Our results show the difficulty to utilize the IL-6 circulating levels as prognosis parameter in patients subjected to spine accident injuries.

Accidents↗