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M Hermanussen

Publications and source records attributed to M Hermanussen.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The association between birth order and adult stature.

First-borns are smaller than later-borns at birth. We investigated adult stature of families with three or more adult children, aged between 20 and 70 (mean 32) years. There was no significant correlation between size of the family and final adult stature of the siblings. We found a mean height reduction of first-borns compared to the mean of all sibs of -1.2 cm (P less than 0.02 using conventional analysis of variance, P less than 0.05 using nonparametric prediction configural frequency analysis). Males tend to increase in height with increasing birth order, whereas females do not beyond the second-born. These observations could not be explained by decreasing age of later-born sibs, nor by periods of malnutrition immediately after the war (1945-1948). Thus, we conclude that birth order is a factor that contributes significantly to the variance of adult height within sibships.

Adult↗
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A new method for accurate dental measurement.

Using digital dividers (analogue-digital transformer, Brandt-Hermanussen device), it has become possible to measure distances between human teeth with a technical error of 0.04 mm. The technique implies a small preparation (trough) into the respective teeth. The ball-shaped metal probes of the instrument fit into these troughs and enable the determination of this distance directly in the patient. It does not require the use of casts. The present method was compared with two conventional and popular techniques of tooth arch determination, using the natural retentions of the deepest points of the central fossa of the respective teeth without the preparation of an artificial trough (manual caliper rule with nonius, digital caliper rule). The technical error of these techniques ranged between 0.46 mm and 0.52 mm. In order to investigate whether the preparation of an artificial trough could be avoided, the digital measuring dividers were modified and equipped with sharp probes for the determination of the natural distance between the deepest points of the central fossa, in analogy to the conventional techniques. Under these circumstances however, the technical error increased up to 0.27 mm (observer 1), and 0.21 mm (observer 2). It is concluded that dental marking is necessary for accurate dental measurement.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

No evidence for saltation in human growth.

Recently a new model of human growth has been presented suggesting alternating periods of stasis (mean 24.5 days in the case of weekly measurements) and short saltatory increments of body height between 5 and 25 mm that had been detected between subsequent weekly or semi-weekly height measurements, i.e. within single weekly or semi-weekly intervals. The present study was undertaken to re-investigate and, if possible, to confirm this model. Body height was measured by stadiometer in 32 healthy pre-school and school age children, at weekly or semi-weekly intervals for periods between 4 and 8 months. Though the authors found evidence for an accumulation of weekly and semi-weekly height differences that suggested periods of no growth (stasis), there was no evidence for saltatory increments either in the 850 weekly or in the 746 semi-weekly body height differences.

Adolescent↗
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Mini-knemometry: an accurate technique for lower leg length measurements in early childhood.

A novel miniaturization of knemometry for accurate measurements of the lower leg length in prematures, newborns and infants (mini-knemometry), is presented. The study was performed in four healthy neonates, born at term, and one infant, born in the 34th week of gestation, measured daily for periods of 40 days; and in two monozygotic healthy twin sisters, born in the 32nd week of gestation, measured daily for periods of 58 days. Each of the 316 measurements consisted of four independent subsequent estimations of the distance between heel and knee, which are grasped by two metallic holders under light compression of 2.0-3.0 N. After an initial training of 1 week the technical error is 144 microns. Lower leg growth is non-linear (p < 0.001) with periods of stunted, and periods of accelerated, growth velocity.

Anthropometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of nutrition on growth in premature infants: assessment by knemometry.

Lower leg length measurements in 19 healthy preterm infants were obtained by knemometry to assess short term growth. Eight infants received fortified human milk and 11 infants commercially available preterm formulas. Two independent observers measured lower leg length in each infant daily during the study period, weight was measured daily with a neonatal scale. While weight gain showed linearity in all infants, lower leg length growth showed mini growth spurts of 5 +/- 1.7 days, growth periods of 20 +/- 11 days or both types of short term growth. The overall weight gain was 35 +/- 5.6 g/day in infants fed human milk and 33 +/- 7 g/day in infants fed preterm formula. The overall lower leg length growth velocity was 0.51 +/- 0.04 mm/day versus 0.54 +/- 0.09 mm/day, respectively. Both groups had comparable weight and length increments. No correlation existed between the type of nonlinear lower leg length growth (mini growth spurts versus growth periods) and the feedings received by the infants.

Female↗
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Micro and macro perspectives in auxology: findings and considerations upon the variability of short term and individual growth and the stability of population derived parameters.

The present paper links the two most contrasting aspects of auxology, and addresses the apparent discrepancy between the variability and pulsatility of short term individual growth, and the stability of population derived parameters. When body stature is measured at monthly intervals, an irregular incremental pattern becomes obvious, with a number of large scale components such as series of prepubertal and pubertal growth spurts, seasonal influences on height gain, and influences of the psychosocial and economic background. When measurement intervals decrease, the patterns of stature increment appear even more irregular, and a number of short scale components become apparent, that are distinct from measurement error. Observations are presented that suggest growth being a pulsatile, a periodic, a saltatory, respectively a chaotic event as suggested by some recent studies in animals and in human newborns. Accurate measurements of the lower leg at intervals of 24 hours support the idea of short term growth being characterized by chaotic series of 'mini growth spurts' that occur at intervals of approximately 4-9 days. The amplitude of mini growth spurts ranges between 2 and some 10 mm, and also growth velocity of each spurt varies considerably so that one spurt needs between less than one and up to several days for completion. The very opposite of the variability of individual growth was found in populations. A meta-analysis of 40 male and 51 female European and US American growth studies revealed an almost uniform general pattern of average stature increment during the last 100 years. An additional analysis of stature variation of very large Japanese and Czechoslovakian growth surveys, with all together more than 23000000 measurements, and more than 500000 German preschool and school measurements, suggested similar uniformity in the standard deviation of stature.

Animals↗
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Periodic growth in rats.

Microknemometry, a novel non-invasive technique, allows the accurate measurements of the lower leg length in the conscious rat, not only daily but even in periods smaller than 24 hours. Its use revealed the presence of nonlinear growth increments (mini-growth spurts) with periods between 4 and 5 days, that presented a gradual decline in amplitude when the animals were getting older, and a maximal growth rate between 0600h and 0900h. A sexual dimorphic growth pattern could be established with females growing less and presenting spurts of lower amplitude and smaller duration than males. High doses of recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) stimulated growth velocity in female rates, but did not show any effect on males. Neonatal Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) treatment reduced growth both in males and females. Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in MSG treated animals was capable of increasing growth velocity, from day 30 onwards. The recovery was partial in males and complete in females. In intact male rats growth blockade induced by fasting was not followed by a catch up effect after refeeding, although growth velocity tended to increase and a clear catch up effect on weight was detected. Male rats seemed to grow at a maximal speed over at least the first 60 days of life, that cannot be accelerated with GH treatment, whereas female rats did respond to exogenous GH.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Growth factors and their significance in aging. Presentations and discussions of the Aschau Meeting on 20 November 1990. Introduction].

Since ancient times, men tried to slow down the process of aging. This was done mainly by dietary means, and since the work of McCay and coworkers, it is general knowledge that caloric restriction is the most reliable technique in prolonging life of laboratory animals. To date, the importance of DNA-methylation, its influence on the three-dimensional structure of the genomic DNA, and the importance of growth factors on the process of aging are well known. Many of these factors modify the velocity of both transcription and cell growth and promote transformation of aging cells. First studies with growth hormone have been performed to investigate its influence on the process of aging.

Aging↗