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American Journal of Physiology.... Apr 2012The hypothesis was tested that the cardiovascular changes during an upper body anti-orthostatic maneuver in humans are more pronounced in tall than in short individuals,...
The hypothesis was tested that the cardiovascular changes during an upper body anti-orthostatic maneuver in humans are more pronounced in tall than in short individuals, because of the larger intravascular hydrostatic pressure gradients. In 34 males and 41 females [20-30 yr, body height (BH) = 147-206 cm], inter-individual multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for gender and body weight were conducted between changes in cardiovascular variables versus BH during tilting of the upper body from vertical to horizontal while keeping the legs horizontal. In all the subjects, tilting induced increases in stroke volume and arterial pulse pressure and a decrease in heart rate, which each correlated significantly with BH. In males (n = 51, BH = 163-206 cm), 24-h ambulatory mean arterial pressure increased significantly with BH (P = 0.004, r = 0.40, α = 0.15 mmHg/cm) so that systolic/diastolic blood pressure increased by 2/2 mmHg per 15 cm increase in BH. There was no significant correlation between mean arterial pressure and BH in females (n = 53, BH = 147-193 cm). In conclusion, a larger BH induces larger cardiovascular changes during anti-orthostatic tilting, and in males 24-h ambulatory mean arterial pressure increases with BH. The lack of a mean arterial pressure to BH correlation in females is probably because of their lower BH and greater variability in blood pressure.
Topics: Adult; Blood Pressure; Body Height; Dizziness; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Orientation; Sex Factors
PubMed: 22338081
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00036.2011 -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Jan 2017A number of studies have indicated that gay men tend to be shorter, on average, than heterosexual men. Less evidence exists that lesbian women are taller, on average,...
A number of studies have indicated that gay men tend to be shorter, on average, than heterosexual men. Less evidence exists that lesbian women are taller, on average, than heterosexual women. The most popular explanation of the association between sexual orientation and height involves prenatal factors, such that, for example, gay men may have been exposed to lower than typical androgens during fetal development, which impacts their height and sexual orientation as adults. An alternative explanation involves stress, given that stress has been associated with sexual minority identification and with lower height. Another alternative explanation involves nutrition, although its relationship is less clear with sexual minority identification. Using the Add Health data, which is a large, nationally representative and longitudinal sample of American adolescents (n = 14,786), we tested a mediation model, such that sexual orientation → pubertal stress/nutrition → height. Within men, we found that gay men (n = 126) were shorter, on average, than heterosexual men (n = 6412). None of the 24 pubertal stress-related and 15 pubertal nutrition-related variables assessed in the Add Health data mediated the relationship between sexual orientation and height in men. Within women, lesbians (n = 75) did not differ significantly in stature compared to heterosexual women (n = 6267). Thus, prenatal mechanisms (e.g., hormones, maternal immune response) are likely better candidates for explaining the height difference between gay men and heterosexual men.
Topics: Adult; Body Height; Female; Heterosexuality; Homosexuality; Humans; Male; Sexual Behavior; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 27511207
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-016-0800-9 -
American Journal of Physiology.... Nov 2015It is known that arterial pressure correlates positively with body height in males, and it has been suggested that this is due to the increasing vertical hydrostatic...
It is known that arterial pressure correlates positively with body height in males, and it has been suggested that this is due to the increasing vertical hydrostatic gradient from the heart to the carotid baroreceptors. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that a higher gravito-inertial stress induced by the use of a human centrifuge would increase mean arterial pressure (MAP) more in tall than in short males in the seated position. In short (162-171 cm; n = 8) and tall (194-203 cm; n = 10) healthy males (18-41 yr), brachial arterial pressure, heart rate (HR), and cardiac output were measured during +2G centrifugation, while they were seated upright with the legs kept horizontal (+2Gz). In a separate experiment, the same measurements were done with the subjects supine (+2Gx). During +2Gz MAP increased in the short (22 ± 2 mmHg, P < 0.0001) and tall (23 ± 2 mmHg, P < 0.0001) males, with no significant difference between the groups. HR increased more (P < 0.05) in the tall than in the short group (14 ± 2 vs. 7 ± 2 bpm). Stroke volume (SV) decreased in the short group (26 ± 4 ml, P = 0.001) and more so in the tall group (39 ± 5 ml, P < 0.0001; short vs. tall, P = 0.047). During +2Gx, systolic arterial pressure increased (P < 0.001) and SV (P = 0.012) decreased in the tall group only. In conclusion, during +2Gz, MAP increased in both short and tall males, with no difference between the groups. However, in the tall group, HR increased more during +2Gz, which could be caused by a larger hydrostatic pressure gradient from heart to head, leading to greater inhibition of the carotid baroreceptors.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Adolescent; Adult; Arterial Pressure; Body Height; Cardiac Output; Centrifugation; Gravity Sensing; Humans; Hypergravity; Male; Posture; Pressoreceptors; Supine Position; Young Adult
PubMed: 26290109
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00524.2014 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2021Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are associated with different patterns of malnutrition and growth retardation, which may vary worldwide and need to be evaluated...
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are associated with different patterns of malnutrition and growth retardation, which may vary worldwide and need to be evaluated according to local conditions. Although tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the first described CHDs, the etiology outcomes in growth and development of TOF in early age child is still unclear in most cases. This study was designed to investigate the growth retardation status of Chinese pediatric TOF patients under 5 years old. The body height, body weight and body mass index (BMI) of 262 pediatric patients (138 boys and 124 girls) who underwent corrective surgery for TOF between 2014 and 2018 were measured using conventional methods. The average body height, body weight and BMI of the patients were significantly lower than WHO Child Growth Standards, while the most affected was body height. Meanwhile, higher stunting frequency and greater deterioration of both the body height and weight happened in elder age (aged 13-60 months) rather than in infant stage (aged 0-12 months) among these patients. Our results confirmed that intervention should be given at early age to prevent the growth retardation of TOF patients getting severer.
Topics: Body Height; Body Weight; Child, Preschool; China; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Tetralogy of Fallot
PubMed: 34244570
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93726-3 -
PloS One 2015To study trends in height of Turkish and Moroccan immigrant children living in The Netherlands, to investigate the association between height and background...
OBJECTIVES
To study trends in height of Turkish and Moroccan immigrant children living in The Netherlands, to investigate the association between height and background characteristics in these children, and to calculate height-for-age-references data for these groups.
DESIGN
Nationwide cross-sectional data collection from children aged 0 to 18 years by trained professionals in 1997 and 2009. The study population consisted of 2,822 Turkish 2,779 Moroccan, and 13,705 Dutch origin children in 1997 and 2,548 Turkish, 2,594 Moroccan, and 11,255 Dutch origin children in 2009.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Mean height in cm, and mean height standard deviation scores.
RESULTS
In 2009, mean height at the age of 18 y was similar for Turkish and Moroccan children: 177 cm for boys and 163 cm for girls, which was 2 to 3 cm taller than in 1997. Still, Turkish and Moroccan adolescents were 5.5 cm (boys) to 7 cm (girls) shorter than their Dutch peers. No significant differences were found in mean height standard deviation scores across the educational level of the parents, geographical region, primary language spoken at home, and immigrant generation.
CONCLUSIONS
While the secular height increase in Dutch children came to a halt, the trend in Turkish and Moroccan children living in The Netherlands continued. However, large differences in height between Turkish and Moroccan children and Dutch children remain. We found no association with the background characteristics. We recommend the use of the new growth charts for children of Turkish and Moroccan origin who have a height-for-age below -2SD on the growth chart for Dutch children.
Topics: Adolescent; Body Height; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Morocco; Netherlands; Reference Values; Turkey; World Health Organization
PubMed: 25938671
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124686 -
Maternal & Child Nutrition Oct 2015The objective was to investigate the association of maternal weight, height and body composition with fetal growth. We recruited 425 women at the University Hospital of...
The objective was to investigate the association of maternal weight, height and body composition with fetal growth. We recruited 425 women at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, who had singleton pregnancies, were less than 15 weeks gestation and had no systemic illness. Maternal weight, height and skinfold thicknesses were measured at the first antenatal visit and lean mass was calculated. Sonographic measurements of the fetus were made at 15, 25 and 35 weeks gestation. Weight, crown-heel length and head circumference were measured at birth. Analyses were confined to 360 (85%) women; 65 women did not complete the study. Maternal height was positively associated with femoral length at 25 and 35 weeks gestation and with head circumference at 35 weeks (all P < 0.02). Maternal weight was positively associated with abdominal circumference and femoral length at 25 weeks, and with larger head and abdominal circumference and longer femur at 35 weeks (all P < 0.02). Maternal lean mass had similar associations to maternal weight and they were both positively associated with estimated fetal weight (all P < 0.02). All three maternal measurements were positively associated with birthweight, length and head circumference. Maternal size was associated with fetal size as early as 25 weeks gestation, with height strongly associated with femoral length, and with weight and lean mass strongly associated with abdominal circumference.
Topics: Adult; Anthropometry; Birth Weight; Body Height; Body Weight; Crown-Rump Length; Female; Fetal Development; Humans; Jamaica; Pregnancy; Skinfold Thickness; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Young Adult
PubMed: 23241104
DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12027 -
Anthropologischer Anzeiger; Bericht... Apr 2017The aim of the study was to analyze the variation of height and weight of 14-year-old children within classes of primary schools in Wroclaw. All children were attending...
The aim of the study was to analyze the variation of height and weight of 14-year-old children within classes of primary schools in Wroclaw. All children were attending the 7th grade of primary schools in Wroclaw, and underwent a medical examination as part of a project (the Health Card of the Child) of the city of Wroclaw. The data were collected between January and December of 1997. The present study included height and weight of 1810 children (917 boys and 893 girls). For analyses, individual height and BMI [kg m] were standardized based on mean and SD of the whole population separately for boys and girls. The SDs of height and BMI in each class were tested by Student-t test for one sample to check the difference in comparison to population with SD equal 1. Additionally, the nested analysis of variance was used, where height and BMI were dependent variables, and classes were nested into schools. SDs of height and BMI within classes are significantly lower than for the whole population in boys and girls, whereas the means did not differ significantly from the whole population. Nested analysis of variance showed a significant effect of class for girls (for height and BMI) but not for boys. Also variation of height significantly differed between schools in girls but not in boys. It is hypothesized that decrease of variation within classes might be caused by the community effect.
Topics: Adolescent; Analysis of Variance; Anthropology, Physical; Anthropometry; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Female; Humans; Male; Poland; Students
PubMed: 28362020
DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2017/0702 -
PloS One 2019The onset age of physiological puberty is greatly variable. This variability has been attributed to environmental factors and to genetic factors although a very little... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
The onset age of physiological puberty is greatly variable. This variability has been attributed to environmental factors and to genetic factors although a very little is explained by genome-wide associations studies. Previously, we reported the existence of an association between the onset age of puberty and final height. It is known that final height is associated with parental height (specifically, with the "target height"). We hypothesized that the variability of the onset age of puberty contributes to the attainment of a final height which is similar to the target height. We hypothesized that whenever a child's height-percentile differs from the target height percentile (we called this difference the "height gap"), the onset of puberty is advanced or delayed so that they are closer or even equal at the end of pubertal growth. The association between height gap and onset age of puberty was investigated in the reported study.
METHODS
The study is an observational retrospective study on growth during puberty in 170 Israeli (60 girls) and 335 Polish children (162 girls). Anthropometric measurements were analyzed by multivariable linear regression with the onset age of the pubertal growth spurt (PGS) as the dependent variable, and two independent variables "height gap" and body mass index (BMI)-both standardized.
RESULTS
The adjusted coefficient of determination (adj R2) between the onset age of the PGS and the two independent variables was 0.69 (Israeli girls), 0.50 (Israeli boys, BMI excluded), 0.25 (Polish girls) and 0.13 (Polish boys). A prediction model for the onset age of puberty is presented.
CONCLUSIONS
The association between the "height gap" and the onset age of puberty suggests that the variability of this age is part of the targeted process of statural growth. The proposed model may explain idiopathic cases of precocious and delayed puberty.
Topics: Adolescent; Age of Onset; Body Height; Child; Child Development; Female; Humans; Israel; Male; Models, Theoretical; Parents; Poland; Puberty; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 30682183
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211334 -
Anthropologischer Anzeiger; Bericht... Jun 2020We aimed to examine the distribution and secular changes of conscript body height in the geographic network of Norway since 1878 and to study its association with the...
We aimed to examine the distribution and secular changes of conscript body height in the geographic network of Norway since 1878 and to study its association with the degree of urbanization, and population density. Data on body height of Norwegian military conscripts were provided by the Statistics Norway Department (SSB). The sample comprised eight cohorts with the following measurement years: 1 1877, 1878 and 1880, 2 1895-1897, 3 1915-1917, 4 1935-1937, 5 1955-1957, 6 1975-1977, 7 1995-1997, and 8 2009-2011. For determining neighborhood correlations, a network was created consisting of neighboring counties, sharing a common border. Average body height of Norwegian men increased by 10.9 cm between 1878 and 2010, but this trend was heterogeneous. Some counties increased by more than 1 cm per decade (Finmark) others by only 7 mm per decade (Sor-Trondelag). Urban counties and counties with higher population density showed stronger height trends than rural counties. The largest spread in body height between the various counties was observed in 1936 when for the first time people living in the more urban counties got taller than rural people. The height advantage of urban counties however, disappeared after 1996. At this time, also the secular trend in height had come to a halt. The secular trend in height had become obvious after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905 and World War I, and was strongest between 1936 and 1956. During this period maximum between-county heterogeneity in height existed with body height differences of more than 6 cm between the tallest and the shortest county. The end of this period was characterized by social democratic reforms that flattened the income distribution, eliminated poverty, and ensured social services after World War II. The temporal coincidence between the trends in height, the degree of urbanization and the onset of the political transition of Norway from a Swedish province into an independent democratic wealthy modern European state after World War I and particularly after World War II, and the abatement of this trend after this period of transition had stabilized, suggest social and political components interfering with the regulation of physical growth in humans.
Topics: Body Height; Humans; Male; Military Personnel; Norway; World War I; World War II
PubMed: 32588018
DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2020/1254 -
PloS One 2018The propensity of a trait to vary within a population may have evolutionary, ecological, or clinical significance. In the present study we deploy sibling models to offer...
The propensity of a trait to vary within a population may have evolutionary, ecological, or clinical significance. In the present study we deploy sibling models to offer a novel and unbiased way to ascertain loci associated with the extent to which phenotypes vary (variance-controlling quantitative trait loci, or vQTLs). Previous methods for vQTL-mapping either exclude genetically related individuals or treat genetic relatedness among individuals as a complicating factor addressed by adjusting estimates for non-independence in phenotypes. The present method uses genetic relatedness as a tool to obtain unbiased estimates of variance effects rather than as a nuisance. The family-based approach, which utilizes random variation between siblings in minor allele counts at a locus, also allows controls for parental genotype, mean effects, and non-linear (dominance) effects that may spuriously appear to generate variation. Simulations show that the approach performs equally well as two existing methods (squared Z-score and DGLM) in controlling type I error rates when there is no unobserved confounding, and performs significantly better than these methods in the presence of small degrees of confounding. Using height and BMI as empirical applications, we investigate SNPs that alter within-family variation in height and BMI, as well as pathways that appear to be enriched. One significant SNP for BMI variability, in the MAST4 gene, replicated. Pathway analysis revealed one gene set, encoding members of several signaling pathways related to gap junction function, which appears significantly enriched for associations with within-family height variation in both datasets (while not enriched in analysis of mean levels). We recommend approximating laboratory random assignment of genotype using family data and more careful attention to the possible conflation of mean and variance effects.
Topics: Body Height; Body Mass Index; Chromosome Mapping; Computer Simulation; Genotype; Humans; Models, Genetic; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Quantitative Trait Loci; Siblings
PubMed: 29617452
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194541