Introduction: The Modified Mallampati Tongue Score (MMT) is commonly used in anesthesiology for the pre-anesthetic assessment of the airway in patients. This score roughly estimates the size and position of the tongue relative to the oral cavity, with higher scores associated with difficult intubation and increased incidence of breathing interferences, such as obstructive sleep apnea. The distance from the tongue base to roof of the mouth decreases from MMT-I to MMT-IV. The tongue shape and position impact the airway patency in the hypopharynx, contributing to changes in craniofacial head posture followed by changes in craniofacial morphology. This present study examines the pattern of associations between the Modified Mallampati Tongue Score positions and 1) the postural relationship of the cranium, hyoid bone, cervical column, and tongue 2) size, shape, and position of the craniofacial components, as depicted in a lateral cephalogram. Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 200 subjects (145 female, 55 male) prior to starting orthodontic treatment. MMT was assessed from one photograph of maximum mouth opening and tongue protrusion. Pretreatment cephalograms were analyzed to evaluate craniocervical posture, resting tongue position, hyoid bone position, or sagittal and vertical skeletal relationships. MMT (I-IV) was also compared to basic demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity). One-way ANOVA, Chi-square test, and correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Probability values <0.05 were accepted as significant. Results: A total of 200 patients (72.5% Female, 27.5% Male, 54% African American), with a mean age of 20 (Range 7-73), were included for the study. MMT-III was most prevalent (34%). MMT was not associated with age, gender, or race/ethnicity. Mean cephalometric measurements of hyoid position (p=0.06-0.03), mandibular position (p=0.006), ANB (p=0.009), and SNB (p=0.023, were shown to have significant differences with MMT. MMT positively correlated with the ANB (p=0.001), Wits (p=0.016), vertical position of the hyoid bone to neck (p=0.004) and mandible (p=0.048); and inversely correlated with the SNB (p=0.003) and Pog:Na-Perp (p=0.045). Conclusion: A higher MMT correlates to a Class II skeletal morphology and extended craniofacial posture. Preliminary results suggest high tongue position influences Class II craniofacial morphology, enhancing maxillary prognathic growth and mandibular deficiency. This indicates that MMT can be a potential predictor of craniofacial growth patterns, strengthening the prognosis and long-term stability of orthodontic treatment. / Oral Biology

Introduction: Genetic determination of human face is clearly visible in family members. The resemblance between monozygotic twins who are genetically identical is especially remarkable. So far the possibilities of reliable prediction of the complex morphology of facial traits on the basis of genome analysis and the ability to capture the variability of human facial morphology through genotype variability are highly limited. Complete genetic basis of the physiological variability of craniofacial traits remains more or less unknown. This master's thesis was created as a pilot study of the shared project of the Laboratory of 3D Imagining and Analytical Methods and the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology on Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics. Material and Methods: The specimen collection is composed of DNA samples derived from 30 families (29 with 4 members, 1 with 5 members) who fulfilled required criteria. Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms were chosen based on the available information. Eight of them are linked to normal facial variability and one was chosen based on the assumed function of the gene where the polymorphism is located. There were two methods of genotyping: RFLP method with the use of restriction endonuclease and SNaPshot method. Morphological data were provided by the...

Com cerca de 35,3 milhões de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS no mundo, não foram encontrados estudos cefalométricos realizados em grupos de pacientes com HIV/AIDS e portanto não há como estimar se a doença ou seu tratamento podem influenciar o crescimento craniofacial de crianças e adolescentes soropositivos. Estudos sobre o desenvolvimento deste grupo de pacientes, que utilizam a terapia antirretroviral (TARV-HAART), comprovam que ocorrem alterações que podem afetar o crescimento normal dessa população, seja em peso e/ou altura. Assim foi feita uma pesquisa sobre a morfologia craniofacial, através da avaliação do perfil cefalométrico esquelético, de pacientes HIV positivos infectados por transmissão vertical e submetidos à terapia antirretroviral, através de um estudo com 21 pacientes HIV positivos com idade entre 6 anos a 17 anos, comparados com 21 pacientes normorreativos pareados por sexo e idade. Embora as diferenças não sejam estatisticamente significantes, encontramos na morfologia craniofacial, medidas lineares diminuídas de crianças HIV positivas, particularmente na faixa etária de 13 a 17 anos de idade, quando comparadas às crianças normorreativas. / With around 35.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, it hasn´t been found cephalometric studies performed in groups of patients with HIV/AIDS, therefore it can´t be estimated if the disease or its treatment can have influence on HIV positive children and adolescents\' craniofacial growth. Studies about the development of this group, which use HAART, have proved that there are alterations that can affect the regular growth of this population, either in terms of weight and/or height. Thus, there has been done a research about craniofacial morphology evaluating the skeletal chephalometric profile of HIV positive patients infected via vertical transmission and submitted to antiretroviral therapy, in a study with 21 HIV positive patients, ages between 6 to 17 years old, compared to 21 normoreactive patients, paired according to sex and age. Although the differences are not statistically significant, we have found in craniofacial morphology, linear measurements diminished in HIV positive children, particularly in the age range between 13 to 17 years old, when compared to normoreactive children.

Estudos investigativos sobre a influência da hereditariedade nas fissuras orofaciais têm sugerido que indivíduos não-afetados com filhos portadores de fissura labiopalatina apresentam morfologia craniofacial distinta da população geral. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi, por meio de antropometria direta da face, estudar as dimensões faciais dos pais de fissurados em relação a indivíduos sem histórico familiar de fissura, com a finalidade de determinar características faciais que possam inferir uma predisposição à fissura. A amostra foi constituída por 244 indivíduos leucodermas, com média de idade de 34,1 anos, sendo 50 pais e 94 mães de crianças com fissura de lábio com ou sem envolvimento do palato, registrados na Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, formando o grupo de estudo, que foi subdividido em grupo pais, grupo mães e grupo casal; e 50 homens e 50 mulheres com ausência de história familiar de anomalias craniofaciais, compondo o grupo controle. Após a marcação de pontos antropométricos na face, foram realizadas 38 medidas antropométricas, correspondendo às dimensões faciais de altura, largura e profundidade, com auxílio de paquímetro digital e compasso facial. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste t de Student com correção de Levene para igualdade de variâncias. Os resultados estatisticamente significantes, para o grupo pais, foram: largura da testa; largura da face e distâncias inter-orbital interna e externa menores, enquanto que a largura da base do nariz, a altura do perfil inferior e a profundidade da mandíbula do lado esquerdo foram maiores. No grupo mães, a distância pupila-linha média lado direito, a largura da base do nariz, a largura do nariz, a largura anatômica do nariz, a largura da columela, a altura do terço superior da face e a profundidade da mandíbula do lado esquerdo apresentaram-se maiores. Os resultados do grupo casal foram pouco consistentes porque reproduziram os registrados nos subgrupos individuais. Embora diversas medidas tenham mostrado diferenças entre o grupo de estudo e o controle, apenas a largura da base do nariz e a profundidade da mandíbula do lado esquerdo se apresentam com as dimensões aumentadas nas respectivas subdivisões: pais, mães e casal. Concluiu-se que, pais e mães de crianças portadoras de fissuras labiopalatinas apresentam morfologia craniofacial distinta em relação à população geral; entretanto, não foi possível definir um padrão facial característico. / Recent studies concerning the influence of inheritance in orofacial clefts suggest that non-affected parents of children that present cleft lip and palate show distinctive craniofacial morphology compared to the overall population. The main objective of this research was to analyze and compare the facial dimensions of non-affected parents of affected children and individuals with no history of clefting in the family. The method used was the direct facial anthropometry, since it can determine facial characteristics that may be related to predisposition to cleft. The sample used comprised 244 leukoderms, averaging 34,1 years old, registered at the Dentistry School of the University of São Paulo. The sample was divided in study group and control group. The study group was composed of 50 fathers and 94 mothers of children affected by cleft lip and/or palate and was sub-divided in three sub-groups: fathers, mothers and couples. The control group was composed of 50 man and 50 women with no history of craniofacial anomalies. To evaluate the distinctive facial dimensions, a set of 38 anthropometric measurements were made using a sliding caliper and a spreading caliper to determine the length, width and depth. For statistical analysis the Student t test was used with Levene\'s correction for equal variances. The statistically significant results were: - Fathers group: smaller width of the forehead; smaller width of the face; smaller intercanthal width and biocular width as well as larger width of the nasal root, larger height of the lower profile and larger depth of the left lower jaw. - Mothers group: larger pupil-facial midline right distance, larger width of the nasal root, larger width of the nose, larger width between the facial insertion points of the alar base, larger width of the columella, larger height of the upper profile and larger depth of the left lower jaw. For the parents group, no statistical differences were identified, with results similar to the other two study groups. Although several measurements showed differences from the study group to the control group only width of nasal root and depth of the left lower jaw showed bigger dimensions in the three subgroups, fathers, mothers and couples. In conclusion, this study showed that fathers and mothers of children with cleft lip and palate show different craniofacial morphology compared to the overall population, but it was impossible to delineate a pattern.

'A face de cada um de nós apresenta características únicas. Resultado da combinação de tipos variados de mandíbulas, maxilas, órbitas, é o que nos faz reconhecer cada indivíduo. As crianças apresentam proporções faciais distintas dos adultos. O processo de crescimento e desenvolvimento craniofacial é influenciado por diversos fatores: tanto sistêmicos (genéticos, metabólicos, etc.) quanto locais (respiração nasal, dentição, hábitos orais). Sabe-se que a incidência de otites na infância é maior que em adultos e o que se atribui `a posição mais horizontal da tuba auditiva, em relação `a base do crânio nas crianças. A tuba auditiva é parte da orelha média que se estende desde o osso temporal até a nasofaringe, cujo desenvolvimento é influenciado pelo crescimento craniofacial. As doenças da orelha média influenciadas pela função da tuba auditiva, também ocorrem em adultos, ainda que em menor proporção. Uma vez que a menor incidência das doenças em adultos é atribuída ao crescimento da tuba auditiva, e este é dependente do crescimento craniofacial, deve haver relação entre as doenças da orelha média em adultos com as características morfológicas da face. Desse modo, o objetivo deste estudo foi correlacionar as doenças da orelha média, influenciadas pela função da tuba auditiva com a morfologia e tipologia craniofacial e determinar um traçado cefalométrico como fator prognóstico para estas doenças. Foram selecionados 66 pacientes, entre 18 e 40 anos, do Ambulatório da Divisão de Clínica Otorrinolaringológica da FMUSP. Os indivíduos foram divididos em 2 grupos sendo 32 com doença da orelha média e 34 sem, que constituiu o grupo controle. Os indivíduos não apresentavam nenhum dos fatores de exclusão a seguir: história pessoal ou familiar de fissura palatina, cirurgia bucal, maxilar, faríngea, nasal ou facial prévias, tratamento ortodôntico ou processos obstrutivos do óstio da tuba auditiva. Os pacientes foram submetidos a exame físico otorrinolaringológico, videotoscopia, fibronasofaringoscopia e telerradiografia de perfil. As telerradiografias foram analisadas através de traçado cefalométrico. Observou-se diferenças das grandezas cefalométricas no grupo de indivíduos com doença da orelha média, referentes a base do crânio, projeção da maxila e altura facial. Não houve predomínio de um tipo facial em especial. Dessa forma, o seguinte traçado apresenta valor preditivo para a evolução das doenças da orelha média N-S (comprimento da base do crânio anterior), N-S.Ba (ângulo entre as bases anterior e média do crânio, PMax (profundidade maxilar) e N-ENA (altura facial anterior superior).' / There are thousand types of faces and each one is unique. Individual faces are the result from the combination of different kinds of maxillas, mandibles, and orbits. The face proportions, in children, are distinct of adult ones. Craniofacial growth and development depends on a diversity of factors, such as: genetic, metabolic, nasal breathing, teeth development, etc. The auditory tube is part of middle ear and extends from temporal bone to nasopharynx. It has a more horizontal position in children than in adults; therefore otitis media is more frequent in this age group. The type of cranial base and the displacement of the maxilla during craniofacial growth influence the growth of the auditory tube. The lower frequency of otitis media in adults relates to the development of auditory tube during craniofacial growth. So, there should be a correlation between caniofacial morphology and otitis media. The aims of this study are to correlate facial types and cephalometric measurement morphology to otitis media and suggest which measurements can be used as a prediction of the evolution of otitis media. Sixty-four patients, 18 to 40 years old, were selected from the Outpatient Center of the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of São Paulo Medical School. They were divided into two groups: 32 with otitis media and 34 controls. We excluded patients with personal or familiar history of cleft palate, previous buccal, maxillar, pharyngeal, facial or nasal surgery, orthodontic treatment or obstructive process of the auditory tube ostia. All subjects underwent to complete ENT physical examination, videotoscopy, fibernasalendoscopy and lateral cephalograms. Statistical analysis of the cephalometric measurements showed significant differences of cranial base; projection of maxilla and facial height, in patients with otitis media when compared to the control group or to the ideal measures of the harmonic face. There was no predominance of any facial type. The following measures were found to be predictive of the evolution of otitis media: N-S (anterior cranial base), N-S.Ba (angle between anterior and medial cranial base), PMax (projection of the maxilla) and N-ANS(superior anteior facial height).'

Com cerca de 35,3 milhões de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS no mundo, não foram encontrados estudos cefalométricos realizados em grupos de pacientes com HIV/AIDS e portanto não há como estimar se a doença ou seu tratamento podem influenciar o crescimento craniofacial de crianças e adolescentes soropositivos. Estudos sobre o desenvolvimento deste grupo de pacientes, que utilizam a terapia antirretroviral (TARV-HAART), comprovam que ocorrem alterações que podem afetar o crescimento normal dessa população, seja em peso e/ou altura. Assim foi feita uma pesquisa sobre a morfologia craniofacial, através da avaliação do perfil cefalométrico esquelético, de pacientes HIV positivos infectados por transmissão vertical e submetidos à terapia antirretroviral, através de um estudo com 21 pacientes HIV positivos com idade entre 6 anos a 17 anos, comparados com 21 pacientes normorreativos pareados por sexo e idade. Embora as diferenças não sejam estatisticamente significantes, encontramos na morfologia craniofacial, medidas lineares diminuídas de crianças HIV positivas, particularmente na faixa etária de 13 a 17 anos de idade, quando comparadas às crianças normorreativas. / With around 35.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, it hasn´t been found cephalometric studies performed in groups of patients with HIV/AIDS, therefore it can´t be estimated if the disease or its treatment can have influence on HIV positive children and adolescents\' craniofacial growth. Studies about the development of this group, which use HAART, have proved that there are alterations that can affect the regular growth of this population, either in terms of weight and/or height. Thus, there has been done a research about craniofacial morphology evaluating the skeletal chephalometric profile of HIV positive patients infected via vertical transmission and submitted to antiretroviral therapy, in a study with 21 HIV positive patients, ages between 6 to 17 years old, compared to 21 normoreactive patients, paired according to sex and age. Although the differences are not statistically significant, we have found in craniofacial morphology, linear measurements diminished in HIV positive children, particularly in the age range between 13 to 17 years old, when compared to normoreactive children.

'A face de cada um de nós apresenta características únicas. Resultado da combinação de tipos variados de mandíbulas, maxilas, órbitas, é o que nos faz reconhecer cada indivíduo. As crianças apresentam proporções faciais distintas dos adultos. O processo de crescimento e desenvolvimento craniofacial é influenciado por diversos fatores: tanto sistêmicos (genéticos, metabólicos, etc.) quanto locais (respiração nasal, dentição, hábitos orais). Sabe-se que a incidência de otites na infância é maior que em adultos e o que se atribui `a posição mais horizontal da tuba auditiva, em relação `a base do crânio nas crianças. A tuba auditiva é parte da orelha média que se estende desde o osso temporal até a nasofaringe, cujo desenvolvimento é influenciado pelo crescimento craniofacial. As doenças da orelha média influenciadas pela função da tuba auditiva, também ocorrem em adultos, ainda que em menor proporção. Uma vez que a menor incidência das doenças em adultos é atribuída ao crescimento da tuba auditiva, e este é dependente do crescimento craniofacial, deve haver relação entre as doenças da orelha média em adultos com as características morfológicas da face. Desse modo, o objetivo deste estudo foi correlacionar as doenças da orelha média, influenciadas pela função da tuba auditiva com a morfologia e tipologia craniofacial e determinar um traçado cefalométrico como fator prognóstico para estas doenças. Foram selecionados 66 pacientes, entre 18 e 40 anos, do Ambulatório da Divisão de Clínica Otorrinolaringológica da FMUSP. Os indivíduos foram divididos em 2 grupos sendo 32 com doença da orelha média e 34 sem, que constituiu o grupo controle. Os indivíduos não apresentavam nenhum dos fatores de exclusão a seguir: história pessoal ou familiar de fissura palatina, cirurgia bucal, maxilar, faríngea, nasal ou facial prévias, tratamento ortodôntico ou processos obstrutivos do óstio da tuba auditiva. Os pacientes foram submetidos a exame físico otorrinolaringológico, videotoscopia, fibronasofaringoscopia e telerradiografia de perfil. As telerradiografias foram analisadas através de traçado cefalométrico. Observou-se diferenças das grandezas cefalométricas no grupo de indivíduos com doença da orelha média, referentes a base do crânio, projeção da maxila e altura facial. Não houve predomínio de um tipo facial em especial. Dessa forma, o seguinte traçado apresenta valor preditivo para a evolução das doenças da orelha média N-S (comprimento da base do crânio anterior), N-S.Ba (ângulo entre as bases anterior e média do crânio, PMax (profundidade maxilar) e N-ENA (altura facial anterior superior).' / There are thousand types of faces and each one is unique. Individual faces are the result from the combination of different kinds of maxillas, mandibles, and orbits. The face proportions, in children, are distinct of adult ones. Craniofacial growth and development depends on a diversity of factors, such as: genetic, metabolic, nasal breathing, teeth development, etc. The auditory tube is part of middle ear and extends from temporal bone to nasopharynx. It has a more horizontal position in children than in adults; therefore otitis media is more frequent in this age group. The type of cranial base and the displacement of the maxilla during craniofacial growth influence the growth of the auditory tube. The lower frequency of otitis media in adults relates to the development of auditory tube during craniofacial growth. So, there should be a correlation between caniofacial morphology and otitis media. The aims of this study are to correlate facial types and cephalometric measurement morphology to otitis media and suggest which measurements can be used as a prediction of the evolution of otitis media. Sixty-four patients, 18 to 40 years old, were selected from the Outpatient Center of the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of São Paulo Medical School. They were divided into two groups: 32 with otitis media and 34 controls. We excluded patients with personal or familiar history of cleft palate, previous buccal, maxillar, pharyngeal, facial or nasal surgery, orthodontic treatment or obstructive process of the auditory tube ostia. All subjects underwent to complete ENT physical examination, videotoscopy, fibernasalendoscopy and lateral cephalograms. Statistical analysis of the cephalometric measurements showed significant differences of cranial base; projection of maxilla and facial height, in patients with otitis media when compared to the control group or to the ideal measures of the harmonic face. There was no predominance of any facial type. The following measures were found to be predictive of the evolution of otitis media: N-S (anterior cranial base), N-S.Ba (angle between anterior and medial cranial base), PMax (projection of the maxilla) and N-ANS(superior anteior facial height).'

The use of geometric morphometrics (GM) in physical anthropology has increased markedly over the recent years. In current studies of secular change, anthropologists have more frequently turned to this technique as it provides scientists with a powerful tool for shape analysis. Secular change is defined as changes in the skeletal biology, usually seen in a population, resulting from shifts in living standards or exposure to a new environmental factor over a short timeframe (Jantz and Meadows Jantz 2000; Weisensee and Jantz 2011). Studies conducted in Europe, Asia, and the United States have shown significant signs of secular change in craniofacial morphology. This thesis will utilize GM analyses of 57 craniofacial landmarks from 313 individuals to determine secular change in the European male populations of the Raymond A. Dart and Pretoria Skeletal Collections located in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa, respectively, with birth years ranging from 1850 to 1956. Craniofacial data points were collected using a 3D Microscribe digitizer, upon which the Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA) was used to align all landmarks into one coordinate reference plane. In order to determine the presence of shape change, a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was run on the Procrustes coordinates of all individuals. Then, a multivariate regression of shape score on year of birth was conducted to determine the magnitude of change as explained over time. Following the multivariate regression, various Canonical Variates Analyses (CVA) were performed to determine whether secular change was occurring. In addition to collecting metric data, ultimate and proximate causes are explored to provide a more holistic understanding of the potential reasons for the changing or unchanging nature of the crania in the ancestrally European South African population. This study hypothesizes these collections will exhibit craniofacial secular change resulting from greater exposure to increased nutrition over time, greater access to healthcare, and socioeconomic and political stability. Additionally, genetic factors could be affecting the development of the crania through time. As many studies use the Dart and Pretoria collections in tandem to understand population-specific traits of modern South Africans, the presence of secular change will greatly affect the way researchers utilize samples for their studies. Forensic anthropologists study collections to create better estimations for elements of the biological profile such as stature, age, and sex. However, failure to take into account secular change would provide erroneous results. This study provides answers regarding the need to account for secular change if necessary. This research indicates that there are some changes occurring in the craniofacial morphology as see by the PCA, but the results of the CVA indicate that this is not necessarily due to secular change. The results do not clearly indicate the presence of secular change. There are many possibilities dictating potentially why. The first possibility is that there are small changes occurring in the craniofacial morphology; however, this is not caused by secular change. There are other variables, potentially genetic, that are influencing these slight changes that we see. Despite other nations with similar economic development trajectories experiencing a definite presence of secular change, the unique history and population structure of European South Africans could be contributing to the lack of secular change present. Another possible reason is the lack of passage of time from the industrialization of the nation. Furthermore, there is potentially not enough data tested to warrant a reliable conclusion that secular change is or is not occurring. With the cranium, the possibility exists that a minimum threshold of specimens is needed in order to have a reliable conclusion.

Estudos investigativos sobre a influência da hereditariedade nas fissuras orofaciais têm sugerido que indivíduos não-afetados com filhos portadores de fissura labiopalatina apresentam morfologia craniofacial distinta da população geral. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi, por meio de antropometria direta da face, estudar as dimensões faciais dos pais de fissurados em relação a indivíduos sem histórico familiar de fissura, com a finalidade de determinar características faciais que possam inferir uma predisposição à fissura. A amostra foi constituída por 244 indivíduos leucodermas, com média de idade de 34,1 anos, sendo 50 pais e 94 mães de crianças com fissura de lábio com ou sem envolvimento do palato, registrados na Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, formando o grupo de estudo, que foi subdividido em grupo pais, grupo mães e grupo casal; e 50 homens e 50 mulheres com ausência de história familiar de anomalias craniofaciais, compondo o grupo controle. Após a marcação de pontos antropométricos na face, foram realizadas 38 medidas antropométricas, correspondendo às dimensões faciais de altura, largura e profundidade, com auxílio de paquímetro digital e compasso facial. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste t de Student com correção de Levene para igualdade de variâncias. Os resultados estatisticamente significantes, para o grupo pais, foram: largura da testa; largura da face e distâncias inter-orbital interna e externa menores, enquanto que a largura da base do nariz, a altura do perfil inferior e a profundidade da mandíbula do lado esquerdo foram maiores. No grupo mães, a distância pupila-linha média lado direito, a largura da base do nariz, a largura do nariz, a largura anatômica do nariz, a largura da columela, a altura do terço superior da face e a profundidade da mandíbula do lado esquerdo apresentaram-se maiores. Os resultados do grupo casal foram pouco consistentes porque reproduziram os registrados nos subgrupos individuais. Embora diversas medidas tenham mostrado diferenças entre o grupo de estudo e o controle, apenas a largura da base do nariz e a profundidade da mandíbula do lado esquerdo se apresentam com as dimensões aumentadas nas respectivas subdivisões: pais, mães e casal. Concluiu-se que, pais e mães de crianças portadoras de fissuras labiopalatinas apresentam morfologia craniofacial distinta em relação à população geral; entretanto, não foi possível definir um padrão facial característico. / Recent studies concerning the influence of inheritance in orofacial clefts suggest that non-affected parents of children that present cleft lip and palate show distinctive craniofacial morphology compared to the overall population. The main objective of this research was to analyze and compare the facial dimensions of non-affected parents of affected children and individuals with no history of clefting in the family. The method used was the direct facial anthropometry, since it can determine facial characteristics that may be related to predisposition to cleft. The sample used comprised 244 leukoderms, averaging 34,1 years old, registered at the Dentistry School of the University of São Paulo. The sample was divided in study group and control group. The study group was composed of 50 fathers and 94 mothers of children affected by cleft lip and/or palate and was sub-divided in three sub-groups: fathers, mothers and couples. The control group was composed of 50 man and 50 women with no history of craniofacial anomalies. To evaluate the distinctive facial dimensions, a set of 38 anthropometric measurements were made using a sliding caliper and a spreading caliper to determine the length, width and depth. For statistical analysis the Student t test was used with Levene\'s correction for equal variances. The statistically significant results were: - Fathers group: smaller width of the forehead; smaller width of the face; smaller intercanthal width and biocular width as well as larger width of the nasal root, larger height of the lower profile and larger depth of the left lower jaw. - Mothers group: larger pupil-facial midline right distance, larger width of the nasal root, larger width of the nose, larger width between the facial insertion points of the alar base, larger width of the columella, larger height of the upper profile and larger depth of the left lower jaw. For the parents group, no statistical differences were identified, with results similar to the other two study groups. Although several measurements showed differences from the study group to the control group only width of nasal root and depth of the left lower jaw showed bigger dimensions in the three subgroups, fathers, mothers and couples. In conclusion, this study showed that fathers and mothers of children with cleft lip and palate show different craniofacial morphology compared to the overall population, but it was impossible to delineate a pattern.

In skeletal studies of prehistoric populations of Chile’s semiarid north, it is common practice for physical anthropologists to visually categorize crania as dolichophallic and brachycephalic which are then attributed to cultures or time periods based on the observed shape. The validity of this classification is still debated and poses several questions regarding the prehistory of Chile. The goal of this study is to investigate the craniofacial variation in populations representing the Archaic period and Intermediate-Late periods of Chile’s semiarid north using morphometric analysis. The samples comprise two collections from the Museo Arqueologico de La Serena in La Serena, Chile. The Archaic period dates from 10,000 BC to 300 AC. The Intermediate-Late period dates from 900 AC to 1500 AC. The Archaic period included 87 crania, while the Intermediate-Late period included 78 crania. Cranial vault modification was practiced in all prehistoric populations, and modified individuals comprise ~4.6% of the Archaic period sample and ~74.4% of the Intermediate-Late period sample. Individuals observed to be dolichocephalic are associated with the Archaic period, while brachycephalic individuals are associated with the Intermediate-Late period. Previous studies have shown that individuals with intentional cranial modification, annular and tabular, exhibit predictable changes in the craniofacial complex due to compensatory growth and shape changes related to peripheral structures of the cranial vault. A form of tabular modification is seen in both periods included in this sample, with the Intermediate-Late period sample being dominated by this modification. All craniometric landmarks were recorded using a Microscribe™ 3D digitizer, with exclusion of mandibular landmarks. MorphoJ was utilized to analyze the geometric morphometric data. Coordinates using the Microscribe were recorded in order to investigate the differences in shape of the craniofacial complex between the two samples. Two separate analyses were performed, one with all landmarks recorded and one excluding landmarks prosthion, alveolon, ectomolare and zygion. The results of both Canonical Variate analyses and associated Mahalanobis Distance values (2.699 and 2.9316) indicates statistically significant differences (p<0.001) between the two samples. It is also evident that shape changes along CV1, increases in minimum frontal breadth, upper facial breadth, and nasal height, correspond with characteristics associated with brachycephalism and tabular cranial vault modification. The large range of variation of the Intermediate-Late period sample is speculated to be a result of multiple small populations moving toward the coast possibly due to a change in climate. These small populations exhibited various morphologies which were influenced by nonrandom environmental factors. The Mahalanobis distances of the different cultural groups also indicate statistically significant differences. This method has the potential to be used in conjunction with others to identify cultural context and significance of remains in archaeological contexts in Chile. In the event of repatriation acts this method could also be used to attribute individuals to corresponding cultures and be donated to the appropriate community or facility.