No description available.

The aim of this thesis was to determine whether there are differences in the length of a jump among individual breeds and whether the proportions of the body and body indices influence the length of the jump. In total 84 individuals of three model breeds (German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd and Border Collie) were studied. For each individual dog six body measurements were taken and used to calculate the ratios of physical parameters (indices). In addition to the measuring, the jump over an obstacle was video recording for ad-hoc analysis of the jump parameters. Using the described methods was proven that the breed, individual training experience and body measurements have significant influence on jump performance, or more precisely on take-off and jump length. The impact of analyzed aspects on landing was significantly lower. Jump length is closely related to the depth/height index and the width of the chest. The worst performance was statistically identified at dogs with low value of the balance index. The results indicate that characteristics examined in this thesis (namely breed and the body measurements and indices) can be used for preselecting individuals with higher jump potential.

Humans, like all animal species, are subject to Bergmann's (1847) and Allen's (1877) environmental rules which summarize physical adaptations to the natural environment. However, humans are in addition cultural animals and other bio-cultural factors such as social, economic and political status, general health, and nutrition, have a noticeable influence on stature and body proportions. Importantly, socio-economic status has a powerful influence on stature, which has been used to elucidate status differences in past societies (Bogin and Loucky, 1997; Floud et al., 1990; Schutkowski, 2000a). Furthermore, bio-cultural factors influence all dimensions of the human body, including weight, relative limb length, and relative length of the different limb segments. Given minimal migration and shared natural environments, all populations in this study, coming as they do from the last 2000 years of English history, should demonstrate similar morphology (c. f Ruff, 1994) if climatic variables were the only influence on stature and body proportions. In order to assess such bio-cultural factors in individuals from archaeological populations, skeletal populations from sites such as known leprosaria and medieval hospitals, rural and urban parish cemeteries, victims from the battle of Towton in A. D. 1461, and individuals from monastic cemeteries were analysed. The osteometric data from these populations were assessedfo r within and between population variability and indicate effects of bio-cultural factors on attained body proportions and stature. The results indicate a strong relationship between bio-cultural factors and body proportions, body mass index, prevalence of pathologies, sexual dimorphism, secular trend, and general stature from Roman times to the post-medieval period. The usefulness of stature, weight, and physical indices as markers of the bio-cultural environment is demonstrated. The main findings include: a greater sensitivity to external stressors in the males rather than the females of the analysed populations, rendering male statures more susceptible to varying bio-cultural conditions; a potential for very tall stature has existed in the analysed populations but was only realised. in very high status individuals in medieval times, and from the beginning 20'h century with better socio-economic conditions for the population at large; a less stratified socio-political environment, as in the late Anglo-Saxon period resulted in taller average male statures that a more stratified one, such as the medieval Nation-States; and medieval monastic institutions could have high status, e.g., the Gilbertines, or lower status, such as the mendicant orders, while leprosaria had the lowest status of all.

Einleitung: Wachstumsprozesse beim gesunden Menschen sind weitgehend untersucht und bekannt. Über die Auswirkungen von stark erniedrigtem bzw. fehlendem Wachstumshormon auf das Längen- und Breitenwachstum einzelner auxiologischer Parameter und die Folgen einer Wachstumshormonsubstitutionstherapie auf die Körperproportionen im Einzelnen weiß man außer den Kenntnissen über die Körperhöhenveränderungen wenig. Fragestellung: Ziel dieser Arbeit war die auxiologische Untersuchung von Kindern mit Wachstumshormonmangel vor und unter einer Substitutionstherapie mit Wachstumshormon. im Vordergrund stand die Erkennung bestimmter auxiologischer Muster vor und die Frage nach Veränderungen der Körperproportionen unter der Therapie. Methode: Grundlage der Daten sind 62 Kinder mit idiopathischem und 20 Kindern mit organischem Wachtumshormonmangel, bei denen über einen maximalen Zeitraum von fünf Jahren halbjährlich 22 verschiedene Parameter vermessen und drei weitere berechnet worden sind. Ergebnisse: Die phänotypischen Merkmale des hypophysären Kleinwuchses vor Substitutionsbeginn (Puppengesicht, Akromikrie, pyknomorpher Körperbau) sind Ausdruck bestimmter auxiologischer Konstellationen, die Längenparameter weichen signifikant stärker als die Breitenparameter vom Altersnormwert ab. In Abhängigkeit von der Therapiedauer kommt es durch unterschiedlich stark ausgeprägte Größenzuwachsraten im Verhältnis zum Längenwachstum insbesondere bei der Unterarmlänge, den Breiten- und Tiefenmaßen des Thorax und den Kopfmaßen zu Veränderungen der Körperproportionen. In der Regel verbessern sich die Ausgangsproportionen. Der relative Körperfettgehalt, sowie die Umfänge (Brust-, Taillen- und Hüftumfang) nehmen unter der Therapie in Relation zur Körperhöhe ab. Schlussfolgerung: Anhand der vorliegenden Daten wird gezeigt, dass die Substitutionstherapie mit Wachstumshormon beim hypophysären Kleinwuchs Auswirkungen auf das Längen- und Breitenwachstum einzelner auxiologischer Parameter hat und sich von physiologischem Wachstum unterscheidet. Für die Bestätigung unserer Beobachtungen sind weitere prospektive Untersuchungen in größeren Kollektiven notwendig. / Introduction: Processes of growth in healthy children are well established. However, little is known about the effects of strongly degraded or missing growth hormone on the lengths and breadths growth of single axiological parameters. In particular, changes of body proportions under hormone replacement therapy are not known. Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of growth hormone deficiency of single axiological parameters and changes in body proportions during replacement therapy with growth hormone. Patients/Material and Methods: Subjects studied include 62 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and 20 children with organic reason of growth hormone deficiency. 22 anthropometric measurements per person were taken by the same trained examiner prior to the start of GH-treatment and then every six months over a maximal period of 5 years. Results: Results give a distinct anthropometric picture before start of therapy. All linear parameters were significantly below average, while width measurements differed less. During treatment changes of the body proportions occur due to different growth rates of measured distances compared to height growth. The most positive changes were seen in the upper arm, hand and feet growth under GH-therapy. A comparable low growth was seen in forearm length, chest width and depth and head measures. The growth dynamics of the other parameters correspond to that of height itself. Conclusion: It is shown that the replacement therapy with growth hormone has different effects on the length and width growth of different bones. The growth is different from physiological growth processes in patient with growth hormone deficiency. Further prospective examinations are necessary to confirm our observations in larger collectives.

Humans, like all animal species, are subject to Bergmann's (1847) and Allen's (1877) environmental rules which summarize physical adaptations to the natural environment. However, humans are in addition cultural animals and other bio-cultural factors such as social, economic and political status, general health, and nutrition, have a noticeable influence on stature and body proportions. Importantly, socio-economic status has a powerful influence on stature, which has been used to elucidate status differences in past societies (Bogin and Loucky, 1997; Floud et al., 1990; Schutkowski, 2000a). Furthermore, bio-cultural factors influence all dimensions of the human body, including weight, relative limb length, and relative length of the different limb segments. Given minimal migration and shared natural environments, all populations in this study, coming as they do from the last 2000 years of English history, should demonstrate similar morphology (c. f Ruff, 1994) if climatic variables were the only influence on stature and body proportions. In order to assess such bio-cultural factors in individuals from archaeological populations, skeletal populations from sites such as known leprosaria and medieval hospitals, rural and urban parish cemeteries, victims from the battle of Towton in A. D. 1461, and individuals from monastic cemeteries were analysed. The osteometric data from these populations were assessedfo r within and between population variability and indicate effects of bio-cultural factors on attained body proportions and stature. The results indicate a strong relationship between bio-cultural factors and body proportions, body mass index, prevalence of pathologies, sexual dimorphism, secular trend, and general stature from Roman times to the post-medieval period. The usefulness of stature, weight, and physical indices as markers of the bio-cultural environment is demonstrated. The main findings include: a greater sensitivity to external stressors in the males rather than the females of the analysed populations, rendering male statures more susceptible to varying bio-cultural conditions; a potential for very tall stature has existed in the analysed populations but was only realised. in very high status individuals in medieval times, and from the beginning 20'h century with better socio-economic conditions for the population at large; a less stratified socio-political environment, as in the late Anglo-Saxon period resulted in taller average male statures that a more stratified one, such as the medieval Nation-States; and medieval monastic institutions could have high status, e.g., the Gilbertines, or lower status, such as the mendicant orders, while leprosaria had the lowest status of all. / Ministere de la Culture, de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche, Luxembourg; Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford; Andy Jagger Fund; Francis Raymond Hudson Memorial Fund

No description available.

Down syndrome (DS) is associated with psychomotor retardation, short stature and endocrine dysfunction. Statural growth is a well-known indicator of health. The growth in DS differs markedly from that of other children and there is a 20 cm reduction of final height as compared to target height. We developed growth charts specific for Swedish children with DS, in order to facilitate early diagnosis of concomitant diseases that influence growth. The growth charts are available for paediatricians and child health care professionals in Sweden. The mechanism underlying the impaired growth in DS is unknown. Height is influenced by parental factors, energy intake, hormone balance and general health. In DS, genetic factors deriving from the extra chromosome 21 further affect growth. Children with DS seem to have reasonable levels of growth hormone (GH), even though GH treatment for limited periods of time improves growth velocity. Within the present project, the subjects of a previous study on early GH therapy in DS were followed up regarding late effects. We found a larger adult head circumference and better psychomotor abilities in the previously treated subjects despite a lack of effect on final height. In adult life, GH has effects on psychological well-being and metabolism. The clinical features in adults with DS might indicate impaired GH secretion. Ten young adults with DS were studied and compared with ten healthy controls. The GH secretion in the DS subjects did not differ from that in the controls. The fat body mass percentage was increased in DS, in line with the high prevalence of overweight/obesity. The finding of an increased HOMA index as well as a high relative rate of hepatic glucose production in DS indicates reduced insulin sensitivity both peripherally and in the liver. Thyroid dysfunction is common in DS. There is a 30-fold increase in congenital hypothyroidism, and acquired hypothyroidism has been reported to be present in up to 50% of adults with DS. We collected neonatal screening results and hospital records for the first ten years of life of 68 children with DS. The mean TSH concentration was increased neonatally, indicating marginal hypothyroidism early in life in DS. However, the neonatal TSH level did not predict development of manifest hypothyroidism later in life. / Downs syndrom (DS) är en vanlig kromosomavvikelse. Kortvuxenhet och psykomotorisk utvecklingsstörning är kardinaltecken vid DS. Endokrina avvikelser är också frekvent förekommande. Tillväxt är en bra indikator på barns hälsa. Nyfödda barn med DS är kortare än andra nyfödda, och skillnaden i längd ökar under barndomen. Sjukdomar som påverkar tillväxten upptäcks ofta via ett förändrat tillväxtmönster. Detta kan lätt förbises vid DS eftersom tillväxten redan är avvikande. Användning av syndromspecifika tillväxtkurvor ökar möjligheterna till diagnostik av sjukdomar som stör längdtillväxten. Vi har framställt tillväxtkurvor för barn med DS, vilka finns tillgängliga inom svensk barnsjukvård och barnhälsovård. Längdtillväxt styrs av nedärvda faktorer från föräldrarna liksom av nutrition, hälsa och hormoner. Genetiska faktorer, kopplade till kromosom 21, kan påverka tillväxten vid DS, men tillväxtstörningens exakta bakgrund är inte känd. I vuxen ålder är personer med DS ungefär 20 cm kortare än förväntat med hänsyn till föräldralängder. Trots att barn med DS har relativt normala nivåer av tillväxthormon (STH eller GH) förbättras deras tillväxt vid STH-behandling. Inom avhandlingsarbetet följde vi upp ungdomar med DS, vilka behandlats med STH i tidig barndom. Vi kunde påvisa större huvudomfång samt förbättrad kognitiv och motorisk förmåga, trots avsaknad av effekt på slutlängden. Tillväxthormon har i vuxen ålder effekt både på ämnesomsättning och psykologiskt välbefinnande. Vuxna individer med DS uppvisar flera tecken förenliga med STH-brist. Vi jämförde tio unga vuxna med DS med tio friska kontrollindivider avseende förmågan att insöndra STH. STH-insöndringen hos individerna med DS skiljde sig inte från den hos kontrollerna. Vid samtidig undersökning av kroppssammansättning påvisades en ökad andel kroppsfett hos individerna med DS, resultat i linje med den frekventa förekomsten av övervikt/fetma. Individerna med DS hade en förhöjd glukosproduktion, som tillsammans med ett ökat HOMA-index talar för förekomst av minskad insulinkänslighet både på levernivå och perifert. Brist på sköldkörtelhormon är mycket vanligt vid DS och upp till hälften av vuxna med DS kan ha hypotyreos. Vi studerade 68 barn med DS avseende nivåer av tyroideastimulerande hormon (TSH) vid PKU-provtagning. Vi följde också barnens journalhandlingar från de tio första levnadsåren i syfte att undersöka om den neonatala TSH-nivån kan prediktera framtida underfunktion av sköldkörteln. Resultaten visade att barn med DS har en förhöjd nivå av TSH neonatalt, vilket indikerar en brist på sköldkörtelhormon redan i nyföddhetsperioden, men nivån förutsäger inte utveckling av manifest hypotyreos senare under barndomen.