Is increased constitutive skin and hair pigmentation an early sign of puberty?

Abstract not availableA. Sitek, E. Żądzińska, I. Rosset, B. Antoszewsk

Biometric characteristics of the pelvis in female-to-male transsexuals

The objective of the study was to evaluate the metric features of pelvises of 24 female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals as compared to control groups of 24 healthy males and 24 healthy females. The participants had their pelvises X-rayed with the same X-ray apparatus and in the same position. Seventeen measurements were taken on the basis of X-ray pictures of FtM transsexuals' pelvises and both comparison groups. Additionally, their body height was compared. The results showed that FtM transsexuals having female body height represent an intermediate size of three pelvic features and male values of five variables. In order to develop a model based on metric variables of the pelvis that would best discriminate the FtM transsexuals, the control females, and the control males, a discriminant analysis was applied. The model included four variables out of 17 metric features: the height of the pubic symphysis, the greatest pelvic breadth, the interischial distance, and the acetabular diameter. The model was found to be the best in discriminating males from females and FtM transsexuals, but considerably less effective in discriminating transsexuals from the two control groups. The results demonstrate that a number of FtM transsexuals' pelvic measurements reveal "masculinization," which confirms current results demonstrating a shift in the somatometric traits of transsexual females towards male traits. A discriminant analysis based only on pelvic metric features shows some differences between the size of the pelvis and chromosomal sex in FtM transsexuals, which might indicate a biological basis for gender identity disorder.Aneta Sitek, Marta Fijałkowska, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Bogusław Antoszewsk

Selected gene polymorphisms effect on skin and hair pigmentation in Polish children at the prepubertal age

Background: Human pigmentation, similarly as many other biological features, changes in the course of post-natal ontogenesis, while in case of hair, pigmentation changes are more distinctive than in the skin or the iris. It is therefore extremely important to identify the genes, involved in the constitution of human pigmentation features at various stages of ontogenesis. Results of this type of analyses are of high practical significance in forensic study because they enable to create mathematical tools, allowing for prediction of the pigmentation phenotype, based on DNA studies. Aim: The objective of the investigation was finding out whether the genes, associated with pigmentation of adult subjects, differentiated in any way the newly forming pigmentation phenotype in Polish prepubertal children. Material and methods: The study encompassed Polish children, aged 7 to 10 years, without any abnormalities in skin or hair pigmentation. A total of 245 children were examined. Constitutive skin pigmentation according to skin melanin index (SMI) was evaluated, using a dermaspectrometer, and classified into three groups based on the reference values of 25 and 75 percentile for Polish children. Hair colors were evaluated by means of the descriptive Fischer-Saller scale and classified by a division of color variants (as accepted in that scale) (light blonde, blonde, dark blonde, brown and dark brown). In saliva samples, collected from the children, five (5) single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified: SNPs: rs1800401 (OCA2-15q11.2-q12), rs35264875 (TPCN2-11q13.3), rs16891982 (SLC45A2-5p13.2), rs12913832 (HERC2-15q13) and rs1805007 (MC1R-16q24.3). An association between each allele of verified genotype and skin and hair color phenotypes was assessed, using the z-statistic and associated p-value. The quality of classifiers was evaluated by 10-fold stratified cross-validation and was characterized by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Light skin pigmentation phenotype (SMI75 percentile) with rs16891982 (SLC45A2) (allelic OR =14.37; 95% Cl: 1.78-115.88; p=0.0123). The probability of dark hair (brown and dark brown) in childhood was increased by T rs12913832 allele (HERC2) (OR=3.63); 95% Cl: 2.25-5.85; p < 0.0001) and dependent on it - rs1800401 (OCA2) (OR=6.31; 95% Cl: 1.74-22.91; p=0.0051). Other SNPs were not significantly associated with skin and hair color but improved prediction of these features. Conclusions: From the five gene polymorphisms analysed in Polish children the strongest correlation with hair color has the rs12913832 (HERC2) and with skin color - rs16891982 (SLC45A2). Therefore, the above-mentioned polymorphisms may be used as components of potential models, used to predict pigmentation features in European origin children in prepubertal age. To improve predictive value of the potential scoring model for hair color, the following should be additionally included: rs1800401 (OCA2), rs35264875 (TPCN2) and rs1805007 (MC1R), while for skin color: rs12913832 (HERC2) and rs1805007 (MC1R).Aneta Sitek, Iwona Rosset, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Anna Siewierska-Górska, Edyta Pietrowska, and Dominik Strapagie

Skin color parameters and Fitzpatrick phototypes in estimating the risk of skin cancer: a case-control study in the Polish population

Abstract not availableAneta Sitek, Iwona Rosset, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Anna Kasielska-Trojan, Aneta Neskoromna-Jędrzejczak, and Bogusław Antoszewsk

Frequency of under- and overweight among children and adolescents during the economic transition in Poland

Abstract not availableE. Żądzińska, I. Rosset, S. Kozieł, T. Nawarycz, B. Borowska-Strugińska, W. Lorkiewicz, L. Ostrowska-Nawarycz, A. Site

Occurrence of caries in the permanent dentition of 8- to 12-year-old children living in the Lodz urban area

Abstract and keywords also in Polish. Title in Polish = Występowanie próchnicy w uzębieniu stałym u dzieci w wieku od 8 do 12 lat zamieszkujących w ŁodziBackground. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a decline in caries intensity in schoolchildren, although a simultaneously increasing polarization of the disease has been observed. Objectives. The aim of the study was to determine the appearance of caries in the permanent dentition of 8- to 12-year-old children living in Lodz. Material and Methods. A group of 700 children (385 boys and 315 girls) attending randomly selected public primary schools in Lodz were examined. The children were subdivided into 5 age groups, with an annual breakdown (8, 9, 10, 11 and 12-year-olds). An intra-oral examination was conducted to assess dental caries in permanent dentition. Caries diagnosis was based on the WHO recommendation. The prevalence and intensity of caries, as well as the Significant Caries Index (SiC) were calculated based on the obtained data. Results. The prevalence of caries in the permanent dentition of the examined population was 58%. It was the highest (70%) in children aged 10. The mean DMFT for children 8 years of age was 0.9, and increased to 2.4 in 12-yearolds. In all age groups, DMFT mainly consisted of untreated caries. Also the SiC index increased with children’s age (from 2.42 in 8-year-olds to 5.56 in 12-year-olds). Conclusions. The results of the study revealed high SiC values, which indicates the necessity of introducing intensive preventive programs for schoolchildren, especially for the one third with the highest DMFT values, to increase the possibility of achieving the WHO oral health goal for the year 2015 in children aged 12.Agnieszka Bruzda-Zwiech, Renata Filipińska, Beata Szydłowska-Walendowska, Beata Lubowiedzka-Gontarek, Beata Borowska-Strugińska, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk

Adolescent growth: genes, hormones and the peer group. Proceedings of the 20th Aschauer Soiree, held at Glücksburg castle, Germany, 15th to 17th November 2013

The association between poverty, malnutrition, illness and poor socioeconomic conditions on the one side, and poor growth and short adult stature on the other side, is well recognized. Yet, the simple assumption by implication that poor growth and short stature result from poor living conditions, should be questioned. Recent evidence on the impact of the social network on adolescent growth and adult height further challenges the traditional concept of growth being a mirror of health. Twenty-nine scientists met at Glücksburg castle, Northern Germany, November 15th - 17th 2013, to discuss genetic, endocrine, mathematical and psychological aspects and related issues, of child and adolescent growth and final height

Adolescent growth: genes, hormones and the peer group. Proceedings of the 20th Aschauer Soiree, held at Glücksburg castle, Germany, 15th to 17th November 2013

The association between poverty, malnutrition, illness and poor socioeconomic conditions on the one side, and poor growth and short adult stature on the other side, is well recognized. Yet, the simple assumption by implication that poor growth and short stature result from poor living conditions, should be questioned. Recent evidence on the impact of the social network on adolescent growth and adult height further challenges the traditional concept of growth being a mirror of health. Twenty-nine scientists met at Glücksburg castle, Northern Germany, November 15th - 17th 2013, to discuss genetic, endocrine, mathematical and psychological aspects and related issues, of child and adolescent growth and final height. <br/> <br/>