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Testing of regional differences in the growth and development of preschool children is a neglected topic in the history of anthropometry. In this work, we focused on the differences between the current population of Prague, Olomouc and Bratislava. Given the very similar living conditions and socioeconomic maturity of all three regions, we did not anticipate their presence. However, the results of this work showed significant differences, especially in skeletal robustness. Furthermore, we tested the presence of secular differences in the growth and development of preschool children between the current population of Prague, Olomouc and Bratislava and the reference data from 1990 for Czechia and 1989 for Slovakia. We expected changes in height, length and width body parameters, gracility of skeletal robustness, and, on the contrary, an increase in adiposity markers. In the case of the Prague population, this hypothesis was confirmed except for changes in the width parameters of the pelvis, where a negative secular trend was demonstrated. The results of the Olomouc and Bratislava populations do not agree with European trends and the established hypothesis. Secular trends in growth and development are mostly positive. Key words Regional differences, secular trend, preschool age, growth and developement

The aim of the diploma thesis is to describe and evaluate the relation of mass proportionality and adiposity in the context of secular changes in body composition of Czech preschool children over the last 25 years. The study was conducted in the form of transversal research between years 2016-2018 at seven kindergartens from Prague and its surroundings and one from Ústí nad Labem. 551 children (271 boys, 280 girls), in age of four to six years, were examined. The data was supplemented by a set of 208 children (101 boys and 107 girls), which were part of a pilot study from 2013-2014. In total, the group comprised 759 children. The actual set of individuals was compared with a representative database of Czech preschool children from the 1990s. There was no significant difference in the parameters describing weight proportionality in current preschool children, however the proportion of the individual components of the body composition has changed. The fat component increased significantly in six-year-old boys, five- year-old and six-year-old girls. At the same time, we observed insufficient development of active body mass in relation to the reference group. These trends are also evidenced by the increase in the percentage of latent forms of obesity over the past 25 years. The lack of active movement...

The diploma thesis is focused on the evaluation of secular changes in linear proporcionality of body in actual preschool children in the last 27 years. In this context, the research also aims to determine the need for validation of the reference data for linear parameters of preschool children, which are currently used from 1990. The study was realized in six kindergartens in Prague and the surrounding area in the years 2016-2017. A total of 369 children (189 boys and 180 girls) aged 4 - 6 years were examined. The body height, BMI, 11 length and height markers and 10 indexes were measured. Statistically significant differences were not found in most of the observed parameters. Significant differences were not clinically relevant. The effect of secular changes on the characteristics of linear body proportionality of Czech preschool children was not confirmed. Therefore, for clinical practise remaind recommended to use the reference data from 1990, which are valid. Key words:secular trend, linear proporcionality, preschool age

The objective of the Dissertation was to describe, quantify and interpret to which degree the shape and size of the facial skeleton of people living in the territory of today's Czech Republic in the period from the Early Middle Ages to the present day, i.e. in the course of the approx. last 1200 years, have changed. In this time period, morphological differences between populations, changes in the sexual dimorphism, modularity and allometry of the facial skeleton were examined. The evaluation was based on CT-images of skulls from three historical populations, specifically from the Early Middle Ages, High Middle Ages and the early modern period. The current population was represented by CT-images of living people. We studied the facial skeletons of a total of 329 individuals, of which 183 were men and 146 women. The CT- images were used as a base for the creation of virtual 3D surface models. The facial skeleton was divided into three morphological units, which were further examined. These were the skeleton of the upper face, lower jaw and palate. The statistical processing was carried out applying methods of geometric morphometrics allowing the separate studying of the shape and size variability of the examined units. When comparing the size and shape differences between studied populations it is...

Auxological studies in bioarcheology provide valuable information about the health of children in past populations. They show the influence of various environmnetal factors, non- specific stress or illness during growth. The stress following the growth retardation of subadults who survive until adulthood will influence the function and general health of the entire population. Despite all the achieved results in this field, auxological studies comprise of many problems. It is necessary to remember that the archaeological samples of children who died of unknown reasons are compared with modern growth standards, also the secular trend of recent population needs to be allowed for. The question is whereas the growth of children who died prematurely represents accuretly the growth of those who survived until adulthood. Of importance is a precise estimation of age of subadult skeletons. To minimalize faults associated to paleoauxological studies in bioarchaeology, it is necessary to compare the samples of related populations where possible, use the same techniques of age-at-death estimation, take account of migrations and so on.

Determination sex is one of the most important tasks in the identification of skeletal remains. Previous studies have shown that population differences in size and shape of femora can affect correct sex allocation. This thesis tested the discriminat functions generated from different populations and confirmed population specificity of the femur discriminant functions. Two samples of the identified adult femora for this project was used. First sample originates from the Czech population living in the 1st 20th century (78 males and 81 females) and second sample originates from the Czech population living in the 2nd 20th century (67 males and 35 females). Both samples also help us estimate the influence of secular trend of the femur'variables to the correct sex classification by discriminat functions calculated in the Czech population. The results showed the existence of the secular trend in femora size dimensions. Only the dimensions of the femoral head (vertical head diameter-F18, transverse head diameter-F19 and maximum diameter of the femoral head-MPH) and sagittal subtrochanteric diameter (F10) not chandged significantly during the 20th century. The secular trend has negatively influenced the correct sex classification, always for one subpopulation. Only the dimensions in which the secular trend...