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Objectives: The overarching hypothesis of the present paper is that ethnically and/or genetically diverse human populations may exhibit similarity in correlations between various aspects of human phenotypes due to the morphological integration process during the ontogenetic stages. To test this we investigated whether an association between craniofacial (CF) features and body composition (BC) variations is present in humans and the extent to which such possible associations are comparable in different populations. Furthermore, the paper examines the contribution of common genetic (additive) and shared familial environmental factors in assessing the correlation between CF and BC characteristics in humans., Materials and Methods: Two pedigree-based samples were collected from two distinct populations, including India (Santhal) and Europe (Chuvash). Canonical correlation analysis was used to compare the association between CF and BC characteristics in the two studied samples. The contribution of genetic and familial environmental factors on the correlation between CF and BC features was analyzed through variance decomposition analysis by implementing the Mendelian Analysis package (MAN)., Results: Our study suggests that CF morphology is significantly (p < 0.001) associated with BC variation in both samples. CF characteristics and BC phenotypes revealed a consistent trend in both samples where condensed and broad CF morphology was significantly associated with increased fat accumulation, with slight variations between the Santhal and Chuvash samples. Despite the variations observed between the samples, the heritability estimates were impressively equivalent for traits like total facial height (55.6% Santhal vs.56.1% Chuvash ) and nasal index (42.8% Santhal vs. 43.3% Chuvash )., Discussion: The genetic contribution of CF morphology appeared to be extensive and the contribution of common genetic and shared family environmental correlations between CF and BC measures were suggestively substantial. Accordingly, these correlations were consistently observed across ethnically diverse populations, despite drastic morphological differences between the samples under comparison., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

A new species of the genus Cirrhimuraena (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), Cirrhimuraena indica sp. nov., is described based on eight specimens collected from the Paradip (Odisha) and Petuaghat harbours (West Bengal) along the Bay of Bengal. The species is distinct in having the upper jaw fringed with 16-17 cirri before posterior nostril and 4-5 in between the anterior and posterior nostrils on the side; dorsal fin originates above the level of gill opening, predorsal length is 9.3-10.9 in total length; the head is relatively large, the length is 9.3-9.8 in total length; no infraorbital pores are observed between the nostrils; teeth are numerous, small, conical and in bands on each jaw; pores are present before the gill opening 10-11 and before anus 47-48; pectoral-fin length is 2.4-2.8 in head length; predorsal vertebrae are 8-10, pre-anal vertebrae 43-47 and total vertebrae 164-169. In the maximum likelihood tree analysis for COI gene, the new species belongs to the same clade as the other congener of Cirrhimuraena chinensis and is separated from the species morphologically and genetically., (© 2021 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Background: Head circumference (HC) measurement is routinely not performed in early childhood and there is conflicting information about its utility in literature. The current study analyses the association between HC at two years of age and cognition at two and five years of age., Methods: A community based birth-cohort recruited between 2010 and 2012 was followed up till five years of age in an urban slum in Vellore, India. Children were recruited at birth after informed parental consent by consecutive sampling using eligibility criteria of healthy new-born, singleton pregnancy and family's availability in the study area during follow-up. HC measured at two years of age was used as the exposure variable to calculate association with cognition at both two and five years of age. Cognitive domain of Bayley scale of infant development was used at two years of age and Wechsler Preschool Primary Scales of Intelligence at five years., Results: Of the 251 enrolled children, 138 (55%) were girls and 71 (30%) belonged to lower socioeconomic status. At 2 years, 8.81% of children had HC < - 3SD. Compared to children with HC z-scores ≥ - 2 SD, those with measurements < - 3 SD had a lower cognition scores by - 2.21 [95% CI: - 3.87 - -0.56] at 2 years. Also, children with HC < - 3 SD at two years scored significantly lower scores in cognitive domains of verbal, - 7.35 [95% CI: - 11.78 - -2.92] and performance, - 7.07 [95% CI: - 11.77 - -2.36] intelligence at five years., Conclusions: This study showed that smaller HC at 2 years of age was negatively associated with cognition at both 2 and 5 years of age. Early childhood HC measurements can be utilised as a cheaper screening tool to identify children at risk in LMIC settings. Further studies can confirm these findings in diverse settings.

Purpose: Craniofacial anatomy, as measured by facial anthropometric data, varies significantly between races. South Asia, comprised of eight countries, represents a large proportion of the global population and is the fastest-growing region of the world. This systematic review presents the facial anthropometric data collected for populations from this region., Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic review of the literature was conducted by an electronic search of the MEDLINE and Cochran databases, returning 1675 articles. Bibliographies of accepted articles were screened to identify further eligible studies., Results: A total of 12 articles were considered eligible for the systematic review. Two studies were conducted in Bangladesh, 7 in India, and 3 in Nepal. No facial anthropometric data were found for populations from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. Qualitative and quantitative parameters from the 12 studies were extracted., Conclusion: There is a paucity of facial anthropometric data for South Asian populations. As South Asia has a significant prevalence of craniofacial anomalies and a burgeoning cosmetic facial surgery market, it is in the interest of both the craniofacial surgeon and the South Asian patient to collect baseline facial anthropometric data for this population., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Visual evoked response testing has been one of the most exciting clinical tools to be developed from neurophysiologic research in recent years and has provided us with an objective method of identifying abnormalities of the afferent visual pathways. Investigation were carried out to see whether the head circumference influence the pattern reversal visual evoked potential (PRVEP) parameters. The study comprised of pattern reversal visual evoked potential (PRVEP) recordings in 400 eyes of 200 normal subjects. Two hundred fourty eight eyes were males and 152 eyes were from 76 female subjects recruited from the Central Indian population in the age range of 40-79 years. Visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings were performed in accordance to the standardized methodology of International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN) Committee Recommendations and International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) Guidelines and montages were kept as per 10-20 International System of EEG Electrode placements. The stimulus configuration in this study consisted of the transient pattern reversal method in which a black and white checker board was generated (full field) and displayed on a VEP Monitor by an electronic pattern regenerator inbuilt in an Evoked Potential Recorder (RMS EMG EP MARK II). VEP latencies, duration and amplitude were measured in all subjects and the data were analyzed. The correlation of all the electrophysiological parameters with head circumference was evaluated by Pearson's correlation co-efficient (r) and its statistical significance was evaluated. The prediction equations for all the VEP parameters with respect to head circumference were derived. We found a positive correlation of P 100 latency and N 155 latency with mean head circumference, while a highly significant negative correlation were noted of P 100 amplitude with head circumference. N 70 latency was significantly correlated with head circumference. P 100 duration showed in negative correlation with head circumference. These findings suggest that VEP latencies, duration and amplitude are influenced by the head circumference of the individual in a sample of healthy subjects and head circumference can be a useful predictor of VEP peak latencies, amplitude and duration.

Background: To construct birth weight, crown heel length and head circumference centile chart referenced to gestational age for Nepalese infants., Methods: The study was conducted over a period of six months. It included consecutive live births from 28 to 42 weeks of gestation. Their birth weight, crown-heel length and head circumference were recorded. Smoothed percentile values along with curves were created using the Lambda Mu Sigma (LMS) method. The curves were compared with one of the Indian study., Results: A total of 9710 newborns were measured. The mean birth weight, crown-heel length, head circumference at 40 weeks were 3023g, 49.22cm and 33.61cm respectively. Smoothed percentile values calculated gave the cutoffs for defining small and large gestational age for Nepalese newborns. Comparison with Indian study showed significant difference (p<0.01) in weight. The Indian babies weighed less than Nepalese babies., Conclusions: The referenced growth standards help in clinical assessment, defining and identifying high risk newborns, thus, leading to improved care and management of neonates. It should help public health policy makers to track population difference due to several factors, intervene and find response over time.

In developing countries, where about 75% of births occur at home or in the community, logistic problems prevent the weighing of every newborn child. This study compares various anthropometric surrogates for identification of low birth weight neonates. A longitudinal community based study was done in an urban resettlement colony and 283 singleton neonates within 7 days of birth were examined for the anthropometric measurements such as head, chest, mid upper arm circumference and foot length as a screening tool for low birth weight. Chest circumference measured within 7 days of birth appeared to be the most appropriate surrogate of low birth weight with highest sensitivity (75.4%), specificity (78.4%), and positive predictive value (48.9%) as compared with other anthropometric parameters. Low birth weight neonates in absence of weighing scales can be early identified by using simple anthropometric measurements for enhanced home-based care and timely referral.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the somatometric measurements among hard core criminals, petty criminals and community people. Using standard anthropometric procedures, somatometric dimensions were studied on 250 subjects each from the three groups: (i) experimental (hard core criminal) group, (ii) control-I (petty criminal) group, and (iii) control-II (community people) group. Univariate analysis of variance was used for making comparisons of somatometric measurements between these groups in the univariate case. Quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) was used to develop a model based on measurements that classifies the cases into groups. The study revealed that the somatometric measurements such as morphological total facial height (p < 0.01), physiognomic total facial height (p = 0.015), nasal length (p = 0.001), height of lower face (p = 0.001), nasal depth (p = 0.002), sitting height vertex (p = 0.011), bigonial breadth (p < 0.001), maximum head breadth (p = 0.001), morphological upper facial height (p < 0.001), and physiognomic ear breadth (p = 0.039) were significantly different between the three groups. Morphological upper facial height, physiognomic total facial height, nasal length and height of lower face could be used as identifying factors for hard core criminals. Morphological total facial height, physiognomic upper facial height, physiognomic ear breadth, and sitting height were found different significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control-II group. The QDA provided an overall 72.4% correct classification of cases and 74.5%, 69.6%, and 72.9% correct classification for the experimental, control-I and control-II groups, respectively. The blurred distinction of the three groups could be explained by using the QDA model.

We examined the differential associations of each parent's height and BMI with fetal growth, and examined the pattern of the associations through gestation. Data are from 557 term pregnancies in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study. Size and conditional growth outcomes from 17 to 29 weeks to birth were derived from ultrasound and birth measures of head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length and placental volume (at 17 weeks only). Parental height was positively associated with fetal head circumference and femur length. The associations with paternal height were detectible earlier in gestation (17-29 weeks) compared to the associations with maternal height. Fetuses of mothers with a higher BMI had a smaller mean head circumference at 17 weeks, but caught up to have larger head circumference at birth. Maternal but not paternal BMI, and paternal but not maternal height, were positively associated with placental volume. The opposing associations of placenta and fetal head growth with maternal BMI at 17 weeks could indicate prioritisation of early placental development, possibly as a strategy to facilitate growth in late gestation. This study has highlighted how the pattern of parental-fetal associations varies over gestation. Further follow-up will determine whether and how these variations in fetal/placental development relate to health in later life., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The substantial involvement of genetic factors in the determination of head-size and head-shape traits has been firmly established. However, there has been a lack of agreement on a number of specific issues concerning the pattern of inheritance of craniofacial features. In this study we examined some of these issues in a large, ethnically homogeneous sample of Indian pedigrees. The data included 1,263 individuals belonging to 373 nuclear families. Eleven raw head-size traits and two synthetic phenotypes, interpreted as horizontal and vertical head-size components (HOC and VEC, respectively), were used in the analysis. To establish the pattern of inheritance of head traits, we carried out univariate and bivariate analyses. Maximum heritability estimates ranged from 0.41 to 0.83 for the studied head-size phenotypes. The portion of the total residual variance attributable to putative additive genetic factors was 68.3% and 70.3% for HOC and VEC, respectively, and common familial factor effects were found to be nonsignificant. The extent of genetic influences did not differ significantly with respect to sex or between HOC and VEC. The results of bivariate variance decomposition analysis strongly suggest the existence of common genetic factors simultaneously affecting HOC and VEC; 41.8% of the two traits' total residual variance was attributable to the effect of these common genetic factors.

Background: It is well established that genetic factors contribute significantly to the determination of head size and shape traits variability. However, the controversies in views and findings with respect to the more specific aspects of this issue have not yet been resolved., Aim: The primary objective of the study was to examine the patterns of the intergenerational familial transmission of 12 head size related traits in a large ethnically homogeneous sample of Chuvasha pedigrees., Subjects and Methods: The research was carried out on 1406 individuals belonging to 357 nuclear and more complex families. Univariate and bivariate family-based analyses were performed to establish the pattern of head traits inheritance., Results: Maximum heritability estimates ranged from 0.52 to 0.72 for traits adjusted for significant covariates. No significant sex differences were observed with respect to the genetic determination of the studied traits. Bivariate analysis of horizontal and vertical head size components suggested the existence of common genetic and environmental factors that explained 33.0% and 23.2% of the total variance of the adjusted traits, respectively., Conclusions: A significant genetic component is involved in inter-individual variation and covariation of various studied craniofacial traits.

The relationship between head form and climatic variation was investigated in different tribal and caste populations of India. The magnitude of the cephalic index varies significantly in different zones. In tropical zones, head form is longer (dolicocephalic), but in temperate zones, head form is more round (mesocephalic or brachycephalic), especially among Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC) than among other castes. These trends possibly support a climatic adaptation model in head form differences among ST and SC in India.

Percentile growth charts for head circumference of Punjabi infants (male 86 and female 68) measured serially at monthly intervals during the first year of life are presented. Besides, constancy of sample size and strict adherence to time tolerance limit of +/- 3 days, on the day of monthly measurements other factors considered responsible for the natural smooth course of the percentile grids are highlighted. The presented data would enable easy detection of infants with abnormal course of head growth.

One Thousand singleton neonates, between 28 and 44 weeks of estimated gestational age (EGA) were measured within 48 hours of their birth for upper mid-arm circumference (MAC), head circumference (HC) and birth weight (BW). Regression analysis was used to draw standard curves for MAC versus EGA and mid-arm circumference/head circumference ratio (MAC/HC) versus EGA. Correlation coefficients were 0.961 for MAC versus EGA and 0.889 for MAC/HC versus EGA (p less than 0.001). MAC, MAC/HC and HC were also highly correlated with birth weight (p less than 0.001). These standard curves make available a discriminating method for evaluation of intra-uterine growth and a non-invasive technique for following somatic protein status in growing preterm infants.

Intrauterine growth (weight, length, head circumference, Ponderal index) was studied in 2875 consecutive live born babies. Weight, length and head circumference growth curves did not show any significant difference when compared to previous growth curves made 20 years back from this centre. Norms and curves for ponderal index are provided for the Indian babies and were comparable with figures from Western studies. However, the 90th centile values were found to be low between 32-38 weeks of gestation.