@article{NovinaHermanussenScheffleretal.2020, author = {Novina, Novina and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane and Pulungan, Aman B. and Ismiarto, Yoyos Dias and Andriyana, Yudhie and Biben, Vitriana and Setiabudiawan, Budi}, title = {Indonesian National Growth Reference Charts better reflect height and weight of children in West Java, Indonesia, than WHO Child Growth Standards}, series = {Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology}, volume = {12}, journal = {Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology}, number = {4}, publisher = {Galenos Yayincilik}, address = {Istanbul}, issn = {1308-5727}, doi = {10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2020.2020.0044}, pages = {410 -- 419}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Objective: The Indonesia Basic Health Research 2018 indicates that Indonesian children are still among the shortest in the world. When referred to World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (WHOCGS), the prevalence of stunting reaches up to 43\% in several Indonesian districts. Indonesian National Growth Reference Charts (INGRC) were established in order to better distinguish between healthy short children and children with growth disorders. We analyzed height and weight measurements of healthy Indonesian children using INGRC and WHOCGS. Methods: 6972 boys and 5800 girls (n = 12,772), aged 0-59 months old, from Bandung District were measured. Z-scores of length/height and body mass index were calculated based on INGRC and WHOCGS. Results: Under 5-year-old Indonesian children raised in Bandung are short and slim. Mean height z-scores of boys is -2.03 [standard deviation (SD) 1.31], mean height z-scores of girls is -2.03 (SD 1.31) when referred to WHOCGS indicating that over 50 \% of these children are stunted. Bandung children are heterogeneous, with substantial subpopulations of tall children. Depending on the growth reference used, between 9\% and 15\% of them are wasted. Wasted children are on average half a SD taller than their peers. Conclusion: WHOCGS seriously overestimates the true prevalence of undernutrition in Indonesian children. The present investigation fails to support evidence of undernutrition at a prevalence similar to the over 50\% prevalence of stunting (WHOCGS) versus 13.3\% (INGRC). We suggest refraining from using WHOCGS, and instead applying INGRC that closely mirror height and weight increments in Bandung children. INGRC appear superior for practical and clinical purposes, such as detecting growth and developmental disorders.}, language = {en} } @article{HermanussenPulunganScheffleretal.2019, author = {Hermanussen, Michael and Pulungan, Aman B. and Scheffler, Christiane and Mumm, Rebekka and Rogol, Alan D. and Pop, Raluca and Swanson, James M. and Sonuga-Barke, Edmund and Reimann, Anna and Siniarska-Wolanska, Anna and Musalek, Martin and Bogin, Barry and Boldsen, Jesper L. and Tassenaar, (Vincent) and Groth, Detlef and Liu, Yuk-Chien and Meigen, Christof and Quanjer, Bjorn and Thompson, Kristina and Ozer, Baak Koca and Bryl, Ewa and Mamrot, Paula and Hanc, Tomasz and Koziel, Slawomir and Soderhall, Jani and Gomula, Aleksandra and Banik, Sudip Datta and Roelants, Mathieu and Veldre, Gudrun and Lieberman, Leslie Sue and Sievert, Lynnette Leidy}, title = {Meeting Reports}, series = {Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews}, volume = {16}, journal = {Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews}, number = {3}, publisher = {Medical Media}, address = {Netanya}, issn = {1565-4753}, doi = {10.17458/per.vol16.2019.hps.mr.26achauersoiree}, pages = {383 -- 400}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Thirty-one scientists met at Aschauhof, Germany to discuss the role of beliefs and self-perception on body size. In view of apparent growth stimulatory effects of dominance within the social group that is observed in social mammals, they discussed various aspects of competitive growth strategies and growth adjustments. Presentations included new data from Indonesia, a cohort-based prospective study from Merida, Yucatan, and evidence from recent meta-analyses and patterns of growth in the socially deprived. The effects of stress experienced during pregnancy and adverse childhood events were discussed, as well as obesity in school children, with emphasis on problems when using z-scores in extremely obese children. Aspects were presented on body image in African-American women, and body perception and the disappointments of menopause in view of feelings of attractiveness in different populations. Secular trends in height were presented, including short views on so called 'racial types' vs bio-plasticity, and historic data on early-life nutritional status and later-life socioeconomic outcomes during the Dutch potato famine. New tools for describing body proportions in patients with variable degrees of phocomelia were presented along with electronic growth charts. Bio-statisticians discussed the influence of randomness, community and network structures, and presented novel tools and methods for analyzing social network data.}, language = {en} } @article{SchefflerHermanussenRogol2021, author = {Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael and Rogol, Alan D.}, title = {Stunting}, series = {Archives of disease in childhood : a peer review journal for health professionals and researchers covering conception to adolescence}, volume = {106}, journal = {Archives of disease in childhood : a peer review journal for health professionals and researchers covering conception to adolescence}, number = {8}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group}, address = {London}, issn = {0003-9888}, doi = {10.1136/archdischild-2020-319240}, pages = {819 -- 820}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @article{HermanussenGodinaRuehlietal.2010, author = {Hermanussen, Michael and Godina, Elena and Ruehli, Frank J. and Blaha, Pawel and Boldsen, Jesper L. and van Buuren, Stef and MacIntyre, Matthew and Aßmann, Christian and Ghosh, Arunava and de Stefano, Gian Fra nco and Sonkin, Valentin D. and Tresguerres Hern{\´a}ndez, Jes{\´u}s {\´A}ngel Fern{\´a}ndez and Meigen, Christof and Scheffler, Christiane and Geiger, Cherie L. and Lieberman, Leslie Sue}, title = {Growth variation, final height and secular trend : proceedings of the 17th Aschauer Soiree, 7th November 2009}, issn = {0018-442X}, doi = {10.1016/j.jchb.2010.06.001}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Growth and body height have always been topics interesting to the public. In particular, the stupendous increase of some 15-19 cm in final adult height during the last 150 years in most European countries (the "secular trend"), the concomitant changes in body and head proportions, the tendency towards early onset of sexual maturation, the changes in the age when final height is being reached, and the very recent trend in body mass index, have generated much scientific literature. The marked plasticity of growth in height and weight over time causes problems. Child growth references differ between nations, they tend to quickly become out of date, and raise a number of questions regarding fitting methods, effects caused by selective drop-out, etc. New findings contradict common beliefs about the primary importance of nutritional and health related factors for secular changes in growth. There appears to be a broad age span from mid-childhood to early adolescence that is characterised by a peculiar insusceptibility. Environmental factors that are known to influence growth during this age span appear to have only little or no impact on final height. Major re- arrangements in height occur at an age when puberty has almost been completed and final height has almost been reached, implying that factors, which drive the secular trend in height, are limited to early childhood and late adolescence.}, language = {en} } @article{FrankeGrombergSchuelerHermanussenetal.2010, author = {Franke-Gromberg, Christine and Sch{\"u}ler, Grit and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Digital 2D-photogrammetry and direct anthropometry : a comparing study on test accomplishment and measurement data}, issn = {0003-5548}, doi = {10.1127/0003-5548/2010/0012}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The aim of this methodological anthropometric study was to compare direct anthropometry and digital two- dimensional photogrammetry in 18 male and 27 female subjects, aged 24 to 65 years, from Potsdam, Germany. In view of the rising interest in reliable biometric kephalofacial data, we focussed on head and face measurements. Out of 34 classic facial anatomical landmarks, 27 landmarks were investigated both by direct anthropometry and 2D-photogrammetry; 7 landmarks could not be localized by 2D-photogrammetry. Twenty-six kephalofacial distances were analysed both by direct anthropometry and digital 2D-photogrammetry. Kephalofacial distances are on average 7.6\% shorter when obtained by direct anthropometry. The difference between the two techniques is particularly evident in total head height (vertex-gnathion) due to the fact that vertex is usually covered by hair and escapes from photogrammetry. Also the distances photographic sellion-gnathion (1.3 cm, i. e. 11.6\%) and nasal-gnathion (1.2 cm, i. e. 9.4\%) differ by more than one centimetre. Differences below 0.5 cm between the two techniques were found when measuring mucosa-lip-height (2.2\%), gonia (3.0\%), glabella-stomion (3.9\%), and nose height (glabella-subnasal) (4.0\%). Only the estimates of forehead width were significantly narrower when obtained by 2D-photogrammetry (-1.4 cm, -13.1\%). The methodological differences increased with increasing magnitude of the kephalometric distance. Apart from these limitations, both techniques are similarly valid and may replace each other.}, language = {en} } @article{LehmannSchefflerHermanussen2010, author = {Lehmann, Andreas and Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael}, title = {The variation in age at menarche : an indicator of historic developmental tempo}, issn = {0003-5548}, doi = {10.1127/0003-5548/2010/0086}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Ample literature describes the history of the association between the advances in the health and wealth of people, and mortality rates, life expectancy and adult height. Twentynine German studies with n > 200 subjects published since 1848 on menarcheal age, were reanalyzed, and 101 studies from various other European and non-European countries. On average, mean age at menarche declined since the mid-19(th) century. Historic urban samples tended to decline earlier than rural groups, upper class women earlier than working class women. In Germany, minimum values for the age at menarche were seen already between the two World Wars (Leipzig 12.6 years in 1934, Halle 13.3 years in 1939). Values for mean age and SD for age at menarche were strongly associated. With improving historic circumstances, the two parameters declined in parallel. The standard deviation for menarcheal age dropped from over 2.5 years in mid-19th century France to little more or even less than 1 year in most modern countries. In the German studies the correlation between menarcheal age and SD was almost complete with r = 0.96 (y = 0.35x - 3.53). Similar associations between mean age at menarche and SD for age were found in other European countries. The obvious and immediate effects of historic events on menarcheal age, and particularly on the age distribution, indicate that menarche is a sensitive indicator of public health and wealth, and may be an appropriate estimator for the socio-economic background of historic populations.}, language = {en} } @article{LehmannSchefflerHermanussen2010, author = {Lehmann, Andreas and Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael}, title = {Evidence of seasonal variation in longitudinal growth of height in a sample of boys from Stuttgart Carlsschule, 1771-1793, using combined principal component analysis and maximum likelihood principle}, issn = {0018-442X}, doi = {10.1016/j.jchb.2009.11.003}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Recent progress in modelling individual growth has been achieved by combining the principal component analysis and the maximum likelihood principle. This combination models growth even in incomplete sets of data and in data obtained at irregular intervals. We re-analysed late 18th century longitudinal growth of German boys from the boarding school Carlsschule in Stuttgart. The boys aged 6-23 years, were measured at irregular 3-12 monthly intervals during the period 1771-1793. At the age of 18 years, mean height was 1652 mm, but height variation was large. The shortest boy reached 1474 mm, the tallest 1826 mm. Measured height closely paralleled modelled height, with mean difference of 4 mm, SD 7 mm. Seasonal height variation was found. Low growth rates occurred in spring and high growth rates in summer and autumn. The present study demonstrates that combining the principal component analysis and the maximum likelihood principle enables growth modelling in historic height data also.}, language = {en} } @article{HermanussenLiebermanSchoenfeldJanewaetal.2012, author = {Hermanussen, Michael and Lieberman, L. S. and Sch{\"o}nfeld Janewa, U. and Scheffler, Christiane and Ghosh, A. and Bogin, Barry and Godina, E. and Kaczmarek, M. and El-Shabrawi, M. and Salama, E. E. and R{\"u}hli, F. J. and Staub, K. and Woitek, U. and Blaha, Pawel and vanBuurren, S. and Lehmann, A. and Satake, T. and Thodberg, H. H. and Jopp, E. and Kirchengast, S. and Tutkuviene, J. and McIntyre, M. H. and Wittwer-Backofen, U. and Boldsen, J. L. and Martin, D. D. and Meier, J.}, title = {Diversity in auxology: between theory and practice Proceedings of the 18th Aschauer Soiree, 13th November 2010}, issn = {0003-5548}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @article{HermanussenLehmannScheffler2012, author = {Hermanussen, Michael and Lehmann, Andreas and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Psychosocial Pressure and Menarche A Review of Historic Evidence for Social Amenorrhea}, series = {Obstetrical \& gynecological survey}, volume = {67}, journal = {Obstetrical \& gynecological survey}, number = {4}, publisher = {Lippincott Williams \& Wilkins}, address = {Philadelphia}, issn = {0029-7828}, doi = {10.1097/OGX.0b013e31824c94ad}, pages = {237 -- 241}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Objective: The age of menarche is usually considered to be affected by nutritional, health-related, social, and economic factors and has significantly decreased since the mid-19th century. The present study was performed to investigate whether the timing of menarche paralleled the general acceleration of physical development, or whether this pattern differed. Study Design: In all, 30 German studies on menarcheal age (n = > 200) since 1848 were collected. Frequency distributions were analyzed. Results: During the second half of the 19th and the early 20th century, mean menarcheal age decreased from 18 to 12-13 years in Europe. Yet, the data fail to support the conventional hypothesis that menarcheal age mainly depends on nutritional, health, and economic factors. Conclusions: We suggest that later than usual menarche may not necessarily be regarded as a physical illness, but in view of the apparently physiological delay of menarche in the 19th century, may be viewed as "collective social amenorrhea." Target Audience: Obstetricians \& Gynecologists and Family Physicians. Learning Objectives: After participating in this CME activity, physicians should be better able to evaluate menarche as an indicator of developmental tempo in both historical and modern settings, compare menarche in healthy mid-19th century girls with menarche in average modern girls, and assess the marked sensitivity of full pubertal development to environmental circumstances.}, language = {en} } @article{SchefflerHermanussen2014, author = {Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael}, title = {Is there an influence of modern life style on skeletal build?}, series = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council}, volume = {26}, journal = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1042-0533}, doi = {10.1002/ajhb.22561}, pages = {590 -- 597}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Objectives: Modern human life style has led to significant decrease in everyday physical activity and bipedal locomotion. It has previously been shown that skeletal robustness (relative elbow breadth) is associated with daily step counts. The aim of the study was to investigate whether also other skeletal measures, particularly pelvic breadth may have changed in recent decades. Methods: We re-analyzed elbow breadth, pelvic breadth (bicristal), and thoracic depth and breadth, of up to 28,975 healthy females and 28,288 healthy males aged 3-18 years from cross-sectional anthropological surveys performed between 1980 and 2012 by the Universities of Potsdam and Berlin, Germany. Results: Relative elbow breadth (Frame index) significantly decreased in both sexes since 1980 (< 0.001). The trend toward slighter built was even more pronounced in absolute and relative pelvic breadth. In contrast, equivalent changes of parts of the skeletal system that are not involved in bipedal locomotion such as thoracic breadth, thoracic depth, and the thoracic index were absent. Conclusions: The present investigation confirms the decline in relative elbow breadth in recent decades. Analogue, but even more pronounced changes were detected in pelvic breadth that coincides with the modern decline in upright locomotion. The findings underscore the phenotypic plasticity of humans while adapting to new environmental conditions. (C) 2014Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, language = {en} }