Ursula Wittwer-Backofen

Basics in Paleodemography: A Comparison of Age Indicators Applied to the Early Medieval Skeletal Sample of Lauchheim

Recent advances in the methods of skeletal age estimation have rekindled interest in their applicability to paleodemography. The current study contributes to the discussion by applying several long established as well as recently developed or refined aging methods to a subsample of 121 adult skeletons from the early medieval cemetery of Lauchheim. The skeletal remains were analyzed by 13 independent observers using a variety of aging techniques (complex method and other multimethod approaches, Transition Analysis, cranial suture closure, auricular surface method, osteon density method, tooth root translucency measurement, and tooth cementum annulation counting). The age ranges and mean age estimations were compared and results indicate that all methods showed smaller age ranges for the younger individuals, but broader age ranges for the older age groups.

Morbid obesity: Pregnancy risks, birth risks and status of the newborn

In perinatal medicine, severe obesity of the mother occurs in approximately 1% of cases. This is a problem of increasing importance because of the rising prevalence of juvenile obesity. Our retrospective cohort study aimed at characterising high-risk pregnancies associated with morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI]> or =40). This is of interest not only from an epidemiological perspective and for developing guidelines for clinical care but also from an anthropological point of view. We analysed the German perinatal statistics of the years 1998-2000 with data from more than 500,000 pregnancies. Pregnant women with coexistent morbid obesity were compared to a normal weight reference sample with regard to gestational, perinatal and neonatal risks. Birth weight percentiles were used to classify the neonates according to size (hypotrophy if <10th, hypertrophy/foetal macrosomia if >90th). The obtained risk profile for morbidly obese pregnant women primarily showed pregnancy related diseases, such as hypertension, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Hypertension and signs of foetal hypoxaemia occurred at higher frequencies with morbid obesity. Hypertrophic neonates were born 3.3 times more often to obese mothers than to mothers of the normal weight. At a BMI> or =40 the rates of complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, impending foetal hypoxaemia, foetal macrosomia, as well as neonatal infections and hyperbilirubinaemia were significantly higher. Obesity and maternal comorbidities, accounted for a higher rate of caesarean sections of up to 38.4% at a BMI> or =45. All differences were highly significant. Preconceptionally, the therapeutic approach should be weight reduction.

[New percentile values for the anthropometric dimensions of singleton neonates: analysis of perinatal survey data of 2007-2011 from all 16 states of Germany].

AIM The aim of this study was to derive percentile values for birth weight, length, head circumference, and weight for length for singleton neonates based on the German perinatal survey of 2007-2011 (using data from all 16 states of Germany). We also compared these new percentile values with the percentile values of 1995-2000 that so far have been considered standard values. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data of 3 187 920 singleton neonates from the German perinatal survey of the years 2007-2011 were kindly provided to us by the AQUA Institute in Göttingen, Germany. Sex specific percentile values were calculated using cumulative frequencies. Percentile values at birth were computed for the 3(rd), 10(th), 25(th), 50(th), 75(th), 90(th), and 97(th) percentiles for 21-43 completed weeks of gestation. Percentile curves and tabulated values for the years 2007-2011 were compared with the published values of 1995-2000. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Overall the new percentile curves closely resemble the previous ones. Minimal differences can be found for the 10(th) percentile and generally for early weeks of gestation. Values for the 10(th) percentile in the 2007-2011 dataset are somewhat higher than values of 1995-2000 for birth weight, length, and weight for length. CONCLUSIONS We recommend the use of these new percentile values instead of the old ones.

From Health to Civilization Stress? In Search for Traces of a Health Transition During the Early Neolithic in Europe

Under the assumption that the health status of a population is closely connected to its living conditions (Steckel and Rose 2002; Cohen and Armelagos 1984) the aim of this study is to track changes in signs of pathology during the transition period from foraging to farming societies in Europe. The NDT is expected to be related to a major shift in health parameters from Mesolithic to Early Neolithic populations. This hypothesis is followed by studying European LBK skeletal populations and by comparing their health status to earlier Mesolithic as well as to Late Neolithic samples, roughly following the site list composed by Bocquet-Appel (2002). A selection of skeletal populations was examined depending on the availability of data relevant to health. A database was built up including around 600 skeletons. The major limitations were given by the facts that (1) skeletal indicators connected to health factors were only available for a smaller part of the relevant skeletal samples, that (2) frequencies of pathological signs could not be obtained due to incomplete individual data published and that (3) coding systems differed significantly from each other. Representativeness for Mesolithic or LBK populations cannot be assured as the database is characterised by a few larger samples who lived under locally specific conditions. As a consequence, the data could not be broken down to a comparison of males and females.

Ambiguous provenance? Experience with provenance analysis of human remains from Namibia in the Alexander Ecker collection.

The projects aim is to verify the existence of Herero and Nama skulls among the roughly 1370 skulls in the Alexander Ecker collection (AEC). Methods include historical research, which was mainly concerned with the AEC and especially Eugen Fischer during his time as curator, as well as the methods of acquisition of human remains and scientific methods to verify the identity of the relevant skulls. Scientific methods include morphological sex and age-at-death verification, morphological estimation of ancestry, morphometric analysis and the application of UV light to decipher old labels on the skull surfaces, as well as a molecular biology approach (mtDNA) and stable isotope analyses. Out of 19 preselected skulls, 14 revealed a significant probability for a Herero/Nama ancestry, although identification of specific skulls according to the historical documentation was not possible.

Exploring urban health in Cape Town, South Africa: an interdisciplinary analysis of secondary data

Abstract Background: With modern information technology, an overwhelming amount of data is available on different aspects of societies. Our research investigated the feasibility of using secondary data sources to get an overview of determinants of health and health outcomes in different population strata of Cape Town, a large city of South Africa. Methods: The methodological approach of secondary-data analysis was similar in the different disciplines: Biological Anthropology, Public Health, Environmental Health, Mental Health, Palliative Care, Medical Psychology and Sociology at the University of Freiburg and Public Health at the University of Cape Town. The teams collected information on Cape Town through Internet searches and published articles. The information was extracted, analyzed, condensed, and jointly interpreted. Results: Data show the typical picture of a population in epidemiological and demographic transition exposed to often difficult social, mental, and physical environmental conditions. Comparison between low and higher socioeconomic districts demonstrated that the former had higher air pollution, poorer water quality, and deficient sanitary conditions in addition to sub-optimal mental health services and palliative care. Conclusion: Although important information gaps were identified, the data draw attention to critical public health interventions required in poor health districts, and to motivate for pro-equity policies.

Diversity in auxology: between theory and practice

Auxology has developed from mere describing child and adolescent growth into a vivid and interdisciplinary research area encompassing human biologists, physicians, social scientists, economists and biostatisticians. The meeting illustrated the diversity in auxology, with the various social, medical, biological and biostatistical aspects in studies on child growth and development.

Analysis of the German perinatal survey of the years 2007-2011 and comparison with data from 1995-1997: neonatal characteristics and duration of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM We have previously analysed neonatal characteristics and duration of pregnancy in Germany based on data from the German Perinatal Survey of 1995-1997. Here we describe neonatal characteristics and duration of pregnancy based on the German Perinatal Survey of 2007-2011. MATERIAL AND METHODS We had been provided with data from the German Perinatal Survey of 1995-1997 by the chambers of physicians of all the states of Germany except Baden-Württemberg (1 815 318 singleton neonates). We were also provided with access to the perinatal survey data of 2007-2011 by the AQUA Institute in Göttingen, Germany (3 187 920 singleton neonates). We investigated regional differences within Germany and also compared the 2 periods of time. We used the computer programme SPSS for data analysis and performed plausibility checks on the survey data. RESULTS Comparing the states of Germany, we found that birth weight was largest for neonates born in Schleswig-Holstein (3 407 g) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (3 392 g); the lowest mean birth weight was observed in the Saarland (3 283 g). Preterm birth rate varied between 6.3% (Saxony) and 8.1% (Bremen, Saarland). Comparing 1995-1997 vs. 2007-2011, deliveries after 37 and 38 weeks of gestation were more common and deliveries after 39 and more weeks of gestation were less common in the later period of time. CONCLUSIONS Regional differences in the anthropometric characteristics of neonates exist between the states of Germany. The proportion of deliveries after 39 and more weeks of gestation has decreased.

Diversity in auxology: between theory and practice. Proceedings of the 18th Aschauer Soiree, 13th November 2010.

Auxology has developed from mere describing child and adolescent growth into a vivid and interdisciplinary research area encompassing human biologists, physicians, social scientists, economists and biostatisticians. The meeting illustrated the diversity in auxology, with the various social, medical, biological and biostatistical aspects in studies on child growth and development.

Zum Einfluss von Körpermaßen der Eltern auf das Geburtsgewicht von eutrophen Termingeborenen (TG) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Körperhöhe und des Körpergewichts des Vaters

A significant influence of maternal body height and weight on neonatal birth outcome has been confirmed before, whereas the influence of paternal traits is rather unknown. In order to analyze the correlation between parental body measurements and the birth weight of newborns, data of 1312 eutrophic term newborns and their parents were collected based on a multicenter study in 10 participating German maternity clinics. The collected data included the birth weight of the infants and the body height and weight of their parents. The results show a significant correlation between infant birth weight and maternal body height. Even with a constant body height and body weight of fathers in a range between 176-184 cm and 76-84 kg, taller mothers gave birth to children with a higher birth weight than shorter mothers. Furthermore, higher maternal body weight is also correlated with increased birth weights, although this correlation is attenuated in higher maternal weight groups. Data regarding body weight and body height of fathers showed similar results with regard to birth weight of the newborns. At a constant maternal body height (164-172 cm) and weight (56-64 kg), the body weight of newborns significantly correlates with the body height of fathers but not with their body weight. The multivariable regression analysis resulted in the following ranking of influence factors on the birth weight of newborns: 1) body height of mother, 2) body weight of mother, 3) body height of father. The results gave support to the assumption of a certain genetic influence of parental body stature on their neonates but argue for an even stronger impact of maternal environmental conditions on the developmental status of neonates.