Context: Stature is the height of the person in the upright posture. It is an important measure of physical identity. Interrelationships among different body measurements may be used to estimate one from another in case of missing body parts. As any part of the human skeleton can be found as the evidences, there arise a need to investigate whether there is any possible significant correlation between stature and any parts in human body. Garos, our study subject living in Bangladesh are usually recognized as an ethnic community, they have a separate identity and their physical appearance is distinctive to some extent. The present study was conducted with the intention to establish ethnic specific anthropometric data for the Bangladeshi Garo tribal populations and also to determine whether there is any correlation between the measured values of the stature and the physically measured cranial variables, to estimate (using respective multiplication factor) the stature from the physically derived cranial measurements and to assess the effectiveness of such estimation. Study design: The study was an observational, cross-sectional and descriptive in nature with some analytical components. Study settings and study period: The study was carried out in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, during the session of January to December 2008. Selections of the subjects: A total number of one hundred Garo female subjects were included from Dhaka city and Mymensingh district. Methods: Cranial dimension such as head circumference, head length and stature were measured using a measuring tape, spreading caliper, steel plate and steel tape. Results: Head circumference showed significant positive correlation with stature but head length did not reach statistically significant level with stature. No significant difference was found between the ‘measured' and ‘estimated' stature for head circumference and head length. Key words: Anthropometry; stature; correlation; head circumference; head length DOI: 10.3329/bja.v7i2.6096 Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy July 2009, Vol. 7 No. 2 pp. 101-104

Facial anthropometry has well-known implications in health-related fields. Measurement of human face is used in identification of person in Forensic medicine, Plastic surgery, Orthodontics, Archeology, Hairstyle design and examination of the differences between races and ethnicities. Facial anthropometry provides an indication of the variations in facial shape in a specified population. Bangladesh harbours many cultures and people of different races because of the colonial rules of the past regimes. Standards based on ethnic or racial data are desirable because these standards reflect the potentially different patterns of craniofacial growth resulting from racial, ethnic and sexual differences. In the above context, the present study was attempted to establish ethnic specific anthropometric data for the Christian Garo adult females of Bangladesh. The study was an observational, cross-sectional and primarily descriptive in nature with some analytical components and it was carried out with a total number of 100 Christian Garo adult females aged between 25-45 years. Three vertical facial dimensions such as facial height from 'trichion' to 'gnathion', nasal length and total vermilion height were measured by photographic method. Though these measurements were taken by photographic method but they were converted into actual size using one of the physically measured variables between two angles of the mouth (chilion to chilion). The data were then statistically analyzed by computation to find out its normatic value. The study also observed the possible 'correlation' between the facial height from 'trichion' to 'gnathion' with nasal length and total vermilion height. Multiplication factors were estimated for estimating facial height from nasal length and total vermilion height. Comparison were made between 'estimated' values with the 'measured' values by using't' test. The mean (±SD) of nasal length and total vermilion height were 4.53±0.36 cm and 1.63±0.23 cm respectively and the mean (±SD) of facial height from 'trichion' to 'gnathion' was 16.88±1.11 cm. Nasal length and total vermilion height showed also a significant positive correlation with facial height from 'trichion' to 'gnathion'. No significant difference was found between the 'measured' and 'estimated' facial height from 'trichion' to 'gnathion' for nasal length and total vermilion height.

Abstract

correlation (r=0.17, p=0.09 and r=0.15, p=0.12) between the stature and breadth of the right and left hand (Figure 3.21) but the result did not reach any statistically significant level.

Context: Pregnancy complicated by diabetes is a significant medical problem not only affecting maternal health, but also jeopardizing fetal normalcy. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder that frequently causes maternal and fetal complications. The present study was done to see the impacts of GDM on mother and neonate. Study design: Cross sectional descriptive study. Place and period of study: Department of Anatomy Chittagong Medical College, Chittagong. From May 2006 to April 2007. Material: Total number of subjects were seventy, of which 35 were non diabetic pregnant Bangladeshi Bengoli mother (Control group) and 35 were mothers with GDM (GDM group). All GDM mother were under insulin therapy having HbA1C within 6.5% to 6.8%. Method: Relevant data of the mother (Age, weight, gestational period, parity) and the neonate (birth weight, APGAR score) were collected by taking history and hospital record book. APGAR score at 1st minute was taken from the records as determined by the on-duty Anesthetist. Result: Among the maternal and neonatal variables the mean age, gestational period and parity of the mother were significantly higher in the GDM group than in the Control group (P = 0.01, P = 0.00, P = 0.01 respectively). The mean weight of the mother and the mean neonatal birth weight were also higher in the GDM group, but not differ significantly. The mean APGAR score was found to be slightly lower in the GDM group than in the Control group, but the difference was not significant from the statistical point of view. Conclusion: The present study shows that the GDM may have some adverse impacts on the mother and neonate. Further study with larger sample size having vigorous exclusion criteria is recommended. Key words: Gestatational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM); Mother; Neonate. DOI: 10.3329/bja.v8i2.7018Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy July 2010, Vol. 8 No. 2 pp. 64-63