Development of bilateral asymmetry of the upper limb in children from a medieval population in Central Europe, Hungary.

This study examined the emergence and characteristics of bilateral asymmetry of the upper limb during development in a medieval agricultural population from Hungary, and investigated the agricultural activity-types in a bioarchaeological and biomechanical context. The skeletal remains of 169 nonadult individuals were selected from the cemetery of Bátmonostor-Pusztafalu, providing 134 cases for humeral diameter and length, 70 cases for radial length and 62 cases for ulnar length measurements. Biological age was estimated by using tooth eruption. Age groups were defined on the basis of the development of motor skills in children. Statistical analyses included correlation, Chi-square test, Fisher analysis and ANOVA. Our investigation revealed that the frequency of asymmetry increased significantly during growth with a shift to the right side in all measurements and reached adult-like distribution in early childhood. The bilateral asymmetry increased with age in humeral length, while other measurements revealed no change. The magnitude of asymmetry decreased with age in humeral diameter, but remained constant in other measurements. Our observations strengthen the hypothesis that right-sided asymmetry develops gradually during growth. Our findings also illustrate the effects of medieval agricultural labour on upper limb asymmetry: mechanical loading has various effects during development both on the magnitude and on direction of asymmetry.

A cross-sectional study of newborns over a 20-year period in Szeged, Hungary.

OBJECTIVE: Records of metric data of birth, serve not only the medical needs of the newborn baby, but are also indicators to assess the status of public health. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 4946 newborns (singleton: 2508 boys and 2365 girls) born in 1989 and in 2009 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Szeged. We aimed as to compare and map the metrical changes over 20 years, and to describe the averages of four body parameters of the normal birth weight (2500-4000 g) subgroup (3993 singleton babies) in both years. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: In 1989, the mean birth weight was 3223.770 ± 559.595 g, birth length 49.551 ± 2.729 cm, chest circumference 32.181 ± 2.231 cm, and head circumference 34.122 ± 1.688 cm. In 2009, the birth weight was 3309.673 ± 582.630 g, birth length 49.515 ± 2.658 cm, chest circumference 32.736 ± 2.392 cm and head circumference 33.854 ± 1.768 cm. The mean birth weight, chest circumference and the maximum value of birth weight have thus increased. The mean maternal age shifted to 30.21 ± 4.863 years, which is an increase of 3.57 years in 20 years. CONCLUSION: The body parameters of newborns changed significantly between 1989 and 2009. As underlying causes changes in eating habits and lifestyle of the mother are to be mentioned.