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Background: Unilateral basal ganglia calcinosis (BGC) is a rare radiological finding that can be diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but often presents challenges for clinicians and radiologists in determining its underlying cause. So far, only a few potential causes that could explain unilateral BGC have been described in the literature. Case Report: A 54-year-old Caucasian male was admitted to a tertiary university hospital due to the sudden onset of speech impairment and right-sided weakness. The patient had no significant medical history prior to this event. Non-enhanced computed tomography (NECT) of the brain revealed no evidence of acute ischemia; CT angiography (CTA) showed acute left middle cerebral artery (MCA) M2 segment occlusion. CT perfusion (CTP) maps revealed an extensive penumbra-like lesion, which is potentially reversible upon achieving successful recanalization. However, a primary neoplastic tumor with calcifications in the basal ganglia was initially interpreted as the potential cause; therefore, acute stroke treatment with intravenous thrombolysis was contraindicated. A follow-up CT examination at 24 h revealed an ischemic lesion localized to the left insula, predominantly involving the left parietal lobe and the superior gyrus of the left temporal lobe. Subsequent gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI revealed small blood vessels draining into the subependymal periventricular veins on the left basal ganglia. Digital subtraction angiography was conducted, confirming the diagnosis of venous angioma. Conclusions: Unilateral BGC caused by venous angioma is a rare entity with unclear pathophysiological mechanisms and heterogeneous clinical presentation. It may mimic conditions such as intracerebral hemorrhage or hemorrhagic brain tumors, complicating acute stroke management, as demonstrated in this case. Surrounding tissue calcification may provide a valuable radiological clue in diagnosing venous angiomas DVAs and vascular malformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was a statistics-based exploration of a typology of the female pelvis. The research sample included 172 females aged from 18 to 69. For measurements, the three dimensional CT images of pelvis were used. A cluster analysis was performed on anteroposterion and transverse diameters of the pelvic inlet and the midplane. The results revealed three dusters representing gynecoid, "narrow", and intermediate types of female pelvis. The distribution of pelvic types in age groups indicates a tendency for the "narrow" pelvis to be presented more frequently in the group of younger females. Variability and typology of the female pelvis is a traditional topic in anthropological studies [3, 4, 13, 17]. The best known classification of the female pelvis was suggested by Caldwell and Moloy in 1933 [3] and it was based on the pelvic inlet shape. In the frame of this classification, four main pelvic types were suggested: gynecoid, android, anthropoid, and platypelloid. The development of this classification resulted in the identification of the mixed types and subtypes based on the width of the pelvic outlet [3]. As a result, more than twenty subtypes were suggested that complicated their analytical implication. In addition, the critics of this classification addressed the subjective impression in the judgments of pelvic shapes without a well established statistical base [19]. A tendency of increase in cesarean section is observed in the last decades [2, 5, 9, 15]. In Latvia, the number of cesarean section delivery is growing from 3.9% in 1980 to 23.7% in 2010 [18]. A narrow pelvis is one of the factors increasing the risk for cesarean section [12]. On the one hand, there is a solution for the narrow pelvis problem from the obstetric perspective. On the other hand, a more detailed analysis is needed from the anthropological perspective because of possible evolutionary trends in the human body in general and in the pelvic shape in particular. The aim of this study was a statistics-based exploration of a typology of the female pelvis. Awell recognized anthropological tendency of the last century is the secular trend in growth. Previous studies demonstrate an increase in the mean height about 1-2 cm per decade in different European countries [6, 8]. An investigation of external body parameters of Latvian women also demonstrated significant changes in the period of 70 years. The women's height increased for 6 cm, shoulder breadth increased for 0.6 cm, and the hip breadth increased for 2.9 cm [8]. Based on the relationship between the lesser pelvic parameters and height observed in previous studies [7, 11, 13], it is possible to expect that parameters of the lesser pelvis also changed during the last 6-7 decades. It should be noted that the female pelvic cavity has a cylindrical shape with the narrowest place in the midplane between two ischial spines (the bispinous diameter). The obstetric importance of the pelvic inlet and the midplane was emphasized in anthropological studies [3,4,16,17]. In a typical female pelvis, a longer diameter of the inlet (the transverse diameter) and a longer diameter of the midplane (the anteroposterior diameter) are placed perpendicularly. Therefore, a fetal head rotates from a transverse position in the pelvic inlet to a sagittal position in the midplane. A narrowing of the pelvic cavity in the midplane causes this rotation. Stalberg at al. [12] demonstrated that a narrow pelvic midplane is an important reason for the emergency cesarean section. In addition, an inadequate proportion of the pelvic inlet also causes cesarean section [l]. Therefore, both the pelvic inlet and the midplane are highly important from the anthropological perspective and need to be included in a statistics-based exploration of the female pelvic typology. Changing body parameters allow to expect age differences in a distribution of pelvic types between younger and older females. As a result, two research questions were posed for the present study: 1. What female pelvic types could be detected on the basis of the measures of the inlet and the midplane of the lesser pelvis? 2. How does the distribution of female pelvic types among age groups differ? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to confirm the variations between the women with the different iris color in their anthropometrical parameters. The sample of subjects consisted of 873 women from Latvia. Twelve anthropometrical measurements were taken, all of which covered the area of the longitudinal, transversal, circular dimensionality and the subcutaneous fatty tissue. The differences between the anthropometrical parameters were determined by means of the t-test for independent samples. In 51.8% the iris color was blue as the most prevalent color, and in 7.1% the color was brown as the least prevalent color. In many of the parameters were found intra-group differences, which signaled that the group was heterogeneous in terms of the evaluated characteristics. The results showed that there were some statistically significant differences of the anthropometrical parameters between the women with the different iris color. Further studies are recommended to investigate the probable associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the presented study was to find secular trends for newborns' height and weight at birth dynamics over the century in Latvia. Over the last 79 years six research papers about newborns in Riga -- the capital of Latvia -- have been published. The results of those different researches conducted in different periods of time were compared. The comparison of data was more difficult as the overall differentiation ratios used in other respective researches were not specified (the standard deviation, the standard error or something else). To make a comparison of the nutritional status the possible Rohrer index within each research was calculated. The research studies conducted in the first third of the last century had large research samples -- a great number of new-borns was surveyed. That is the reason for small overall differentiation ratios. In the latest studies the number of the surveyed new-borns was considerably smaller, which causes the appearance of a greater standard deviation. However, no tendency to increase or decrease for the new-borns' body mass arithmetic mean was observed during the considered research studies. In addition, we found out that new-born boys in Latvia get burlier over time. The question: which dominants in causing changes in anthropometric measurements over time -- the environment or hereditary -- are still open. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of 349 women aged 18-20 years from Latvia was performed. Body height and weight, 4 measurements of length, 3 measurements of breadth, 4 circumferences and 4 skinfolds were measured, and 8 indices were calculated. The subjects were divided into five standard deviation classes according to height and weight applying the Estonian reference values [11, 12]. There were 3 classes with conformity between height and weight class: I - small (small height and small weight), II - medium (medium height and medium weight), III - large (large height and large weight), IV - weight class dominating (pyknomorphic) and V - height class dominating (leptomorphic). In the first three classes height and weight were proportional. It was found that a statistical difference existed between the opposite classes-the fourth and the fifth class. It was also revealed that the three proportional classes differed from each other significantly. Increase in body height and weight also showed to an increase in the length and breadth measurements, circumferences and skinfolds. In IV (pyknomorphic) class circumferences and skinfolds were bigger. In V (leptomorphic) class all the heights were bigger. The present study showed that the five height-weight mean and SD classification model applying the Estonian reference values for anthropometrical variables systematization was usable for Latvian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head size is one of the parameters of a human's morphological status. Growth and development of the head differs from the growth of the body. It can be explained by the fact that the growth of the head is closely connected to the development of the brain. The researchers have the aim to investigate the anthropometrical measurements in boys at the age of 7 to 18 years and to compare them with the literature data. Anthropometrical measurements acquired in the study within 2005-2007 of the Riga secondary school, primary school and pre-school children were used for the basis of this research. The anthropometrical data of 1,359 boys, aged 7-18 years, were analyzed. The boys had been divided into twelve age groups, The analysis included the following anthropometrical parameters: head perimeter, the biggest head length and width, the biggest face width, length of mandible, morphological face length and the head index. Analyzing the acquired data on the anthropometrical parameters of the head in boys at the age of 7 to 18 years, we can conclude that: 1) the studied head parameters in boys grow till 18 years, but the biggest mean value growth is observed at the age of 14-15 years; 2) if by the head index variations, the boys are seen to have from hyperdolichocephalic up to brachiocephalic heads, then according to the head index parameter, they on average fit into the group of mesocephalic head forms, the fact which is observed in all age groups of boys, as well as in girls (Duļevska, 2002); 3) boys of all age groups fit into the group range of peoples of Northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secular change in body size across populations provides information about public health changes and living conditions over time. Latvia has experienced considerably more changes in 20th and 21st centuries, which their impacts on the adult women body parameters have not been assessed profoundly by now. The aim of this study was to characterize the differences in three transversal body parameters and to describe their secular changes over time between two populations (2001-2005 and 1929-1930) of Latvian women. In 2001-2005 population consisted of 514 women aged between 18 and 45 years, and in 1929-1930 population included 1,000 women aged between 18 and 45 years. The subjects were all of Latvia birth and Latvians. Three transversal body measurements were taken: shoulder (biacromiale) breadth, bispinale breadth and hip (bicristale) breadth. The present study demonstrated the presence of larger means for shoulder and hip breadths in the current sample than the study of about 73-75 years ago. On average, the shoulder (biacromiale) breadth has increased around 0.57 cm and hip (bicristale) breadth - around 2.87 cm. The most prominent jump of female bispinale breadth (around 3.68 cm) was observed in 2001-2005. We found a clear increasing trend in three transversal parameters among those who were studied between 1929-1930 and 2001-2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human body forms and functions, have been checked, whether the boys in Riga are found to have visible changes in the physical development in the new century. We investigated the dynamics of the boys body height and mass at the age of 7 to 18 years in the study of 2005 to 2007 and compared them with the literature data. For the basis of the study we used the anthropometrical measurements used in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for investigating the boys of 7 Riga school and 5 preschool institutions. The boys included in the study were divided into 12 groups. The anthropometrical indices analysed were the body height and mass in boys at the age from 7 to 18 years. During the study we analysed body height and mass indices in boys at the age from 7 to 18 years. Analyzing the data acquired on the 7 to 18 years old boys anthropometrical indices, one can conclude that the increase in the body height is seen to be regular in all age groups, while faster growth is seen in the period of 7 to 8 years by 7.0 cm, and from 13 to 14 years by 9.0 cm, dynamics of the body mass increase is similar to the body height increase, more faster body mass increase is seen at the age from 7 to 8 years, the increase is by 4.22 kg, but at the age from 13 to 14 years by 6.81 kg, which corresponds to the literature data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Disorders of sexual differentiation and sexual development is the topic, which was little spoken of in society in recent past, and about which doctors had very superficial knowledge. The aim of our research is to study how sexual development is exposed in Latvia among school-age boys and whether any deviations in sexual development can be encountered. Material and methods. The chief indicator of secondary sexual signs is the development of testicles, which was chosen to be the basis for our study. 683 boys involved into the study, aged from 7 to 18 years, were divided into 12 age groups. Sagittal size or thickness of the testis was measured by J. Tanner's method. By sagittal size or the testis thickness we understand the measurement, which is carried out from the external surface of the testis towards its internal surface. Results. In the study process we found out, that the problems of testicle development among Latvia's boys are similar to those in the world described in the literature. The most surprising finding was that part of the boys studied and their parents did not have any idea of the existence of this problem. Therefore, the question arises concerning the quality of medical professionals' duties and the attitude towards man's health as such. Conclusions. The growth of the testes is gradual, reaching its maximum at puberty, the size of the right and left side testes do not differ. Developmental deviations of the testes in the populations of boys are rather wide-spread. The most common developmental deviation of the testes is bilateral cryptorchism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Breast milk is the only true natural product for the feeding of infants. World Health Organization suggests breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months of life. The new standards are based on the breastfed child as the norm for growth and development. Thus, the aim of our research was to find the influence of the feeding mode on anthropometrical parameters of the newborns and infants in Latvia. Material and methods. The longitudinal study method was used in the Riga Maternity Hospital from December 2004 until January 2007. 503 healthy, term newborns were measured (head and chest circumference, height, weight) during visit. Ponderal index and body mass index were calculated. Detailed information on feeding patterns was collected from parents. Data were processed by the means of SPSS/PCT software. Results. BMI for 12-month-old boys correlated with PI of newborn boys statistically significantly. For girls, the correlation was not found. A statistically significant difference was observed between breastfed and formula-fed boy-babies in weight, BMI and head circumference at one month. At 3 months, there was no difference seen between anthropometric measurements of breastfed or formula-fed newborns. At 6 months, the difference appeared for girls in height and for boys in BMI depending on the way of feeding. At 9 months, height differed between breastfed boys and formula-fed boys. At 12 months there was no difference observed between the genders. Conclusions. Evidence shows that breastfed and formula-fed infants grow differently, although generally there is no statistically significant influence of the feeding mode on the anthropometry in the first year of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The influence of educational factor on some anthropometrical parameters of adult woman's body was studied during the period 2001-2005 in Latvia. Materials and methods. In the study, 873 women from 18 to 65 and 66+ years of age were investigated. All the anthropometrical measurements (body height, body weight, chest circumference) were carried out according to the methodical recommendations by R. Martin and K. Saller using Siber-Hegner and Co (Switzerland) instruments. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The data on education were estimated using a questionnaire which was divided into five groups: incomplete primary school, primary school, secondary school, professional (technical) school, higher educational institution. To describe the association of an individual's education by anthropometrical parameters two more factors (age and ethnicity) had to be added. The data analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows 10.0. Results. The educational level of the women studied differed depending on their age. The groups of women with better education included a greater number of older than younger individuals. The values of some anthropometrical parameters varied between educational groups of adult women. Differences between educational groups showed, that the mean value of body height was greater for women with secondary school educational level than for women with other educations. Comparison of educational groups showed, that women with better educational levels had greater mean values for body weight, chest circumference and BMI. The level of education was statistically significant and positively associated with age. Factor analysis of regression showed associations of body height, body weight with age and ethnicity as well as associations between chest circumference, BMI and age. All the anthropometrical variables did not show any association with the educational factor. Conclusions. The results of the present study support the idea that the educational factor has influence on the body build and could be used to investigate some associations of socioeconomic factors with women's physical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of age at menarche with adult the BMI during 2001-2005 among 863 females in the age from 18 to 65 and 66+ years in Latvia. The data from this study included some anthropometrical measurements (body height (cm) and body weight (kg)). The age at menarche was obtained by a questionnaire. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and it was categorized as underweight, normal, overweight and obesity. All the women were divided into four categories by age at menarche (I (early) -- before 11.99 years; II -- 12.0-12.99 years, III -- 13.0-13.99 years; IV (late) -- older than 14 years) and into seven age groups (18-20, 21-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66+). The mean age at menarche was 13.39±1.35 years. 40.7% of all the measured women matured at the age older than 14 years and 31.6% - at the age 13.0-13.99 years. Menarcheal age was inversely related to the adult levels of the BMI among adults in some age groups. Menarcheal age was not significantly related to adult height, but early maturers were shorter than late maturers. The mean BMI was 23.29±4.58 kg/m2. About 66.5% of women had normal body weight and 17.8% of women were overweight. The women with ages at menarche before 11.99 years and during 12.0-12.99 years showed higher mean BMI values compared with the BMI values of women matured after the age 13.0-13.99 years and older than the age 14. The mean ages of menarche of women with underweight and obesity showed a tendency that these women matured later than the women with a normal body weight and overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2004, in the maternity hospital of the city of Riga anthropometric measuring of healthy new-borns was started. As by 1 January, 2007 the number of newborns measured was 503. Three measurements: head circumference, maximum width and maximum length of the cranium, were made to every child during one visit and the results were fixed in an inquiry form. The longitudinal or individualizing study method that involves anthropometric measurements in definite time moments at one and the same child was used. The cephalic index for the newborn boys and girls is similar in value. In the first month it decreases for both -- boys and girls. Then from the first to the sixth month the cephalic index grows faster during the first year of life, and later it is always bigger for boys than for girls. Dolichocephaly is not characteristic of newborn and infant boys in Latvia. The cephalic index at the age of one year both for boys and girls is comparatively smaller than for newborns. Brachiocephaly is the most common head shape in all referent ages. For girls this shape appears in the new-born's age, at the age of 6; but at the age of 9 and 12 months the most common is mesocephaly. However, at the age of 1 and 3 months dolichocephaly becomes more common. There is not any correlation between the head shape and the mother's weight, height, age and the way of delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in social and economic factors call for the necessity to follow up the changes of the human body forms and functions, as well as to test whether the boys in the city of Riga are seen to have changes in the physical development in this century, since in the last ten years the physical and puberty parameters of boys in Latvia have not been defined. Therefore, in 2005 the Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology started a study on "Evaluation of Riga school-age boys physical development in the turn of the century". Anthropometrical measurements were carried out in Riga schools of 550 boys at the age from 7 to 18 years. The aim -- to study the absolute and relative growth rate of the body longitudinal parameters in boys: the body height, the trunk length, the upper extremity length and the lower extremity length. Analyzing the acquired data on the parameters of 7-18 year-old boys, we can conclude that: the increase of the body height, the trunk length, the upper extremity length and the lower extremity length dynamics are positive in all the age groups, but an accelerated growth is seen at the age from 7 to 8 years, and from 13 to 14 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body composition changes occur differently in women in the various phases of aging, influencing anthropometry. Aging is the progressive accumulation of changes with time, and it is an important factor in classifying height, weight, chest circumference and the body mass index (BMI). There are some data on age-related changes in three important body measurements (body height, body weight and chest circumference) of 873 women aged 18-65 and 66+ years in Latvia. Anthropometric data were studied from 2001 to 2005. Altogether 900 women participated in the anthropometric study. We examined age difference changes in three body measurements between age groups (18-20, 21-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66+). Anthropometric measurements were assessed using standardized techniques. The BMI was also calculated. The mean values were compared and differences between the age groups were analysed. Significant age differences exist in body height, body weight, chest circumference and the BMI. Comparisons of age groups showed that the body height decreased with age. There was an increase in body weight, chest circumference and the BMI with age. The changes were greater at higher ages. The data can be used in clinical practice and the epidemiological studies based on the interpretation of anthropometric measurements in the women aged 18-65 and 66+ years in Latvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief introduction. It is very important to identify Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) promptly because of the very high early risk of ischaemic stroke. It requires urgent investigation. TIAs have many clinical situations and diagnosis as mimics. TIA is a common diagnostic challenge at the pre-hospital stage. Materials and methods. Aim of this study was toevaluateTIA mimics at the pre-hospital stage in Latvia. This observational and retrospective study included all consecutive adult patients with prehospital diagnosis of TIA (G45 by IDC-10) referred to five hospitals in Latvia during 12 months. Referrals were considered correct if the prehospital diagnosis of TIA matched with the hospital discharge diagnosis. Results. In total, 2874 patients were included in our study. The prehospital diagnosis of TIA was correct in 14.4% cases. The most frequent mimics were vertigo (517, 17.9%), stroke (364, 12.7%), blood hypertension (295, 10.3%). In total there were 235 different hosptial discharge diagnosis. Conclusions. Transient ischaemic attacks have a high rate of mimics at prehospital stage in Latvia. The accuracy of prehospital diagnosis with hospital dicharge diagnosis is very low (14.4%). The most frequent mimics are vertigo, stroke, blood hypertension (40.9% combined). TIAs are a serious diagnostic challenge at the prehospital stage.This indicates that in Latvia there is a room and need for improvement at the prehospital TIA identification methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]