scholarly journals Sudden death and suicide: A comparison of brain weight

2002 ◽  
Vol 181 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Hamilton ◽  
R. F. T. McMahon
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
General Population ◽  
Sudden Death ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Brain Weight ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Commit Suicide

BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that the brain weight of individuals over the age of 60 who commit suicide is significantly higher than in those who die of natural causes.AimsTo ascertain whether brain weight is different in people of a younger age who commit suicide than in those who die accidentally.MethodA retrospective review of post-mortem reports collecting height, weight and brain weight in 100 suicide victims (87 males, mean age 38.5 years) and 100 age/gender-matched controls who died accidentally or of natural causes (87 males, mean age 38.7 years). Comparison by t-test was made of brain weight in isolation as well as brain weight corrected for height, weight and body mass index.ResultsThese results reveal no significant difference in brain weight in suicide cases compared to the general population (P > 0.05). The brain weight of those who died by hanging was significantly higher than of those who died by overdose.ConclusionsWhatever the significant neuropsychiatric elements are that influence suicidal behaviour, they do not consistently affect brain weight in the population studied.

Apparent Higher Brain Weight in Suicide Victims: Possible Reasons

2002 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 236-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jože Balažic ◽  
Andrej Marušič
Keyword(s):  
Postmortem Examination ◽  
Brain Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Emotional Information ◽  
Partial Explanation ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Brain

In 2000 we tested previously reported findings by Salib and Tadros that brain weight of fatal self-harm victims is higher than of those who died of natural causes. Our results were based on data from 15 suicides and 15 deaths of other causes. Data included matching variables of age, sex, time between death and postmortem examination, and temperature of the surrounding environment. The exploratory variables were brain weight and method of death. No significant difference was found between the brain weights of suicides and others. On the other hand, some differences were obtained for different suicide methods, which also differed in the temperature of the environment, this being lower for the group of suicides that occurred outdoors (around or below 0°C). Once we excluded all the outdoor cases and controls, a significantly higher brain weight was obtained for suicide cases. These and previous results are intriguing and require explanation. Respirator brain syndrome as described by Moseley, Molinari, and Walker in 1976 may provide only a partial explanation. Another possible suggestion is that higher brain weight in suicide victims may be related to previously demonstrated increased amygdala blood flow and subsequent amygdala enlargement due to the increased processing of emotional information.

scholarly journals Brain weight in suicide

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad Salib ◽  
George Tadros
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Brain Weight ◽  
Postmortem Brain ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Post Mortem Brain ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Set Up

BackgroundThere is little available literature on the effect of suicide methods on brain weight.AimsTo explore variations in postmortem brain weight in different methods of fatal self-harm (FSH) and in deaths from natural causes.MethodA review of a sample of coroners' records of elderly persons (60 and above). Verdicts of suicide, misadventure and open verdicts were classified as FSH. Post-mortem brain weight for 142 FSH victims and 150 victims of unexpected, sudden or unexplained death due to natural causes, and from various methods of FSH, were compared.ResultsBrain weight of victims of FSH was significantly higher than of those who died of natural causes (P<0.01); brain weights in both groups were within the normal range for this age group. There was no significant difference in brain weight between different methods of FSH (P>0.05).ConclusionsThe findings require critical examination and further research, to include data from younger age groups. A regional or national suicide neuropathological database could be set up if all victims of FSH underwent routine neurohistochemical post-mortem examination.

Exposure to priority organochlorine contaminants in the Italian general population. Part 2

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
EJ Mrema ◽  
FM Rubino ◽  
S Mandic-Rajcevic ◽  
E Sturchio ◽  
R Turci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
General Population ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
The Body ◽  
Population Total ◽  
Pcb Congeners ◽  
Organochlorine Contaminants ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Age Range

Concentrations of 36 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were measured in serum of 372 Italian residents of general population living in Novafeltria, Pavia, and Milan. Total PCB level differed significantly between these sites ( p < 0.0001) with median concentrations of 836.50, 1354.57, and 2062.08 pmol/g lipid, respectively. However, there is no evidence for the difference in distribution of total PCB levels by genders. Total dioxin-like PCBs differed significantly ( p < 0.0001) between the sites (median 109.78, 50.88, and 166.99 pmol/g lipid, respectively) and genders of Novafeltria and Pavia ( p = 0.011 and 0.009, respectively). PCB 138, 153, 170, and 180 differed significantly between the places of residence ( p < 0.0001) with higher values in Milan population. In the overall population, total PCB and PCB 138, 153, 156, 170, and 180 correlated positively with age (correlations range between 0.320 and 0.569, p < 0.0001). In Novafeltria, the correlations ranged between 0.545 and 0.670, and in Pavia, the correlations ranged between 0.516 and 0.666. In Milan, correlations with age range between 0.327 and 0.417 for total PCB and congeners 138, 153, and 180. With an exception of PCB 170, there was no evidence of significant difference in the distribution of most abundant PCB congeners and total PCB across the body mass index categories.

Adrenaline and Noradrenaune in Post-Mortem Blood

1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alf Lund
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Death ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Significant Difference

There is a significant difference in the adrenaline content of blood from cases of violent (27 μg./L) and natural (55 μg./L) sudden death. This difference is supposed to be due to a difference in duration of the occurrence of death (lowest adrenaline concentration at fastest death).

scholarly journals Brain weights in adult africans

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 223-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Salami ◽  
M. Ajani ◽  
I. Orhorho ◽  
G. Ogun ◽  
A. Adeoye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Brain Weight ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Autopsy Specimens ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Introduction: The average brain weight of adult humans, using Caucasian figures, is said to be between 1300g to 1400g. Few studies have however been done to make actual evaluations of brain weights in adult Africans. This study seeks to examine the weight of brains from people of African descent with respect to variations in sex and age in decades using autopsy specimens. Materials and Methods: Analysis of the weight of brains removed from both male and female adult patients during fresh autopsy of their bodies in our center over a ten year period was done. The study criteria required non-involvement of the central nervous system in the cause of death. The brains were grouped based on age in decades and further grouped into early, middle and late age groups. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20 statistics software. Results: A total of one hundred and sixteen brains were included in the study and the mean brain weight was 1280g with a range between 1015g to 1590g. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean brain weight of the different age groups. The average male brain was heavier than those of females and the difference was statistically signiicant. Conclusion: The brain weight of adult Africans in our study is similar to that seen in Caucasians. There is no statistically significant difference in the brain weight of adults from early adulthood to the elderly adults. Male adults have statistically heavier brains than the females.

scholarly journals Differences Between Dietary, Drinking Habits and Physical Activity of the Adult Population Living in Two Distinct Geographic Areas of Romania

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 3100-3105
Author(s):  
Iosif Balint ◽  
Sandor Pal ◽  
Lorand Ferencz ◽  
Zoltan Abram
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
General Population ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Significant Difference

The constantly and intensely changing modern society has a negative influence on the the general population�s health status. Risk factors being deeply inserted in the structure of the modern society can hardly be influenced and corrected. The aim of the study was the lifestyle- and diet-related comparison of two distinct adult populations from Romania: Bacau and Tirgu Mures. Material and methods: We evaluated the dietary habits, alcohol consumption and physical activity by a complex, validated questionnaire. Body mass index was also determined. The adult population from Tirgu Mures numbered 352 subjects, who were compared to the adults from Bacau, numbering 231 individuals. The considered threshold of significance was 0.05. Body mass index is over the normal range in more than 2/3 of the subjects. The overweight occurrence was 37.95%. The majority of the subjects (77.5%) has regular daily exercise (30 minutes or more). Daily alcohol consumption was present in 42.42% of the cases. Dietary habits were also analyzed: 61.9% of the subjects consume breakfast daily, and 46.94% of them consumes snacks between meals 2-3 times per week. A statistical difference could be observed regarding the frequency of breakfast consumption and body mass index (p-0.042): 2/3 of the studied adults from Tirgu Mures who eat breakfast sometimes having their body mass index over 25 kg/m2. Regarding physical activity a significant difference could be observed in case of those who responded rarely or never (p-0.027) (76.0% of Mures county with this response vs. only 24.0% in Bacau). The frequency of alcohol consumption is higher in Tirgu Mures and surroundings in case of once or several times per week consumption (p-0.005). Instructional and educational interventions targeting the development of healthier lifestyle habits in general population are worthy and needed to reduce the risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and reducing the burden upon the society of these diseases.

Undernutrition Among Indian Men

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 492-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashwant Pandharinath Patil ◽  
Ramkrishna Lahu Shinde
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group 15 ◽  
Indian Men

The objective of this study was to evaluate zonal and state-wise prevalence and risk factors of undernutrition among Indian men in the age-group of 15 to 54 years based on sampled data of 74,369 respondents from the National Family Health Survey-3. A common anthropometric measure, body mass index, is used to determine the prevalence as it is considered to be a good measure of undernutrition. Overall, 28.6% ( SE = 0.17%) of Indian men are classified as underweight, and 52.5% ( SE = 0.62%) of the younger age-group (15-19 years) are underweight. The highest prevalence of underweight men in Indian states is observed in Tripura (39.8%; SE = 1.85%), followed by Rajasthan (39.3%; SE = 1.28%), Chhattisgarh (37.2%; SE = 1.3%), and Gujarat (35.7%; SE = 1.3%). The highest and lowest prevalence among zones are reported for central (34.5%; SE = 0.39%) and northeast (18%; SE = 0.34%) zones, respectively. The bivariate analysis using chi-square test concludes the significant association ( p < .001) between the body mass index groups and each of the explanatory variable. Significant difference ( p ≤ .002) is reported in the mean heights of underweight and non–underweight men among four out of six zones of India. From multivariate logistic regression analysis, we observed that for India as a whole, men with no education, low/medium standard of living, and the younger age-group (15-19 years) have significantly ( p < .001) higher chances of being underweight. We also observed similar results for many Indian states at different significance levels. In conclusion, the distribution of underweight in India remains segregated by socioeconomic status.

Ultrasound Accuracy in Diagnosing Appendicitis in Obese Pediatric Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 1063-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan E. Love ◽  
Monica Camelo ◽  
Sarvenaz Nouri ◽  
Diego Kriger ◽  
Daniel Ludi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ultrasound Technology

The use of ultrasound to diagnose appendicitis in pediatric patients has been growing with the improvement of ultrasound technology and operator skills, but its utility in the increasingly obese pediatric population has not been thoroughly investigated. A retrospective review of all pediatric (≤18 years old) patients with appendicitis who were admitted at a single hospital from 2014 to 2016 was conducted. Patients were stratified into body mass index (BMI) percentile categories based on the centers for disease control guidelines. Comparisons were then made. There were 231 patients with an average BMI percentile of 72.6; 99 (42.9%) who had an ultrasound, of which 54 (54.5%) were positive for acute appendicitis, whereas 43 (43.4%) were nondiagnostic. In patients who had a nondiagnostic ultrasound, 37 had a CT demonstrating acute appendicitis. These were compared with 123 patients who had CT alone demonstrating acute appendicitis. The CT-only group was older (12 vs 9, P < 0.005), tended to be male (78 (63%) vs 15 (41%), P = 0.019), had fewer operations performed (81 (66%) vs 30 (81%), P = 0.048) but had no significant difference in BMI percentile (75.8 vs 71.7, P = 0.465). Ultrasound had a 100 per cent positive predictive value in obese and overweight children. Ultrasound is a reliable study in obese and overweight pediatric patients with acute appendicitis.

scholarly journals Overweight or Obese Individuals at Eighteen Years of Age Develop Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma at a Significantly Earlier Age

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Chao ◽  
Nilesh H. Shah ◽  
Herbert J. Zeh ◽  
Aatur D. Singhi ◽  
Nathan Bahary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Covariate Data ◽  
Maximum Lifetime ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
The Mean

Background. Adolescent obesity is a national epidemic that recently has been shown to increase risk for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) and is associated with an earlier age of PC onset. We hypothesized that PC patients who are overweight or obese at age 18 would have an earlier age of PC onset. Methods. Retrospective review of 531 patients in our PC registry was completed. Self-reported weight at age 18 and maximum lifetime weight were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) at age 18 (BMI-18) and maximum lifetime BMI. Results. Complete BMI and baseline covariate data was available in 319 PC patients. Mean age (in years) of PC diagnosis for patients whose BMI-18 was overweight (64.0) or obese (59.9) was significantly different when compared to patients with a normal BMI-18 (66.7). No significant difference was observed in the mean age of PC diagnosis in those patients who maintained a normal BMI-18 when compared to those patients who subsequently became overweight or obese (67.0 versus 66.6; p=0.65). Conclusions. An elevated BMI at age 18 is associated with an earlier age of PC onset and should be factored into determining the optimal age of beginning screening for patients at high risk for PC.

scholarly journals Procrastination and Academic Achievement in Breakfast Takers and Skippers: A Comparative Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Singh ◽  
Ravi Dua
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Brain

Breakfast is considered as a very important meal of the day as it affects the Body Mass Index and provides required glucose to the brain and body. Whereas, procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time. This study evaluated the differences of breakfast takers and breakfast skippers in relation to their procrastination and academic achievement. The sample consists of 120 students of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. Participants were in the age range of 17-20 years, among them 60 were males and 60 were females. Random sampling was used to collect the data and the data was analyzed by keeping 5% level of significance. Results indicated that there is a significant difference between breakfast takers and breakfast skippers in relation to their procrastination level and academic achievement.

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