Objective:To evaluate facial asymmetry among Chinese young population via three-dimensional photogrammetry.Methods:Young subjects were recruited in Beijing from May to December in 2017. Three-dimensional facial images were obtained by VECTRA H1 camera. The images were exported to Geomagic Wrap 2017. Soft tissue landmarks were identified, and a coordinate system was built on every image. The face was divided into upper, middle, and lower part by the horizontal plane passing the exocanthion and the horizontal plane passing the cheilion. On the coronal plane, the distances between the midsagittal plane and the homogeneous landmarks located on the right and left hemifaces as well as bilateral palpebral fissure height were computed. In terms of facial depth, facial depth parameters located on the right and the left hemifaces were computed. There was a total of 13 parameters. Parameters on one hemiface were compared with those on the other hemiface using paired t-test. Mean absolute difference (MAD) and asymmetric rate (AR) were computed. Finally, we compared the result on men to the result on women via t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:There was a total of 122 young subjects, 60 men (25.1±3.8 years old) and 62 women (27.3±4.3 years old). (1) On coronal plane, among males, the difference between bilateral tragion and midsagittal plane and the difference between bilateral cheilion and midsagittal plane were statistically significant( P<0.05); among females, the difference between bilateral exocanthion and midsagittal plane, the difference between bilateral palpebrale superius and midsagittal plane, and the difference between bilateral tragion and midsagittal plane were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Among bilateral landmarks (except for palpebral fissure height), the MAD of the distance between bilateral exocanthion and midsagittal plane was the smallest, (1.00±0.88) mm (AR=2.1%) and (1.08±0.79) mm (AR=2.4%) among men and women, respectively ( t=0.541, P=0.589). The MAD of the distance between lateral tragion and midsagittal plane was the largest, (3.45±2.54) mm (AR=4.6%) and (2.89±2.86) mm (AR=4.1%) among men and women, respectively ( t=-1.149, P=0.253). (2) In terms of facial depth, among both males and females, the difference between all bilateral facial depth parameters was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The MAD of the distance between the pogonion and bilateral tragion was the largest, (2.62±1.69) mm (AR=1.8%) and (2.45±1.69) mm (AR=1.8%) among men and women, respectively ( t=-0.491, P=0.625); the MAD of the distance between the glabella and bilateral tragion was the smallest, (1.77±1.25) mm (AR=1.4%) and (1.91±1.54) mm (AR=1.6%) among men and women, respectively ( t=0.587, P=0.558). Conclusions:Facial asymmetry is universal among Chinese young population. The MAD does not exceed 3.5 mm. Upper one-third face has higher symmetry while lower one-third face has lower symmetry.

Objective:To evaluate facial asymmetry among Chinese young population via three-dimensional photogrammetry.Methods:Young subjects were recruited in Beijing from May to December in 2017. Three-dimensional facial images were obtained by VECTRA H1 camera. The images were exported to Geomagic Wrap 2017. Soft tissue landmarks were identified, and a coordinate system was built on every image. The face was divided into upper, middle, and lower part by the horizontal plane passing the exocanthion and the horizontal plane passing the cheilion. On the coronal plane, the distances between the midsagittal plane and the homogeneous landmarks located on the right and left hemifaces as well as bilateral palpebral fissure height were computed. In terms of facial depth, facial depth parameters located on the right and the left hemifaces were computed. There was a total of 13 parameters. Parameters on one hemiface were compared with those on the other hemiface using paired t-test. Mean absolute difference (MAD) and asymmetric rate (AR) were computed. Finally, we compared the result on men to the result on women via t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:There was a total of 122 young subjects, 60 men (25.1±3.8 years old) and 62 women (27.3±4.3 years old). (1) On coronal plane, among males, the difference between bilateral tragion and midsagittal plane and the difference between bilateral cheilion and midsagittal plane were statistically significant( P<0.05); among females, the difference between bilateral exocanthion and midsagittal plane, the difference between bilateral palpebrale superius and midsagittal plane, and the difference between bilateral tragion and midsagittal plane were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Among bilateral landmarks (except for palpebral fissure height), the MAD of the distance between bilateral exocanthion and midsagittal plane was the smallest, (1.00±0.88) mm (AR=2.1%) and (1.08±0.79) mm (AR=2.4%) among men and women, respectively ( t=0.541, P=0.589). The MAD of the distance between lateral tragion and midsagittal plane was the largest, (3.45±2.54) mm (AR=4.6%) and (2.89±2.86) mm (AR=4.1%) among men and women, respectively ( t=-1.149, P=0.253). (2) In terms of facial depth, among both males and females, the difference between all bilateral facial depth parameters was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The MAD of the distance between the pogonion and bilateral tragion was the largest, (2.62±1.69) mm (AR=1.8%) and (2.45±1.69) mm (AR=1.8%) among men and women, respectively ( t=-0.491, P=0.625); the MAD of the distance between the glabella and bilateral tragion was the smallest, (1.77±1.25) mm (AR=1.4%) and (1.91±1.54) mm (AR=1.6%) among men and women, respectively ( t=0.587, P=0.558). Conclusions:Facial asymmetry is universal among Chinese young population. The MAD does not exceed 3.5 mm. Upper one-third face has higher symmetry while lower one-third face has lower symmetry.

INTRODUCTIONBreast milk fatty acids play a major role in infant development. However, no data have compared the breast milk composition of different ethnic groups living in the same environment. We aimed to (i) investigate breast milk fatty acid composition of three ethnic groups in Singapore and (ii) determine dietary fatty acid patterns in these groups and any association with breast milk fatty acid composition.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a prospective study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Healthy pregnant women with the intention to breastfeed were recruited. Diet profile was studied using a standard validated 3-day food diary. Breast milk was collected from mothers at 1 to 2 weeks and 6 to 8 weeks postnatally. Agilent gas chromatograph (6870N) equipped with a mass spectrometer (5975) and an automatic liquid sampler (ALS) system with a split mode was used for analysis.

RESULTSSeventy-two breast milk samples were obtained from 52 subjects. Analysis showed that breast milk ETA (Eicosatetraenoic acid) and ETA:EA (Eicosatrienoic acid) ratio were significantly different among the races (P = 0.031 and P = 0.020), with ETA being the highest among Indians and the lowest among Malays. Docosahexaenoic acid was significantly higher among Chinese compared to Indians and Malays. No difference was demonstrated in n3 and n6 levels in the food diet analysis among the 3 ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONSDifferences exist in breast milk fatty acid composition in different ethnic groups in the same region, although no difference was demonstrated in the diet analysis. Factors other than maternal diet may play a role in breast milk fatty acid composition.

Arachidonic Acids ; metabolism ; Breast Feeding ; ethnology ; Diet ; Diet Records ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; metabolism ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; metabolism ; Ethnic Groups ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; India ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Maternal Welfare ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Prospective Studies ; Singapore ; Statistics, Nonparametric