Reference percentile curves represent the covariate-dependent distribution of a quantitative measurement and are often used to summarize and monitor dynamic processes such as human growth. We propose a new nonparametric method based on a radial smoothing (RS) technique to estimate age-specific reference percentile curves assuming the underlying distribution is relatively close to normal. We com...

BACKGROUND Symphysis-fundus measurement is used in pregnancy care to detect poor fetal growth. Symphysis-fundus measurement curves (percentile curves) and prediction of fetuses with a birth weight below the10th percentile have been published previously. The percentile curves show the distribution of symphysis-fundus measurements in the reference population and are recommended as the national st...

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity has become one of the most serious public health challenges in the 21st century in most developing countries. The percentile curve tool is useful for monitoring and screening obesity at population level, however, in China, no official recommendations on childhood body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) reference percentiles have been made in practice. A...

To determine regional percentile values and compare them with currently used national and international curves, we determined the birth weight, height and head and chest circumference of 3688 term neonates born in a state hospital in the Anatolian part of Istanbul, Turkey. Mean birth weight, height and head and chest circumference were 3334 (SD 494) g, 48.3 (SD 2.2) cm, 34.4 (SD 1.3) cm and 32....

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Preterm infants experience disproportionate growth failure postnatally and may be large weight for length despite being small weight for age by hospital discharge. The objective of this study was to create and validate intrauterine weight-for-length growth curves using the contemporary, large, racially diverse US birth parameters sample used to create the Olsen weight-...

BACKGROUND Skinfold thicknesses have long been considered important and valid measurements of subcutaneous fat. Nevertheless, there are no current skinfold reference data for US children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE We developed new percentile reference curves for triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses by using the same national samples as those included in the reference curves for body m...

BACKGROUND Waist circumference (WC) is a sensitive marker for abdominal obesity in the pediatric age group. However, WC is influenced by age, sex, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI), causing difficulties in the selection of the most appropriate cut-off value. Considering the lack of reference values in Germany, we developed age- and gender-specific WC smoothed reference curves in German childr...

PURPOSE An increase in the prevalence of obesity has been observed in children and adolescents. As remarkable changes in body composition occur with growth during the adolescent period, it is important that changes in body composition be monitored. The purpose of this study was to propose reference percentile values for body composition indices including body mass index (BMI) in children and ad...

BACKGROUND Aortic enlargement and impaired bioelasticity are of interest in several cardiac and non-cardiac diseases as they can lead to cardiovascular complications. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasingly accepted as a noninvasive tool in cardiovascular evaluation. Assessment of aortic anatomy and bioelasticity, namely aortic distensibility and pulse wave velocity (PWV), by CM...