Anthropological Review
type: channel
description: Anthropological Review is an established peer-reviewed journal promoting an interdisciplinary view of the human being. The journal provides a forum for the presentation of research studies, meta-analyses, scholarly reviews and articles devoted to issues in physical anthropolog
publisher: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
language: en
publication name: Anthropological Review
issn: 1898-6773
items: Sex Estimation using Footprint Ridge Density – A Mini Review
items: Relationship between Psychomotor Abilities vs. the Declared and Actual Physical Activity Levels among Women over 65 Years of Age
items: Frequency of Basic Types of Dorsal Hand Vein Patterns in the Slovak Population
items: Biological Anthropology in Poland: Its History and Short Scientific Biographies of the Contributing Professors
items: Comparative Analysis of Foot Arch Index between Yogic and Non-Yogic Female Practitioners
items: Predicting Facial Anthropometry: A Novel Guide for Facial Reconstruction Using a Nigerian Igbo Sample
items: Assessment of the Internal Consistency of Two Polish References in Detecting Short Stature and Obesity in Children and Adolescents
items: Analysis of periodontal disease in the archaeological population of Dąbrówki (Poland) (16th–17th centuries)
items: Predicting Prosociality in Primates: Socio-Ecological Influences and a Framework of Inter-Brain Neural Synchronization
items: The Critical Role of Dopamine in the Evolution of Human Intelligence and Thermal Tolerance
items: Socio-economic Status and Biological Characteristics of Students from Generation Z in France, Slovakia and Poland
items: Association between COVID-19 Pandemic, Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in Young Slovak Women
items: Forensic Anthropological Significance of Dental Calculus Deposits as Proxy Identifier of the Host and the Oral Microbiota: A Scoping Review
items: Dynamics of Growth in 9–14-year-old Bulgarian Boys and Girls
items: Human Biology Research in Anthropological Review: 2025 Onwards Editorial and Polish Anthropological Society Perspectives
items: Spina bifida oculta in skeletal population from Dąbrówki (Poland, Podlaskie Province)
items: Dyslipidemia in pre- and post-menopausal women: a study of peri-urban Paundra Kshatriya women
items: The diet of the human groups buried in a late- and post-Medieval rural parish cemetery in Libkovice (Czech Republic)
items: Relationship between body sway and body build in healthy adult men and women
items: Reliability of retrospective assessment of the age of first menstruation
items: Morphological and genetic aspects of Marfan Syndrome as demonstrated by a case of death during pregnancy with the discovery of two de novo missense mutations in the FBN1 gene
items: The age difference in 2D:4D among the Polish population: An exploratory study
items: Cardiometabolic risk assessment in Eastern Slovak young adults using anthropometric indicators
items: Traits Selection in Created Personal Ads and Sociosexuality: A New Method to Assess Sexual Strategy in Humans
items: Chemical Characterization of Archaeological Pulp Stones from 18th–19th Century Radom, Poland: A Pilot Study
items: Prehistory and Protohistory in Sicily. A Geometric Morphometrics Approach to Study the Biological History of Early Human Peopling of the Island
items: Eruption of Permanent Teeth in Bulgarian Children Aged 5–12 Years
items: Cardiovascular Risk Factors at Different Stages of Menopause: A Study among Bengali-Speaking Hindu Ethnic Group, India
items: Innate and adaptive immune parameters and adiposity in non-obese adults
items: Menstrual disorders and associated factors among rural and tribal adolescent girls in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sex Estimation using Footprint Ridge Density – A Mini Review
type: item
description: INTRODUCTION The epidermal level of human footprint possesses raised ridges and furrows, which form unique patterns. Ridge density quantification, involving counting the ridges within a predefined unit area, emphasizes variability due to differences in epidermal ridge thickness. Analyses of these ridges exhibit sex-based differences, making it important for forensic identification purposes. STUDY AIM The present mini review was conducted to showcase a targeted synthesis of seven research articles related to sex estimation using Footprint Ridge Density (FPRD). METHODS Relevant studies were identified through the search engines Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and ResearchGate, using Boolean operators and/or, between 2010 and August 2025. RESULTS Higher FPRD were observed in females and statistically significant sexual dimorphism was inferred across plantar and toe regions, particularly at the medial ball and selected toe areas. CONCLUSIONS This review provides key inferences from the existing literature and points out the potentiality of using FPRD as a reliable parameter in sex estimation studies to improve forensic procedures.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Human morphology
  topic: keywords
subject: Forensic podiatry
  topic: keywords
subject: Human identification
  topic: keywords
subject: Footprints
  topic: keywords
subject: Ridge density analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Sexual dimorphism
  topic: keywords
creator: Saumya Seal
creator: Michal Soták
creator: Mária Chovancová
creator: Petra Švábova
creator: Radoslav Beňuš
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2026-03-12
publication date: 2026-03-12
starting page: 39
ending page: 50
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.89.1.04

Relationship between Psychomotor Abilities vs. the Declared and Actual Physical Activity Levels among Women over 65 Years of Age
type: item
description: Introduction Psychomotor performance is a key indicator of functional aging and may be influenced by physical activity. Understanding how different activity levels relate to psychomotor abilities in older women is important for supporting independence in later life. Study Aim To examine the association between reaction time, visuomotor coordination, movement anticipation, and both subjective and objective physical activity levels in women aged 65+. Material and Methods A total of 30 women from the University of the Third Age in Rzeszów (70.87 ± 6.07 years) participated. Psychomotor abilities were assessed using standardized computerized tasks, while physical activity was measured using a self-report questionnaire and objective monitoring. Results Higher engagement in household physical activities was associated with faster simple reaction time. Conversely, a greater number of steps and higher low-intensity activity co-occurred with slower responses in choice-based and anticipation tasks. Increased sedentary time was related to poorer visuomotor reaction speed. Conclusions Although the observed associations were not fully consistent, the findings indicate that maintaining regular physical activity may help preserve psychomotor functioning and functional autonomy in aging women. Further research is needed to clarify the direction and mechanisms of these relationships.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: ageing
  topic: keywords
subject: older women
  topic: keywords
subject: psychomotor performance
  topic: keywords
subject: physical activity
  topic: keywords
creator: Jarosław Herbert
creator: Katarzyna Stopyra
creator: Renata Grzywacz
creator: Karolina Marks
creator: Dorota Kopeć
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2026-03-04
publication date: 2026-03-04
starting page: 9
ending page: 24
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.89.1.02

Frequency of Basic Types of Dorsal Hand Vein Patterns in the Slovak Population
type: item
description: Introduction Dorsal hand vein pattern represents a unique morphological feature of the human body which may serve as a biometric tool for forensic identification. Study Aim The primary aim of this study was to determine the frequency and distribution of dorsal hand vein patterns in a Slovak adult population, with respect to sex and laterality of the hand. Material and Methods This study provides a morphological analysis of dorsal hand vein patterns in a sample of 70 healthy adults from the Slovak population. Vein configurations were classified using the 1951 system developed by Suchý, distinguishing four main types: branched, double-branched, simple, and composite. Results The most frequent patterns were branched and double-branched, while the composite form was rare. No statistically significant differences were found between sexes or between hands, suggesting a high degree of bilateral and intersexual symmetry. A rare morphological subtype, labelled 2N4, appeared exclusively in females on the left hand, potentially reflecting sex-linked vascular variation. Conclusion The results support the hypothesis that dorsal venous architecture is largely determined by early developmental and genetic factors. Given the pattern stability and inter-individual variability, dorsal hand veins remain a promising biometric marker. Despite limitations related to imprinting technique and assessment subjectivity, the study offers a valuable anatomical reference for future biometric, forensic, or anthropological research.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: venous morphology
  topic: keywords
subject: biometric identification
  topic: keywords
subject: sex differences
  topic: keywords
subject: vascular symmetry
  topic: keywords
creator: Petra Švábová
creator: Zuzana Kozáková
creator: Stela Orosová
creator: Mária Chovancová
creator: Zuzana Matušíková
creator: Radoslav Beňuš
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2026-02-26
publication date: 2026-02-26
starting page: 25
ending page: 37
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.89.1.03

Biological Anthropology in Poland: Its History and Short Scientific Biographies of the Contributing Professors
type: item
description: The year 2025 marks exactly one hundred years since the founding of the Polish Anthropological Society in Poznań (November 12, 1925), initiated by Professor Adam Wrzosek of the University of Poznań, who became its first president, as well as the 150th anniversary of Adam Wrzosek’s birth. This year also marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment, on the initiative of Kazimierz Stołyhwo, of the first institution devoted to physical anthropology in Poland and the first in Eastern Europe: The Anthropological Laboratory at the Museum of Industry and Agriculture in Warsaw (1905). Year 2026 will record the centenary of the publication of the first volume of the Polish Anthropological Society journal “Przegląd Antropologiczny”, now “Anthropological Review” (1926), and the 170th anniversary of the beginning of anthropology as a university discipline (1856), considered the year when the first anthropology lectures were given at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków by Professor Józef Majer. A number of works devoted to the history of physical/biological anthropology in Poland have been documented in the literature, especially the history of individual centers, published in the 1950s on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the discipline in 1956, as well as studies on the history of Polish anthropology in a more comprehensive approach on other occasions. This article explores the history of biological anthropology in Poland, narrated mostly through short biographies of its founders – the professors whose work and achievements contributed to the development of the discipline, becoming part of the history of science. The biographical histories essentially cover the 19th and 20th centuries and include the professors who have either already made history or who have turned 75 on the date of publication of this article (born up to 1950).
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: history of science
  topic: keywords
subject: history of anthropology
  topic: keywords
subject: Polish anthropologists
  topic: keywords
subject: Polish scientists
  topic: keywords
creator: Katarzyna A. Kaszycka
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
starting page: 77
ending page: 136
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.4.05

Comparative Analysis of Foot Arch Index between Yogic and Non-Yogic Female Practitioners
type: item
description: Introduction With advancing age in females, gait patterns change due to several factors, including nutritional and hormonal influences. These changes can lead to a lowering of the foot arch, resulting in mild valgus and varus deformities. Regular yoga practice may help tone the musculoskeletal system of the foot, promoting the maintenance of the medial longitudinal, transverse, and lateral arches. Study Aim This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the arch indices of female yoga practitioners to those of non-practitioners in order to ascertain how yoga affected female arch indices. Materials and Methods Fourteen female students from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, participated in the study, seven of which were regular yoga practitioners and seven were non-yoga practitioners. Their left and right arch indices were determined by taking measurements from their footprints. A Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the foot arch indices of the two groups. Results A statistically significant difference between the left as well as right foot arch indices of females was revealed. Conclusion The study concludes that females who practice yoga may experience foot arch plasticity which is not necessarily evident in non-yoga practitioners. Future studies should test larger sample sizes and different genders.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: foot biomechanics
  topic: keywords
subject: foot health
  topic: keywords
subject: physical activity
  topic: keywords
subject: exercise
  topic: keywords
subject: body adaptation
  topic: keywords
creator: Saurabh Mishra
creator: Binayak Kumar Dubey
creator: Bhuwan Chandra Kapri
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2026-02-09
publication date: 2026-02-09
starting page: 1
ending page: 8
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.89.1.01

Predicting Facial Anthropometry: A Novel Guide for Facial Reconstruction Using a Nigerian Igbo Sample
type: item
description: The present study was conducted to generate facial anthropometry baseline data for adult males and females of Igbo ethnicity in south-eastern Nigeria and to develop facial anthropometric prediction and correlation models. This cross-sectional, descriptive study design involved using 200 males and 200 females. The study criteria included subjects with no history of facial surgery and were within the age interval of 18–35 years. With the aid of spreading and digital caliper, different percutaneous facial measurements were obtained and data collected were analyzed both descriptively and inferentially. There were statistically significant sex differences in all metrics. Mandibular width (MW) correlated with both forehead width (FHW), lower facial height (LFH) and nasal width (NW) for both sexes. Total facial height (TFH) correlated with NW, upper facial height (UFH), mid-facial height (MFH), and lower facial height (LFH), while NW correlated with MW, UFH, MFH, and LFH. Predictive models developed using univariate regression analysis for both sexes showed that MW was a strong predictor of FHW, while UFH, MFH, and LFH were individually strong predictors of TFH (p<0.05). Further, MFH and LFH were significant predictors of FH for both sexes. By using multivariate regression analysis, it was revealed that the combination of both FW and FHW were strong predictors of MW, while the combination of UFH, MFH, and LFH were significant predictors of TFH. Conclusively, these new data should aid forensic and surgical efforts in Nigerian contexts. Our models can be tested on other underrepresented populations to better understand current methods in facial anthropometry.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: facial morphometry
  topic: keywords
subject: predictive models
  topic: keywords
subject: Igbo ethnicity
  topic: keywords
subject: baseline data
  topic: keywords
subject: Nigerian anthropometry
  topic: keywords
creator: Nicholas Asiwe
creator: Oghenefego Michael Adheke
creator: Michael Okon
creator: Josiah Soipiriala Hart
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
starting page: 53
ending page: 67
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.4.03

Assessment of the Internal Consistency of Two Polish References in Detecting Short Stature and Obesity in Children and Adolescents
type: item
description: In paediatric practice, growth references are used by doctors and nurses to evaluate a child’s growth status. We present an assessment of the internal consistency of two Polish references in detecting short stature and obesity in children and adolescents. Key diagnostic thresholds, the 3rd percentile for height and the 95th for Body Mass Index (BMI), were selected for comparison. Percentiles were calculated for hypothetical heights 0.2 cm lower than the third percentile of specific references and 0.1 units lower than the 95th percentile of specific references, in the case of height and BMI references, respectively. The z-scores were calculated and converted to percentiles. MS Excel was used. Around the 3rd percentile of height and the 95th percentile of BMI, there is a discrepancy in the Warsaw growth reference for measured height and BMI, respectively, and the calculated percentile. In the case of the Polish 2010 and 2012 growth references, a hypothetical height 0.2 cm below the third percentile of height-for-age reference yielded percentiles below 3 for all ages in both sexes. The Polish 2010 and 2012 growth references for measurements 0.1 units below the obesity threshold yielded percentiles of 94.69–94.86 in boys and girls. The Polish 2010 and 2012 growth references provide consistent and coherent calculation results for the 3rd percentile of height and the 95th percentile of BMI for children and adolescents aged 3–18 years.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: growth references
  topic: keywords
subject: children
  topic: keywords
subject: z-score
  topic: keywords
subject: percentile
  topic: keywords
creator: Zbigniew Kułaga
creator: Aneta Kotowska
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 69
ending page: 76
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.4.04

Analysis of periodontal disease in the archaeological population of Dąbrówki (Poland) (16th–17th centuries)
type: item
description: Introduction Periodontitis is a disease affecting a significant proportion of both modern and historical populations, and its development is largely associated with poor oral hygiene. Study aim The aim of this study was to assess periodontal status of the historical population of Dąbrówki (Poland), dated to the 16th–17th centuries. Materialand Methods The study sample consisted of dental material from 24 individuals (12 females and 12 males), divided into three age groups (17–25, 26–35, and >36 years). The analysis was based on measurement of the distance between the cementoenamel junction and the surface of the alveolar bone, assessment of changes in the mesial and distal interdental septa, evaluation of architectural changes in the alveolar bone, and assessment of the possible presence of molar furcation. Results: Periodontitis was diagnosed in 75% (18/24) of the examined individuals, and pathological changes were identified in 28% (146/520) of the analysed teeth. The occurrence of the disease was related to sex, with periodontitis being statistically more frequent in males (46%) than in females (12%). An increase in disease severity with age was also observed. Conclusions: The results indicate that the population of Dąbrówki exhibited a lower frequency of periodontitis than other Polish populations from a similar historical period. One possible explanation is the rural character of the community, where dietary patterns may have differed from those of urban populations. Research on the Dąbrówki population is ongoing, and further analyses, including isotopic studies, are expected to allow a more comprehensive interpretation of the findings.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: periodontitis
  topic: keywords
subject: dental material
  topic: keywords
subject: ancient Poland
  topic: keywords
subject: oral hygiene
  topic: keywords
subject: diet
  topic: keywords
creator: Marcelina Rekowska
creator: Marta Zalewska
creator: Jacek Tomczyk
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2026-04-22
publication date: 2026-04-22
starting page: 1
ending page: 13
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.89.2.01

Predicting Prosociality in Primates: Socio-Ecological Influences and a Framework of Inter-Brain Neural Synchronization
type: item
description: Prosocial co-operation is critical for evolution and survival on Earth and has crucially shaped the development of Homo sapiens. Inter-brain neural synchronization (IBNS) has been shown to enhance prosocial co-operation in mammals and avians. The selection pressures which led to the development of IBNS throughout primate evolution are currently unknown. This paper aims to expand the understanding of IBNS in non-human primates by reviewing the literature on various primate populations that display prosocial behaviors that could correlate with IBNS. Binary logit modelling using machine learning methods was applied to social, ecological, morphological, and biological (SEMB) variables correlated with prosocial behaviors to obtain probabilities of prosociality. Our results suggest that select SEMB variables such as daily socialisation, food-sharing and hierarchy structure are strong predictors of prosocial behaviors in primates. We provide a framework that offers testable hypotheses for the existence of IBNS in primates based on the correlations between SEMB variables and prosocial behaviors. We also offer ideas of the ecological/behavioral forces that may correlate with neural activation patterns of primate IBNS. Through comparison to Homo sapiens models, these findings suggest IBNS in primates may exist beyond cercopithecids and may be evoked by similar socio-ecological contexts. However, some key neurological distinctions between the two groups exist, influencing which distinct patterns of behavior may evoke IBNS (relative to their socio-ecological context).
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: prosociality
  topic: keywords
subject: comparative behavior
  topic: keywords
subject: inter-brain neural synchronization
  topic: keywords
subject: neural systems
  topic: keywords
subject: machine learning
  topic: keywords
creator: Jacob Sevastidis
creator: Gary Clark
creator: Maciej Henneberg
creator: Lance Storm
creator: Arjun Burlakoti
creator: Arthur Saniotis
creator: Wenpeng You
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
starting page: 1
ending page: 29
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.4.01

The Critical Role of Dopamine in the Evolution of Human Intelligence and Thermal Tolerance
type: item
description: Modern humans are unique among anthropoids in many key features, including our advanced intelligence, large brain-body size, thermal tolerance, and endurance capability. The objective of this theoretical review is to update the theory of Previc (1999) postulating the importance of dopamine in human evolution by synthesizing newer findings concerning dopamine’s role in human intellectual and endurance capabilities. Recent evidence further supports the putative role of dopamine in advanced human intelligence (especially cognitive flexibility) and thermal tolerance and endurance. One key breakthrough is a collection of recent studies demonstrating a uniquely human dopaminergic innervation of the striatum and prefrontal cortex—both essential to human cognition. Another potentially important finding is the human-specific mutation of an enhancer to the EN1 gene that controls eccrine gland formation and plays a major role in the development of dopaminergic brain systems. A plausible evolutionary scenario is put forth in which the enhanced thermal capabilities linked to dopaminergic evolution may have gradually led to the enhanced intellects of modern humans.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: dopamine
  topic: keywords
subject: intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: endurance
  topic: keywords
subject: evolution
  topic: keywords
subject: human
  topic: keywords
creator: Fred H. Previc
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
starting page: 31
ending page: 51
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.4.02

Socio-economic Status and Biological Characteristics of Students from Generation Z in France, Slovakia and Poland
type: item
description: Generation Z, unlike any generation before them, lives in an era of rapid and global technological change, where most activities take place online. This lifestyle has significant implications for the well-being and health of internet users. The question is whether the contemporary socio-economic status (SES) and biological profile of Generation Z ‘immersed’ in new technologies is a universal phenomenon, independent of the country of residence. This study sets out to identify similarities and differences in the socio-economic and biological characteristics of Generation Z students from three European Union countries. Data were collected directly in France, Slovakia, and Poland. We used a survey questionnaire and non-invasive anthropometric measurements in Generation Z respondents (n=157). Our results show that there is a significant relationship between country of residence and three SES indicators: income, self-rated financial situation and time spent online, as well as three biological measures: body mass index (BMI), relative fat mass (RFM) and waist circumference (WC). Country of residence only partly explains the similarities and differences in the socio-economic status and biological characteristics of Generation Z students. In terms of SES, the participants’ profile is significantly influenced by financial situation, i.e. the student’s monthly disposable income and self-assessed financial situation, as well as time spent online. In turn, for biological factors, the significant measures are: BMI, RFM and WC.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: SES
  topic: keywords
subject: waist circumference
  topic: keywords
subject: BMI
  topic: keywords
subject: RFM
  topic: keywords
subject: dynamometry
  topic: keywords
subject: EU countries
  topic: keywords
creator: Ewa Frąckiewicz
creator: Ewa Rębacz-Maron
creator: Rafał Czyżycki
creator: Ghislaine Pellat
creator: Jana Marasová
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 1
ending page: 18
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.01

Association between COVID-19 Pandemic, Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in Young Slovak Women
type: item
description: This study investigates the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle factors, and their impact on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate in young adult women from Slovakia. We assessed 552 adult women aged 18 to 30 years who were categorized into subgroups based on their pandemic status. The individual’s lifestyle was evaluated using a detailed questionnaire. BP and pulse rate were measured in the sitting position using a digital sphygmomanometer. Linear regression analysis tested the associations. The results showed no significant difference in physical activity and the proportion of fat mass (%) before and during the pandemic. Smoking prevalence increased during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels (p = 0.152). While there were no significant differences in coffee consumption, the use of hormonal contraceptives was significantly higher during the pandemic (p = 0.021). In addition, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse rate were significantly higher during the pandemic than before, indicating possible cardiovascular effects (SBP with p < 0.001 and pulse rate with p = 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that pandemic and fat mass (%) were significant predictors of SBP, while only physical activity and fat mass (%) were predictors of diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In addition, pandemic and physical activity were significant predictors of pulse rate. We observed significantly higher SBP and pulse rates during the pandemic than before in young adult women. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of the pandemic on SBP and pulse rate.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: pandemic
  topic: keywords
subject: lifestyle
  topic: keywords
subject: young women
  topic: keywords
subject: systolic blood pressure
  topic: keywords
creator: Darina Falbová
creator: Radoslav Beňuš
creator: Simona Sulis
creator: Lenka Kolláriková
creator: Veronika Poliaková
creator: Lenka Vorobeľová
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 37
ending page: 50
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.03

Forensic Anthropological Significance of Dental Calculus Deposits as Proxy Identifier of the Host and the Oral Microbiota: A Scoping Review
type: item
description: Dental calculus is a creamish-yellow to brownish-black hard crust deposited on teeth, having the dietary micro-remains, biomolecules, oral microbes and the secretions preserved in it over a long period of time. It has served as a valuable source material for research in diverse scientific disciplines such as anthropology, archaeology, microbiology and forensic sciences. The host and microbial DNA extracted and sequenced from dental calculus deposits (DCD) have helped to establish the identity of unknown individuals, and also the use of certain drugs, tobacco products by the individuals of the past as well as contemporary human populations. The entrapped cellular as well as tissue fragments in calculus can help in identification, reconstruction of dietary habits, food practices, manner of death/pathologies the geographical and occupational affinity of ancient human remains. Calculus deposits gleaned from the archaeological or paleontological specimens can be used to assess the shifts in oral microbiota compositions and host-pathogen co-evolution as researchers have found calculus as rich source of oral microbiomes, pathogens, dietary biomolecules, and host DNA. Advancing dental calculus research through validation studies, technological innovations, interdisciplinary collaborations, longitudinal research, and ethical considerations holds promise for its robust forensic anthropological utilizations. The current status of anthropological, archaeological and microbial research involving dental calculus deposits, future challenges, and its forensic anthropological significance are presented in this review article.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: forensic anthropology
  topic: keywords
subject: dental calculus
  topic: keywords
subject: dietary and disease status
  topic: keywords
subject: host and oral microbiome DNA
  topic: keywords
subject: identification
  topic: keywords
creator: Jagmahender Singh Sehrawat
creator: Shubham Thakur
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 19
ending page: 36
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.02

Dynamics of Growth in 9–14-year-old Bulgarian Boys and Girls
type: item
description: The physical development of the human body is used as an objective indicator of the health status and work capability of the population. Height and weight are the main anthropometric traits which vary and change significantly during the growth period and are used as a base for the development of anthropometric standards at different ages. The aim of this study is to assess the basic anthropometric traits in adolescent boys and girls in Bulgaria in order to establish age- and sex-specific variation in growth. During the period 2016–2018, a transversal anthropometric study in five secondary schools in Sofia, Bulgaria was conducted. A total of 424 adolescents (211 boys and 213 girls) aged 9 to 14 years were studied. Anthropometric measurements were performed according to the classic 1957 methodology of Martin-Saller. Statistically significant sex differences (p<0.05) were indicated for height and weight in the age periods: 10–11 years, with priority for girls and 13–14 years, with priority for boys. Age-related differences (p<0.001) in the age period 9–14 years were also observed. Physical development of adolescent Bulgarian students follows the general trends of the postnatal ontogenesis, reflected in increasing the sizes of anthropometric features highlighted in 10–11-year-olds girls and 13–14-year-olds boys. These new data for height, weight, and BMI in 9–14-year-old Bulgarian students might be a practical addition in the pediatric practice of monitoring of children’s health.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: adolescents
  topic: keywords
subject: height
  topic: keywords
subject: weight
  topic: keywords
subject: body mass index
  topic: keywords
creator: Albena Dimitrova
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 51
ending page: 58
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.04

Human Biology Research in Anthropological Review: 2025 Onwards Editorial and Polish Anthropological Society Perspectives
type: item
description: Human biology research in the 21st century takes on a whole new meaning with an improved range of methodological, ethical, and technological advancements. Human biologists working in diverse sub- and inter-disciplinary areas now have at their disposal access to more efficient technical toolkits than ever before, producing data that can be rapidly shared through open access platforms. However, we also face challenges with the ever-increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI), and continued ethical concerns around ‘helicopter research’ using human personal and tissue data in developing countries. Anthropological Review (AR), the flagship journal of the Polish Anthropological Society (PTA), is an open access journal with a long history of publishing inter-disciplinary human biology research and continued commitment to sharing high quality findings. In this piece, as PTA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, and as the editorial board of AR with a new Editor-in-Chief, and the President of PTA, we outline the stance of AR on key issues in today’s human biology research. We focus on open access, early career researcher opportunities, AI, the need for multi-methodological approaches and inter-disciplinarity, and commitment to the application of ethical framework in human biology research featured in our journal.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: open access
  topic: keywords
subject: artificial intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: ethics
  topic: keywords
subject: human biology
  topic: keywords
creator: Justyna Miszkiewicz
creator: Jacek Tomczyk
creator: Francesco M. Galassi
creator: Magdalena Durda-Masny
creator: Barbara Mnich
creator: Joanna Nieczuja-Dwojacka
creator: Maciej Henneberg
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 59
ending page: 67
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.05

Spina bifida oculta in skeletal population from Dąbrówki (Poland, Podlaskie Province)
type: item
description: The aim of the study is to evaluate the frequency of spina bifida oculta (SBO) in the early modern population from Dąbrówki (Poland); 26 males, 19 females, 3 adults with unspecified sex, 2 subadult were taken into the analysis. SBO was found in 9 individuals (18%), of whom only one exhibited a complete cleft in the sacrum (2%). In males, SBO was reported in 7 out of 26 skeletons studied (27%). Complete cleft was observed in one individual (4%), partial cleft in 6 individuals (23%). In females, no case of complete cleft was detected (0%), and one case of partial cleft was found (5%). These differences between males and females in the frequency of this skeletal condition were statistically significant. Due to the lack of uniform methods for SBO analyses, the inability to make interpopulation compari-sons, the relatively high prevalence of the SBO phenomenon in ancient and modern populations, and the unclear etiology of the disease, research on SBO should be continued.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: spina bifida
  topic: keywords
subject: sacral bone
  topic: keywords
subject: skeletal population
  topic: keywords
creator: Anna Myszka
creator: Adrian Wolski
creator: Joanna Wawrzeniuk
creator: Jacek Tomczyk
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-11-20
publication date: 2023-11-20
starting page: 1
ending page: 11
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.01

Dyslipidemia in pre- and post-menopausal women: a study of peri-urban Paundra Kshatriya women
type: item
description: Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease, whereas menopause is a decrease in ovarian follicular activity at the end of reproductive age of the women, which is significantly influenced by hormonal changes brought on by menopause’s impact on serum lipids. This study was undertaken among pre- and post-menopausal Paundra Kshatriya women in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India in order to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia. 142 adult Paundra Kshatriya women (n pre-menopausal women = 96; n post-menopausal women = 46) were selected from a peri-urban setting of Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Anthropometry and arterial pressure data were recorded. Blood samples were collected from study participants who were on 12 hours fasting. 19.79% of pre-menopausal women and 17.39% of post-menopausal women had normal levels of lipids. Prevalence of dyslipidemia was slightly higher (82.7%) among the post-menopausal women compared to pre-menopausal women (80.2%). While high LDL cholesterol emerged as one of the prime causes for dyslipidemia among pre-menopausal women, hypercholesterolemia emerged as one of the prime causes for dyslipidemia among post-menopausal women. Regression analysis revealed a significant impact of 3 factors in pre-menopausal women and impact of 6 factors in post-menopausal women. Though Paundra Kshatriya women maintain a relatively less stressful and high physical activity lifestyle, they exhibited high levels of lipid abnormalities. The peri-urban population is undergoing lifestyle and dietary changes due to a close proximity to the urban centre, Kolkata. Funding Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Lipid profile
  topic: keywords
subject: Menopause
  topic: keywords
subject: Peri-urban population
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
creator: Dipak Kumar Adak
creator: Nitamoni Bharali
creator: Saptarshi Biswas
creator: Niloy Kumar Bagchi
creator: Tapas Kumar Biswas
creator: Vadlamudi Raghavendra Rao
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-11-23
publication date: 2023-11-23
starting page: 13
ending page: 23
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.02

The diet of the human groups buried in a late- and post-Medieval rural parish cemetery in Libkovice (Czech Republic)
type: item
description: Libkovice is a village in the northwestern Czech Republic that was demolished at the end of the last century due to the expansion of a nearby mine. The former church cemetery has been a subject to bioarchaeological excavation and research, where some 850 burials from the 13th to the 19th Century have been discovered so far. With the application of stable isotope analysis, it has also been possible to uncover the dietary patterns of this exemplary rural Central European community, which was the aim of this study. The materials analysed here consist of samples from long bones of 56 burials and 18 animal bones discovered in Libkovice during the 2019/21 excavations. It has been employed stable carbon (δ13C) isotope analysis to determine the average contributions of foods derived from the C3 plants. Statistically significant differences were found between the analyzed fauna and human samples for nitrogen (F=47.4 p<0.05) and carbon (F=19.18 p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the analyzed animal and human samples between the specify centuries. When considering the ages of various human individuals, the results indicated statistically significant differences in nitrogen isotopes (F= 7.71 p<0.05) between children from the infants I group and older children together with adults from the Middle Ages, as well as between children from the infants I group and adults (F= 3.3, p<0.05) from the modern times. The proportion of food from C3 plants that made up the diets of the studied population was on average 89%, and the potential proportion of freshwater fish in the diet could be higher than 80%. The similarity between the chronologically diverse groups may indicate similar strategies for food acquisition. The results obtained for the population of Libkovice are very similar to the diets of the populations living in Central Europe broadly during the two periods.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: human remains
  topic: keywords
subject: isotopic analyses
  topic: keywords
subject: rural communities
  topic: keywords
subject: late- and post-Medieval period
  topic: keywords
subject: Central Europe
  topic: keywords
creator: Aleksandra Karykowska
creator: Paweł Konczewski
creator: Barbara Kwiatkowska
creator: Joanna Witan
creator: Aleksandra Lisowska-Gaczorek
creator: Krzysztof Szostek
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-11-29
publication date: 2023-11-29
starting page: 25
ending page: 43
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.03

Relationship between body sway and body build in healthy adult men and women
type: item
description: Studies investigating the relationship between balance ability and body size, build and proportions tend to concentrate on body mass and height rather than breadth parameters or size of individual body segments. The purpose of this study was to determine a relationship between the ability to keep balance and the size, build and proportions, based on breadth and length dimensions of the body in healthy adult men and women during a position of free standing. This study also aimed to investigate how the lack of visual control affects the analyzed relationship. The study group consisted of 102 adults of both sexes. The investigations encompassed anthropometric measurements of the body and the ability to keep balance. The analysis covered a of series anthropometric parameters, 9 indices of body proportions, mean velocity of the COP movement (MV) and ellipse area (EA). A statistical analysis of the results was carried out taking into consideration the division into groups due to sexes. The results of the Pearson correlation have revealed that there is a statistically significant correlation (weak or moderate degree) between anthropometric parameters of the body and stabilographic values. Results differ between sexes and depend on whether Romberg’s test was performed with open or closed eyes. The obtained results showed that the surface area of ellipse significantly depends on the dimensions of these body elements which relate to the position of the centre of mass. The obtained results, which differ depending on sex, show that the values of the body sways in a position of free standing depend on breadth and length dimensions of the body, visual control and the analyzed parameter of balance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: anthropometry
  topic: keywords
subject: body dimensions
  topic: keywords
subject: stabilography
  topic: keywords
subject: students
  topic: keywords
subject: Romberg test
  topic: keywords
creator: Anna Lipowicz
creator: Monika N. Bugdol
creator: Katarzyna Graja
creator: Katarzyna Nowakowska-Lipiec
creator: Katarzyna Jochymczyk-Woźniak
creator: Dobrochna Fryc
creator: Robert Michnik
creator: Andrzej W. Mitas
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-06
publication date: 2023-12-06
starting page: 45
ending page: 61
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.04

Reliability of retrospective assessment of the age of first menstruation
type: item
description: The age of the first menstruation is one of the indicators for assessing the course of puberty. It is also a sensitive indicator of the economic situation of individual professional groups or societies, and the low average age of menarche is widely recognized as a marker of society’s well-being. The aim of the study was to analyse the reliability of the retrospective method of assessing the age at menarche by comparing the results to the age obtained from continuous research. Data regarding the age at menarche came from longitudinal somatic development and physical fitness studies conducted between 1976 and 2022. In 2022, 47 women were examined. In continuous studies, the prospective method was used in the assessment of the age of first menstruation while in the 2004 and 2022 studies a retrospective method was applied. Only in 4 out of 47 women the age of the first menstruation declared in 2004 and 2022 (the women were 32–34 and 50–52 years old, respectively) was consistent with the one found in continuous studies. In other cases, there was a discrepancy between the age found in continuous studies and self-reported in 2004 or 2022 or between the age stated in 2004 and 2022. Of those women who were present for the 2022 study, 36 had information about the age of first menstruation from continuous studies and the age of menarche in 2004 was given. For this sample the arithmetic mean and the standard deviation of the age at menarche were calculated. It was found that the retrospective method often used in the assessment of the age of the first menstruation is not fully reliable, as the average discrepancy in the assessment ranged from nearly 1 month (0.05 years) to over 2 months (0.19 years) compared to the prospective method. Women surveyed in 2004 determined the age of the first menstruation more accurately compared to statements obtained 18 years later from the same women. This study suggests that long-term memory (LTM) of a significant life event of every woman is u…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: menarche
  topic: keywords
subject: prospective method
  topic: keywords
subject: retrospective method
  topic: keywords
subject: continuous research
  topic: keywords
creator: Ryszard Żarów
creator: Agnieszka Woronkowicz
creator: Barbara Spring
creator: Małgorzata Kowal
creator: Janusz Brudecki
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-11
publication date: 2023-12-11
starting page: 71
ending page: 80
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.06

Morphological and genetic aspects of Marfan Syndrome as demonstrated by a case of death during pregnancy with the discovery of two de novo missense mutations in the FBN1 gene
type: item
description: Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disease caused in most cases by mutations in the FNB1 gene, which encodes for fibrillin 1. MFS does not alway shows typical phenotypic signs. Indeed, the occurrence of sudden death of unknown cause is increasingly seen in young adults without ante mortem preexisting pathology to explain the event. In many cases the diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is carried out post mortem, especially in cases where the disease’s external phenotype is absent. Here is reported a case of a young woman who died during a twin pregnancy investigated with medico-legal and forensic anthropological procedures. The autopsy showed the absence of a typical marfanoid habitus and the presence of a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta with histopathological degeneration of the aortic elastic fibers. The genetic investigation revealed two previously undetected de novo mutations of the FBN1 gene: c.T6181C: p.C2061R and c.G1415A: p.C472Y. This new mutations, together with a comprehensive analysis, demonstrates the existence of a causal relationship between these mutations and the dissecting aneurysm of the aorta. This also stresses the importance of a combined multidisciplinary approach to this condition which includes morphological and genetic studies.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Marfan Syndrome
  topic: keywords
subject: genes
  topic: keywords
subject: mutation
  topic: keywords
subject: dissecting aneurysm
  topic: keywords
subject: legal medicine
  topic: keywords
creator: Isabella Aquila
creator: Francesco Maria Galassi
creator: Elena Varotto
creator: Martino Maesani
creator: Ludovico Abenavoli
creator: Giuseppe Viglietto
creator: Donatella Malanga
creator: Silvia Boca
creator: Matteo Antonio Sacco
creator: Pietrantonio Ricci
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-12
publication date: 2023-12-12
starting page: 63
ending page: 70
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.05

The age difference in 2D:4D among the Polish population: An exploratory study
type: item
description: In this study a widely debated association between 2D:4D digit ratio and age was investigated. The study material included 960 individuals (530 females and 430 males) from Central Poland aged between 6–79 years. The information about age was obtained via survey filled in by study participants or, if underaged, their parents. The direct measurements of the second and fourth finger were performed to assess the 2D:4D digit ratio. The 2D:4D digit ratios for the left hand were significantly correlated with age both among females and males. In women the 2D:4D digit ratios for the right hand were significantly correlated with age. There were also significant differences in digit ratio between age groups. The results of our study suggest that there might be an association between digit ratio and age, and the direction of the correlation might be related to the phase of the ontogenesis.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: digit ratio
  topic: keywords
subject: prenatal testosterone
  topic: keywords
subject: prenatal sex hormones proportion
  topic: keywords
creator: Paulina Pruszkowska-Przybylska
creator: Magdalena Kobus
creator: Elżbieta Żądzińska
creator: Iwona Rosset
creator: Milena Pruszkowska
creator: Wojciech Kuczyński
creator: Aneta Sitek
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-21
publication date: 2023-12-21
starting page: 99
ending page: 110
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.08

Cardiometabolic risk assessment in Eastern Slovak young adults using anthropometric indicators
type: item
description: Introduction: Selected anthropometric indicators, such as anthropometric measurements, indices, or ratios could be reliable predictors of future cardiometabolic risk in primary prevention, especially in young adults. Aim: This study aimed to establish cardiometabolic risk status in young Eastern Slovak adults according to anthropometric indicators. Material and methods: Indicators used in this study, such as heart rate, blood pressure, five anthropometric measurements, as well as a total of 23 anthropometric indices and ratios were selected based on the available literature. These indicators were analyzed in 162 young adult participants of both sexes with a mean age of 20.78±2.22 years. The analyzed indices and ratios were calculated by routine anthropometry and were correlated with blood pressure and heart rate in the whole research group as well as among subgroups divided according to sex, obesity and hypertension status. Results: Our results showed frequently higher values of input characteristics in males (71.88%), and statistically significant differences between sexes in 81.25% of the characteristics. The values of systolic blood pressure were above the norm in all males, and they also dominated in the obesity group. Correlation analyses conducted on all participants and in subgroups indicated a positive statistical significance in several indicators. The vast majority of the anthropometric indicators were significantly correlated with physiological indicators in almost all subgroups. Only A body shape index (ABSI) correlation coefficients did not show a significant correlation with physiological indicators in all analyzed subgroups. The correlations tended to be stronger among subgroup exhibiting potential to obesity. All analyzed indices and ratios were significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.05), predominantly with blood pressure components rather than heart rate, especially in participants with the potential for disease complications than in participants without t…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Anthropometry
  topic: keywords
subject: Cardiometabolic complications
  topic: keywords
subject: Asymptomatic individual
  topic: keywords
subject: Primary prevention
  topic: keywords
subject: Young adulthood
  topic: keywords
creator: Michaela Zigová
creator: Eva Petrejčíková
creator: Marta Mydlárová Blaščáková
creator: Jana Gaľová
creator: Hedviga Vašková
creator: Soňa Kalafutová
creator: Miriama Šlebodová
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-27
publication date: 2023-12-27
starting page: 81
ending page: 97
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.86.4.07

Traits Selection in Created Personal Ads and Sociosexuality: A New Method to Assess Sexual Strategy in Humans
type: item
description: Sociosexuality (SO) refers to preferring sexual interactions with or without commitment. Those who prefer long-term relationships have restricted SO, and those who pursue short-term relationships have an unrestricted SO. Sociosexuality may be assessed by Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R). Here, we test a new method to assess SO. Respondents are asked to create a personal ad by selecting six out of 10 suggested preferred traits in a partner. Among these 10 traits, there were two traits in each of five evolutionary relevant categories i.e., attractiveness, commitment, resources, cognitive and social skills. We hypothesize that seeking attractiveness/sensuality in a potential partner is related to concentrating on mating investments (higher SOI-R) and to commitment to parental investment (lower SOI-R). Out of 416 subjects who participated in the study, 299 (188 women) were included in the analysis. We found that choosing two traits of attractiveness is related to a less restricted SO, while preference for two commitment traits category characterizes those with a more restrictive SO. No relationship between SOI-R and the preference for cognitive skills or resources was found. Women with more and men with less restricted SO sought partners with better social skills. The proposed new method could be used to assess reproductive strategy.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: sociosexuality
  topic: keywords
subject: preferred traits
  topic: keywords
subject: attractiveness
  topic: keywords
subject: commitment
  topic: keywords
subject: social skills
  topic: keywords
subject: sexual strategy
  topic: keywords
creator: Justyna Kajstura
creator: Bogusław Pawłowski
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-04-16
publication date: 2025-04-16
starting page: 1
ending page: 15
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.2.01

Chemical Characterization of Archaeological Pulp Stones from 18th–19th Century Radom, Poland: A Pilot Study
type: item
description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents of pulp stones in a historical population (18th–19th centuries) from Radom, Poland. Ten molars from adults from the Radom cemetery (18th–19th centuries) were used in the study. The crowns of the teeth were mechanically opened, and visible pulp stones were examined with a scanning electron microscope equipped with a Si(Li) energy dispersive detector (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry detector, which uses a lithium (Li)- doped silicon (Si) single-crystal semiconductor as a detector element). Enamel presented higher values of Ca/P ratio compared with the dentine and/or pulp stones. Moreover, in one case, the external layer of the pulp stone had significantly lower Ca and P contents compared with the internal layer (Ca: 13.97±0.31 vs. 34.2±0.37 [wt%]; P: 6.13±0.21 vs. 16.5±0.34 [wt%]). Evaluation of the Ca and P composition of the analyzed enamel and dentine in the Radom samples from the 18th–19th centuries produced findings that are consistent with studies conducted on teeth from contemporary populations. In the case of one individual, two chemically distinct layers were diagnosed in the pulp stone. It is difficult to interpret this finding based on a single case, but it may be due to the fact that the outer layer is characterized by higher organic structure.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: pulp stones
  topic: keywords
subject: calcium
  topic: keywords
subject: phosphorus
  topic: keywords
subject: mineralization
  topic: keywords
creator: Jacek Tomczyk
creator: Piotr Regulski
creator: Katarzyna Góralczyk
creator: Grzegorz Tylko
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-05-19
publication date: 2025-05-19
starting page: 17
ending page: 26
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.2.02

Prehistory and Protohistory in Sicily. A Geometric Morphometrics Approach to Study the Biological History of Early Human Peopling of the Island
type: item
description: In recent years, the debate about the early human peopling of Sicily has almost exclusively focused on the archaeological evidence. The dispersal patterns and the possibility for, and degree of, admixture caused by ancient migratory flows have been only investigated in limited anthropological studies conducted on a short time spans. Recent craniofacial morphometric analyses that considered migratory flows and population influx have provided a more comprehensive approach. These analyses go beyond archaeologically based settlement hypotheses by merging previous archaeological evaluations and paleoclimatic studies with an anthropological approach. This study expands upon earlier morphometric work and provides an overview covering the period from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Iron Age. For this study, human skulls from Sicilian Prehistory and Protohistory were considered. These skulls were divided into six periods based on the dating of associated archaeological artifacts. Sample selection was based on a detailed bibliographic review of previously published archaeological and historical works. With the aim of associating the diachronic changes in cranial morphology with population migrations and admixture we performed a 3D geometric morphometrics (GM) comparative analysis. The data reported demonstrate that the first colonization of Sicily started during the Upper–Paleolithic when stable climatic conditions allowed hunter-gatherers to move from the Italian Peninsula to the island. Moreover, the results show a cyclical occupation of the land counterclockwise direction completed only with the hinterland colonization in the first historical periods with Greek and Punic colonization.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: geometric morphometrics
  topic: keywords
subject: skulls
  topic: keywords
subject: biological history
  topic: keywords
subject: human peopling
  topic: keywords
subject: Sicily
  topic: keywords
creator: Gabriele Lauria
creator: Luca Sineo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-05-30
publication date: 2025-05-30
starting page: 27
ending page: 43
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.2.03

Eruption of Permanent Teeth in Bulgarian Children Aged 5–12 Years
type: item
description: The time of eruption and the number of permanent teeth together with the time of sexual maturation and ossification of the skeleton are important indicators of the biological maturity and health of children. The aim is to evaluate the eruption of permanent teeth in Bulgarian children aged 5–12 years and to assess its relationship with age and sex. The present cross-sectional study included 709 individuals from 5 to 12 years. The oral and dental status was checked and included the number of erupted teeth (NET). Statistical analyses were performed to compare the sexes and ages. Statistically significant differences between sexes are observed only in teeth 17, 27, 33 and 43. The sequence of tooth eruption was examined, and it is almost identical in male and female subadults. Mandibular teeth erupt earlier than maxillary teeth, excluding first premolars for both sexes and canines in males. Females have earlier tooth eruption and more permanent teeth compared to males. A significant association between age and NET is established. Sex does not have a significant effect on tooth eruption. The time of eruption of permanent teeth is influenced significantly by age, but not by sex in our sample. Differences between males and females are found in the sequence of eruption only of canines and premolars. Females tend to have earlier tooth eruption and more erupted teeth. Lower teeth erupt earlier than upper teeth, excluding first premolars in both sexes and canines in males.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: children
  topic: keywords
subject: tooth eruption
  topic: keywords
subject: sequence
  topic: keywords
subject: sex differences
  topic: keywords
subject: age differences
  topic: keywords
creator: Boyan Valentinov Kirilov
creator: Ivaila Yankova Ivanova-Pandourska
creator: Yanitsa Velichkova Zhecheva
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-04
publication date: 2025-06-04
starting page: 45
ending page: 53
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.2.04

Cardiovascular Risk Factors at Different Stages of Menopause: A Study among Bengali-Speaking Hindu Ethnic Group, India
type: item
description: A reduction in the estrogen and progesterone levels during midlife leads to adverse changes in body fat distribution, insulin and lipid metabolism, and endothelial dysfunction; all of these increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, scholars are not unanimous on whether menopause enhances the CVD risk, independent of the normal process of aging and other confounding factors. Despite the cardio-protective effect of endogenous estrogen during their premenopausal years, the increased life expectancy of women exposes them to a greater lifetime risk of CVD compared to men. The aim of the present study was to understand the cardiovascular risk factors associated with different stages of menopause. This study was cross-sectional in nature and was carried out in the Howrah district of West Bengal, India. Two hundred and one participants were recruited for the study (Premenopausal 71, Perimenopausal 61, and Postmenopausal 69). Data on body fat distribution, blood glucose levels, and total cholesterol, blood pressure, and socio-demographic, menstrual and reproductive history, and lifestyle characteristics were obtained following standard protocols. Multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to understand how menopausal status impacted CVD risk factors after controlling the effects of the confounders. Menopausal status significantly predicted the CVD risk factors and body fat measures after removing the effects of the confounding variables, reinforcing the role of estrogen in the development of CVD. An overwhelming majority of the participants in our study have central obesity; so, this group is more prone to developing CVD in the near future. Future cross-cultural studies are required to understand how the link between menopause and CVD varies across different cultural groups and throughout the menopausal transition.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: menopause
  topic: keywords
subject: midlife health
  topic: keywords
subject: CVD
  topic: keywords
subject: blood glucose level
  topic: keywords
subject: body fat distribution
  topic: keywords
creator: Debasmita Kar
creator: Subho Roy
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-24
publication date: 2025-06-24
starting page: 55
ending page: 79
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.88.2.05

Innate and adaptive immune parameters and adiposity in non-obese adults
type: item
description: Introduction Excess body weight, mainly resulting from high body fat mass, is known to negatively affect immune system functioning due to the proinflammatory and prooxidative roles of adipose tissue. In general, most studies have documented the immunosuppressive role of adiposity by comparing selected immune markers between individuals of normal weight and those with obesity. Study aims This study investigates whether the amount of adipose tissue observed in overweight individuals may already negatively affect immune function. Methods We examined a broad panel of immunological parameters – both innate (WBC, neutrophil count, phagocytic uptake, respiratory burst, complement activity, lysozyme activity) and adaptive (total IgA, total IgG, CD3 count, CD19 count, the strength of antibody response to flu vaccination), in 85 women and 98 men aged 18–37 years, with a BMI between 18.5 and 29.99. As measures of adiposity, we used BMI on a continuous scale, BMI categorized as normal weight or overweight, and body fat mass percentage. Results In women, CD3 count was positively associated with continuous BMI (p = 0.03) and categorized BMI (p = 0.006). CD19 was positively associated with continuous BMI (p = 0.03), categorized BMI (p = 0.01), and fat mass percentage (p = 0.02). In men, categorized BMI was positively associated with phagocytic uptake (p = 0.04). However, none of these relationships would remain statistically significant after applying corrections for multiple comparisons. Conclusion Our results suggest that there is no relationship between adiposity and the analyzed immunity markers in non-obese (normal weight and overweight) adults.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: BMI
  topic: keywords
subject: body fat percentage
  topic: keywords
subject: waist to height ratio
  topic: keywords
subject: innate immunity
  topic: keywords
subject: adaptive immunity
  topic: keywords
creator: Barbara Borkowska
creator: Judyta Nowak-Kornicka
creator: Bogusław Pawłowski
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2026-03-31
publication date: 2026-03-31
starting page: 51
ending page: 74
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.89.1.05

Menstrual disorders and associated factors among rural and tribal adolescent girls in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis
type: item
description: After attaining menarche adolescents, due to shyness and fear, often refuse to seek medical treatment. Simultaneously they began to face menstrual disorders. The present review aimed to estimate the overall menstrual disorders and associated factors among adolescent girls in rural and tribal areas in India as well as to summarize the most recent research findings on the pooled prevalence of menstrual disorders. The study design was developed applying the PRISMA checklist-2020. The whole protocol was registered on PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD42024385046). Articles (English language) related to menstrual irregularities among 10 to 19-year-old adolescent girls in India were collected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria from 2000 to 2023 followed by selected keywords. The quality assessment of the present study was evaluated using the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) checklist. Meta-analysis was conducted by using MedCalc software version 22.0. Publication bias was checked using Egger’s test. A total of 61 studies (47 from rural and 14 from tribal areas) in India have been evaluated. The random effect model showed an overall prevalence of dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, PMS, oligomenorrhea, polymenorrhea and menorrhagia in both areas was 54.96% (95% CI: 47.93 to 61.85), 26.21% (95% CI: 20.73 to 32.09), 47.49% (95% CI: 31.44 to 63.81), 13.88% (95% CI: 8.98 to 19.65),7.85% (95% CI: 2.30 to 16.31), 16.83% (95% CI: 10.04 to 24.96) respectively. Among these, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, and PMS were found to be the most predominant in both areas. Lack of physical activities, dietary habits, BMI, socioeconomic factors, and socio-cultural taboos were found to have a strong association with menstrual irregularities. Prior and after attaining menarche, proper guidance on every aspect of menstruation should be urgently arranged in schools and at home to get rid of fear and anxiety, so that adolescent girls can cope with menstrual-related issues. H…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: menstrual disorders
  topic: keywords
subject: associated factors
  topic: keywords
subject: adolescent girls
  topic: keywords
subject: rural
  topic: keywords
subject: tribal
  topic: keywords
subject: India
  topic: keywords
subject: systematic review
  topic: keywords
subject: meta-analysis
  topic: keywords
creator: Rashni Chatterjee
creator: Suman Chakrabarty
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-30
publication date: 2024-12-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 24
doi: 10.18778/1898-6773.87.4.01