Morphometric dimensions of the left second metacarpal bone in the analysis of the population structure of the island of Hvar

The study of the population structure of the island of Hvar by radiomorphometric methods on the basis of a number of dimensions of the left second metacarpal bone (bone length, width of diaphysis and width of the medullary canal) was carried out on a sample of 822 inhabitants of that island aged between 16 and 85 years. The results were processed by means of multivariate analysis, by discriminative analysis, by distance statistics, and by the analysis of non-parametric correlation between “biological distance” in space of the characteristics under review and geographic distances between individual subpopulations (villages) on the island. The results support the hypothesis that the differences between the ancestrally heterogeneous populations have been preserved in the frequencies of the alleles responsible for shaping the dimensions which define the status of the cortical bone of the peripheral skeleton. The statistically significant correlation found between “biological” geographic distances between individual villages indicates that geographical isolation, inevitably leading also to reproductive isolation, affected the biological structure of the population. In view of the identity of ecological pressures on all populations on the island, the observed heterogeneity in the phenotype of the analyzed characteristics supports the hypothesis of heterogeneity existing also in the frequencies of the alleles responsible for their shaping, and caused by the inhibition of gene flow due to the reproductive isolation of the subpopulation groups on the island. The author would like to express her thanks to Prof. Pavao Rudan, from the Laboratory of Anthropology of the Institute of Medical Research and Industrial Medicine, University of Zagreb, for enabling me to take part in the investigation of microdifferentiation of rural populations in Central Dalmatia and for his invaluable advice and assistance.     

Osteometric dimensions of metacarpal bones with respect to the professional exposure to vibration

The comparative analysis of the osteometric dimensions of metacarpal bones in three groups of males (aged from 23 to 63 years) differing with respect to the presence of the professionally connected long-term exposure to the vibration is performed. The sample encompasses forest workers employed in wood industry (exposed to heavy physical work and to the daily use of hand-held vibrating tools) from two regions of Croatia: Podravina (n = 192) and Gorski Kotar (n = 115). The control group is formed using the random sample (selected according to age criterion) of phenotypically healthy male inhabitants of rural communities of Eastern Adriatic islands and peninsula (n = 200). Additionally, the influence of the level of calcium in diet, as a regional nutritional characteristic of particular regions of Croatia, is also considered. The regression of the percent cortical area (PCA) of the second left metacarpal bone and age showed that significant decrease of PCA in older age can be observed only in males from Eastern Adriatic (the control group), while that is not so in either group of males professionally exposed to vibration. Authors conclude that the analysis of the osteometric dimensions performed on males professionally daily exposed to vibration missed to provide evidence to support the hypothesis of long-term exposure to vibration as a risk for accelerated osteoporosis of metacarpal bones.     

Isolation by distance and correlation analysis of distance measures in the study of population structure: example from the Island of Hvar

Assessment of the population structure on the island of Hvar is based on the analysis of Malécot's isolation by distance model. We have tested the fit of the model by regression analysis of different measures of similarity (genetic kinship) and distance [Hamming's HSM distance for linguistic data; Mahalanobis's D2 distances for anthropometric head and body dimensions, radiogrammetric dimensions of metacarpal bones, physiological (cardiorespiratory) traits, and quantitative dermatoglyphic properties of the digitopalmar complex; and Edwards's E2 for frequencies of erythrocyte antigens]. Good fit of the model for linguistic and anthropometric data, which was demonstrated in previous studies on other eastern Adriatic populations, is confirmed. We compared parameters of the model with those already published for various populations in the eastern Adriatic and other parts of the world. We also evaluated the pattern of correlations between different measures of geographic, biological, and sociocultural distances through principal components analysis and interpreted the results within the context of microevolutionary theory and the population's ethnohistorical background.     

Historical processes and biological structure of the populations. Example from the Island of Korcula

The importance of geographical distance as a determining factor of the population's biological and socio-cultural structure was studied on the island of Korcula, Yugoslavia. Migrational kinship coefficients, biological and linguistic distances were analysed in respect to isolation by distance, using Malecot's model. The fit of the model is highly significant for migrational kinship, linguistic, anthropometrical and physiological distances, while for morphometrical distances of metacarpal bones and dermatoglyphic distances, it is not adequate. The major conclusions reached through this analysis are in concordance with the known historical events in the entire region.     

Isolation by distance in Middle Dalmatia-Yugoslavia

Parameters of Malécot's isolation-by-distance model are estimated for biological (anthropometric head and body dimensions, morphometric dimensions of metacarpal bones, quantitative and qualitative dermatoglyphic traits, and physiological/cardiorespiratory/variables) and linguistic distances and migrational kinship on the island of Korcula and the Peljesac peninsula in Middle Dalmatia, Croatia, Yugoslavia. Resulting parameters and the fit of the model are compared, for both regions, as well as with results of similar analysis in other parts of the world. The fit of the model is highly significant for migrational kinship and linguistic distances and less so for biological traits. Differences between these two populations, which live under basically similar ecological conditions, are explained by variation in biological and sociocultural history.     

掌骨X线测量推断身高的研究

随机选取在校健康大学生186人(男90人, 女96人, 年龄18—27岁), 拍摄双手后前位372侧X线片, 测量身高和掌骨的长与宽。通过掌骨和身高的测量, 分析掌骨各参数与身高的关系, 为人类学和法医学的身高推断积累研究资料。掌骨长与身高的相关性明显高于掌骨宽, 其中男性第2掌骨长与身高相关性最高, 其线性回归方程为Ym=1097.320+9.337X; 女性第3掌骨长与身高的相关性最高, 其线性回归方程为Yf=1016.752+9.878X。男性第2掌骨长和女性第3掌骨长与身高的相关性最高, 可分别作为推断身高的依据。     

High resolution molecular typing of HLA class II region in the population of the island of Krk, Croatia

The HLA class II alleles (DRB1, DRB3, DRB5, DQA1, and DQB1) and haplotypic associations were studied in the population of the island of Krk using the PCR-SSOP method and the 12th International Histocompatibility Workshop primers and probes. Allele and haplotypic frequencies were compared with the general Croatian population. Significant differences were observed between the population of the island of Krk and Croatians for: a) three broad specificities at DRB1 locus (DRB1*01, *15, and *07), b) one allele at DRB3 locus (DRB3*0301), c) one allele at DQA1 locus (DQA1*0201), d) one allele at DQB1 locus (DQB1*0303). Four unusual haplotypic associations, which have not yet been described in the Croatian population, DRB1*1301-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0607, DRB1*1302-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0605, DRB1*1305-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0605 and DRB1*1305-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0603 were observed in the population from the island of Krk.     

Reduced trabecular bone mineral density and cortical thickness accompanied by increased outer bone circumference in metacarpal bone of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

The objective of this study was to assess three-dimensional bone geometry and density at the epiphysis and shaft of the third meta-carpal bone of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in comparison to healthy controls with the novel method of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).

Methods

PQCT scans were performed in 50 female RA patients and 100 healthy female controls at the distal epiphyses and shafts of the third metacarpal bone, the radius and the tibia. Reproducibility was determined by coefficient of varia-tion. Bone densitometric and geometric parameters were compared between the two groups and correlated to disease characteristics.

Results

Reproducibility of different pQCT parameters was between 0.7% and 2.5%. RA patients had 12% to 19% lower trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) (P ≤ 0.001) at the distal epiphyses of radius, tibia and metacarpal bone. At the shafts of these bones RA patients had 7% to 16% thinner cortices (P ≤ 0.03). Total cross-sectional area (CSA) at the metacarpal bone shaft of pa-tients was larger (between 5% and 7%, P < 0.02), and relative cortical area was reduced by 13%. Erosiveness by Ratingen score correlated negatively with tra-becular and total BMD at the epiphyses and shaft cortical thickness of all measured bones (P < 0.04).

Conclusions

Reduced trabecular BMD and thinner cortices at peripheral bones, and a greater bone shaft diameter at the metacarpal bone suggest RA spe-cific bone alterations. The proposed pQCT protocol is reliable and allows measuring juxta-articular trabecular BMD and shaft geometry at the metacarpal bone.     

Maternal genetic legacy of the eastern Adriatic island of Krk--an interplay of evolutionary forces and island's historical events in shaping the genetic structure of contemporary island population

This study presents genetic diversity and structure of contemporary Krk islanders revealed by high-resolution mitochondrial DNA analysis on a sample of 132 unrelated autochthonous adults from seven different settlements and regions of the island. Relatively high level of haplogroup and haplotype diversity in the overall island sample is an indicator of numerous migrations and gene flows throughout the history. Expectedly, the results show the highest frequency of haplogroup H (33.3%), yet this value is much lower compared to different Croatian and other European mainland populations. An interesting finding refers to highly elevated frequencies of some haplogroups, otherwise rare in Croatia and most of the Europe, such as I (11.3%) and W (7.6%) in Krk population, especially pronounced in some settlements. At the level of settlements, many of the major European haplogroups were found to be absent from their mtDNA gene pools, whereas several others show a pronounced deviation from an average. Overall, our results suggest a tangled interplay of different evolutionary forces, such as founder effects and a few strong bottlenecks, presumably due to epidemics, which have occurred in various periods of the island's history. Cultural customs, such as frequent endogamy in some regions of the island during past centuries, have additionally shaped its genetic structure into the observed present-day diversity patterns.     

Estimation of stature in children from second metacarpal measurements.

On the basis of 552 boys and 542 girls aged 6 to 20 years, this study examines the estimation of stature from dimensions and maturity of second metacarpals by means of linear regression equations. A combination of length and width measurements provided a more accurate estimation than each measurement individually. When taken alone, length produced a more accurate estimation than width. Sex and age factors are useful for the estimation of stature, though these variables are often unknown in the isolated bone. The samples are divided into immature and mature groups (according to skeletal maturity). Regardless of sex, stature could be estimated from the metacarpal length and width with a standard error of 4.19 cm by means of a multiple linear equation in the immature group. The mature group should be considered with adults for this purpose. Thus, taking into account their skeletal maturity, living stature could be practically estimated from the second metacarpal with significant degrees of accuracy in children.     

Wormian bone formation in the skeletal population from Lachish

Pathological, mechanical and genetic factors have been proposed as the primary causal mechanism in the occurrence of Wormian bones. Very high frequencies of Wormian Bones in some populations and their absence in others, geographically nearby or subject to similar environmental stress, suggest a genetic mechanism. If this is the case, the gene or genes causing the formation of Wormian bones must either confer a substantial selective advantage or occur as dominants; or the population must be subject to a high degree of inbreeding and/or genetic drift.The Lachish skeletal population is examined in order to establish the independence of Wormian bone formation from those genes or gene complexes responsible for the formation of the cranial vault. This is demonstrated through the use of t-tests carried out on means of osteometric variables, including the length of the basi-occiput. The probable influence of stabilizing selection, inbreeding and drift, promoting Wormian Bone formation in the Lachish population, is demonstrated by the absence of significant skewness and the presence of high positive kurtosis for the osteometric variables of the cranial vault. This interpretation is reinforced independently by the cultural behavior of the Lachish population.     

MtDNA haplogroups in the populations of Croatian Adriatic Islands

The number of previous anthropological studies pointed to very complex ethnohistorical processes that shaped the current genetic structure of Croatian island isolates. The scope of this study was limited to the general insight into their founding populations and the overall level of genetic diversity based on the study mtDNA variation. A total of 444 randomly chosen adult individuals from 32 rural communities of the islands of Krk, Brac, Hvar and Korcula were sampled. MtDNA HVS-I region together with RFLP sites diagnostic for main Eurasian and African mtDNA haplogroups were analysed in order to determine the haplogroup structure. The most frequent haplogroups were "H" (27.8-60.2%), "U" (10.2-24.1%), "J" (6.1-9.0%) and "T" (5.1-13.9%), which is similar to the other European and Near Eastern populations. The genetic drift could have been important aspect in history, as there were examples of excess frequencies of certain haplogroups (11.3% of "I" and 7.5% of "W" in Krk, 10.5% of "HV" in Brac, 13.9% of "J" in Hvar and 60.2% of "H" in Korcula). As the settlements on the islands were formed trough several immigratory episodes of genetically distant populations, this analysis (performed at the level of entire islands) showed greater genetic diversity (0.940-0.972) than expected at the level of particular settlements.     

Late reconstruction of two total metacarpal bone defects using lengthening devices and a double-barrel osteocutaneous free parascapular flap

A case was presented in which the late reconstruction of left ring and little metacarpal bone defects was carried out using a lengthening device and a double-barrel osteocutaneous free parascapular flap. With this flap, up to 14 cm of nearly straight bone of a suitable width and length for the reconstruction of two metacarpal bones was raised safely. However, it required 3 months of lengthening to create enough space to insert the grafted bone because of the severe resistance of scar contracture and fibrous tissues.     

Cortical bone loss and measurements of the second metacarpal bone: II. Hypodense bone in postwar Guamanian children

Hand-wrist radiographs from 326 Guamanian children (180 boys and 146 girls) were evaluated for total width, medullary width, length, and combined cortical thickness of the second metacarpal. Bone measurements as well as standing height and weight were compared to similar published data from U.S. mainland black, white, and Mexican-American children. The results demonstrated that the second metacarpal bones of Guamanian boys and girls of all age groups (5–17 years) have a narrower width and shorter length with less combined cortical thickness than any of the other groups. Guamanian children also weighed less and were of shorter stature than their black, white, or Mexican-American counterparts. These results agree closely with those comparisons between Guamanian and U.S. mainland white adults published earlier. It is not possible from the present data to ascertain whether these differences were due to genetic variability or nutritional deficiency.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation of 12 eastern Adriatic and western Dinaric native sheep breeds using microsatellites

Nuclear genetic diversity and differentiation of 341 sheep belonging to 12 sheep breeds from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were examined. The aim of the study was to provide the understanding of the genetic structure and variability of the analysed pramenka sheep populations, and to give indications for conservation strategies based on the population diversity and structure information. The genetic variation of the sheep populations, examined at the nuclear level using 27 microsatellite loci, revealed considerable levels of genetic diversity, similar to the diversity found in other European indigenous low-production sheep breeds. Population-specific alleles were detected at most loci and in breeds analysed. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.643 (in Lika pramenka) to 0.743 (in Vlasic pramenka), and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.646 (in Lika pramenka) to 0.756 (in Dalmatian pramenka). Significant inbreeding coefficients were found for half of the populations studied and ranged from 0.040 (Pag island sheep) to 0.091 (Kupres pramenka). Moderate genetic differentiation was found between the studied sheep populations. The total genetic variability observed between different populations was 5.29%, whereas 94.71% of the variation was found within populations. Cres island sheep, Lika pramenka and Istrian sheep were identified as the most distinct populations, which was confirmed by the factorial analysis of correspondence and supported through a bootstrapping adjustment to correct for the difference in the sample sizes. The population structure analysis distinguished 12 clusters for the 12 sheep breeds analysed. However, the cluster differentiation was low for Dalmatian, Vlasic, Stolac and Krk pramenka. This systematic study identified Lika pramenka and Rab island sheep as those with the lowest diversity, whereas Istrian sheep and Pag island sheep had the highest. Conservation actions are proposed for Istrian, Rab and Cres island sheep, Lika and Kupres pramenka because of high estimated coefficients of inbreeding.     

The body size of wild boar during the Mesolithic in southern Scandinavia

In order to study the body size of wild boarSus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 during the Boreal and Atlantic Chronozones in southern Scandinavia, 12 measurements of teeth and bones from 32 Mesolithic sites from Scania (Sweden) and Zealand and Jutland (Denmark) were analysed. The osteometric analysis revealed that the body size of wild boar from Scania did not change during the period. The results indicate that the changes of ecological conditions during the transition from the Boreal to the Atlantic chronozones did not affect wild boar in the same way as red deer and roe deer, which decreased in body size during the period. The tooth size of wild boar from Zealand is smaller than in wild boar from Jutland and Scania during the Late Atlantic Chronozones, which probably is the result of the isolation of the population when Zealand became an island. Calculations of withers height show that wild boar in southern Scandinavia during the Atlantic Chronozones were of similar body size as recent wild boar from eastern Europe.     

Natural markers in bone growth

Three features in the long bones, shown by radiograms, have been used as markers for the study of bone growth.

• (I) Transverse lines of arrested growth. Radiograms of six long limb bones from 1,576 individuals were investigated for clearness and persistence of these lines. Both ends of tibia and fibula showed very high frequency of suitable lines for markers, possibly also the distal end of femur and radius.
• (II) Notches in the base of second and fifth metacarpal bones. Measurements of growth from apex of the basal notch to the ends of the shaft were performed on serial hand radiograms. The proportion of growth from distal and basal ends averaged 87:13 in the second and 80:20 in the fifth metacarpal bones.
• (III) Nutrient canals. The initial point of ossification was determined by a prolongation of the nutrient canal intersecting the central axis of the medullary cavity. The proportion of growth from that point to distal and basal ends of the shaft averaged 68:32 and 64:36 for the second and the fifth metacarpal bones, respectively. These values are significantly different from the measurements obtained from the notches.

     

Features of the structure of the metacarpal bones of athletes in different specialties

Metacarpal bones have been examined in hand X-ray photos of 125 sportsmen at the age of 17-18 years who go in for swimming (dynamic loading on the hand) and competitive gymnastics (static loading on the hand). Under the effect of systematic trainings, which are connected with an increased loading on the hand, a number of morphological changes take place in the metacarpal bones. A prolonged loading of the dynamic character delays the synostosis process in the distal parts of the forearm bones and contributes to lengthening the I, III and IV and to widening the I-V metacarpal bones. As demonstrate decreasing indices of compactness in the swimmers, the widening diaphisis of the metacarpal bones occurs at the expense of dilatation of the medullary cavity. The static loadings result in a greater delay of the synostosis processes in the upper extremity parts mentioned, in a greater width of the I-III, V metacarpal bones in boy-gymnasts. The increased index of compactness demonstrates that the widening diaphysis of the metacarpal bones takes place at the expense of thickening of the compact substance and narrowing of the medullary cavity.     

Hand dominance and bilateral asymmetry in the structure of the second metacarpal

Bilateral asymmetry in the structure of the second metacarpal was examined in relation to functional hand dominance in a large, clinically nonselected, healthy population sample from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Bilateral bone measurements were made from anteroposterior hand radiographs of a total of 992 individuals, 609 males and 383 females, with an age range of 19–94 years. Hand dominance was determined on the basis of personal impression. Total width and medullary width at the midshaft of the second metacarpal were measured to 0.05 mm using a Helios caliper. These two measurements were used to derive cortical thickness, cortical bone area, periosteal (total) area, medullary area, percent cortical area, and the second moment of area in the mediolateral plane. In both right and left-handed individuals, statistically significant side differences were found in the calculated bone areas and the second moment of area, with the dominant hand being larger. Cortical thickness did not show significant side-related differences for either handedness. These results show that functional handedness leads to periosteal and endosteal expansion of the second metacarpal cortex on the dominant side, increasing bone strength without increasing cortical thickness. This is the first time this pattern of asymmetry has been reported in left-handers as well as right-handers. Our results argue for the primacy of environmental (mechanical) effects in determining bilateral asymmetry of limb bone structural properties. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Articular constraint, handedness, and directional asymmetry in the human second metacarpal

The hypothesis that functional adaptation of joint surfaces to mechanical loading occurs primarily through change in mass, density, and structure of subarticular trabeculae (the "articular constraint" model) is investigated through an analysis of directional asymmetry among three separate bone compartments in the human second metacarpal. Measures of midshaft cross-sectional geometry, osteometry of the distal epiphysis, and subarticular trabecular microarchitecture of the distal epiphysis (assessed by high-resolution microcomputed tomography) were determined for 29 paired male and female metacarpals from a well-preserved nineteenth-century Euro-Canadian historic cemetery sample. For each measure, asymmetry was quantified using both mean-difference and confidence-interval methods. Both methods found a significant right-hand bias for measures of structural strength in midshaft geometry, as has been previously noted for this sample. Articular size, however, exhibits a right-hand bias only with regard to mediolateral, and not dorsopalmar, dimensions, a result that may reflect directional asymmetry in hand breadth at the distal palmar arch. The most striking asymmetries occur for subarticular trabecular microarchitecture. The right metacarpal head exhibits greater bone volume fraction, bone surface density, trabecular number, connectivity, and a more platelike rather than rodlike structure. These outcomes confer greater resistance to both axial compressive and shear strains for the metacarpal head at the metacarpophalangeal arthrosis. In all, these results confirm and extend previous research documenting structural asymmetries and limb dominance and are consistent with the concept of articular constraint. They also suggest a morphological signal through which functional asymmetry associated with handedness in fossil hominins may be investigated.