Is cribra orbitalia synonymous with anemia? Analysis and interpretation of cranial pathology in Sudan

Cribra orbitalia is a porotic or sieve-like lesion in the bony orbital roof. Its cause has been the object of research and discussion since the end of the 19th century. Since about 1960, most scientists have started to agree on the hypothesis that the lesion is a result of hypertrophy of the red bone marrow, and therefore is proof of anemia. However, recent investigations showed that in some cases, the histologic bone structure does not support the diagnosis of anemia. The status of cribra orbitalia as an indicator then becomes uncertain. We carried out a histologic examination of thin-ground sections in polarized light to clarify the possible sources of orbital roof lesions in a Nubian population from Missiminia, northern Sudan (n = 333). In at least 56.5% of cribra orbitalia cases, there were no histologic features indicating changes due to anemia. Signs of other pathological conditions, such as inflammation or osteoporosis, as well as pseudopathological cases, were found.     

陕西大原村制陶遗址人骨的古病理学

本文针对陕西省西安市西咸新区丰京西周大原村制陶遗址出土的 30 例保存相对完整的人骨;运用裸眼与 Dino-Lite 显微镜观察相结合的方式;记录其古病理指征。结果表明;该遗址多数个体存在筛状眶;部分伴有颅外多孔现象;暗示该人群营养状况不良且生活环境恶劣;较高的肋骨骨膜炎和上颌窦炎患病率可能源于环境污染所致的呼吸系统感染。该人群跖骨跪踞面出现率较高;跖趾关节使用频繁。骨关节炎多发于脊柱关节、踝关节、肩关节和髋关节;体现出遗址居民关节劳动负荷较大。掌骨异常弯曲;指骨和肢骨上可见肌肉骨骼应力标志(MSM)的骨性证据;此类特殊骨性改变显示这些个体曾从事关节运动重复率高且需大量运用手部肌肉组织的工作。这些疾病特征与制陶职业紧密相关。     

Relationship between early puberty and the risk of hypertension/overweight at age 50: Evidence for a modified Barker hypothesis among Polish youth

The objective of this paper is to evaluate: (a) the association between BMI in childhood and adolescence and BMI at age 50, and (b) the association between timing of maturation at puberty and BMI at age 50 and the occurrence of high blood pressure. We explore whether differences in somatic and physiological factors observed among children with early or late onset of puberty indicates that this period of life could be critical for appearance of some CVD risk factors later in the life cycle. Our data include 135 males and 148 females, born in 1953, participants in the Wroc?aw Longitudinal Study. Data pertaining to their growth and several indices of sexual and skeletal maturation were collected yearly between age 8 and 18. Subsequently, their anthropometric traits were measured and cardiovascular health status was assessed at age 50. We find that BMI at distinct stages in the life cycle were positively correlated. Also BMI at 50 were positively associated with blood pressure at 50. Moreover, earlier maturation at puberty is associated with higher values of BMI at age 50. We also find that earlier pubertal maturation is an independent factor that influences the appearance of high blood pressure in adulthood.     

Anthropology of the Late Period cemetery in the Tomb of King Horemheb at Saqqara (Egypt) (preliminary report)

Anthropological material unearthed by the excavation of the Egypt Exploration Society (London) in the Tomb of King Horemheb at Saqqara consists of original burials dated 14th cent. B.C., of a series of 18 individuals dated 13th cent. B.C. and of a large amount of material (seven burials and a lot of scattered isolated bones) from a secondary cemetery dated Late Period. In it the total number of individuals was determined as 260, divided into 37.3% immatures and 62.7% adults, which consist of 60.7% males and 39.3% females. The mean age at death was for the whole series 24.1 years, for adult males 33.3 years and for adult females 29.4 years. In all metric features a well-cut sexual dimorphism is apparent and a similarity with a contemporary nearly located series from the Mastaba of Ptahshepses at Abusir. The average stature reconstructed by the Negro equations of Trotter and Gleser equals 166.5 cm for males and 154.7 cm for females. Cranioscopic, epigenetic and osteoscopic features, however, showed many differences between the Horemheb and the Ptahshepses series. The paleopathological study revealed cases of traumatism, inflammations, degenerative osteoarthropathies, benign as well as malign tumours, anaemias, congenital anomalies, senile changes and dental diseases.     

Age-related cortical bone loss in women from a 3rd-4th century AD population from England

Age-dependent cortical bone loss in adult females from a skeletal assemblage from 3rd-4th century AD England was studied using metacarpal radiogrammetry. Results showed reduced peak cortical bone thickness compared with modern subjects, and the magnitude of cortical bone loss in older females compared with their younger counterparts was greater than that documented for a modern reference population. An elevated prevalence of fractures classically associated with osteoporosis was also observed in the over-50-year cohort. The severity of osteoporosis in this group is difficult to explain in terms of extraneous factors relating to 3rd-4th century lifestyles. Given the important genetic component in osteoporosis, the results may indicate some inherent susceptibility in this particular population to the disease, and ways in which this possibility might be further explored are suggested.     

山东广饶地区元代人群的生存压力

为探究元代山东地区人群的生存压力;本文对山东广饶十村北墓地2021年出土的19例元代人骨标本进行了人类骨骼考古学研究和稳定同位素分析。通过C、N同位素分析;发现该墓地人群基本以粟和小麦为食;人群肉食资源较为充足、营养较好;但内部的肉食资源摄入水平存在一定的差异。在生存压力研究方面;在该墓地人群的生长发育过程中;大部分个体未因虚弱而死亡;仅有少数个体因营养水平等原因早逝。结合骨学悖论和生命史研究;将该人群按照是否成年分组进行分析。研究显示;4例未成年个体之间承担压力的能力存在差异;但经历生长压力较重的事件后均未能形成较强的抵抗力和调整能力。得益于营养充足;其余未成年个体在成年后进入了健康期;体能和生理健康处于最高水平;恢复力较强;具有一定承担和适应压力的能力。15例成年个体受社会地位等因素影响缺乏足够的文化缓冲机制;面临较重的生存压力。