Journal of physiological anthropology and applied human science最新文献

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of posture on the expiratory activity of the abdominal muscles. Fifteen young adult men participated in the study. Activities of the external oblique abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, and rectus abdominis muscles were measured electromyographically in various postures. We used a pressure threshold in order to activate the abdominal muscles as these muscles are silent at rest. A spirometer was used to measure the lung volume in various postures. Subjects were placed in the supine, standing, sitting, and sitting-with-elbow-on-the-knee (SEK) positions. Electromyographic activity and mouth pressure were measured during spontaneous breathing and maximal voluntary ventilation under the respiratory load. We observed that the lung volume changed with posture; however, the breathing pattern under respiratory load did not change. During maximal voluntary ventilation, internal oblique abdominis muscle expiratory activity was lower in the SEK position than in any other position, external oblique abdominis muscle inspiratory activity was lower in the supine position than in any other position, and internal oblique abdominis muscle activity was higher in the standing position than in any other position. During spontaneous breathing, external oblique abdominis muscle activity was higher during expiration and inspiration in the SEK position than in any other position. The internal oblique abdominis muscle activity was higher during both inspiration and expiration in the standing position than in any other position. The rectus abdominis muscle activity did not change with changes in posture during both inspiration and expiration. Increase in the external oblique abdominis activity in the SEK position was due to anatomical muscle arrangement that was consistent with the direction of lower rib movement. On the other hand, increase in the internal oblique abdominis activity in the standing position was due to stretching of the abdominal wall by the viscera. We concluded that differences in activity were due to differences in the anatomy of the abdominal muscles and the influence of gravity.

Spatial and temporal variation of selection intensities has been analyzed using published data on Crow's indices in 278 human populations, representing various anthropological types, religions, cultures and a wide spectrum of environmental conditions. Statistical analysis has shown that populations with different types of economy have different adaptive strategies. In tribal populations both components of selection-differential fertility and differential mortality-have equal contributions, vary according to ecological factors and show no decline with time. Urban populations of the industrially developed countries show dramatic selection relaxation; the second component becomes negligible due to a sharp decrease in childhood mortality; fertility and its variance are reducing due to cultural factors (family planning).

Secular changes in the body dimensions of newborns from three different geographical localities are compared. Anthropometrical data of infants born in 1987 and in 2002 as a result of singleton full-term non-pathological postpartum were collected from medical records of children's out-patient clinics in three geographical localities: two big cities-Moscow and Saratov-and the town of Khvalynsk (Saratov region). The total number of newborns used in the analysis was 1,174. Body length and weight at birth from 1987 to 2002 increased in Moscow and Saratov, while in Khvalynsk there was a significant decrease of body length for boys. There is also a trend towards decrease of body weight in Khvalynsk boys and girls. It may be assumed that the changes in body sizes of newborns may be connected with socio-economic changes.

Human bones from the Sunghir Late Palaeolithic settlement of the Northern-East part of the Eastern European Plane were observed by a gross study of possible skeletal lesions. The complex of pathological conditions we studied could mirror the features of the ancient environment. The climatic conditions of the Upper Palaeolithic, especially in its final stages, were severe. Thus environmental change and the fall of temperature is reflected in the distribution of pathological indicators. The comparative analysis of early and late Upper Palaeolithic populations demonstrates the increasing frequency of some stress markers. The analysis of physiological stress markers convincingly demonstrates that the Sunghir people had an active lifestyle without experiencing considerable negative stress. Living in the cold conditions and a humid climate, the Sunghir people had adequate reactions relative to their life conditions. Different types of physical activity were noted for both children and adult man. It could be that this is the result of the influence of gender diversity in labour.

A cross-sectional study of BMD and physical development values in children of various age-specific groups was carried out. In all, the study included 357 children (194 boys and 163 girls) aged from 5 to 16 years. The study did not include children with inherited or acquired diseases of the musculoskeletal system, chronic diseases of the liver or kidneys, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis or malabsorption syndrome or professional athletes. BMD values were estimated by dual X-ray absorbtiometry (DXA) of the lumbar part of the spine (L2-L4) using a "DPX-MD+" device equipped with a "child" software program. Out of all the examined children, 58.9% had harmonic physical development, and 13.1% had a decreased body height and body mass. It was revealed that BMC and BMD values in the lumbar part of the spine intensively increased with age. BMC closely correlates with body height (r = 0.8; p < 0.000) and body mass (r = 0.7; p < 0.000). BMD also correlates with anthropometric parameters. The lowest BMC and BMD values and Z-score as well can be found in children with a low body height and body mass (<10th percentile).

It has been proposed that the Delta32 mutation in the chemokine receptor gene, inducing resistance to HIV-1 and, probably, to other virus infections, has undergone selection in historical times. The frequency of this mutant allele has changed rapidly both in time (during the last two millennia) and in space (across Eurasia). We compiled a global database on Delta32 allele frequencies in 300 populations. Nearly 10 percent of them are our data on 35 East European populations analyzed here for the first time. A detailed map of Delta32 frequency distribution was constructed and statistically analysed. We found a linearly decreasing trend with a maximum in areas surrounding the Baltic and White seas. Significant correlations with ground surface temperature were revealed. However, compared with our previous results, these correlations diminished, indicating that the influence of climate on Delta32 distribution was, if anything at all, indirect. The proposed scenario includes: i) arise and initial spread of the mutation among Uralic-speaking populations; ii) a frequency increase in northeastern Europe as a result of selection and/or genetic drift; iii) secondary spread (with selection continued) due to gene flow and the migrations of northern Europeans across the globe.

To describe the variation of shape and size of dental arcs the method of principal components was applied. 27 measurements of every dental cast made from 50 young adult males with good occlusion were made, and the following parameters were calculated: 7 widths, 5 left chords, 5 right chords, 5 sagittal lengths (calculated as orthogonal to corresponding width) and 5 angles. Different sets of features were analyzed for both arcs together and for each arc separately. Three independent analyses by the method of principal components show a good description of the main trend of dental arc shape and size variation and a difference between the growth and variation of frontal and distal parts of the arcs. They also describe the variations of occlusion. The trends of dental arc variation ascertained help us to understand the nature of malocclusions and the causes of their preservation in evolution.

The term "adaptability" or "capacity of adaptation" is the central concept in the general advancement and promotion of research in physiological anthropology. Throughout the history of Homo sapiens, mankind has adapted itself to environmental stress. As a result, numerous physiological polymorphisms in humans are present in our planet-wide distribution. Totally regulated physiological function by integration and coordination is referred to as whole-body coordination and is associated with a high degree of adaptability in humans. Functional potentiality also affects environmental adaptability. Thus, whole-body coordination and functional potentiality are necessary for adaptation to environmental changes. There is an interrelationship among functional potentiality, whole-body coordination, physiological polymorphisms, and environmental adaptability.

The present study sought to determine if the postural sway of a subject required to grasp a tray (motor task) holding a cup filled with water and prevent spilling (mental task), would be reduced by consciously redirecting attention to maintain the tray in a horizontal position. We hypothesized the mental task would increase the stabilization of standing postural balance. Postural sway was measured in 17 normal subjects under the following conditions: 1) holding a 100 g weight in each hand (total 200 g; no mental task), 2) holding with both hands a tray on which 200 g was placed (tray-holding task), and 3) holding with both hands a tray on which a cup filled with water weighing 200 g was placed in the center (mental task). Postural sway was significantly reduced during the mental task versus other tasks. Standing posture balance was stabilized when a mental task was added. Thus, we concluded that higher brain functions such as attention and consciousness exerted a significant influence over the control of standing posture.

As one way of thinking about physiological anthropology, let us survey it from a historical viewpoint. At the beginning of the 19th century, Blumenbach, considered the father of Physical Anthropology, wrote his "Handbook of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology." The subsequent research conducted and papers written by researchers such as Broca and Martin pointed in the direction of physiological anthropology; furthermore, the research carried out by the American researchers Demon and Baker had a physiological anthropology "feel." The courses in Physiological Anthropology taught by Tokizane exerted a major influence on physiological anthropology in Japan. The precursor of the Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology, organized by Sato in 1978, was extremely significant in the effect that it had on the subsequent development of physiological anthropology. The holding of the biennial International Congress of Physiological Anthropology, along with the allocation of the Research sub-field of Physiological Anthropology in the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, would seem to suggest that the field of physiological anthropology is set to increasingly grow and evolve.