International Journal of Anthropology (Int J Anthropol)

Publications in this journal

• Article: The distribution of HLA-A and-B antigens among populations in the major Balkan area

  K. Konstantopoulos, J. Sourdis
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  ABSTRACT: We analyzed the distribution frequency of HLA-A and-B antigens in populations of the major Balkan area in an attempt to study the various hypotheses on the genetic history of populations of the area. Among these hypotheses are these for genetic change between northern and southern populations of Greece (Barbujani and Sokal 1990) and also those for genetic similarities between North Italy and Greece as a result of colonization of Italy by Greeks (“Magna Grecia”) in classical times (Piazza et al 1988). It seems that three main groups are grossly formed within the populations studied, which is in agreement with historical data.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 16(4):245-248.
• Article: The Effect of Inbreeding on Mortality and Morbidity among Telugu-speaking Populations of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

  Bidhan Kanti Das
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  ABSTRACT: Increased mortality and morbidity including congenital malformations among the offspring of consanguineous marriages have been widely reported in human populations from different parts of the world. However, there are few studies on the effect of the intensity of inbreeding and different degrees of inbreeding on mortality and morbidity. The present study is an attempt to examine the effects of inbreeding on mortality and morbidity including congenital disorders in different levels of inbreeding among Telugu-speaking populations of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, based on data collected through extensive pedigrees. The study reveals that the frequency of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths is higher in the offspring of consanguineous marriages than in that of non-consanguineous marriages. A similar effect is also observed in the infant mortality rate, which is known to have a genetic component, but is not seen in the mortality rate of children and juveniles. The rate of morbidity is consistently higher in the offspring of consanguineous marriages with a sex bias in favour of inbred females. The increased morbidity rates in inbred individuals tend to be inversely correlated with the increase in average autosomal inbreeding coefficient. This appears to strengthen Sanghvi’s hypothesis of a decline in the frequency of deleterious genes with intensification of inbreeding through generations. The present study also confirms an increase in genetic disorders with an increase in inbreeding in almost all populations.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 21(2):151-163.
• Article: Dermatoglyphic findings in periodontal diseases

  M. Atasu, B. Kuru, E. Firatli, H. Meriç
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  ABSTRACT: The finger-tip palm and sole prints of 13 male and 23 female, a total of 36 patients with juvenile periodontitis (JP) 24 male and 21 female, a total of 45 patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) and 19 male and 19 female, a total of 38 patients with adult periodontitis (AP) were compared with those of 17 male and 22 female, a total of 39 periodontally healthy (PH) individuals for the aim of finding a pattern type that would identify those patients. Besides, the finger-tip and palmar patterns of the patients were compared with those of 446 male and 447 female, a total of 833 school children (SC), and the sole patterns of the patients were compared with those of 250 male and 250 female, a total of 500 SC. When, the finger-tip patterns of the patients were compared with those of PH individuals, the decreased frequencies of twinned and transversal ulnar loops on all fingers of the patients with JP, a decreased frequency of double loops on all fingers and an increased frequency of radial loops on the right second digits of the patients with RPP, and the increased frequencies of concentric whorls and transversal ulnar loops on all fingers of the patients with AP, an increased frequency of t″ triradii on the palms of the patients with JP, the increased frequencies of IV and H loops and tb triradii on the palms of the patients with RPP and an increased frequency of e triradii on the soles of the patients with JP were found. In summary, in the light of these findings dermatoglyphics could be used together with the other diagnostic methods such as clinical and radiologic investigations and in the identifying of the patients from distinct groups of PD’s.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 20(1):63-75.
• Article: Population sequences in a high altitude alpine environment: Archaeological sites and historical and environmental time

  P. Leveau, K. Walsh
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  ABSTRACT: Since 1998, a group of archaeologists have been studying the long-term history of human settlement and activity in the mid to high altitude (1800m and above) in theParc National des Ecrins (southern French Alps). This research has identified a number of different phases of settlement since the end of the last Ice Age (10,000 years ago). Whilst we accept that it is impossible to present the variation in actual number of people present in these marginal milieus, we can present an overview of waxing and waning of human activity in our study area. Our research demonstrates that poeple moved into these high altitude zones as soon as the glaciers retreated. The first phase of extensive and relatively intensive activity dates to the Bronze Age (c. 2000 BC). During the Iron Age and Roman period there appears to have been a relative reduction in the level of activity. However, from the early medieval period onwards there is incontrovertible evidence for a substantial increase in activity. This culminates with the emergence of a “busy” landscape during the post-medieval period when mining and pastoral activities were at their peak.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 20(3):155-171.
• Article: Periodontal disease in the Mycenean (1450–1150 BC) population of Aghia Triada, W. Peloponnese, Greece

  M. G. Tsilivakos, S. K. Manolis, O. Vikatou, M. J. Papagrigorakis
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  ABSTRACT: This study investigates the incidence of periodontitis in a Mycenaean population unearthed at the cemetery of Aghia Triada (West Peloponnese, Greece) during the 1989–1997 field season. The material consists of 172 dry skulls. Demographic parameters of sex and age were difficult to be assigned due to the bad state of preservation of the skeletal material. The ratio was 50 males, 48 females, 65 unidentified and 9 children, and we estimated an average age of 38 years. In this work we used traditional and modern methods to determine the incidence of periodontitis in the archeological human dental bone. We also recorded other dental diseases, such as ante mortem tooth loss, caries and attrition. The results showed that periodontitis has affected 35% of the jaws. A notable percentage of the individuals — 24% — lost three or more teeth during their lifetime and a total 53% of the population had extracted teeth before death. This paper points out that the ancient jaws present a high proportion of ante-mortem tooth loss, attrition and deep caries, whereas the frequency of periodontitis does not seem to differ from that of other prehistoric samples.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 17(2):91-99.
• Article: Which Measure of Abdominal Adiposity Best Relates with Body Mass Index Among Older Bengalee Hindus of Kolkata, India? A Comparison of Three Measures

  Kaushik Bose
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  ABSTRACT: A cross-sectional study of 410 (210 men and 200 women) older (≥55years) Bengalee Hindus of Kolkata, India, was undertaken to determine which measure of abdominal adiposity best relates with body mass index (BMI), an indicator of overall adiposity. Three measures of abdominal adiposity were studied: waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), and conicity index (CI). Results revealed that, in both sexes, WC had the strongest partial (age controlled) correlations with BMI (men = 0.56, women = 0.80). Linear regression analyses demonstrated that BMI had the strongest significant impact on WC in both sexes. BMI alone accounted for 28.2 and 61.8% variation in WC in men and women, respectively. This strongest significant impact remained even after controlling for age. In conclusion, this study provides strong evidence that WC can be preferred over WHR and CI in studies dealing with BMI among older Bengalee Hindus. In particular, BMI and WC can be useful in studies dealing with aging and anthropometric characteristics among older Bengalees.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 21(3):247-252.
• Article: Characterization of the Y-Chromosome Sardinian–Corsican Haplotype

  F. Diéterlen, A. Pinna, S. Berriche, G. Mercier, G. Lucotte
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  ABSTRACT: The Y chromosome of 523 Italian male subjects was examined for the 49a,f TaqI haplotype XII and for two microsatellites, YCAIIa and YCAIIb. Results were then compared to other populations living in the western Mediterranean basin whom we had previously studied: 419 French (including 328 Corsicans), 46 Italians from Milan, and 73 Tunisians. Haplotype XII is present in 127 out of the 1061 examined samples (11.9%), and most of the haplotype XII subjects are of the compound haplotype YCAIIa-21 and YCAIIb-11. Two peaks of haplotype XII frequencies occur in the north of Sardinia (35%) and in the central area of Corsica (17.4%).
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 21(2):117-121.
• Article: Secular Trends in Measures of Cephalo-Facial Traits among Bengalee Boys Aged 7.0–16.0 Years from Kolkata between 1982–1983 and 1999–2001

  R. Saha, P. Dasgupta
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  ABSTRACT: While a large number of studies on secular trends have been performed on measures of stature, weight, trunk and limb dimensions, subcutaneous fatness and body composition, etc., less attention has been paid to cephalo-facial traits. This study reports on secular trends in five cephalo-facial traits (head length, head breadth, head circumference, bizygomatic breadth and morphological facial height) and two indices (cephalic index and facial index) in Bengalee Hindu boys between ages 7.0 and 16.0years. The data set comes from two cross-sectional growth surveys carried out among the students of one particular Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) boys school with an interval of about 20years (1982–1983 and 1999–2001). Identical protocol with respect to sampling, data collection, measuring technique and data analysis has been followed in both surveys. Except for morphological facial height (which showed negative secular trends), the other four cephalo-facial traits showed positive secular trends with varying magnitudes over the two decades. Cephalic index did not reveal any consistent pattern of change, while facial index showed a declining trend in the later survey.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 21(1):33-43.
• Article: Surname distributions and linguistic-cultural identities in the Alto Adige-Südtirol Area

  E. Lucchetti, M. Tasso, P. Pizzetti, S. De Iasio, G. U. Caravello
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  ABSTRACT: In this survey we have carried out a comparison of the surname structures of the municipal populations living in the Alto Adige-Südtirol area, an Italian Alpine sub-region with a high number of German-speaking inhabitants. These analyses have been conducted by means of indeces of similarity among populations and the topological representations deriving from these; in addition, the concept of spatial autocorrelation has been applied to a certain number of centres distributed throughout the province. On the whole, it is possible to observe certain distinctions based on the geographical features of the territory, with particular reference to the larger valleys; however, within the context of the latter, certain migrations that could have brought about changes in some of the autochthonous surname structures are likely to have occured.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 20(3):225-245.
• Article: Relationship between genetic anomalies of different levels and deviation in dermatoglyphic traits

  E. Kobyliansky, K. Yakovenko, M. Bejerano, Bat-Miriam, M. Katznelson
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  ABSTRACT: The present study is carried out to evaluate the effect of chromosomal morbidity (82% are 47XXY and in the remaining cases there is the extra X and/or Y) in the males with Klinefelter’s syndrome, based on dermatoglyphic traits and indices of diversity and asymmetry. The main objectives of the present study is to find dermatoglyphic traits and fluctuating asymmetry indices which could be “marker traits” and could indicate the degree of developmental instability of the organism. The sample of males with Klinefelter’s syndrome (N=171) was collected in the Institute of Human Genetics of Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel, by Professor Bat-Miriam Katznelson during 20 years, between 1968–1988. All patients were confirmed by chromosomal examination. The finger and palm prints were collected with the aid of pads manufactured by Lamedco Inc., Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.A. Interpretation of the prints was according to Cummins and Midlo (1961) and Penrose (1968) and included identification of patterns, ridge counts and the measurements of distances sum of and angles in the palms. 79 dermatoglyphic variables for every patient: 28 continuous traits, 9 discrete traits, 11 indices of intra-individual diversity, 15 indices of directional asymmetry and 16 indices of fluctuating asymmetry were estimated. The problem of asymmetry, fluctuating and directional and of intraindividual diversity of quantitative dermatoglyphic traits is reviewed here as well as illustrated by data obtained on a sample of healthy control group of Jews from Israel. In this first part of our paper we will discuss the data on individual dermatoglyphic traits on digits and palms. The second part will be dedicated to multivariate analysis in order to compare between Klinefelter’s syndrome and control healthy individuals based on quantitative dermatoglyphic traits and indices of diversity and asymmetry.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 20(1):85-109.
• Article: General Health and Psychological Distress among Adolescents in Six European Countries

  Amelia De Lucia, Alessio Pollice, Vittoria Claudia De Nicolò, Marco Scattarella
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  ABSTRACT: Due to forced population movements from southeastern Europe to the neighboring countries, for many refugees or displaced persons there have been problems in various domains of life, including health problems. The aim of this study is to focus on the general health and psychological stress of youths and to investigate the elements producing the health problems linked to the mental and psychological disorders of youths in six countries. The target population is composed of adolescents who were between 15 and 18years of age in 2003 and who immigrated into a new country between 1990 and 2000. From this analysis, a profile emerges of an adolescent who, independently of immigrant or native status, reveals an unexpected fragility. This is manifested through a nonoptimal perception of his/her state of health that is not confirmed by recognized pathologies. This discrepancy between perceived and objective state of health is a psychological state that is produced by a wide variety of factors, and results in reduced self-esteem and dissatisfaction with life. It is manifested in a difficulty in accepting one’s self-image. This produces the difficulty the youths experience in accepting a self-image that has been deformed by reality, with consequent pathologies involving the alimentary disorders which have become a phenomenon of the new forms of society.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 21(3):217-229.
• Article: Body Mass Index and Chronic Energy Deficiency Among Urban Bengalee Male Slum Dwellers of Kolkata, India: Relationship with Family Income

  Raja Chakraborty, Kaushik Bose, Samiran Bisai
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  ABSTRACT: A cross-sectional study of 191 adult (>18years) Bengalee male slum dwellers of Kolkata, India, was undertaken to study the relationships of family income with body mass index (BMI) and chronic energy deficiency (CED). Results revealed that the mean height, weight, and BMI of the subjects were 162.2cm, 54.0kg, and 20.5kg/m2, respectively. The overall frequency of CED (BMI < 18.5kg/m2) was 33.5%. Based on the World Health Organization classification, the prevalence of CED among this population was high (20–39%) and thus the situation is serious. Overall, monthly family income (MFI) was significantly positively correlated (r = 0.18, p < 0.05) with BMI. Linear regression analyses showed that MFI had significant impact (p < 0.05) on BMI. The percent variation in BMI explained by MFI was 2.6%. Subjects belonging to the lowest family income group (FIG) had the lowest mean BMI (19.5kg/m2) and the highest rate of CED (46.6%) while those in the highest FIG had the largest mean BMI (21.4kg/m2) and lowest rate of CED (23.1%). There was a significant FIG difference (F = 2.965, p < 0.05) in mean BMI. Moreover, there existed FIG differences (χ 2 = 7.54, p < 0.06) in CED rates. In conclusion, this study provided strong evidence that FIG was significantly associated with BMI and the presence of CED. The rate of CED was high, indicating a serious situation. These findings may have severe public health implications. It is recommended that immediate nutritional intervention programs be initiated among this population along with serious efforts to increase their family income.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 21(3):209-215.
• Article: Characterisation of the digital dermatoglyphic in a berber population of the high Atlas (Marrakesh, Morrocco)

  B. Sabir, M. Cherkaoui, A. Baali, O. Lemaire, J. M. Dugoujon, G. Boëtsch
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  ABSTRACT: With an aim of characterising the genetic structure of the Berber population, of the Western High Atlas (Marrakesh), and of locating it compared to the other known populations, a preliminary study of the digital dermatoglyphes relating to a sample of 100 individuals (50 men and 50 women) non related taken at random in the population of the commune of Asni (Wilaya de Marrakesh) was carried out. The frequencies of the digital figures obtained in this population are respectively 50.2% of the ulnar loops, 40.6% of the whorls, 7.7% of the archs and 1.5% of the radial loops. No significant difference between the two sexes has been observed. Compared with other Moroccan populations, while basing, oneself on the relatively frequency of the arch, one raises more resemblance of our population (9.2% among women and 6.2% among the men) to the Arab population of the region of Doukkala (8.85% at the men and 7.2% among women) that with the Berber population of the Middle Atlas (5.26% at the men and 5.63% among women). Compared with other Mediterranean populations, the Berber of the High-Atlas remain among the populations which present a higher arch percentage. The analysis of affinities of the digital figures between the population object, of the study and those of the Mediterranean by the Euclidean distances show that this one presents characteristics which differentiates, it from the other populations. One can not however, that conversely with other Moroccan populations analysed, the one becomes attached more to the group, of populations of south of the Mediterranean (Arab and Berber) than to the group of the north populations of mediterranean area (Spain, France and Italy).
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 20(3):277-289.
• Article: Human migratory flows

  A. De Lucia
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  ABSTRACT: The presence of immigrants in the European states in the last twenty years has considerably increased. This increase is evidently due to the numerous waves of immigrants coming from East European countries. With regard to the present situation, 70% of the population increase of the European Union countries, in the course of the year 2000, was due to immigration. The destinations of about two-thirds of this migratory flow are Germany, Great Britain and Italy. These migratory movements originate in the more or less prevalent influence of demographic, economic and political forces. Historically Italy represented more a source of emigration than a destination for immigration; immigration came to exceed emigration for the first time in recent history only in 1973. It is interesting to note that a large proportion of the foreigners have been in Italy for a certain length of time. The immigration phenomenon, is however characterized by a considerable increase in the illegal flows. The impact with the new realities becomes extremely traumatic for the immigrants and in the end there is a significant possibility of psychological destabilization.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 19(1):1-18.
• Article: Nutritional status and quality of life in a sample of immigrants. A research program

  S. Toselli, E. Gualdi-Russo
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  ABSTRACT: In 2001 a new national research was begun in Italy in order to identify the health, nutritional status and quality of life in the immigrant population. In Bologna area an evident process of demographic decrease in the resident population, coupled with a contemporaneous increase in the number of in-coming immigrants coming especially from Asiatic and African developing countries, has been taking place since 1970. The present program was carried, out in this context, starting with an analysis of the actual bio-diversity in this new multi-ethnic society, with the purpose of giving the same sanitary assistance and surveillance that the Italian population enjoys to the immigrant population as well. The present report analyzes the main anthropological aspects of the program concerning the assessment of anthropometric and psychosocial characteristics of the immigrant population, as well as this group's nutritional habits.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 19(1):81-89.
• Article: An investigation of coping skills and quality of life among single sole supporting mothers

  G. Coyne
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  ABSTRACT: Recent unprecedented changes to family structures have introduced an increasingly complex role for women in the context of family life and rearing of their children. Presently, single parent families headed by women are a significant demographic factor. This paper reports an investigation exploring the relationship between coping skills and quality of life among single sole supporting mother (N=73). The study identifies high levels of worry and inadequate financial resources as contributing factors towards a reduced perception of quality of life. It also identifies social support as a positive factor that can increase individual perception of quality of life. Although the study considers whether or not single sole supporting mothers aged 30 years and over are better able to cope with being both mother and financial provider than their younger counterparts, there was insufficient evidence to validate this view. Implications of the findings and research methodology for social work, counselling practice and further research are discussed.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 18(3):127-138.
• Article: Obesity and the clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors in 14-year-old children

  S. Koziel
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  ABSTRACT: Although overweight and obesity in childhood are related to risk factors of cardiovascular (CVD), most studies have examined these relationships separately. Internal cut-points were used to examine the relation of overweight (>85th and ≦90th percentile) and obesity (>90th percentile) to risk factor clustering in a sample of 2731 14-year-old children from Lower Silesia, Poland, examined cross-sectionally in 1996–97. All subjects went through anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and fasting serum levels of lipid, lipoproteins and glucose were estimated. All risk factor (>90th percentile) prevalence increased greatly at higher levels of Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2). Nearly every second obese child had elevated systolic blood pressure and every third child had elevated serum levels of triglycerides. Among overweight boys 24.7% were found to have at least one risk factor, whereas among obese boys every fourth had at least one risk factor. 25% overweight girls and nearly 18% obese girls showed at least one risk factor. Standardized odds ratios for associations between overweight and obesity, and risk factor clustering, indicated that obese boys were 4.8 times more likely to have an elevated level of at least two factors; the probability increasing to 16.1 in the case of three and more factors in comparison to their lean peers. Obese girls showed more then a 7 time higher probability of having three and more risk factors in relation to their lean peers.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 18(3):153-160.
• Article: Blood lead levels in children from Sardinian villages at high risk of environmental crisis

  E. Sanna, A. Liguori, L. Palmas, G. Floris
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  ABSTRACT: This study reports blood lead levels measured in 1998 in children from three Sardinian villages: Portoscuso, Sant'Antioco, and Sestu. Portoscuso is located about 2 km from one of the most important industrial complexes in Sardinia. Sant'Antioco, together with the villages of Carbonia, Gonnesa, Portoscuso and San Giovanni Suergiu, is in the Sulcis-Iglesiente zone, defined as an “area of high risk of environmental crisis” on the basis of the Decree of the Italian Council of Ministers dated November 30, 1990. Sestu, a semi-urban centre about 10 km from Cagliari (the island's capital), can be considered not exposed to lead pollution. Blood lead concentration was determined in heparinized venous blood samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Comparing the mean blood lead levels for the boys of Portoscuso measured in 1993 (9.27 μg/dl) and 1998 (11.30 μg/dl), we found an increase of 21.90%, whereas the mean values for the girls are practically identical in 1993 (7.35 μg/dl) and 1998 (7.39 μg/dl). In contrast, in the boys and girls of Sestu, the mean blood lead levels decrease from 1993 to 1998 by 55.62% and 29.09% respectively (from 6.71 μg/dl to 4.09 μg/dl in the boys; from 4.71 μg/dl to 3.34 μg/dl in the girls). In the Sant'Antioco children, we found a 52.65% decrease from 1987 (8.30 μg/dl reported for a sample not subdivided by sex)) to 1998 (3.93 μg/dl for males and females combined). Our results confirm the findings of previous investigations of blood lead levels in children from Sardinian villages with different environmental risks of lead pollution: the children of Portoscuso present higher blood lead levels than other groups of Sardinian children.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 17(2):101-111.
• Article: Genetic characterization of an isolated alpine population using seroprotein markers: Vallouise (Briançonnais)

  N. Salis, P. Brousse, G. Boëtsch, E. Rabino Massa
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of the “Dauphiné Project” is to reconstruct, with a wide perspective and multidisciplinary approach, the anthropological history of some mountain populations in both the French and the Italian parts of the Ancient Dauphiné. Within the “Dauphiné Project”, the present study is an analysis of seroproteins conducted on blood samples of subjects living in Vallouise, small mountain community (Briançonnais); they are male and female adults from families native to the zones for at least two generations. In particular, the third component of complement (C3), the group specific component (Gc) and properdin B factor (Bf) were considered, these being very important markers in human genetics research. The data for these systems are the first results of the biological study of populations of the Western Alps. They add to our otherwise scantly knowledge about the distribution of these polymorphisms in the populations under study. The results were compared with those in the literature on European populations, particularly of the Mediterranean area, in order to identify origins and microevolutionary processes, as well as biotransformations related to environmental adaptation.
  International Journal of Anthropology 04/2012; 20(3):343-349.