Papers on Anthropology

A variation in the origin, course and blood supply of the posterior circumflex humeral artery

Tiina Tikk — 2024-11-22

Learning ordinary anatomy is an essential part of medical training. New knowledge about anatomical variations helps surgeons to improve their surgical techniques and avoid complications. The posterior circumflex humeral artery usually arises from the axillary artery and passes through the quadrilateral space along with the axillary nerve. In our study, we introduce a human cadaver specimen with unusual arterial variation. In this case, instead of passing through the quadrilateral space, the posterior circumflex humeral artery coursed along the lower edge of the teres major muscle to the surgical neck of the humerus. In our data, the posterior circumflex humeral artery arose from brachial artery and the branches of this artery supplied the deltoid muscle, teres minor and infraspinatus tendons, and the lower part of the long head of the triceps brachii muscle.

Understanding the role of ethnicity, age, sex and obesity on foot morphology: a systematic review

Nairrita Bhattacharjee — 2024-11-22

The morphology of the human foot varies considerably due to the combined effects of heredity, culture, lifestyle, nutrition and climatic factors, and these have anthropological, clinical and forensic importance. The shape of the foot has been of great interest to numerous authors because of its variability and its importance from both the morphological and functional points of view. Foot morphology determines the size and shape of feet or footprints and thereby makes them unique data to establish human identity. This review study is an attempt to explore the variation in human foot morphology in different ethnic populations as well as the effect of age, sex and obesity on the morphology of the human foot. The database was searched from June 2021 to December 2021 using Google Scholar, ResearchGate and PubMed employing unique and specific combinations of keywords, such as ethnic differences, foot anthropometry, foot dimensions, foot morphology, footprints, gender differences in foot dimension, sexual dimorphism in foot anthropometry, foot shape, obesity and foot morphology, and the effect of age on foot morphology. A total of 55 studies were retrieved covering the years from 1975 to 2020. Literature revealed that foot morphological characteristics vary among different ethnic groups and also exhibit sexual dimorphism and reflect specific characteristics at different ages of life. Obesity was found to have a significant impact on selected foot morphological parameters. Studies on quantitative variations in foot morphology from the anthropological point of view in the Indian context are limited, and, therefore, similar studies should be instigated among different ethnic groups living in different parts of India.

Assessment of nutritional status, energy intake and energy requirement: a cross-sectional study among sabar males of West Bengal, India

Kaustav Das — 2024-11-22

Malnutrition, particularly undernutrition, is a major problem for most low and middle-income countries. For several years, health professionals have recommended improving daily diets and continuous nutritional education as the solution to malnutrition and maximising a healthy life. More specifically, malnutrition is often reversible to a certain extent if the balance between energy intake (EI) and energy requirement (ER) can be measured accurately and maintained accordingly. The present study tries to assess the nutritional status and evaluate the EI and ER among the Sabar males living in the Purulia district of West Bengal, India. For this cross-sectional study, 400 Sabar men aged 18–60 years were selected. To assess their nutritional status, the anthropometric measurements of height (cm) and weight (kg) were taken following a standard procedure. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and the classification proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) for the South Asian population was considered. Body composition variables like Percent Body Fat (PBF), Fat Mass (FM), Fat- Free Mass (FFM), Fat Mass Index (FMI) and Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI) were also calculated. The 24-hour dietary recall method was used to assess the nutrient intake (i.e., EI). ER was derived from the estimated total energy expenditure (TEE) calculated from the predictive equation proposed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the Indian population. The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethical committee. Data were collected after getting consent from the study participants. The rate of undernutrition increased with age and was found to be highest (56.9%) among the aged individuals (41–50 years) with an overall prevalence of 48.5%. A gradual decrease in FFM, FFMI and a steady increase in PBF, FM, and FMI was seen with the increase in age. Differences were observed in EI and TEE across different age groups and nutritional categories. A negative energy flow was identified where TEE exceeded EI in each age and nutritional category. The high prevalence of undernutrition demands immediate nutritional intervention. This is probably the first report on the assessment of EI and TEE among any indigenous community living in West Bengal, so further studies are required among other communities living in similar or different ecological conditions for a better understanding and formulation of nutritional policies with special emphasis on elderly people.

High prevalence of ankle, knee and low back problems in highly trained adolescent basketball players at the beginning of their competitive season

Mati Arend — 2024-11-22

Background: Adolescent team sport athletes with high training volume and overscheduling have increased incidences of injuries (Osgood-Schlatter disease, low-back pain etc.) compared to their less active counterparts. These overuse injuries may begin to negatively affect young athletes’ attitudes towards physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of low back, knee and ankle problems in young male basketball players.

Methods: The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire (OSTRC) was distributed weekly to 16 adolescent athletes who regularly participated in basketball training and who volunteered to participate in the study (age 15 ± 1.2 years; body weight 72.1 ± 11.8 kg; height 183.5 ± 8.2 cm; BMI 21.1 ± 2.5; training experience 7.4 ± 1.2 years; training hours per week 6.6 ± 3.8) for 12 weeks at the start of their season.

Results: The response rate to the weekly OSTRC questionnaire was 96.4%. A total of 94 overuse conditions were identified, affecting 15 athletes (94% of the cohort). 93.8% of the athletes in this group reported having had knee problems, while low back and ankle problems were reported by 43.8% and 31.3% respectively.

Conclusions: Knee and low back problems seem to be very common in adolescent basketball players and should be the focus of regular injury prevention programmes. Problems in these areas were more prevalent at the start of the study indicating the need for better pre-season physical preparation. Also, the weekly questionnaire helps to better regulate training loads and, therefore, is a good monitoring system for coaches and physiotherapists to prevent overuse problems.

Body adiposity and body types susceptibility to kidney stone disease among the Meiteis of Manipur: A cross-sectional study

Henry Konjengbam — 2024-11-22

Diverse human characteristics significantly influence susceptibility to kidney stone disease (KSD), resulting in unequal risks of formation. Human variations can be classified by prakriti body types, rooted in holistic mind-body principles, and anthropometric somatotypes, focused solely on physical traits. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the susceptibility to KSD among the Meitei adult population of Manipur across different body types and other body adiposity variables. Among 712 participants (322 males, 390 females) from the Meitei adult population of Manipur, kidney stone prevalence is 11.24%. BMI and body fat show no association with stone formation. Interestingly, prakriti body types correlate with kidney stones, while somatotypes do not. The study emphasizes understanding one’s body type, especially prakriti, for proactive kidney stone prevention. Moreover, it highlights the ancient Ayurvedic system’s relevance in averting kidney stone development.

Malaria awareness and prevention practices among tribal individuals in Southern Odisha, India: a cross-sectional study

Basanta Kumar Bindhani — 2024-11-22

This cross-sectional study examined malaria awareness and prevention practices among 245 tribal inhabitants in the Koraput district of Odisha, a region highly affected by malaria. Data regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to malaria were collected using structured questionnaires. The study found that the community had moderate levels of awareness and understanding about malaria, with an average knowledge score of 67%. Males had slightly higher knowledge scores compared to females. The attitude score was 80.57%, indicating a generally positive mindset towards malaria prevention. In terms of practices, the score was 78.67%, reflecting a fair adoption of preventive measures like mosquito net usage and maintenance of environmental cleanliness. The study emphasized the crucial role of health workers as the primary source of information about malaria prevention. However, it also identified gaps in women’s understanding of malaria symptoms and transmission, as well as the limited diversity in information channels. The findings suggest the need for more targeted educational initiatives and community-centric health strategies to enhance overall health practices in tribal communities affected by malaria.