目的:生物人类学家经常探索骨骼不对称,以及人口健康和疾病。鉴于现有文献中相互矛盾的发现,本研究旨在阐明南非样本中是否存在关联.
方法:评估了115名南非个体的干骨和颅骨微焦点X射线计算机断层扫描(micro-XCT)扫描。
方法:根据地标间距离计算波动不对称(FA)指数,并记录了四种非特异性生理应激体征的频率,以探讨FA与疾病之间的关系。
结果:南非黑人的FA指数不高;然而,他们的非特异性生理应激症状患病率最高.然而,FA指标与病理病变之间无显著相关性。
结论:在FA和来自不同社会经济背景的人群之间没有观察到相关性。然而,社会经济地位(SES)较低的个体表现出更高的非特异性生理应激征象。
结论:这项研究表明,骨骼压力指标可能是评估人群SES差异的合适生物学标记。同时表明颅骨FA水平是一个不充分的生物学标记。
结论:可能的限制可能包括测量误差,以及此样本中缺乏有关个人生活史和医疗记录的信息。
■未来的研究应该包括更多南非群体的更大样本,并应评估年龄之间的潜在关联,FA,和骨骼疾病标志物的表达。
OBJECTIVE: Biological anthropologists frequently explore skeletal asymmetry, together with population health and disease. Given the conflicting findings in existing literature, this study aimed to clarify whether an association exists in a South African sample.
METHODS: Dry bone and cranial micro-focus X-ray Computed Tomography (micro-XCT) scans of 115 South African individuals were assessed.
METHODS: Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) indices were calculated from interlandmark distances, and the frequency of four types of non-specific signs of physiological stress were documented to explore the relationship between FA and disease.
RESULTS: Black South Africans did not exhibit a high FA index; however, they had the highest prevalence of non-specific signs of physiological stress. However, no significant correlations were detected between FA indices and pathological lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: No correlation was observed between FA and populations from different socio-economic backgrounds. However, individuals of lower socio-economic status (SES) demonstrated a greater prevalence of non-specific signs of physiological stress.
CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that skeletal indicators of stress may be a suitable biological marker for assessing differences in SES among population groups, while indicating that levels of cranial FA is an inadequate biological marker.
CONCLUSIONS: Possible limitations may include measurement error, and the lack of information on the life history and medical records of individuals in this sample.
UNASSIGNED: Future research should include a larger sample with more South African groups, and should evaluate the potential association among age, FA, and expression of skeletal markers of disease.