Background: Network-based approaches allow population-level biological-distance data to be examined beyond conventional pairwise comparison, capturing how individual sites are embedded within a broader web of relationships. Applied to the Avar period Carpathian Basin, such approaches can reveal whether geographic regions differ systematically in how strongly and how broadly their constituent sites are connected within the wider network. Objective: To construct a pruned craniometric biological-distance network of Avar period sites in the Carpathian Basin, and to evaluate whether geographically defined regions correspond to distinct connectivity profiles, independently identified community structure, and node-level structural roles. Subjects and methods: Twelve craniometric variables were recorded for 1,716 individuals from 49 Avar period sites in the Carpathian Basin, grouped into four larger geographic regions (Transdanubia, Danube Tisza Interfluve North and South, Transtisza). A population-level biological-distance matrix was computed and pruned into a network. Node-level metrics were calculated for each site. Regional differences in these metrics were assessed via Kruskal-Wallis tests. Node-level structural roles were additionally classified using data-driven percentile thresholds and compared against regional membership using the Adjusted Rand Index. Results: Regions differed significantly in several network metrics, revealing distinct connectivity profiles, although substantial within-region variability was also observed, indicating that regional membership alone does not fully determine the network position of a site. Community structure identified showed only weak-to-moderate correspondence with geographic regions, suggesting that regional boundaries only partially capture the underlying pattern of biological similarity. Conclusion: The results indicate that regional averages alone do not adequately capture individual site behaviour, supporting the value of pursuing finer-scale, sub-regional analyses in future work. Geographic regions alone do not fully account for population structure and connectivity patterns in this network, plausibly reflecting mobility or shared earlier population history.
The two Croatian sites that have yielded Neanderthal skeletal remains – Krapina (Husnjakov brijeg) and Vindija Cave – have played a pivotal role in the study of human evolution and the development of modern palaeoanthropology as a scientific discipline. Excavations at Husnjakov brijeg in Krapina, conducted by Dragutin Gorjanovic-Kramberger between 1899 and 1905, produced one of the largest Neanderthal skeletal collections, representing individuals of various ages and both sexes. This exceptional assemblage provides unique insights into the population variation of Neanderthals living approximately 130,000 years ago. Numerous stone tools and faunal remains recovered from the site have also contributed to our understanding of Neanderthal behaviour. Gorjanovic-Kramberger’s pioneering studies provided crucial evidence at a time when the age, taxonomy and phylogenetic status of Neanderthals were intensely debated. Excavations at Vindija Cave, led by Mirko Malez, uncovered fragmentary remains of late Neanderthals dated to approximately 45 ka, when the first anatomically modern humans had already reached Europe. Certain morphological features of the Vindija Neanderthals have been interpreted by some researchers as evidence of either biological continuity or admixture with incoming modern humans. Archaeological finds from the site have also stimulated debate regarding cultural interactions between these populations. In 2010, DNA extracted directly from Vindija Neanderthal bones yielded the first draft sequence of the Neanderthal nuclear genome, demonstrating that Neanderthals contributed genetically to present-day human populations. This landmark discovery transformed our understanding of human evolution and helped establish the field of palaeogenomics.
pulp chamber of permanent molars. The causes of these structures have not yet been fully understood. Among the hypothetical factors influencing their occurrence is the importance of mechanical stimuli induced by the dental wear process. Objective: The main aim of this study was to test the mechanical stimulation hypothesis mentioned above. Materials and methods: The study material consisted of permanent lower molars belonging to representatives of two human populations dating from the Middle Ages and the turn of the 19th/20th century. The presence of PS was diagnosed based on CT images of the examined teeth using RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software, and the degree of dentin exposure was determined using a 40-point scale. Due to the relatively small number of adequately preserved molars (n=169, M1–M3), statistical analyses were performed for all molars combined (without considering the division into population types and separately for each of the populations), and for both populations combined separately for three molar types. The original tooth wear scale was converted to a three-level scale. The relationship between the frequency of PS and the degree of tooth wear for each type of analysis was analysed using Pearson chi-square tests (p<0.05). Results: The results indicated a statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of PS and the degree of dentin exposure in the case of the first two types of analyses (for all molars together: without division into populations (28.84; p<0.05), with division into two populations (26.38; p<0.05 and 10.17; p<0.05, respectively). The finding of a positive relationship between these features (positive value of Kendall’s tau-c) supports the hypothesis put forward. This relationship was not established for each of the molar types analysed separately (related to the small sample size of the subgroups).
Background: During 2020, remains of 1927 individuals from two mass grave sites were exhumed. Archival and archaeological data indicated these were remains of Red Army prisoners of war (POW) who died in Nazi camps. Objective: The study objective was to examine the remains on site before their scheduled reburial that same year. Results: Analysis revealed differences: in Zokniai site, only 30.9% of individuals had POW ID tags, and 3.4% had Red Army ID capsules; 61.2% possessed some artifacts, mainly equipment and personal items. Age range was from 15 to 50+ years, the remains contained a number of former traumas and diseases, and at least 19.5 percent of skulls had gunshot wounds (shots into the occipital area). In Armalenai site, 69.7% of individuals had POW ID tags, and only 0.3% Red Army ID capsules. Only 33% possessed some items, mainly buttons. Age range mostly 18–30 years, fewer traces of traumas and diseases, no gunshot lesions. At both sites, scapular traumas with healing signs were documented; causality remains unclear. Conclusions: Summing up the available data, it is concluded that POW inhumed in Zokniai were transferred for a short period in the first months of the war: no stationary camp (location unknown); a low number of POW ID tags; more personal items; possible time: second half of 1941 – beginning of 1942. It was noted that individuals were often of older age, had more early pathologies (officers?); gunshot lesions – cause of death in part of those POWs. The Armalenai, on the contrary, had a stationary camp with preserved location; more than half of POWs had ID tags, but few equipment and personal items and no obvious cause of death, though the regular number of bodies per pit suggests that it may have been exhaustion and infectious diseases (e.g. typhus); probable burial period: autumn 1942 – spring 1943.
Every year, when teaching the history of cultural anthropology, I tell my students that American anthropology is traditionally divided into four subfields: cultural anthropology, biological (or physical) anthropology, archaeology and linguistic anthropology. And, of course, when discussing the American historical particularist tradition in my course Theories and Methods in Anthropology, Franz Boas invariably emerges as a scholar who worked across all four fields. Does this mean that we can meaningfully speak of the unity of anthropology? Or is such unity merely an illusion produced by a powerful disciplinary narrative, masking what are in fact irreconcilable differences among the four subfields? Was the fragmentation of anthropology merely a consequence of the publication and misinterpretation of Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962)? Or do the seemingly endless debates among the subfields reflect a more fundamental tension arising from the incompatible epistemological commitments of the natural sciences and the humanities? In 1999, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Sydel Silverman (1933–2019) attempted to foster dialogue among scholars representing the four subfields of anthropology. This meeting, titled Anthropology at the End of the Century, brought together leading anthropologists to reflect on the state of the discipline at the turn of the millennium. Silverman, who served as President of the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research from 1987 to 1999, regarded the symposium as the culmination of a broader effort to reassess anthropology's past and future. The conference addressed both the development of twentieth-century anthropology and the challenges facing the discipline in the twenty-first century. One of Silverman’s central ambitions was to strengthen the idea of anthropology as an integrated discipline. Why did she consider this goal so important? And to what extent does this vision remain relevant today?
Background: Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects, whereas asprosin stimulates appetite and promotes insulin resistance. However, the relationships among adiponectin, asprosin, physical activity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two 12-week exercise interventions (aerobic training, combined aerobic-resistance training) on body composition, adiponectin and asprosin concentrations, and metabolic parameters in men with MetS. Subjects and methods: Sixty-two men with MetS (age 36.6±6.9 years; BMI 33.6±4.4 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to: aerobic training (EG1, n=21), combined aerobic-resistance training (EG2, n=21), or a non-intervention control group (CG, n=20). Body composition and biochemical markers (adiponectin, asprosin, triglycerides, fasting glucose, insulin) were assessed at baseline, weeks 6 and 12, and 4 weeks post-intervention. Intervention effects were analysed using linear mixed models with post hoc tests and effect sizes. Results: EG1 showed a significant increase in the adiponectin/asprosin ratio (p=0.02, ES=0.73), along with improvements in body composition and lipid accumulation product (p<0.01, ES=2.28). EG2 improved body composition and insulin resistance (p<0.01, ES=1.19), while the control group showed a decline in the adiponectin/asprosin ratio (p<0.01, ES=1.54). Aerobic training primarily enhanced adipokine balance and lipid metabolism, whereas combined aerobic-resistance training improved carbohydrate metabolism in men with MetS, likely through reductions in visceral adiposity.
Research increasingly suggests that menstrual cycle characteristics are associated with long-term physical (cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, breast cancer) and mental health. Early or late menarche, irregular cycles, changes in cycle length, menstrual bleeding may be associated with reproductive lifespan and biological aging. Recent studies also raise the question of whether the increasing incidence of PMS reflects a true increase or improved detection. There is a lack of research examining the characteristics of the menstrual cycle, its trends, and biopsychosocial factors. The aim of this study was to analyse changes in timing of menstruation, cycle length, bleeding length and premenstrual (PMS) symptoms over the past 20–30 years in young Lithuanian women. For this purpose, the menstrual cycle characteristics of young (16–25 years old) Lithuanian women were analysed using studies from 1998–2002 (N=1405), 2010-2014 (N=1447), and 2021-2025 (N=1385). The mean age at menarche decreased from 13.22 years (1998–2002) to 12.38 years (2021–2025). The duration of the menstrual cycle increased (from 27.8 to 28.4 days, p<0.05), as did the frequency of menstrual bleeding (from 4.0 to 4.78 days, p<0.01) and the prevalence of irregular cycles (from 24% to 35%, p<0.05). As for the different PMS symptoms, their prevalence increased several-fold (on average from 24% to 89%). In 2025, almost all women (99%) experienced at least one PMS symptom in the premenstrual week or during the menstrual phase (97%), but as many as 88% of women also experienced a PMS attributed symptom in the middle of the cycle. The most common symptoms were fatigue, stress, and breast tenderness. More common premenstrual symptoms were associated with longer menstrual cycles and bleeding, sexual activity, increased use of social media, and dissatisfaction with one's body image.
Background: Eating is a fundamental human practice through which people relate to themselves, others and the world. In contexts of illness, however, eating may become mediated by biomedical technologies that profoundly transform bodily experience and social life. Objective: This paper examines the embodied experience of eating among adults undergoing home enteral nutrition therapy (HENT), drawing on interviews with patients and family caregivers to explore how feeding through a tube is lived, negotiated and incorporated into everyday life. Subjects and methods: The study involved 10 adults with oesophageal cancer undergoing home enteral nutrition therapy and their family caregivers in southern Brazil. Data from semi-structured interviews and field observations were analysed using interpretive thematic analysis informed by phenomenology, embodiment, and the anthropology of the body. The study examines eating not only as a physiological process but also as a sensory, moral, and relational practice through which individuals create meaning and maintain social connections. Results: Interpretive thematic analysis generated four interconnected themes that illuminate how patients and caregivers negotiate bodily disruption, identity and care through everyday feeding practices. Findings reveal that HENT is experienced through a dynamic interplay of suffering, adaptation and resistance. Participants mobilize existential strategies such as religiosity, hope, humour, compassion and shared caregiving practices to preserve a sense of continuity and maintain what many described as a “taste for life.” At the same time, the feeding tube may be experienced as a threat to identity, autonomy and bodily integrity, generating feelings of loss, guilt, repugnance and refusal. These experiences expose tensions between biomedical norms and the lived realities of illness, highlighting the moral and affective dimensions of technological care. Conclusion: By foregrounding eating as an embodied and intercorporeal experience, the paper contributes to anthropological debates on health, illness and care. It argues that Home Enteral Nutrition is not simply a nutritional technology but a social and existential practice through which bodies, identities and relationships are continually reconfigured.
This presentation describes the historical origins of the EAA starting in 1968 to its formal foundation in Zagreb on October 7th, 1976. It provides information on the known 155 founding members and the initial administrative structure and organisation. The contributions of key people in running and furthering the aims and objectives of the EAA over the last 50 years are acknowledged. A total of 24 congresses have been held (including this one) in 15 countries and 18 different locations; 4 in Croatia, 3 each in Denmark and Hungary and 2 each in Greece and Poland. There have been 14 EAA Presidents from 12 countries, of whom 4 have been women. The maximum term a President can serve is now 4 years. The EAA has elected 17 Honorary members, from 9 countries, 4 from UK, 3 from Hungary and 2 each from Belgium, Czechoslovakia and France. The current EAA administrative structure is described. Successful EAA activities over the last 50 years are detailed including the newsletter, student prizes, colloquia, summer schools, the EAA website, biennial books, the focus on early career researchers, the very popular webinar programme and finally the EAA 50th anniversary book comprising 37 chapters written by 63 EAA members from 17 countries. We have much to celebrate!
Background: Menopausal symptoms affect approximately 60–80% of women during the menopausal transition. For many, these symptoms substantially reduce quality of life due to their impact on sleep, mood, and stress levels. This issue is particularly important, as a large proportion of perimenopausal women experience chronic stress and exhibit increased sensitivity to psychological stress resulting from fluctuations in estradiol levels. Objective: The study aimed to assess the relationship between self-perceived psychological stress and menopausal symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women. Subjects and methods: Data from 390 women aged 40–65 years (mean age 51.3±6.00) were analysed. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire covering demographic, health-related, and lifestyle information. Perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS 10), while the severity of menopausal symptoms was assessed with the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQoL). Basic anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis using the BIA method were also conducted. Results: Overall, women reported moderate stress levels, with perimenopausal women showing significantly higher stress. After adjusting for additional variables – age, place of residence, education, income, occupation status, physical activity, smoking, body mass index, fat mass (FM) or fat mass-to-fat free mass ratio (FM/FFM) – higher FM/FFM was strongly associated with higher stress levels in perimenopausal women; this relationship did not occur in postmenopausal women. PSS 10 scores positively correlated with total MENQoL scores (r=0.36, p<0.001). Perimenopausal women reported more severe symptoms in the psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains, whereas postmenopausal women had significantly higher scores in the vasomotor domain. Analyses across individual MENQoL domains showed that in both peri- and postmenopausal groups, higher PSS 10 scores were associated with higher symptom severity in all domains except the sexual one. Conclusions: The study confirms that the severity of menopausal symptoms is associated with perceived stress, with perimenopausal women being particularly vulnerable to elevated psychological stress levels.
Background: Pain perception (PP) is a complex human trait shaped by biological characteristics and environmental conditions. From an anthropological perspective, variability in pain sensitivity reflects interactions between body build, physiological regulation and external stressors (e.g. hypoxia, thermal extremes). Body composition influences thermoregulation and metabolic processes and may therefore contribute to individual differences in sensory thresholds, pain thresholds and pain tolerance. Objective: The aim was to assess whether body composition is associated in differences in PP under various environmental conditions. Subjects and methods: The study included 45 individuals (62% men, mean age 27.96). Participants completed controlled laboratory sessions in a thermoclimatic chamber under baseline conditions, simulated altitude (4200 m asl), heat (+42 °C) and cold (-10 °C). Sensory thresholds, pain thresholds and tolerance were assessed using electrical stimuli. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the effects of environmental conditions and body characteristics on pain‑related outcomes. Results: Body build and composition characteristics associated with individual sensory, pain and tolerance thresholds. In hypoxic conditions, sensory thresholds were significantly associated with sex (p<0.01), body mass (p<0.05), and muscle mass (p<0.05). During cold exposure (-10°C), total body water percentage significantly related with sensory thresholds (p<0.05). Under elevated ambient temperature (+42°C), muscle mass (p<0.05) and BMI (p<0.05) were significant predictors of pain tolerance. Conclusions: Body build and composition are associated with differences in PP under specific environmental conditions. Sensory thresholds were related with somatic characteristics in hypoxia and cold, while pain tolerance in heat was related to muscle mass and BMI. These findings highlight the importance of considering environmental context and body composition when examining human variability in pain responses.
Background: Human facial genetics remains challenging due to the complexity of facial morphology, its highly polygenic basis, and the combined influence of genetics, environment, age, and lifestyle on facial appearance. Objective: To develop predictors of human facial appearance that could aid facial reconstruction in forensic anthropology and predict facial appearance using DNA-based methods alone. Subjects and methods: Data from ~800 individuals, including Illumina GSA genotypes, EPIC methylation profiles, metadata, and 3D facial scans, were analyzed. Candidate facial SNPs were evaluated using MeshMonk with facial segmentation and landmark-based phenotyping. Associations were tested between 747 DNA variants and facial traits in 658 individuals. In addition, BMI-predictive CpG sites were validated, and a compact BMI prediction model was developed using Elastic Net regression on methylation data from 624 individuals. Results: Using global-to-local segmentation approach we found 29 SNPs to be significantly associated with 22 segments of the faces. The facial landmarking approach identified 27 candidate SNPs to be significantly associated with 60 facial distances. Elastic Net regression yielded 30 CpG BMI predictors. In the validation set, the model achieved a mean absolute error of 2.9 kg/m². The current results represent a step forward in our research on facial prediction.
Background: A macroscopic assessment of morphological changes to the auricular surface of the ilium is one of the most widely used methods for determining age‑at‑death in osteoarchaeology. A few variants that have been developed so far have received a mixed response, with questions being raised about their accuracy and the too narrow age‑at‑death intervals. While most methods propose a visual assessment of the entire auricular surface at once, the method developed by Buckberry and Chamberlain, published in 2002, is the only one that proposes scoring each morphological component separately. This approach has the potential for further refinement. Objective: Current considerations aim to re-evaluate the composite score, which could be adjusted to better reflect the data. Subjects and methods: In the case of the original scoring procedure, there are five separate traits. Two of these are scored using a five-grade scale, while the remaining traits are scored using a three-grade system. However, this approach, which is dictated by the feasibility and ease of macroscopic identification of particular stages, does not reflect the relative numerical importance of traits when they contribute to the composite score, which is their sum. The simplest solution is to apply different combinations of weights to the whole dataset incrementally and look for improvements in the correlation between age-at-death and the composite score. The proposed procedure was tested using data provided by the original authors and published alongside their paper. Results and conclusion: Incremental optimization proved to be very computationally intensive; therefore, test runs were performed using a limited weight range, spanning 0–2 with a step of 0.1. Although the resulting weights suggest the need to widen the range, the procedure has improved the overall Spearman’s correlation, raising it from 0.624 to 0.651. Once the weights have been determined, the composite score groups should be adjusted.
Background: Dermatoglyphs are formed early during prenatal development and, due to their individuality and permanence, are commonly used for identification. When fingertips touch a surface, sweat distributed along the ridges is transferred, producing a latent fingerprint. To use this latent fingerprint for identification purposes, each country establishes a well-defined minimum number of level 2 features (or minutiae). Latent fingerprints obtained from crime scenes usually has poor quality, resulting in an insufficient number of minutiae; therefore, the fingerprint must be discarded. To increase the likelihood that a partial latent fingerprint can be used, level 3 features – which include detailed ridge attributes – have been proposed to enhance identification. However, these features remain poorly studied and are less commonly employed in fingerprint identification. Objective: To conduct a pilot study to identify level 3 features and assess their frequencies in the index finger and thumb. Subjects and methods: The study sample consisted of 100 fingerprints from 50 adult men; only the fingerprints of the index finger and thumb of the right hand, with at least three quality records available over time, were analysed using conventional observational methods. The anonymous sample was obtained from the autonomous police of the Basque Country (Ertzaintza). Six level 3 features were considered, and the frequencies of these features were calculated for each finger. Results: The most frequently observed level 3 feature on the analysed fingers was “ridge protrusion”, followed by “hook”. In general, more level 3 features were found in the thumb than in the index finger. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that “ridge protrusion” may be a good candidate for use as a third-level feature in identification.
Background: The Battle of Mohacs in 1526 was one of the most decisive events in Central European history. The osteological material recovered from the five mass graves located at the Mohacs National Memorial Site is associated with this historical event. Between 2020 and 2024, two of these mass graves were excavated to gain insight into the individuals buried within them. Objective: The aim of the present study is to provide a preliminary report on the investigation results of the osteological material originating from mass grave 4. Materials and Methods: The study material consists of commingled and incomplete human skeletal remains recovered from mass grave 4, which were archaeologically attributed to 237 individuals during the excavation process. Standard methods routinely applied in physical anthropology were used for the demographic and palaeopathological analyses. Results: As a first step, incomplete skeletal remains recovered under different inventory numbers during the excavation, but potentially belonging to the same individual, were reassociated. As a result, the number of individuals was reduced to 184. Demographic data indicate that most individuals buried in mass grave 4 were young adult males. Preliminary palaeopathological observations revealed the presence of infectious (e.g., tuberculosis), degenerative, and inflammatory lesions, among others. Detailed differential diagnostic analyses are currently in progress. Minor developmental anomalies were observed at high frequency, while major and rare developmental anomalies were also identified, including tuberculum/processus paracondylaris and ponticulus posticus. Conclusions: Our findings provide insight into the demographic composition and health status of the individuals who fought in the Battle of Mohacs and may also contribute to the identification of potential biological relationships among the buried individuals.
Background: Acute hypobaric hypoxia rapidly affects oxygen transport, endocrine regulation, and immune function. However, how short-term hypoxic stress links immune cell redistribution with changes in blood DNA methylation remains unclear. Objectives: We aimed to characterize coordinated immune and DNA methylation responses to acute hypobaric hypoxia in lowlanders and to distinguish methylation changes caused by altered blood cell composition from potentially cell-intrinsic responses. Subjects and methods: 18 healthy lowlanders were exposed to simulated altitude (3,500 m) for 75 minutes. Blood samples collected before and after exposure underwent genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using Illumina EPIC arrays. Differential methylation, functional enrichment, and immune cell deconvolution analyses were performed, and EPIC v1 and v2 datasets were integrated to identify methylation changes independent of blood cell composition. Results: Acute hypobaric hypoxia induced widespread blood DNA methylation changes, particularly in immune-related pathways. Most signals reflected shifts in immune cell composition, with increased neutrophils and decreased lymphocytes. After adjustment, only a few hypoxia-associated loci remained, including an enhancer region of ECE1, a gene involved in vascular responses to hypoxia. Conclusions: Even brief hypobaric hypoxia induces coordinated immune redistribution and detectable changes in blood DNA methylation. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for blood cell composition and support DNA methylation as a sensitive molecular indicator of acute hypoxic stress.
Background: Bioarchaeological investigations aim to reconstruct the biological profiles of past populations through the systematic analysis of human skeletal remains. Facial reconstruction is a specialized approach that complements these analyses by providing visual representations of historical individuals. Objective: To present the comprehensive biological and facial reconstruction of individual No. 95, recovered from a mass grave associated with the 1526 Battle of Mohacs. Materials and methods: The study combined bioarchaeological and archaeogenetic analyses with a digital facial reconstruction based on the Manchester method. Historical depictions of 16th-century European mercenaries guided the reconstruction of hairstyle, beard, and clothing. Results: Individual No. 95 was a young adult male (25+ ys) with an estimated stature of 170–180 cm and a dental crossbite. A second skeletal unit (individual No. 60) may belong to the same person, although preservation prevented confirmation. Musculoskeletal markers indicate regular physical labour. At least 4–5 sharp-force injuries were identified on the head and neck, a facial reconstruction was created using osteological, genetic and archaeological evidence. Conclusions: The integration of bioarchaeological, archaeogenetic, and digital facial reconstruction methods provides a detailed biological and visual reconstruction of an individual connected with the Battle of Mohacs. This interdisciplinary approach enhances our understanding of the lives and deaths of those buried in the Mohacs mass graves and demonstrates the value of combining scientific analyses with historical evidence.
Background: Menopause, defined as the cessation of menstruation for a continuous period of 12 months, marks a significant transition in a woman’s life, typically occurring around age 51, characterised by physical and psychological changes that can negatively affect overall health and quality of life. Objective: This longitudinal study is designed as a non-randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of a 12-week supervised physical exercise program on body composition, body image perception, and quality of life in a sample of Italian menopausal women. Subjects and methods: Thirty-seven postmenopausal women were assigned to either an exercise intervention group (n=22), which performed two 60-minute sessions weekly of a combined exercises training, or a non-exercising control group (n=15). Anthropometric data (stature, weight, circumferences, skinfold thicknesses), bioelectrical impedance analysis, and air displacement plethysmography were collected. Body image perception and quality of life were assessed using Thompson & Gray’s silhouettes and the MENQOL questionnaire, respectively. The handgrip strength test and the treadmill stress test were performed to assess upper limb muscular strength and aerobic capacity, respectively. Differences between pre-and post- data were assessed by the t-test for dependent samples. Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a mild reduction in body fat mass, along with a significant decrease in biceps (p=0.01) and suprailiac (p=0.04) skinfold thickness. Additionally, significant improvements were observed in bioelectrical impedance parameters, with increased reactance (p=0.04) and phase angle (p=0.01), in handgrip strength (right: p<0.01; left: p=0.02), and peak oxygen consumption (p<0.01). Moreover, significant reductions were observed in menopause-related symptoms, particularly in psychosocial (e.g., dissatisfaction with personal life: p=0.01), physical (e.g., back and neck pain: p<0.01), and sexual (e.g., avoidance of intimacy: p<0.01) domains. Conclusions: A combined exercises training program can significantly improve in body composition, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and multiple domains of well-being in postmenopausal women. Due to the limited sample size, further studies with larger cohorts are essential to confirm these preliminary results.
Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) counteracts obesity primarily by enhancing energy expenditure. Although substantial individual variation in BAT activity suggests the involvement of genetic factors, reports on specific genetic variants remain limited. Objective: To identify genetic determinants of human BAT activity by integrating adipose tissue eQTL data and natural selection metrics for genes differentially expressed between BAT and WAT. Methods: In this study, we screened 119 genes previously identified as differentially expressed between BAT and white adipose tissue (WAT) by Perdikari et al., integrating expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data in adult adipose tissue with natural selection intensity metrics. Results: Consequently, we identified SLC25A11, a component of the malateaspartate shuttle (MAS), as a novel BAT-associated molecule. Genetic variants in SLC25A11 were significantly associated with high BAT activity in 444 adults who underwent PET-CT imaging following cold exposure. A consistent trend was also observed via infrared thermography in an independent adult cohort. In silico mining revealed that these genetic variants upregulate SLC25A11 expression in adipose tissue and correlate with a reduced risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, evolutionary analysis using modern and ancient human genomic diversity panels demonstrated that this genetic variant, linked to high BAT activity, rapidly spread through ancient European populations via positive natural selection during the Last Glacial Maximum to Heinrich Event 1. Notably, it was revealed that this positive natural selection ceased to operate after Heinrich Event 1. Conclusion: These findings underscore the critical role of the MAS in regulating BAT thermogenesis and support the hypothesis that environmental adaptations experienced by ancestral populations have shaped obesity susceptibility in modern humans.
Background: The Gava culture dominated the Eastern Carpathian Basin (12–9th c. BCE) is characterised by a homogeneous material culture, settlement with a high density of archaeological finds and distinctive Hajduboszormeny-style metallurgy. Despite its prominence, cemeteries associated with the culture are largely unknown. In the 9–8th centuries BCE, the appearance of steppe-related Mezocsat culture introduced significant changes, including rare inhumation burials concentrated at key transport hubs. Recently discovered Early Iron Age mass burials provide new insights into this transitional period. Objective: The research focuses on the Late Bronze Age – Early Iron Age transition (9–8th c. BCE), a period marked by numerous settlements but few known cemeteries, through the bioarchaeological analysis of 3 archaeological sites (Pusztataskony-Ledence, Hodmezovasarhely-Kopancs XI, and Tiszabo-Galamb-dulo). Methods: Osteological analyses were conducted on human skeletal remains from the 3 sites, including the assessment of preservation, minimum number of individuals (MNI), age at death and sex estimation, and the examination of pathological and traumatic lesions. Results: The skeletal remains are generally well preserved, showing limited taphonomic alteration and high anatomical completeness. The reconstructed demographic profiles indicate that subadults are represented in proportions consistent with expected prehistoric mortality patterns, unlike many contemporary cemetery populations where children are underrepresented. The preservation of the remains enables detailed investigation of stress markers, trauma and infectious lesions that may reflect the living conditions and mortality patterns of these communities. Conclusion: The main question regarding these complex funerary structures is interpretation: do they represent the consequences of an epidemic, a massacre or a specific mortuary ritual?
