Differential diagnosis of severe periodontal lesions

In current clinical practice, a differential diagnosis of severe localized periodontal lesions is rarely made; such lesions are considered to be manifestations of periodontitis caused by specific microbes from the commensal oral flora. However, deep seated lesions of the periodontium which are in communication with the alveolar crest, are well documented periodontal consequences of pulpal pathoses and can mimic the signs and symptoms of 'periodontitis'. The very low incidence of tooth-threatening periodontal disease in ancient and modern man is revealed when differential diagnoses are used in the examination of alveolar defects in anthropological materials and when epidemiological studies use more appropriate indices. However, no periodontal index to date has incorporated a differential diagnosis between gingival and pulpal causes of alveolar bone loss. The gingival and periodontal signs of severe localized periodontal lesions are reviewed and the imprecise nature of current clinical diagnostic tests (radiography, 'pulp testing', darkfield microscopy, bleeding on probing, periodontal probing) is discussed. None of these tests is able to detect disease activity and cannot be used to predict future patterns of disease behaviour. However, the commonly held belief that the tests are accurate has resulted in most severe periodontal lesions being falsely labelled as periodontitis. Failure to carry out differential diagnosis of severe periodontal lesions has resulted in the instigation of periodontal therapy for many lesions of non-gingival origin. Whenever severe localized lesions of the periodontium are detected, the differential diagnosis between pulpal and periodontal origins should be made. The results of diagnostic tests in current use should be interpreted with extreme caution; clinicians are left to exercise their judgment based on consideration of all the available evidence.     

Red cell groups and Basque population(s): From anthropology to public health

The particular distribution of blood groups in Basques was initially described during the first half of the 20^th century especially regarding the ABO and Rhesus systems. We report herein the largest synthesis published so far on the distribution of blood groups in this population using serological or molecular methods. These characteristics are to be discussed in the light of evolutive forces acting in population genetics i.e. drift, peopling history and natural selection. The Basque population is of very ancient descent, has remained relatively unmixed through the ages and demonstrates some degree of heterogeneity. The possible impact of this hemotypology profile for public health is also discussed here.     

The biological significance of tooth identification based on developmental and evolutional viewpoints

BackgroundTooth identification is important not only for anatomists and anthropologists but also for dental practitioners and dental students studying dental anatomy courses. This review paper provides an overview of the significance of tooth identification focusing on the morphological and developmental background.HighlightThe process of tooth identification comprises five steps of distinction: (1) between deciduous and permanent teeth; (2) between tooth classes; (3) between maxillary and mandibular teeth; (4) within the same tooth class; and (5) between the left and right sides of a tooth. According to Mühlreiter's features, the mesial half is more developed than the distal half, and the curvature feature is associated with the configuration of the dental arch. Each step of tooth identification refers to effective traits and characteristics. The possibility that systemic conditions affect dental morphology should be considered. Tooth identification is occasionally difficult owing to individual variations (size and shape, supernumerary tubercles, root fusion) and sex-based differences. A tooth type error within the same class is the most frequent error in tooth identification, followed by a left or right side error.ConclusionTo understand tooth identification, it is necessary to have comprehensive knowledge of dental morphology. A broad education with regard to tooth evolution and comparative odontology, as well as a thorough understanding of the morphology and function of teeth, which play a crucial role in sustaining life as organs of mastication, is essential.     

性行为的跨文化比较

目的:在所有的社会科学各学科中,人类学对性行为研究有着最长久的兴趣.文化在塑造人类性行为方面起关键作用,所在对世界不同民族的性行为进行跨文化比较是很有必要的.     

Past and present of adolescence in society: the 'teen brain' debate in perspective

Understood as the stage in individual life comprised between physiological puberty (a “natural” condition) and the recognition of the adult status (a “cultural” construction), adolescence has been envisaged as a universal condition, a stage in human development to be found in all societies and historical moments. Nevertheless, anthropological foundings across space and times depinct a more complex panorama. The large variety of situations can be grouped into five big models of adolescence, which correspond to different types of society: “puber” from the primitive stateless societies; “ephebe” from ancient states; “boy and girl” from pre-industrial rural societies; “teenager” from the first industrialisation process and “youngsters” from modern post-industrial societies. In order to describe the features of these five models of youth, this article presents a series of ethnographical examples to illustrate the enormous plasticity of adolescence in past and present. This perspective is to be considered as the psico-social and cultural environment for adolescent brain development, that will be discussed in depth along in this special issue.     

General obesity and Cardiovascular diseases among Gaur Brahmin population of NCR/Delhi

AimsCardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among human beings. The presence of endemic Cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors differ from population to population. The Cardiovascular diseases associated risk factors are sub-categorised into two forms, one is traditional and the other is non-traditional risk factors. The present study shows the prevalence of both risk factors and its association with Cardiovascular diseases, especially with reference to general obesity.Materials and methodsThe present study includes a total of 506 Gaur Brahmins residing in Delhi and National Capital Region India. Household survey was conducted and data were collected by using pre-tested interview schedule. Somatometric measurements were taken following the international standard techniques. Approx 5 ml blood was collected from each individual unrelated up to the first cousion. The serum was used to analyse the lipid profiles and fasting glucose level. All necessary statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and MS Excel. The ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Committee of the Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi.Results and conclusionThe mean value of Somatometric variables such as Body Mass Index, Waist circumference and Waist-hip ratio and physiological variables DBP and SBP (diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure) were found to be higher than their respective ranges in the studied population. General obesity, though found to be less common in this population as compared to abdominal obesity, but it is found to be contributing to dyslipidemia.     

Anthropologists as cognitive scientists

Anthropology combines two quite different enterprises: the ethnographic study of particular people in particular places and the theorizing about the human species. As such, anthropology is part of cognitive science in that it contributes to the unitary theoretical aim of understanding and explaining the behavior of the animal species Homo sapiens. This article draws on our own research experience to illustrate that cooperation between anthropology and the other sub-disciplines of cognitive science is possible and fruitful, but it must proceed from the recognition of anthropology's unique epistemology and methodology.     

Cultural models, consensus analysis, and the social organization of knowledge

The introductory essay to this collection correctly observes that there are many "challenges for rapprochement" between anthropology and (the rest of) cognitive science. Still, the possibilities of fruitful interchanges provide some hope for the parties getting back together, at least on an intermittent basis. This response offers some views concerning the "incompatibility" of psychology and anthropology, reviews why cognitive anthropology drifted away from cognitive science, and notes two areas of contemporary interest within cognitive anthropology that may lead to a re-engagement.     

Bridging the "two cultures" in ethnopharmacology: barriers against interdisciplinarity in postgraduate education

As significant contributors to the generation, dissemination and publication of scientific knowledge, graduate students have considerable leverage on publication trends and the future direction of ethnopharmacology. The rigid discipline-oriented framework of academia is often cited as responsible for impeding interdisciplinarity, particularly for fields such as ethnopharmacology which span both the natural and social science domains. Funding opportunities, funding eligibility periods, time-to-degree patterns and departmental expectations and requirements for graduate students enrolled in the natural sciences are considerably different than for those in the social sciences. Consequently, adequate acquisition of ethnographic data is often compromised.Encouraging students to think across disciplines, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and flexibility in regards to the time and financial constraints imposed by departments and funding agencies would increase the likelihood of contextualizing bioscientific data with adequate traditional empirical knowledge, and ultimately embrace the core objectives on which the JEP was conceived.