Physical activity and health: a historical and conceptual approach / A relação entre atividade física e saúde: uma abordagem histórica e conceitual

This theoretical essay reflects on physical activity (PA) and health and the development of this study area, particularly in Brazil. A historical review is presented based on major research themes in the area since the 1950s and the evolution of PA recommendations for health. Crucial conceptual and operational definitions in the area that have gone through recent updates are addressed. The pa-per highlights relevant institutions and documents, as well as reflects on future perspectives and challenges in the field. Finally, this essay highlights the need to reduce the gap between the robust scientific knowledge already produced about the health benefits of PA and the real action in the field, especially in the primary health care setting

A partir de uma abordagem histórica, conceitual, crítica e didática, este ensaio teórico propõe uma reflexão sobre a relação entre atividade física (AF) e saúde e o desenvolvimento desta área de estudo, com um olhar especial sobre o Brasil. Apresenta-se revisão histórica a partir de grandes temas de pesquisa na área desde os anos 1950 e da evolução das recomendações de AF para a saúde. São abordadas definições conceituais e operacionais que passaram por atualizações recentes e que são cruciais na área. Faz-se destaque a instituições e documentos relevantes, além de reflexões sobre perspectivas e desafios futuros para a área. Por fim, destaca a necessidade da redução na distância entre a solidez do conhecimento já produzido sobre os benefícios da AF para a saúde e os desejados avanços no contexto da promoção da saúde, em especial na atenção primária à saúde

Lifestyle of a Roman Imperial community: ethnobotanical evidence from dental calculus of the Ager Curensis inhabitants.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of ancient calcified dental plaque is a powerful archaeobotanical method to elucidate the key role of the plants in human history. METHODS: In this research, by applying both optic microscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry on this matrix, a detailed qualitative investigation for reconstructing the lifestyle of a Roman imperial community of the Ager Curensis (Sabina Tiberina, Central Italy) was performed. RESULTS: The detection of animal micro-remains and molecules (e.g., hairs, feather barbules, markers of dairy products), starch granules of several cereals and legumes, pollen (e.g., Juglans regia L., Hedera sp. L.) and other plant micro-debris (e.g., trichome of Olea sp., hemp fibers), and phytochemicals (e.g., Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae herbs, Ferula sp., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., wine, and Humulus lupulus L.) in the dental calculus sample demonstrated that plant-derived foods were regularly consumed together with animal resources. CONCLUSIONS: This nutritional plan, consistent with the information reported in ancient written texts, suggested that the studied population based its own subsistence on both agriculture and husbandry, probably also including beekeeping and hunting activities. All together, these results represent proofs for the comprehension of food habits, phytotherapeutic practices, and cultural traditions of one of the first Roman settlements in the Sabina Tiberina area.

Factores de riesgo para el cáncer de mama / Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

Introducción: El cáncer de mama es el más común entre las mujeres, sus factores de riesgo no han sido sistematizados desde un enfoque amplio de las revisiones publicadas. Objetivo: Sistematizar los factores de riesgo del cáncer de mama a partir de publicaciones de estudios de casos y controles en el período 2008-2018. Métodos: Revisión sistemática de la literatura con base en la aplicación de un protocolo exhaustivo y reproducible, siguiendo las fases de identificación, tamización, elección e inclusión de la guía PRISMA. Se realizó síntesis cualitativa con proporciones e intervalos de confianza del 95 por ciento. Resultados: Se analizaron 298 estudios, en 2 927 342 mujeres, la mayoría de México (2 000 835). Los países con mayor frecuencia de publicación fueron EE.UU. (20,9 por ciento) y China (10,8 por ciento). El grupo de factores de riesgo más estudiado fue la dieta (26,6 por ciento), los factores reproductivos (14,8 por ciento) y el estilo de vida (9,1 por ciento). Los menos estudiados son los biológicos, solo uno abordó este tipo de factor reportando una fuerte asociación de la seroconversión IgG en citomegalovirus con el desarrollo de cáncer de mama. Los tres factores que registraron mayor fuerza de asociación fueron la obesidad, los factores psicosociales y el citomegalovirus. Conclusiones: Se halló una amplia diversidad de factores de riesgo, algunos estudios con diseños rigurosos para establecer asociaciones etiológicas sólidas y otros con un desarrollo investigativo incipiente o problemas metodológicos que impiden consolidar hipótesis causales y por tanto la posibilidad de intervenir en los principales desencadenantes de la aparición de la enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Breast cancer is most common among women; its risk factors have not been outlined from a broad approach of published reviews. Objective: To outline the risk factors of breast cancer from publications of case-control studies from 2008 to 2018. Methods: A systematic review of the literature based on the application of comprehensive and reproducible protocol, following identification, screening, selection and inclusion phases of PRISMA guide. Qualitative synthesis was performed with proportions and 95 percent confidence intervals. Results: 298 studies were analyzed in 2,927,342 women, mostly from Mexico (2 000 835). The countries with highest frequency of publication were USA. (20.9 percent) and China (10.8 percent). The most studied groups of risk factors were diet (26.6 percent), reproductive factors (14.8 percent) and lifestyle (9.1 percent). The least studied are the biological ones. Only one approached this type of factor, reporting a strong association of IgG seroconversion in cytomegalovirus with the appearance of breast cancer. The three factors that registered the greatest strength of association were obesity, psychosocial factors and cytomegalovirus. Conclusions: We found a wide diversity of risk factors, some rigorous-design studies to establish solid etiological associations and others with initial research development or methodological problems that prevent consolidating causal hypotheses and therefore the possibility of intervening in the main triggers for the appearance of the disease(AU)

Faustino Pérez Hernández, honestidad y entrega / Faustino Pérez Hernández, honesty and consecration

La historia de Cuba la han hecho sus mejores hijos. Entre los que contribuyeron protagónicamente a la etapa que condujo al triunfo de 1959 y la construcción de la sociedad socialista se destaca Faustino Pérez Hernández, fruto de la tierra espirituana ligado a la historia matancera por más de una página de honestidad y entrega. El principal hospital de la provincia de Matanzas, ubicado en su capital, lleva su nombre. El presente trabajo pretende, en su brevedad, despertar la necesidad de conocer más profundamente su vida y su obra (AU).

Cuban history has been made by its best children. Faustino Perez, born in Sancti Spiritus and linked to Matanzas by more than one page of honesty and devotion, is among the ones who played the most important roles in the stage leading to the triumph of 1959 revolution and the socialist construction. The main hospital of the province of Matanzas, located in its capital, is named after him. The current work pretends to arouse the necessity of knowing deeply his life and his work (AU).

Social reorganization and biological change: An examination of stature variation among Iron Age Samnites from Abruzzo, central Italy.

Stature is a sensitive indicator of overall environmental quality experienced during growth and development, and can provide insights on a population's 'well-being'. This study investigated changes in estimated adult stature in a large (N=568) sample of Samnite Iron Age (800-27 BCE) people from central Italy, during a period of increasing sociopolitical complexity. Stature was analyzed diachronically, between sexes, and across social strata inferred using the 'Status Index' based on funerary treatment. It was expected: 1) a decrease in stature from the Orientalizing-Archaic period (O-A) to the fifth century BC (V SEC) and the following Hellenistic period (ELL), due to population increase and urbanization; 2) social status to positively influence the attainment of the full stature potential; 3) sexual dimorphism to be higher in more stratified groups. Results revealed no significant diachronic changes in stature (females: O-A: 154.2cm,V SEC: 154.2cm, and ELL: 153.6cm; males: O-A: 165.0cm,V SEC: 165.2cm, and ELL: 165.0cm) or sexual dimorphism. High-status males were taller than low-status (p=0.021), possibly due to a better diet, but only in the Orientalizing-Archaic period. Nonsignificant changes in females suggest either differential access to resources in women, or a better buffering from environmental optima or crises. The results of this study highlight the complex interrelation between social factors and human growth, and stress the importance of understanding the specific mechanisms leading to variation in adult stature.

Discovery of Parasite Eggs in Archeological Residence during the 15th Century in Seoul, Korea.

During civil engineering construction near Sejong-ro, Jongro-ku, Seoul, cultural sites were found that are thought to have been built in the 15th century. This area was home to many different people as well as the leaders of the Yi dynasty. To gain further insight into the life styles of the inhabitants of the old capital, soil samples were collected from various areas such as toilets, water foundations, and drainage ways. Parasite eggs were examined by microscopy after 5 g soil samples were rehydrated in 0.5% trisodium phosphate solution. A total of 662 parasite eggs from 7 species were found. Species with the highest number of eggs found were Ascaris lumbricoides (n=483), followed by Trichuris trichiura (138), Trichuris vulpis (21), Fasciola hepatica (8), Clonorchis sinensis (6), Paragonimus westermani (4), and Metagonimus yokogawai (2). These findings indirectly indicate the food habits of the people in Yi dynasty.

Vida y Obra del Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy / Life and work of Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy

Se sintetiza los aspectos fundamentales de la vida social, profesional y revolucionaria del "Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy", su lucha estudiantil contra la dictadura de Machado, su vinculación con Fidel desde el partido Ortodoxo y en la fundación del Movimiento Revolucionario para derrocar al tirano Fulgencio Batista desde el mismo 10 de marzo de 1952. Las actividades realizadas por el Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy en la preparación y realización del asalto al cuartel "Moncada" el 26 de julio de 1953 y su asesinato ese mismo día. Se mencionan otros matanceros que participaron también en esa acción y los múltiples homenajes recibidos por el "Médico del Moncada" que hacen imperecedera su memoria (AU).

The available bibliography was reviewed, besides the main aspects of Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy´s social, professional and revolutionary life, his struggle against Machado´s dictatorship when he was still a student, his connection with Fidel through the Ortodoxo party and in the foundation of the revolutionary movement to overthrow the tyrant Fulgencio Batista since the same March 10 1952; the activities carried out by Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy in preparing and developing the assault to Moncada garrison on July 26 1953 and his assassination that same day. Other Matanzasan people who also participated in the assault are mentioned; the multiple homages received by the "Moncada physician" making undying his memory are mentioned as well (AU).

On the history of gout: paleopathological evidence from the Medici family of Florence.

OBJECTIVES: Throughout history, gout has been referred to as the "disease of the kings", and has been clearly associated with the lifestyle of the aristocratic social classes. According to the written sources, several members of the famous Medici family of Florence suffered from an arthritic disease that contemporary physicians called "gout". A paleopathological study carried out on the skeletal remains of some members of the family, exhumed from their tombs in the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence, offered a unique opportunity to directly investigate the evidence of the arthritic diseases affecting this elite group. METHODS: The skeletal remains of several members of the family were examined macroscopically and submitted to x-ray investigation. RESULTS: The results of the study allowed us to ascertain that the so-called "gout of the Medici" should be considered the clinical manifestation of three different joint conditions: diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, rheumatoid arthritis and uratic gout. In particular, uric acid gout was diagnosed in the Grand Duke Ferdinand I (1549-1609). Recently, a new case of this disease was diagnosed in Anton Francesco Maria (1618-1659), a probable illegitimate member of the family. CONCLUSIONS: With this new case, uratic gout was observed in 2 out of 9 adult males, leading to suppose that the disease should have been a common health problem within the family. The aetiology of the disease has to be searched in environmental factors, since both historical and paleonutritional studies demonstrated that the diet of this aristocratic court was rich in meat and wine.

Human Parasites in Medieval Europe: Lifestyle, Sanitation and Medical Treatment.

Parasites have been infecting humans throughout our evolution. However, not all people suffered with the same species or to the same intensity throughout this time. Our changing way of life has altered the suitability of humans to infection by each type of parasite. This analysis focuses upon the evidence for parasites from archaeological excavations at medieval sites across Europe. Comparison between the patterns of infection in the medieval period allows us to see how changes in sanitation, herding animals, growing and fertilizing crops, the fishing industry, food preparation and migration all affected human susceptibility to different parasites. We go on to explore how ectoparasites may have spread infectious bacterial diseases, and also consider what medieval medical practitioners thought of parasites and how they tried to treat them. While modern research has shown the use of a toilet decreases the risk of contracting certain intestinal parasites, the evidence for past societies presented here suggests that the invention of latrines had no observable beneficial effects upon intestinal health. This may be because toilets were not sufficiently ubiquitous until the last century, or that the use of fresh human faeces for manuring crops still ensured those parasite species were easily able to reinfect the population.

Saberes sobre o trabalho: experiência e história nos canaviais / Conocimiento sobre el trabajo: experiencia e historia en plantaciones de caña de azúcar / Knowledge about the work: experience and history in the sugarcane fields

A agroindústria da cana no Brasil tem ampliado suas dimensões e seu domínio sobre seu território. Politicamente, tal aumento respalda-se na história que associa a produção da cana-de-açúcar ao desenvolvimento econômico e ao progresso nacional (Godoy, 2004). No presente artigo, interrogamos essa versão oficial a partir da história concreta, fruto da vida dos trabalhadores rurais e das experiências vividas nos canaviais. Trata-se de pesquisa desenvolvida durante o Mestrado em Psicologia da UFMG, que utilizou como instrumento metodológico o recolhimento de história de vida tal como proposto pela sociologia clínica, em diálogo com as abordagens teórico-metodológicas da psicossociologia do trabalho e ergologia. Mediante a narrativa de um trabalhador na lavoura de cana-de-açúcar, divisamos seus impactos no cotidiano dos sujeitos e na comunidade, revelando uma experiência que se constrói por meio do trabalho rural e traz para o centro dos acontecimentos as vidas e os dramas humanos omitidos na história oficial.

La industria de la caña de azúcar ha ampliado sus dimensiones y dominio en Brasil. Este aumento se basa en la historia que relaciona la producción de caña de azúcar para el desarrollo económico y el progreso nacional (Godoy, 2004). En este artículo, cuestionamos esta versión oficial desde la historia concreta e experiencia de los trabajadores rurales. Esta es una investigación desarrollada durante el Máster en Psicología de la UFMG, que utiliza como herramienta metodológica la historia de vida en la forma propuesta por la sociología clínica en el diálogo con los enfoques teóricos y metodológicos de la Psicosociología del trabajo y ergología. A través de la narración de un trabajador, divisamos los impactos de la industria de la caña de azúcar en la vida cotidiana, revelando una experiencia que se construye a través del trabajo rural y trae la vida y los dramas humanos a un lugar central.

The sugarcane industry has expanded its dimensions and its dominance in Brazil. Politically, this increase backs on a history that connects the production of cane sugar to economic development and national progress (Godoy, 2004). This paper questions this official version from the story and experiences of rural the workers. The research was developed during the Master in Psychology in UFMG. As methodological tool was used the Life History as proposed by clinical sociology in dialogue with the theoretical and methodological approaches of the social-psychology of work and ergology. The narrative of a worker of sugarcane industry could reveal the impacts of sugarcane industry daily life of individuals, community and all the experiences omitted in the official history.

Conhecimento da doença em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca / Disease knowledge of patients with heart failure

Uma das maiores dificuldades na adesão ao tratamento de portadoresde insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é a falta de conhecimentosobre a doença e seu tratamento. Este estudo teve como objetivoavaliar o conhecimento do paciente com IC em relação à suadoença. Estudo de natureza descritiva e exploratória realizado noambulatório de Cardiologia de um hospital terciário no interiordo Estado de São Paulo. O conhecimento foi avaliado por meiodo questionário de avaliação do conhecimento e autocuidado daIC. Fizeram parte desta amostra 32 pacientes com idade médiade 61 (± 12) anos. Os pacientes apresentaram média de acertosde 11,4% (± 7), sendo que 44% conheciam sobre a afecção, 25%souberam relatar os sintomas de IC, 31% responderam corretamentea ação do IECA e 28% da digoxina; entretanto, pequenaparcela soube informar os efeitos adversos desses medicamentos.Referente ao tratamento não farmacológico, 16% dos pacientesresponderam corretamente sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas,34% sobre os alimentos que contribuem na soma de líquidosingeridos por dia e 31% entendem a importância do controlede peso. Este estudo revelou que os pacientes portadores de ICapresentaram baixa média de acertos sobre o conhecimento,tratamento e autocuidado. A ampliação do conhecimento dospacientes, com implementação de novas estratégias, constituiaspecto relevante para a mudança do seu comportamento e,consequentemente, melhora do autocuidado.

A major difficulty with treatment adherence in patients withheart failure (HF) is the lack of knowledge about the diseaseand its treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledgeof patients with HF in relation to their disease. Study of descriptiveand exploratory nature performed in cardiology clinicof a tertiary hospital in the countryside of the state of SãoPaulo. The knowledge was assessed through a questionnaireevaluating knowledge and self-care of HF. This questionnairewas applied in a sample of 32 patients with a mean age of 61years old (± 12). Patients had mean score correct of 11.4%(± 7), 44% knew about the disease, 25% were able to reportthe symptoms of HF, 31% answered correctly the action ofACE inhibitors and 28% knew about the action of digoxin.A small part, however, could inform the adverse effects ofthese drugs. Referring to non-pharmacological treatment,16% of patients answered about the consumption of alcoholicbeverages, 34% about foods that contribute to add to theliquid ingested per day and 31% understood the importanceof weight control. This study showed that patients with HFhad low score correct on knowledge, treatment and self-care.Broadening knowledge of patients with implementation ofnew strategies is a relevant aspect to change their behaviorand therefore improve self-care.

Alzheimer's disease: learning from the past, looking to the future.

Our understanding on the pathophysiology and clinical aspects related to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have been largely improved since the first case recorded in the medical literature in the beginning of the 20(th) century. Regarding the age of onset of AD, an important change seems to have happened in the last century: from several AD cases reported in middle aged and young adults in the first half of the 20(th) century, the age of onset of AD seems to have increased at the end of that century and the beginning of the 21(st) century. Since the 1-century-long time interval is very narrow to make a hypothesis on a genetic modification, it is possible that modifiable risk factors of AD played a role in increasing the age of onset of AD. Although the exact etiology of AD remains unknown, experts currently agree that it is multifactorial, being the result of complex interactions among genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, nutrition, and smoking. In the present article, we briefly discuss how lifestyle trends in the last century may have contributed to the increase in the age of onset of AD, and propose future directions for research on AD and lifestyle factors.

Impacto de una intervención educativa en escolares y madres de familia para la disminución de sobrepeso / Impact of an educational intervention in school and mothers for reducing overweight

Introducción: La nutrición tiene un papel de gran importancia en la salud; la obesidad es resultado de un desequilibrio entre la ingestión y el gasto energético. En México (2006), la prevalencia nacional combinada de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños de 5 a 11 años fue de alrededor del 26% para ambos sexos. Objetivo: Medir el impacto de una intervención educativa para disminuir el sobrepeso con base en los estilos de vida en una población de escolares de 6 a 11 años de edad. Metodología: Considerando el grave problema de salud que representa el sobrepeso y la obesidad en la población escolar, se propone este estudio cuasiexperimental, longitudinal correlacional y comparativo. Resultados: El pre-test arrojó que el nivel de conocimientos de madres y niños sobre la nutrición era insuficiente; los estilos de vida saludables se hallaron en nivel óptimo para las madres y suficiente para los niños, sin detectarse diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo experimental y el grupo control. Posterior a la intervención, existieron diferencias significativas entre el grupo experimental de madres, aumentando los conocimientos y mejorando las actitudes, mientras que en los niños no hubo diferencias significativas. Discusión y conclusiones: Se requiere complementar la actividad física con hábitos alimenticios adecuados, reconociendo la necesidad de un trabajo multidisciplinario y la participación activa de la sociedad.

Introduction: Nutrition is one of the principal determinant of health; obesity is the result of an imbalance between intake and energy expenditure. In Mexico (2006), the combined national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 5 to 11 years, was around 26% for both sexes. Objective: To measure the impact of an educational intervention to reduce overweight based on the lifestyles of a population of schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years old. Methodology: Considering the serious health problem of overweight and obesity in school children is that it is proposed to study quasi-experimental, correlational and comparative longitudinal. Results: The pre-test showed that the level of knowledge of mothers and children, about of nutrition, was at insufficient levels, and lifestyles, were found at optimum level for mothers and children sufficient. No statistically significant differences between experimental and control group. After the intervention there were significant differences between experimental group of mothers by increasing knowledge and attitudes, while the children did not differ significantly by group. Discussion and conclusions: We require complementary efforts to food and nutrition on the incorporation of physical activity and proper dietary habits, recognizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach and active participation in society.

High-end food, low-wage labor.

Some people work in restaurants as a lifestyle choice: they love the fast pace, the quick jokes, the often easy-flowing booze. At the height of a busy shift, if everything's going right, a team of skilled cooks and waiters can enter a kind of adrenaline-fueled flow state that's hypnotic and addictive. Some people choose it because they got burned out as grad students or software engineers or attorneys. Some people work in restaurants to make money until they graduate or get their big break in show business. It can be lucrative, especially for young, good-looking, and agile waiters, working for a great employer in a big city, where customers practically fight for the chance to buy expensive wines and $50 entrées and truffle supplements from the latest hotspot.

High-end dining in the nineteenth-century United States.

A look at what fine restaurants served in mid-nineteenth century America, using the New York Public Library's collection of menus from the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City for the years 1859 to 1865. With particular paid attention to the entrée category, 1,250 menus were analyzed. There are 900 different dishes mentioned, and the article discusses what were the most popular and the setting and customs governing such meals.

Localizing HIV/AIDS discourse in a rural Kenyan community.

This paper examines the effectiveness of multimodal texts used in HIV/AIDS campaigns in rural western Kenya using multimodal discourse analysis (Kress and Van Leeuwen, 2006; Martin and Rose, 2004). Twenty HIV/AIDS documents (posters, billboards and brochures) are analysed together with interview data (20 unstructured one-on-one interviews and six focus groups) from the target group to explore the effectiveness of the multimodal texts in engaging the target rural audience in meaningful interaction towards behavioural change. It is concluded that in some cases the HIV/AIDS messages are misinterpreted or lost as the multimodal texts used are unfamiliar and contradictory to the everyday life experiences of the rural folk. The paper suggests localization of HIV/AIDS discourse through use of local modes of communication and resources.

The relevance of personal characteristics in health care rationing: what the Australian public thinks and why.

This article examines the preferences of the general public in Australia regarding health care resource allocation. While previous studies have revealed that the public is willing to give priority to particular groups of patients based on their personal characteristics, the present article goes beyond previous efforts in attempting to explain these results. In the present study, there was strong support among respondents for giving "equal priority" to people regardless of their personal characteristics. However, respondents did reveal a preference for married patients over single, for children over adults, for carers of children and the elderly, sole breadwinners, and good community contributors. Further, they would give a lower priority to those perceived as "self-harmers"­smokers, individuals with unhealthy diets, and those who rarely exercise. Variation in the answers according to broad economic and social beliefs across seven different categories ("factors") influenced the pattern of the public's attitudes towards rationing. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) indicated that most of the items in our survey are associated with seven factors that explain or capture much of the variation. These relate to a patient's avoidance of self-harm behaviors (Safe Living), their Life Style (diet, exercise, etc.), their contribution to the community through caring for others (Caring), their talents (Gifted), their sexual behavior (Sexuality), their age and marital status (Family), and whether they are an Australian citizen or employed (Citizen). The strength of social preferences­e.g., how strongly respondents would "discriminate" against a recreational drug user or preference a person with a healthy diet­is related to the particular class of preferences.

Dental health and lifestyle in four early mediaeval juvenile populations: comparisons between urban and rural individuals, and between coastal and inland settlements.

Dental stress markers such as enamel hypoplasia and caries are suitable indicators of population health and lifestyle, although they must be recorded and interpreted carefully. To date, they have been predominantly studied in adult samples, whereas juvenile remains are also affected by these lesions. In this study, dental enamel hypoplasia and caries were both evaluated on 613 non-adult individuals from four early mediaeval Moravian and Frankish skeletal series, who had experienced contrasting environments and lifestyles. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between these biological traits and living conditions, and how this is manifested in the juvenile dental remains. Significant differences between populations were found in stress markers, dental lesions and the way these were manifested. Exposure to stressful conditions varies between urban and rural populations and is related to age groups. Although the children under investigation seem to have had different diets, it is difficult to distinguish the biological contribution (different enamel susceptibility) from the lifestyle contribution (different food, environment) in the formation of caries. Moreover, such studies must be interpreted carefully due to the possibility of intra- and inter-observer errors and the subjectivity of the scoring techniques. Nevertheless, this study also demonstrates that results of an investigation of juvenile skeletal remains can be as informative as a study of adults and that juvenile skeletons can be included in large bioarchaeological population studies.