Radiomorphometric indices of the mandible as indicators of decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis - meta-analysis and systematic review.

This review aims to evaluate the accuracy of various mandibular radiomorphometric indices in comparison with DEXA BMD measurements in the diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis based on a meta-analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the indices. PRISMA statement was followed. The materials for analysis were collected in August 2023 by searching three databases: PubMed Central, Web of Science, and Scopus. The selection of studies consisted of three selection stages, and 64 articles were finally obtained. Quality assessment was performed with the QUADAS-2 tool, and the general methodological quality of retrieved studies was low. Statistical analysis was performed based on 2 × 2 tables and estimated sensitivity and specificity were obtained using SROC curves. The most used indices were MCI, MCW and PMI. The best results in detecting reduced BMD obtained for MCW ≤ 3 mm, estimated sensitivity and specificity were 0.712 (95% CI, 0.477-0.870) and 0.804 (95% CI, 0.589-0.921), respectively. The most prone to the risk of bias is the MCI due to the examiner's subjectivism. Radiomorphometric indices of the mandible can be useful as a screening tool to identify patients with low BMD, but should not be used as a diagnostic method. Further research needs to focus on analysing the ability of the indices to detect osteoporosis and also in combination the indices with clinical parameters.

Maternal genetic origin of the late and final Neolithic human populations from present-day Poland.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to identify maternal genetic affinities between the Middle to Final Neolithic (3850-2300 BC) populations from present-day Poland and possible genetic influences from the Pontic steppe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted ancient DNA studies from populations associated with Zlota, Globular Amphora, Funnel Beaker, and Corded Ware cultures (CWC). We sequenced genomic libraries on Illumina platform to generate 86 complete ancient mitochondrial genomes. Some of the samples were enriched for mitochondrial DNA using hybridization capture. RESULTS: The maternal genetic composition found in Zlota-associated individuals resembled that found in people associated with the Globular Amphora culture which indicates that both groups likely originated from the same maternal genetic background. Further, these two groups were closely related to the Funnel Beaker culture-associated population. None of these groups shared a close affinity to CWC-associated people. Haplogroup U4 was present only in the CWC group and absent in Zlota group, Globular Amphora, and Funnel Beaker cultures. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of mitochondrial haplogroups of Neolithic farmer origin identified in Early, Middle and Late Neolithic populations suggests a genetic continuity of these maternal lineages in the studied area. Although overlapping in time - and to some extent - in cultural expressions, none of the studied groups (Zlota, Globular Amphora, Funnel Beaker), shared a close genetic affinity to CWC-associated people, indicating a larger extent of cultural influence from the Pontic steppe than genetic exchange. The higher frequency of haplogroup U5b found in populations associated with Funnel Beaker, Globular Amphora, and Zlota cultures suggest a gradual maternal genetic influx from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. Moreover, presence of haplogroup U4 in Corded Ware groups is most likely associated with the migrations from the Pontic steppe at the end of the Neolithic and supports the observed genetic distances.

Genetic history of East-Central Europe in the first millennium CE.

BACKGROUND: The appearance of Slavs in East-Central Europe has been the subject of an over 200-year debate driven by two conflicting hypotheses. The first assumes that Slavs came to the territory of contemporary Poland no earlier than the sixth century CE; the second postulates that they already inhabited this region in the Iron Age (IA). Testing either hypothesis is not trivial given that cremation of the dead was the prevailing custom in Central Europe from the late Bronze Age until the Middle Ages (MA). RESULTS: To address this problem, we determined the genetic makeup of representatives of the IA Wielbark- and MA Slav-associated cultures from the territory of present-day Poland. The study involved 474 individuals buried in 27 cemeteries. For 197 of them, genome-wide data were obtained. We found close genetic affinities between the IA Wielbark culture-associated individuals and contemporary to them and older northern European populations. Further, we observed that the IA individuals had genetic components which were indispensable to model the MA population. CONCLUSIONS: The collected data suggest that the Wielbark culture-associated IA population was formed by immigrants from the north who entered the region of contemporary Poland most likely at the beginning of the first millennium CE and mixed with autochthons. The presented results are in line with the hypothesis that assumes the genetic continuation between IA and MA periods in East-Central Europe.

Variation in cross-sectional indicator of femoral robusticity in Homo sapiens and Neandertals.

Variations in the cross-sectional properties of long bones are used to reconstruct the activity of human groups and differences in their respective habitual behaviors. Knowledge of what factors influence bone structure in Homo sapiens and Neandertals is still insufficient thus, this study investigated which biological and environmental variables influence variations in the femoral robusticity indicator of these two species. The sample consisted of 13 adult Neandertals from the Middle Paleolithic and 1959 adult individuals of H. sapiens ranging chronologically from the Upper Paleolithic to recent times. The femoral biomechanical properties were derived from the European data set, the subject literature, and new CT scans. The material was tested using a Mantel test and statistical models. In the models, the polar moment of area (J) was the dependent variable; sex, age, chronological period, type of lifestyle, percentage of the cortical area (%CA), the ratio of second moment areas of inertia about the X and Y axes (Ix/Iy), and maximum slope of the terrain were independent covariates. The Mantel tests revealed spatial autocorrelation of the femoral index in H. sapiens but not in Neandertals. A generalized additive mixed model showed that sex, %CA, Ix/Iy, chronological period, and terrain significantly influenced variation in the robusticity indicator of H. sapiens femora. A linear mixed model revealed that none of the analyzed variables correlated with the femoral robusticity indicator of Neandertals. We did not confirm that the gradual decline in the femoral robusticity indicator of H. sapiens from the Middle Paleolithic to recent times is related to the type of lifestyle; however, it may be associated with lower levels of mechanical loading during adolescence. The lack of correlation between the analysed variables and the indicator of femoral robusticity in Neandertals may suggest that they needed a different level of mechanical stimulus to produce a morphological response in the long bone than H. sapiens.

VDR polymorphisms effect on bone mineral density in Polish postmenopausal women.

Purpose: Osteoporosis is the most widespread systemic disease of the skeleton. According to estimated data for Poland, it affects ca. 3 million people. Although the disease is multifactorial, with significant influence of environmental factors on the increase of the risk of its occurrence, genetic factors play an important role in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was an analysis of the relation of the ApaI, BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms of the VDR gene, with bone mineral density measured in lumbar spine and/or in proximal femur in a group of polish women. Methods: The study included 135 women at the postmenopausal age from the area of central Poland. BMD was measured at the hip and/or at the lumbar spine, using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The influence of the selected VDR genotypes on bone mineral density was studied using the ApaI, the BsmI and the TaqI restriction enzymes. Lifestyle information was obtained via questionnaire. Results: Women with the 'bb' genotype showed lower BMD values of the hip (Total BMD value) comparing to patients with 'BB' or 'Bb' genotypes. We did not observe similar correlation for the lumbar spine. The remaining polymorphisms (ApaI and TaqI) did not demonstrate a significant relation with the differentiation of the mean BMD values obtained from the hip nor from lumbar vertebrae. Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that the BsmI polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor gene is a factor of bone mineral density changes in postmenopausal women from Poland.

Correction:Analysis of LCT-13910 genotypes and bone mineral density in ancient skeletal materials.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194966.].

Analysis of LCT-13910 genotypes and bone mineral density in ancient skeletal materials.

The relation of LCT-13910 genotypes and bone mineral density (BMD) has been the subject of modern-day human population studies, giving inconsistent results. In the present study we analyze for the first time a relation of LCT-13910 genotypes and BMD in historical skeletal individuals. Ancient population might be a model for testing this association due to elimination of non-natural factors affecting bone density. Among 22 medieval individuals from Sanok churchyard (South-Eastern Poland; dated from XIV to XVII c. AD) we identified 4 individuals with osteoporosis (mean BMD = 0.468 g/cm2, SD = 0.090), 10 individuals with osteopenia (mean BMD = 0.531 g/cm2, SD = 0.066) and 8 individuals with normal BMD values (mean BMD = 0,642 g/cm2, SD = 0.060). Analyses of BMD and LCT-13910 genotypes revealed that mean BMD was the highest (0.583 g/cm2, SD = 0.065) in the individuals with lactose tolerance genotypes (TT and CT). We also found possible association of lower BMD at the radius and CC genotypes due to higher but not statistically significant frequency of osteoporosis in the lactose intolerant group (p = 0.60). Statistically significant correlation was found between BMD and females aged 20-35 years, with tendency to reduce BMD with age (p = 0.02).

Mother's trauma during pregnancy affects fluctuating asymmetry in offspring's face.

OBJECTIVE: Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of paired body structures is considered to be a reliable measurement of developmental instability of humans. The aim of the study is to examine whether the mother's traumatic experience during pregnancy results in an increase of the level of fluctuating asymmetry of the structures of the face. METHODS: Average relative FA of six cephalometric traits was calculated in 269 boys aged 7-10 years from Lodz, Poland. The influence of experienced trauma during pregnancy on the level of the FA was assessed by multiple regression analysis allowing for others stressors during mothers' pregnancy. In order to assess which trimester of pregnancy of the experience of the trauma had an influence on the FA level, analysis of variance was used. RESULTS; Boys whose mothers had experienced a traumatic incident during pregnancy were characterized by a significantly higher level of facial asymmetry at the age of 7-10 years (t = 2.74; p = 0.007). The experience of trauma by a pregnant woman was only one factor among other stressors, which significantly rose the FA level of the child's face (Beta = 0.182; t = 2.94; p = 0.004). The time of the experience of the trauma--the first, the second or the third trimester of pregnancy--had not any effect on the FA level. CONCLUSION: The experience of trauma during pregnancy can result in visible disturbances of development of offspring. A decreased level of cortisol is associated with psychosomatic disorders and may also be potentially responsible for disorders of homeostasis in the process of formation of such morphological structures of the face.