2012, Vol.25, No.3

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.33

pISSN : 2671-5651 / eISSN : 2671-566X
https://journal.kci.go.kr/aba

The reconstruction of activity and of work patterns has been approached by examinations of activityrelated skeletal markers. Among several different methods, in particular, a number of anthropologists have widely applied the patterns of enthesopathies and degenerative joint disease in studies of past activity. The purpose of this study is to better understand and use these indicators in reconstructing the levels of physical activities of past populations. This review will provide information on the most recent anthropological research on the behavioral interpretation on degenerative joint disease and enthesopathies, to better use these indicators in understanding past populations. There are obvious limitations in using these markers, and it is necessary to consider them. Firstly, it is uncertain as to whether there are certain activities that are performed repetitively throughout their lives of those who lived in past civilizations. A second limitation involves the etiology of skeletal markers related to mechanical stress. There are multiple-factors, including genetic predisposition, sex, the aging process, and diet that may affect the way people practice a specific activity. Accordingly, this makes it difficult to evaluate the underlying etiological factors and their roles in activity-related skeletal changes. In conclusion, to circumvent these limitations, the use of multiple skeletal markers together in studies of the activities of past populations may enable to more reliable interpretations. However, to ensure more reliable interpretations,the validity of such combinations of makers should be challenged. Therefore, more work on the validity of activity-related markers is needed to clarify the activities that are responsible for the development in life of the features observable in skeletal populations. This type of research can contribute to the discussion of the use of activity-related skeletal markers in studies of behavioral interpretations with more certainty regarding which morphological characteristics are responses to physical activity and mechanical loading as the pathogenesis of such characteristics.

Accessory muscles passing through Guyon’s canal are common; the most common anomalous muscle at Guyon’s canal is the accessory abductor digiti minimi muscle (AADM). The aim of this study was to demonstrate and describe the gross anatomy of an anatomic variant of the AADM relative to the surrounding structures. The AADM was found in the left forearm and hand of a 61-year-old male cadaver during dissection in a gross anatomy course. It was observed by focusing on the shape, the course, and its relationship with the surrounding structures. The AADM originated as muscle fibers from the antebrachial fascia. It coursed downward in the distal forearm and crossed the ulnar nerve and artery obliquely at Guyon’s canal. The AADM narrowed and became a long tendon in the hypothenar region. The abductor digiti minimi muscle was partly attached to the tendon of the AADM,running along the tendon. The tendon of the AADM inserted into the ulnar side of head of the fifth metacarpal bone. The AADM was innervated by several twigs from the ulnar nerve. We reported herein another variant of the AADM at Guyon’s canal, which may be helpful to surgeons performing diagnoses and surgical procedures.

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3′-untranslated region of the KRAS oncogene (rs61764370)was recently reported to act as a genetic marker for increased risk of developing human cancers. The frequency of the variant allele is 5.8% in world population, however, there is no study in Korean population with large cases. In present study, we evaluated the KRAS let-7 lcs6 SNP in Korean population for the first time. Genotyping was performed in 178 randomized subjects. DNA was extracted and SNP was evaluated by using PCR and pyrosequencing to identify the T or G allele of the KRAS let-7 lcs6 SNP. As a result, only T allele was found in all subjects and quantitative sequencing result showed that the proportion of G allele was extremely low. This study confirmed that KRAS let-7 lcs6 have only one allele system in Korean population by sensitive and quantitative pyrosequencing for the first time. Its clinical significance should be studied further.