1.Evidence of Periostitis in Joseon Dynasty Skeletons.
Yi Suk KIM ; Deog Kyeom KIM ; Chang Seok OH ; Myeung Ju KIM ; Hye Ri KIM ; Dong Hoon SHIN
Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology 2013;26(2):81-90
Periostitis is one of the human diseases commonly encountered in archaeological samples. It is known to be an important health indicator for paleopathologists examining skeletal remains. In our recent study on a Joseon skeletal series (n=101), non-specific, primary periostitis was observed only in five individuals (#4, #29, #137, #175, and #290). Notably, there were no secondary periostitis-suggestive signs (e.g. syphilis), except for those caused by fractures (#33 and #41). As this is the inaugural Korean-skeletal-series report on periostitis, the results presented in these pages should prove significant to interested paleopathologists.
Humans
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Paleopathology
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Periostitis
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Skeleton
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Syphilis
2.Probable Cases of Scurvy in Subadults Crania from Archaeological Sites, South Korea.
Eun Jin WOO ; Hyunwoo JUNG ; Chae Lin JEON
Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology 2017;30(4):135-143
In this study, the skeletal abnormalities associated with scurvy in subadults crania from three archaeological skeletal collections (Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri), South Korea was analyzed to examine the prevalence and distribution of childhood scurvy of ancient Korea. For this, 30 subadults crania from the Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri site were examined. Using criteria described by Ortner and Ericksen (1997) for identifying scurvy in skeletal material we evaluated the cranial skeleton of the subadults for evidence of abnormal porosity. All skeletal materials were macroscopically evaluated for pathological changes associated with scurvy. In results, lesions indicative of probable scurvy were observed in 22 individuals of 30 individuals. Based on the results, childhood disease relating to nutrition and metabolism in ancient Korea might have been widespread, along with scurvy. The results of the present study will be useful for understanding the health condition of the ancient Korean populations. Future work will add significantly to the larger picture of diet and disease within populations of ancient Korea.
Diet
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Korea*
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Malnutrition
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Metabolism
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Paleopathology
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Porosity
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Prevalence
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Scurvy*
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Skeleton
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Vitamins
3.Paleopathological Studies of Infectious Disease: Examination of the Osteoarchaeological Research.
Eun Jin WOO ; Jae Hyun KIM ; Chae Lin JEON ; Sunyoung PAK
Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology 2018;31(1):27-34
Reconstructing the impact of infectious disease on past populations is one of the main fields in paleopathological studies. The initial phase of paleopathology was descriptive, focusing on the identification and presence of disease in the past. However, currently paleopathological studies are moving toward probing questions about the larger picture of origin and transmission of disease agents. In this study, paleopathological studies of major infectious disease (i.e., tubuerculosis, treponemal disease and leprosy) were reviewed through osteoarcheological work published in American Journal of Physical Anthropology, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science and International Journal of Paleopathology from 1981 to 2017. A basic objective of this research was to examine many types of research in paleopathology and to characterize research trend in this field. As paleopathological studies becomes more abundant, the approaches to infectious disease have been increasingly specialized and interdisciplinary from 1980. Also, methodology used in paleopathology continues to evolve through the holistic approaches of molecular analysis, radiology and histopathology. Ultimately, this study reinforces the importance for retention of large-scale skeletal collections for paleopathological study in population perspective. In the near future, Korean paleopathology can contribute in the reconstructions of the history of disease and its effect on past human populations.
Anthropology, Physical
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Communicable Diseases*
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Humans
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Leprosy
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Paleopathology
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Syphilis
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Tuberculosis
4.Bone tumors in pre-modern skulls from human skeletal series of Joseon Dynasty.
Dong Hoon SHIN ; Chang Seok OH ; Yi Suk KIM ; Yusu KIM ; Seung Whan OH ; Jun Bum PARK ; In Sun LEE ; Myeung Ju KIM
Anatomy & Cell Biology 2015;48(3):213-217
To date, there are still very few reports on benign-tumor cases based on East Asian skeletal series, even though other regions and continents have been well represented. In our study on the Joseon Human Skeletal Series, we identified benign bone tumors in two skeletons (cases Nos. 75 and 96). Our radiological analyses showed both cases to be homogeneous sclerotic bone masses aligned with the cranial vault suture. In a subsequent series of differential diagnoses, we determined both cases to be osteoma, the most common bone-tumor type reported for archaeological samples. Our study is the osteoarchaeological basis for this, the first-ever report on benign bone neoplasm in a pre-modern East Asian population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
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Bone Neoplasms
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Humans*
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Korea
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Osteoma
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Paleopathology
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Skeleton
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Skull*
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Sutures
5.Paleopathologic Analysis of a Mummified Pregnant Woman of Papyung Yoon's Family.
Woon Yong JEONG ; Bong Kyung SHIN ; Chul Hwan KIM ; Insun KIM ; Woo Rim KIM ; Kwang Sik CHOE ; Chang Sub UHM ; Juck Joon HWANG ; Han Kyeom KIM
Korean Journal of Pathology 2004;38(6):394-400
BACKGROUND: A mummy is a dead body of a human being or an animal that has been preserved artificially or naturally from decaying. Because the natural environment of Korea isn't appropriate for mummification and Korean people haven't artificially made mummies, mummies were rarely studied in Korea. METHODS: On September 6, 2002, a well-preserved female mummy was found in the grave of a family in Kyunggi-do. She was submitted to a thorough autopsy examination along with the review of genealogical documents. RESULTS: The mummy died in winter. She was pregnant and the fetal head was observed at the vaginal orifice. The uterine wall was ruptured, and the peritoneum was discolored, probably by hemorrhage. Histologically, the gastric mucosa was well preserved. On the smear cytology of gastrointestinal material and the fluid from the coffin, pollens and parasitic eggs were observed. The woman seemed to be death from hypovolemic shock due to uterine rupture during the 2nd phase of labor. CONCLUSION: From this case, we concluded the causes of the woman's mummification included the cold and dry circumstance at the time of her death, and the thick mortared wall of the grave that completely isolated the body from the outside.
Animals
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Autopsy
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Eggs
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Female
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Gastric Mucosa
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Gyeonggi-do
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Head
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Hemorrhage
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Humans
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Korea
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Mummies
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Ovum
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Paleopathology
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Peritoneum
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Pollen
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Pregnant Women*
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Shock
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Uterine Rupture