This study aims to investigate the polarized microscopic mineral phase characteristics, inorganic element content, and potential health risks associated with the intake of raw and calcined fossil mineral Chinese medicinal material Draconis Os. Microscopy was employed to observe the mineralogical characteristics of Draconis Os and compare the microscopic features and phase composition of raw and calcined Draconis Os under monochromatic and orthogonal polarized light. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) was employed to determine the content of 30 inorganic elements. Health risk assessment was conducted by calculating the single pollution index(P_i), average daily intake of elements for adults(ADI), target hazard quotient(THQ), non-carcinogenic assessment method-hazard quotient(HQ), and the carcinogenic risk of elements(CR). The results indicated that under monochromatic polarized light, the Draconis Os powder sections exhibited light gray-brown to gray-brown irregular fragments, some with undulating textures that were slightly curved. Under crossed polarized light, they appeared dark gray, grayish-white, and yellowish-white. Clear apatite was visible in the ground sections of Draconis Os under crossed polarized light. P_i results indicated that Draconis Os samples were free from contamination and were of good quality. According to the maximum allowable limits of heavy metals stipulated in ISO Traditional Chinese Medicine: Determination of heavy metals in herbal medicines used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, ADI, THQ, HQ, and CR were taken as assessment indicators. Only the THQ value for As(arsenic) in raw Draconis Os was greater than 1, while the THQ values for other heavy metal elements in the Draconis Os samples were all less than 1. The study demonstrates that the primary mineral phase of raw and calcined Draconis Os is apatite, with some samples co-existing with calcite, which can serve as one of the means for quality control of Draconis Os. The elemental analysis results from ICP-MS provide scientific evidence for the safety assessment of Draconis Os, indicating that Draconis Os is safe in clinical application.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Risk Assessment ; Minerals/chemistry* ; Fossils ; Humans ; Drug Contamination ; Mass Spectrometry

Analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) extracted from Ascaris is very important for understanding the phylogenetic lineage of the parasite species. When aDNAs obtained from a Joseon tomb (SN2-19-1) coprolite in which Ascaris eggs were identified were amplified with primers for cytochrome b (cyt b) and 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene, the outcome exhibited Ascaris specific amplicon bands. By cloning, sequencing, and analysis of the amplified DNA, we obtained information valuable for comprehending genetic lineage of Ascaris prevalent among pre-modern Joseon peoples.
Adult ; Animals ; Ascariasis/diagnosis/history/*parasitology ; Ascaris/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Cytochromes b/genetics ; DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA, Helminth/*genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics/history ; Female ; Fossils/history/parasitology ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mummies/history/*parasitology ; Ovum/chemistry/classification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics

Due to poor preservation of human skeletons at most of archaeological sites, few specialists have carried out limited number of analysis of human bones and fossils in Korea. Worship of ancestor remains and poor development of bioarchaeology in the past may have prevented preservation and analysis of human bones. However, cases of extensive analysis with various methods, including DNA analysis, carbon isotope analysis, pathological analysis etc. have been increased very rapidly in recent years and make meaningful contribution to archaeological explanations of sites and ancient society. Development and rigorous application of various methodologies, in conjunction with related fields such as history and ethnography, to extensive analysis of human bone remains is highly recommendable even for the human remains excavated previously.
Anthropology, Cultural ; Carbon ; DNA ; Fossils ; Humans ; Korea ; Skeleton* ; Specialization

The source of Os Draconis (Longgu) has been greatly limited along with implementation of the regulation on the protection of fossils from January 1, 2011. Fingding substitute for Os Draconis becomes an urgent problem. Here, we summarized drug properties of Os Draconis and Ostreae Concha. Moreover the two herbs were usually compatible application in the clinical treatment since they possess similar chemical components and pharmacological activties. In term of these researches, Ostreae Concha may be substitute candidate for Os Draconis.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; supply & distribution ; Fossils ; Ostreidae ; chemistry

Even though Taenia spp. eggs are occasionally discovered from archeological remains around the world, these eggs have never been discovered in ancient samples from Korea. When we attempted to re-examine the archeological samples maintained in our collection, the eggs of Taenia spp., 5 in total number, were recovered from a tomb of Gongju-si. The eggs had radially striated embryophore, and 37.5-40.0 micromx37.5 microm in size. This is the first report on taeniid eggs from ancient samples of Korea, and it is suggested that intensive examination of voluminous archeological samples should be needed for identification of Taenia spp.
Animals ; *Fossils ; Ovum ; Republic of Korea ; Taenia/anatomy & histology/*embryology/*isolation & purification ; Taeniasis/*parasitology

Mandible is the biggest and the hardest facial bone and its shape is found well-remained in the fossil and forensic research area. Therefore it is of significance in physical anthropology and it has been used to distinguish the different ethnic groups as well as the sex. The researchers took 102 mandibles in Korean of the known sex and examined the physical anthropologic characteristics that exist among the Korean males and females as well as the different ethnic groups. Through examining 13 criteria that include the shape of the chin and the shape of mental spine the following results were achieved. Out of the 13 non-metric criteria of the examined mandibles, Concerning the sexual dimorphism, the most distinguished criteria was the contour of the mandibular lower border. In males, 68.1% showed the "rocker form", on the other hand in females, the "straight form" was more general (82.0%). In addition, the shape also differed in mental region. In males the shape of the chin was bilobate or square form generally (91.7%), while females' mandible wasn't bilobate form, but square (53.6%) and pointed form (46.4%). Beside this, there was no differences between the male and female. We compared in presence of mylohyoid canal in Korean with the other ethnic groups by non-metric traits. The mylohyoid canal was relatively low by 5% among the Asians including the Koreans and relatively high by 10.0% among the Whites and over 15.0% among the Blacks.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Anthropology, Physical ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chin ; Ethnic Groups ; Facial Bones ; Female ; Fossils ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible* ; Sex Differentiation ; Spine