Anthropological Review 2025, Vol. 88 No. 3

Human Biology Research in Anthropological Review: 2025 Onwards Editorial and Polish Anthropological Society Perspectives

2025-10-22T01:17:23Z

Human Biology Research in Anthropological Review: 2025 Onwards Editorial and Polish Anthropological Society Perspectives Miszkiewicz, Justyna; Tomczyk, Jacek; Galassi, Francesco M.; Durda-Masny, Magdalena; Mnich, Barbara; Nieczuja-Dwojacka, Joanna; Henneberg, Maciej Human biology research in the 21st century takes on a whole new meaning with an improved range of methodological, ethical, and technological advancements. Human biologists working in diverse sub- and inter-disciplinary areas now have at their disposal access to more efficient technical toolkits than ever before, producing data that can be rapidly shared through open access platforms. However, we also face challenges with the ever-increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI), and continued ethical concerns around ‘helicopter research’ using human personal and tissue data in developing countries. Anthropological Review (AR), the flagship journal of the Polish Anthropological Society (PTA), is an open access journal with a long history of publishing inter-disciplinary human biology research and continued commitment to sharing high quality findings. In this piece, as PTA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, and as the editorial board of AR with a new Editor-in-Chief, and the President of PTA, we outline the stance of AR on key issues in today’s human biology research. We focus on open access, early career researcher opportunities, AI, the need for multi-methodological approaches and inter-disciplinarity, and commitment to the application of ethical framework in human biology research featured in our journal.; Badania nad biologią człowieka w XXI wieku nabierają zupełnie nowego znaczenia, dzięki wykorzystaniu postępów badawczych w obszarze metodologii, etyki czy technologii. Biolodzy zajmujący się badaniem człowieka zarówno w obszarze poszczególnych poddyscyplin, jak i z wykorzystaniem badań interdyscyplinarnych, mają teraz dostęp do najnowocześniejszego sprzętu laboratoryjnego oraz zestawów narzędzi technicznych i informatycznych. Umożliwiają one gromadzenie danych, które można szybko udostępniać za pośrednictwem platform o otwartym dostępie. Stajemy jednak również przed wyzwaniami związanymi ze stale rosnącą obecnością sztucznej inteligencji (AI) i ciągłymi obawami etycznymi dotyczącymi uprawiania nauki neukolonialnej z wykorzystaniem danych osobowych i tkankowych ludzi w krajach rozwijających się. „Anthropological Review” (AR), sztandarowe czasopismo Polskiego Towarzystwa Antropologicznego (PTA), to czasopismo o otwartym dostępie, z długą historią publikowania interdyscyplinarnych badań z zakresu biologii człowieka i stałym zaangażowaniem w udostępnianie wysokiej jakości wyników. W niniejszym artykule, jako redakcja AR z nowym redaktorem naczelnym, i porzewodniczącym PTA, przedstawiamy stanowisko AR w kluczowych kwestiach dotyczących współczesnych badań nad biologią człowieka. Koncentrujemy się na otwartym dostępie, możliwościach dla młodych naukowców, sztucznej inteligencji, potrzebie stosowania podejścia multimetodologicznego i interdyscyplinarnego oraz zaangażowania w stosowanie ram etycznych w badaniach nad biologią człowieka, o których mowa w naszym czasopiśmie.

Dynamics of Growth in 9–14-year-old Bulgarian Boys and Girls

2025-10-22T01:17:25Z

Dynamics of Growth in 9–14-year-old Bulgarian Boys and Girls Dimitrova, Albena The physical development of the human body is used as an objective indicator of the health status and work capability of the population. Height and weight are the main anthropometric traits which vary and change significantly during the growth period and are used as a base for the development of anthropometric standards at different ages. The aim of this study is to assess the basic anthropometric traits in adolescent boys and girls in Bulgaria in order to establish age- and sex-specific variation in growth. During the period 2016–2018, a transversal anthropometric study in five secondary schools in Sofia, Bulgaria was conducted. A total of 424 adolescents (211 boys and 213 girls) aged 9 to 14 years were studied. Anthropometric measurements were performed according to the classic 1957 methodology of Martin-Saller. Statistically significant sex differences (p<0.05) were indicated for height and weight in the age periods: 10–11 years, with priority for girls and 13–14 years, with priority for boys. Age-related differences (p<0.001) in the age period 9–14 years were also observed. Physical development of adolescent Bulgarian students follows the general trends of the postnatal ontogenesis, reflected in increasing the sizes of anthropometric features highlighted in 10–11-year-olds girls and 13–14-year-olds boys. These new data for height, weight, and BMI in 9–14-year-old Bulgarian students might be a practical addition in the pediatric practice of monitoring of children’s health.

Forensic Anthropological Significance of Dental Calculus Deposits as Proxy Identifier of the Host and the Oral Microbiota: A Scoping Review

2025-10-22T01:17:23Z

Forensic Anthropological Significance of Dental Calculus Deposits as Proxy Identifier of the Host and the Oral Microbiota: A Scoping Review Sehrawat, Jagmahender Singh; Thakur, Shubham Dental calculus is a creamish-yellow to brownish-black hard crust deposited on teeth, having the dietary micro-remains, biomolecules, oral microbes and the secretions preserved in it over a long period of time. It has served as a valuable source material for research in diverse scientific disciplines such as anthropology, archaeology, microbiology and forensic sciences. The host and microbial DNA extracted and sequenced from dental calculus deposits (DCD) have helped to establish the identity of unknown individuals, and also the use of certain drugs, tobacco products by the individuals of the past as well as contemporary human populations. The entrapped cellular as well as tissue fragments in calculus can help in identification, reconstruction of dietary habits, food practices, manner of death/pathologies the geographical and occupational affinity of ancient human remains. Calculus deposits gleaned from the archaeological or paleontological specimens can be used to assess the shifts in oral microbiota compositions and host-pathogen co-evolution as researchers have found calculus as rich source of oral microbiomes, pathogens, dietary biomolecules, and host DNA. Advancing dental calculus research through validation studies, technological innovations, interdisciplinary collaborations, longitudinal research, and ethical considerations holds promise for its robust forensic anthropological utilizations. The current status of anthropological, archaeological and microbial research involving dental calculus deposits, future challenges, and its forensic anthropological significance are presented in this review article.

Association between COVID-19 Pandemic, Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in Young Slovak Women

2025-10-22T01:17:24Z

Association between COVID-19 Pandemic, Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in Young Slovak Women Falbová, Darina; Beňuš, Radoslav; Sulis, Simona; Kolláriková, Lenka; Poliaková, Veronika; Vorobeľová, Lenka This study investigates the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle factors, and their impact on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate in young adult women from Slovakia. We assessed 552 adult women aged 18 to 30 years who were categorized into subgroups based on their pandemic status. The individual’s lifestyle was evaluated using a detailed questionnaire. BP and pulse rate were measured in the sitting position using a digital sphygmomanometer. Linear regression analysis tested the associations. The results showed no significant difference in physical activity and the proportion of fat mass (%) before and during the pandemic. Smoking prevalence increased during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels (p = 0.152). While there were no significant differences in coffee consumption, the use of hormonal contraceptives was significantly higher during the pandemic (p = 0.021). In addition, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse rate were significantly higher during the pandemic than before, indicating possible cardiovascular effects (SBP with p < 0.001 and pulse rate with p = 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that pandemic and fat mass (%) were significant predictors of SBP, while only physical activity and fat mass (%) were predictors of diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In addition, pandemic and physical activity were significant predictors of pulse rate. We observed significantly higher SBP and pulse rates during the pandemic than before in young adult women. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of the pandemic on SBP and pulse rate.