Go-Un Jung

Anthropological Age Estimation with Bone Histomorphometry from the Human Clavicle

Abstract The purpose of present study was to apply histomorphometry to estimate the age at death using the clavicular osteonal remodeling rate and to develop an age-predicting equation. 46 clavicular samples consisting 28 males and 18 females were obtained from Korean cadavers. Two sequential 1-mm-thick sections, were prepared using a diamond wheel, and a 100 um-thick section was then made by manual grinding with polarizing filter optical microscopy. Three histomorphometric variables, including relative cortical area (RCA), osteon population density (OPD), and mean osteon area (OA), were measured. The mean values are indicated because no significant difference in any variable was noted by a paired t test between the two sequential sections. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that stratification of the statistical results of OPD and OA based on sex was unnecessary, except for RCA. Regression analysis indicated that the highest coefficient value was OPD (R2 = 0.583), which was selected as a significant value with RCA for an age-predicting equation (R2 = 0.628) by the multiple regression analysis stepwise method. In conclusion, a histomorphometric method using the clavicle is reliable for age estimation in physical and forensic anthropological fields.

Radiological Diagnosis of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in 17th Century Korean Mummy

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect of the diaphragm resulting in pulmonary sequelae that threaten the lives of infants. In computed tomography (CT) images of a 17th century middle-aged male mummy (the Andong mummy), we observed that the abdominal contents had protruded into the right thoracic cavity through the diaphragmatic defect, accompanied by a mediastinal shift to the left. On autopsy, the defect in the right posterolateral aspect of the diaphragm was reconfirmed, as was the herniation of the abdominal organs. The herniated contents included the right lobe of the liver, the pyloric part of the stomach, a part of the greater omentum, and the right colic flexure connecting the superior part of the ascending colon and the right part of the transverse colon. Taking our CT and autopsy results together, this case was diagnosed as the Bochdalek-type CDH. Herein we make the first ever report of a CT-assisted diagnosis of a pre-modern historical case of CDH. Our results show the promising utility of this modality in investigations of mummified human remains archaeologically obtained.

Paleopathological Patterns of Degenerative Arthropathy: Prevalence of Limb-Joint Osteoarthritis in JoseonPeople Skeletons

Abstract This study was performed to assess degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) in human skeletons from 15th to 19th century Joseon tombs of South Korea. The researchers performed anthropological examinations of OA in selected limb joints of Joseon skeletons and considered possible reasons for the revealed aspects of OA by focusing on lifestyle or occupational activity during that time. A total of 140 skeletons unearthed from Joseon tombs were evaluated and any pathological lesions in the articular surfaces of limb joints were carefully examined by gross inspection. Most of joints correlated linear degenerative changes over time, however, OA prevalence of knee joints was much higher in middle-aged group. The prevalence of OA at limb joints revealed in this study provides insights into the mobility patterns of pre-modern Korean people. Knowledge of OA in pre-modern samples will enrich our understanding of the developmental interactions that provide the basis of the disciplines of epidemiology and demography.