Buzhilova Alexandra Petrovna

Introduction. Hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) is a pathological condition characterized by the growth of the inner surface of the frontal bone. Most researchers describe HFI as a symptom associated with hormonal dysfunctions, which prevails in the modern population. This paper provides an analysis of HFI frequency on the craniological material of four adaptive types.

Materials and methods. We have examined 2211 skulls (59 craniological collections from the Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, RAS and Federal Research Center of the Tyumen Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences). We have analyzed the total frequency of HFI, used a comparative intergroup analysis, and evaluated the degree of HFI expression and the distribution of the trait.

Results and discussion. It was found that the frequency of HFI in groups of arctic, continental and temperate adaptive types ranged from 2.3% to 4.3%, which is significantly less than in the modern population (12-37%). In the group of the tropical adaptive type, HFI was not found. As a result of a comparative study of the severity of cases of frontal hyperostosis, type A was the most common, HFI type B was less common, and type C was recorded only for one individual of the Arctic adaptive type. The reasons for the relatively low prevalence of HFI in representatives of various adaptive types are discussed.

Conclusion. According to a low frequency of HFI in studied adaptive types comparing to data in modern population can be considered that adaptation to environment and life style is more important than climate and geographical features. © 2023. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

The article is devoted to a brief overview of the achievements of anthropologists of Moscow State University over the past quarter of a century in honor of the anniversary of MSU (270^th anniversary of its foundation). The review is divided into several subsections devoted to the main scientific activities of the employees of the Institute of Anthropology, in which current scientific areas are discussed.

The work of anthropologists in the scientific funds of the Museum of Anthropology, as well as the achievements and results obtained in the course of studying materials from anthropological and archaeological expeditions of the Institute of Anthropology of Moscow State University are presented. The work of the weekly scientific seminar "Anthropological Environment" is described. Since 2020, it has been broadcast online, which has significantly expanded the audience for participation not only by specialists from Moscow, but also for anthropologists and scientists of related specialties from other regions. Thematic master classes, approbation of reports of young applicants, meetings of the Anthropology section of the annual International Scientific Conference of Students, Postgraduates and Young Scientists "Lomonosov" are held on the platform of the seminar. The unity of anthropologists is promoted by a professional journal. Anthropologists can defend their scientific research in the Thematic Dissertation Council of Moscow State University, which has been functioning since 1958. The review discusses the features of the educational process at the Department of Anthropology of the Biological Faculty of Moscow State University - the only one in the Russian Federation that provides professional education in the field of human biology. The article presents a list of thematic exhibitions organized on the basis of the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow State University over the past 5 years, and discusses events to promote anthropology at the Museum. © 2024. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. Tuberculosis is a pressing public health issue caused primarily by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Genetic data enables the reconstruction of the co-evolution of this pathogen and humans over tens of thousands of years. The analysis of tuberculosis in ancient human skeletal remains relies on specific osseous lesions, which are rarely formed. This scarcity stimulates the search for new diagnostic approaches. Recently, a probabilistic approach has been proposed. It utilizes non-specific skeletal features of the disease. Individually, these features have limited diagnostic value, but in combination, they can successfully identify the disease. Based on materials from certified collections previously examined by other researchers, ten indicators on the skull and postcranial skeleton have been identified as suitable for this purpose.

Materials and methods. A unified methodological procedure for recording nonspecific signs of tuberculosis and calculating the probability of the disease at both individual and group levels was tested using the Kozino anthropological series (14th–18th centuries), comprising 298 individuals. All statistical analyses were performed in the R environment using custom code developed by K. Yu. Kuprikova.

Results and discussion. This section describes the topography and criteria for recording Tuberculosis indicators and presents a step-by-step algorithm for calculating the Tau index, which estimates the probability of disease presence at both individual and group levels. The algorithm's performance was tested, and a statistical assessment of disease prevalence within the group was conducted, accounting for the model's quality. Twenty-seven individuals were identified with a Tau index suggesting a high probability of bone tuberculosis. Paleogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of the disease in these cases, validating the effectiveness of the proposed methodological approach.

Conclusion. The proposed set of osseous indicators, analyzed through a probabilistic approach, is a relevant tool for diagnosing tuberculosis in ancient skeletal remains. To further validate this methodology, future research should involve the collection of additional data for a direct comparison between diagnoses made using probabilistic approaches and those confirmed by paleogenetic analysis.

Acknowledgements. The study was conducted under the state assignment of Lomonosov Moscow State University.