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At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Discovering trepanation: the contribution of Paul Broca.

PAUL BROCA WAS an icon of neuroscience and neurosurgery who also happened to be intrigued by trepanned skulls. His anthropological work established that, thousands of years ago, individuals not only trepanned skulls but also successfully performed these operations on living persons. After first commenting on a pre-Columbian Peruvian skull in 1867 (the first case of trepanning on a living person widely recognized as such), he turned to even older trepanned skulls found on French soil. In the 1870s, he theorized that the procedure originated as a means to treat convulsions in infants. As he saw it, Neolithic man attributed such convulsions to evil spirits, for which trepanation provided a ready means of escape. Because simple infantile convulsions resolve on their own, the practice would have seemed successful, and therefore it would have been propagated and expanded by later generations. Broca's theory skillfully integrated his anthropological and medical knowledge and helped to create the exciting environment in which scientists pondered what Neolithic and primitive people really knew regarding the brain and surgery.

Anthropology↗
PubMed2002

Healed cranial weapon injury from medieval coventry, England.

Archaeological excavation recovered medieval human skeletal remains from Coventry Cathedral. A disarticulated skull from the desecrated Copston Chapel displayed major cranial weapon injury. Osteological examination indicates that the injuries, although extensive, were not fatal. The cause and chronicity of the lesions are discussed. The rarity of medieval British healed cranial weapon injuries has prompted this report. Documentary sources for medieval cranial surgery are included.

Fracture Healing↗
PubMed1995

Incomplete spondylolysis and healing. A study of ancient Canadian Eskimo skeletons.

STUDY DESIGN: Skeletons of ancient Canadian Eskimos subjected to arctic weathering presented an unusual opportunity for direct observation of all stages of spondylolysis. OBJECTIVE: To explore early stages of incomplete lysis, a phenomenon difficult to observe radiographically. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although lumbar spondylolysis most often appears to be a stress fracture that may proceed to complete separation, its early stages have been difficult to visualize. METHODS: Vertebrae were examined for even minute lytic defects in the general region of pars interarticularis and the results were correlated with age at death. RESULTS: Spondylolysis was found in 51 individuals, with 110 separate sites (sides) affected. At 34 of these sites, all but two in adolescents or young adults, the lysis was incomplete. Incomplete lysis affected the superior margin of the neural arch more often than the inferior margin, and the right side more often than the left. CONCLUSION: Spondylolysis first became recognizable as incomplete stress fractures during adolescence, with most progressing to complete lysis in young adulthood. New fractures continued to develop in young adults, but most healed by middle adulthood. After 45 years of age, the overall frequency of spondylolysis declined, indicating that even complete defects occasionally healed.

Canada↗
PubMed2005

Spondylolytic spondylolisthesis: a study of pelvic and lumbosacral parameters of possible etiologic effect in two genetically and geographically distinct groups with high occurrence.

STUDY DESIGN: An anatomic and radiographic study of archeological skeletal remains from two genetically and geographically distinct groups with high occurrence rates of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis was done. Specimens were Aleut (27% known occurrence rate, n = 48) and Arikara Plains Indians (9% occurrence, n = 250+ of 1,062). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three radiographic parameters highly correlated with spondylolisthesis (pelvic incidence [PI], sacral table angle [STA], and lumbar index [LI]) in genetically homogeneous populations to determine which may be etiologic or most predictive for lysis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LI has been known to vary with the percentage of slip in lytic spondylolisthesis. Recent clinical studies have shown that PI is also significantly higher in high-grade slips, and a possible etiologic effect has been ascribed to this association. STA has also been shown to vary between normals, those with only lysis, and those with lysis and slip. The etiologic significance of STA is unknown. METHODS: Radiographic and direct morphologic measurement of PI, LI, and STA was done on L5 and reassembled sacra and ilia. Statistical analysis of these three parameters among all groups was done. RESULTS: 1) There is a genetically determined difference in the upper sacral tilt (STA) that may be etiologic. 2) Genetically homogeneous groups with a lower STA in normal specimens have an increased occurrence rate of spondylolysis. 3) When there has been pars lysis, changes in the STA occur as well as deformity more caudal in the sacrum. 4) These changes are likely related to remodeling with epiphyseal growth related to changed axial stresses secondary to pars lysis. 5) PI is not a primary etiologic factor in the process. CONCLUSIONS: The STA in the normal population for each genetic group varies and relates significantly to the occurrence rate and is thus probably etiologic. STA is more highly associated with the occurrence of pars defect than is PI. Upper sacral deformities appear due to the growth plate response to the changed pressure gradients across the epiphyseal plate rather than interosseous remodeling of the ilium and acetabular area. Thus, changes in PI would be secondary.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Co-infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae in human archaeological samples: a possible explanation for the historical decline of leprosy.

Both leprosy and tuberculosis were prevalent in Europe during the first millennium but thereafter leprosy declined. It is not known why this occurred, but one suggestion is that cross-immunity protected tuberculosis patients from leprosy. To investigate any relationship between the two diseases, selected archaeological samples, dating from the Roman period to the thirteenth century, were examined for both Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA, using PCR. The work was carried out and verified in geographically separate and independent laboratories. Several specimens with palaeopathological signs of leprosy were found to contain DNA from both pathogens, indicating that these diseases coexisted in the past. We suggest that the immunological changes found in multi-bacillary leprosy, in association with the socio-economic impact on those suffering from the disease, led to increased mortality from tuberculosis and therefore to the historical decline in leprosy.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed2001

PCR primers that can detect low levels of Mycobacterium leprae DNA.

There are several specific PCR-based methods to detect Mycobacterium leprae DNA, but the amplicons are quite large. For example, primers that target the 36-kDa antigen gene and are in common diagnostic use yield a 530-bp product. This may be a disadvantage when examining samples in which the DNA is likely to be damaged and fragmented. Therefore, two sets of M. leprae-specific nested primers were designed, based on existing primer pairs which have been shown to be specific for M. leprae. Primers that targeted the 18-kDa antigen gene gave an outer product of 136 bp and inner product of 110 bp. The primers based on the RLEP repetitive sequence yielded a 129-bp outer product and 99-bp nested product. With dilutions of a standard M. leprae killed whole-cell preparation as the source of DNA, both single-stage and nested PCR were performed after optimisation of the experimental conditions. Compared with the 36-kDa antigen gene primers, the 18-kDa antigen gene outer primers were 100-fold more sensitive and the RLEP outer primers were 1000-fold more sensitive. As an illustration of two possible applications of these new primers, positive results were obtained from three skin slit samples from treated lepromatous leprosy patients and three archaeological samples from human remains showing typical leprosy palaeopathology. It was concluded that these new primers are a useful means of detecting M. leprae DNA which is damaged or present at a very low level.

DNA Primers↗
PubMed2001

Molecular analysis of skeletal tuberculosis in an ancient Egyptian population.

A paleomicrobiological study was performed on 37 skeletal tissue specimens from cadavers in the necropolis of Thebes-West, Upper Egypt, (2120-500 BC) and four from the necropolis of Abydos (3000 BC). The subjects had typical macromorphological evidence of osseous tuberculosis (n = 3), morphological alterations that were not specific, but probably resulted from tuberculosis (n = 17), or were without morphological osseous changes (n = 21). DNA was extracted from these bone samples and amplified by PCR with a primer pair that recognised the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex insertion sequence IS6110. To confirm specificity of the analysis, the amplification products of several samples were subjected to restriction enzyme digestion, or direct sequencing, or both. In 30 of the 41 cases analysed, ancient DNA was demonstrated by amplification by the presence of the human beta-actin or the amelogenin gene and nine of these cases were positive for M. tuberculosis DNA. The results were confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing. A positive result for M. tuberculosis DNA was seen in two of the three cases with typical morphological signs of tuberculosis and amplifiable DNA, in five of 13 non-specific, but probable cases (including two cases from c. 3000 BC), but also in two of 14 cases without pathological bone changes. These observations confirm that tuberculosis may be diagnosed unequivocally in skeletal material from ancient Egypt, even dating back to c. 3000 BC. As a positive molecular reaction was observed in most of the typical cases of skeletal tuberculosis, in about one-third of non-specific, but probable tuberculous osseous changes and, surprisingly, in about one-seventh of unremarkable samples, this suggests that infection with M. tuberculosis was relatively frequent in ancient Egypt.

Amelogenin↗
PubMed1999

Genotypic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from medieval human remains.

Three medieval bone samples with osteological evidence of tuberculosis infection were analysed for the presence of DNA sequences from Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a series of PCRs. In each case amplification of IS6110 and part of the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase identified infection with a bacterium belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex. Amplification of the mtp40 genome fragment and the presence of a guanine residue at position 285 in the oxyR pseudogene, demonstrated the infecting strain to be similar to present day M. tuberculosis isolates rather than to Mycobacterium bovis. Spoligotyping, based on amplification of the direct repeat (DR) region of the mycobacterial genome, provided further evidence of similarity to M. tuberculosis and indicated a close relationship between isolates associated with two separate medieval burials. The study demonstrates the feasibility of amplifying multiple M. tuberculosis loci in ancient human remains and suggests important applications in the study of the palaeoepidemiology and virulence of tuberculosis in past populations.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1976

Electron microscopy of ancient Egyptian skin.

Sections of skin were examined by electron microscopy from the sole of the foot of a 14-year-old Egyptian, who died 3200 years ago and was preserved naturally by desiccation. Remarkable ultrastructural preservation of the epidermal cells and their components was found.

Autopsy↗
PubMed2005

A comparative analysis of periapical health based on historic and current data.

AIM: To compare periapical health using samples from prehistoric and historic periods until the present day, and to emphasize the major risk indicators for apical periodontitis (AP). METHODOLOGY: A comparative survey to assess periapical health was performed on five samples (525 individuals) drawn from different periods of history within the time frame 2000 BC to 2000 AD. Twenty-one binary risk indicators for AP were retained for a logistic regression model. The probability of a diseased tooth was defined from a two-level response variable based on the periapical index (PAI). An individual regression model was computed with partial least squares (PLS) regression model, based on the individual mean values of the nine retained risk indicators. RESULTS: Condensing osteitis, tooth wear, caries, root fillings and the presence of inadequate root fillings were associated with the PAI levels. The maxillary molars and recent time periods (contemporaneous and seventeenth century) were also risk indicators for the pathological condition. The PLS regression for individuals demonstrated correlations between risk factors. This multidimensional analysis indicated that the mean PAI was correlated mainly with caries and condensing osteitis. Condensing osteitis was more frequent in the mandibular than in the maxillary bone (P=0.001), and correlated with tooth wear in ancient periods. CONCLUSIONS: This comparative analysis demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of AP in the contemporary period. The most important risk indicators for that period were the presence of inadequate root fillings, carious lesions and condensing osteitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Tooth loss, attrition and temporomandibular joint changes in a Romano-British population.

Mandibular condyles and temporal fossae were studied in a large Romano-British collection of skulls. The size and shape of the condyles differed from those in previous populations studied. Changes in form or shape of the condyles were age-related and could be correlated to the number of teeth lost on the same side and on the contralateral side. No statistically significant correlations were seen between attrition and condylar form and surface change.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Molecular analysis of ancient microbial infections.

The detection of ancient microbial DNA offers a new approach for the study of infectious diseases, their occurrence, frequency and host-pathogen interaction in historic times and populations. Moreover, data obtained from skeletal and mummified tissue may represent an important completion of contemporary phylogenetic analyses of pathogens. In the last few years, a variety of bacterial, protozoal and viral infections have been detected in ancient tissue samples by amplification and characterization of specific DNA fragments. This holds particularly true for the identification of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which seems to be more robust than other microbes due to its waxy, hydrophobic and lipid-rich cell wall. These observations provided useful information about the occurrence, but also the frequency of tuberculosis in former populations. Moreover, these studies suggest new evolutionary models and indicate the route of transmission between human and animals. Until now, other pathogens, such as Mycobacterium leprae, Yersinia pestis, Plasmodium falciparum and others, have occasionally been identified - mostly in single case studies or small sample sizes - as well, although much less information is available on these pathogens in ancient settings. The main reason therefore seems to be the degradation and modification of ancient DNA by progressive oxidative damage. Furthermore, the constant risk of contamination by recent DNA forces to take time and cost effective measures and renders the analysis of ancient microbes difficult. Nevertheless, the study of microbial ancient DNA significantly contributes to the understanding of transmission and spread of infectious diseases, and potentially to the evolution and phylogenetic pathways of pathogens.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Three-dimensional representations of lingual cortical defects (Stafne's) using silicone impressions.

Lingual cortical defects of the mandible are common radiographic entities found predominantly in adult males. Due to the benign nature of these defects and infrequent need for exploratory surgery, few paleopathologists and clinicians have had the opportunity to examine their contents. The present study, using silicone impressions, provides three-dimensional representations reflecting the size and shape of soft-tissue masses once filling 10 unusually large lingual defects. The 10 specimens were chosen from an international sample of 6,330 dry mandibles, 115 of which had lingual cortical defects.

Adult↗