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[Dental and mandibular studies on mummies. Contribution of a stomatologist].

This is the sequence to an investigation on a mummy, 1965. Two further mummies could be examined: the first, a woman about 34 years old, from the 1st to 3rd century, shows similar advanced destruction of the teeth as the mummy investigated in 1965, caused by sand in the hand milled bread flour. This caused an early loss of molars by exaggerated abrasion, exposure of the pulps and periodontal bone loss. There was no evidence of occlusal caries. The second mummy was a 18-year-old young woman, 800-700 b. C. From the inscriptions on the sarcophagus name, family and living circumstances could be found. The same damages were found here, there was only a gradual difference owing to age difference. An interesting special finding was the absence of lip closure and the postmortal damage to the front teeth which may have been caused by the ritual of mouth opening.

Adolescent

[View of the past: Roentgenography of an Egyptian mummy].

Report concerning roentgenographic examinations of an Egyptian mummy dating back to 900 B.C. from the "Museum für Völkerkunde Freiburg/Breisgau". The study was performed to detect funeral gifts which can be found otherwise only if the linnen bandage of the mummy is destroyed. Extraordinary findings were degenerative osteoarthritis of the spine and joints, pseudo-gout, marked caries of several teeth and signs for a healed occipital osteomyelitis. Suggestions are discussed about a particular compression of thorax and pelvis which is apparently due to the technique of bandaging. This was not observed in examinations of other mummies. Fractures of the first to third phalanges suggest forceful removal of precious rings. A circular-shaped opening in the parietal bone and a small radiodense foreign body which projects over the pharynx remain unexplained.

Dental Caries

Characterization of mummy bone ochronotic pigment.

Radiologic examination of an Egyptian mummy showed characteristic radiologic changes seen in ochronosis. Desiring to confirm the diagnosis of ochronosis, punch biopsy samples of ochronotic mummy bone were removed for biochemical analysis. An organic solvent extraction procedure was developed to selectively isolate mummy ochronotic pigment, and spectroscopic methods were used to characterize the pigment as a homogentisic-acid--derived polymer.

Aged

ABO blood groups in Chilean and Peruvian mummies. II. Results of agglutination-inhibition technique.

ABO blood groups of Peruvian and Chilean mummies were determined with the agglutination-inhibition method. In Peru all ABO blood groups were found in the period from 3000 B.C. to 1400 A.D.; from this period to 1650 only A and O were seen. In Chile no B or AB was noted either in pre-Columbian or Colonial mummies. This confirms the archeological concept that the Chilean Indian was culturally as well as genetically different from the Peruvian Indian. Further studies using other genetic markers are in order, as well as changing certain preconceived notions on blood groups of American Indians.

ABO Blood-Group System

Temporal bone studies: findings with undecalcified sections in a 2,600-year-old Egyptian mummy.

Roentgenologic studies by polytomography of the temporal bones of a 2,600-year-old Egyptian mummy (PUM-II) revealed an increase in radiographic density throughout the left temporal bone. The superior portions of the petrous bones were removed with an electric saw for study by undecalcified techniques. For histological control, a similar specimen was removed from a cadaver immediately after autopsy. Light microscopy of sections showed excellent preservation of the Haversian systems. The vascular channels were clearly seen, and they were similar in appearance to those of the fresh specimen. The lacunae contained osteocytes with good preservation of the nucleus. Osteoid seams were identified and the osteon activity was described for the first time in an Egyptian mummy. There was a low turnover type of bone, but there was no evidence of metabolic bone disease. We postulate that the increased radiological density of the left temporal bone was due to a greater amount of resin infiltration in this bone as compared to the right. It appeared that the resin acted as a fixative preserving the bone cells and related elements.

Cell Nucleus

Endoscopic examination of Egyptian mummies.

Three Pharaonic mummies, preserved for thousand of years, had fiberoptic endoscopy carried out of the cranial, thoracic and abdominal cavities. The aim of the study was to gather medical data and ascertain the extent of damage of these mummies before undertaking restoration procedues. The endoscopic examinations revealed some valuable data concerning certain points of historical interest.

Abdomen

Computed tomography of ancient Egyptian mummies.

This first report of the application of computed tomography (CT) to the study of ancient mummies, the desiccated brain of a boy and the body of a young woman within her cartonnage, shows that CT is uniquely suitable for the study of such antiquities, a study that does not necessitate destruction of the mummy or its cartonnage. Exquisite images result that are of great paleoanatomical, paleopathological, and archeological significance.

Adolescent

Mummies that I have known. A pediatrician's venture in the field of paleopathology.

We describe the activities of a pediatrician in the field of medical archeology. Having pioneered the use of electron microscopy in the examination of Egyptian mummified tissue, we also describe some of the exciting pathological findings from various autopsies of ancient Egyptian mummies. These findings give us a glimpse of disease and death in ancient Egypt and of the evolution of these diseases as they affect man today.

Adolescent

ABO blood groups in Peruvian mummies. I. An evaluation of techniques.

Blood groups of Peruvian mummies of known origin were determined by three different methods: agglutination-inhibition, induction of antibody production and mixed cell agglutination. The three techniques gave identical results, but the last two were useful in establishing the presence of H (O) antigen, while the first technique would not. The results indicate the presence of A, B, AB and O blood groups in America prior to known European contact. This suggests the need for a revision of concepts of blood groups in the American Indian.

ABO Blood-Group System

Blood group testing of ancient material with particular reference to the mummy Nakht.

An international multidisciplinary team performed an autopsy on the mummy of Nakht, a 16-year-old Egyptian boy who died 3200 years ago. Excavation records and translation of hieroglyphics provide a positive identification. The histological techniques, both at the light and electron microscope levels, demonstrate remarkable preservation of normal and diseased structures. Splenic material and dark brown substance obtained from the inside of the sigmoid sinus of Nakht, during the examination of the contents of the cranial cavity, were tested using the SMM and IAT procedures. Repeated testing of the splenic material using SMM produced no agglutination and was complicated by hemolysis of the absorbed group O cells due to contaminating bacteria and fungi. However, when used in the IAT, splenic material gave a positive result for blood group B. The sigmoid sinus material produced a positive reaction for blood group B when used with the SMM and with the IAT. The blood cells recovered from Nakht are believed to be the oldest known preserved human red and white blood cells. The authors also believe that the testing techniques employed in this study are reliable and hence feel confident that the Egyptian boy Nakht, who is 3200 years old, was blood group B.

Adolescent

[The radiology of Egyptian mummies (author's transl)].

The technique used for the radiological examination of a well preserved mummy is described. Problems of identification and determination of age, size and sex are discussed. Post mortem changes consist of subluxation of the cervical spine and fractures of the ribs and fibulae. Of medical interest, it was possible to diagnose definitely Scheuermann's disease with a scoliosis and marked reactive spondylotic and spondylo-arthritic changes. The radiological findings provided further information regarding the technique of mummification and the method of burial. Some findings of mythological significance could be demonstrated radiologically, such as the fact that the heart and kidneys had been left in the body, the presence of a scarab, various gold plates and amulets and a fayence-decorated shroud.

Age Determination by Skeleton

Isolation of Sporothrix fungorum from a 500-year-old mummy found in Greenland.

A 500-year-old mummy of a seven-month-old Eskimo infant recently removed from a tomb north of Umanak presented problems of preservation. Among these was fungal coating on the skin, especially on the face. The fungus was isolated and diagnosed as a Sporothrix fungorum. The skin was successfully treated with nystatine. The species Sporothrix fungorum isolated is considered to be very rare, having been reported previously only from Europe and South Africa, but never from Greenland.

Greenland

Peripheral blood elements found in an Egyptian mummy: a three-dimensional view.

Intact peripheral blood elements were found within an intracranial mass, possibly eithern an antemortem subdural hematoma or a postmortem blood clot, removed from a 2200-year-old Egyptian female mummy. Surface topographies of neutrophils and lymphocytes were similar. Some erythrocytes partially retained their biconcave disk shape; others were spherical. Individual platelets exhibited pseudopodia.

Blood Cells

Biochemical identification of homogentisic acid pigment in an ochronotic egyptian mummy.

Roentgenograms of an Egyptian mummy, dating from 1500 B.C., showed extensive calcification of the intervertebral discs and articular narrowing in both hip and knee joints. Biopsy cores from the right hip showed parallel black zones in the region of the articular surfaces, leading to a clinical diagnosis of ochrinosis. The black pigment was extracted, analyzed, and compared to an air-oxidized homogentistic acid polymer. The two substances apparently were identical. The chemical evidence thus confirms the clinical finding of ochronosis, an autosomal recessive disorder. This is, so far as known, the earliest verified case of this disorder.

Cartilage

Age determination of an Alaskan mummy: morphological and biochemical correlation.

Aspartic acid racemization analysis of a tooth from an Alaskan mummy yielded an age at death of 53 (+/- 5) years, which correlates well with earlier estimates based on morphological features. This study illustrates the value of integrative approaches to paleopathologic problems and the importance of preserving rare specimens for the application of new techniques.

Aspartic Acid

Bile acids of a 3200-year-old Egyptian mummy.

The bile acids of the gall bladder and hepatic tissue of a 3200-year-old Egyptian mummy were isolated by thin-layer chromatography and identified by combined gas-liquid chromatrography and mass spectrometry. Except for complete deconjugation and extensive dehydration, the bile acids were found to correspond in their qualitative and quantitative composition to the gall bladder bile acids of modern man. The secondary bile acids constituted about 50% of the total and were identified as the normal bacterial oxidoreduction products of the primary bile acids and their dehydration products. In addition a series of unsaturated bile acids were identified, which corresponded to the dehydration products of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids. It is suggested that both bile acid deconjugation and the limited oxidoreduction were probably brought about by the Clostridium organisms identified in the tissue. On the basis of the bile acid composition it is concluded that the ancient man metabolized cholesterol along the same pathways as modern man.

Bile Acids and Salts

Autopsy of an Egyptian mummy (Nakht--ROM I).

Autopsy of a 3200-year-old Egyptian mummy by an international multidisciplinary team yielded much information about diseases of the ancient past. Major contributions were made by the disciplines of anatomy, dentistry, genetics, hematology, histology, microbiology, nuclear medicine, occupational medicine, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pathology, pediatrics, plastic surgery, radiology and virology. Scientists from Toronto, Detroit, Philadelphia and Cardiff participated in the investigation. The following were the main findings of medical interest: skeleton, infection or malnutrition as suggested by Harris's lines in distal femoral metaphyses; muscle (intercostal), cyst of Trichinella spiralis; lungs, deposits of anthracotic pigment and granite particles; spleen, enlargement with evidence of possible rupture; liver, early cirrhosis and calcified ova of Schistosoma sp.; kidney, calcified ova of Schistosoma sp.; and large and small intestines, calcified ova of Schistosoma and Taenia spp. This autopsy demonstrated the value of well coordinated efforts by specialists in various medical disciplines. Such efforts are essential when such a rare scientific endeavour is to yield a maximum of useful and reliable information.

Adolescent