scholarly journals Combined methodologies for gaining much information from ancient dental calculus: testing experimental strategies for simultaneously analysing DNA and food residues

Author(s):  
Alessandra Modi ◽  
Lisa Pisaneschi ◽  
Valentina Zaro ◽  
Stefania Vai ◽  
Chiara Vergata ◽  
...  
1978 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-689
Author(s):  
Shohei HIGASHI ◽  
Tetsuo KODAKA ◽  
Miyuki KOBAYASHI ◽  
Tetsuko IMURA ◽  
Hiroaki NAKAGAWA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darko Stojanovski ◽  
Ivana Živaljević ◽  
Vesna Dimitrijević ◽  
Julie Dunne ◽  
Richard Evershed ◽  
...  

The application of biomolecular techniques to archaeological materials from the Balkans is providing valuable new information on the prehistory of the region. This is especially relevant for the study of the neolithisation process in SE Europe, which gradually affected the rest of the continent. Here, to answer questions regarding diet and subsistence practices in early farming societies, we combine organic residue analyses of archaeological pottery, taxonomic and isotopic study of domestic animal remains and biomolecular analyses of human dental calculus. The results from the analyses of the lipid residues from pottery suggest that milk was processed in ceramic vessels. Dairy products were shown to be part of the subsistence strategies of the earliest Neolithic communities in the region but were of varying importance in different areas of the Balkan. On the other hand, we did not confidently detect any milk proteins within the dental calculus. The molecular and isotopic identification of meat, dairy, plants and beeswax in the pottery lipids also provided insights into the diversity of diet in these early Neolithic communities. We also present the first compound-specific radiocarbon dates for the region, obtained directly on absorbed organic residues extracted from pottery, identified as dairy lipids.


Author(s):  
Raphael Hirata Júnior

Resumo: O cálculo dentário é uma estrutura calcificada a partir do biofilme dentário (placa bacteriana) que, após o seu estabelecimento, é de difícil remoção e constitui um mecanismo de patogenicidade importante em diversas situações patológicas da cavidade oral por estar sempre coberto por uma camada viável de biofilme não mineralizada. A presente revisão de literatura releva a importância dos biofilmes calcificados nos contextos de doença, seus aspectos clínicos e microbiológicos em tempos anciães e contemporâneos, e sobre as medidas terapêuticas e preventivas. Apesar de todo conhecimento gerado sobre as doenças da cavidade oral, ainda são limitadas as abordagens clínicas a respeito dos mecanismos de controle dos cálculos dentários.Abstract: Dental calculus is a calcified structure from the dental biofilm (plaque), which, after its establishment, is difficult to remove and constitutes an important mechanism of pathogenicity in various pathological situations of the oral cavity because it is always covered by a viable layer of non-mineralized biofilm. The present literature highlights the importance of calcified biofilms in disease contexts, clinical and microbiological of dental calculus aspects in ancient and contemporary eras, and in therapeutic and preventive measures. Despite all the knowledge generated about the diseases of the oral cavity, the clinical approaches regarding the mechanisms of control of dental calculus still need investigations.Palavras Chave: Cálculo dentário, Calcificação do biofilme, Higiene oralKey words: Dental calculus, Biofilm calcification, Oral hygiene


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1727-1727
Author(s):  
Verónica Mundo-Rosas

Abstract Objectives To analyze the magnitude and distribution of food waste and insecurity in Mexico as a first step in designing public policies to counteract these problems. Methods Based on methodology proposed by Subirats et al. (2008), we analyzed the magnitude and distribution of food waste and insecurity in Mexico. Using scientific evidence and official data, we responded to the following guiding questions: What is the problem? What is the magnitude of the problem? Who are the population groups most affected by the problem and where do they reside? To what extent does coverage under current public policies address these problems? Results Problem: By 2050, the Mexican population will have grown by 22.9 million with respect to 2015. The country's capacity to produce the amount of food required in the future will depend largely on what proportion of the population has the necessary financial resources to acquire the food it needs, and whether food is equitably distributed. Magnitude of the problem: Mexico loses and wastes approximately 34% of the national production of items in the basic food basket while 26.4 million Mexicans lack sufficient income to acquire the quantity and quality of food they need. Those affected the most: From an environmental viewpoint, the larger cities in Mexico constitute the principal production centers of food waste, among other residues. This causes air, land and water pollution at the regional level, as well as serious health problems in the population. From an ethical and nutritional perspective, food waste indirectly affects those experiencing food insecurity. Location of the affected population: In 2012, central Mexico was the largest generator of urban solid waste including organic and, specifically, food residues. Conversely, southern Mexico was the region most affected by food insecurity. Public policy coverage: Despite the magnitude of the problem, several Mexican states have no public policy in place to combat food waste or insecurity. Conclusions The evidence provided by our study contributes to decision making in the formulation of public policies aimed at reducing food loss and waste as well as food insecurity. It also serves to monitor progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Funding Sources None.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1689-1704
Author(s):  
Karren S. Palmer ◽  
Cheryl A. Makarewicz ◽  
Alexey A. Tishkin ◽  
Svetlana S. Tur ◽  
Amartuvshin Chunag ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serina L. Robinson ◽  
Jörn Piel ◽  
Shinichi Sunagawa

Shotgun metagenomic approaches to uncover new enzymes are underdeveloped relative to PCR- or activity-based functional metagenomics. Here we review computational and experimental strategies to discover biosynthetic enzymes from metagenomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 08 (12) ◽  
pp. E1748-E1753
Author(s):  
Satoshi Ono ◽  
Shun Ito ◽  
Kyohei Maejima ◽  
Shosuke Hosaka ◽  
Kiyotaka Umeki ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and study aims Ultrathin endoscopes are commonly used for surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to reduce discomfort associated with scope insertion. However, the flexibility of an ultrathin endoscope is a trade-off between reducing discomfort and lengthening examination time. Patients and methods The EG17-J10 (EG17) is a novel ultrathin endoscope characterized by its tapering body stiffness; however, the flexibility of its tip is comparable to that of the traditional ultrathin endoscope EG16-K10 (EG16). We compared EGD examination time between EG17 and EG16. A total of 319 examinees who underwent EGD from November 2019 to January 2020 at the Chiba-Nishi General Hospital were enrolled. Six examinees were excluded due to past history of surgical resection of the upper gastrointestinal tract or too much food residues; 313 examinees (EG17, 209; EG16,104) were retrospectively analyzed. The examination time was divided into three periods: esophageal insertion time (ET), gastroduodenal insertion time (GDT), and surveillance time of the stomach (ST). The total amount of ET, GDT, and ST was defined as total examination time (TT). Results TT of EGD using EG17 was significantly shorter compared to EGD using EG16 (222.7 ± 68.9 vs. 245.7 ± 78.5 seconds) (P = 0.004). Among the three periods of examination time, ET (66.7 ± 24.1 vs. 76.0 ± 24.1 seconds) (P = 0.001) and GDT (47.9 ± 17.4 vs. 55.2 ± 35.2 seconds) (P = 0.007) of EGD using EG17 were significantly shorter compared to EGD using EG16, except for ST (108.1 ± 51.5.1 vs. 114.5 ± 50.1 seconds) (P = 0.148). Conclusion An ultrathin endoscope with tapering body stiffness can shorten EGD examination time, mainly due to the shortening of insertion time.


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