scholarly journals Possible vertebral brucellosis infection in a Neanderthal

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Rothschild ◽  
Martin Haeusler

AbstractThe La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 skeleton of an old (>60-year-old) male Neanderthal is renowned for the advanced osteoarthritis of its spinal column and hip joint, and their implications for posture and lifestyle in these Mid- to Late Pleistocene humans. Reassessment of the pathologic lesions reveals erosions at multiple non-contiguous vertebrae and reactive bone formation extending far beyond the left hip joint, which suggests the additional diagnosis of brucellosis. This implies the earliest secure evidence of this zoonotic disease in hominin evolution. Brucellosis might have been transmitted via butchering or eating raw meat and is well compatible with the range of prey animals documented for Neanderthals. The associated infertility could have represented an important aspect of health in these late archaic humans.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Haeusler ◽  
Bruce Rothschild

Abstract The La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 skeleton of an old male Neanderthal is renowned for the advanced osteoarthritis of its spinal column and hip joint, and their implications for posture and lifestyle in these Mid- to Late Pleistocene humans. Reassessment of the pathologic lesions reveals erosions at multiple non-contiguous vertebrae and reactive bone formation extending far beyond the left hip joint, which suggests the additional diagnosis of brucellosis. This implies the earliest secure evidence of this zoonotic disease in hominin evolution. Brucellosis might have been transmitted via butchering or eating raw meat and is well compatible with the range of prey animals documented for Neanderthals. The associated infertility perhaps contributed to the demise of these late archaic humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yazan Hammad ◽  
Reem Akiely ◽  
Nada Hajjaj ◽  
Farah Tahboub ◽  
Jihad Al-Ajlouni

Introduction: Myositis ossificans (MO) is a benign non-neoplastic condition in which heterotopic bone formation occurs in soft tissues. Neurogenic MO is one variant of MO where the lesion is a result of neurological disorders, including brain and spinal cord injuries, especially when followed by immobility and spasticity. MO can also be a result of direct trauma or even genetic mutations. Case Report: We present three cases of young men (16, 37, and 22-year-old) who developed MO of the hip joint following brain or spinal cord injuries. One of them had also sustained a direct trauma to the affected hip joint at the time of the accident. All three patients presented with inability to walk independently due to diminished range of motion at the affected joint. X-rays and computerized tomography (CT) scans with 3-dimentional (3D) reconstruction suggested the diagnosis of MO, but the serum alkaline phosphatase was within normal limits at the time of presentation. The first case had bilateral involvement with unmistakable separation between the heterotopic bone formation and the frank hip joints on CT. This patient underwent successful staged excision of the ossifications. The second patient had unilateral hip joint involvement with the absence of clear separation between the heterotopic bone formation and the hip joint, thus, underwent total hip replacement for the affected side as excision was not possible. The third patienthad unilateral hip joint involvement and underwent excision of the ossification with dynamic hip screw insertion after sustaining a stable intertrochanteric fracture intraoperatively. Postoperatively, all three patients received physiotherapy and oral indomethacin. Upon recovery, they were able to walk independently with a near-normal range of motion at the hip joint. There was no evidence of recurrence upon follow-up visits, and CT scans in patients I and II. Follow-ups for patient III were not possible as the patient died 1 month after surgery due t


Author(s):  
G.V. Gayko ◽  
S. Mahomedov ◽  
O.G. Gayko ◽  
S.N. Besedynskyi ◽  
T.A. Kuzub ◽  
...  

Summary. In 77 patients (37 men and 40 women) of different age groups who underwent hip joint replacement, the content of calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase and hydroxyproline in blood serum was determined. The results of a study of biochemical markers showed the predominance of osteoporotic processes in patients of elder age groups, as is evidenced by an increase in the level of free hydroxyproline and a decrease in protein-bound hydroxyproline in blood serum, as well as by an increase in the level of hydroxyproline in daily urine excretion compared with reference indices. A decrease in calcium excretion with age both in men and women can be associated with a decrease in calcium intake and its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which is typical for the elderly. Calcium has the greatest importance in metabolic disorders of bone tissue. Maintaining the normal state of bones in adults is associated with continuously ongoing process called “bone remodeling”. Violation of remodeling in the direction of increasing bone resorption and reducing bone formation is considered as the main reason for the development of osteoporosis. The processes of bone formation and resorption are displayed in the blood and urine at the level of various enzymes from bone tissue, by products of bone matrix synthesis or cell destruction products. Biochemical markers of osteoporosis manifestations are specific, expressing bone synthesis and resorption processes. The violations of bone metabolism reflect most objectively not the absolute indicators of mineral metabolism and metabolites of the main bone tissue protein (collagen), but the coefficient of their ratios.


2007 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 860-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tehranzadeh ◽  
C. Tao ◽  
C. A. Browning

The purpose of this review article is to provide a brief overview of the recent literature on the two main types of percutaneous biopsy methods done in the spinal column: fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and core needle biopsy (CNB). FNAB is the process of obtaining a sample of cells and bits of tissue for examination by applying suction through a fine needle attached to a syringe. Core needle biopsy involves extracting a cylindrical sample of tissue using a large, hollow needle. The decision for needle biopsy is a joint effort between the clinician, pathologist, radiologist, surgeon, and patient. Specific techniques and approaches with varying needle systems are described for each spinal region. Percutaneous image-guided spine biopsy is a safe and effective procedure. It is the procedure of choice in definitive diagnosis of pathologic lesions of the spine.


2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Dupouy-Camet

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of raw meat containing larvae of the nematode Trichinella. Four species of Trichinella are found in Europe : Trichinella spiralis (cosmopolitan), T. britovi (in wildlife from mountainous areas), T. nativa (in wildlife from colder and northern regions) and T. pseudospiralis (a cosmopolitan nonencapsulating species). Human trichinellosis causes high fever, facial oedema, myositis and eosinophilia. It can be a serious disease, particularly in elderly patients in whom neurological or cardiovascular complications can lead to death.


Author(s):  
Erik Trinkaus ◽  
Alexandra P. Buzhilova ◽  
Maria B. Mednikova ◽  
Maria V. Dobrovolskaya

As the interface between the body and technology, in all of its myriad forms, the skeletal hand morphology of Late Pleistocene humans has received increasing attention since the work of Sarasin (1932) and especially Musgrave (1970, 1971, 1973), as paleoanthropologists have documented a series of contrasts between archaic Homo and recent human hand bones (e.g., Vlček 1975; Trinkaus 1983b; Vandermeersch 1991; Niewoehner et al. 1997; Niewoehner 2001, 2008; Crevecoeur 2008; Lorenzo 2007; Trinkaus in press). However, since there were major changes in human technology between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, and especially with the Mid Upper Paleolithic (MUP), the comparisons of concern should be between late archaic humans and early modern humans. For the Early Upper Paleolithic, the latter include relatively complete hand remains from Nazlet Khater 2 and scattered hand bones from Tianyuan 1 and Brassempouy (Henry-Gambier et al. 2004; Crevecoeur 2008; Shang and Trinkaus 2010). There are then relatively abundant hand remains from the MUP (Verneau 1906; Matiegka 1938; Mallegni et al. 1999; Sládek et al. 2000; Trinkaus 2006c; Trinkaus et al. 2010, 2014), including some immature ones (Mallegni and Parenti 1973; Sergi et al. 1974; Trinkaus et al. 2002b). Yet few of them have been described in detail. In this context, the Sunghir manual remains are described and select aspects are compared across Late Pleistocene samples (principally features that appear to change with the emergence of modern humans). For these descriptions and comparisons, the Sunghir 1 hand bones are paleontologically well preserved. Of the 54 bones potentially present for Sunghir 1 (not counting pollical sesamoid bones), 49 are known, and none sustained more than minor marginal erosion. The originally missing bones include one pisiform bone and four distal phalanges from the ulnar digits. During and after excavation, the right and left hands were mixed, so that the bones have been sorted based on morphology and (for the ulnar middle and distal phalanges) size.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilaye Teklewold Deneke ◽  
Adam Bekele ◽  
Henrietta L. Moore ◽  
Tadele Mamo ◽  
Gizat Almaw ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In the Ethiopian dairy farming system, prevalence of zoonotic diseases such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is high in the cattle population. This, combined with some risky milk and meat consumption habits, such as raw milk and uninspected raw meat consumption, poses a considerable risk of zoonotic disease transmission. A survey was conducted to investigate milk and meat consumption patterns, and the level of exposure to urban and peri-urban dairy-keeping households for risks of zoonotic disease transmission.Methods: Data on milk and meat consumption behaviours and other socioeconomic and demographic variables were collected from 480 urban and peri-urban dairy farms randomly surveyed in major towns in Ethiopia (Mekele, Hawassa, and Gondar towns, Addis Ababa city, as well as five Oromia towns around Addis Ababa). Determinants of raw milk consumption associated with a number of demographic and socio-economic factors were analysed using a generalized ordered logistic model.Results: The results indicated that about 20% the population consumed raw milk and their awareness about pasteurization and its benefits were low. Location, gender of the household head, previous bTB testing of cattle on the farm, knowledge of zoonotic risks associated with raw milk consumption, household size, and per-capita milk consumption were found to be important determinants of the frequency of raw milk consumption. About 60% of the respondents were exposed to the risk of zoonotic diseases through their habit of frequently consuming raw meat. This was depite that over 90% of the respondants were aware of possible zoonotic risks of raw meat consumption. The determinants of raw meat consumption behaviours were associated with location, gender and age of the household head, household size, meat type preference, per-capita meat consumption, knowledge about disease transmission risks, and training on zoonoses. Conclusion: Creating awareness about the risk factors for zoonotic transmission of diseases including bTB through training and media campaigns, improving meat hygiene through better abattoir services, and inducing behavioural change around meat sourcing, raw meat and raw milk consumption, are all crucial to the successful prevention and control of the spread of zoonotic diseases, including bTB.


1994 ◽  
Vol &NA; (308) ◽  
pp. 139???145
Author(s):  
Koji Inoue ◽  
Shinji Imai ◽  
Atsushi Iwasaki ◽  
Masauki Egawa ◽  
Sinsuke Hukuda

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 (S8) ◽  
pp. S221-S233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osbjorn M. Pearson

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