1,721,010 research outputs found
Porotic Hyperostosis as stress indicator: the state of the art
No full textFor well over a century, porosity of the cranial vault and of the orbital roofs have been interpreted by bioarchaeologists as stress indicators. These conditions are commonly reported as Porotic Hyperostosis (PH), but other terms such as cribra cranii and cribra orbitalia have also been utilized. In recent research, cribra orbitalia is considered a distinct phenomenon probably with different etiology, while PH is used to indicate porosity and thinning of the outer cranial table associated with hypertrophy of the diploe.
PH has been reported as stress indicator and the nature of this condition is still debated: from the interpretation of PH as nutritional stress marker, as indicator of chronic iron deficiency, or as environmental pathogen load and bad hygienic conditions, up until to consider PH as the expression of well-defined diseases such as anemia and scurvy.
The last lines of research provide convincing evidence that hemolytic and acquired anemias are the most relevant disorders causing PH. In particular, acquired forms of anemia can be related to several factors such as dietary deficiency, parasitism, infections, hemorrhage, or other disorders, thus providing the basis for conclusions that PH can be considered an indicator of lifestyle and health conditions.
In this research, a re-examination of the literature regarding PH was performed to achieve the state-of-the-art of PH as stress indicator in ancient populations and taking stock of the methodology addressed to record this pathological condition.
The most evident criticism is that PH is not characteristic of a specific disease but rather it represents a morphological feature; the porosity on the cranial vault or in the orbital roofs are thus not a sufficient condition to diagnose PH. X-ray, and in some cases histological examination, are need to perform an appropriate differential analysis. For these reasons, the relationship between porosity on the ectocranial surface or on the orbital roofs and environmental stress or poor life conditions should be better evaluated
Periodontal health in pre-Roman Italy: a combined macroscopic and proteomics evaluation.
No full textPeriodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition causing damage to the supporting dental tissues, informs us about past oral health in palaeopathology. Dysbiotic host-oral microbiome interactions, including poor hygiene, diseases, and genetics, are known factors. However, the role of diet has been largely overlooked until recent clinical studies highlight carbohydrate-rich diets as pro-inflammatory. In this study, we conducted an evaluation of periodontal diseases by assessing the quality of interdental septa in a sample of 63 individuals from pre-Roman Italy who lived between the 7th-4th centuries BCE, a period characterized by agricultural intensification and cereal production. Our macroscopic approach was complemented by proteomic analysis of dental calculus from a subsample of 33 individuals. Results revealed 23.0% of septa (N=1890) were affected by periodontitis with males significantly more affected than females. Moreover, periodontitis increased with age in both sexes. Proteomic analysis identified the presence of periodontal pathogens of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola (i.e. the ‘red complex’) in 39.4% of the individuals (13/33). While plaque accumulation triggers periodontitis, our interpretation emphasizes the role of nutrition in disease susceptibility. Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as grains, adhere to the oral cavity and nourish bacteria, exacerbating periodontal diseases. Consequently, reliance on staple crops and poor dietary diversity may have been a primary factor contributing to the proliferation of oral microbiome-related bacteria. This aligns with previous results of bone collagen stable isotope analysis which indicated a C3 plant-based diet with limited animal protein intake. Methodological limitations hinder comparisons with modern surveys or osteoarchaeological studies due to periodontitis recording inconsistencie
Environment, Occupation, and Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis in Pre-Roman Italy
No full textObjective: To assess the frequency of chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) in a pre-Roman archeological skeletal assemblage from Italy and to evaluate the occurrence of CMS in combination with its environmental and sociocultural context. Materials and methods: A total of 131 adult individuals from the pre-Roman site of Pontecagnano (eighth to third centuries bce) in southern Italy with intact maxillary sinuses of ≥ 50% preservation were macroscopically and microscopically observed for the presence of osseous changes per published diagnostic criteria of CMS. Results: CMS was present in 57.2% of individuals. The prevalence of CMS was higher in females than in males, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.043). The frequency of CMS increased with age-at-death. Bilateral CMS occurred more frequently than unilateral CMS. The differences in the prevalence of CMS in the Etruscan (700-450 bce), Samnite (450-375 bce), and final pre-Roman (375-200 bce) phases of occupation were not statistically significant. Discussion: In combination with viral and bacterial infections, occupational activities (metallurgy, ceramic and textile production, and agriculture) and environmental factors (volcanic ash, marshy environments, and sub-Saharan dust plumes) likely stimulated respiratory disease and resultant CMS in the inhabitants of Pontecagnano. This study provides a framework for future research on CMS and respiratory diseases in the Mediterranean region, in relation to environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic influences. The limited number of individuals per period prevented a proper diachronic analysis. Osteoarcheological assemblages from the Mediterranean region should be systematically analyzed for CMS to increase understanding of how climate, environment, industrialization, and urbanicity affected human health through time
Mieloma multiplo in paleopatologia
Full text linkLa revisione critica della letteratura paleopatologica, riguardante i casi di mieloma multiplo nelle popolazioni antiche, ha permesso di identificare con accuratezza metodologica un totale di 25 casi, provenienti da differenti aree geografiche del mondo e con cronologie che spaziano dalla preistoria all'età contemporanea. La distribuzione delle molteplici evidenze di mieloma multiplo di epoca antica dimostra che la maggior parte dei casi sono stati scoperti nel Vecchio Mondo (n=18) e risalgono al Medioevo, mentre quelli del Nuovo Mondo (n=7) sono datati al periodo pre-colombiano. Il profilo demografico suggerisce una lieve prevalenza a favore del sottocampione maschile (1,3:1) mentre il 91,7% degli individui affetti (n= 24) risulta essere di età adulta. Lo scopo principale di questa ricerca è quello di presentare un quadro quanto più esaustivo delle manifestazioni scheletriche acclarate come mieloma multiplo, evidenziando come il periodico riesame della documentazione risulti essere necessario ai fini di verificare la coerenza delle diagnosi proposte rispetto alla presentazione delle lesioni scheletriche, con il fine ultimo di migliorare l'accuratezza della diagnosi in paleopatologia. Inoltre, anche le questioni metodologiche e i criteri diagnostici, comunemente affrontati nel campo paleopatologico e, più specificatamente, nell’ambito della ricerca paleo-oncologica, figurano tra gli obiettivi di questa revisione critica
A case report of solitary osteochondroma from 4th c. BC Pontecagnano (southern Italy) and review of the literature.
No full textOsteochondroma is one of the most common benign bone tumors in current clinical medicine; by contrast, their evidence in paleopathology is scant.
The aim of this study is twofold: 1) to present a new case of solitary osteochondroma in an individual from the necropolis of Pontecagnano (southern Italy) dated to the 4th century BC; 2) to provide a literature review concerning paleopathological evidence of solitary osteochondromas in osteoarchaeological collections globally in order to assess the current state of research on this topic.
Macroscopical examination revealed the presence of a large exophytic formation located that arises from the anteromedial portion of the proximal metaphyseal region and extends to the posteromedial aspect of the proximal diaphysis extremity of the right tibia belonging to an adult male individual. The radiological analysis revealed its structure being composed of regular trabecular bone tissue with cortico-medullary continuity, features that are diagnostic for a sessile osteochondroma.
A review of primary peer-reviewed literature allowed us to ascertain a total of 12 cases of solitary osteochondromas, ranging from prehistory to the post-medieval period.
A critical appraisal of diagnosis performed in published cases of osteochondromas is a valuable tool for detecting the limitations of some case reports, in particular those lacking imaging technique (e.g. radiology) which is crucial for confirming the diagnosis of osteochondroma.
Finally, we advocate that paleo-oncology should not be limited to malignant neoplasms, rather it should incorporate the neglected area of benign tumors as they may provide additional information on their presence and natural history in bioarchaeological contexts
Granular impressions on the endocranial surface as a marker of TB infection: an investigation on a Medieval population from Tuscany
No full textAre endocranial granular impressions pathognomonic of tuberculous meningitis or a marker of tuberculous infection? An investigation on a medieval osteoarcheological assemblage from Italy
No full textObjectives: In recent paleopathological literature, granular impressions on the endocranial surface are considered pathognomonic of tuberculous meningitis. This study aims to verify the presence of granular impressions and assess their relationship with tuberculosis in an archeological human skeletal assemblage. Materials: The study analyzed the endocranial surfaces of 212 skulls (38 non-adults and 174 adults) from the medieval site of Pieve di Pava, Italy. Methods: Macroscopic and stereomicroscopic examination of the endocranial surface was conducted to evaluate the presence, location, and manifestation of granular impressions. Results: Granular impressions affected more than half of the individuals, with no statistical difference between males and females. Conclusions: The high frequency of granular impressions challenges their interpretation as pathognomonic of tuberculous meningitis, a rare complication of tuberculosis affecting the central nervous system. Instead, these lesions should be considered indicative of bacteremia, when bacilli reach the central nervous system and form tubercles on the meninges. It cannot be established whether these tubercles were quiescent or had ruptured, leading to tuberculous meningitis. Significance: Based on the pathogenic life cycle of M. tuberculosis, as defined in clinical settings, it seems prudent to consider granular impressions as a marker of tuberculosis infection, rather than of active tuberculosis disease or tuberculous meningitis in paleopathology. Limitations: Research limitations include the smaller number of non-adults compared to adults. Suggestions for further research: Screening of granular impressions in other large osteoarcheological assemblages could provide new and more reliable data on the spread of tuberculosis infection across different social contexts, geographical settings, and historical periods
Solitary osteochondromas in paleo-oncology: A case report from 4th-century BCE Pontecagnano (southern Italy)
No full textThis study presents a new case of solitary osteochondroma (SOC) identified on the proximal tibia of a 4th-century BCE individual from Pontecagnano (Salerno, Italy) with an aim to contribute to differential diagnosis
of bone tumors in archeological contexts
A case of secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy from medieval Tuscany (central Italy, 10th-12th centuries CE)
No full textObjectives: This study aims to provide a detailed evaluation of a case of secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) and to explore insights into the presence and consequences of disease in medieval rural Italy. Materials: The skeleton of a male (US 4405) with an estimated age at death of 51-69 years excavated from the medieval rural site of Pieve di Pava (Siena, Italy). Methods: Macroscopic and radiological (x-ray, CT) analyses were performed. Results: Symmetrical extensive periosteal new bone formation on the diaphyseal and metaphyseal regions of this individual's long bones; the lower limbs were more extensively and severely affected than the upper limbs and the distal segments were more severely altered in comparison to the proximal ones. Conclusions: The macroscopic and radiological features are highly consistent with a diagnosis of secondary HOA. Significance: The excellent state of preservation allowed the evaluation of rarely noted skeletal manifestations of HOA and provided insight into aspects of rural life in medieval Italy. Limitations: Molecular analysis was not successful in sequencing the aDNA of tuberculosis, therefore the underlying primary cause of secondary HOA, whether pulmonary or extrapulmonary, remains obscure in this case. Suggestion for the future research: It is advisable to regularly revisit the data available from osteoarchaeological collections in order to identify further cases of HOA, along with to further investigate the known cases to search for the underlying primary disease
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