Ancient mitogenomes from Pre-Pottery Neolithic Central Anatolia and the effects of a Late Neolithic bottleneck in sheep (Ovis aries)

Occupied between ~10,300 and 9300 years ago, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site of Aşıklı Höyük in Central Anatolia went through early phases of sheep domestication. Analysis of 629 mitochondrial genomes from this and numerous sites in Anatolia, southwest Asia, Europe, and Africa produced a phylogenetic tree with excessive coalescences (nodes) around the Neolithic, a potential signature of a domestication bottleneck. This is consistent with archeological evidence of sheep management at Aşıklı Höyük which transitioned from residential stabling to open pasturing over a millennium of site occupation. However, unexpectedly, we detected high genetic diversity throughout Aşıklı Höyük's occupation rather than a bottleneck. Instead, we detected a tenfold demographic bottleneck later in the Neolithic, which caused the fixation of mitochondrial haplogroup B in southwestern Anatolia. The mitochondrial genetic makeup that emerged was carried from the core region of early Neolithic sheep management into Europe and dominates the matrilineal diversity of both its ancient and the billion-strong modern sheep populations.

Ancient cattle genomics, origins, and rapid turnover in the Fertile Crescent

Genome-wide analysis of 67 ancient Near Eastern cattle, Bos taurus, remains reveals regional variation that has since been obscured by admixture in modern populations. Comparisons of genomes of early domestic cattle to their aurochs progenitors identify diverse origins with separate introgressions of wild stock. A later region-wide Bronze Age shift indicates rapid and widespread introgression of zebu, Bos indicus, from the Indus Valley. This process was likely stimulated at the onset of the current geological age, ~4.2 thousand years ago, by a widespread multicentury drought. In contrast to genome-wide admixture, mitochondrial DNA stasis supports that this introgression was male-driven, suggesting that selection of arid-adapted zebu bulls enhanced herd survival. This human-mediated migration of zebu-derived genetics has continued through millennia, altering tropical herding on each continent.

Ancient goat genomes reveal mosaic domestication in the Fertile Crescent

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species.

Colonization of burns and the duration of hospital stay of severely burned patients

In a retrospective study the influence of several factors on the length of hospital stay of severely burned patients (at least 24% total body surface area) has been investigated. The influence of these factors was studied by means of the Cox model survival analysis with time-varying covariates. Seventy-one patients were included in this study. The mean age was 32 years (range 1-82 years), the mean total body surface area burned 40% (range 24-80%) and the mean full-thickness area burned 32% (range 10-70%). The length of hospital stay was positively correlated with the extent of the burned area and with the age of the patient. Wound colonization with Enterobacteriaceae or with a combination of Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus was also associated with a prolonged stay in hospital.

Selective intestinal decontamination for prevention of wound colonization in severely burned patients: a retrospective analysis

In this study the effect of selective intestinal decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) on wound colonization was investigated. Ninety-one patients with at least 25 per cent total burned surface area (TBSA) were included in this study. All patients received oral polymyxin. In 63 patients oral co-trimoxazole and amphotericin B were added to the regimen. The addition of co-trimoxazole decreased the incidence of Enterobacteriaceae wound colonization from 71 per cent to 11 per cent (P less than 0.005). Colonization with Proteus was eliminated in patients treated with co-trimoxazole, compared with an incidence of 36 per cent in the group treated with polymyxin alone (P less than 0.001). The addition of amphotericin B decreased yeast colonization of the burn wound from 39 per cent to 10 per cent (P less than 0.005). A close relation was observed between burn wound colonization and colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. No resistant bacterial strains emerged during the period of study. These results suggest that SDD is an effective method for prevention of wound colonization. Further controlled studies are needed to establish the role of SDD in preventing burn wound colonization and wound sepsis.

Successful treatment of a severely burned elderly patient with homografts from her identical twin sister

A case is reported of the permanent survival of split skin homografts from the twin sister of a 65-year-old women with 50% burns. This is the first time this has been reported in the elderly. As the homo- and autografts demonstrated the same survival pattern, the conclusion was drawn that the patient and her sister were very probably monozygotic twins. This was confirmed later by the results of the tests for HLA-typing, mixed lymphocyte studies and red blood cell antigens.

[Oral florid papillomatosis or "speckled" leukoplakia? A discussion with reference to three cases (author's transl)]

Three patients in whom the diagnosis of oral florid papillomatosis or speckled leukoplakia was made are reported. All three patients were elderly men, who had been heavy smokers for years. In two of the treated patients the disease recurred. Histologically pseudohyphae of Candida could be demonstrated of all three cases. The etiology and the differential diagnosis of oral florid papillomatosis and speckled leukoplakia are discussed. In our opinion, there is no essential difference between oral florid papillomatosis and speckled leukoplakia.