Early modern humans from the Pestera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Romania.
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The early modern human remains from the Pestera Muierii, Romania have been directly dated to approximately 30,000 radiocarbon years before present (approximately 30 ka 14C BP) (approximately 35 ka cal BP) ("calendrical" age; based on CalPal 2005) and augment a small sample of securely dated, European, pre-28 ka 14C BP (approximately 32.5 ka cal BP) modern human remains. The Muierii fossils exhibit a suite of derived modern human features, including reduced maxillae with pronounced canine fossae, a narrow nasal aperture, small superciliary arches, an arched parietal curve, zygomatic arch above the auditory porous, laterally bulbous mastoid processes, narrow mandibular corpus, reduced anterior dentition, ventral-to-bisulcate scapular axillary border, and planoconcave tibial and fibular diaphyseal surfaces. However, these traits co-occur with contextually archaic and/or Neandertal features, including a moderately low frontal arc, a large occipital bun, a high coronoid process and asymmetrical mandibular notch, a more medial mandibular notch crest to condylar position, and a narrow scapular glenoid fossa. As with other European early modern humans, the mosaic of modern human and archaic/Neandertal features, relative to their potential Middle Paleolithic ancestral populations, indicates considerable Neandertal/modern human admixture. Moreover, the narrow scapular glenoid fossa suggests habitual movements at variance with the associated projectile technology. The reproductive and scapulohumeral functional inferences emphasize the subtle natures of behavioral contrasts between Neandertals and these early modern Europeans. (+info)
The history of the Laboratory of Pathology of the Cluj-Napoca Oncological Institute.
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The Laboratory of Pathology of the actual "Professor Ion Chiricuta" Oncological Institute of Cluj-Napoca, former "Iuliu Maniu" Institute for Cancer Study and Prophylaxis, had the privilege that in its framework carry on an important part of their activity professors Titu Vasiliu and Rubin Popa, who are forming, beside Victor Babes, the golden trinity of the Romanian pathology. The Cancer Institute of Cluj, one of the first in the World, was founded in 1929, especially by the clear-sightedness and the efforts of Professor Iuliu Moldovan, the master of the modern Romanian school of hygiene. The clinic division was assisted by a Laboratory of Pathology, whose chief was appointed the young pathologist of high competence, Rubin Popa, associate Professor of this department of the Cluj School of Medicine. In 1942' he became director of the Institute, function accomplished until his premature disappearance in 1958. Titu Vasiliu worked in the Oncological Institute from 1949, a year after his forced retreat from the chair of pathology, up to 1958. Fortunately, his premature disappearance did not interrupt the activity of the laboratory, because the management of the Oncological Institute was committed to Ion Chiricuta, an experimented and modern surgeon of Bucharest. From 1960, the Laboratory of Pathology has been led by Professor Augustin Muresan, an experimented, rigorous and prudent pathologist, who has imprinted these indispensable qualities to his disciples learning under his leadership. The activity of the laboratory has been very favorably influenced by the presence of Professor Gheorghe Badenski from the Department of Microbiology. The collaboration with Professor Eugen Pora from Babes-Bolyai Department of Animal Physiology and his disciples, Virgil Toma, Draga Nestor, Sena Rosculet, Carmen Stugren and Georgette Buga has carried on the performance of interesting works concerning the thymus involution in tumor-bearing hosts and its signification for the depressed immunity in the advanced stages of cancer. In the same direction, the behavior of mast cells has been studied in collaboration with Professor George Csaba from the Budapest Medical University, Department of Biology. The observations brought about were remarked by the Canadian scientist Hans Selye. Most of these works have been included in the book "Immunity and cancer", distinguished with "Victor Babes" Prize of the Romanian Academy. The arrival in the Institute of Professor Ion Macavei, disciple of Iuliu Hatieganu and founder of the Clinical Hematology in Cluj, expert in blood and bone marrow cytology, has given a strong impulse to the studies of malignant hemopoietic diseases. The current use of cytologic and histopathologic examinations in this field of pathology and, especially, the introduction by him, for the first time in Romania, of the osteomedullary biopsy has permitted the elaboration of an appreciated work about the cytologic and histologic diagnosis of lymphadenopathies. In the histochemical-histoenzymatic period of the microscopic diagnosis, between the years 1960-1990, the laboratory has enjoyed by the advices and the material help of Professor Raymond Wegmann from the Paris University, Institute of Histochemistry, the founder-editor of the International Review of Histochemistry, from 1976, of Cellular and Molecular Biology, who visited our laboratory in 1992. From 1965, in an adjacent Laboratory of Cytogenetics, Corneliu D. Olinici has performed the first karyotypes in Cluj and has teached the method to several other specialists. Despite the technical difficulties, the works performed in the Laboratory of Pathology have succeeded sometimes to reach the quality required by Professor Chiricuta to a valuable scientific work in cancerology. This performance has been obtained by a study concerning Crabtree effect variations in tumoral metastases or about lactic-dehydrogenase behavior in breast carcinomas. (+info)
The effect of valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on portal and systemic hemodynamics and on renal function in liver cirrhosis.
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AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of valsartan, a new generation angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on portal and systemic hemodynamics and on renal function in cirrhosis. METHODS: Eighty patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension were divided in two groups as follows: group I - 40 patients who received valsartan (Diovan) 80 mg /day for 7 days and group II - 40 patients who received placebo. All the patients had hemodynamic, endocrine and renal parameters measured on day 0 and 7. The following were assessed: creatinine clearance, lithium clearance, plasma renin activity, concentration of plasma aldosteron and sodium homeostasis. Hemodynamic effects were assessed sonographically by portal flow volume and velocity evaluation, and mean arterial blood pressure. RESULTS: Valsartan increased the portal blood flow and the portal velocity (p < 0.01). These changes occurred without any significant changes in blood pressure and renal function or the glomerular filtration rate, compared with controls (p > 0.05). Valsartan also reduced the concentration of plasma aldosteron (p < 0.01) and increased the urinary sodium excretion (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A one week treatment with valsartan in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension determines an increase in natriuresis, which could be regarded as beneficial and changes in the portal hemodynamics which might be speculated to represent a reduction of portal resistance. (+info)
NAT2 gene polymorphism and sporadic colorectal cancer. Prevalence, tumor stage and prognosis. A preliminary study in 70 patients.
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AIM: Theoretically, individuals with a NAT2 rapid acetylator genotype are exposed to a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. We attempted to study this relationship. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated a group of 70 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer and 40 controls. We calculated the relative risk for patients homozygous for the normal allele NAT2*5C, NAT2*5A, NAT2*6B, NAT2*7B, for heterozygous patients and for patients homozygous for the mutant allele. RESULTS: We found an increased risk for patients with a rapid acetylator genotype to develop colorectal cancer. Rapid acetylators, homozygous negative or heterozygous for the NAT2*5C, NAT2*5A and NAT2*6B mutations have an increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to homozygous positive patients.The analysis of the NAT2*5C genotype shows that the majority of the cases are at stage pT3 for rapid acetylators, 41 cases (74.54%), compared to slow acetylators, where the majority of cases are at stage pT4, 10 cases (66.66%) (p<0.05). The genotype with a rapid acetylator phenotype of the NAT2*5C, NAT2*5A and NAT2*7B variants was most frequently associated with Dukes stage B. The NAT2*5C, NAT2*5A and NAT2*7B gene variants with a slow acetylator pheno-type were most frequently associated with Dukes stage C. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid acetylators, homozygous negative or heterozygous for the NAT2*5C, NAT2*5A and NAT2*6B mutations have a higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to positive homozygotes. Rapid acetylators have earlier stages of colorectal cancer and a better prognosis than slow acetylators, who are diagnosed in more advanced stages. (+info)
Pestera cu Oase 2 and the cranial morphology of early modern Europeans.
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Between 2003 and 2005, the Pestera cu Oase, Romania yielded a largely complete early modern human cranium, Oase 2, scattered on the surface of a Late Pleistocene hydraulically displaced bone bed containing principally the remains of Ursus spelaeus. Multiple lines of evidence indicate an age of approximately 40.5 thousand calendar years before the present (approximately 35 ka 14C B.P.). Morphological comparison of the adolescent Oase 2 cranium to relevant Late Pleistocene human samples documents a suite of derived modern human and/or non-Neandertal features, including absence of a supraorbital torus, subrectangular orbits, prominent canine fossae, narrow nasal aperture, level nasal floor, angled and anteriorly oriented zygomatic bones, a high neurocranium with prominent parietal bosses and marked sagittal parietal curvature, superiorly positioned temporal zygomatic root, vertical auditory porous, laterally bulbous mastoid processes, superiorly positioned posterior semicircular canal, absence of a nuchal torus and a suprainiac fossa, and a small occipital bun. However, these features are associated with an exceptionally flat frontal arc, a moderately large juxtamastoid eminence, extremely large molars that become progressively larger distally, complex occlusal morphology of the upper third molar, and relatively anteriorly positioned zygomatic arches. Moreover, the featureless occipital region and small mastoid process are at variance with the large facial skeleton and dentition. This unusual mosaic in Oase 2, some of which is paralleled in the Oase 1 mandible, indicates both complex population dynamics as modern humans dispersed into Europe and significant ongoing human evolution once modern humans were established within Europe. (+info)
Contribution of tobacco and alcohol to the high rates of squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottis and glottis in Central Europe.
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Incidence rates for laryngeal cancer in Central Europe are among the highest in the world. The authors recruited cases and controls between 2000 and 2002 for the Central and Eastern Europe Multicenter Study to investigate the role of tobacco and alcohol as causes of laryngeal cancer in this region. A total of 384 incident squamous cell cases were included, comprising 254 glottic and 108 supraglottic cancers. Hospital controls were chosen from within the same catchment area, from diseases unrelated to tobacco or alcohol (n = 918). Significant dose-response trends for frequency and duration of tobacco use were observed for both supraglottic and glottic cancers, with potentially a more important effect for supraglottic cancer. Quitting smoking was protective against laryngeal cancers after 5 years. Any increases in risk for alcohol drinking were generally moderate and nonsignificant. A greater than multiplicative interaction was observed between tobacco and alcohol on the risk of laryngeal cancer (p = 0.04). Approximately 87% of laryngeal cancer cases in Central Europe are attributable to tobacco use, of which 75% and 12% are due to current and past smoking, respectively. Approximately 39% are attributable to the interaction between alcohol and tobacco. Preventive efforts to encourage current smokers to quit are likely to be the most effective way to reduce the incidence of laryngeal cancer in this region. (+info)
Haloferax prahovense sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from a Romanian salt lake.
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A novel halophilic archaeon, strain TL6T, was isolated from Telega Lake, a hypersaline environment in Prahova county, Romania. Strain TL6T was able to grow in media with a salt concentration of between 2.5 and 5.2 M, with optimum growth at a concentration of 3.5 M. The novel strain was able to grow at concentrations of 1 M MgCl2 or less, with an optimum of 0.4 M Mg2+. Growth of the novel strain occurred between pH 6.0 and 8.5, with an optimum of pH 7.0-7.5. The G+C content of the total DNA was 63.7 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the novel strain was most closely related to species of the genus Haloferax (97.3-99.3 % sequence similarity). The lipid profile of the novel strain corresponded to that of other species belonging to the genus Haloferax. A comparative analysis of the phenotypic properties and DNA-DNA hybridization between the novel strain and other species of the genus Haloferax strongly supported the conclusion that strain TL6T represents a novel species within this genus, for which the name Haloferax prahovense sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is TL6T (=JCM 13924T=DSM 18310T). (+info)
Comparative detection of high-risk HPV (16, 18, 33) in cervical bioptic material of county hospital of Tg. Mures.
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The purpose of this study was to collect data about the incidence of high-risk HPV (16, 18, 33) types in paraffin embedded cervical bioptic material, including LSIL, HSIL and cervical cancers using immunohistochemistry and nested PCR methods. In our study were included randomly selected 10 LSIL, 18 HSIL and 30 cervical cancer cases. We analyzed the expression of HPV in this specimens with immunohistochemistry used DAKO K1H8 antibody and CHEMICON Mab HPV 16, 16 antibody using LSAB method and Tiramin amplification method, and nested PCR for HPV 16, 18 and 33. In LSIL cases three, in HSIL cases eight and in carcinoma 20 cases were positive for HPV 16 or 18 for immunohistochemistry or PCR. Although this proportion in lower than those reported in the literature, our work signals the existence of the infection in our country and presents a relatively cheap diagnostic method. (+info)