Brief communication: The distribution of perikymata on Qafzeh anterior teeth

Recent studies have suggested that Neandertals and modern humans differ in the distribution of perikymata (enamel growth increments) over their permanent anterior tooth crowns. In modern humans, perikymata become increasingly more compact toward the cervix than they do in Neandertals. Previous studies have suggested that a more homogeneous distribution of perikymata, like that of Neandertals, characterizes the anterior teeth of Homo heidelbergensis and Homo erectus as well. Here, we investigated whether Qafzeh anterior teeth (N = 14) differ from those of modern southern Africans, northern Europeans, and Alaskans (N = 47–74 depending on tooth type) in the percentage of perikymata present in their cervical halves. Using the normally distributed modern human values for each tooth type, we calculated Z‐scores for the 14 Qafzeh teeth. All but two of the 14 Qafzeh teeth had negative Z‐scores, meaning that values equal to these would be found in the bottom 50% of the modern human samples. Seven of the 14 would be found in the lowest 5% of the modern human distribution. Qafzeh teeth therefore appear to differ from those of modern humans in the same direction that Neandertals do: with generally lower percentages of perikymata in their cervical regions. The similarity between them appears to represent the retention of a perikymata distribution pattern present in earlier members of the genus Homo, but not generally characteristic of modern humans from diverse regions of the world. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Earliest Cranio-Encephalic Trauma from the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic: 3D Reappraisal of the Qafzeh 11 Skull,Consequences of Pediatric Brain Damage on Individual Life Condition and Social Care

The Qafzeh site (Lower Galilee, Israel) has yielded the largest Levantine hominin collection from Middle Palaeolithic layers which were dated to circa 90–100 kyrs BP or to marine isotope stage 5b–c. Within the hominin sample, Qafzeh 11, circa 12–13 yrs old at death, presents a skull lesion previously attributed to a healed trauma. Three dimensional imaging methods allowed us to better explore this lesion which appeared as being a frontal bone depressed fracture, associated with brain damage. Furthermore the endocranial volume, smaller than expected for dental age, supports the hypothesis of a growth delay due to traumatic brain injury. This trauma did not affect the typical human brain morphology pattern of the right frontal and left occipital petalia. It is highly probable that this young individual suffered from personality and neurological troubles directly related to focal cerebral damage. Interestingly this young individual benefited of a unique funerary practice among the south-western Asian burials dated to Middle Palaeolithic.     

Mugharet el'Aliya: Affinities of an enigmatic north African Aterian maxillary fragment

Objectives

This study uses a virtual framework to examine the left maxillary fragment of the juvenile fossil from Mugharet el'Aliya, Morocco, found in association with an Aterian lithic industry. Previously, this fossil had been ascribed to modern humans or the Neanderthal lineage based on its “archaic”/“Neanderthal-like” features and apparent large size. Here, we conducted a novel 3D shape comparative analysis of the maxillary fragment to clarify its taxonomic affinities with regard to its size and ontogeny.

Materials and Methods

Eighty Computed Tomography and surface scans representing ontogenetic samples of Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis were used to capture species-specific differences. The toolkit of geometric morphometrics in combination with surface registration and an elastic iterative closest point algorithm were used to create a dataset of meshes with an identical number of corresponding vertices for the maxillae. Multivariate statistics were applied to Procrustes superimposed coordinates derived from the vertices of this dataset.

Results

Our analysis showed affinities of the Mugharet el'Aliya individual with our H. sapiens sample, especially with a subadult individual from Qafzeh. No size-independent affinities with Neanderthals of comparable dental age could be identified.

Discussion

Our results add to the evidence connecting fossils from western Asia, especially Qafzeh and Skhul, and the North African Aterian. Furthermore, Mugharet el'Aliya adds to our knowledge of the ontogenetic development of adult morphology that is frequently used to characterize hominin groups, for example, Neanderthals and modern humans.     

The distribution of fluoride in some antarctic seals

Summary The aim of this investigation was to find out why some antarctic seals tolerate fluoride levels in their food (krill) that would be toxic to man. The fluoride content of different soft and hard tissues, urine and feces from 16 L. carcinophagus, 13 L. weddelli and 2 A. tropicalis (urine only) were determined by the fluoride sensitive electrode or by a photometric method (urine). Results and conclusions are following: All soft tissues have low concentrations of fluoride in the same range as soft tissues from non antarctic and non krill eating marine or terrestrial vertebrates. But within the soft tissues there are significant differences in the fluoride content (blood: 0.001 ppm F/dw — brain: 9.1 ppm F/dw). A special tolerance for fluoride of soft tissues can be excluded. Compared with man or weddell-seals the crabeater-seals store two times more fluoride in their skeleton. Hard structures that stop their mineralisation early in the development like teeth have only a relatively low fluoride content. For the same reason only neglectable amounts of fluoride could be detected in hair. Fluoride excretion by the kidneys is efficient and is — besides the storage of fluoride in the skeleton — the second mechanism to guarantee a good blood homoiostasis for fluoride. Until now it is impossible to decide how much fluoride from the food is resorbed by the digestive tract.     

Similarities between species of the Ostertagiinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in relation to host-specificity and climatic environment

Multivariate analyses of similarities between species of the Ostertagiinae were performed on the data from 585 publications. The environmental factors were 12 climates and host-specificity in ruminants (40 species) for 16 species of ostertagiines. This approach can be a useful tool for distinguishing morphs from species. The following pairs (species and its possible morph) of ostertagiines are proposed: Ostertagia ostertagi — O. lyrata, O. leptospicularis — O. kolchida, O. gruehneri — O. arctica, Teladorsagia circumcincta — T. trifurcata, Marshallagia marshalli — M. occidentalis, Spiculopteragia boehmi — S. mathevossiani, and S. asymmetrica — S. quadrispiculata.     

Histochemical procedures for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its side chain O-acyl variants or O-sulphate ester. I. Methods based upon the selective periodate oxidation of sialic acids

Summary Five new methods, based upon the selective oxidation of sialic acid residues with 0.4mm periodic acid in approximately 1m hydrochloric acid at 4°C for 1 h (PA^*), have been devised for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its side chainO-acyl variants orO-sulphate ester. In the first of these, the selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—saponification—selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff (PA^*—Bh—KOH—PA^*—T—KOH—Bh—PAS) technique, sialic acids withO-acyl substituents at C7, C8 or C9 (or which have two of three side chainO-acyl substituents) stain blue while neutral sugars with periodate-sensitivevicinal diols (hexose, 6-deoxyhexose, andN-acetylhexosamine) stain magenta. The second method, the saponification—selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff (KOH—PA^*—T—KOH—Bh—PAS), stains all sialic acids blue and neutral sugars magenta. In the third procedure, the selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff—saponification (PA^*—T—Bh—PAS—KOH) method, sialic acids without side chain substituents (or which have anO-acyl substituent at C7) stain blue and neutral sugars stain magenta. In the fourth method, the saponification-selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—Alcian Blue pH 1.0—periodic acid—Schiff (KOH—PA^*—Bh—AB1.0—PAS) technique,O-sulphate esters stain aquamarine blue and neutral sugars stain magenta. In all of these techniques mixtures of the components stain in various shades of purple. Performance of the KOH—PA^*—Bh—AB1.0—PAS technique without the Alcian Blue pH 1.0 step provides a method for the selective identification of neutral sugars in macromolecules that also contain sialic acids.     

Antifungal activity of some Discomycetes

The antifungal activity was investigated in culture filtrates of 131 strains (41 genera and 104 species) of Ascomycetes — Discomycetes by testing against 6 fungal species which causes diseases in man. The anti-fungal spectrum was established for a Ciboria rufo-fusca strain, the only one found to inhibit all test organisms. This strain was also active against several gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.     

The reliability of the test of McKenzie,Taylor, and Gilbert for the detection of faecalEscherichia coli strains of animal origin in foods

Figures for the response of fresh faecal isolates ofE. coli of animal origin to the test of McKenzie et al. — a modification of Eijkman's test — being as yet relatively scarce, 140 strains isolated from man, hog, cow, calf, horse, chicken, dog, rat, cat and mouse were tested.All strains formed indole at 44 C within 48 hr; only one strain produced very little. Seven strains did not form gas from lactose within 48 hr at 44 C but four of these did at 30 C; one of the latter also produced gas at 44 C when the inhibitors used in the standard medium were omitted.The percentage false negatives to be expected in this test was found to be 5 on the average, while it appeared less than 10 for the least favourable group of organisms, viz, those of porcine origin. This degree of accuracy of the test has also been found by earlier authors, be it in some cases with a lower number of isolates. The test seems, therefore, quite acceptable for its purpose, the detection ofE. coli type I in foods.     

Considérations à proposdes caractères mycologiques et pathogéniques du Keratinomyces ajelloi — Vanbreuseghem 1952, saprophyte du sol

Summary The authors report, for the first time in Rumania, the presence in the soil ofKeratinomyces ajelloi —Vanbreuseghem 1952, isolated by them on 3 different places at Bucharest. One of the isolated strains showed a little more abundant microscopical morphology than the strain first isolated byVanbreuseghem, for it had also coils and chlamydospores.Although this new dermatophyte has been considered, up to now, nonpathogenic for man and animal, the authors were able to obtain positive results in white mice, guinea pig and in man, inoculating repeatedly one of the isolated strains. The experimental lesion it produced, of herpes circinatus type, disappeared in a few days.As the authors conclude, it is not necessary to create a new genus for this dermatophyte. Considering its microscopical aspect, its pathogenicity and its soil origin, they propose to classifyKeratinomyces ajelloi in the genusEpidermophyton —Ota etLangeron 1923 —, giving it the name ofEpidermophyton terrigenum.

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Résumé Les auteurs ont signalé, pour la première fois en Roumanie (à Bucarest), la présence dans les couches superficielles du sol duKeratinomyces ajelloi —Vanbreuseghem 1952. La morphologie microscopique de l'une des deux souches, étudiées de ce point de vue, était un peu plus riche que celle de la souche isolée, pour la première fois parVanbreuseghem car, outre les macroconidies, on y trouvait des vrilles serrées et des chlamydospores. D'autre part, chez les deux souches, les extrémités libres des macroconidies n'étaient pas constament amincies et, par places, plutôt arrondies. L'une des souches s'est montrée pathogène pour l'homme, le cobaye et la souris blanche, chez lesquels son inoculation experimentale a provoqué une mycose superficielle authentique, bien que passagère. Ce caractère n'a pas été signalé jusqu'à présent. Vue sa morphologie microscopique, sa pathogénité et son origine tellurique, les auteurs proposent, pour cette espèce, le nom d'Epidermophyton terrigenum.

     

Gas chromatographic determination of phentolamine (regitine®) in human plasma and urine

A method for the determination of unconjugated phentolamine at concentrations down to 6 ng/ml in human plasma, and of free and total (free plus conjugated) phentolamine down to 25 ng/ml in urine is described. After addition of 2-[N-(p-chlorophenyl)-N-(m-hydroxyphenyl)-aminomethyl]-2-imidazoline as internal standard, both compounds are extracted into benzene—ethyl acetate (1:1, v/v) at pH 10, transferred into an acidic aqueous solution and back-extracted at pH 10 into benzene—ethyl acetate. They are then derivatized with N-heptafluorobutyrylimidazole. The derivatives are determined by gas chromatography using a ⁶³Ni electron-capture detector. In urine, total (free plus conjugated) phentolamine is determined after enzymatic hydrolysis. The technique was applied for the study of the plasma concentrations and urinary elimination after oral administration to man.     

Genetic linkage relationships between two enzyme loci,Est-2 and acph,in the mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) togoi

An esterase locus (Est-2), coding for carboxylesterase, and an acid phosphatase locus (Acph) were genetically studied by agar gel electrophoresis in the mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) togoi. The Est-2 and Acph variants occur as a monomer and a dimer, respectively. Both enzyme loci are linked to the sex locus (M) and s (straw-colored larva); the gene arrangement and recombination distances were Est-2—12.6%—s—31.7%—M—2.9%—Acph—3.2%—Est-3. The Est-3 locus was previously shown to code for carboxylesterase.This work was supported by Grant AI 16983-02 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.     

Histochemical procedures for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its O-acyl variants or O-sulphate ester. II. Methods based upon the periodic acid-phenylhydrazine-Schiff reaction

Summary Four methods based upon the periodic acid—phenylhydrazine—Schiff reaction have been developed for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars with periodate oxidizablevicinal diols (hexose, 6-deoxyhexose,N-acetylhexosamine) and either sialic acids or side chainO-acyl sialic acids. In the first of these procedures, the saponification—periodic acid oxidation—2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine—Azure A—Schiff—saponification (KOH—PA—DNPH—Az—KOH) method, all sialic acids stain Azure blue, neutral sugars with oxidizablevicinal diols stain yellow and mixtures of such components stain in various shades of green. In the second technique, periodic acid oxidation—2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine—Azure A Schiff—saponification (PA—DNPH—Az—KOH), Azure Blue staining is confined to sialic acids without side chain substituents or which have anO-acyl substituent at position C7, while in the third method, the selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—saponification—periodic acid oxidation—2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine—Azure A—Schiff—saponification (PA^*—Bh—KOH—PA—DNPH—Az—KOH) technique, only sialic acids withO-acyl substituents at positions C7, C8 or C9 (or which have two or threeO-acyl side chain substituents) stain Azure blue. Finally in the fourth procedure, periodic acid oxidation—2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine—Azure A—Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid oxidation—Schiff (PA—DNPH—Az—KOH—Bh—PAS), sialic acids without side chain substituents or which haveO-acyl substituents at C7 stain Azure blue, sialic acids substituted at position C8 or C9 (or which are di- or tri-substituted) stain magenta and neutral sugars stain yellow. Where mixtures of these components are present, a wide range of colours is obtained.     

In VivoInterference of Paromomycin with Mitochondrial Activity ofLeishmania

Paromomycin is an aminocyclitol aminoglycoside antibiotic used for the treatment of leishmaniasis. In view of the central role of mitochondria in cellular energetics and metabolism, its effect onin vivomitochondrial activities ofLeishmania donovanipromastigotes—the parasite flagellate form—was investigated. The approach used flow cytometry, amperometric measure of O₂consumption, and, as a global estimate of mitochondrial dehydrogenases, thiazolyl blue reduction (MTT test); somein vitrocontrols were also made. When added to promastigote cultures for 24–72 h at 150–200 μM(= LC₅₀), paromomycin doubled the generation time, inhibited respiration, and lowered its associated electric potential difference across mitochondrial membranes, as measured by rhodamine 123 fluorescence. The chemical analogue neomycin was ineffective. Furthermore, thein vivomitochondrial dehydrogenase activities were lower, seemingly because of the shortage of respiratory substrates. Indeed, succinate addition to paromomycin-treated cultures partly restored mitochondrial membrane potential. However, no immediate effect of paromomycin on respiration was observed, neither inhibition of redox chain nor increase of membrane permeability (uncoupling). It is proposed that paromomycin acts at a metabolic level upstream of the respiratory chain itself. This would have the observed delayed consequence because the cell energy supply would progressively decline since it depends upon the proton gradient—viz., membrane potential—generated by respiration. In conclusion, paromomycin is an antibiotic affecting the cell's energetic metabolism; the respiratory dysfunction it induces may be a crucial aspect of its action againstLeishmaniaand possibly other cells.     

Chromosome phylogenies of man,great apes,and old world monkeys

The karyotypes of man and of the closely related Pongidae — chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan — differ by a small number of well known rearrangements, mainly pericentric inversions and one fusion which reduced the chromosome number from 48 in the Pongidae to 46 in man. Dutrillaux et al. (1973, 1975, 1979) reconstructed the chromosomal phylogeny of the entire primate order. More and more distantly related species were compared thus moving backward in evolution to the common ancestors of the Pongidae, of the Cercopithecoidae, the Catarrhini, the Platyrrhini, the Prosimians, and finally the common ancestor of all primates. Descending the pyramid it becomes possible to assign the rearrangements that occurred in each phylum, and the one that led to man in particular.The main conclusions are that this phylogeny is compatible with the occurrence during evolution of simple chromosome rearrangements — inversions, fusions, reciprocal translocation, acquisition or loss of heterochromatin — and that it is entirely consistent with the known primate phylogeny based on physical morphology and molecular evolution. If heterochromatin is not taken into account, man has in common with the other primates practically all of his chromosomal material as determined by chromosome banding. However, it is arranged differently, according to species, on account of chromosome rearrangements. This interpretation has been confirmed by comparative gene mapping, which established that the same chromosome segments, identified by banding, carry the same genes (Finaz et al., 1973; Human Gene Mapping 8, 1985).A remarkable observation made by Dutrillaux is that different primate phyla seem to have adopted different chromosome rearrangements in the course of evolution: inversions for the Pongidae, Robertsonian fusions for the lemurs, etc. This observation may raise many questions, among which is that of an organized evolution. Also, the breakpoints of chromosomal rearrangements observed during evolution, in human chromosomal diseases, and after ionizing irradiation do not seem to be distributed at random.Chromosomal rearrangements observed in evolution are known to be harmful in humans, leading to complete or partial sterility through abnormal offspring in the heterozygous state but not in the homozygous state. They then become a robust reproductive barrier capable of creating new species, far more powerful than gene mutations advocated by neo-Darwinism. The homozygous state may be achieved especially through inbreeding, which must have played a major role during primate evolution. Whether new species derive from unique individuals or couples (Adam and Eve), or through a populational process, remains a matter for discussion.     

Malocclusion in Early Anatomically Modern Human: A Reflection on the Etiology of Modern Dental Misalignment

Malocclusions are common in modern populations. Yet, as the study of occlusion requires an almost intact dentition in both the maxilla and mandible, searching for the ultimate cause of malocclusion is a challenge: relatively little ancient material is available for research on occlusal states. The Qafzeh 9 skull is unique, as its preserved dentition allowed us to investigate the presence and manifestations of malocclusion. The aim of this study was thus to examine the occlusal condition in the Qafzeh 9 specimen in light of modern knowledge regarding the etiology of malocclusion. We revealed a pathologic occlusion in the Qafzeh 9 skull that probably originated in the early developmental stage of the dentition, and was aggravated by forces applied by mastication. When arch continuity is interrupted due to misalignment of teeth as in this case, force transmission is not equal on both sides, causing intra-arch outcomes such as mesialization of the teeth, midline deviation, rotations and the aggravation of crowding. All are evident in the Qafzeh 9 skull: the midline deviates to the left; the incisors rotate mesio-buccally; the left segment is constricted; the left first molar is buccally positioned and the left premolars palatally tilted. The inter-arch evaluation revealed anterior cross bite with functional shift that might affect force transmission and bite force. In conclusion, the findings of the current study suggest that malocclusion of developmental origin was already present in early anatomically modern humans (AMH) (the present case being the oldest known case, dated to ca. 100,000 years); that there is no basis to the notion that early AMH had a better adjustment between teeth and jaw size; and that jaw-teeth size discrepancy could be found in prehistoric populations and is not a recent phenomenon.     

Genetic code limit organisms — do they exist?

Summary The concept of genetic code limit organisms is introduced. Its DNA composition suggestsTetrahymena pyriformis syngen 1 to be a low G + C coding limit organism. One of the predictions ofTetrahymena's being a coding limit organism—i.e. a particular striking dissimilarity in the composition of the two strands of its DNA duplexes—has been tested experimentally and confirmed.     

Determination of the tricyclic compound adosupine and its three metabolites in plasma and brain of rat using high-performance liquid chromatography

An analytical method for the detection in biological samples of the novel tricyclic compound adosupine (10-acetoamido-5-methyl-5,6-dihydro-11H-dibenzo[b,e]azepin-6,11-dione), which is capable of influencing various forms of urinary bladder hyperreflexia has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Liquid—liquid extraction was used to isolate the parent compound, three metabolites and an analogue (added as internal standard) from plasma and brain of rat. Adosupine was well separated from its three metabolites with 0.01 M disodium hydrogenphosphate—acetonitrile—methanol—nonylamine (59.986:38:2:0.014) at pH 4.5 as mobile phase using a C₁₈ reversed-phase column. The standard curves were linear in the range 50–5000 ng/ml (or ng/g) for adosupine and metabolites in both plasma and brain. The between- and within-assay variations for high and low concentrations of the parent compound and the three metabolites were 8.2–14%. In the range 50–5000 ng/ml (or ng/g) the accuracy of the method was satisfactory, with the relative error always lower than 10%. Analytical recoveries of added adosupine and the three metabolites were higher than 82%. The method has been applied successfully, to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the drug and its distribution in the central nervous system of rats.     

Simplified, rapid and inexpensive extraction procedure for a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of disopyramide and its main metabolite mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide in serum

A simplified, rapid and inexpensive extraction procedure for the determination of the antiarrhythmic drug disopyramide and its main metabolite mono-N-desalkylated disopyramide in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed. The analysis uses ultraviolet detection at 254 nm, and a 5 μm reversed-phase column with a mobile phase of water—triethylamine—acetonitrile—PIC-B8 reagent. Serum extraction is performed with dichloromethane and 1 M sodium hydroxide. p-Chlorodisopyramide is used as internal standard. Recovery rates were 94.5% (S.D. 5.7%) for disopyramide, 96.8% (S.D. 2.2%) for mono-N-desalkylated disopyramide and 97.9% (S.D. 2.8%) for the internal standard.     

RFLP-based genetic map of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome 1R

Summary A map of chromosome 1R of rye was constructed using 16 molecular and biochemical loci. From long arm to short arm, known-function loci were placed in the order: XAdh — XLee — Glu-R1[Sec-3] — XPpdk-1R — XEm-1R-1 — XEm-1R-2 — Centromere — XNor-R1 —Gpi-R1 — XGli-R1 [Sec-1a] along with six anonymous genomic and cDNA clones from wheat. The map, which spans 106 cM with 12 loci clustered in a 15-cM region around the centromere, shows reasonably good agreement with previously published maps for the centromeric region, whereas the XNor-R1 — Gpi-R1 region gives a much larger distance than previously reported.