Inter-group violence among early Holocene hunter-gatherers of West Turkana, Kenya.

The nature of inter-group relations among prehistoric hunter-gatherers remains disputed, with arguments in favour and against the existence of warfare before the development of sedentary societies. Here we report on a case of inter-group violence towards a group of hunter-gatherers from Nataruk, west of Lake Turkana, which during the late Pleistocene/early Holocene period extended about 30 km beyond its present-day shore. Ten of the twelve articulated skeletons found at Nataruk show evidence of having died violently at the edge of a lagoon, into which some of the bodies fell. The remains from Nataruk are unique, preserved by the particular conditions of the lagoon with no evidence of deliberate burial. They offer a rare glimpse into the life and death of past foraging people, and evidence that warfare was part of the repertoire of inter-group relations among prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

[Gastric metastasis from small cell lung cancer]. / Magenmetastasierung eines kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinoms.

Small cell carcinomas are most frequently localised within the lung, however, they also may be detected at extrapulmonary sites such as the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary tract. The confirmation of a small cell carcinoma outside of the lung may not necessarily indicate the presence of a metastasis, however, it also may represent the primary tumor itself. We present the case of a patient with a small cell carcinoma of the lung with metastases to the stomach. A regression of the primary lung tumor and the disappearance of the gastric metastases could be achieved by chemotherapeutic treatment with carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine. However, death due to pneumonia occurred 3 months after initial diagnosis. This case illustrates that in rare cases a metastasis from small cell lung cancer may occur in the intestinal tract even without leading to distinctive symptoms.

Integration of a model-independent interface for RBE predictions in a treatment planning system for active particle beam scanning.

Especially for heavier ions such as carbon ions, treatment planning systems (TPSs) for ion radiotherapy depend on models predicting the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the particles involved. Such models are subject to intensive research and the choice of the optimal RBE model is a matter of debate. On the other hand TPSs are often strongly coupled to particular RBE models and transition even to extended models of the same family can be difficult. We present here a model-independent interface which allows the unbiased use of any RBE model capable of providing dose-effect curves (even sampled curves) for a TPS. The full decoupling between the RBE model and TPS is based on the beam-mixing model proposed by Lam which is, in contrast to the often-used Zaider-Rossi model, independent of the explicit form of the underlying dose-effect curves. This approach not only supports the refinement of RBE models without adaptations of the TPS--which we demonstrate by means of the local effect model (LEM)--but also allows the comparison of very different model approaches on a common basis. We exemplify this by a comparison between the LEM and a model from the literature for proton RBE prediction.

EPR spectrum deconvolution and dose assessment of fossil tooth enamel using maximum likelihood common factor analysis.

In order to determine the components which give rise to the EPR spectrum around g = 2 we have applied Maximum Likelihood Common Factor Analysis (MLCFA) on the EPR spectra of enamel sample 1126 which has previously been analysed by continuous wave and pulsed EPR as well as EPR microscopy. MLCFA yielded agreeing results on three sets of X-band spectra and the following components were identified: an orthorhombic component attributed to CO2-, an axial component (CO3(3-)), as well as four isotropic components, three of which could be attributed to SO2-, a tumbling CO2- and a central line of a dimethyl radical. The X-band results were confirmed by analysis of Q-band spectra where three additional isotropic lines were found, however, these three components could not be attributed to known radicals. The orthorhombic component was used to establish dose response curves for the assessment of the past radiation dose, D(E). The results appear to be more reliable than those based on conventional peak-to-peak EPR intensity measurements or simple Gaussian deconvolution methods.

[Incidence and importance of thyroid gland changes in clinical patients]. / Häufigkeit und Bedeutung fokaler Schilddrüsenveränderungen bei Klinikpatienten.

The thyroid gland of 536 patients of a medical hospital in an iodine deficient area was investigated by ultrasound. According to the sonographic pattern and to the scintigraphic imaging the focal lesions were analysed as micro- or macrofollicular adenomas, autonomous adenomas, cysts and chalk. The prevalence of goitres was 37.7%. The prevalence of goitres was higher in women (45%) than in men (30%). Focal lesions could be observed in 27.6%, equally more often in women (36%) than in men (18.9%). The frequency of focal lesions increased with the age of the patients and with the volume of the thyroid gland. Autonomous adenomas were found three times more often in women than in men. Hyperthyroidism was only observed in patients with nodules larger than 4 cm in diameter. Sonographic screening examinations of the thyroid gland seem to be useful in all patients of a clinic of medicine because of the risk (25%) of iodine contamination by diagnostic measures.

ESR dosimetry of fossil enamel: some comments about measurement precision, long-term signal fading and dose-response curve fitting.

This work deals with the specific studies of three main sources of uncertainty in electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry/dating of fossil tooth enamel: (1) the precision of the ESR measurements, (2) the long-term signal fading the selection of the fitting function. They show a different influence on the equivalent dose (D(E)) estimates. Repeated ESR measurements were performed on 17 different samples: results show a mean coefficient of variation of the ESR intensities of 1.20 ± 0.23 %, inducing a mean relative variability of 3.05 ± 2.29 % in the D(E) values. ESR signal fading over 5 y was also observed: its magnitude seems to be quite sample dependant but is nevertheless especially important for the most irradiated aliquots. This fading has an apparent random effect on the D(E) estimates. Finally, the authors provide new insights and recommendations about the fitting of ESR dose-response curves of fossil enamel with a double saturating exponential (DSE) function. The potential of a new variation of the DSE was also explored. Results of this study also show that the choice of the fitting function is of major importance, maybe more than the other sources previously mentioned, in order to get accurate final D(E) values.

Sensitivity analysis of the relative biological effectiveness predicted by the local effect model.

The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is a central quantity in particle radiobiology and depends on many physical and biological factors. The local effect model (LEM) allows one to predict the RBE for radiobiologic experiments and particle therapy. In this work the sensitivity of the RBE on its determining factors is elucidated based on monitoring the RBE dependence on the input parameters of the LEM. The relevance and meaning of all parameters are discussed within the formalism of the LEM. While most of the parameters are fixed by experimental constraints, one parameter, the threshold dose Dt, may remain free and is then regarded as a fit parameter to the high LET dose response curve. The influence of each parameter on the RBE is understood in terms of theoretic considerations. The sensitivity analysis has been systematically carried out for fictitious in vitro cell lines or tissues with α/ß = 2 Gy and 10 Gy, either irradiated under track segment conditions with a monoenergetic beam or within a spread out Bragg peak. For both irradiation conditions, a change of each of the parameters typically causes an approximately equal or smaller relative change of the predicted RBE values. These results may be used for the assessment of treatment plans and for general uncertainty estimations of the RBE.

Impact of enhancements in the local effect model (LEM) on the predicted RBE-weighted target dose distribution in carbon ion therapy.

Biological optimization for treatment planning in carbon ion therapy is currently based on the first version of the local effect model (LEM I). Further developments implemented in the latest version (LEM IV) allowed to predict more accurately the Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) in-vitro. The main goal of this study is to compare the LEM IV against LEM I under treatment-like conditions for idealized target geometries. Therefore, physical dose distributions resulting from the biological optimization with LEM I were used to recalculate the RBE-weighted dose distribution based on LEM IV. Input parameters representing the clinical endpoints late toxicity in the central nervous system and the tumor control for chordoma were chosen to investigate the impact of changes on the predicted isoeffective dose levels. The recalculated RBE-weighted dose distributions show an increase within the target region, and the mean RBE-weighted dose values are dependent on the geometry and decrease with increasing target dimension. The differences between predictions of LEM IV and LEM I are less than 10% for typical tumor volumes treated in the pilot project at GSI. Median RBE-weighted doses predicted by LEM IV in the target region are consistent with clinically observed dose-response behavior as demonstrated by comparison to the 5-year local control curve for skull base chordoma.

[Growth hormone in females with liver cirrhosis]. / Wachstumshormon bei Frauen mit Leberzirrhose.

The median plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH) in 63 women with liver cirrhosis was significantly elevated when compared with a control group (4.4 ng/ml vs 1.8 ng/ml, p less than 0.01). In 38% of the patients GH concentration was higher than 6.0 ng/ml. GH correlated significantly with the degree of decompensation of the cirrhosis (Child A-C). It was not influenced by the concentrations of estradiol, estrone, or testosterone. Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) induced paradoxial GH increase (delta-GH) in 23 patients showed no significant difference to the data of the control group (2.7 ng/ml vs 0.8 ng/ml). The etiology of cirrhosis (alcoholic or non alcoholic) proved to be unimportant concerning the GH elevation. A missing correlation of GH to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and of delta-GH to TRH induced increase of TSH (delta-TSH) argues against the hypothesis that latent hypothyroidism - often described in cirrhosis - might be responsible of the GH elevation.

[Prolactin in females with liver cirrhosis]. / Prolaktin bei Frauen mit Leberzirrhose.

The median plasma level of prolactin in 94 women with cirrhosis of the liver did not differ significantly when compared with a control group (8,0 versus 7,2 ng/ml). Nevertheless 22% of the investigated women exhibited a plasma prolactin level higher than 15 ng/ml. The prolactin concentrations correlated to the severeness of cirrhosis and in the subgroup with decompensated cirrhosis the prolactin concentrations were found to be significantly elevated (12 ng/ml). Like basal prolactin the TRH-induced prolactin release showed no significant difference between cirrhotic women and controls (36,1 versus 38,5 ng/ml). No difference could be observed between the prolactin concentrations of alcoholic or non alcoholic cirrhotic women, and prolactin did not correlate with estradiol or estrone plasma levels. Other factors than cirrhosis itself (i.e. medical treatment, renal insufficiency, stress) must be discussed as causing hyperprolactinemia in cirrhosis.

Border Cave revisited: a revised ESR chronology.

In view of a decade of progress in ESR dating we have revised the ESR chronology of Border Cave. A detailed gamma ray survey in 1994 and newly calculated beta attenuation data led to total dose rate estimations that are between 0 and 30% smaller than previously estimated. Accordingly, the resulting ESR age estimates are between 0 and 30% older. The ESR dates are now in good agreement with independent age estimates, particularly(14)C and amino acid racemization. New ESR dates for the lowermost dated sedimentary layer, 5 WA (white ash), indicate that the sedimentation of the sequence started around 200 ka ago.

[Thyroid hormones in women with liver cirrhosis]. / Schilddrüsenhormone bei Frauen mit Leberzirrhose.

Basal thyroid hormone levels were measured in 68 women with liver cirrhosis (LC) of different etiology (alcoholic n = 34, posthepatitic B n = 9, PBC n = 5, cryptogenetic n = 18, M. Wilson n = 2). In addition the rise of TSH after 400 micrograms TRH was measured in 23 women with LC and compared with the data obtained from 17 women of a control group. There was no difference of the median T4-concentrations (LC 8.0 micrograms/dl versus 7.2 micrograms/dl) but a significant correlation of T4 to the grade of decompensation of LC. In contrast of T4 there was a marked decrease of T3 in LC-patients (109 ng/dl versus 143 ng/dl) and a rise of reverse T3 (0.21 ng/ml versus 0.13 ng/ml). The decrease of T3 and rise of reverse T3 equally correlated to the severeness of LC. TBG concentrations fell according to the grade of decompensation of LC and T4/TBG-quotient exhibited no difference to the control data (0.51 both). Though basal thyroid hormones and TSH show euthyroidism the significant augmented TSH release after TRH (delta-TSH 7.0 versus 3.2 microU/ml) indicate a status of latent hypothyroidism. In alcoholic cirrhosis the degree of TSH release was much higher than in non alcoholic cirrhosis. Estradiol and estrone levels correlated significantly negatively to T4, T3, estrone negatively to TBG and positively to reverse T3 but not to TSH and TSH release. Otherwise TSH release correlated positively to estradiol. The thyroid status in women with liver cirrhosis does not differ from the thyroid hormone profile found in men with cirrhosis.

[Sex hormones and the hypophyseo-gonadal axis in females with liver cirrhosis in postmenopause]. / Sexualhormone und Hypophysen-Gonadenachse bei Frauen mit Leberzirrhose in der Postmenopause.

The hormonal status of men with cirrhosis of the liver has been investigated in numerous studies. Little, however, is known about changes of sexual hormones in women afflicted by this disorder. In a study of 31 postmenopausal women (mean age 63 +/- 8 years) suffering from cirrhosis of various etiology (alcoholic, n = 8; posthepatitic B, n = 1; PBC, n = 5; cryptogenetic, n = 17) the blood levels of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T) and basal and stimulated values of gonadotropins are reported and compared with the data obtained in an age-matched control group (n = 9). In cirrhosis a significant increase of the median E2 (28 vs 12 pg/ml, P less than 0.01) was found, whereas the changes of the blood levels of E1 (88 vs 76 pg/ml), A (63 vs 111 ng/dl), and T (0.30 vs 0.15 ng/ml) did not attain statistical significance in comparison to controls. Within the study group, however, a significant positive correlation with the degree of decompensation of cirrhosis (Childscore A-C) was observed for the steroid hormones measured. Thus, in subgroup C the hormone levels are higher than physiologically expected for postmenopausal women. On the other hand the median FSH (32 vs 48 mU/ml, P less than 0.05) is significantly lower in cirrhosis compared to controls with a trend to decreased values of LH. Very low levels of LH and FSH are found in decompensated cirrhosis. The decrease of LH and FSH can partly be explained by the rise of peripheral hormones (i.e. E2, E1, and in some cases T and A).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electron spin resonance (ESR) dating of the origin of modern man.

Many materials found in archaeological sites are able to trap electronic charges as a result of bombardment by radioactive radiation from the surrounding sediment. The presence of these trapped charges can be detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy: the intensity of the ESR signal is a measure of the accumulated dose and thus of the age. Tooth enamel is ubiquitous at archaeological sites and is well suited for ESR dating, with a precision of about 10-20%. This method has now been used to date many sites critical to the biological and cultural evolution of modern man. Dates for sites in Israel and Africa have demonstrated the existence of anatomically modern humans more than 100 ka ago.

[Hyperestrogenemia following various shunt operations: on the role of estrogens in the development of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver]. / Hyperöstrogenämie nach verschiedenen Shuntoperationen: Zur Rolle der Ostrogene bei der Entstehung der fokal nodulären Hyperplasie der Leber.

Hormones especially estrogens have been suspected to induce liver cell tumours or hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). In rats 6 months after portocaval anastomosis (PCA) the occurrence of FNH has been observed. Modified portocaval anastomosis (mPCA) does not lead to FNH. To test the concept of estrogen induced tumour formation we measured in both groups as well as in a shamoperated control group (SOP) the levels of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and of testosterone (T). In a further experiment the hormone levels were measured in rats with portocaval transposition (PCT), an operation which leads to high gonadal hormone production. In groups of 6 male rats each (280-300 g) either SOP, PCA, mPCA or PCT were performed. 30 days later the blood levels of E2, E1, and of T were measured by radioimmunoassay. In PCT-rats hormone levels were measured in the blood synchronously taken from the inferior vena cava (prehepatic) and from the heart (posthepatic), to get an information of the hepatic hormone degradation. After PCA the median level of E2 (77 pg/ml) and E1 (63 pg/ml) are significantly elevated when compared with SOP-rats (41 and 43 pg/ml). Equally after mPCA the E2 and E1 levels are significantly higher (61 and 70 pg/ml) than in controls rats. In contrast the concentrations of T are significantly reduced (PCA 0.03, mPCA 0, 10, SOP 1.0 ng/ml). PCA as well as mPCA result in a hyperestrogenic and hypoandrogenic status. When PCA and mPCA are compared, only the testosterone blood levels are significantly different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Peptide hormones in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Immunoreactive serum levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), its alpha- and beta- subunits (alpha-HCG and beta-HCG), calcitonin (CT), parathyroid hormone (PTH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and growth hormone (GH) were increased in 8 to 68% of 44 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. With the exception of two patients, ACTH and PRL levels were only moderately increased, while alpha-HCG, GH, ACTH and PRL levels were not significantly different from the levels found in cirrhosis suggesting that metabolic effects due to impaired liver function may be responsible for their increase in liver cirrhosis and primary liver cell carcinoma. In contrast, HCG, beta-HCG, CT and PTH were associated with a higher incidence of elevated immunoreactive hormone levels than the other peptide hormones; higher concentrations were noted in tumor patients than with liver cirrhosis alone. Therefore, we suggest that metabolic effects due to cirrhosis may influence the serum levels and be more important than ectopic secretion by hepatocellular carcinoma.