Diseases of the spine in South American mummies.

OBJECTIVE: The skulls and spinal columns of people from ancient civilizations, which frequently are found in a preserved state at archeological sites, can provide a large amount of information about these individuals' physical condition through paleopathological investigation. METHODS: This study represents the examination of more than 700 human remains dating back more than 8000 years that were recovered from archaeological excavations in the Andean region of southern Peru and northern Chile. RESULTS: Examples of congenital malformations, degenerative processes, infectious diseases, neoplasias, and traumatic diseases were discovered. Congenital anomalies such as spina bifida occulta were relatively common in these populations. No cases of meningomyelocele were discovered. The most common pathological findings were degenerative changes of the vertebral bodies. Large cervical and lumbar osteophytes were identified in some remains. Several cases of cervical spondylosis were determined to be the result of an occupational disease resulting from carrying heavy loads on the back. These heavy loads were supported by wearing around the forehead a tumpline, known as a capacho. The most common infectious disease process in the spine was due to tuberculosis. The diagnosis was made by radiological and histopathological studies, and in several cases the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified in the soft tissues. Metastatic lesions on the vertebral bodies were identified in a single case. Examples of traumatic spinal injury were rare. Compression fractures were noted infrequently. CONCLUSION: Diseases of the spinal column in the ancient inhabitants of the Andean region of South America were similar to those that affect the present-day population of that area.

Diseases of the skull in pre-Columbian South American mummies.

OBJECTIVE: The majority of paleopathological investigations focus on the study of the skull. This is because the skull is the most frequently preserved part of the human body recovered from archaeological excavations. From studying the skull, a variety of information can be obtained regarding the individual, such as sex, age, nutritional status, and other disease processes, if present. METHODS: This study represents the examination of more than 700 human skulls recovered from archaeological excavations from the Andean region of southern Peru and northern Chile and dating back more than 8000 years. RESULTS: A variety of skull abnormalities were encountered. The nonmetric variables of Huschke's foramina and palatine tori were common. Cranial deformation was observed in more than 85% of the cases. There were two cases of sagittal synostosis. Iron deficiency anemia resulting in porotic hyperostosis of the skull was evident in certain cultures. Exostoses of the external auditory canal resulting from chronic otitis was evident only among coastal populations. One skull demonstrated a periostitis consistent with Treponema infection. Trephination was encountered only in the skulls from Peru. Fifty-four cases of skull fractures were observed, half of which showed evidence of healing. Finally, only two cases of neoplastic skull lesions were encountered. CONCLUSION: The study of the human skull alone provides a large amount of information regarding the health and diseases of ancient populations.

Alterations of host defenses paralleling cholesterol-induced atherogenesis. II. Immunologic studies of rabbits.

Cholesterol-fed rabbits are more susceptible to experimental infections than similar animals given a normal diet. Multiple tests were employed to estimate functions of reticuloendothelial (RE) phagocytosis, lymphocyte activity, polymorphonuclear (PMN) and macrophage chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and bactericidal activity, as well as enzymatic activity of the macrophages. RE phagocytosis was unchanged in the cholesterol-fed animals. However, most functions of the isolated PMNs and macrophages were significantly reduced. Three of five dehydrogenases and phosphatase were lower in activity from cells obtained from cholesterol-fed rabbits than from controls. Conversely, both B and T lymphocyte activities were significantly higher among the cholesterol-fed animals. These metabolic and functional alterations of cells from cholesterol-fed rabbits may explain the increased susceptibility to infection among these animals. The enzymatic changes found in leukocytes may correlate with those changes in arteries observed during atherogenesis, thereby providing a new prognostic test for risk of atherosclerosis.