Insights from ancient DNA analysis of Egyptian human mummies: clues to disease and kinship.

The molecular Egyptology field started in the mid-eighties with the first publication on the ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of an Egyptian mummy. Egypt has been a major interest for historians, archeologists, laymen as well as scientists. The aDNA research on Egyptian biological remains has been fueled by their abundance and relatively well-preserved states through artificial mummification and by the advanced analytical techniques. Early doubts of aDNA integrity within the Egyptian mummies and data authenticity were later abated with studies proving successfully authenticated aDNA retrieval. The current review tries to recapitulate the published studies presenting paleogenomic evidence of disease diagnosis and kinship establishment for the Egyptian human remains. Regarding disease diagnosis, the prevailing literature was on paleogenomic evidence of infectious diseases in the human remains. A series of reports presented evidence for the presence of tuberculosis and/or malaria. In addition, there were solitary reports of the presence of leprosy, diphtheria, bacteremia, toxoplasmosis, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis. On the contrary, paleogenomic evidence of the presence of rare diseases was quite scarce and mentioned only in two articles. On the other hand, kinship analysis of Egyptian human remains, including that of Tutankhamen, was done using both mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear DNA markers, to establish family relationships in four studies. It is clear that the field of molecular Egyptology is still a largely unexplored territory. Nevertheless, the paleogenomic investigation of Egyptian remains could make significant contributions to biomedical sciences (e.g. elucidation of coevolution of human host-microbe interrelationship) as well as to evidence-based archeology.

A brief introduction of Xiangya's anti-epidemic history in a century. / ç™¾å¹´æ¹˜é› æŠ—ç–«ç®€å².

Based on archival materials, the Xiangya's anti-epidemic history in a century from its establishment to 2020 is divided into 4 stages. The first stage (1906-1926), Edward Hicks Hume and YAN Fuqing, the founders of Xiangya, prevented and controlled smallpox and plague. The second stage (1929-1953), during the resumption of Xiangya, students prevented and controlled cholera, plague, dysentery, typhus, and other infectious diseases. In the third stage (1953-1999), in a peacetime, Xiangya actively fought against schistosomiasis, hydatidosis, malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis and other epidemics. The fourth stage (2000-2020), the era of Central South University. Medical staff in Xiangya fight SARS, influenza A (H1N1) flu, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, coronavirus disease 2019, etc. Over the past hundred years, Xiangya people joined together to spread benevolence and love, apply medical knowledge and skills, combat the epidemic and rescue people in difficulties, which made a great contribution to the motherland and the people.

Paleomicrobiology: Diagnosis and Evolution of Ancient Pathogens.

The last century has witnessed progress in the study of ancient infectious disease from purely medical descriptions of past ailments to dynamic interpretations of past population health that draw upon multiple perspectives. The recent adoption of high-throughput DNA sequencing has led to an expanded understanding of pathogen presence, evolution, and ecology across the globe. This genomic revolution has led to the identification of disease-causing microbes in both expected and unexpected contexts, while also providing for the genomic characterization of ancient pathogens previously believed to be unattainable by available methods. In this review we explore the development of DNA-based ancient pathogen research, the specialized methods and tools that have emerged to authenticate and explore infectious disease of the past, and the unique challenges that persist in molecular paleopathology. We offer guidelines to mitigate the impact of these challenges, which will allow for more reliable interpretations of data in this rapidly evolving field of investigation.

Historia de la profilaxis ante las enfermedades contagiosas. Medidas preventivas descritas en el Levítico / História da profilaxia contra as doenças transmissíveis. As medidas preventivas descritas em Levítico / History prophylaxis against contagious diseases. Preventive measures described in Leviticus

Introducción: Los capítulos 13 y 14 del libro de Levítico se centran en la actuación ante la lepra, enfermedad más temida a lo largo de la historia que enfermedades como la Peste Negra o la sífilis. El objetivo del presente artículo es analizar de forma exhaustiva las medidas preventivas de ambos capítulos frente a la lepra bíblica, sus consecuencias y su repercusión a lo largo de la historia. Método: Se examinaron los capítulos 13 y 14 del Levítico en tres versiones diferentes de la Biblia. Posteriormente se analizaron otros documentos de investigadores relacionadas con la temática y manuales de enfermedades transmisibles. Desarrollo del tema: Los hallazgos obtenidos destacan la utilidad de las medidas descritas para controlar la expansión de las enfermedades transmisibles, presentándose la cuarentena como la solución más óptima para promocionar el bienestar y la salud de la comunidad en aquel período, y la higiene era considerada un eje fundamental en este ámbito. Conclusiones: La aplicación de estas intervenciones ha producido beneficios notorios, especialmente en la reducción de la mortalidad, tanto en la población hebrea del período bíblico como en otras sociedades posteriormente, destacando algunas ciudades en durante la Peste Negra; y han instaurado pilares sobre las que descansa la epidemiología y salud pública actual (AU)

Introduction: Chapters 13 and 14 of Leviticus focus on performance against leprosy, most feared throughout history that diseases like syphilis Black Death or disease. The aim of this paper is to analyze thoroughly the preventive measures of both sections from the biblical leprosy, its consequences and its impact throughout history. Method: Chapters 13 and 14 of Leviticus in three different versions of the Bible was discussed. Later, other studies and manuals communicable diseases were analyzed. Development: The findings highlight the utility of the above measures to control the spread of contagious diseases, quarantine appearing as the optimal solution to promote the welfare and health of the community at that time, and hygiene was considered a cornerstone in this area. Conclusions: The implementation of these interventions has produced notable benefits, especially in reducing mortality in both the Jewish population of the biblical period and subsequently other companies, highlighting some cities during the Black Death; and they have formed the pillars on which rests the current epidemiology and public health (AU)

Introdução: Capítulos 13 e 14 de Levítico foco no desempenho contra a lepra, o mais temido por toda a história que doenças como sífilis Peste Negra ou doença. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar cuidadosamente as medidas de prevenção de ambas as secções da lepra bíblica, suas consequências e seu impacto ao longo da história. Método: Capítulos 13 e 14 do Levítico em três versões diferentes da Bíblia foi discutido. Mais tarde, foram analisados outros documentos e manuais de doenças transmissíveis relacionados com as doenças descritas na Bíblia. Desenvolvimento do tema: Os resultados destacam a utilidade das medidas acima referidas para controlar a propagação de doenças transmissíveis, quarentena aparecendo como a solução ideal para promover o bem-estar ea saúde da comunidade na época, e higiene foi considerado um marco na nesta área. Conclusões: A implementação destas intervenções produziu benefícios notáveis, especialmente na redução da mortalidade, tanto a população judaica do período bíblico e, posteriormente, outras empresas, destacando algumas cidades durante a Peste Negra; e eles formaram pilares sobre os quais repousa a epidemiologia atual e saúde pública (AU)

Microbial Genomics of Ancient Plagues and Outbreaks.

The recent use of next-generation sequencing methods to investigate historical disease outbreaks has provided us with an unprecedented ability to address important and long-standing questions in epidemiology, pathogen evolution, and human history. In this review, we present major findings that illustrate how microbial genomics has provided new insights into the nature and etiology of infectious diseases of historical importance, such as plague, tuberculosis, and leprosy. Sequenced isolates collected from archaeological remains also provide evidence for the timing of historical evolutionary events as well as geographic spread of these pathogens. Elucidating the genomic basis of virulence in historical diseases can provide relevant information on how we can effectively understand the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases today and in the future.

A clausura enferma: petições para a saída do Convento da Ajuda no Rio de Janeiro para tratamento de doenças contagiosas, c. 1750-1780 / Disease in the cloisters: requests to leave Convento da Ajuda, Rio de Janeiro, for the treatment of contagious diseases, c. 1750-1780

Resumo O artigo discute os pedidos de freiras do Convento da Ajuda para deixar a clausura a fim de curar doenças contagiosas. O padecimento dessas doenças era considerado uma das poucas exceções para permitir a saída das freiras. As ordens femininas guardavam estritamente a clausura, condição necessária para manter o recato de virgens consagradas a Cristo. A documentação contém detalhes sobre as causas e as formas de transmissão das doenças, bem como sobre os tipos de tratamento para combatê-las. Por fim, os processos esclarecem os procedimentos adotados fora da clausura para as freiras não colocarem em risco o recolhimento e a honra, quando iam buscar em locais distantes o tratamento adequado para aquelas doenças.

Abstract This article discusses the requests submitted by nuns from Convento da Ajuda (Ajuda Convent) to leave their life of enclosure to receive treatment for contagious diseases. Disease was one of the few cases in which nuns were granted permission to leave. The female orders were strictly cloistered in order to preserve their purity as virgins consecrated to Christ. Extant documents detail the causes of the diseases, the ways they were transmitted, and the treatments used to fight them. These processes shed light on the procedures adopted outside the cloisters so that the nuns did not jeopardize their reclusion and honor when they went to distant places in search of treatment.

[Disease in the cloisters: requests to leave Convento da Ajuda, Rio de Janeiro, for the treatment of contagious diseases, c.1750-1780]. / A clausura enferma: petições para a saída do Convento da Ajuda no Rio de Janeiro para tratamento de doenças contagiosas, c.1750-1780.

This article discusses the requests submitted by nuns from Convento da Ajuda (Ajuda Convent) to leave their life of enclosure to receive treatment for contagious diseases. Disease was one of the few cases in which nuns were granted permission to leave. The female orders were strictly cloistered in order to preserve their purity as virgins consecrated to Christ. Extant documents detail the causes of the diseases, the ways they were transmitted, and the treatments used to fight them. These processes shed light on the procedures adopted outside the cloisters so that the nuns did not jeopardize their reclusion and honor when they went to distant places in search of treatment.

Lepra: various etiologies from miasma to bacteriology and genetics.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Mycobacterium leprae. There have been various beliefs in its etiology with two main concepts emerging: anticontagion and contagion. From ancient times through the early Middle Ages, the miasmatic theory of leprosy was the main anticontagion view. The development of histopathologic and cytologic studies in the second half of the 19th century provided a starting point to explain the etiology of leprosy bacteriologically.

Lepra: various etiologies from miasma to bacteriology and genetics

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Mycobacterium leprae. There have been various beliefs in its etiology with two main concepts emerging: anticontagion and contagion. From ancient times through the early Middle Ages, the miasmatic theory of leprosy was the main anticontagion view. The development of histopathologic and cytologic studies in the second half of the 19th century provided a starting point to explain the etiology of leprosy bacteriologically.

Orígenes de la cooperación sanitaria internacional / No disponible

Desde la aparición de las primeras pandemias de cólera en la tercera década del siglo XIX tuvieron lugar una gran cantidad de Conferencias Sanitarias de muy diversa índole. Debido a la importancia económica de las epidemias y a las regulaciones que afectaban al comercio internacional, la diplomacia impulsó el nacimiento de la salud pública y sustituyó las ramas por la negociación. De este modo, las potencias coloniales europeas perpetuaban su dominio sobre los cinco continentes y establecían medidas de control sanitario global. Esa fue la dimensión sanitaria de la génesis del comercio internacional. Reuniones de expertos sobre higiene y demografía, fiebre amarilla, cólera, tuberculosis, enfermedades venéreas, dieron paso a otras sobre las gotas de leche y la alimentación infantil, y auspiciaron los inicios de la estadística sanitaria y epidemiológica internacional. Tras el precedente de la Cruz Roja Internacional, al iniciarse el siglo XX, este movimiento sanitario internacional culminó con la fundación de la primera institución con sede permanente en París: l’Office Intérnational ed’Higiène Publique (1907). Su papel en los conflictos bélicos, las grandes catástrofes y crisis sociales, y la difusión de información sanitaria fue muy limitado, pero marca un precedente en la cooperación sanitaria internacional. Tras la Gran Guerra, la gran catástrofe demográfica y sanitaria, la hambruna y la epidemia de gripe de 1918 impulsaron, tras el Tratado de Versalles, la creación de la Organización de Higiene de la Sociedad de Naciones. Por aquellos años, la filantropía internacional se había difundido ampliamente por Europa y América de la mano del International Health Board de la Fundación Rockefeller, y la colaboraciónentre ambas organizaciones en aspectos como la lucha contra las enfermedades infecciosas (malaria, tuberculosis, venéreas...), la higiene rural, las deficiencias nutricionales, o los estándares de salud marcaron un referente internacional para las políticas de salud pública y el avance de la medicina social. Ambas impulsaron las Escuelas de Sanidad y los Institutos Nacionales de Higiene, así como la formación de expertos en salud pública y su permanente intercambio de información. A comienzos de los años 1940, la Segunda Guerra Mundial cambió el panorama e impulsó la creación de la ONU y el reforzamiento de un cooperativismo internacional que tenía en su dimensión sanitaria uno de los principales elementos de estabilización. Primero el UNRRA y más tarde la FAO y la OMS sustituyeron a las organizaciones anteriores y abrieron la cooperación sanitaria a la participación de las ONGs, en un contexto histórico bien distinto: el de la Guerra Fría y la descolonización (AU)

No disponible

Controle da hanseníase no Estado de São Paulo: análise histórica / Control de la hanseníasis en el Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil: análisis histórico / Hansen's disease control in the State of São Paulo: a historical analysis

Para controle da hanseníase, doença infectocontagiosa conhecida desde os tempos bíblicos, são mostradas as intrincadas convergências de histórias nacionais, de políticas médicas, governamentais e internacionais. O estudo descreve a história e as ações de controle da hanseníase, a partir do começo do século XIX, no estado de São Paulo, e sua conexão com o desenvolvimento da saúde pública, utilizando análises bibliográficas e documentais.

Para control de la hanseníasis, enfermedad infectocontagiosa conocida desde los tiempos bíblicos, se muestran las intrincadas convergencias de historias brasileñas, de políticas médicas, gubernamentales e internacionales. El estudio describe la historia y las acciones de control de la hanseníasis, a partir del comienzo del siglo XIX, en el estado de Sao Paulo, y su conexión con el desarrollo de la salud pública, utilizando análisis bibliográficas y documentales.

Short biography of Louis Daniel Beauperthuy (1807-71): pioneer of microbiology and medical science in Venezuela.

Louis Daniel Beauperthuy was a pioneer of microbiology in Venezuela where he developed microscopic and clinical research together with academic and scientific observation related to leprosy and the role of insects in the transmission of febrile illnesses.

Do Lazareto dos Variolosos ao Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas: 130 anos de história da saúde pública no Brasil / From The Lazareto dos Variolosos to The Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas: 130 years of history of public health in Brasil

O livro Do Lazareto dos Variolosos ao Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas _ 130 anos de história da Saúde Pública no Brasil conta a vida de um hospital secular, fundado na época do Império e que se tornou referência na assistência, no ensino e em pesquisa na área de Doenças infecciosas e Parasitárias. (AU)

Sentidos de um país tropical: a lepra e a chalmoogra brasileira / Meanings of a tropical country: the leprosy and the brazilian chaumoogra

Desde o final do século XIX até a década de 1940, o óleo de chaulmoogra foi um importante elemento na prática terapêutica da lepra. Esse óleo era extraído das sementes encontradas nos frutos das árvores indianas chamadas de Chaulmoogras e foi apropriado pela medicina ocidental no final do século XIX, a partir da observação de seu uso pela população indiana para o tratamento de doenças de pele. Essa pesquisa tem como objetivo discutir a apropriação do óleo de chaulmoogra pelos médicos brasileiros e o processo de nacionalização desse tratamento, entre as décadas de 1920 e 1950. A análise será feita, principalmente, observando em que medida a aceitação dessa terapêutica se deu no contexto nacional pela comunidade médica e científica, na tentativa de controlar uma doença tropical que estava sendo definida como uma endemia nacional. Dessa forma, procuro refletir sobre o papel ativo dos cientistas brasileiros nos processos de adoção e adaptação de conhecimentos, vendo-os não como receptores passivos de ciência e tecnologia, mas como criadores de novos saberes e práticas em relação à lepra.

Sentidos de um país tropical: a lepra e a chaulmoogra brasileira / Meanings of a tropical country: the leprosy and the brazilian chaulmoogra

Desde o final do século XIX até a década de 1940, o óleo de chaulmoogra foi um importante elemento na prática terapêutica da lepra. Esse óleo era extraído das sementes encontradas nos frutos das árvores indianas chamadas de Chaulmoogras e foi apropriado pela medicina ocidental no final do século XIX, a partir da observação de seu uso pela população indiana para o tratamento de doenças de pele. Essa pesquisa tem como objetivo discutir a apropriação do óleo de chaulmoogra pelos médicos brasileiros e o processo de nacionalização desse tratamento, entre as décadas de 1920 e 1950. A análise será feita, principalmente, observando em que medida a aceitação dessa terapêutica se deu no contexto nacional pela comunidade médica e científica, na tentativa de controlar uma doença tropical que estava sendo definida como uma endemia nacional. Dessa forma, procuro refletir sobre o papel ativo dos cientistas brasileiros nos processos de adoção e adaptação de conhecimentos, vendo-os não como receptores passivos de ciência e tecnologia, mas como criadores de novos saberes e práticas em relação à lepra (AU).

[Contribution of paleopathology to defining the pathocoenosis of infectious diseases (Part one)]. / Apporti della paleopatologia alla definizione della patocenosi delle malattie infettive (prima parte).

Studying the remains of mummies obtained by archaeological research may provide key information concerning historical pathocoenosis. Paleopathology makes it possible to recognise, characterise and connect different features involved in human pathocoenosis, such as epidemiology, in a historical perspective, and cultural development, via the introduction of new livestock farming techniques and agriculture in general. Several distinct pathologies may produce direct and indirect changes in the skeleton of affected individuals. Therefore bone remains represent very important sources of information to study such diseases. Changes related to trauma and nutrition deficiency as well as secondary signs, induced by tuberculosis, brucellosis, leprosy, syphilis, malaria, periostitis and aspecific osteomyelitis, persist in bones. In addition, other diseases may cause indirect alterations and subsequent secondary bone in the skeleton via different mechanisms. A secondary bone dimorphism may be induced by poliomyelitis. Aspecific lesions may arise in a skeletal bone and then cause secondary alterations in near-bone segments. Reviewing studies of paleopathologic research found in the literature, we emphasize the relationship between the appearance of major infectious diseases and the development of human activities; whereas it is clear that the introduction of livestock farming had a key role in the pathocoenosis of distinct infections such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and leprosy, some doubts and uncertainty remain in relation to the origin of others with epidemiologically important pathologies, such as syphilis.

[An old document about hospitals, leprosy and pestilence houses in electorate of Saxony]. / Hospitäler, Lazarette und Siechenhäuser im Kurfürstentum Sachsen des 16. Jahrhunderts. Ein Fundbericht.

This paper presents a new, only recently identified source on Saxon hospitals in the Middle Ages, a list, compiled between 1553 and 1586 under the government of elector August (1526-1586), of the districts and towns with hospitals for old and poor people, sickly persons, lepers, syphilitics and patients with other infectious diseases. Run by the towns or, partially, in connection with monasteries and churchs, by the court of Dresden too, these institutions provided lodging, nourishment, clothes and physical care to the indigent inmates. A medical therapy in a stricter sense was the exception in that s time.

[Contributions of the Netherlands and its colonies to the knowledge of the cause of leprosy in the 19th century]. / Bijdragen van Nederland en zijn koloniën aan de kennis over de oorzaak van lepra in de 19e eeuw.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Dutch contributions to the formulation of the concept that leprosy is an infectious disease. DESIGN: Literature study. METHOD: A search for relevant publications was made in the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (Dutch journal of Medicine; NTvG) and the Geneeskundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch-Indië (Medical Journal of the Dutch Indies; GTNI) with the aid of the search terms 'lepra [leprosy]', 'lepra Arabum [Arab leprosy]', 'melaatsheid [leprosy]' and 'elephantiasis Graecorum [Greek elephantiasis]'. In addition, on the basis of references in the publications in the NTvG and the GTNI, as well as via searches in the catalogues of the Royal Library in The Hague and the libraries of Dutch universities, an inventory was made of the Dutch medical dissertations and other monographs on leprosy, as well as the medical historical review articles, from the 19th century. RESULTS: For a long time, physicians described the aetiology of leprosy in terms of 'a substrate' to which all sorts of mixtures of infection, heredity and hygiene contributed. From the middle of the 19th century onwards, this explanatory model with multiple possible solutions gave way to a controversy between two explanatory models: heredity as an 'anti-contagious' principle versus contagiosity. These two explanatory models were mutually exclusive in their universal aspirations. The debate in the Netherlands took place in the field of tension between European concepts on the one hand and on the other hand ideas and practices resulting from the interaction between the Netherlands and its colonies. Inspired in part by the writings of the Dutch physician C L Drognat Landré, who based his contagion theory on observations in Surinam, the Norwegian G. H. A. Hansen discovered the leprosy bacillus in 1873. It was not until 1897, at the international leprosy conference in Berlin, however, that consensus was to be reached on leprosy being an infectious disease. CONCLUSION: An essential contribution to the development of the contemporary ideas as to the cause of leprosy was made from the Netherlands.