Genomic History of Neolithic to Bronze Age Anatolia, Northern Levant, and Southern Caucasus.

Here, we report genome-wide data analyses from 110 ancient Near Eastern individuals spanning the Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age, a period characterized by intense interregional interactions for the Near East. We find that 6th millennium BCE populations of North/Central Anatolia and the Southern Caucasus shared mixed ancestry on a genetic cline that formed during the Neolithic between Western Anatolia and regions in today's Southern Caucasus/Zagros. During the Late Chalcolithic and/or the Early Bronze Age, more than half of the Northern Levantine gene pool was replaced, while in the rest of Anatolia and the Southern Caucasus, we document genetic continuity with only transient gene flow. Additionally, we reveal a genetically distinct individual within the Late Bronze Age Northern Levant. Overall, our study uncovers multiple scales of population dynamics through time, from extensive admixture during the Neolithic period to long-distance mobility within the globalized societies of the Late Bronze Age. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Pastoralism and Emergent Complex Settlement in the Middle Bronze Age, Azerbaijan: isotopic analyses of mobility strategies in transformation.

OBJECTIVES: This article explores the scale and seasonal patterns of mobility at the complex settlement site of Qizqala during the Middle Bronze Age (2400-1,500 BCE). By integrating human bone, teeth, and environmental samples this research tests the hypothesis of the persistent importance of community-wide seasonal pastoral transhumance during the early formation of complex settlement systems of the South Caucasus. METHODS: This research applies stable oxygen and radiogenic strontium isotope analyses on incremental samples of human tooth enamel, bulk tooth enamel, and bone to resolve mobility patterns. Sequential and bulk sampling techniques elucidate seasonal and residential mobility behaviors. Extensive environmental isotope samples of plant and water were collected through regional survey and establish local and regional isotopic baselines, which are compared to human isotope analysis results. RESULTS: Qizqala individuals exhibit low isotopic variability compared to regional contemporaries. 87 Sr/86 Sr ratios from human remains indicate seasonal and residential isotopic variability within the baseline ranges of local landscapes. δ18 O values display erratic patterns, but correspond to seasonal variability with fluctuations between highland and lowland altitudinal zone baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that isotopic analysis of multiple elements and sequential enamel samples offers finer resolution on the complexities of human mobility strategies and elucidate the daily lives of often overlooked mobile populations. Higher resolution of individual mobility reveals shared routine behaviors that underscore the importance of diverse social collaborations in forming complex polities in the South Caucasus.

Zinc therapy in children with cystic fibrosis.

The effect of oral zinc supplementation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) was investigated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study with each treatment period covering 6 months. CF patients (n = 13, aged 2 years, 3 months to 19 years, 1 month) started with placebo and after 6 months, they received zinc therapy. Another 13 patients (aged 3 years, 5 months to 16 years, 10 months) started in the reverse order. Before zinc supplementation, all CF patients had low plasma levels of zinc which normalized during treatment. This effect was, however, transient. CF patients also had low concentrations of plasma selenium. A small decrease in the number of leukocytes was also noted during zinc therapy. In response to zinc treatment, no changes in the clinical status of the patients were observed either by the investigators or by the patients. Growth velocity was the same during the placebo and zinc treatment periods. No significant changes in lung function occurred in response to either placebo or zinc. It appears that the observed low plasma zinc concentration in CF patients was due to an impaired zinc absorption from the gut which was counteracted by an increased supply of oral zinc. No beneficial effect from zinc supplementation on clinical status, growth velocity, or lung function was found in this study.

Myotonic dystrophy treated with selenium and vitamin E.

We have previously reported the successful treatment of a patient with myotonic dystrophy with selenium and vitamin E. This paper deals with the treatment of a further five patients with myotonic dystrophy in different stages. All five patients improved subjectively and objectively in two or more respects. All improved their grip strength according to vigorimeter measurements (Martin), two normalized their gait, another two can now sit down on their heels and stand up, one patient can now walk on his toes, one can now get up from lying on the floor without using a chair and two patients have improved their physical capacity. Patients in early stages of the disease improved faster and more markedly than those in late stages. Electromyographical measurements also showed improvements, in that the myotonic discharges had diminished. The daily dose was 4 mg of Na2SeO3 and 600 mg of vitamin E. Serum concentration of selenium increased in all patients at the beginning of the treatment, but stabilized at a level slightly above the normal. No side-effects were observed.

Selenium therapy of myotonic dystrophy.

A patient with myotonic dystrophy (MD) has been treated for two years with selenium and vitamin E. The serum selenium concentration and other relevant variables were continuously studied. The patient showed a marked subjective and objective improvement with increased muscular strength and regression of pathological electromyographic findings. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful treatment of MD.