Violence in the Early Bronze Age. Diagnosis of skull lesions using anthropological, taphonomic and scanning electron microscopy techniques.

In this paper we present the study of a skull belonging to a young male from the Italian Bronze Age showing three perimortem injuries on the frontal and parietal bones; the peculiarity of the frontal injury is represented by its singular shape, which may be indicative of the weapon that caused the lesion. The aim of the present study is to examine the traumatic evidence in relation to possible etiological factors, in order to attempt to establish if the lesion occurred peri or post-mortem, and to evaluate if these traumatic injuries could be interpreted as an evidence of interpersonal violence, by combining anthropological, taphonomic and ESEM investigations. The combination of multidisciplinary methods of study can provide important new insights into inter-personal violence.

Projectile, blunt, or sharp force trauma? A facial lesion on a Bronze Age skull from Uglemose, Denmark.

This study presents and discusses the differential diagnosis of a unique case of facial trauma. The adult male skull was excavated in 1948 from Uglemose (Owl Bog) outside of Birket, on the island of Lolland (Denmark). Carbon-14 samples from an adult tibia excavated with the skull dates to the end of the Danish Bronze Age and transition period into the pre-Roman Iron Age. The skull shows a traumatic ante-mortem lesion to the left maxilla, directly below the orbit, that opens into the maxillary sinus. The left margin of the injury is slightly rounded and angled into the lesion while the right margin is pulled out from the lesion and has a much sharper border, suggesting a directional force from left to right. A previous assessment of the lesion suggested that projectile trauma caused the injury, but the lesion does not conclusively demonstrate features of projectile trauma. CT scans and 3D visualization of the skull show no evidence of structural changes to the maxillary sinus to support a conclusion of projectile trauma. Differential diagnosis through macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the lesion would suggest rapid blunt force or slow sharp force trauma as a potential etiology. The aim of this case study is to discuss the potential mechanisms of injury, including type of trauma as well as accidental versus intentional etiologies.

The Role of Forensic Botany in Solving a Case: Scientific Evidence on the Falsification of a Crime Scene.

Forensic botany can provide useful information for pathologists, particularly on crime scene investigation. We report the case of a man who arrived at the hospital and died shortly afterward. The body showed widespread electrical lesions. The statements of his brother and wife about the incident aroused a large amount of suspicion in the investigators. A crime scene investigation was carried out, along with a botanical morphological survey on small vegetations found on the corpse. An autopsy was also performed. Botanical analysis showed some samples of Xanthium spinosum, thus leading to the discovery of the falsification of the crime scene although the location of the true crime scene remained a mystery. The botanical analysis, along with circumstantial data and autopsy findings, led to the discovery of the real crime scene and became crucial as part of the legal evidence regarding the falsity of the statements made to investigators.

An accident at work? Traumatic lesions in the skeleton of a 4th millennium BCE "wagon driver" from Sharakhalsun, Russia.

The study of ante-mortem trauma is a popular and important aspect of palaeopathological analysis. The majority of publications focus on a particular assemblage, skeletal element or type of fracture, with case studies of single individuals with multiple/unusual traumata being much rarer in the literature. This paper presents the case of an adult male from the Bronze Age site of Sharakhalsun, Russia, buried, uniquely, in a sitting position on a fully assembled wagon, who displayed evidence for multiple healed ante-mortem fractures of the cranium, axial and appendicular skeleton. The mechanisms and likely etiologies of the fractures are presented, with reference to modern and 19th century clinical literature, and possible interpretations suggested: that the individual was involved in a severe accident involving a wagon or draft animals, or both, a number of years before his death. The suggestion is also made that the unique burial position of the individual was a form of commemoration by the community of the survival and recovery of the individual from such a serious incident.

Enhanced bone formation by strontium modified calcium sulfate hemihydrate in ovariectomized rat critical-size calvarial defects.

The development of a new generation of biomaterials with high osteogenic ability for treatment of osteoporotic fractures is being intensively investigated. The objective of this paper was to investigate new bone formation in an ovariectomized rat (OVX rat) calvarial model of critical size bone defects filled with Sr-containing α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (SrCSH) cement compared to an α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CSH) cement and empty defect. X-ray diffraction analysis verified the partial substitution of Sr2+ for Ca2+ did not change the phase composition of α-CSH. Scanning electron microscopy showed that Sr-substituted α-CSH significantly increased the surface roughness. The effects of Sr substitution on the biological properties of SrCSH cement were evaluated by adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of osteoblast-like cells MC3T3-E1. The results showed that SrCSHs enhanced MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, differentiation, and ALP activity. Furthermore, SrCSH cement was used to repair critical-sized OVX rat calvarial defects. The in vivo results revealed that SrCSH had good osteogenic capability and stimulated new blood vessel formation in a critical sized OVX calvarial defect within 12 weeks, suggesting that SrCSH cement has more potential for application in bone tissue regeneration.

[Trepanations in the population of the Altai Mountains in the Vth - IIIrd centuries B.C].

The history of trepanations beginning with the Mesolithic (1 0-12 thousand years ago) is known by means of findings in various parts of the world. The article describes three cases of intravital trepanation of skulls from the Pazyryk Culture graves in the Altai Mountains that had existed from the end of the Vl'h to the beginning of the ll"d century B.C. In two cases, trepanations were performed so skillfully that the operated patients had survived for a long time after the surgery, which was confirmed not only by microscopy but also by MSCT of the skulls. The article establishes causes of surgeries performed, reconstructs the technique of surgical manipulations, and evaluates them in terms of modern medicine. A comparative analysis of ancient trepanations performed by healers of different archeological cultures is provided. It is concluded that prehistoric cranial surgeries in the Altai Mountains had been performed for curative purposes.

Fatal cranial injury in an individual from Messina (Sicily) during the times of the Roman Empire.

Forensic and archaeological examinations of human skeletons can provide us with evidence of violence. In this paper, we present the patterns of two cranial lesions found on an adult male (T173) buried in a grave in the necropolis 'Isolato 96', Messina, Sicily, dating back to the Roman Empire (1st century BC - 1st century AD). The skull reveals two perimortem traumatic lesions, one produced by a sharp object on the right parietal bone and the other one on the left parietal bone, presumably the result of a fall. The interpretation of fracture patterns found in this cranium are an illustration of how forensic approaches can be applied with great benefit to archaeological specimens.

[Skeleton find from Roman times suspected as an homicide victim]. / Vermeintliches Tötungsdelikt als Skelettfund aus der Römerzeit aufgeklärt.

A human skeleton was found during construction work on the concrete foundations of a fence built 17 years before. The situation seemed to suggest that a corpse had been disposed of 17 years ago. Forensic and osteological examinations showed that death had been caused by semi-sharp and blunt craniocerebral trauma. However, there were morphological findings which indicated that the body had been buried in soil for at least 50 years. Several additional objects found nearby and the proximity to the Limes pointed to a Roman context. With the help of the radiocarbon method, the time of death could be dated to about 245-263 AD. A recent act of violence could hence be ruled out. According to the situation at the scene, it had to be assumed, however, that the skeleton must have been discovered already during the construction work done 17 years before and that the find had not been reported. Such behaviour is a phenomenon quite often encountered in practice.

Perimortem weapon trauma in an adult male skeleton from the Italic necropolis of Opi Val Fondillo (VI-V century BC; Central Italy).

The author describes weapon traumatic lesions in an adult male skeleton, that was excavated in the Italic necropolis of Opi Val Fondillo, Central Italy. The preservation of the skeleton is very good. The skull shows a linear lesion across the diploE of the right parietal and occipital bones; the edge of the traumatic lesion is smooth and perpendicular to the bone surface. The injury was probably inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon and the violence of the stroke caused the detachment of bone fragments and fractures that radiate from the point of impact. A sharp-edged linear traumatic lesion, probably inflicted with a blade, is visible on the ventral surface of the vertebral bodies of atlas and axis; the blade detached the right transverse process of the atlas and penetrated in the vertebral body of the axis. Another sharp-edged linear traumatic injury is observed on the anterior surface of the body of thoracic vertebrae. There are no traumatic lesions of the ribs and the last injury was probably inflected down with a blade, while the body lying on the ground. The posterior surface of the diaphysis of the right femur shows an incomplete perimortem fracture, probably due to a compression down upon. Probably the adult male was killed during a fight and enemy had done with him, while he was lying on the ground holding fast his legs strongly. A comparison is made between the lesions and the modality of combat as well as the type of the weapons used by the Samnitic warriors.

Muti killing: a case report.

Muti killings are a form of murder committed by certain African tribes in South Africa and other African countries. Body parts for medicinal and ritualistic purposes are removed whilst the victims, mostly women and children, are still alive. The authors report the case of a 10-year-old boy who was found in an unconscious state in the undergrowth near a rural village in Limpopo, South Africa. He had several injuries which included the removal of his private parts and severe head injuries. The incidence, etiological and cultural factors, predisposing conditions and legal questions arising from such deaths are discussed.

Nasal fractures--the details.

Due to the nose's prominent location and functional and cosmetic importance, nasal fractures present a challenge to the facial plastic surgeon to restore all things to normal. Although little groundbreaking news has been reported recently in the literature on nasal fractures, there is ample literature already in print on virtually every topic concerning nasal fractures. This article concentrates on the details of actually managing nasal fractures, with comments on present-day coding of posttraumatic septorhinoplasty.

Efficacy of external fixation following nasal manipulation under local anaesthesia.

Nasal fractures are one of the commonest reasons for patients being referred to ENT departments, but few studies have been published about the management of this condition. In particular, the efficacy of external splintage following manipulation has not been assessed. This was a prospective randomized study, which examined the results of manipulation under local anaesthetic and the benefit to be gained from external fixation with Plaster of Paris (POP) following this procedure. Accurate measurements of the degree of deviation of the nose pre- and post-manipulation were obtained using a camera mounted on a specially designed frame. Thirty-three out of 241 consecutive patients seen at a research clinic over the course of 12 months were included in the study. The mean deviation of the nasal bridge at presentation was 4.12 mm. Manipulation under local anaesthetic significantly improved the degree of deviation (mean 2.47 mm, P = 0.0011, 90% CI, 1-2 mm). Randomization of the patients, following manipulation, into POP/none-POP groups showed that external splintage of the nose appeared to be of little practical benefit.

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.

Potato gun ocular injury.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify a dangerous new weapon capable of causing damage to the ocular and periocular regions. METHODS: The authors report two patients who had penetrating ocular injury in the past year because of homemade recreational potato guns. RESULTS: In one 14-year-old boy, projectiles from the firing of a potato gun resulted in orbital and cranial injuries that were life threatening with widespread fractures, marked disruption of facial structures, a cerebrospinal fluid fistula requiring bifrontal surgical repair, and loss of one eye. In a separate accident with a different potato gun, a 14-year-old boy who was wearing glasses at the time of injury had a sight-threatening perforating corneal laceration. CONCLUSION: Practitioners must be aware of the existence of these new, homemade unregulated devices. Information about the use and construction of these guns is widespread on the Internet, but no injuries resulting from these guns currently are documented in the medical literature.

[Structure and evaluation of the paramedian side of thalamus]. / Bau und Beurteilung der paramedianen Seite des Thalamus.

The adhaesio interthalamica in humans as apposed to animals is formed only by the nucleus reuniens which is of very variable size and which is conspicuously small if there is no adhaesio interthalamica. It is larger than in animals and is probably of special importance for humans. Its fliber connections have not been elucidadat and its effects on other parts of the brain cannot be determined with certainty. As the adhaesio interthalamica may be enlarged under certain condition-and is frequently preserved in sensecence, so it is probably of special significance for humans. Similar findings have been obtained for the adacent paramedian part of the thalamus the cells of which are irregularly distributed.

Autopsies on two native American Mummies.

An interdisciplinary team performed autopsies on an adult male and an infant male mummy from the American Southwest. Cause of death has not been determined for the infant. The presence of an unhealed skull fracture associated with an apparent hematoma in the adult male is suggestive of trauma as the cause of death in the adult. Evidence of disease is minimal. Analysis of powder thought to be dried blood from the thoracic cavity of the adult suggests the presence of human IgG. The instability of this protein may indicate the presence of proteolytic activity by enzymes that degrade immunoglobulins upon rehydration. The possibility of enzymatic degradation of proteins will be an important factor in future studies of such immunoglobulins in mummy remains and also indicates the importance of maintaining the desiccated condition of mummy tissues.

Distribution of microglial clusters in the brain after head injury.

The brains of 12 cases of head injury have been submitted to gross pathological study and microscopic examination by the Weil-Davenport method, with special reference to the corpus callosum, internal capsules, and brain-stem in each case. Microglial clusters were observed in 11 out of 12 cases, the most common sites for these being the corpus callosum ipsilateral to the external applied force and the internal capsule and brain-stem contralateral to this applied force. This pattern of distribution of lesions remained constant in all cases. The nature, aetiology, and distribution of these lesions is discussed and it is concluded that such lesions arise from the formation of definite patterns of shearing forces which snap axons. These forces arise from the rotational movements set up within the skull resulting from the relative delay of movement of the brain with respect to the skull and dura mater.