Effect of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Transection on the Inorganic Component of Molars of Rat Mandible.

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of inferior alveolar nerve transection on inorganic components in mandibular molars of the rat. We used 26 male laboratory rats of the Wistar strain for the study, age 7-9 weeks. The rats were divided in three groups. The control group (intact) included 6 rats. The surgery was performed under general anesthesia. The experimental group included (group with the nerve transected on the left) included 12 rats. The sham group (group with the nerve prepared without transection) included 8 rats. The animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks. Molars from the left and right sides of the mandible were extracted. Element content levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The following elements were determined in all samples: magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and strontium (Sr). The nerve transection caused: a reduction of the contents of Ca and Sr in the mandibular molars; an increase in the contents of Mg and Zn; a difference arrangement of both sides for Na. The surgery approach itself caused a decrease in the contents of Na and K in the experimental and sham groups; the difference in K in M3 between the left and right sides disappeared due to the surgery. Our results have confirmed the hypothesis of inferior alveolar nerve transection having an effect on inorganic components in mandibular molars in the rat.

Effect of inferior alveolar nerve transection on the inorganic component of bone of rat mandible.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to test the effect of transecting the inferior alveolar nerve on the inorganic bone component of the rat mandible. METHODS: 7-9 weeks old, male Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were divided in 3 groups: control, experimental (nerve was transected) and sham (nerve was only prepared but not transected). After 4 weeks, the animals were killed, their teeth were extracted, and the mandibular bone was divided in 4 parts. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to the levels of 7 elements in the bone. RESULTS: The study results demonstrate that transection of the inferior alveolar nerve caused a decrease in calcium, iron, and strontium, and an increase of zinc. It caused the differences in potassium contents between the sides was significantly lower in the experimental group. The increase in the magnesium content, and decrease of sodium and potassium in the experimental group, as well as differences in the contents of: magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and zinc between individual locations in the mandible are associated with the surgical approach. CONCLUSION: The results support our hypothesis - that sensory innervation has an impact on the inorganic component of the mandibular bone.

Author Correction: Ancient hepatitis B viruses from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period.

In Fig. 2 of this Letter, the 'E' and 'G' clade labels were inadvertently reversed, and in Table 2 the genotype of DA27 was 'D1' instead of 'D5'. These have been corrected online.

Ancient human parvovirus B19 in Eurasia reveals its long-term association with humans.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a ubiquitous human pathogen associated with a number of conditions, such as fifth disease in children and arthritis and arthralgias in adults. B19V is thought to evolve exceptionally rapidly among DNA viruses, with substitution rates previously estimated to be closer to those typical of RNA viruses. On the basis of genetic sequences up to ∼70 years of age, the most recent common ancestor of all B19V has been dated to the early 1800s, and it has been suggested that genotype 1, the most common B19V genotype, only started circulating in the 1960s. Here we present 10 genomes (63.9-99.7% genome coverage) of B19V from dental and skeletal remains of individuals who lived in Eurasia and Greenland from ∼0.5 to ∼6.9 thousand years ago (kya). In a phylogenetic analysis, five of the ancient B19V sequences fall within or basal to the modern genotype 1, and five fall basal to genotype 2, showing a long-term association of B19V with humans. The most recent common ancestor of all B19V is placed ∼12.6 kya, and we find a substitution rate that is an order of magnitude lower than inferred previously. Further, we are able to date the recombination event between genotypes 1 and 3 that formed genotype 2 to ∼5.0-6.8 kya. This study emphasizes the importance of ancient viral sequences for our understanding of virus evolution and phylogenetics.

Ancient hepatitis B viruses from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of human hepatitis. There is considerable uncertainty about the timescale of its evolution and its association with humans. Here we present 12 full or partial ancient HBV genomes that are between approximately 0.8 and 4.5 thousand years old. The ancient sequences group either within or in a sister relationship with extant human or other ape HBV clades. Generally, the genome properties follow those of modern HBV. The root of the HBV tree is projected to between 8.6 and 20.9 thousand years ago, and we estimate a substitution rate of 8.04 × 10-6-1.51 × 10-5 nucleotide substitutions per site per year. In several cases, the geographical locations of the ancient genotypes do not match present-day distributions. Genotypes that today are typical of Africa and Asia, and a subgenotype from India, are shown to have an early Eurasian presence. The geographical and temporal patterns that we observe in ancient and modern HBV genotypes are compatible with well-documented human migrations during the Bronze and Iron Ages1,2. We provide evidence for the creation of HBV genotype A via recombination, and for a long-term association of modern HBV genotypes with humans, including the discovery of a human genotype that is now extinct. These data expose a complexity of HBV evolution that is not evident when considering modern sequences alone.

The Effect of Sensory Innervation on the Inorganic Component of Bones and Teeth; Experimental Denervation - Review.

The effect of the nervous system on bone remodelling has been described by many studies. Sensory and autonomic nerves are present in the bone. Immunohistochemical analysis of the bone have indicated the presence of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters that act on bone cells through receptors. Besides carrying sensory information, sensory neurons produce various neuropeptides playing an important role in maintaining bone and tooth pulp homeostasis, and dentin formation. Bone tissue and teeth contain organic and inorganic components. Bone cells enable bone mineralization and ensure its formation and resorption. Studies focused on the effects of the nervous system on the bone are proceeded using various ways. Sensory denervation itself can be achieved using capsaicin causing chemical lesion to the nerve. Surgical ways of causing only sensory lesion to nerves are substantially limited because many peripheral nerves are mixed and contain a motor component as well. From this point of view, the experimental model with transection of inferior alveolar nerve is appropriate. This nerve provides sensory innervation of the bone and teeth of the mandible. The purpose of our paper is to provide an overview of the effects exerted by the nervous system on the inorganic component of the bone and teeth, and also to present an overview of the used experimental models. As we assume, the transection of inferior alveolar nerve could be reflected in changed contents and distribution of chemical elements in the bone and teeth of rat mandible. This issue has not been studied so far.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis from Roman Hungary.

This paper deals with cases of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) found at the Late Roman Age necropolis in Pécs, Hungary (4th century AD). The skeletal remains of two male individuals, aged between 60-70 years and 45-55 years, displayed right-sided ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament with extra-spinal manifestations typical in DISH cases. It is presumed that both male individuals were middle-class citizens. Their social status was supplemented with trace element analysis in order to reconstruct the dietary habits of the urban population. Concentrations of Sr and Zn indicated a predominantly vegetal diet. Potential DISH risk factors and associations were subsequently discussed and compared with our findings.

Social evolution in the Hallstatt--La Tène period.

On the archaeological finds, written reports and in the composition of the bone tissue, we can suppose that social evolution in Hallstatt--La Tène period proceeded through the three following stages. In the Early Iron Age (Hallstatt period) with funerary furnishings of barrows, seldom, also, of burial grounds, we can distinguish only two groups: a ruler and his court with women and servants. Elements of nomadic and pastoral traditions can be distinguished in the ruling stratum. The second class of people living in bondage has agricultural features. At this first stage of social evolution (approximately between the 7th and the 5th centuries B.C.), in the period of princes, we can distinguish only two social groups--the king (prince) with his court on one side and peasants on the other side. This social stratification determines access to land and, at the same time, ownership of mobile wealth--cattle. The elite accumulates wealth coming also from other sources, for example, in an eponymic locality it mines salt and controls its distribution, other elites of the Hallstatt society control key points of trade, in the first place the trade in amber, being the trade proper provided by foreign merchants. In an archaeological context there appear the settlements of the elite of the refugium. The second social stage with military democracy (in the 4th and the 3rd centuries B.C.) is characterised by several factors: 1st Cheaper weapons, due to their manufacture using products with ensured sources of raw material, 2nd overproduction of foodstuffs, 3rd increase of population. Access to the sources has a larger spectrum, this is why the social stratification of the structured unevenness in this period is taking the form of a pyramid. This social pyramid is confirmed by written reports and also appears in the funerary furnishings. Not only are the ruler and his "court" put in the graves, but also all the members of the clan. We suppose that the new social group of priests, who gained a high social prestige both in wartime and in peacetime, took part in this change of mentality and opinions. Due to the rich admission of the dietary elements Sr and Zn, we suppose that it could be garniture 600 in the burial grounds that represents this group. From the result it can be deduced at 5% significance level (p = 0.0519) that also the relations between the garnitures within the social stratification differ consistently with the region. When strontium content in social groups was statistically tested regardless of the region, differences are found at the 5% level of significance (p = 0.0402) between the group II (males with weapons, females with anklets and with 2 bracelets, 54 skeletons with mean content of 198 microg Sr/g of bone) and group IV (males without funerary furniture, children and exceptions, 31 skeletons with mean content of 154.9 microg Sr/g of bone). Also at statistical testing of lead content, regardless of the region, there are differences at the 5% level of significance between group II (48 skeletons with mean content 1.5 microg Pb/g of bone) and group IV (27 skeletons with mean content 0.47 microg Pb/g of bone). Regardless of region there is an apparent difference in consumption of the vegetal component of diet (strontium) and social marker (lead) between the richest elite group II and group IV covering the persons living in bondage on the level of slaves. The third phase of social evolution of the urban type is characterised by the evolution of oppida. Production is fully concentrated here. An oppidum is a market place formed by agricultural villages. Due to the change of the funerary rite towards cremation and the absence of burial grounds, the social structure can only be judged in a mediated manner by means of written reports. A large number of smaller tribal "kingdoms" are concentrated into several larger ones, comprising even several tribes, such as, for example at the king of the Boeotians and of the Taurisks Kritasir in Pannonia and Norik [1]. In these three phases, social evolution lasted for 6 to 7 centuries and headed towards the state system. It was interrupted by the migrations of the Celts and by external pressure from the Romans and the Germans.

Social stratification at the peasant farmstead in the 20th century in middle Bohemia.

Three agricultural village homesteads (farmsteads) have been used to describe social development in the course of the 20th century. Distribution of the work, including stratification of prestige and power, is described in detail for the social group living at the farmstead before the World War I and by its end. We used this first period (1901-1918) at the beginning of the 20th century as a model for the social relations outlasting long from the Middle Ages. In the period from the establishment of the First Republic till the end of the World War II (1918-1945) we can witness the replacement of anterior members of the working team (ploughman and senior maid). Due to the lack of farm-hands they are replaced by immigrants from Slovakia. Since 1945 till 1948 the larger family and German prisoners are engaged in the distribution of the work at the farm. In this period of social changes the farmsteads are gradually abolished, which brings about also decomposition of the social group, which was earning its living from the farm. In the development period between 1948 and 1990 we can see the collapse and destruction of the social groups at smaller agricultural farmsteads including larger estates and their replacement by social organisation of agricultural co-operative farms. In the development period lasting from 1990 till the end of the 20th century the agricultural system of smaller farmsteads was partially restored. Thanks to the introduction of new agricultural machines the family alone is able to cultivate the arable land belonging to the farmstead. Specialised companies performing partial works are employed for occasional works. At the majority of farmsteads the traditional farming has not been restored any more.

Case reports: Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in Czech archaeological material.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (osteochondrosis of the femoral head) has been recognized in archaeological material for nearly a century but is extremely rare. We describe two Czech cases from archaeological findings. The first case was diagnosed in the skeleton of a man older than 50 years with the left hip affected. The skeleton was in grave Number 2 of the Langobard cemetery at Luzice (Moravia) and dated to the end of the fifth century and the beginning of the sixth century AD. The second case was described by J. Chochol in 1957 on the left femur and half of the pelvis of a skeleton from an archaeological investigation in Brandýsek (Bohemia), ninth to tenth centuries AD. Using the diagnostic criteria of Ortner and Putschar, we excluded slipped capital femoral epiphysis in both cases. We discuss the differential diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease versus unilateral and bilateral osteochondroses of the femoral head in archaeological and current clinical material.