Ancient genomes provide insights into family structure and the heredity of social status in the early Bronze Age of southeastern Europe.

Twenty-four palaeogenomes from Mokrin, a major Early Bronze Age necropolis in southeastern Europe, were sequenced to analyse kinship between individuals and to better understand prehistoric social organization. 15 investigated individuals were involved in genetic relationships of varying degrees. The Mokrin sample resembles a genetically unstructured population, suggesting that the community's social hierarchies were not accompanied by strict marriage barriers. We find evidence for female exogamy but no indications for strict patrilocality. Individual status differences at Mokrin, as indicated by grave goods, support the inference that females could inherit status, but could not transmit status to all their sons. We further show that sons had the possibility to acquire status during their lifetimes, but not necessarily to inherit it. Taken together, these findings suggest that Southeastern Europe in the Early Bronze Age had a significantly different family and social structure than Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age societies of Central Europe.

Present status of laboratory diagnosis of human taeniosis/cysticercosis in Europe.

Human cysticercosis (CC) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage (cyst) of the Taenia solium. Cysts can establish in the human central nervous system (neurocysticercosis, NCC) and other organs and tissues; they also develop in pigs, the natural intermediate host. Human taeniosis may be caused by T. solium, Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica tapeworms; these infections are usually asymptomatic, but show a significant relevance as they perpetuate the parasites' life cycle, and, in the case of T. solium, they are the origin of (N)CC. In European Union (EU) member states and associated countries, the occurrence of autochthonous T. solium cases is debated, and imported cases have significantly increased lately; the status of T. asiatica has been never reported, whereas T. saginata is prevalent and causes an economic impact due to condemned carcasses. Based on their effects on the EU society, the specific diagnosis of these pathologies is relevant for their prevention and control. The aims of this study were to know the diagnostic tests used in European laboratories for human taeniosis/cysticercosis by means of a questionnaire, to determine potential gaps in their detection, and to obtain preliminary data on the number of diagnosed taeniosis/CC cases.

Comorbidities and factors associated with central nervous system infections and death in non-perinatal listeriosis: a clinical case series.

BACKGROUND: Listeriosis is a rare disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and mainly affects at risk people. Listeriosis can lead to sepsis, central nervous system (CNS) infections and death. The objectives of this study were to describe and quantify comorbidities and neurological sequelae underlying non-perinatal listeriosis cases and to describe the factors associated with death and CNS infections in non-perinatal listeriosis. METHODS: We retrospectively collected clinical data through computerized, paper or microfilmed medical records in two Belgian university hospitals. Logistic regression models and likelihood ratio tests allowed identifying factors associated with death and CNS infections. RESULTS: Sixty-four cases of non-perinatal listeriosis were included in the clinical case series and 84 % were affected by at least one comorbid condition. The main comorbidities were cancer, renal and severe cardio-vascular diseases. Twenty-nine patients (45 %) suffered from a CNS infection and 14 patients (22 %) died during hospitalization, among whom six (43 %) had a CNS involvement. Among surviving patients, eleven suffered from neurological sequelae (22 %) at hospital discharge; all had CNS infection. Five of these patients (45 %) still suffered of their neurological sequelae after a median follow-up of one year (range: 0.08-19). The factor associated with death during the hospitalization was the presence of a severe cardiovascular disease (OR = 4.72, p = 0.015). Two factors inversely related with CNS infections were antibiotic monotherapy (OR = 0.28, p = 0.04) and the presence of renal disease (OR = 0.18, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In a public health context these results could be a starting point for future burden of listeriosis studies taking into account comorbidity.

Cognitive functions after spinal tap in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterised by gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and dementia. Even though dementia is a cardinal symptom of NPH, there is few data available concerning cognitive functioning. The aim of this observational case-control study was to evaluate the use of neuropsychological (NPSY) tests prior and after spinal tap test, which might be helpful for diagnosis, treatment and as a prognostic factor for shunt surgery. 15 patients with NPH and 18 controls were examined with eleven different tests covering all neuropsychological domains on two consecutive days. The second examination in NPH patients was 1 day after a spinal tap of 30-50 ml cerebrospinal fluid. A significant difference between NPH and controls in the change between baseline and 1 day after spinal tap was only observed in MMSE. In the domains of visuo-constructive function and attention, controls performed slightly better at day one compared to baseline, which could be interpreted as a learning effect, but after adjusting for multiple testing none of the P values were significant. In contrast to other reports, the MMSE seems to provide a sensitive evaluation of the response to spinal tap in NPH patients and might therefore be included into the routine work up of NPH patients. All other NPSY tests showed less prominent changes within 1 day after spinal tap.

Aquaporins AQP1 and AQP4 in the cerebrospinal fluid of bacterial meningitis patients.

Aquaporins facilitate water transport through cell membranes. Due to the localization of AQP1 and AQP4 in the brain, they might contribute to cerebral edema. Our study aimed to determine whether AQP1 and AQP4 can be measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and whether there is a difference in AQP1 and AQP4 concentration between patients with bacterial meningitis (BM) and healthy controls. AQP1 and AQP4 concentrations in CSF from 35 patients with BM and 27 controls were analyzed using a commercial ELISA. The mean concentration of AQP1 in CSF was significantly elevated in patients with BM (BM: 3.8±3.4ng/ml, controls: 0.8±0.5ng/ml; p<0.001). AQP4 had a tendency to be increased, however the difference was not significant (BM: 1.8±3.1ng/ml, controls: 0.1±0.2ng/ml; p=0.092). AQP1 and AQP4 in CSF of BM patients were inversely correlated (r=-0.47, p=0.004). We could not find any other correlation between concentration of AQP1 or AQP4 in CSF and CSF leukocytes, lactate, protein, albumin CSF/serum ratio, age, a prediction score, an outcome score or the Glasgow Coma Scale at admission in patients with BM. Control patients displayed a correlation between AQP1 and the albumin CSF/serum ratio (r=0.390, p=0.040). This is the first study that detected AQP1 and AQP4 in CSF. Whether the significant elevation of AQP1 is due to a higher expression and subsequent shedding into CSF or a BM-induced cell damage needs to be determined.

Multiple modes of inhibition of spore germination and outgrowth by reduced pH and sorbate.

Germination and outgrowth of three strains of Clostridium botulinum in PYEG medium were measured by phase contrast microscopy. Reduction in pH from 7 to 5.5 completely inhibited germination of strain 12885A, reduced the extent of germination of strain 62A and had no effect on the extent of germination of strain 53B. At pH 5.5, 225 mg/l of undissociated sorbic acid had no effect on the germination of strain 53B, while at pH 6.5, 225 mg/l of undissociated sorbic acid completely inhibited germination of strains 62A and 12885A. Outgrowth of germinated spores of strains 62A and 53B was not inhibited at pH 5.5, but the addition of sorbate (225 mg/l undissociated sorbic acid) completely inhibited outgrowth. Sorbate inhibited germination of Cl. botulinum and Bacillus cereus spores triggered to germinate by amino acids. Inhibition occurred after germinant binding, as measured by commitment to germinate.

Inhibition of germinant binding by bacterial spores in acidic environments.

Commitment to germinate occurred in both Clostridium botulinum and Bacillus cereus spores during 0.5 min of exposure to 100 mM L-alanine or L-cysteine, measured by the inability of germination inhibitors (D form of amino acid) to inhibit germination. Spore germination at pH 4.5 was inhibited because the germinant did not bind to the trigger sites. C. botulinum spores exposed to 100 mM L-alanine or L-cysteine at pH 4.5 remained sensitive to D-amino acid inhibition at pH 7, indicating that no germinants had bound to the trigger site at pH 4.5. Inhibition of germinant binding at pH 4.5 was reversible but lagged in commitment to germinate upon transfer to pH 7. Spores sequentially exposed to pH 4.5 buffer and pH 7 buffer with the germinant also demonstrated a lag in commitment to germinate. The pH at which binding was inhibited was not significantly affected by composition of the buffer or by reduced germinant concentrations (10 mM). Nonspecific uptake of L-[3H]alanine by C. botulinum spores was not inhibited at pH 4.5. Inhibition of germinant binding in acidic environments appeared to be due to protonation of a functional group in or near the trigger site. This may represent a general mechanism for inhibition of spore germination in acidic environments.