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Biomedical subjects

A Marcsik

Publications and source records attributed to A Marcsik.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

A simple and efficient method for PCR amplifiable DNA extraction from ancient bones.

A simple and effective modified ethanol precipitation-based protocol is described for the preparation of DNA from ancient human bones. This method is fast and requires neither hazardous chemicals nor special devices. After the powdering and incubating of the bone samples Dextran Blue was added as a carrier for removing the PCR inhibitors with selective ethanol precipitation. This method could eliminate the time-consuming separate decalcification step, dialysis, application of centrifugation-driven microconcentrators and the second consecutive PCR amplification. The efficiency of this procedure was demonstrated on ten 500-1200-year-old human bones from four different Hungarian burial sites. A mitochondrial specific primer pair was used to obtain sequence information from the purified ancient DNA. The PCR amplification, after our DNA extraction protocol, was successful from each of the 10 bone samples investigated. The results demonstrate that extraction of DNA from ancient bone samples with this new approach increases the success rate of PCR amplification.

Adolescent↗

Molecular evidence for different stages of tuberculosis in ancient bone samples from Hungary.

This paleomicrobiologic study was conducted on osseous tissue specimens from ancient Hungarian skeletal samples from the 7-8th and the 17th centuries AD with typical macromorphologic evidence of osseous tuberculosis (n = 3), morphologic alterations probably due to tuberculosis (n = 6), or with nontypical osseous changes of vertebral bodies suggestive of inflammatory reaction (n = 5). From these bone samples, DNA was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using various primer pairs recognizing DNA segments of different mycobacterial species. To confirm specificity of the analysis, the amplification products of several samples were subjected to restriction enzyme digestion and/or direct sequencing. Of the analyzed 14 cases, 8 were unambiguously positive for mycobacterial DNA of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, as shown by the amplification of the IS6110 sequence. In 13 cases we found a PCR product with primers specific for the 65-kDa antigen gene, including 2 cases without genomic DNA. We conclude that the application of other mycobacterial DNA primers may reveal contamination of bones with atypical saprophytic mycobacteria. A positive result for typical mycobacteria was seen in 2 of 3 cases with typical morphologic signs of tuberculosis and amplifiable DNA, in 3 of 6 probable cases, but also in 3 of 6 cases with nontypical bone changes. This indicates that minor osseous reactions of the surface of vertebral bodies may be due-at least in several cases-to infections with bacteria of the M. tuberculosis complex. In these cases the disease may have proceeded rapidly, and the morphologic osseous changes may represent "early" stages of tuberculous infection of the vertebrae.

Adult↗

Idiopathic bone cavity on the posterior buccal surface of the mandible.

A cavity on the posterior buccal surface of four dry mandibles (n = 8282) is reported. The shape, size, unilaterality, and sex distribution of this phenomenon are similar to anterior and posterior idiopathic bone cavities (i.e., defects) on the lingual cortex. Posterior buccal mandibular defects differ from posterior lingual cavities in their unilateral occurrence and age distribution. The differential diagnosis for posterior buccal mandibular defects includes an anatomic variant, an aneurysmal erosion, erosion by a lymphoid nodule, and a neural neoplasm.

Adult↗

The problem of the bifid mandibular condyle.

In a survey of 1,882 prehistoric and historic skulls with 2,077 condyles, 7 double (bifid) mandibular condyles were found. One mandible with bilaterally bifid condyles is presented in detail. Possible causes and consequences of the anomaly are discussed. It is assumed that bifid mandibular condyles with anteroposteriorly situated heads are caused by early childhood fractures, whereas those with mediolaterally situated heads are caused by the persistence of connective tissue septa.

Animals↗

Accessory root formation on a lower medial incisor.

Accessory root formation on a lower medial incisor dating from the eighth century was observed. The accessory root consisted structurally of dentin (corresponding to the root of the tooth) covered with cement but had no radicular canal. It is therefore not a real supernumerary root. Postmortem deformation was excluded by examination of the alveolar bone. It must have been formed at the time of root development, through a lesion of Hertwig's sheath, as a result of a trauma.

Dentin↗

[Not Available].

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History of Medicine↗