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Ancient DNA unveils distinctive ancestries in the Bronze and Iron Ages of East Tianshan.

The East Tianshan Mountains occupy a key corridor between Central and East Asia, but their population history remains poorly understood. Here we report genome-wide data from 135 ancient individuals from 11 archaeological sites. We identify a previously unrecognized Bronze Age admixture between populations related to Yellow River millet farmers and steppe pastoralists associated with the Chemurchek culture. In contrast, we find little genetic contribution from contemporaneous middle-to-late Bronze Age steppe pastoralists, despite their eastward expansion across the Eurasian Steppe. By the Iron Age, regional populations had become more heterogeneous, incorporating additional eastern and steppe-related sources while retaining variable contributions from Early Bronze Age groups. These results reveal sustained demographic interactions in eastern Central Asia nearly 1800 years preceding the establishment of the historic Silk Road.

DNA, Ancient

Eastern origin and three-millennia persistence of a founding grapevine lineage in Iberian viticulture.

Viticulture became central to most Mediterranean civilizations a few millennia after the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) was domesticated in the South Caucasus/Near East. To elucidate the origins of the grapevines that enabled this westward spread over the past 3,000 years, we analyzed 28 grapevine seeds from seven archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula and Sardinia. Ancient DNA recovered from the oldest seeds with domesticated-like morphology (from ∼1,000 BCE), found in southwestern Spain, revealed nuclear and chloroplast genome signatures of Eastern Mediterranean cultivars. Seeds from the same and later Iron Age Iberian sites, however, showed genomic signatures suggesting hybridization between local wild grapevines and eastern-origin cultivars. The genetic makeup of Sardinian and northeastern Spanish seeds supports that local diversification giving rise to the Central European and Iberian wine genetic lineages had already occurred in the early Iron Age. In Iberia, Roman-period seeds were first-degree related to both the earliest eastern-introduced domesticates and a Medieval seed whose genetic makeup matches the extant Iberian variety "Pasa Valenciana." Another Medieval seed was inferred as an offspring of the extant "Heben," indicating that this major founder of Iberian germplasm has been continuously propagated for over 1,100 years. Our results confirm previous evolutionary models indicating that Western Mediterranean viticulture began with introductions of eastern domesticated grapevines, followed by early hybridization with local Iberian wild grapevines that may have facilitated viticulture adaptation to the new environment. The aDNA unveils that these introductions gave rise to extant cultivars through only a few sexual generations and long-term reliance on clonal propagation.

Iberian Peninsula

Normal iron absorption and decreased red cell iron uptake in the aged.

Absorption of iron was studied with a double-isotope technique that allowed differentiation between "mucosal uptake," "mucosal transfer," and ultimate "retention" of iron. A physiologic dose of ferrous sulfate was administered to 25 healthy young adults, 40 active aged persons, and 20 patients with uncomplicated iron deficiency. Radioactivity was measured with a whole-body scanner. Iron absorption values were not decreased in aged subjects compared to young adults. Mucosal uptake, mucosal transfer, and retention of iron were equally increased in both young and old patients with iron deficiency. In 12 young adults and 33 aged persons red cell iron uptake was studied in addition to iron absorption. Young adults utilized 91% of the retained, orally administered iron and the aged only 66%. An increase in ineffective erythropoiesis in old age is suggested.

Absorption

Serum ferritin.

(1) Brief introduction to iron metabolism and the biochemistry of ferritin. (2) Early studies of circulating ferritin. (3) Methods for measuring serum ferritin concentrations -- immunoradiometric, radioimmuno- and enzyme-linked immuno assays based on liver or spleen ferritin -- an evaluation of these techniques. (4) Serum ferritin concentrations in normal subjects -- definition of normality -- relationship between storage iron and serum ferritin concentrations -- changes during development from birth to old age -- iron deficiency -- variability of serum ferritin concentration -- evaluation of use of ferritin assay for assessment of storage iron levels. (5) Serum ferritin concentrations in disease -- hemochromatosis -- secondary iron overload -- liver damage -- infection and chronic disease -- cancer. (6) Assay of serum ferritin with antibodies to ferritins other than liver or spleen -- ferritinemia and cancer. (7) Properties of serum ferritin -- molecular weight -- iron content -- isoelectric focusing patterns -- carbohydrate content -- immunological properties. (8) Physiology of circulating ferritin -- release of ferritin from tissues -- origin of circulating ferritin -- clearance from the plasma -- iron and protein turnover. (9) Summary -- factors influencing serum ferritin concentrations and clinical use of ferritin estimations.

Adolescent

Iron absorption in infants: high bioavailability of breast milk iron as indicated by the extrinsic tag method of iron absorption and by the concentration of serum ferritin.

Breast feeding is thought to result in a lower incidence of iron deficiency than does the use of unfortified cow milk forumalas, but there is scant documentation for this belief. The relationship of breast and cow milk feeding to absorption of iron and to iron status was investigated in a total of 45 term infants at about six months of age. Iron absorption was measured by total body counting. Laboratory assessment of iron status was based on the serum ferritin, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and transferrin saturation. The results indicated that infants fed breast milk during the entire first six to seven months of life attained greater iron stores than did those fed a cow milk formula. Breast-fed infants absorbed an average of 49% of a trace dose of extrinsic iron administered during a breast feeding in contrast to about 10% reported to be absorbed from cow milk under similar conditions. The data indicate that term infants who are breast fed may not require routine administration of supplemental iron.

Animals

The incidence of osteo-arthritis of the temporomandibular joint in various cultures.

Three hundred and forty-eight cranial remains from Bronze and Iron Age British, Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, Eastern Coast Australian aborigines, Medieval Christian Norse, Medieval Scarborough, 17--20th century British and German cultures, were examined for the presence of osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joints. Cultures exposed to more stringent living conditions and with well-worn teeth had about twice the incidence of osteo-arthritis as the more sophisticated cultures. In general, loss of either molar support or occlusal imbalance were potent aetiological factors in this disease.

Adolescent

Population genomics, demography, and circum-Baltic connectivity of Early Medieval southwestern Finland.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of Early Medieval Finland (1050-1250 CE) relies primarily on archaeological evidence, as contemporary sources are scarce. The available evidence indicates two distinct cultural-economic zones: coastal and inland. Using newly generated genomic data from 34 ancient individuals alongside modern Finnish genomes, we characterise Late Iron Age and Early Medieval ancestry in southwestern Finland, reconstruct demographic patterns, and place individuals within a circum-Baltic relatedness network. RESULTS: Early Medieval ancestry in inland southwestern Finland was very similar to that of present-day inhabitants. Ancient coastal and inland individuals were genetically indistinguishable, whereas modern coastal populations showed substantially more Scandinavian ancestry, and less Baltic ancestry compared to their ancient counterparts. IBD (identity-by-descent) analyses also indicate a major genetic shift in the coastal zone since the Early Medieval Period. Effective population size increased throughout the study period and was ~ 13,000 by 1250 CE. IBD links between Scandinavia and Early Medieval Finland align with known archaeological connections. Furthermore, we identify IBD links between individuals from Early Medieval Finland and victims of the Kronan warship sinking. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate nearly a millenium of population continuity in the inland zone of southwestern Finland, contrasted by a large, contemporaneous genetic shift in the coastal zone. This ancestry shift corresponds with documented medieval emigration from Sweden to Finland. The regional population rapidly expanded during this time period, likely due to new agricultural practices and favourable climatic conditions. Our circum-Baltic IBD network indicates that southwestern Finland was firmly embedded into the wider, pre-modern Baltic world.

Humans

[Comparative studies of caries epidemiology using skulls from the Iron, Slavic, and Middle Ages as well as modern subjects (author's transl)].

The present paper compares the incidence and intensity of caries (DMF caries index) determined on skulls from the Iron, Slavic, and Middle Ages with corresponding results obtained for a modern civilized population. More specifically, the results reported in this paper were obtained from clinical and roentgenological examinations of 371 skulls from the ages referred to above as well as of 10,340 inhabitants of the city of Rostock. The results indicate a marked increase in cariosity between the Iron Age and the present time. This increase in the incidence and intensity of caries is considered to be due predominantly to the abrasion resulting from the then preparation and composition of food (which contained as much as 3 percent of stone dust), whereby an essential point of predilection for caries is removed.

Adolescent

The iron status in healthy individuals aging from 18-25 years.

The haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte count, transferrin and serum iron values of a group of 65 healthy young people aging from 18-25 years were determined. Ferritin in serum was quantitated by radioimmunoassay to determine the usefulness of this assay in reflecting iron stores of healthy people.

Adolescent

Haemoglobin levels according to age, haematocrit, transferrin and serum iron level in medical students of comparable socio-economic status.

1. The haemoglobin, haematocrit, transferrin and serum iron of a group of 418 healthy medical students, aging from 18 till 25 years, were determined. The mean Hb for the male students was 9.4 +/- 0.63 mmol/l, for the female students 8.7 +/- 0.56 mmol/l. 2. The correlations between Hb, Ht, SeFe and transferrin have been investigated. A positive correlation exists between Hb and SeFe and Ht and SeFe.

Adolescent

The effect of physical training on the serum iron levels of college-age women.

Physical training in women has been found to be associated with a significant decrease in serum iron levels suggesting a state of deteriorating iron stores. To further study this phenomenon, seventeen women, aged 19 to 23 years, volunteered to participate in a 10-week physical training program to study the effect of training on serum iron levels. The training consisted of three 20-25 minute exercise bouts per week on a bicycle ergometer with individual workloads equivalent to approximately 70% of each subject's maximum aerobic capacity. Additionally, eight women, aged 19 to 28, volunteered to act as a control group. Assessments of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), serum iron (SeFe), and maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2 max) were made on both groups prior to and at the conclusion of the training period. Upon completion of training, Vo2 max (ml/kg/min) increased by eleven percent (p less than .05) whereas Gb and Hct showed no significant changes for the trainign group with respect to the control group. Se Fe levels (microgram/100ml) in the training group did not differ significantly from those of the control group in both pre-training (128.8 +/- 7.6 vs 103.7 +/- 13.7, X +/- SE) and post-training (126.6 +/- 7.9 vs. 120.9 +/- 16.3, X +/- SE) conditions. Neither day of menstrual cycle nor use of oral contraceptives nor use of iron supplements was found to have any systematic effect on SeFe levels. The results suggest that short term physical training in college-age women does not significantly lower SeFe levels.

Adult

Decreased iron and zinc absorption in Turkish children with iron deficiency and geophagia.

Oral iron and zinc tolerance tests were performed in 12 patients between 8 and 21 years of age, with iron deficiency anemia and geophagia. Decreased iron and zinc absorption were detected respectively in patients against the elevated absorption curves in control subjects. Iron and zinc malabsorption may be an additional feature of the syndrome characterized by geophagia, iron deficiency anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, hypogonadism and dwarfism observed in Turkey and Iran.

Adolescent

[Concentrations of hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum iron in healthy infants and children aged 1 month to 16 years (author's transl)].

10,126 determinations of hemoglobin concentration, 10,055 of hematocrit and 4,420 of serum iron were performed in 7,753 infants and children aged 1 month to 16 years to give normal values for this period in a large town. Both, concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit decreased during the 3rd and 8th month. The first decrease in serum iron level appeared later in month 4, the time of the second fall was identical with that of hemoglobin and hematocrit. In females, a third decrease of iron levels appeared with 13 years. Between the 2nd and 8th year of life, a period of instable iron nutriture became apparent. Concentrations of hemoglobin, hematocrit as well as serum iron depend on age. 0.4% of males and females showed a deficient concentration of hemoglobin. 2.9% of males and 1.1% of females had a low, nonacceptable hemoglobin value. Iron deficiency occurred in 8.5% of males and in 8.3% of females. It is probable that the number of children with a pre-latent or latent iron deficiency is much higher.

Adolescent