A Ptolemaic mummy reveals evidence of invasive dentistry in ancient Egypt

Over the last decades, it has been confirmed that computerized tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for studying mummies. In joint efforts put forth by the Mummy Research Project of the Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Athens Medical Center, a mummy was transported to the Radiology Department of the Athens Medical Center for study. Thus, a complete CT scanning was performed of this Ptolemaic mummy (AIG 3343: Sekhem, male, 150–30 BCE), belonging to the Egyptian Collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The most significant finding is an interproximal carious cavity packed with protective material. This is the second case of dental packing in the literature among ancient Egyptian mummies studied to date. Its remarkable resemblance to the previously published study may indicate a common dental intervention performed by ancient Egyptians. Despite the well-known early medical traditions of ancient Egypt, spanning from the Old Kingdom to the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods, little evidence remains of their practices in dentistry. Our finding represents a rare perspective on the origins of what remains today a major allied health field discipline.     

Facial dysmorphopsia: a notable variant of the "thin man" phenomenon?

Background

The aim of this work is to investigate the facial distortion (dysmorphopsia) experienced by patients with homonymous paracentral scotomas and to analyze the interrelationship with the previously described “thin man” phenomenon.

Methods

Routine neuro-ophthalmological examination and brain MRI in three patients who suffered from small homonymous paracentral scotomas due to infarction or arteriovenous malformations of the occipital lobe. They all complained of distortion and shrinkage of their interlocutor’s face contralateral to the brain lesion. The phenomenon appeared some seconds after steady fixation on the interlocutor’s nose and was evident with both left and right homonymous scotomas. The patients did not notice a gap in the area corresponding to the scotoma and objects other than faces were perceived normally.

Results

Homonymous paracentral scotomas can lead to focal displacement of facial features towards the center of the field defect with resulting distortion of the face on the affected side. This so-called “dysmorphopsia” makes faces appear regionally narrower than they are in reality and may be induced even by visual field defects that remain undetected by conventional perimetry using 6° × 6° grids. Predilection for faces is probably associated with the superior location of scotomas or specific impairment of face processing abilities related to the lesion site.

Conclusions

Facial dysmorphopsia is most probably associated with cortical “filling-in” and spatial distortion, and can hence be regarded as a special entity of the “thin man” phenomenon.     

Multiple retinal arterial macroaneurysms associated with submacular hemorrhage

Purpose. To present the unusual case of multiple retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAMs) associated with an extensive submacular hemorrhage. Methods. A 64-year-old hypertensive woman is presented including the clinical findings, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography. Results. The patient presented with 20/200 vision due to a dense submacular hemorrhage in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed 4 hyperfluorescent lesions along the inferotemporal arteriole corresponding to RAMs. Optical coherence tomography confirmed RAM rupture with no choroidal abnormality. The patient refused surgical intervention. At 3-month follow-up, vision had improved to 20/70 with partial resolution of the hemorrhage. However, vitreoretinal traction with neurosensory retinal detachment involving the macula had developed. Conclusions. Acquired RAMs are typically found as unilateral solitary lesions in older hypertensive women. The presence of 4 RAMs along the same arteriole has not been reported previously. Hypertensive patients should be examined regularly in order to detect potential RAMs early enough to permit treatment and prevent vision loss.     

Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The aim of the study was the evaluation of serum vitamin B12 and folate levels in patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their association with the disease severity. Thirty patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 24 healthy controls matched for gender, age, body mass index and waist circumference were recruited. Blood samples for vitamin B12, folate, insulin and standard biochemical tests were obtained after overnight fasting. Homeostatic model of assessment-insulin resistance was calculated. There was no difference in serum vitamin B12 and folate levels between groups. Neither vitamin B12 nor folate levels were significantly different within any histological category, including steatosis grade, fibrosis stage, lobular inflammation, portal inflammation and ballooning. In conclusion, similar vitamin B12 and folate levels were observed in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver patients, and controls. Furthermore, vitamin B12 and folate levels were not associated with either insulin resistance or the severity of liver disease.     

Upper-body vibration as part of warm-up: its effect on throwing velocity in elite adolescent handball players

Sport Sciences for Health - The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of 40-Hz upper-body vibration at two different amplitudes, added to the warm-up process, on throwing velocity...