The Zagros Epipalaeolithic revisited: New excavations and ¹⁴C dates from Palegawra cave in Iraqi Kurdistan

Palegawra cave, alongside its neighbouring Zarzi, has been an emblematic site of the Epipalaeolithic (Zarzian) cultural horizon in the NW Zagros of Southwest Asia ever since its first exploration in 1951 by Bruce Howe and Robert Braidwood in the context of the Iraq-Jarmo project. At the time scientific excavation, sampling and analysis methods were either under-developed or did not exist. In this paper we present the first results of new excavations at Palegawra conducted in 2016-2017 by the Eastern Fertile Crescent (EFEC) project, a research collaboration of the University of Liverpool and the Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage. Our research has produced the first radiometric evidence pushing back the chronology of the NW Zagros Epipalaeolithic to the Last Glacial Maximum, thus fully aligning it with Epipalaeolithic facies until now known only from the Levant and the south Anatolian coast. We have also unearthed, for the first time in the Palaeolithic of the Zagros, direct archaeobotanical evidence for hitherto elusive Zarzian plant exploitation and the vegetation of the NW Zagros piedmont zone from the LGM to the end of the Lateglacial (~19,600-13,000 cal BP). The new Palegawra chronology alongside our detailed studies of its material culture and faunal and botanical assemblages suggest that the prevailing Epipalaeolithic habitation pattern in the NW Zagros (centred on generalised persistent occupations of small caves and rock-shelters alongside task-oriented ephemeral open-air campsites) remained an enduring characteristic of the Zarzian horizon throughout this period. The Palegawra data clearly show that neither resource levels and climate conditions nor geographic and/or cultural isolation provide adequate explanations for the stability and longevity of Zarzian lifeways during this long timespan. More fieldwork is required, including the discovery, excavation and intensive sampling of other Zarzian sites, for reaching a data-informed understanding of the nature and evolution of the NW Zagros Epipalaeolithic

The Zagros Epipalaeolithic revisited: New excavations and 14C dates from Palegawra cave in Iraqi Kurdistan

Palegawra cave, alongside its neighbouring Zarzi, has been an emblematic site of the Epipalaeolithic (Zarzian) cultural horizon in the NW Zagros of Southwest Asia ever since its first exploration in 1951 by Bruce Howe and Robert Braidwood in the context of the Iraq-Jarmo project. At the time scientific excavation, sampling and analysis methods were either underdeveloped or did not exist. In this paper we present the first results of new excavations at Palegawra conducted in 2016–2017 by the Eastern Fertile Crescent (EFEC) project, a research collaboration of the University of Liverpool and the Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage. Our research has produced the first radiometric evidence pushing back the chronology of the NW Zagros Epipalaeolithic to the Last Glacial Maximum, thus fully aligning it with Epipalaeolithic facies until now known only from the Levant and the south Anatolian coast. We have also unearthed, for the first time in the Palaeolithic of the Zagros, direct archaeobotanical evidence for hitherto elusive Zarzian plant exploitation and the vegetation of the NW Zagros piedmont zone from the LGM to the end of the Lateglacial (~19,600–13,000 cal BP). The new Palegawra chronology alongside our detailed studies of its material culture and faunal and botanical assemblages suggest that the prevailing Epipalaeolithic habitation pattern in the NW Zagros (centred on generalised persistent occupations of small caves and rock-shelters alongside task-oriented ephemeral open-air campsites) remained an enduring characteristic of the Zarzian horizon throughout this period. The Palegawra data clearly show that neither resource levels and climate conditions nor geographic and/or cultural isolation provide adequate explanations for the stability and longevity of Zarzian lifeways during this long timespan. More fieldwork is required, including the discovery, excavation and intensive sampling of other Zarzian sites, for reaching a datainformed understanding of the nature and evolution of the NW Zagros Epipalaeolithic

Chapter 9.: The complexity of open spaces at Çatalhöyük

FGW – Publications not associated with a particular research are

The frequency of factor V Leiden and concomitance of factor V Leiden with prothrombin G20210A mutation and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene mutation in healthy population of Denizli, Aegean region of Turkey.

Factor V Leiden causing activated protein C resistance is the most common inherited form of thrombophilia leading to thrombosis. Its frequency shows great ethnic and geographic variations. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of FV Leiden and coinheritance of FV Leiden with two other frequent hereditary thrombophilia causes, namely, prothrombin G20210A and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation in the Aegean region of Turkey. The study population consisted of 1030 (500 men and 530 women) apparently healthy subjects. Functional resistance to activated protein C (APC) was measured by using the test kit STA staclot APC-R ((Diagnostica Stago, Asnieres, France, Cat. No. 00721). In subjects with APC resistance, molecular analyses of FV Leiden and of prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T mutation were performed by using FV-PTH-MTHFR StripA (Vienna Lab, Labordiagnostika GmbH, Austria) kit, which was based on hybridization of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA products with mutation-specific oligonucleotide probes. Functional APC resistance was present in 93 subjects (9%). FV Leiden mutation was found in 87 of 93 subjects with APC resistance by PCR method. The FV Leiden carrier frequency was found to be 8.4% (87/1030). Seventy-six individuals were heterozygous (7.3%), and 11 were homozygous (1.06%). Among the 87 subjects with FV Leiden mutation, 45 subjects had MTHFR C677T gene mutation (7 homozygous, 38 heterozygous) and 4 subjects had heterozygote prothrombin G20210A gene mutation. A combination of FV Leiden and prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T gene mutation was detected in 3 subjects. The results indicate that FV Leiden prevalence is quite high and coexistence of FV Leiden with other hereditary causes of thrombosis such as prothrombin G20210A mutation and MTHFR enzyme defect is not rare in healthy population of Aegean region of Turkey

Region of Turkey

Factor V Leiden causing activated protein C resistance is the most common inherited form of thrombophilia leading to thrombosis. Its frequency shows great ethnic and geographic variations. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of FV Leiden and coinheritance of FV Leiden with two other frequent hereditary thrombophilia causes, namely, prothrombin G20210A and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation in the Aegean region of Turkey. The study population consisted of 1030 (500 men and 530 women) apparently healthy subjects. Functional resistance to activated protein C (APC) was measured by using the test kit STA staclot APC-R ((Diagnostica Stage, Asnieres, France, Cat. No. 00721). In subjects with APC resistance, molecular analyses of FV Leiden and of prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T mutation were performed by using FV-PTH-MTHFR StripA (Vienna Lab, Labordiagnostika GmbH, Austria) kit, which was based on hybridization of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA products with mutation-specific oligonucleotide probes. Functional APC resistance was present in 93 subjects (9%). FV Leiden mutation was found in 87 of 93 subjects with APC resistance by PCR method. The FV Leiden carrier frequency was found to be 8.4% (87/1030). Seventy-six individuals were heterozygous (7.3%), and 11 were homozygous (1.06%). Among the 87 subjects with FV Leiden mutation, 45 subjects had MTHFR C677T gene mutation (7 homozygous, 38 heterozygous) and 4 subjects had heterozygote prothrombin G20210A gene mutation. A combination of FV Leiden and prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T gene mutation was detected in 3 subjects. The results indicate that FV Leiden prevalence is quite high and coexistence of FV Leiden with other hereditary causes of thrombosis such as prothrombin G20210A mutation and MTHFR enzyme defect is not rare in healthy population of Aegean region of Turkey

Factor VIIa in Glanzmann Thrombasthenia

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare inherited qualitative platelet disorder due to the deficiency or defect of platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex. Symptoms include purpura, petechiae, bruising, gingival bleeding, epistaxis, and menorrhagia. Platelet transfusion is considered the standard therapy for securing hemostasis in patients with GT when local measures and antifibrinolytic agents are inadequate. However, repeated platelet transfusions may result in GP IIb/IIIa and/or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) immunization and development of platelet refractoriness. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) has been introduced as therapeutic alternative and has been suggested to be effective. Recombinant factor VIIa is indicated in Europe for the treatment of GT refractory of platelet transfusion. In previous studies, rFVIIa has been used in the prophylactic treatment of bleeding in patients with GT undergoing pelvic surgery, cesarean section, and vaginal delivery. In this article, we present a case of intensive menstrual bleeding refractory to previous antifibrinolytic agents and platelet transfusions but which responded well to treatment with rFVIIa. To our knowledge, there is no study or reported case in the literature reporting successful use of rFVIIa in a patient with excessive menstrual bleeding due to GT

Altered microRNA 5692b and microRNA let-7d expression levels in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Its etiology is not clearly understood yet, but neurobiological, genetic and environmental factors are shown to play a role. The relationship between ADHD and miRNAs has been studied quite recently, and few studies have been conducted up to now. In this study, peripheral blood expression levels of miR-5692b, miR-let-7d, miR-124-3p, miR-4447 and miR-107 of 30 children and adolescents with combined type ADHD were compared to 30 healthy controls to understand the roles of these miRNAs in the ADHD etiopathogenesis. Compared to controls, levels of miR-5692b (p = 0.006) were found higher and levels of miR-let-7d (p = 0.017) were found lower in the ADHD group. There was no significant difference in terms of miR-124-3p, miR-4447, and miR-107 levels between the groups. In conclusion, our findings support other studies suggesting the importance of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of ADHD. Regarding the regulatory role of miRNAs in gene regulation, their contribution to etiopathogenesis and heterogeneity of ADHD should be investigated further

unusual example mimicking inflammatory breast carcinoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the breast is a rare malignancy and present with almost equal frequency either as a primary or a secondary disease. Survival is poor in most cases of secondary breast lymphoma because of their advanced stage. We report a 35-year-old woman presenting with dyspnea as well as swelling, tenderness, and ruddiness in the left breast with non-cyclic pain for several months and maculopapular skin eruption in the same breast. Physical examination revealed fixed lymphadenopathies in both axillary regions. Radiologic evaluations (bilateral mammaograpy and ultrasonography) showed skin thickening in the left breast, asymmetrical densities in both breasts, and confirmed lymphadenopathies in the axillary regions. Excisional biopsies were performed to the left axillary lymph nodes and the breast skin eruptions. The histologic and immunohistochemical features were diagnosed as an ALK (-) anaplastic large cell lymphoma. A Computed Tomography examination was performed for staging the lymphoma and then chemotherapy was started. Thirty months after the diagnosis, the patient is still alive with disease. Because of the presence of systemic symptoms such as skin involvement and generalized lymphadenopathies (mediastinal, axillary or cervical), T cell lymphoma cases with breast involvement could mimic the clinical presentation of inflammatory breast carcinoma. Pathologic examination is needed for the correct diagnosis

Secondary involvement of the breast in T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an unusual example mimicking inflammatory breast carcinoma.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the breast is a rare malignancy and present with almost equal frequency either as a primary or a secondary disease. Survival is poor in most cases of secondary breast lymphoma because of their advanced stage. We report a 35-year-old woman presenting with dyspnea as well as swelling, tenderness, and ruddiness in the left breast with non-cyclic pain for several months and maculopapular skin eruption in the same breast. Physical examination revealed fixed lymphadenopathies in both axillary regions. Radiologic evaluations (bilateral mammaograpy and ultrasonography) showed skin thickening in the left breast, asymmetrical densities in both breasts, and confirmed lymphadenopathies in the axillary regions. Excisional biopsies were performed to the left axillary lymph nodes and the breast skin eruptions. The histologic and immunohistochemical features were diagnosed as an ALK (-) anaplastic large cell lymphoma. A Computed Tomography examination was performed for staging the lymphoma and then chemotherapy was started. Thirty months after the diagnosis, the patient is still alive with disease. Because of the presence of systemic symptoms such as skin involvement and generalized lymphadenopathies (mediastinal, axillary or cervical), T cell lymphoma cases with breast involvement could mimic the clinical presentation of inflammatory breast carcinoma. Pathologic examination is needed for the correct diagnosis