Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome Associated With West-Nile Virus Infection: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a very rare condition with different autoimmune, infectious and paraneoplastic aetiologies or in most cases idiopathic. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who was admitted in our department in early fall for altered mental status, opsoclonus, multifocal myoclonus, truncal titubation and generalized tremor, preceded by a 5 day prodrome consisting of malaise, nausea, fever and vomiting. Brain computed tomography and MRI scans showed no significant abnormalities and cerebrospinal fluid changes consisted of mildly increased protein content and number of white cells. Work-up for paraneoplastic and autoimmune causes of OMS was negative but serologic tests identified positive IgM and IgG antibodies against West Nile virus (WNV). The patient was treated with Dexamethasone and Clonazepam with progressive improvement of mental status, myoclonus, opsoclonus and associated neurologic signs. Six months after the acute illness she had complete recovery. To our knowledge this is the 14th case of WNV associated OMS reported in the literature so far. We briefly describe the clinical course of the other reported cases together with the different treatment strategies that have been employed

First bioanthropological evidence for Yamnaya horsemanship

The origins of horseback riding remain elusive. Scientific studies show that horses were kept for their milk ~3500 to 3000 BCE, widely accepted as indicating domestication. However, this does not confirm them to be ridden. Equipment used by early riders is rarely preserved, and the reliability of equine dental and mandibular pathologies remains contested. However, horsemanship has two interacting components: the horse as mount and the human as rider. Alterations associated with riding in human skeletons therefore possibly provide the best source of information. Here, we report five Yamnaya individuals well-dated to 3021 to 2501 calibrated BCE from kurgans in Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, displaying changes in bone morphology and distinct pathologies associated with horseback riding. These are the oldest humans identified as riders so far

First Bio-Anthropological Evidence for Yamnaya Horsemanship.

The origins of horseback riding remain elusive. Scientific studies show that horses were kept for their milk similar to 3500 to 3000 BCE, widely accepted as indicating domestication. However, this does not confirm them to be ridden. Equipment used by early riders is rarely preserved, and the reliability of equine dental and mandibular pathol-ogies remains contested. However, horsemanship has two interacting components: the horse as mount and the human as rider. Alterations associated with riding in human skeletons therefore possibly provide the best source of information. Here, we report five Yamnaya individuals well-dated to 3021 to 2501 calibrated BCE from kurgans in Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, displaying changes in bone morphology and distinct pathologies associated with horseback riding. These are the oldest humans identified as riders so far.Peer reviewe

Alexandru Vulpe in memoriam

Băjenaru Radu. Alexandru Vulpe in memoriam. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°12 2016. pp. 7-17

The Glina-type flanged axes revisited

The Glina-type flanged axes were acknowledged as such in 1975 by Alexandru Vulpe. Seventeen artefacts of this type exist up to the present moment, distributed in south-eastern Transylvania and south of the Carpathians, mainly in the Olt and Argeș basins. The finds here suggest the presence of several typological variants, while their inclusion in one main type is indicated by their general aspect and proportions. All are cast in closed bivalve moulds with the metal poured through the butt. Some were subjected to compositional analyses, such as the axe from Râșnov (cat. no. 14) with 5% Sn. In the case of two artefacts, the conditions of discovery are unknown, three are isolated finds, two are part of a hoard alongside a shaft-hole axe, and the remaining nine originate from various occupation contexts. Geographically-wise, two finds from south-eastern Transylvania come from Schneckenberg or Jigodin-type contexts and seven artefacts recovered south of the Carpathians originate from Glina-type settlements. We may thus conclude that the Glina-type flanged axes represent a consistent group, well individualised in time and space. They constitute one of the arguments (alongside the Dumbrăvioara-type shaft-hole axes, the Runcuri-type pottery etc.) for the very close links between the Glina-type communities and those on the Upper Olt Basin, within a chronological horizon dated, most probably, between 2700 and 2500 BC.Tipul Glina al topoarelor plate cu margini ridicate a fost definit de Alexandru Vulpe în 1975, astăzi fiind cunoscute un număr de 17 exemplare răspândite în sud-estul Transilvaniei şi la sud de Carpaţi, în principal în bazinele Oltului şi Argeşului. Piesele prezentate indică mai multe variante tipologice, însă includerea lor în cadrul aceluiaşi tip este susţinută de aspectul general şi de proporţiile pieselor respective. Toate sunt turnate în tipare bivalve închise cu metalul turnat pe la ceafă. Câteva dispun şi de analiza elementală, remarcându-se toporul de la Râşnov (cat. no. 14) cu 5% Sn. Pentru două exemplare nu se cunosc condiţiile de descoperire, trei sunt descoperiri izolate, două fac parte dintr-un depozit împreună cu un topor cu gaură de înmănuşare transversală, iar celelalte nouă pot fi puse în legătură cu diferite contexte de locuire. Astfel, două piese din sud-estul Transilvaniei se leagă de contexte cu descoperiri de tip Schneckenberg sau Jigodin, iar şapte de la sud de Carpaţi de aşezări de tip Glina. Se poate concluziona că topoarele plate cu margini ridicate de tip Glina formează un grup consistent, bine individualizat în timp şi spaţiu. Ele se constituie (alături de topoarele cu gaură de înmănuşare transversală de tip Dumbrăvioara, ceramica de tip Runcuri etc.) într-unul din argumentele relaţiilor foarte strânse dintre comunităţile de tip Glina şi cele din bazinul superior al Oltului, într-un orizont cronologic ce poate fi stabilit, cel mai probabil, între 2700– 2500 BC.Băjenaru Radu. The Glina-type flanged axes revisited. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), H-S 2021. pp. 553-568

Alexandru Vulpe in memoriam

Băjenaru Radu. Alexandru Vulpe in memoriam. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°12 2016. pp. 7-17