Migrations of the Massive: The Predictability and Perils of Woolly Mammoth Hunting in the Upper Palaeolithic of Northern Eurasia

The migratory behaviour of woolly mammoths and associated large herbivores in the Siberian Arctic has not been studied extensively, but could reveal much about the subsistence strategies of Upper Palaeolithic people in the region. The presented thesis has examined this topic through three research foci. Firstly, a literature review looked at the migratory behaviour of modern elephants, as well as published 87Sr/86Sr and δ34S data from proboscidean fossils. The mobility of proboscideans was found to be variable and affected predominantly by environmental conditions, with animals in open environments inhabiting the largest home ranges. This led to the suspicion that mammoths in the Arctic would have been very mobile as well. Secondly, intra-tooth 87Sr/86Sr ratios were measured from the molars of five mammoth, three bison, three horse, and four reindeer from the Upper Palaeolithic Yana site complex, Russia (~32 ka BP). This resulted in the world’s largest known dataset of intra-tooth 87Sr/86Sr data for a single archaeological site. Erratic intra-tooth 87Sr/86Sr profiles were found in all mammoths, indicating that these animals moved around irregularly. The same was not the case for the reindeer, horse, and bison, which seemed to have either been more sedentary or exhibited stronger seasonal site fidelity. The humans at Yana must have understood and monitored the movements of mammoths closely, as these would have been vital prey, providing large quantities of food and raw materials. Thirdly, the preservation of authentic 87Sr/86Sr ratios in dentine recovered from permafrost was tested. Dentine of molars from one bison and one mammoth from Yana yielded similar intra-tooth 87Sr/86Sr profiles as the associated enamel, indicating that proboscidean tusks from permafrost regions might yield reliable 87Sr/86Sr profiles. Taken together, this thesis has revealed that the migratory behaviour of woolly mammoths was highly variable and that a case-by-case approach is required to draw conclusions about regional human-mammoth relationships.Natural Environment Research Counci

Quality of life in elderly patients with an ostomy: A study from the population-based PROFILES registry

AimOstomies are being placed frequently in surgically treated elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). An insight into the (potential) impact of ostomies on quality of life (QoL) could be useful in patient counselling as well as in the challenging shared treatment decision-making. MethodPatients with CRC diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 and registered in the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry received a QoL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) in 2010. In addition, QoL was compared with an age- and sex-matched normative population. ResultsThe study included 2299 CRC patients, of whom 494 had an ostomy. No differences were found in reported ostomy-related problems between patients aged 65, 66-75 and 76years. Ostomy patients aged 66-75 and 76years reported significantly lower physical functioning compared with those without an ostomy. In the elderly (those aged 76years) ostomates reported a worse physical and social functioning compared with the normative population. All these differences were of small clinical relevance. The impact of an ostomy seems to be more prominent in younger (75years old) ostomates, as they experience more functional limitations and a decrease in global health status compared with younger nonostomy patients and the normative population. ConclusionAlthough elderly (76years old) patients with an ostomy report significantly more limitations in functioning compared with a normative population and elderly CRC patients without an ostomy, the clinical relevance of this finding is limited. In contrast, the impact of an ostomy is more prominent in younger patients. Thus, age itself is not a reason for withholding an ostomy

The contribution of the immune response to enhanced colibacillosis upon preceding viral respiratory infection in broiler chicken in a dual infection model

Colibacillosis in chickens caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is known to be aggravated by preceding infections with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV). The mechanism behind these virus-induced predispositions for secondary bacterial infections is poorly understood. Here we set out to investigate the immunopathogenesis of enhanced respiratory colibacillosis after preceding infections with these three viruses. Broilers were inoculated intratracheally with APEC six days after oculonasal and intratracheal inoculation with IBV, NDV, aMPV or buffered saline. After euthanasia at 1 and 8 days post infection (dpi) with APEC, birds were macroscopically examined and tissue samples were taken from the trachea, lungs and air sacs. In none of the groups differences in body weight were observed during the course of infection. Macroscopic lesion scoring revealed most severe tissue changes after NDV-APEC and IBV-APEC infection. Histologically, persistent tracheitis was detected in all virus-APEC groups, but not after APEC-only infection. In the lungs, mostly APEC-associated transient pneumonia was observed. Severe and persistent airsacculitis was present after NDV-APEC and IBV-APEC infection. Bacterial antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry only at 1 dpi APEC, predominantly in NDV-APEC- and IBV-APEC-infected lungs. Higher numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes persisted over time in NDV-APEC- and IBV-APEC-infected tracheas, as did CD4+ lymphocytes in NBV-APEC- and IBV-APEC-infected air sacs. KUL01+ cells, which include monocytes and macrophages, and TCRγδ+ lymphocytes were observed mostly in lung tissue in all infected groups with transient higher numbers of KUL01+ cells over time and higher numbers of TCRγδ+ lymphocytes mainly at 8 dpi. qPCR analysis revealed mostly trends of transient higher levels of IL-6 and IFNγ mRNA in lung tissue after IBV-APEC and also NDV-APEC infection and persistent higher levels of IL-6 mRNA after aMPV-APEC infection. In spleens, transient higher levels of IL-17 mRNA and more persistent higher levels of IL-6 mRNA were observed after all co-infections. No changes in IL-10 mRNA expression were seen. These results demonstrate a major impact of dual infections with respiratory viruses and APEC, compared to a single infection with APEC, on the chicken respiratory tract and suggest that immunopathogenesis contributes to lesion persistence

The Impact of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) versus Conventional Surgery on Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Comparative Cohort Study between the CAIRO6 Trial and the PROCORE Study

Purpose—To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) for colorectal peritoneal metastases to PROs of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing conventional surgery. Methods—Data were extracted from the CAIRO6 trial (CRS-HIPEC group) and the PROCORE study (conventional surgery group). Nine predefined PROs (derived from the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire) were compared at baseline, in the early postoperative period and one year postoperatively, with correction for treatment with systemic therapy using linear mixed modeling. Results—In total, 331 patients were included: 71 in the CRS-HIPEC group and 260 in the conventional surgery group. All predefined PROs (fatigue, diarrhea, C30 summary score, Global Health Status, physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning) did not differ significantly between the groups at all three timepoints, and differential effects over time for all PROs did not differ significantly between the groups. Significant worsening of fatigue, C30 summary score, physical and role functioning (both groups), and cognitive and social functioning (conventional surgery group only) was present in the early postoperative period. All scores returned to baseline at one year postoperatively, except for physical and cognitive functioning in the conventional surgery group. Emotional functioning improved postoperatively in both groups compared to baseline. Conclusion—Despite a more extensive procedure with greater risk of morbidity, CRS-HIPEC in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases did not have a greater negative impact on PROs than conventional surgery in patients with CRC. Further, systemic therapy did not affect these PROs. These findings may facilitate future patient counseling and shared decision making in clinical practice