Cyclopes and giants: ancient mythological figures through an anatomical and palæopathological lens

This paper examines the origin of the myths about giants and cyclopes from the palæontological and palæopathological perspectives, highlighting how much more attention should be devoted to the possibility that a pituitary condition may have indeed played a role in the mythopoietic process

A historical and palaeopathological perspective on cancer

Cancer is often wrongly considered to be a modern disease in many popular medical venues. Cancers have been known to mankind since ancient times. In fact, its antiquity can be proved through the application of palaeopathological methodologies. The present perspective piece demonstrates by means of a historical and palaeopathological analysis how oncological manifestations were present long before the emergence anatomically modern humans and addresses the epidemiological transition from ancient times to the contemporary world. The final section of the article is dedicated to the analysis of breast cancer and its identification in ancient human remains

On the early uses of the word ‘gout’: novel evidence and a critical assessment of the published literature

Recognized since antiquity, gout is still a relevant pathology with rising prevalence and incidence. This study aims to assess the reference accuracy in journal articles mentioning the early use of the word ‘gout’. Specifically, it investigates whether the term was indeed coined in the 13th century by the Dominican monk Randolphus of Bocking, as widely believed. Several historical sources in their original Latin were consulted to test the hypothesis of literary mentions predating Randolphus of Bocking’s description. At the same time, biomedical articles spanning the last two decades were perused using specific keywords in different combinations to determine the accuracy level of references related to the earliest use of the word ‘gout’. The results showed that several biomedical publications wrongly ascribed the origin of the word ‘gout’ to Randolphus of Bocking. Indeed, various texts predate his mention by many years. In particular, gutta, the Latin word used to indicate a host of rheumatological conditions including gout, is recorded as early as the 10th century in a biography dedicated to the martyred nun Saint Wiborada of St. Gall. Written by Swiss monks between AD 960 and 963, this text should be regarded as containing the earliest known adoption of the word. For this reason, scholars should now avoid quoting Randolph of Bocking’s description as the first use of the word ‘gout’ in Western literature

Role of the repeat expansion size in predicting age of onset and severity in RFC1 disease

RFC1 disease, caused by biallelic repeat expansion in RFC1, is clinically heterogeneous in terms of age of onset, disease progression and phenotype. We investigated the role of the repeat size in influencing clinical variables in RFC1 disease. We also assessed the presence and role of meiotic and somatic instability of the repeat. In this study, we identified 553 patients carrying biallelic RFC1 expansions and measured the repeat expansion size in 392 cases. Pearson’s coefficient was calculated to assess the correlation between the repeat size and age at disease onset. A Cox model with robust cluster standard errors was adopted to describe the effect of repeat size on age at disease onset, on age at onset of each individual symptoms, and on disease progression. A quasi-Poisson regression model was used to analyse the relationship between phenotype and repeat size. We performed multivariate linear regression to assess the association of the repeat size with the degree of cerebellar atrophy. Meiotic stability was assessed by Southern blotting on first-degree relatives of 27 probands. Finally, somatic instability was investigated by optical genome mapping on cerebellar and frontal cortex and unaffected peripheral tissue from four post-mortem cases. A larger repeat size of both smaller and larger allele was associated with an earlier age at neurological onset [smaller allele hazard ratio (HR) = 2.06, P < 0.001; larger allele HR = 1.53, P < 0.001] and with a higher hazard of developing disabling symptoms, such as dysarthria or dysphagia (smaller allele HR = 3.40, P < 0.001; larger allele HR = 1.71, P = 0.002) or loss of independent walking (smaller allele HR = 2.78, P < 0.001; larger allele HR = 1.60; P < 0.001) earlier in disease course. Patients with more complex phenotypes carried larger expansions [smaller allele: complex neuropathy rate ratio (RR) = 1.30, P = 0.003; cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) RR = 1.34, P < 0.001; larger allele: complex neuropathy RR = 1.33, P = 0.008; CANVAS RR = 1.31, P = 0.009]. Furthermore, larger repeat expansions in the smaller allele were associated with more pronounced cerebellar vermis atrophy (lobules I–V β = −1.06, P < 0.001; lobules VI–VII β = −0.34, P = 0.005). The repeat did not show significant instability during vertical transmission and across different tissues and brain regions. RFC1 repeat size, particularly of the smaller allele, is one of the determinants of variability in RFC1 disease and represents a key prognostic factor to predict disease onset, phenotype and severity. Assessing the repeat size is warranted as part of the diagnostic test for RFC1 expansion

First-time complete visualization of a preserved meningeal artery in the mummy of Nakht-ta-Netjeret (ca. 950 BC)

The preservation of the meningeal artery in ancient mummified bodies, particularly in anthropogenic Egyptian mummies, is a highly controversial topic in neuroscience and anthropological research. A recent (2015) debate between Wade and Isidro, based on the interpretation of the meningeal grooves and cast in a skull from the necropolis of Kom al-Ahmar Sharuna (Egypt), highlighted both the necessity of having clear radiological descriptions of this anatomical structure and of assessing large collections of mummified crania. Here, we present for the first time an instance of extremely well-preserved middle meningeal artery in the mummy of the ancient Egyptian dignitary Nakht-ta-Netjeret (ca. 950 BC), still inside the meninx, using paleo-radiological techniques. We finally link this find with experimental data from the neurological literature on the methodology of excerebration implemented by ancient Egyptian embalmers.Roger Seiler, Michael E. Habicht, Frank J. Rühli, Francesco M. Galass

The teaching of anatomy throughout the centuries: From Herophilus to plastination and beyond

© Mattioli 1885. Cultural changes, scientific progress, and new trends in medical education have modified the role of dissection in the teaching of anatomy in today's medical schools. Dissection is indispensable for a correct and complete knowledge of human anatomy, which can ensure safe as well as efficient clinical practice and the human dissection lab could possibly be the ideal place to cultivate humanistic qualities among future physicians. In this manuscript, we discuss the role of dissection itself, the value of which has been under debate for the last 30 years; furthermore, we attempt to focus on the way in which anatomy knowledge was delivered throughout the centuries, from the ancient times, through the Middles Ages to the present. Finally, we document the rise of plastination as a new trend in anatomy education both in medical and non-medical practice

\u2018The story of an intriguing palaeo-endocrinological case at the \u201cLuigi Cattaneo\u201d Anatomical Wax Collection in Bologna\u2019

The \u201cLuigi Cattaneo\u201d Anatomical Wax Collection in Bologna hosts wax models dating back to the 19th century. At that time professors of pathological anatomy conducted researches on clinical cases according to a modus operandi characteristic of the Bolognese School whose motto was: \u201cBy describing the morphology of what we see, we can name the pathologies\u201

The curfew bell and the COVID-19 pandemic: A historical–medical perspective based on the Italian case

The present communication examines the phenomenon of curfew in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic with special attention being laid on the management of the epidemic by Italian health authorities. A literature review and a historical–medical analysis were performed. A historical–medical excursus on the word curfew is offered and a comparison between military and health scenarios is given. Finally, this article stresses how words connected with wartime events should be contextualized when adopted in unmilitary scenarios such as pandemic emergencies and related public health responses

The muscles of the athletes to learn surface anatomy - The Influence of classical statues on anatomy teaching

© 2019 Firenze University Press Gross anatomy classes are still regarded as an integral part of human biomedical education worldwide. The first documentary evidence of the practice of anatomical dissection for teaching purposes dates back to the 13th century AD, although this practice seems to have originated in Ancient Greece, if not in earlier times. Dissection of the human body is practiced in most anatomy institutions worldwide despite increasing pressure to reduce material and staff costs, regardless the ongoing debate concerning the suitability of body donors for medical education. Moreover, anatomical teaching skills are also evolving and need to be tailored for the different areas of anatomical expertise students have to acquire: therefore, anatomic dissection goes probably beyond the scope of anatomy teaching in some classes such as sports sciences. However, there is no doubt that a practical approach to the study and teaching of anatomy is surely preferable to basic ex cathedra anatomy lectures. Here, we propose a new teaching method for sports sciences and fine arts students by training their surface anatomy skills through the study of ancient statues