The Medici children: (Florence, XVI-XVII centuries): anthropological study and proposal of identification

Exploration of the Medici chapels in San Lorenzo in Florence revealed the burials of nine infantile members of the Medici family. Eight children were found in the intact tomb of the last Grand Duke Giangastone (1671-1737). The crypt contained several small coffins collapsed to the floor or randomly spread over a raised plank, as a result of the disastrous flood of the Arno river in 1966, which partly upset the tomb and left a layer of dry mould. The children’s remains, mostly skeletonised, were found inside the coffins or scattered on the floor or on the plank, probably transported by the water. Another child was exhumed from the chapel of Grand Duke Ferdinand I (1549-1609) and Cristina from Lorena (1565-1636). The infantile remains were submitted to anthropological study, which allowed to establish the number of individuals buried in the crypt, and to estimate the age at death. The anthropological results were compared with information provided by archival documents, related to members of the family who died in infantile age. An identification of the children is proposed

A Direct Aqueous Derivatization GSMS Method for Determining Benzoylecgonine Concentrations in Human Urine

A sensitive and reliable method for extraction and quantification of benzoylecgonine (BZE) and cocaine (COC) in urine is presented. Propyl-chloroformate was used as derivatizing agent, and it was directly added to the urine sample: the propyl derivative and COC were then recovered by liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect the analytes in selected ion monitoring mode. The method proved to be precise for BZE and COC both in term of intraday and interday analysis, with a coefficient of variation (CV) 2>0.999 and >0.997, respectively) within the range investigated. The method, applied to thirty authentic samples, showed to be very simple, fast, and reliable, so it can be easily applied in routine analysis for the quantification of BZE and COC in urine samples

A possible case of Garre's sclerosing osteomyelitis from Medieval Tuscany (11th-12th centuries)

tArchaeological excavations carried out at the castle of Monte di Croce near Florence brought to light asmall cemetery complex belonging to the castle church, dated back to the 11th–12th centuries. An elitestone tomb contained the skeletal remains of a male aged 35–45 years with obvious pathology of theright tibia. The proximal metaphysis and the upper half of the diaphysis appear massively enlarged as aresult of severe chronic periostitis. A transverse section illustrates complete obliteration of the medullarycavity by new spongy bone, with some large cavitations. The primary, but completely remodeled tibialshaft is still recognizable. This finding and the strong sclerotic reaction with some central cavitationsrule out any form of bone tumor and indicate a chronic inflammatory disease. The morphological andradiological picture and the tibial localization suggest a diagnosis of chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis ofGarré, a rare form of chronic osteomyelitis characterized by an intense periosteal reaction with little orno suppuration

The use of mercury against pediculosis in the Renaissance: tha case of Ferdinand of Aragon, King of Naples (1467-1496)

Pediculosis seems to have afflicted humans since the most ancient times and lice have been found in several ancient human remains. Examination of the head hair and pubic hair of the artificial mummy of Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496), King of Naples, revealed a double infestation with two different species of lice, Pediculus capitis, the head louse, and Pthirus pubis, the pubic louse. The hair samples were also positive for the presence of mercury, probably applied as an anti-pediculosis therapy. This is the first time that these parasites have been found in the hair of a king, demonstrating that even members of the wealthy classes in the Renaissance were subject to louse infestation