Royan Institute First Attempts: Autotransplantation of Vitrified Human Ovarian Tissue in Cancer Patients

Today, timely diagnosis and therapeutic progress open a road of hope for survival in cancerous patients. Increasedknowledge about the various cytotoxic treatment's impacts on ovarian function and fertility has resulted in a surgein the number of patients seeking to preserve their fertility before starting the anti-cancer treatment process. In thisregard, embryo cryopreservation can be recommended for fertility preservation when the woman is married and hasadequate time for ovarian stimulation. If patients are prepubertal girls or not married women, oocytes or ovarian tissuecan be frozen instead to be used in the future. In this regard, the first attempts for ovarian tissue transplantations wereconducted in 2016 and in 2019 for two cancerous patients whose ovarian tissue was cryopreserved in the RoyanHuman Ovarian Tissue Bank (Tehran, Iran). Unfortunately, the transplantations did not result in a live birth

Ancient goat genomes reveal mosaic domestication in the Fertile Crescent.

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species

Tracking the Near Eastern origins and European dispersal of the western house mouse

Abstract: The house mouse (Mus musculus) represents the extreme of globalization of invasive mammals. However, the timing and basis of its origin and early phases of dispersal remain poorly documented. To track its synanthropisation and subsequent invasive spread during the develoment of complex human societies, we analyzed 829 Mus specimens from 43 archaeological contexts in Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe, between 40,000 and 3,000 cal. BP, combining geometric morphometrics numerical taxonomy, ancient mitochondrial DNA and direct radiocarbon dating. We found that large late hunter-gatherer sedentary settlements in the Levant, c. 14,500 cal. BP, promoted the commensal behaviour of the house mouse, which probably led the commensal pathway to cat domestication. House mouse invasive spread was then fostered through the emergence of agriculture throughout the Near East 12,000 years ago. Stowaway transport of house mice to Cyprus can be inferred as early as 10,800 years ago. However, the house mouse invasion of Europe did not happen until the development of proto urbanism and exchange networks — 6,500 years ago in Eastern Europe and 4000 years ago in Southern Europe — which in turn may have driven the first human mediated dispersal of cats in Europe

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Ancient pigs reveal a near-complete genomic turnover following their introduction to Europe

Archaeological evidence indicates that pig domestication had begun by ~10,500 y before the present (BP) in the Near East, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) suggests that pigs arrived in Europe alongside farmers ~8,500 y BP. A few thousand years after the introduction of Near Eastern pigs into Europe, however, their characteristic mtDNA signature disappeared and was replaced by haplotypes associated with European wild boars. This turnover could be accounted for by substantial gene flow from local Euro-pean wild boars, although it is also possible that European wild boars were domesticated independently without any genetic con-tribution from the Near East. To test these hypotheses, we obtained mtDNA sequences from 2,099 modern and ancient pig samples and 63 nuclear ancient genomes from Near Eastern and European pigs. Our analyses revealed that European domestic pigs dating from 7,100 to 6,000 y BP possessed both Near Eastern and European nuclear ancestry, while later pigs possessed no more than 4% Near Eastern ancestry, indicating that gene flow from European wild boars resulted in a near-complete disappearance of Near East ancestry. In addition, we demonstrate that a variant at a locus encoding black coat color likely originated in the Near East and persisted in European pigs. Altogether, our results indicate that while pigs were not independently domesticated in Europe, the vast majority of human-mediated selection over the past 5,000 y focused on the genomic fraction derived from the European wild boars, and not on the fraction that was selected by early Neolithic farmers over the first 2,500 y of the domestication process

Iran and the Kura-Araxes cultural tradition, so near and yet so far

In the middle of the fourth and beginning of the third millennium BC, the southern part of Caucasus, eastern Anatolia, and northwestern Iran experienced a different cultural development characterized by special material culture identified as the Kura‑Araxes cultural tradition. In this epoch of cultural prehistory, Iran has previously been considered as a peripheral area in comparison with its counterparts of the Mesopotamian heartland to the south, or even northern Mesopotamia. This concept either actuates fewer investigations in this area or studies with the focal point from lowland and its domination. The current chronological framework is also based on past archaeological data from more than four decades ago and surprisingly, since then, nothing has been added to evolve or develop our understanding of this period in Middle Eastern and Iranian history.In this article, reviewing the past studies, I address partly these shortcomings. Furthermore, investigating the new fresh data from the southern part of the Araxes Valley and comparing them with neighbour areas, I have tried to promote a better understanding of cultural dynamics and societal complexity of this timespan in this area.Au milieu du quatrième et troisième millénaire av. J.‑C., le sud du Caucase, l’Anatolie orientale et le nord‑ouest de l’Iran ont connu un développement culturel particulier caractérisé par une culture matérielle spécifique identifiée comme la tradition culturelle Kura‑Araxes. On a longtemps considéré que l’Iran était à cette période une zone périphérique en comparaison avec ses voisins du sud ou même du nord de la Mésopotamie. Ce concept de périphérie n’a guère suscité de recherches dans cette région ou bien il a engendré des études centrées sur la plaine et sa domination. Le cadre chronologique actuel s’appuie aussi sur des données archéologiques vieilles de plus de quatre décennies et, étonnamment, depuis, rien n’a été ajouté pour faire évoluer ou développer nos connaissances de cette période dans l’histoire du Moyen‑Orient et de l’Iran.Dans cet article, en examinant les études réalisées dans le passé, j’aborde en partie ces lacunes. En outre, à partir des nouvelles données du sud de la vallée de l’Araxe et en les comparant avec les régions voisines, j’ai tenté d’apporter ma contribution à une meilleure compréhension des dynamiques culturelles et de la complexité sociale dans cette région durant cette période.در اواسط هزاره چهارم و اوایل هزاره سوم پیش از میلاد در جنوب قفقاز، شرق آناتولی و شمال غرب ایران شاهد ظهور پدیده فرهنگی پیچیده ای هستیم. در این بازه زمانی، اقوام کورا-ارس از مناطق جنوبی ماوراء قفقاز به سمت ایران مهاجرت می کنند و به همراه این حرکت جمعیتی، مواد فرهنگی متعلق به آنان نیز در ابعادی بسیار گسترده، از شمال غرب ایران تا غرب و فلات مرکزی و حتی شمال ایران مشاهده می شود. متاسفانه در مطالعات باستان شناختی مربوط به این دوره، شمال غرب ایران در مقایسه با بین النهرین همیشه به عنوان منطقه ای حاشیه ای در نظر گرفته شده و توجه کمتری به آن شده است. در پژوهشهای اندک صورت گرفته نیز، به خصوص در بازه زمانی هزاره پنجم و چهارم پیش از میلاد، این حوضه همیشه از منظر بین النهرین و در مقایسه با‌ آن مورد مطالعه قرار گرفته و جایگاه خود را در پژوهشهای مربوطه آنچنان که باید و شاید نیافته است. چنانکه گاهنگاری موجود برای این منطقه در کمال تعجب همچنان متکی بر پژوهشهایی است که بیش از چهاردهه قبل انجام شده و متاسفانه از آن زمان تا کنون بازنگری و به روز نشده است. در این مقاله سعی شده است تا با بازبینی اطلاعات موجود به بخشی از این مشکلات پرداخته شود. علاوه براین، با بررسی یافته های اخیر از پژوهشهای صورت گرفته در جنوب دره ارس و مقایسه آن با مناطق مجاور، فهم بهتری از پویایی فرهنگی منطقه و ماهیت پیچیدگی های اجتماعی در این بازه زمانی خاص ارائه شده است

Subsistence economy in Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi (eastern Azerbaijan, Iran) during the Late Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age based on the faunal and botanical remains

This paper deals with the results obtained from the study of faunal and botanical remains from Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi (Iran). For archaeozoologists, the north-western part of Iran is one of the most important regions because of the abundance of bovines as well as ovicaprines. The traces of human activities are very well represented. Archaeobotanical studies are still rare in this area, but the first analysis of some recently excavated sites provide very interesting results and show the potential of this key area. This work present a multidisciplinary approach, which constitutes a first picture of interaction between human, animal and plants in Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi during the Late Chalcolithic represented by Sioni and Chaff‑faced traditions and the Early Bronze Age by Kura‑Araxes cultural tradition. In this regards, the presented material in this article would enhance our understanding of the subsistence economy of these traditions inside Iran, of which rarely is published.Cet article présente les résultats des études menées sur les restes fauniques et botaniques provenant de Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi (Iran). Pour les archéozoologues, le nord‑ouest de l’Iran est une région importante en raison de l’abondance de bovins et d’ovicaprins. Les indices d’activités humaines y sont très bien représentés. Si les études archéobotaniques sont encore rares dans cette région, les premières analyses de sites fouillés récemment donnent des résultats particulièrement intéressants et montrent le potentiel de cette région clé. Ce travail présente une approche multidisciplinaire, qui constitue une première image des interactions entre hommes, animaux et plantes à Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi durant le Chalcolithique récent, représenté par les traditions culturelles de type Sioni et Chaff‑Faced Ware, et l’âge du Bronze ancien, représenté par la tradition culturelle Kuro‑Araxe. Le matériel présenté dans cet article permettra d’améliorer notre compréhension des économies de subsistance de ces cultures en Iran, éléments jusqu’ici rarement publiés.مقاله حاضر به نتایج بدست آمده از مطالعات باستان جانورشناختی و باستان گیاه شناختی محوطه باستانی کهنه پاسگاه تپه سی در شمال غرب ایران می پردازد. شمال غرب ایران به دلیل فراوانی گاو وهم چنین گوسفند سانان، یکی از مهمترین مناطق از دیدگاه باستان‌جانورشناختی به شمار می رود. آثار فعالیت های انسانی بر روی بازمانده های حیوانی این محوطه به خوبی قابل مشاهده است. با وجود اینکه مطالعات باستان گیاه شناختی در این منطقه بسیار کم بوده است، اما تجزیه و تحلیل اولیه در چند محوطه که به تازگی مورد کاوش قرار گرفته اند حاوی نتایج بسیار جالبی است که اهمیت این منطقه را بخوبی نشان می دهد. مطالعه حاضر رویکردی چند جانبه شامل تقابل بین انسان، جانور و گیاه در این محوطه در طی دوره مس و سنگی متاخر که با سفال سیونی و کاه رو و عصر مفرغ قدیم که با فرهنگ کورا- ارس شناخته می شود، می باشد. بنابراین با مطالعه مواد فرهنگی محوطه کهنه پاسگاه تپه سی به شناخت بهتری در مورد اقتصاد معیشت در فرهنگ های این دو دوره در ایران دست خواهیم یافت

The spread of obsidian on the Iranian Plateau during the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. The possible role of mobile pastoralists

International audienceOur talk provides new and original data on the analysis of obsidian artifacts from Iran. It focuses on the sourcing of obsidian artifacts collected at different archaeological sites dated from the Pre-pottery and Pottery Neolithic sites of Kalek Asad Morad (KAM), Qasr e Ahmad (QeA), Rahmat Abad (RA), Choghabur (ChB), Qaleh Asgar (QA); and the Bronze Age site of Kohne Tepesi (KT). These sites are located in the central (KAM) and southern Zagros (QeA & RA), along the Persian Gulf (ChB), in the central Alborz (QA), and in southern part of the Araxes River basin (KT).The aim of this paper is to provide a diachronic perspective on the exploitation of obsidian sources and diffusion of its raw material in the area under investigation, from the Early Neolithic to Bronze Age. We demonstrate that obsidian originates mainly from the Taurus sources (Nemrut Dağ and region of Bingöl) during the Neolithic, and that a diversification of procurement appears during the Bronze Age, involving new obsidian sources, located in the south of Lake Sevan (Sjunik, Armenia), in the exchange processes. The spread of obsidian is considered as a suitable element for tracking the mobility and trade networks of prehistoric societies in the Near East. Current debates among archaeologists highlight the role of agropastoralists in the diffusion of obsidian.Twenty-eight artifacts originating from these sites (KAM, n = 6; QeA, n = 10; RA, n = 3; ChB, n = 2; QA, n = 5; and KT, n = 2), have been analyzed using LA–ICP–MS. Their compositions were compared with different databases, and have benefited from new insights given by the GeObs Database which include more than 600 geological samples from the Anatolian volcanoes, precisely referenced. It thus became possible to assign the peralkaline obsidian from the Nemrut Dağ (KAM, QeA, ChB) to the obsidian flow of Sicaksu, while the other peralkaline obsidians can be assigned to obsidian outcrops located around Solhan in the Bingöl area (QeA). The calk-alkaline obisidians (RA, QA) were assigned to Alatepe, also located in the Taurus region (Bingöl area, Turkey), while data from the Kohne Tepesi site indicates different obsidian networks related to Sjunik source in Armenia (Sevkar outcrops). According to these preliminary results, we will examine changes in the dynamics of obsidian networks diachronically and geographically

Herding and hunting in north-western Iran and adjacent areas from Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age

International audienc