Microwear and isotopic analyses on cave bear remains from Toll Cave reveal both short-term and longterm dietary habits

Dietary habits of the extinct Ursus spelaeus have always been a controversial topic in paleontologicalvstudies. In this work, we investigate carbon and nitrogen values in the bone collagen and dental microwear of U. spelaeus specimens recovered in Level 4 from Toll Cave (Moià, Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula). These remains have been dated to > 49,000 14C BP. The ability of both proxies to provide data on the diet of U. spelaeus at different times in the life-history (isotopes: average diet of life; microwear: last days/weeks before death), allows us to generate high-resolution and complementary data. Our results show lower values (δ13C & δ15N) in cave bears than in strict herbivores (i.e. Cervus elaphus) recovered from the same level of Toll Cave. On the other hand, 12 lower molars (m1) were analysed through low-magnification microwear technique. The cave bears from Toll Cave show a microwear pattern like that of extant bears with omnivorous and carnivorous diets. These data are discussed in the framework of all available data in Europe and add new information about the plasticity of the dietary habits of this species at the southern latitudes of Europe during Late Pleistocene periods

Health status perception and airflow obstruction in five Latin American cities: the PLATINO study

Background: COPD is a highly prevalent disease but underdiagnosed, undertreated and possibly under-recognized by patients. Limited information exists regarding patients' perception of COPD severity. We compared patients' general, health status perception, degree of breathlessness and physical activity limitation with the severity of their respiratory condition measured by airway obstruction, in a population-based sample.Methods: We used postbronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC < 0.70 to define COPD. Patients' perception of their general. health status was derived from the question in general, you would say that your health is: excellent, very good, good, fair or poor?Results: Spirometry was performed in 5314 subjects: an FEV(1)/FVC ratio below 0.70 was found in 759 subjects. in persons with COPD, general. health status decreased with increasing GOLD stages. Over one-half of subjects with stage 2 and one third of those with stages 3 and 4 reported their health status as good to excellent. There was also a disparity between airway obstruction severity and breathlessness intensity. Although the more severe COPD stages were frequently associated with significant compromise of work and everyday activities, patients often tended to provide an optimistic self evaluation of their health status.Conclusions: the discrepancy observed between general health status, dyspnea severity, physical activity limitation and airway obstruction most likely reflect patients' underperception of disease severity, emphasizing the need for improving case-finding measures and multi-component evaluation of COPD subjects. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Boehringer Ingelheim GmbHCent Univ Venezuela, Hosp Univ Caracas, Serv Neumonol, Caracas 1030, VenezuelaUniv Calif Los Angeles, Sch Publ Hlth, Los Angeles, CA 90066 USAInst Resp Dis, Mexico City 14080, DF, MexicoUniv Republica, Hosp Maciel, Montevideo, UruguayUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, BR-04021070 São Paulo, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Dept Salud Publ, Santiago, ChilePontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Catedra Neumol, Santiago, ChileUniv Fed Pelotas, Fac Med, BR-96030002 Pelotas, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, BR-04021070 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and body mass index in five Latin America cities: the PLATINO study

Background: the body mass index (BMI) is a prognostic factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite its importance, little information is available regarding BMI alteration in COPD from a population-based study. We examined characteristics by BMI categories in the total and COPD populations in five Latin-American cities, and explored the factors influencing BMI in COPD.Methods: COPD was defined as a postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC)= 30.0 kg/m(2)).Results: Interviews were completed in 5571 subjects from 6711 eligible individuals, and spirometry was performed in 5314 subjects. There were 759 subjects with COPD and 4555 without COPD. Compared with the non-COPD group, there was a higher proportion of COPD subjects in the underweight and normal weight categories, and a lower proportion in the obese category. Over one-half COPD subjects had BMI over 25 kg/m(2). No differences in BMI strata among countries were found in COPD subjects. Factors associated with lower BMI in mates with COPD were aging, current smoking, and global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) stages III - IV, whereas wheeze and residing in Santiago and Montevideo were associated with higher BMI. in females with COPD, current smoking, lower education, and GOLD stages II - IV were associated with lower BMI, while dyspnea and wheeze were associated with higher BMI.Conclusions: BMI alterations are common in COPD with no significant differences among countries. Current smoking, age, GOLD stages, education level, residing in Santiago and Montevideo, dyspnea and wheeze were independently associated with BMI in COPD. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Cent Univ Venezuela, Fac Med, Hosp Univ Caracas, Serv Neumonol, Caracas 1030, VenezuelaInst Resp Dis, Mexico City 14080, DF, MexicoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, BR-04021070 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Republica, Hosp Maciel, Fac Med, Montevideo 2610, UruguayPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Fac Med, Dept Salud Publ, Santiago, ChileUniv Calif Los Angeles, Sch Publ Hlth, Los Angeles, CA 90066 USAUniv Fed Pelotas Duque Caxias, Fac Med, Pelotas, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, BR-04021070 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

The Oldest Case of Decapitation in the New World (Lapa do Santo, East-Central Brazil)

We present here evidence for an early Holocene case of decapitation in the New World (Burial 26), found in the rock shelter of Lapa do Santo in 2007. Lapa do Santo is an archaeological site located in the Lagoa Santa karst in east-central Brazil with evidence of human occupation dating as far back as 11.7-12.7 cal kyBP (95.4% interval). An ultra-filtered AMS age determination on a fragment of the sphenoid provided an age range of 9.1-9.4 cal kyBP (95.4% interval) for Burial 26. The interment was composed of an articulated cranium, mandible and first six cervical vertebrae. Cut marks with a v-shaped profile were observed in the mandible and sixth cervical vertebra. The right hand was amputated and laid over the left side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the chin and the left hand was amputated and laid over the right side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the forehead. Strontium analysis comparing Burial 26's isotopic signature to other specimens from Lapa do Santo suggests this was a local member of the group. Therefore, we suggest a ritualized decapitation instead of trophy-taking, testifying for the sophistication of mortuary rituals among hunter-gatherers in the Americas during the early Archaic period. In the apparent absence of wealth goods or elaborated architecture, Lapa do Santo's inhabitants seemed to use the human body to express their cosmological principles regarding death

Spirometry reference values after inhalation of 200 mu g of Salbutamol

OBJECTIVE: the criteria for disease severity established by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease are based on forced expiratory volume in I second (FEV) expressed as a percentage of the predicted value after application of a bronchodilator. This study aims to determine postbronchodilator spirometry reference values.SUBJECTS and METHODS: A cluster sample of subjects aged 40 years or over was chosen to be representative of the metropolitan areas of 5 Latin American cities (São Paulo, Mexico City, Montevideo, Santiago, and Caracas). Spirometry was performed on 5183 subjects following the recommendations of the American Thoracic Society before and after inhalation of 200 mu g of salbutamol. Multiple linear regression equations were fitted for the postbronchodilator spirometric values-FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV6), peak expiratory flow rate, forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FEV6, FEV1/FVC and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75). These were adjusted for sex, age, and height in 887 asymptomatic subjects with no history of lung disease.RESULTS: the postbronchodilator reference values for FEV, FEV1/FVC, and FEV1/FEV6 were on average 3% higher than those obtained before bronchodilation. This apparently small difference caused an upward shift in the 5th percentile (lower limit of normal) of the predicted values. When prebronchodilation instead of postbronchodilation reference values were used, 3.2% of the results for airflow obstruction in our population of over-40-year-olds were false negatives.CONCLUSIONS: the reported reference values are more appropriate for postbronchodilator spirometry and make it possible to reduce the number of misclassifications.Inst Nacl Enfermedades Resp, Mexico City 14080, DF, MexicoUniv Republica, Fac Med, Montevideo, UruguayCent Univ Venezuela, Hosp Univ Caracas, Div Pulm, Caracas, VenezuelaPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Santiago, ChileUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Pelotas, Pelotas, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Airflow Obstruction in Never Smokers in Five Latin American Cities: the PLATINO Study

Background. Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is mostly related to tobacco smoking, a variable proportion of COPD occurs in never smokers. We investigated differences between COPD in never smokers compared with smokers and subjects without COPD.Methods. PLATINO is a cross-sectional population-based study of five Latin American cities. COPD was defined as postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70 and FEV1 <80% of predicted values.Results. Among 5,315 subjects studied, 2278 were never smokers and 3036 were ever smokers. COPD was observed in 3.5% of never smokers and in 7.5% of ever smokers. Never smokers with COPD were most likely older and reported a medical diagnosis of asthma or previous tuberculosis. Underdiagnosis was as common in obstructed patients who never smoked as in ever smokers.Conclusions. Never smokers comprised 26% of all individuals with airflow obstruction. Obstruction was associated with female gender, older age and a diagnosis of asthma or tuberculosis. (C) 2012 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.Asociacion Latinoamericana de Torax (ALAT)Inst Nacl Enfermedades Resp, Mexico City 14080, DF, MexicoUniv Republica, Fac Med, Montevideo, UruguayCent Univ Venezuela, Fac Med, Caracas, VenezuelaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Santiago, ChileUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc