[The Iceman : Life scenarios and pathological findings from 30 years of research on the glacier mummy "Ötzi"].

The comprehensive investigation of the excellently preserved mummy of Ötzi, the Iceman, and his equipment over the last 30 years has provided a wealth of information about the life and disease of this late Neolithic individual. This research has indicated that his origin was from a local southern Alpine population, that he grew up in the valleys of the Southern Alps, and that he had considerable local mobility. He had well-balanced nutrition with a mixed vegetable and animal diet.

The Iceman's Last Meal Consisted of Fat, Wild Meat, and Cereals.

The history of humankind is marked by the constant adoption of new dietary habits affecting human physiology, metabolism, and even the development of nutrition-related disorders. Despite clear archaeological evidence for the shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture in Neolithic Europe [1], very little information exists on the daily dietary habits of our ancestors. By undertaking a complementary -omics approach combined with microscopy, we analyzed the stomach content of the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old European glacier mummy [2, 3].

The 5300-year-old Helicobacter pylori genome of the Iceman.

The stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori is one of the most prevalent human pathogens. It has dispersed globally with its human host, resulting in a distinct phylogeographic pattern that can be used to reconstruct both recent and ancient human migrations. The extant European population of H.

Parasitism of the Zweeloo Woman: Dicrocoeliasis evidenced in a Roman period bog mummy.

We undertook the analysis of Zweeloo Woman, a bog mummy from the Netherlands, to assess her parasitic state. Evidence of infection came from two areas: (1) liver paraffin sections and (2) microfossils washed from an intestinal section. Although the liver had shrunken considerably, objects consistent with operculated trematode eggs were found.

Paleoproteomic study of the Iceman's brain tissue.

The Tyrolean Iceman, a Copper-age ice mummy, is one of the best-studied human individuals. While the genome of the Iceman has largely been decoded, tissue-specific proteomes have not yet been investigated. We studied the proteome of two distinct brain samples using gel-based and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based proteomics technologies together with a multiple-databases and -search algorithms-driven data-analysis approach.

New insights into the Tyrolean Iceman's origin and phenotype as inferred by whole-genome sequencing.

The Tyrolean Iceman, a 5,300-year-old Copper age individual, was discovered in 1991 on the Tisenjoch Pass in the Italian part of the Ötztal Alps. Here we report the complete genome sequence of the Iceman and show 100% concordance between the previously reported mitochondrial genome sequence and the consensus sequence generated from our genomic data. We present indications for recent common ancestry between the Iceman and present-day inhabitants of the Tyrrhenian Sea, that the Iceman probably had brown eyes, belonged to blood group O and was lactose intolerant.

Usefulness of p16ink4a, ProEX C, and Ki-67 for the diagnosis of glandular dysplasia and adenocarcinoma of the cervix uteri.

Although the diagnostic criteria of in-situ and invasive adenocarcinomas of the cervix uteri are well established, the differentiation from benign mimics may be difficult and the morphologic features of the precursors of endocervical adenocarcinoma are still debated. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of p16ink4a (p16), ProEX C, and Ki-67 for the diagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma and its precursors. Immunohistochemistry with p16, ProEX C, and Ki-67 was performed in 82 glandular lesions including 15 invasive adenocarcinomas, 29 adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS), 22 non-neoplastic samples, and 16 cases of glandular dysplasia (GD), which showed significant nuclear abnormalities but did not meet the diagnostic criteria for AIS.

Genotyping human ancient mtDNA control and coding region polymorphisms with a multiplexed Single-Base-Extension assay: the singular maternal history of the Tyrolean Iceman.

Background: Progress in the field of human ancient DNA studies has been severely restricted due to the myriad sources of potential contamination, and because of the pronounced difficulty in identifying authentic results. Improving the robustness of human aDNA results is a necessary pre-requisite to vigorously testing hypotheses about human evolution in Europe, including possible admixture with Neanderthals. This study approaches the problem of distinguishing between authentic and contaminating sequences from common European mtDNA haplogroups by applying a multiplexed Single-Base-Extension assay, containing both control and coding region sites, to DNA extracted from the Tyrolean Iceman.

p16 ink4a and HPV L1 immunohistochemistry is helpful for estimating the behavior of low-grade dysplastic lesions of the cervix uteri.

As only a minority of low-grade dysplastic lesions of the cervix uteri will eventually progress to carcinoma, predicting the behavior of these lesions could be of high value in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to evaluate p16 ink4a and L1 as immunohistochemical markers of the biologic potentiality of low-grade dysplasia of the uterine cervix. The study included 38 conization specimens with coexisting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1) and 3 (CIN3) (group A) and 28 punch biopsies from women with CIN1 and proven spontaneous regression in the follow-up (group B).

Non-episodic angioedema associated with eosinophilia following Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia is characterized by recurrent angioedema, peripheral eosinophilia, fever, weight gain, elevated serum immunoglobulin M (IgM), and a benign course lacking any internal organ involvement. A non-episodic variant has also been reported which is limited to a single attack and normally is less severe than the episodic type. We report a case of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection with dermatological manifestation that was followed by non-episodic angioedema with eosinophilia including fever, weight gain, and elevated serum IgM.

Abnormal cervicovaginal cytology with negative human papillomavirus testing.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing has become part of cervicovaginal diagnostics in many laboratories. False-negative HPV results, even if rare, are potentially relevant clinically, particularly when testing is used alone. In this study, the authors investigated the occurrence and causes of abnormal cervicovaginal cytologies with negative HPV testing.

Fatal interstitial pneumonitis associated with docetaxel administration in a patient with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Taxanes are widely used chemotherapeutic agents with the potential to induce pulmonary injury through a variety of mechanisms. Patients receiving these agents are at risk of acute or subacute pulmonary damage. The case is presented of a 72-year-old man with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and weekly administration of 30 mg/m2 docetaxel who developed subacute interstitial pneumonitis-related pulmonary fibrosis after seven doses and died despite mechanical ventilation and high-dose corticosteroid treatment.

Paraneoplastic stiff-person syndrome, heterotopic soft tissue ossification and gonarthritis in a HLA B27-positive woman preceding the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma include the stiff-person syndrome. A case of stiff-person syndrome is reported who first presented with muscular hyperactivity and acute respiratory failure followed by heterotopic soft tissue ossification and acute seronegative gonarthitis. Initial improvement of a tetanus-like clinical picture was achieved with benzodiazepam given by continuous infusion for analgo-sedation to mechanically ventilate the patient followed by baclofen after successful weaning.

The middle interscalene block: cadaver study and clinical assessment.

Background And Objectives: A variety of brachial plexus block techniques via the interscalene approach have been proposed. We describe here a new middle interscalene perivascular approach to the brachial plexus. To verify its effectiveness, we studied 719 patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy.

Laminin-5 gamma2 chain immunohistochemistry facilitates the assessment of invasiveness and improves the diagnostic reproducibility of glandular lesions of the cervix uteri.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of laminin-5 (LN-5) gamma2 chain immunohistochemistry on the assessment of invasiveness in cervical adenocarcinomas and its impact on the diagnostic reproducibility of glandular lesions of the cervix uteri. Immunohistochemistry with LN-5 gamma2 was performed on 30 cases, including 12 adenocarcinomas in situ (AISs), 5 AISs that were suggestive, albeit not conclusive, of infiltration (AIS+), 7 frankly invasive adenocarcinomas, and 6 nonneoplastic cases with reactive changes. Diagnostic agreement between 3 observers was evaluated by kappa statistics in routine histologic specimens and with the aid of LN-5 gamma2 immunohistochemistry.

p16INK4a expression and progression risk of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix uteri.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of p16INK4a as a marker of progression risk in low-grade dysplastic lesions of the cervix uteri. p16INK4a immunohistochemistry was performed on 32 CIN1 with proven spontaneous regression of the lesion in the follow-up (group A), 31 (group B) with progression to CIN3 and 33 (group C) that were randomly chosen irrespective of the natural history of the lesion. p16INK4a staining pattern was scored as negative (less than 5% cells in the lower third of dysplastic epithelium stained), as focally positive (< or = 25%) and as diffuse positive (> 25%).

Human papillomavirus typing with hybrid capture II on archived liquid-based cytologic specimens: is HPV typing always reproducible?

Reproducibility of human papillomavirus (HPV) typing on archived ThinPrep (Cytyc, Boxborough, MA) specimens was evaluated repeating Hybrid Capture II (HCII) (Digene, Gaithersburg, MD) testing after 25 to 40 months (mean, 31.3 months; group 1), 6 to 11 months (mean, 8.4 months; group 2), and 0 to 5 months (mean, 3.

Intermediate-risk urothelial carcinoma: an unresolved problem?

Objectives: To perform a biologic characterization of the urothelial neoplasms of patients in the intermediate-risk group using multicolor-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A general consensus has not been reached with regard to the optimal therapy and follow-up of patients with urothelial neoplasms at intermediate risk of progression. On the basis of the chromosomal pattern, we developed a new follow-up algorithm for this group and report our preliminary results.

ThinPrep versus conventional Papanicolaou smear in the cytologic follow-up of women with equivocal cervical smears.

Background: The purpose of the current study was to compare the efficacy of liquid-based cytology and conventional smears in the cytologic follow-up of cases with "atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude a high-grade lesion" (ASC-H) or "atypical glandular cells" (AGC).

Methods: Cytologic follow-up was performed on 214 cases with ASC-H/AGC diagnosis an conventional smears using either ThinPrep (n = 100) or conventional Papanicoloau (Pap) tests (n = 114). Results were then compared with further histologic and/or cytologic follow-up.

Human papilloma virus typing at large loop excision of the transformation zone of the cervix uteri.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether human papilloma virus (HPV) testing at LLETZ for CIN can be useful to identify patients with high risk of recurrent disease.

Materials And Methods: In 62 women treated with LLETZ for CIN the status of the resection margins was recorded and related to the HPV status as assessed with Hybrid Capture II immediately after surgery. A control typing was repeated 3-9 months later.

p16INK4a is a useful marker for the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the cervix uteri and its precursors: an immunohistochemical study with immunocytochemical correlations.

p16 is a tumor suppressor gene that plays a central role in the regulation of the cell cycle. In squamous cervical cancers, overexpression of p16 is induced by HPV and associated with the carcinogenesis of cervical epithelia. The aim of this study was to determine whether immunostaining of p16 is useful in detecting adenocarcinomas of the cervix uteri in histologic and cytologic routine specimens.