Papers by Tyede Schmidt-schultz
Often referred to as the "Butcher's Tomb", the decorated tomb of Irukaptah in the U... more Often referred to as the "Butcher's Tomb", the decorated tomb of Irukaptah in the Unis Cemetery at Saqqara has been fully recorded for publication. This volume examines this well-preserved example of Old Kingdom rock architecture, that retains much of its painted decoration
Paleopathological investigations on archaeological skele· tons of the population from liushui in ... more Paleopathological investigations on archaeological skele· tons of the population from liushui in Xinjiang, West China dating from the late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age were carried out on 68 individuals from 21 burials. The settlement belonging to the population has not yet been found, therefore, information about the living conditions of the population can only be obtained from paleopathological Ilndings. Even if the 50ft tissue is lacking, evi· dence of diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be seen clearly from the bone. The skeletons were examined with macroscopic and optical-microscopic techniques. To arrive at same idea about the living and working conditions of this population, stress markers of the musculoskeletal system such as, for instance, ligamentopathia, myotendo· pathia and stress fractures were diagnosed. Pathological processes of tendons occur as dylitis of the humerus (Fig. 1), knee dinitis of the Achilles' tendon (Fig. as well as tendovagi· nitis 4) an...
Quaternary International, Jun 1, 2016
In total 110 skeletons recovered from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1100/900e760/500 cal. BC) cemetery... more In total 110 skeletons recovered from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1100/900e760/500 cal. BC) cemetery Liushui, Autonomous Region Xinjiang, China (36 14 0 41.9 00 N, 81 43 0 23 00 E, ca. 2850 m a.s.l.) were suitable for observation of entheseal changes (EC presence which does not involve inferring soft tissue changes) and stress fractures. Four fibrocartilaginous entheses (lateral and medial epicondyles, the attachment sites of the quadriceps muscle at the patella and the patellar ligament, and the Achilles' tendon at the calcaneus) and one fibrous enthesis (plantar aponeurosis at the calcaneus) were scored in skeletons with respective anatomical structures preserved. Some variations in EC percentage values in relation to sex and age are documented, though the relatively small sample size limits robustness of statistical interpretation. Our results do not fully support age-related EC increase. Only medial epicondylosis and lower calcaneal spur show the most frequent occurrence in the 56e70 years age group, with substantially higher scores compared to the other age groups. Both tendinitis patellae and dorsal calcaneal spur have their highest scores in the 15e23 years age group. Dorsal spur, tendinitis patellae and lateral epicondylosis are substantially higher among the female individuals than in the male skeletal remains from Liushui. Being compared with European prehistoric and industrial populations and with Californian historic hunteregatherers, the EC prevalence of the Liushui population indicates high physical activity levels with serious injury hazard. Grave goods and absolute chronology identify the Liushui population as mobile pastoralists at an early stage of the emergence of complex mounted pastoralism as a new economic and social system in Central Asia. The chronic nature of EC in the Liushui population, particularly noticeable in the female skeletons, may suggest an insufficient time for adaptation to permanent mechanical stress unavoidable in the prevalent mountainous environments. Relatively small sample size and the multifactorial etiology of EC require cautious evaluation of the obtained results. However, given the scarcity of palaeopathological records from the study region, our reconstructions and interpretations from the high-mountain Liushui site can be offered as a frame for further testing.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Sep 12, 2011
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2007
Ancient bones in a good preservation state, ascertained by microscopic techniques, conserve extra... more Ancient bones in a good preservation state, ascertained by microscopic techniques, conserve extracellular matrix proteins over thousands of years. With new techniques, intact extracellular matrix proteins from ancient bones and teeth are extracted and separated by one-dimensional and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Proteins were identified in Western blots by special antibodies against different human extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules of bone. We have confirmed different types of ECM human bone molecules such as osteonectin, osteopontin, and alkaline phosphatase with specific antibodies in human bone samples from different age groups. Additionally, we selected bone samples from different cultural time periods, such as the Middle Ages, the Bronze Age and the Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic Phase (PPNB), and teeth from individuals from the Early Middle Ages and from the Late PPNB. The survival of intact extracellular matrix proteins in ancient bones and teeth dating from recent times to the Late PPNB, and reliable techniques to identify these proteins, present a great challenge to further research. A Match Set with PD-Quest 7.2 shows that only 16% of protein spots in the teeth are also found in the bone of the same individual. In combination with the results of macro- and microscopic investigation, biochemical techniques will help us in obtaining a better understanding of bone and teeth in health and disease. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tuberculosis, Jun 1, 2015
In paleopathology, light microscopy, particularly the use of polarized transmission light, is hig... more In paleopathology, light microscopy, particularly the use of polarized transmission light, is highly valued for the establishment of reliable diagnoses. Recently, there has been a considerable widening of our experience in the diagnosis of pathological conditions at the micro-level using thin-ground sections prepared from archaeological bone. Thus, the question has arisen as to whether it might also be possible to diagnose tuberculous disease in archaeological bone using microscopy. As a rule, the reliability of a diagnosis established on the basis of thin-ground sections depends on the state of preservation of the selected sample (e.g., pseudopathology). However, sometimes, although the preservation is fairly good, a diagnosis cannot easily be established because the characteristic criteria (e.g., mosaic structure, in Paget's disease) are not clearly observable or seem to be ambiguous. In this case, we assumed that the pathophysiological nature of the morphological structures should be analyzed (e.g., the speed of growth of pathological newly built bone formations) which might help to differentiate between nonspecific (e.g., hematogenous osteomyelitis) and specific inflammatory bone diseases (e.g., tuberculous bone disease). To verify this assumption, samples were taken from recent bone collection materials with known disease diagnoses and from archaeological specimens which show lesions suspicious of bone tuberculosis (e.g., bone tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis).
Neuroscience Letters, Feb 1, 1992
Mature oligodendrocytes (OL) isolated from adult pig brains start to regenerate their fibers afte... more Mature oligodendrocytes (OL) isolated from adult pig brains start to regenerate their fibers after 4-5 days in vitro (DIV); after 14 DIV a network of OL fibers is formed. Growth factors, of which it was known that they play an important part during proliferation and differentiation of OL progenitor cells, were used to study their influence on the regeneration of mature OL. For this purpose, OL were treated at 6 DIV with different concentrations of various growth factors. At 24 h intervals the [3H]thymidine incorporation was measured and at 8 DIV the OL fiber production evaluated. None of these factors did influence the regenerative process to any significant extent except nerve growth factor (NGF). For the first time it could be shown that NGF enhanced the OL fiber regeneration considerably and induced the proliferation of a subset of OL. These results may have important implications for the remyelinating process in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Springer eBooks, 1997
Recently, it was shown that NGF enhances the process regeneration of mature pig oligodendrocytes ... more Recently, it was shown that NGF enhances the process regeneration of mature pig oligodendrocytes (OL) and that it induces a subset of mature OL to proliferate. This effect is mediated by TrkA, the NGF tyrosine kinase receptor. Astrocytes belong to the cells in the CNS, which synthesise and secrete NGF, however, it is unknown whether pig astrocytes can also respond to NGF. Firstly, we established the cultural requirements for mature pig astrocytes. During culturing three different types of GFAP+ cells could be observed, of which the flat and the stellate type were predominant. NGF did neither influence the astroglial process formation nor did it alter the rate of the 3H-thymidine incorporation. An in gel kinase assay revealed that a key enzyme of one of the intracellular signaling cascades, Erkl, is functioning in astrocytes, however, its activity cannot be enhanced by NGF.
Springer eBooks, Dec 24, 2014
Themethods and techniques of paleopathology are briefly described. Up to now, paleopathology has ... more Themethods and techniques of paleopathology are briefly described. Up to now, paleopathology has not really played a role in the field of paleoanthropology, although this relatively new science can contribute valuable facts to the reconstruction of the life of fossil humans and their antecessors. Examining the vestiges of pathological processes, the paleopathologist can reconstruct, within certain limits, the diseases early man suffered from (e.g., inflammatory and tumorous diseases) and even the hard living conditions, particularly the physical strain of everyday life. We might be able to gain substantial information about the musculoskeletal system, involved, for instance, in locomotion and work as well as some clues about possible social behavior and care (e.g., of an injured or disabled member of the social group). Not only the vestiges of pathological processes provide indications of how early man endured his hostile environment but also how the outcome of physical strain of everyday life can partially be reconstructed from the results of the study of the functional morphology. Therefore, selected results of a paleopathological analysis illustrating future prospects are discussed.
Springer eBooks, 2014
The methods and techniques of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are briefly descr... more The methods and techniques of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are briefly described, and the advantages of polarization microscopy are discussed. Particularly, light microscopy is a useful tool to diagnose fossil bone at the micro-level. Selected samples of fossilized human bones (e.g., Australopithecus, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and Paleolithic Homo sapiens) were examined using plain and polarized light. The histomorphological findings show that microscopic research adds much to what can be found by macroscopic M. Schultz (*) Department of Anatomy, University Medical School Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany e-mail: [email protected] T.H. Schmidt-Schultz Department of Biochemistry, University Medical School Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany e-mail: [email protected] # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 W. Henke, I. Tattersall (eds.), Handbook of Paleoanthropology, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-39979-4_87 983 examination or by X-ray techniques. In particular, emphasis is placed on morphological structures that give clues to the taxonomy and the functional anatomy of early hominids. Furthermore, morphological structures which originated during the lifetime of the individual (e.g., individual age at death, physical strain, diseases) are explicable. Future perspectives of microscopic analyses are discussed.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2003
In a good state of preservation, bone conserves the entire protein pattern of extracellular bone ... more In a good state of preservation, bone conserves the entire protein pattern of extracellular bone matrix proteins over thousands of years. The quality of the profiles of matrix proteins isolated from ancient bones (ranging from the pre-Pottery Neolithic Phase to Early Modern Times from different archaeological sites in different geographical areas), separated by electrophoresis, is as good as those from recent bones. Molecules arising from collagenous proteins (e.g., collagen type I), from the noncollagenous group (e.g., osteonectin), and from the immune system (e.g., immunoglobulin G) were identified in Western blots by specific antibodies. A comparative study of the immunoglobulin G content of the bones of five prehistoric children showed the lowest immunoglobulin G content in a child who suffered from chronic scurvy. Ancient bone proteins were also separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. This technique makes fractionation of the complex protein mixtures of extracellular bone matrix more reproducible. Bone retains a chemical memory of earlier metabolic stimuli in its configuration of collagenous and noncollagenous proteins. In combination with the results of the microscopic examination of ancient bone, it should be possible to obtain more reliable information on the history and the evolution of diseases, based on analysis of intact proteins.
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2007
Infant and child skeletons (n = 369) from the pre-Columbian Grasshopper Pueblo site in east-centr... more Infant and child skeletons (n = 369) from the pre-Columbian Grasshopper Pueblo site in east-central Arizona (US) dating from the 14th century AD were examined macroscopically and with low-power microscopy. They were studied as a representative example of a typical Mogollon community with respect to frequencies of deficiency and inflammatory diseases. First results revealed very poor living conditions, which are characteristic for this time period in the North American Southwest because of lack of food due to climatic and political changes. Thus, non-specific stress indicators were frequently observed. In the group of deficiency diseases, anaemia was found in more than 50% of individuals, and in the group of inflammatory diseases, meningeal irritations were diagnosed in more than 70%. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nature Ecology and Evolution, Jan 16, 2023
In our inferences for the Aegean individuals, we re-appraised all previously published contempora... more In our inferences for the Aegean individuals, we re-appraised all previously published contemporaneous individuals from this area 24-26,29 (Fig. 1). We also radiocarbon dated 43 of the skeletal remains that yielded genome-wide data (Supplementary Table 3; Methods).
Springer eBooks, Dec 24, 2014
International Journal of Paleopathology, Jun 1, 2021
OBJECTIVE To outline the importance of accurate diagnosis in ancient rare diseases by presenting ... more OBJECTIVE To outline the importance of accurate diagnosis in ancient rare diseases by presenting a possible case of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis. MATERIALS Skeletal elements from a well-preserved skeleton of a nine to eleven-year-old, probably female child who lived around 300-400 AD Late Roman Neuburg / Donau (Germany). METHODS Macroscopic, radiologic, light and scanning-electron microscopic and physical techniques were used. RESULTS Resorptive defects, particularly in the cranium, but also in the left hip bone and the right femur, suggest the presence of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis macroscopically and radiologically. The presence of morphological changes along the edges of osteolytic lesions and in the diploic spaces appear to be post-mortem artifacts based on microscopic investigation and elemental analysis. CONCLUSIONS Re-evaluation of morphological structures and elemental constitution of lesions is critical to differential diagnosis. In the case examined here, the identification of post-mortem structures rules out the former diagnosis of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis. Re-evaluation of cases of rare diseases require applying a range of methods during the analysis, as every single case makes a difference in the numbers of this very small group of diseases. SIGNIFICANCE This study emphasizes the importance of utilizing different analytical techniques to avoid false diagnoses. LIMITATIONS Not all morphological features can reliably be diagnosed using microscopic and elemental techniques. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH In the case of rare diseases that are difficult to diagnose, the widest possible spectrum of techniques should always be used, particularly microscopy.
Tuberculosis, Jun 1, 2015
For the confirmation of Ag 85 in ancient and recent ECM of native macerated human bone, five case... more For the confirmation of Ag 85 in ancient and recent ECM of native macerated human bone, five cases were investigated. In three individuals, highly positive results for Ag 85 were identified in Western blot: 1) a male from Arzhan, South Siberia, dating from the 7th century BC, 2) a male from Kirchberg in Hesse, Germany, dating from the 10th - 12th century AD and 3) a recent female with a proven diagnosis of TB. As a negative control, a recent male is presented who did not suffer from TB. In another recent male, Ag 85 could be identified only very weakly. From cases in the literature it is well-known that highly positive results for Ag 85 indicate active TB, however, weakly positive results indicate a silent initial infection with Mtb. Thus, apparently, also in ancient individuals, it might well be possible to differentiate between diseased persons and disease carriers using paleoproteomic techniques.
Journal of Neuroscience Research, Dec 1, 1997
It has previously been shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) is of functional significance for mat... more It has previously been shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) is of functional significance for mature pig oligodendrocytes (OLs) in culture. The present data give evidence for the expression of TrkA, the so-called high-affinity NGF receptor, and of p75NTR, the so-called low-affinity NGF receptor. TrkA is upregulated during culturing, in contrast to the p75 receptor. Exposure of OLs to NGF induces an autophosphorylation of TrkA via its intrinsic tyrosine kinase. K-252a inhibits the TrkA autophosphorylation, which reduces the OL process formation to control levels. To the tyrosine-phosphorylated sites of TrkA several proteins, such as phospholipase C-gamma1, the adaptor protein SHC, the phosphotyrosine phosphatase SH-PTP2 (SYP) associate via their SH2 phosphotase SH-PTP2 domain. The association of SHC to TrkA is shown by co-immunoprecipitation. Indirect evidence for a possible activation of PLC-gamma1 is given by an NGF-induced increase of oligodendroglial [Ca2+]i. Downstream from TrkA, a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, which includes Erk1 and Erk2, is operating. An in-gel myelin basic protein kinase assay revealed that NGF activates predominantly Erk1. Finally, it is shown that NGF stimulates expression of c-fos.
International Journal of Cancer, 2007
To determine whether a 2,700-year-old tumor can be reliably diagnosed using microscopic and prote... more To determine whether a 2,700-year-old tumor can be reliably diagnosed using microscopic and proteomic techniques and whether such prostate carcinomas show the same morphological pattern at the micro-level as modern-day carcinomas, this case was investigated. A 40-50-year-old Scythian king who lived during the Iron Age in the steppe of Southern Siberia (Russia) suffered from macroscopically visible osteoblastic and osteoclastic lesions throughout his entire skeleton. Macro-morphological (macroscopy, endoscopy, radiology) and micro-morphological techniques (histology, scanning-electron microscopy) as well as proteomic techniques (1-Dand 2-D-electrophoresesis, Western blot) were applied. The results of the morphological and biochemical investigation proved that this mature male suffered for many years from and probably died of a carcinoma of the prostate. The diagnosis mainly rests on the results of the microscopic examination of the lesions and the positive evidence of PSA, which is an important marker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is remarkable that, in this ancient case, the morphological pattern at the microlevel is the same as in recent cases. The loss of the spongy bone substance (red bone marrow) provoked chronic anemia during the final months of the life of this king. The proteomic techniques applied are new for the investigation of recent and ancient macerated bones. Sensitive and reliable biochemical markers (PSA) are an important precondition to detect such tumors in recent and ancient materials. Currently, this is the oldest known case of prostate cancer diagnosed reliably by morphological and biochemical techniques.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
The Neolithic and Bronze Ages were highly transformative periods for the genetic history of Europ... more The Neolithic and Bronze Ages were highly transformative periods for the genetic history of Europe but for the Aegean—a region fundamental to Europe’s prehistory—the biological dimensions of cultural transitions have been elucidated only to a limited extent so far. We have analysed newly generated genome-wide data from 102 ancient individuals from Crete, the Greek mainland and the Aegean Islands, spanning from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. We found that the early farmers from Crete shared the same ancestry as other contemporaneous Neolithic Aegeans. In contrast, the end of the Neolithic period and the following Early Bronze Age were marked by ‘eastern’ gene flow, which was predominantly of Anatolian origin in Crete. Confirming previous findings for additional Central/Eastern European ancestry in the Greek mainland by the Middle Bronze Age, we additionally show that such genetic signatures appeared in Crete gradually from the seventeenth to twelfth centuries bc, a period when the in...
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Papers by Tyede Schmidt-schultz