Goth migration induced changes in the matrilineal genetic structure of the central-east European population.

For years, the issues related to the origin of the Goths and their early migrations in the Iron Age have been a matter of hot debate among archaeologists. Unfortunately, the lack of new independent data has precluded the evaluation of the existing hypothesis. To overcome this problem, we initiated systematic studies of the populations inhabiting the contemporary territory of Poland during the Iron Age. Here, we present an analysis of mitochondrial DNA isolated from 27 individuals (collectively called the Mas-VBIA group) excavated from an Iron Age cemetery (dated to the 2nd-4th century A.D.) attributed to Goths and located near Maslomecz, eastern Poland. We found that Mas-VBIA has similar genetic diversity to present-day Asian populations and higher diversity than that of contemporary Europeans. Our studies revealed close genetic links between the Mas-VBIA and two other Iron Age populations from the Jutland peninsula and from Kowalewko, located in western Poland. We disclosed the genetic connection between the Mas-VBIA and ancient Pontic-Caspian steppe groups. Similar connections were absent in the chronologically earlier Kowalewko and Jutland peninsula populations. The collected results seem to be consistent with the historical narrative that assumed that the Goths originated in southern Scandinavia; then, at least part of the Goth population moved south through the territory of contemporary Poland towards the Black Sea region, where they mixed with local populations and formed the Chernyakhov culture. Finally, a fraction of the Chernyakhov population returned to the southeast region of present-day Poland and established the archaeological formation called the "Maslomecz group".

[Analysis of the incidence of pneumoconiosis among coal miners]. / Analiza zachorowalnosci na pylice u górników jednej kopalni wegla kamiennego.

Basing on the prevention system for pneumoconiosis in ++coal mining, an analysis of the disease incidence in the workers of a selected ++coal mine was performed. The subjects were 2.495 miners with the work period longer than 8 years and a group of 822 retired miners. In the former group 16 cases (0.64%) of pneumoconiosis were diagnosed, whereas in the latter as many as 89 cases (10.8%) were found which would indicate a necessity for more detailed examinations in ex-miners of this ++coal mine. The pneumoconiosis changes were detected in the early period of their development. The highest risk was found to refer to longwall and blasting miners and cutter-loadermen. The correlation between radiological changes of the s, t, and u type and the duration of work as well as the high frequency of these changes at highly polluted workplaces seem to point to their relation to dust exposure.

[Chronic bronchitis and respiratory capacity of the lungs in miners from a specific coal mine]. / Przewlekle zapalenie oskrzeli i sprawnosc wentylacyjna pluc u górników jednej kopalni wegla.

In the group of 3317 miners of one coal mine, who were employed for over 8 years, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (ch.b.) and lung ventilation disorders was analysed. The frequency of ch.b. in the subjects under study was almost twice as high as in the general male population in Poland and significantly more frequent in miners with pneumoconiosis than in those without pneumoconiosis. Simple pneumoconiosis and ch.b. contributed to decreased ventilatory capacity of the lung.