Generalized dermatitis in the natural mummy of the Roman Catholic nun Marie-Léonie Martin (France, 1863-1941).

OBJECTIVE: To document skin lesions on a mummified individual from the XIX century and to diagnose the pathology based historical documentation and physical examination. MATERIALS: Marie Leonie Martin (1863-1941) was a Roman Catholic nun. Her naturally mummified body is currently preserved in the Monastery of the Visitation in Caen (France). On the occasion of her beatification, the body was exhumed, studied and restored for conservation purposes. METHODS: The mummy was analyzed histologically and with CT imaging. RESULTS: The examination of the body noted areas of skin discoloration of reddish color; the paleopathological investigations revealed the presence of skin lesions (pustules) distributed throughout the body, with the exception of the face, abdomen and palms. The histological analyses of the pustules showed the presence of a central duct for the leakage of exudate, hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum and a proliferation of cells in the spinous layer (acanthosis) of the epidermis. CONCLUSIONS: The red discoloration of the skin is typical of extensive erythema. SIGNIFICANCE: Our understanding of skin conditions in the past is extremely limited. This study provides the first paleopathological case of diagnosed unclassified endogenous eczema and provides insight into the antiquity and effects of the disease. LIMITATIONS: It was not possible to carry out a genetic analysis due to DNA contamination of the mummy.

Histological and chemical diagnosis of a combat lesion in Triceratops.

In the collective imagination derived from scientific and popular literature, Triceratops often faced each other in combat. Thus, from the second half of the twentieth century, these ceratopsids were described as pugnacious animals. This arises primarily from the interpretation of extracranial fenestrae in ceratopsids being the result of combat trauma. However, the diagnosis of the traumatic nature of these anatomical variants of their neck frill requires evidence of bone healing and remodelling by microscopy analysis. Here, we present the case of the Triceratops horridus known as Big John, which is one of the largest specimens discovered in the Hell Creek Formation (Upper Cretaceous; MT, USA). Its right squamosal bone shows an extrafenestra with irregular margins and signs of inflammation. Microscopy analysis revealed newly formed and healing bone, with histological signs typical of the bone remodelling phase. Chemical analysis revealed sulphur that was derived from glycosaminoglycan's and sulphated glycoproteins of the preosseous osteoid substance present in the healing phases of a bone trauma. Histological and microanalytical analyses confirm that the squamosal fenestra of Big John is the result of a traumatic event, which might indeed have occurred during combat with another Triceratops.

Anthropometric profiles and somatotypes of female volleyball and beach volleyball players / Perfiles antropométricos y somatotipos de jugadoras de voleibol femenino y voleibol de playa

The aim was to compare anthropometric profiles, body composition, and somatotypes of female volleyball players grouped according to player status (National League Divisions) and function. The study assessed 62 volleyball players and 12 beach volleyball players (mean age, 23.58, s = 7.74 years). Anthropometric measures included height, body mass, body circumferences and diameters, adipose skinfold thickness. Data processing using a dietetic software package provided body mass index, fat mass percentage, arm muscular area, thigh muscular area, and somatotype. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 22. Division B volleyball players were taller than those in Division C (169.19, s = 6.68 cm vs. 165.40, s = 6.19 cm; P <0.05), but showed lower arm muscular area (34.77, s = 3.57 cm2 vs. 40.06, s = 7.27 cm2; p <0.05) and mesomorphy (3.40, s = 1.21 vs. 4.84, s = 2.10; P <0.05). For player functions, blockers were the tallest (172.38, s = 4.18 cm; P <0.05) and showed the highest ectomorphy (3.08, s = 1.02; P <0.05), setters showed the highest fat mass percentage (26.38 %, s = 2.99 %: P <0.05), and 'liberos' showed a more compact mesomorphy (5.46, s = 2.13) and low ectomorphy (1.58, s = 0.90). The anthropometric data showed few significant differences between the volleyball Divisions, suggesting that promotion up the Divisions is due to technical ability rather than physical qualities. The anthropometric profiles of the players varied according to their functions within their volleyball team.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los perfiles antropométricos, la composición corporal y los somatotipos de jugadoras de voleibol agrupadas según el estado de jugador (División de la Liga Nacional) y la función. El estudio evaluó 62 jugadoras de voleibol y 12 jugadoras de voleibol de playa (edad media, 23,58, s = 7,74 años). Las medidas antropométricas incluyeron altura, masa corporal, circunferencias y diámetros corporales, y grosor del pliegue cutáneo adiposo. Los datos se analizaron mediante un software proporcionando el índice de masa corporal, el porcentaje de masa grasa, el área muscular del brazo, el área muscular del muslo y el somatotipo. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el software SPSS Statistics versión 22. Las jugadoras de voleibol de la División B eran más altas que las de la División C (169,19, s = 6,68 cm vs. 165,40, s = 6,19 cm; P <0,05), pero mostraron una zona muscular del brazo inferior (34,77, s = 3,57 cm2 vs. 40,06, s = 7,27 cm2; p <0,05) y mesomorfia (3,40, s = 1,21 vs. 4,84, s = 2,10; P <0,05). Para las funciones del jugador, las bloqueadoras fueron las más altas (172,38, s = 4,18 cm; p <0,05) y mostraron la ectomorfia más alta (3,08, s = 1,02; p <0,05), las colocadoras mostraron el mayor porcentaje de masa grasa (26,38 %, s = 2,99 %: p <0,05), y los "liberos" mostraron una mesomorfia más compacta (5,46, s = 2,13) y ectomorfia baja (1,58, s = 0,90). Los datos antropométricos mostraron pocas diferencias significativas entre las divisiones de voleibol, lo que sugiere que la promoción de las divisiones se debe a la capacidad técnica más que a las cualidades físicas. Los perfiles antropométricos de las jugadoras variaron según sus funciones dentro de su equipo de voleibol.