The Rurikids: The First Experience of Reconstructing the Genetic Portrait of the Ruling Family of Medieval Rus' Based on Paleogenomic Data

The Rurikids were the reigning house of Rus', its principalities and, ultimately the Tsardom of Russia, for seven centuries: from the IX to the end of the XVI century. According to the Primary Chronicle (the Tale of Bygone Years), the main chronicle of Rus', the Rurik dynasty was founded by the Varangian prince Rurik, invited to reign in Novgorod in 862, but still there is no direct genetic evidence of the origin of the early Rurikids. This research, for the first time, provides a genome-wide paleogenetic analysis of bone remains belonging to one of the Rurikids, Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich (?-1294), the son of the Grand Prince of Vladimir Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1221-1263). It has been established that his Y chromosome belongs to the N1a haplogroup. Most of the modern Rurikids, according to their genealogies, belonging to the N1a haplogroup, have the most similar variants of Y chromosomes to each other, as well as to the Y chromosome of Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich. Genome-wide data of the medieval and modern Rurikids unequivocally indicates that they belong to the N1a haplogroup of the Y chromosome, starting at least from the XI century (since the time of Prince Yaroslav the Wise). All the other alleged Rurikids, both ancient and modern, being carriers of other haplogroups (R1a, I2a), possess high heterogeneity of the sequence of Y chromosomes, meaning that we cannot confirm their common ancestry. The most probable ancestors of Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich in the male line were the men who left the burial ground Bolshoy Oleny Island on the coast of the Kola Peninsula about 3,600 years ago. The reconstruction of the genome of Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich indicates the contribution of three ancestral components to his origin: (1) the early medieval population of the east of Scandinavia from the island of Oland, (2) representatives of the steppe nomadic peoples of the Eurasian steppes of the Iron Age or the early medieval population of central Europe (steppe nomads from the territory of Hungary), and (3) the ancient East-Eurasian component. Reliable statistics were also obtained when the Scandinavians were replaced with the Medieval Russian Slavic populations of the XI century. Thus, for the first time, we have shown the complex nature of interethnic interactions in the formation of the nobility of medieval Rus' on the example of the ancient Rurikid.

Implant survival in 1- versus 2-implant mandibular overdentures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review was performed to compare the survival of 1- vs. 2-implant overdentures (IODs) in the edentulous mandible.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Manual and electronic database (PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL) searches were performed to identify scientific articles, published in English, reporting on mandibular IODs utilizing unsplinted attachments. Studies were included if they were prospective human studies reporting on two-piece microrough surface implants with a diameter ≥3 mm. Data were extracted by two independent investigators, and an overall inter-investigator kappa score was calculated. A meta-analysis was performed on the included comparative studies.

RESULTS

The search shortlisted 30 prospective studies for data extraction and statistical analysis. The included studies comprised of only two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing 1- vs. 2-IODs, and a further 28 prospective studies. The kappa score calculated was between 0.86 and 1 for the various parameters. One RCT favored 1-IODs (RD: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.14) while the other favored 2-IODs (RD:-0.04, 95% CI: -0.27, 0.19). However, the overall random effects model did not reveal a significant risk difference (RD) for implant failure between the two interventions (I(2) = 36.6%, P = 0.209; RD: 0.05, 95% CI: -0.07, 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this meta-analysis conclude that the postloading implant survival of 1-IODs is not significantly different from 2-IODs. However, the existing scientific evidence in the literature in terms of prospective comparative studies is scarce. Hence, before recommending the 1-IOD as a treatment modality, long-term observations are needed and a larger range of functional, prosthodontic, and patient-centered outcome measures should be considered.

[Malignant histocytosis]

A case of malignant histiocytosis, a rare disease belonging to the group ofmacrophageal leucoses, was analyzed. Specific clinical symptoms including fever, hepatosplenomegalia, and hematological changes, were noted. The authors adduce the stages of diagnostic search from the onset of the disease to the moment the diagnosis was made, and outline the scope of disease included into differential diagnostics. The errors that led to inappropriate therapeutic tactics and the patient's death are analyzed in the article.

Molecular genetic sex determination of Medieval human remains from north Russia: comparison with archaeological and anthropological criteria

Sex determination presents a difficult problem in archaeology and anthropology in cases of fragmentary or juvenile remains, and where grave goods are absent. Here, a molecular genetic analysis of the sex of human remain from the Early Medieval cemetery at Nefedievo, North Russia, was carried out and the results were compared with archaeological and anthropological data. Teeth without cavities (15 samples) and bones (9 samples) were used as the ancient DNA source. The repetitive sequences in DYZ1, DYZ3, DXZ3 loci, and a unique sequence in the first intron of the X-Y homologous gene amelogenin, were amplified. Sex was determined in 87.5% of the samples by archaeological criteria, in 95.8% of the samples by anthropological methods, and in 79.2% of the samples by DNA analysis. PCR allowed the sex of infant's remains to be identified in individual where the sex could not be determined by anthropological methods and in three remains where sex could not be inferred from archaeological data. Uneven preservation of nuclear DNA loci was evident.

[The biomechanical diagnosis of the venous hemodynamics of the lower extremities]

Based on examinations of 147 patients the authors consider that tonometry, myography, radiothermometry and rheography of lower extremities allow diagnosing venous insufficiency at the prehospital stage. The method of mathematical analysis of the dependence of biomechanical parameters of lower extremities on the degree of venous insufficiency is proposed.

[Suppurative-septic complications after surgical treatment of destructive pancreatitis]

Complex prophylactics of pyo-septic complications was used in 46 patients with acute destructive pancreatitis. It resulted in 11% less frequency of the complications, postoperative lethality became 28% lower. In 35 patients with the preserved spleen resection of the pancreas was followed by less lethality as compared with similar operations including splenectomy. The immune stimulating therapy in combination with antibiotics ++ is most effective after radical operations on the pancreas.

[Subfascial ligation of the communicating crural veins in the comprehensive surgical treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities in light of the late results]

The authors show that subfascial ligation of the communicating veins in the operation of choice in complex surgery of the varicose disease of the veins in decompensated stages. It is supported by absence of relapses in the near and late results of 300 cases.

[Splenectomy in some diseases of the organs of the blood system in children]

Fifty eight small and elder children were operated upon for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (39), hemolytic affections (17), and hemopoietic hypoplasia (2). At the height of a hemorrhagic crisis surgery was performed in 13 patients. Among 17 children with hematolytic processes in 2 cases autoimmune Fischer-Evans syndrome was observed. An intensive transfusion therapy and aministration of corticosteroids contributed to diminishing of the operative risk. No lethal issues were noted. Late results of splenectomies are described.