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Soluble cancer-related protein biomarker levels may be increased in subjects without findings at large bowel endoscopy performed due to symptoms associated with colorectal cancer. The present study focused on a possible association between increased biomarker levels in such subjects and subsequent development of malignant diseases. In a major study of 4,990 subjects undergoing large bowel endoscopy, 691 were without pathology and comorbidity. Plasma levels of TIMP-1, CEA, CA19-9, and YKL-40 were determined in samples collected just before endoscopy and compared with subsequent development of a malignant disease within a period of 7-8 years. The upper 90% limits of the reference levels of every single protein were used to differentiate between normal and increased levels. The levels were separated into three groups: 0, none of the biomarkers increased; 1, one biomarker increased; 2, two or more biomarkers increased. A total of 43 subjects developed a primary malignant disease in the observation period. Univariatly, increase of all four biomarkers was significantly associated with subsequent development of a malignant disease. A multivariate analysis showed that increased biomarker levels were associated with subsequent development of a malignant disease ( P = 0.002). The cumulative risk of developing malignant disease within the first 5 years after endoscopy was group 0, 3.3%; group 1, 5.8%; group 2, 7.8%. It is concluded that increased levels of plasma TIMP-1, CEA, CA19-9, and serum YKL-40 at large bowel endoscopy without findings may be associated with an increased risk of developing a subsequent malignant disease.

For at omregne målte 14C-aldre til kalenderår er det nødvendigt at bruge kalibreringskurver. Derfor er det vigtigt atanvende så gode kalibreringskurver som muligt. Lanceringen af de nyeste kurver i august giver os anledning til atforklare kort om historikken bag kalibreringskurverne og præsentere de mest relevante kalibreringskurver for danskearkæologers vedkommende. Eksempler viser, hvor de nye kalibreringskurver kommer til at betyde mest. Med de nyekalibreringskurver har vi især fået en langt højere opløsning, men der er også perioder og særlige hændelser vi børvære ekstra opmærksomme på.

Tollund Man is one of the world’s most famous bog bodies due to his exceptionally well-preserved head. He was found in 1950 by peat cutters in a bog near Bjældskovdal, c. 10 km west of Silkeborg. During the years, several analyses have been performed on the body to shed light on the life and death of Tollund Man. The investigations have primarily included forensic and medical examinations, X-rays, CT-scans and microscopical analyses of e.g. the stomach content, while chemical and isotope analyses have not been conducted. In 2016, an extraordinary grant from the municipality of Silkeborg enabled Museum Silkeborg to initiate a range of new scientific investigations of Tollund Man and the associated finds. These include protein analysis, multi-element analysis, Sr isotope analysis and analysis of the stable isotopes of N, C and S. This presentation focuses on measurements of the stable isotopes in bone and hair of Tollund Man. The analysis of the isotopes of C, N and S reveals the diet on long and short time scales: The isotope signature in the bone sample reflects the average diet in the years prior to death; the isotope signature in the hair reflects the diet in the last months of his life. Any difference between the results of the two analyses may indicate a change in the diet in the months before death and could potentially shed light on the circumstances leading to the human sacrifice of Tollund Man.After excavation, the femur bone (and the main part of the body) of Tollund Man was merely left to dry out, and the bone sample could therefore be analysed without special pretreatment. The hair, on the other hand, had been treated with wax, which needed to be removed prior to analysis. The successful method of pre-treatment will be presented.

The period from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age was a time of considerable socio-cultural and economic change, which affected human diets. To improve our understanding of dietary change in communities living in the south of Italy during this period, we have undertaken stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses on human bone collagen and AMS radiocarbon dating of individuals whose chronology needed to be verified. The skeletal remains investigated are from the regions of Calabria (Grotta della Monaca, Grotta di Donna Marsilia, Grotta dell’Antenato, Grotta di Sant’Angelo, Grotta du’ Scuru), Basilicata (Murgia Timone, Grotta Funeraria and Toppo d’Aguzzo) and Apulia (Ipogeo dei Bronzi). Carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses inform us mainly on the intake of dietary protein, although, in diets characterized by limited meat consumption, they also provide us with information on plant consumption. In particular, this method of palaeodietary reconstruction allows us to establish the ecosystem of origin of foods (terrestrial, freshwater and/or marine) and the type of diet (vegetarian, omnivorous or carnivorous). Our analyses on 33 human and 12 faunal bone collagen extracts attest that the diets of prehistoric southern Italians were mixed and based on the consumption of terrestrial resources, including generally moderate proportions of animal protein (e.g. meat and dairy products) and isotopically-detectable proportions of C3 plants (e.g. cereals and legumes). Slight differences in the proportion of meat consumed may have been present, depending on regional environments, with individuals from Basilicata relying more on animal protein than those from Calabria and Apulia. Contrary to what has been shown for northern Italy, our data suggest that C4 plants (e.g. millet) were probably not consumed by Bronze Age people in the south of the Italian peninsula. By combining stable isotope analyses and bioarchaeological investigations of diet-related dental patterns (wear, microwear, caries, calculus, chipping and hypoplasia of tooth enamel), we have gained insights into the dietary habits of southern Italian populations during the prehistoric period that saw an increase both in agriculture and pastoralism.

The inhibitory effect of intravenous infusion of secretin (0.05 CU kg-1h-1) and somatostatin (60 pmol kg-1h-1), given alone or in combination, on pentagastrin-stimulated (100 ng kg-1 h-1) acid secretion was studied in 10 healthy subjects. Secretin inhibited acid secretion by 54% (p less than 0.05), and somatostatin inhibited by 70% (p less than 0.05). The combined infusion of secretin and somatostatin decreased acid output by 64% (p less than 0.05). The differences between the three groups were not significant (p greater than 0.05). Median plasma concentrations of secretin and somatostatin were of the same magnitude as seen after duodenal acidification. The present study did not demonstrate any interaction between secretin and somatostatin in the inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

This work focusses on the application of high throughput workflows for proteome and phosphoproteome profiling followed by fast gradient liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry analysis. Automation of sample preparation increased throughput and reproducibility covering all steps from protein extract to mass spectrometry analysis allowing for parallel processing of up-to 96 samples in less than 6 hours (excluding digest time). We show the adaptation of the sample preparation methods including protein capture, clean-up, and on-bead digestion as well as phosphopeptide enrichment for use in a magnetic handling stations (Thermo Scientific King Fisher Flex) allowing for semi-automated sample processing. The methods are readily transferable to a range of liquid handling robots with magnetic handling stations (capabilities). Efficient protein isolation from wide range of tissues was achieved using 5% SDS followed by aggregation-based protein capture method (PAC) on MagReSyn® Amine magnetic microparticles allowing for efficient contaminant removal and on-bead digestion. For phosphoproteome profiling the PAC-generated peptides were further processed using MagReSyn® Ti-IMAC HP magnetic microparticles. All steps except for plate aliquoting and desalting were performed using a magnetic handling station that allowed for automated processing of up-to 96 samples in parallel. 500 ng peptides or enriched phosphopeptides were loaded directly on Evotips and further analysed using 21-minute gradients on Evosep LC coupled to Orbitrap Exploris equipped with FAIMS source allowing for up-to 60 samples per day to be analysed. Over 8,000 proteins and 22,000 unique phospho-peptides were quantified across the 12 tissues in a total mass spectrometry time of 28 hours.

ABA (acid-base-acid) sample pretreatment is among the most frequent used preparation methods for radiocarbon samples of plant, wood and charcoal. Though simple, the method is labor intensive and requires constant attention by a laboratory technician. Here we present a fully automated ABA preparation system capable of running 3x 10 samples per day.Samples are loaded into glass tubes sealed by a filter disk in either end. Sample tubes can be loaded before hand and are fitted to the system using Luer Lock fittings. Five different solvents can be connected to the automated system, which is chemically resistant to the most common chemicals (HCl and NaOH). Further, the temperature of each sample holder can be adjusted between room temperature and 80oC. The sequence for loading chemicals, duration, rinsing and temperature can be fully controlled in the software.The samples’ chemical purity and degree of purification are evaluated by comparing FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) before and after the ABA pretreatment and for samples pretreated manually and by the automated system.Using the software we have optimized the efficiency and duration of the pretreatment sequence by testing known-age samples and backgrounds. Finally, using known-age samples and backgrounds, we have tested the automated ABA preparation system for memory effects.

Within a project on Stone Age sites of northeastern Germany 26 burials from the Ostorf cemetery and some further Neolithic sites have been analysed by more than 40 AMS-dates. 18 individuals have also been studied on stable isotopes and will be discussed in this presentation. We here present the results of stable isotope and radiocarbon measurements together with control radiocarbon dates on grave goods from terrestrial animals such as tooth pendants found in eleven of the graves. Age differences between human individuals and their associated pendants are used to calculate 14C reservoir effects. The resulting substantial reservoir effects have lead to misleadingly high radiocarbon ages of their remains which originally indicated a surprisingly early occurrence of graves and long term use of this Neolithic burial site. We demonstrate that in order to radiocarbon date the human bones from Ostorf cemetery it is of utmost importance to distinguish between a terrestrial versus freshwater influenced diet. The latter resulted in significant reservoir ages with apparent radiocarbon ages up to 800 years too old. The carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition may provide a basis for, or an indicator of necessary corrections of dates on humans where no datable grave goods of terrestrial origin such as tooth pendants or tusks are available. Based on the associated control animals, there is no evidence that the dated earliest burials occurred earlier than 3300 BC, in contrast to the original first impression of the grave site.