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Habár az antropológia és a régészet is sokszor külön utakon járt, az elmúlt évek publikációi bizonyítják, mennyire fontos e két terület együttműködése a megfelelő következtetések levonása érdekében. Ugyanakkor az ilyen projektekben nem csak archaeozoológusok, fizikusok, vagy genetikusok, de radiológusok is részt vesznek. A képalkotó módszerek már a 19. század óta kiveszik részüket a múlt vizsgálatában. Nem csupán emberi vagy állati maradványokat, de régészeti emlékeket is vizsgálhatunk velük. Munkánk során dolgoztunk már kerámiaedényekkel, fémtárgyakkal, mumifikálódott emberi maradványokkal, ember- és állatcsontokkal. A radiológiai módszerekkel többletinformációt szerezhetünk a csontok belső szerkezetét illetően, vagy eddig nem látható hibák tárulnak szemünk elé egy kard esetében, illetve in situ vizsgálhatunk egy földlabdában fekvő, törékeny mellékletet. Jelen írásunkban a szakirodalomból és saját kutatási tapasztalatainkból merítve mutatjuk be a radiológiai módszerek elméleti hátterét, alkalmazhatóságukat az antropológia és a régészet területén, hangsúlyozva előnyeiket és korlátaikat is azzal a céllal, hogy a hazai szakmai közösség minél több tagját ösztönözhessük az ilyen jellegű módszerek alkalmazására.

Although anthropology and archaeology have often taken separate paths, publications in recent years have demonstrated the importance of working together in these two areas to draw the right conclusions. At the same time, such projects also involve archaeozoologists, physicists, geneticists, and even radiologists. Imaging methods have been used in the study of the past since the nineteenth century. With them, we can examine not only human or animal remains but also archaeological finds. During our work, we have already studied ceramic vessels, metal objects, mummified human remains, human and animal bones. Radiological methods can be used to obtain additional information about the internal structure of bones, to reveal hitherto unseen defects in the case of a sword, or to examine in situ fragile grave goods lying in the middle of a lump of soil. In this paper, we present the theoretical background of radiological methods and their applicability in the fields of anthropology and archaeology, highlighting their advantages and limitations, to encourage as many members of the Hungarian professional community as possible to employ such methods.

Munkánk során Jászberény Szent Pál-halom 239 egyénének maradványait vizsgáltuk klasszikus embertani és paleopatológiai szempontból. A temető leletanyagából 88 férfit, 71 nőt és 80 ismeretlen nemű (köztük 48 gyermek) egyént különítettünk el. A demográfiai elemzések szerint a közösség tagjainak 22,5%-a vesztette életét a felnőtt korba való lépés előtt. Nők esetén a mortalitási görbe kb. 30 éves korban, míg férfiak esetén kb. 40 éves korban csúcsosodik ki. A combcsont alapján történő testmagasság becslés a férfiak átlagos magassága 167,11 cm, míg a nőké 158,07 cm volt. A kraniometriai elemzések eredményei szerint a férfiak között egyenlő arányban találni igen hosszú (hyperdolichokran), hosszú (dolichokran), közepesen hosszú (mesokran), és rövidfejű (brachykran) egyéneket. A nők csaknem fele mesokran koponyával rendelkezett. Poroticus hyperostosis nyomai néhány kivételt leszámítva csak a szemüregben voltak megfigyelhetők, és legnagyobb arányban a gyermekek körében jelentkeztek. A trauma analízis során interperszonális erőszakra is utaló premortem sérüléseket (többek között bordatörést, singcsonttörést, tompa trauma nyomait a koponyán és egy metacarpus törését) azonosítottunk. Emellett perimortem vágásnyomokat is megfigyeltünk. Egy felnőtt férfi koponyáján látható trauma trepanációra emlékeztető morfológiája egy érdekes új paleopatológiai esetet jelent. Lineáris fogzománc hypoplasia leggyakrabban a frontfogakon (főleg a szemfogakon) volt látható, és felnőttek körében gyakoribb volt előfordulása a férfiak esetében. A kutatást az Árpád-ház Program V.1. részprojektje (Árpád-kori magyarság embertani-genetikai képe, projekt azonosító: 39509/2018/KFSZ) támogatta.

The control of Mycoplasma hyorhinis infection relies mainly on antimicrobial therapy. However, the antibiotic susceptibility testing of the bacteria is usually not performed before applying the treatment, and thus therapeutic failures are not uncommon. In the case of M. hyorhinis, several antibiotic-resistance-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are known but assays for their detection have not been described yet. The aims of the present study were to investigate macrolide- and lincomycin-resistance-related SNPs in Hungarian M. hyorhinis isolates and to develop mismatch amplification mutation assays (MAMA) to detect the identified resistance markers. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of different drugs and whole genome sequences of 37 M. hyorhinis isolates were used to find the resistance-related mutations. One MAMA assay was designed to detect the mutation of the 23S rRNA gene at nucleotide position 2058 (Escherichia coli numbering). For further evaluation, the assay was challenged with 17 additional isolates with available MIC data and 15 DNA samples from clinical specimens. The genotypes of the samples were in line with the MIC test results. The developed assay supports the practice of targeted antibiotic usage; hence it may indirectly reduce some bacterial resistance-related public health concerns.

The Great Hungarian Plain (GHP) served as a geographic funnel for population mobility throughout prehistory. Genomic and isotopic research demonstrates non-linear genetic turnover and technological shifts between the Copper and Iron Ages of the GHP, which influenced the dietary strategies of numerous cultures that intermixed and overlapped through time. Given the complexities of these prehistoric cultural and demographic processes, this study aims to improve our understanding of diachronic and culture-specific dietary signatures. Here we report on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values from 75 individuals from twenty sites in the GHP dating to a ~ 3000-year time span between the Early Bronze and Early Iron Ages. The samples broadly indicate a terrestrial C3 diet with nuanced differences amongst cultures, suggesting exogenous influences that manifested in subsistence strategies. Compared to the Iron Age, the Bronze Age samples have slightly elevated δ15N values implying higher reliance on protein. Interestingly, carbon values typical of C4 vegetation indicate the consumption of millet, or a grain with comparable δ13C values during the Middle Bronze Age. Overall, our results suggest a gradual transition in dietary patterns from the Early Bronze to Early Iron Age, demonstrating a relationship between subsistence and time periods, congruent with the archaeological record.

We present the first ancient DNA data from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic of Mesopotamia (Southeastern Turkey and Northern Iraq), Cyprus, and the Northwestern Zagros, along with the first data from Neolithic Armenia. We show that these and neighboring populations were formed through admixture of pre-Neolithic sources related to Anatolian, Caucasus, and Levantine hunter-gatherers, forming a Neolithic continuum of ancestry mirroring the geography of West Asia. By analyzing Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic populations of Anatolia, we show that the former were derived from admixture between Mesopotamian-related and local Epipaleolithic-related sources, but the latter experienced additional Levantine-related gene flow, thus documenting at least two pulses of migration from the Fertile Crescent heartland to the early farmers of Anatolia., National Institutes of Health [GM100233, HG012287]; John Templeton Foundation [61220]; Allen Discovery Center program; Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The newly reported dataset is described in detail in an accompanying Research Article, where we also acknowledge the funders who supported dataset generation (12). Analysis of data was supported by the National Institutes of Health (GM100233 and HG012287), the John Templeton Foundation (grant 61220), a private gift from Jean-Francois Clin, the Allen Discovery Center program, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (D.R.).

Human culture, biology, and health were shaped dramatically by the onset of agriculture ∼12,000 y B.P. This shift is hypothesized to have resulted in increased individual fitness and population growth as evidenced by archaeological and population genomic data alongside a decline in physiological health as inferred from skeletal remains. Here, we consider osteological and ancient DNA data from the same prehistoric individuals to study human stature variation as a proxy for health across a transition to agriculture. Specifically, we compared “predicted” genetic contributions to height from paleogenomic data and “achieved” adult osteological height estimated from long bone measurements for 167 individuals across Europe spanning the Upper Paleolithic to Iron Age (∼38,000 to 2,400 B.P.). We found that individuals from the Neolithic were shorter than expected (given their individual polygenic height scores) by an average of −3.82 cm relative to individuals from the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic (P = 0.040) and −2.21 cm shorter relative to post-Neolithic individuals (P = 0.068), with osteological vs. expected stature steadily increasing across the Copper (+1.95 cm relative to the Neolithic), Bronze (+2.70 cm), and Iron (+3.27 cm) Ages. These results were attenuated when we additionally accounted for genome-wide genetic ancestry variation: for example, with Neolithic individuals −2.82 cm shorter than expected on average relative to pre-Neolithic individuals (P = 0.120). We also incorporated observations of paleopathological indicators of nonspecific stress that can persist from childhood to adulthood in skeletal remains into our model. Overall, our work highlights the potential of integrating disparate datasets to explore proxies of health in prehistory.

Literary and archaeological sources have preserved a rich history of Southern Europe and West Asia since the Bronze Age that can be complemented by genetics. Mycenaean period elites in Greece did not differ from the general population and included both people with some steppe ancestry and others, like the Griffin Warrior, without it. Similarly, people in the central area of the Urartian Kingdom around Lake Van lacked the steppe ancestry characteristic of the kingdom's northern provinces. Anatolia exhibited extraordinary continuity down to the Roman and Byzantine periods, with its people serving as the demographic core of much of the Roman Empire, including the city of Rome itself. During medieval times, migrations associated with Slavic and Turkic speakers profoundly affected the region., National Institutes of Health [GM100233, HG012287]; John Templeton Foundation [61220]; Allen Discovery Center program; Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The newly reported dataset is described in detail in an accompanying manuscript, where we also acknowledge the funders who supported dataset generation (1). Analysis of data was supported by the National Institutes of Health (GM100233 and HG012287), the John Templeton Foundation (grant 61220), a private gift from Jean-Francois Clin, the Allen Discovery Center program, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (to D.R.).

In our work, 167 individuals from the Late Avar Period cemetery of Kehida-Fövenyes (8–9th century) were analysed. Altogether 65 children, 36 males and 50 females were examined, however in the case of 16 adults the sex determination was not possible. The newborn age group (0–1 year) is underrepresented in the cemetery. A biological imbalance can be observed between the ratio of males and females. According to the demographic data and pathological changes related to lifestyle and haematological aetiology, sex difference can be seen in the case of adult individuals. Females possessed a higher value of probability of death in almost every age group, and they also were more often affected by haematological disorders than males. The aforementioned phenomena can be related to the fact that women had to deal with physiological and pathophysiological stress originated from pregnancy and menstruation. During the taxonomical analysis, no individuals with clear Mongolid ancestry were identified. However, many skulls determined as Europid ancestry possesses Mongolid traits. The population is mostly characterized by dolichokran skull as Cromagnoid-A and Mediterranean were the most common types. Based on craniometric measurements it was possible to compare the population of Kehida-Fövenyes to other communities from this region what can shed a light of their biological relations. According to the biodistance calculations, males and females might share a different origin, since females showed a closer relation to the Early Avar Period population of the region. While males were rather connected to the Late Avar Period population of present-day Somogy county. During paleopathological investigations, a possible case of leprosy was identified based on the morphological alterations. In more cases paleoradiological investigations were also performed to provide a more reliable diagnosis.

Human culture, biology, and health were shaped dramatically by the onset of agriculture ~12,000 years before present (BP). Subsistence shifts from hunting and gathering to agriculture are hypothesized to have resulted in increased individual fitness and population growth as evidenced by archaeological and population genomic data alongside a simultaneous decline in physiological health as inferred from paleopathological analyses and stature reconstructions of skeletal remains. A key component of the health decline inference is that relatively shorter statures observed for early farmers may (at least partly) reflect higher childhood disease burdens and poorer nutrition. However, while such stresses can indeed result in growth stunting, height is also highly heritable, and substantial inter-individual variation in the height genetic component within a population is typical. Moreover, extensive migration and gene flow were characteristics of multiple agricultural transitions worldwide. Here, we consider both osteological and ancient DNA data from the same prehistoric individuals to comprehensively study the trajectory of human stature variation as a proxy for health across a transition to agriculture. Specifically, we compared ‘predicted’ genetic contributions to height from paleogenomic data and ‘achieved’ adult osteological height estimated from long bone measurements on a per-individual basis for n=160 ancient Europeans from sites spanning the Upper Paleolithic to the Iron Age (~38,000-2,400 BP). We found that individuals from the Neolithic were shorter than expected (given their individual polygenic height scores) by an average of −4.47 cm relative to individuals from the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic (P=0.016). The average osteological vs. expected stature then increased relative to the Neolithic over the Copper (+2.67 cm, P=0.052), Bronze (+3.33 cm, P=0.032), and Iron Ages (+3.95 cm, P=0.094). These results were partly attenuated when we accounted for genome-wide genetic ancestry variation in our sample (which we note is partly duplicative with the individual polygenic score information). For example, in this secondary analysis Neolithic individuals were −3.48 cm shorter than expected on average relative to individuals from the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic (P=0.056). We also incorporated observations of paleopathological indicators of non-specific stress that can persist from childhood to adulthood in skeletal remains (linear enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, and porotic hyperostosis) into our model. Overall, our work highlights the potential of integrating disparate datasets to explore proxies of health in prehistory.

Ancient DNA sampling methods—although optimized for efficient DNA extraction—are destructive, relying on drilling or cutting and powdering (parts of) bones and teeth. As the field of ancient DNA has grown, so have concerns about the impact of destructive sampling of the skeletal remains from which ancient DNA is obtained. Due to a particularly high concentration of endogenous DNA, the cementum of tooth roots is often targeted for ancient DNA sampling, but standard destructive sampling methods often result in the loss of at least one entire root. Here, we present a minimally destructive method for extracting ancient DNA from dental cementum present on the surface of tooth roots. This method does not require destructive drilling or grinding, and, following extraction, the tooth remains safe to handle and suitable for most morphological studies, as well as other biochemical studies, such as radiocarbon dating. We extracted and sequenced ancient DNA from 30 teeth (and 9 corresponding petrous bones) using this minimally destructive extraction method in addition to a typical tooth sampling method. We find that the minimally destructive method can provide ancient DNA that is of comparable quality to extracts produced from teeth that have undergone destructive sampling processes. Further, we find that a rigorous cleaning of the tooth surface combining diluted bleach and UV light irradiation seems sufficient to minimize external contaminants usually removed through the physical removal of a superficial layer when sampling through regular powdering methods.

Mycoplasma hyorhinis is a common pathogen of swine causing mainly polyserositis and arthritis, but it has also been implicated as a cause of pneumonia. The economic losses due to M. hyorhinis infection could be reduced by antibiotic treatment. The aim of this study was to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of antibiotics potentially used to combat M. hyorhinis in swine production. Thirty-eight Hungarian M. hyorhinis strains isolated between 2014 and 2017 were examined by microbroth dilution tests for fifteen antimicrobial agents. Low MIC values of tetracyclines (MIC50 0.078 μg/ml for doxycycline, ≤0.25 μg/ml for oxytetracycline) and pleuromutilins (MIC50 0.156 μg/ml for tiamulin, ≤0.039 μg/ml for valnemulin) were detected against all strains. Fluoroquinolones (MIC50 0.625 μg/ml), gentamicin (MIC50 1 μg/ml) and florfenicol (MIC50 2 μg/ml) inhibited the growth of Hungarian isolates at moderate MIC values. Most of the strains were inhibited by spectinomycin with low or moderate MIC values (MIC50 4 μg/ml) except one strain (>64 μg/ml). Numerous isolates showed decreased susceptibility to macrolides and lincomycin (MIC90 >64 for tylosin, tilmicosin, tulathromycin, gamithromycin, lincomycin, 8 μg/ml for tylvalosin). This study serves as evidence for the increasing resistance to macrolides and lincomycin in mycoplasmas, and also reports the occurrence of strains with extremely high MIC values to spectinomycin thus emphasizes the importance of the prudent use of antibiotics. Based on our results, tetracyclines and pleuromutilins are the most active compounds in vitro against the Hungarian M. hyorhinis strains.

Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) is an emerging enteropathogen, causing great economic losses in the pig industry. After many years of quiescence, PEDV was detected in Hungary in 2016 with a recombination in its S gene. In order to determine the extent of this change, an attempt was made to isolate the recombinant PEDV. This study was extended with a variety of samples collected from three separate farms with newly identified PEDV in 2018. The recombinant PEDV from 2016 was isolated successfully along with three viruses from 2018, and one isolate from the new cases was used for whole genome determination. Whole genome sequence alignment revealed the highest identity with recombinant Hungarian and Slovenian PEDV within the low-pathogenic European viruses. This suggests that these recombinant PEDV are circulating in this area and may spread to other parts of the continent.

Index of refraction and absorption coefficient spectra of pure paratellurite (α-TeO2) crystal as a potential material for terahertz (THz) applications were determined in the 0.25–2 THz frequency range at room temperature by THz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The investigation was performed with beam polarization both parallel (extraordinary polarization) and perpendicular (ordinary polarization) to the optical axis [001] of the crystal. Similarly to the visible spectral range, positive birefringence was observed in the THz range as well. It was shown that the values of the refractive index for extraordinary polarization are higher and show significantly larger dispersion than for the ordinary one. The absorption coefficient values are also larger for extraordinary polarization. The measured values were fitted by theoretical curves derived from the complex dielectric function containing independent terms of Lorentz oscillators due to phonon-polariton resonances. The results are compared with earlier publications, and the observed significant discrepancies are discussed.

Objective The prevalence of hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) was examined in different periods of the Carpathian Basin from 4900 BCE to 17th century AD. The study seeks to evaluate temporal changes in HFI and the possible impact of lifestyle on it. Materials The studied material consisted of 4668 crania from Hungary and Serbia. Methods The crania were analyzed employing macroscopic and endoscopic examination. Results In historic periods, sex and age played a pivotal role in HFI development. Among predominantly pastoralist populations of the 5th–8th and 10th centuries, prevalence of HFI was considerably higher than in the medieval populations of the 9th–17th centuries. Conclusions In addition to age and sex, other factors could be implicated in HFI development. The physiological effects of the pastoralist lifestyle and diet on insulin regulation could explain the increased risk of developing HFI in the 5th–8th and 10th-century populations. Significance The study provides the first comprehensive dataset of HFI from different archaeological periods from the Carpathian Basin. It has implications for lifestyle and risk of HFI development in past populations. Limitations The archaeological periods are not equally represented. Suggestions for further research In order to better understand the etiology of HFI, lifestyle factors can be used to elucidate the risk of developing HFI in ancient populations.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections are responsible for significant economic losses in the swine industry. Commercially available vaccines are not able to inhibit the colonisation of the respiratory tract by M. hyopneumoniae absolutely, therefore vaccination can be completed with antibiotic treatment to moderate clinical signs and improve performances of the animals. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of M. hyopneumoniae is time-consuming and complicated; therefore, it is not accomplished routinely. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility to 15 different antibiotics of M. hyopneumoniae isolates originating from Hungarian slaughterhouses and to examine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes affecting susceptibility to antimicrobials. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the examined antibiotics against 44 M. hyopneumoniae strains were determined by microbroth dilution method. While all of the tested antibiotics were effective against the majority of the studied strains, high MIC values of fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin 2.5 μg/ml; marbofloxacin 5 μg/ml) were observed against one strain (MycSu17) and extremely high MIC values of macrolides and lincomycin (tilmicosin, tulathromycin and lincomycin >64 μg/ml; gamithromycin 64 μg/ml; tylosin 32 μg/ml and tylvalosin 2 μg/ml) were determined against another, outlier strain (MycSu18). Amino acid changes in the genes gyrA (Gly81Ala; Ala83Val; Glu87Gly, according to Escherichia coli numbering) and parC (Ser80Phe/Tyr; Asp84Asn) correlated with decreased antibiotic susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and a SNP in the nucleotide sequence of the 23S rRNA (A2059G) was found to be associated with increased MIC values of macrolides. The correlation was more remarkable when final MIC values were evaluated. This study presented the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of M. hyopneumoniae strains circulating in the Central European region, demonstrating the high in vitro efficacy of the tested agents. The observed high MIC values correlated with the SNPs in the examined regions and support the relevance of susceptibility testing and directed antibiotic therapy.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a swine pathogen bacterium, causing significant economic losses worldwide. Epidemiological investigations based on molecular typing methods support the prevention and eradication strategies for the control of M. hyopneumoniae, through tracing the spreading of the pathogen. The present study describes the genotyping of 44 M. hyopneumoniae strains isolated from Hungarian, Czech and Slovakian porcine lung samples by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and analysing gene p146, and the evaluation of the used methods. The resolution of the three-gene ( adk , rpoB , tpiA ) and the seven-gene ( efp , metG , pgiB , recA , adk , rpoB , tpiA ) based MLST systems was identical with 27 sequence types. MLVA utilising loci P97-RR1 and Locus1 extended with the serine repeat numbers of gene p146 showed the highest resolution power among the studied methods differentiating 40 genotypes. The independent analysis of gene p146 revealed 31 different types among the isolates. High variability of M. hyopneumoniae strains was detected by the used typing methods. The results confirmed that utilization of the minimal MLST is suitable for phylogenetic analyses of M. hyopneumoniae strains. The MLVA method extended with the evaluation of serine repeat numbers of gene p146 is adequate for the resolution of genetic relationships within MLST groups. Examination of the p146 gene is suitable to complement both MLST and MLVA methods in order to refine closer genetic relationships.

Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) can cause a severe enteric disease affecting pigs of all ages. In January 2016, diarrhoea with occasional vomiting was observed in a small pig farm in Hungary. All animals became affected, while mortality (of up to 30%) was only seen in piglets. Samples from different age groups and the carcass of a piglet were examined by various methods including pathology, bacteriology and molecular biology. PEDV was confirmed by PCR and its whole genome sequence was determined. The sequence PEDV HUN/5031/2016 showed high identity with recently reported European viruses. Differences were found mostly in the S gene, where recombination was detected with a newly identified and already recombinant swine enteric coronavirus (Se-CoV) from Italy. The present report describes the first porcine epidemic diarrhoea outbreak in Hungary after many years and gives an insight into the genetics of the Hungarian PEDV.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease often have coronary heart disease, as well. However, their assessment with classical noninvasive cardiology methods is often non-diagnostic or limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and the risks of dobutamine stress cardiovascular MRI for cardiac evaluation of patients with peripheral arterial disease. 21 patients with peripheral artery disease (mean±SD age 64.3±7.7 years) were studied prospectively with dobutamine stress cardiovascular MRI. The protocol was completed by all of 21 patients. The target heart rate was attained in 95.2% of the studies. No serious adverse event occurred. The image quality scores (1-4) for all ventricular wall segments were high (median, interquartile range) (4 [4-4]). Five patients (23.8%) have inducible wall motion abnormality. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect for wall motion scores (κ = 0.87, p