Health Study links synaesthesia to autism · glymphatic system became 10-times more active when the mice were asleep. Cells in the brain, probably the glial cells which keep nerve

Institute of Anatomical Sciences Magazine No. 145

Please visit the IAS website: http://www.anatomical-sciences.org.uk/

25 Editor: John Ben, 7(b) Merton Court, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 8LF, U.K. Email [email protected]

near-death experiences, including a sensation of leaving the body, and deep memories flickering in dream-like

fashion. The most famous example of the phenomena turned into a best-selling book, “Proof of Heaven,” in which a

physician recounted the vivid imagery he experienced during a coma. Neurologists question whether the cortex was

fully shut down and suggest these memory functions reflected activity in the brain, not a supernatural phenomenon.

Anecdotes of near-death imagery have varied by culture and changed significantly over time and correlate with the

teller's religious iconography, skeptics note. Heavenly experiences, they suggest, are in the mind of the beholder.

A recent study using mice showed that brain activity after complete cardiac arrest does not gradually wane to zero but

is distinguished by phases that include a burst of activity -- a phenomenon noted also by the Montreal team. The

Montreal team, however, suggests there is a state beyond the end of cortical activity and that an area of the brain

closely associated with memory may be sending signals to its master, the cortex, where higher functions,

consciousness among them, are generated.

Health

Study links synaesthesia to autism By Helen Briggs BBC News 20

th November 2013

In synaesthesia, people's senses are jumbled up

colours when they hear music. People with synaesthesia might say: "The letter q is dark brown," or: "The word 'hello'

tastes like coffee," for example.

Following anecdotal evidence of links between synaesthesia and Asperger's syndrome, researchers at the Autism

Research Centre at Cambridge University set out to test the idea. More than 200 study participants - 164 adults

diagnosed with high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome, and 97 adults without autism - were asked to fill in

questionnaires to measure synaesthesia and autism traits. The study found one in five adults with autism spectrum

conditions - a range of related developmental disorders, including autism and Asperger's syndrome - had synaesthesia

compared with about 7% of people with no signs of the disorders.

Prof Simon Baron-Cohen, who led the research, told BBC News: "Synaesthesia involves a mixing of the senses and

it's a very subjective private experience, so the only way we know it's happening is if you ask people to report on their

experiences. And what this new study has done is ask people whether they experience synaesthesia, for example

where a sound triggers the experience of colour or a taste triggers the experience of colour, and finding that these

unusual experiences are actually much more common in autism than we previously knew." The research, to be

published in the journal Molecular Autism, suggests that while the two conditions might appear distinct, there could

actually be some underlying similarities in brain connectivity.

Hyper-connectivity

Synaesthesia seems to involve unusual connections between brain areas not usually wired together, accounting for the

jumbling up of the senses. One theory about autism is that it involves over-connectivity of neurons, so that a person

focuses on small details but finds it difficult to see the big picture. Future research is needed to explore biological

mechanisms behind both conditions, including carrying out detailed brain scans, says the Cambridge University team.

Carol Povey, director of the National Autistic Society's Centre for Autism, said the study could help improve our

understanding of autism. "People with the condition can find everyday life confusing or even frightening, so research

like this, which helps us to understand more about how they experience the world, is valuable," she said. "It can help

us to develop more appropriate support and to make adjustments according to their needs, which is vital if people with

autism are to reach their full potential. With the right support at the right time people with autism can live the life they

choose."

A condition where people experience a mixing of the senses,

such as tasting words, has been linked with autism. Research

suggests synaesthesia is nearly three times as common in adults

with autism spectrum disorder than in the general population.

The two conditions may share common features such as

unusual wiring of the brain, say UK scientists. The study helps

understanding of how people with autism experience life, says

the National Autistic Society.

Synaesthesia is a condition where one sense automatically

triggers another. Some people experience tastes when they read

or hear words, some perceive numbers as shapes, others see




Health 11th October 2013

Sleep 'cleans' the brain of toxins By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

It has been shown to have a big role in the fixing of memories in the brain and learning, but a team at the University

of Rochester Medical Centre believe that "housework" may be one of the primary reasons for sleep. "The brain only

has limited energy at its disposal and it appears that it must choose between two different functional states - awake

and aware or asleep and cleaning up," said researcher Dr Maiken Nedergaard. "You can think of it like having a house

party. You can either entertain the guests or clean up the house, but you can't really do both at the same time."

Plumbing Their findings build on last year's discovery of the brain's own network of plumbing pipes - known as the glymphatic

system - which carry waste material out of the brain. Scientists, who imaged the brains of mice, showed that the

glymphatic system became 10-times more active when the mice were asleep. Cells in the brain, probably the glial

cells which keep nerve cells alive, shrink during sleep. This increases the size of the interstitial space, the gaps

between brain tissue, allowing more fluid to be pumped in and wash the toxins away. Dr Nedergaard said this was a

"vital" function for staying alive, but did not appear to be possible while the mind was awake.

She told the BBC: "This is purely speculation, but it looks like the brain is losing a lot of energy when pumping water

across the brain and that is probably incompatible with processing information." She added that the true significance

of the findings would be known only after human studies, but doing similar experiments in an MRI machine would be

relatively easy.

mechanism. The significance is that, yet again, it shows sleep may contribute to the restoration of brain cell function

and may have protective effects."

Many conditions which lead to the loss of brain cells such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease are characterised by

the build-up of damaged proteins in the brain. The researchers suggest that problems with the brain's cleaning

mechanism may contribute to such diseases, but caution more research is needed.

The charity Alzheimer's Research UK said more research would be needed to see whether damage to the brain's waste

clearance system could lead to diseases like dementia, but the findings offered a "potential new avenue for

investigation".

The brain uses sleep to wash away the waste

toxins built up during a hard day's thinking,

researchers have shown. The US team

believe the "waste removal system" is one of

the fundamental reasons for sleep.

Their study, in the journal Science, showed

brain cells shrink during sleep to open up the

gaps between neurons and allow fluid to

wash the brain clean. They also suggest that

failing to clear away some toxic proteins

may play a role in brain disorders. One big

question for sleep researchers is why do

animals sleep at all when it leaves them

vulnerable to predators?

Commenting on the research Dr Neil Stanley, an

independent sleep expert, said: "This is a very

interesting study that shows sleep is essential

downtime to do some housekeeping to flush out

neurotoxins. There is good data on memory and

learning, the psychological reason for sleep. But

this is the actual physical and chemical reason for

sleep, something is happening which is important."

Dr Raphaelle Winsky-Sommerer, a lecturer in sleep

at Surrey University, said: "It's not surprising, our

whole physiology is changing during sleep. The

novelty is the role of the interstitial space, but I

think it's an added piece of the puzzle not the whole




HEALTH 15 October 2013

Estimate doubled for vCJD carriers in UK By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online

Early predictions of a vCJD epidemic didn't come to fruition. To date, here have been 177 UK deaths from vCJD.

Most of these occurred in the late 90s and early 2000s. There has been only one death in the last two years.

The rare, fatal disease progressively attacks the brain. But it appears that relatively few who catch the infectious agent

that causes the disease develop symptoms. People can be "silent" carriers for decades and not even know it. The BMJ

research identified 16 such carriers out of the thousands of appendix tissue samples studied. Experts say many vital

questions remain unanswered.

Since the link between vCJD and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as mad cow disease, was

discovered in 1996, there have been strict controls to prevent meat from infected cattle from entering the food chain.

However, the average time it takes for the symptoms of vCJD to occur after initial infection is still unclear.

Preventing spread

This means people exposed to infected meat before the food controls were introduced continue to develop variant

CJD, and may spread it to others.

Experience tells us that the disease could be transmitted from human to human via blood - in the UK, there have been

three reported cases of vCJD associated with a blood transfusion. Blood donor services take measures to ensure blood

is not infected but there is no test to screen for vCJD, although scientists are working on this. And there is currently

no cure for the disease.

Prof Sebastian Brandner of University College London, who led the BMJ research, said: "We do not know what will

happen. Will these people develop disease and can they transmit it? There are many questions we still do not know the

answers to."

Prof Richard Knight, director of the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh, said the answers

might not be known for decades. In the meantime, surveillance was key, he said. "You can see from the data available

that its likely that we will get a secondary or tertiary wave of disease but its likely that these further waves will be

small. Future clinical cases will be pretty small in number," he added.

Dr Graham Jackson, of the MRC Prion Unit at UCL Institute of Neurology, said: "Given the high levels of infection

indicated by this research, it is now crucial we establish how many people in the UK harbour that infection in their

bloodstream in order to adequately assess the risks of transmission through contaminated blood donations. Studies to

develop new blood tests for CJD must remain a priority to assist with screening and protecting the UK blood supply."

Twice as many Britons as previously thought

could be carrying the human form of "mad

cow" disease, variant CJD. Researchers

believe one in 2,000 people in the UK is a

carrier of the disease linked to eating

contaminated beef. Their estimate in the

BMJ comes from studying more than 32,000

samples of human tissue removed during

appendix operations carried out between

2000 and 2012 at 41 hospitals. It remains

unclear if any of these carriers will ever

develop symptoms.




Health

Alzheimer's insight from DNA study By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

The exact causes of Alzheimer's are unknown

A clearer picture of what causes Alzheimer's disease is emerging after the largest ever analysis of patients' DNA. A

massive international collaboration has now doubled the number of genes linked to the dementia to 21. The findings,

published in the journal Nature Genetics, indicate a strong role for the immune system. Alzheimer's Research UK said

the findings could "significantly enhance" understanding of the disease. The number of people developing

Alzheimer's is growing around the world as people live longer.

However, major questions around what causes the dementia, how brain cells die, how to treat it or even diagnose it

remain unanswered. "It is really difficult to treat a disease when you do not understand what causes it," one of the lead

researchers, Prof Julie Williams from Cardiff University, said.

Detective work

The genetic code, the instructions for building and running the body, was scoured for clues. A group - involving

nearly three quarters of the world's Alzheimer's geneticists from 145 academic institutions - looked at the DNA of

17,000 patients and 37,000 healthy people. They found versions of 21 genes, or sets of instructions, which made it

more likely that a person would develop Alzheimer's disease. They do not guarantee Alzheimer's will develop, but

they do make the disease more likely.

By looking at the genes' function in the body, it allows researchers to figure out the processes going wrong in

Alzheimer's disease. Prof Williams, the head of neurodegeneration at Cardiff University, told the BBC: "We've

doubled the number of genes discovered and a very strong pattern is emerging. There is something in the immune

response which is causing Alzheimer's disease and we need to look at that."

Alzheimer's leads to a massive loss of brain tissue

this devastating disease. "While this new discovery holds real potential, the true value will come from pinpointing the

exact genes involved, how they contribute to Alzheimer's, and how this could be translated into benefits for people

living with the disease."

Dr James Pickett, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "This exciting discovery of genes linked with

Alzheimer's disease opens up new avenues to explore in the search for treatments for the condition. "We now need

continued global investment into dementia research to understand exactly how these genes affect the disease process."

A clearer picture of what causes Alzheimer's disease is emerging after the

largest ever analysis of patients' DNA. A massive international

collaboration has now doubled the number of genes linked to the dementia

to 21.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Genetics, indicate a strong

role for the immune system. Alzheimer's Research UK said the findings

could "significantly enhance" understanding of the disease. The number of

people developing Alzheimer's is growing around the world as people live

longer. However, major questions around what causes the dementia, how

brain cells die, how to treat it or even diagnose it remain unanswered. "It is

really difficult to treat a disease when you do not understand what causes

it," one of the lead researchers, Prof Julie Williams from Cardiff

University, said.

A clearer picture of what causes Alzheimer's disease is emerging after the

largest ever analysis of patients' DNA. A

The way the body deals with cholesterol and the way cells in the

brain deal with big molecules in a process called endocytosis also

seem to be involved. It now needs other research groups to pick up

on the findings, work out exactly what is going wrong and develop

treatments. This could include drugs, genetic therapies or changes

to lifestyle.

Dr Eric Karran, the director of research at Alzheimer's Research

UK, said: "By mapping the genetics of the most common, late-

onset form of Alzheimer's, these findings highlight new biological

processes that could significantly advance our understanding of

this devastating disease.


Please visit the IAS website:

Editor: John Ben, 7(b) Merton

Rare Disease Sheds Light on Broader Brain Pathology

A mutant gene that causes the deadly Alexander disease creates an overgrowth of the protein GFAP in mouse brain cells called astrocytes (right) compared to normal brain cel(Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison)

begins, Alexander disease is always fatal. It typically results from mutations in a gene known as GFAP (glial fibrillary

acidic protein), leading to the formation of fibrous clumps of protein inside br

Classically, astrocytes and other glial cells were considered "helpers" that nourish and protect the neurons that do the

actual communication. But in recent years, it's become clear that glial

and may be active culprits in many neurological diseases.

at UW-Madison show that Alexander disease also affects neurons, and in a way that impacts s

learning and memory.

Mice were engineered to contain the same mutation in GFAP that is found in human patients. Their astrocytes

spontaneously increased production of GFAP, the same response found after many types of injury or disease in the

brain. In Alexander disease, the result is an increase in mutant GFAP that is "toxic to the cell, and unfortunately

astrocytes respond by making more GFAP," says first author Tracy Hagemann, an associate scientist with the

university's Waisman Center.

While GFAP is usually found in astrocytes, it also occurs in neural stem cells, a population of cells that persist in

some areas of the brain to continually spawn new neurons throughout adulthood. In the mouse versions of Alexander

disease, neural stem cells are present, but they fail to develop into neurons, Hagemann says. "Think of a garden where

your green beans never sprouted. Was it too cold

happening with these neural stem cells. They are present, but inert, and we're not sure why."

The shortage of new neurons could explain why the mice with excess GFAP failed a test that requ

remember the location of a submerged platform in a tub of water.

The report is "the first to suggest that the problems in Alexander disease extend beyond just the white matter and

astrocytes, and may provide a clue to the problems with learn

human disease," says lab leader Albee Messing, a professor of comparative biosciences in the UW School of

Veterinary Medicine.

One immediate question that the team will try to answer is whether the s

autopsy samples stored over many years to allow just this kind of investigation.

mutation affects the neural stem cells directly, or whether it acts through other astrocytes that

know that the astrocytes become activated with this GFAP mutation," Hagemann says. "That activation

inflammation — could be making the environment hostile to young neurons. Or the mutation could be changing the

neural stem cells themselves in some other way.

single mutation can work in different ways

symptoms of a disease. In this case it's like th

was it genetically doomed? Or were the reactive astrocytes in the neighborhood a toxic influence? Or both? This is an

important question for Alexander disease and other brain deteriorati

stem cells as a source for new neurons and therapy."

Already, the Waisman group is screening drugs that might slow GFAP production. Eventually, Hagemann says, the

work may illuminate the role of astrocyt

proteins, including ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease.



ton Court, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 8LF, U.K. Email john.emi

USA 21st November 2013


A mutant gene that causes the deadly Alexander disease creates an overgrowth of the protein GFAP in mouse brain cells called astrocytes (right) compared to normal brain cells (left).

Madison)


acidic protein), leading to the formation of fibrous clumps of protein inside brain cells called astrocytes.


actual communication. But in recent years, it's become clear that glial cells are much more than passive bystanders,

and may be active culprits in many neurological diseases. Now, in a report in the Journal of NeuroscienceMadison show that Alexander disease also affects neurons, and in a way that impacts s




ng more GFAP," says first author Tracy Hagemann, an associate scientist with the


continually spawn new neurons throughout adulthood. In the mouse versions of Alexander


your green beans never sprouted. Was it too cold for them to sprout, or were they bad seeds? Something similar is

happening with these neural stem cells. They are present, but inert, and we're not sure why."

The shortage of new neurons could explain why the mice with excess GFAP failed a test that requ

remember the location of a submerged platform in a tub of water.


astrocytes, and may provide a clue to the problems with learning and memory that are such prominent features in the


One immediate question that the team will try to answer is whether the same defect in stem cells can be found in

autopsy samples stored over many years to allow just this kind of investigation. Still to be clarified is whether the

mutation affects the neural stem cells directly, or whether it acts through other astrocytes that

know that the astrocytes become activated with this GFAP mutation," Hagemann says. "That activation

could be making the environment hostile to young neurons. Or the mutation could be changing the

ells themselves in some other way. Medicine advances by teasing things apart," says Hagemann. "A

single mutation can work in different ways — through different chains of cause and effect leading to different

symptoms of a disease. In this case it's like the old question of nature versus nurture. Was the stem cell born bad


important question for Alexander disease and other brain deteriorating disorders, especially with the current focus on

stem cells as a source for new neurons and therapy."


work may illuminate the role of astrocyte dysfunction in other neural diseases featuring aggregates of misformed

proteins, including ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Source: University of Wisconsin

Alexander disease is a

devastating brain disease that

almost nobody has heard of

— unless someone in the

family is afflicted wit

Alexander disease strikes

young or old, and in children

destroys white matter in the

front of the brain. Many

patients, especially those with

early onset, have significant

intellectual disabilities.

Regardless of the age when it

begins, Alexander


29 [email protected]

November 2013



ain cells called astrocytes.


cells are much more than passive bystanders,

Journal of Neuroscience, researchers

Madison show that Alexander disease also affects neurons, and in a way that impacts several measures of




ng more GFAP," says first author Tracy Hagemann, an associate scientist with the


continually spawn new neurons throughout adulthood. In the mouse versions of Alexander


for them to sprout, or were they bad seeds? Something similar is

The shortage of new neurons could explain why the mice with excess GFAP failed a test that required them to


ing and memory that are such prominent features in the


ame defect in stem cells can be found in

Still to be clarified is whether the

mutation affects the neural stem cells directly, or whether it acts through other astrocytes that are nearby. "We do

know that the astrocytes become activated with this GFAP mutation," Hagemann says. "That activation — a kind of

could be making the environment hostile to young neurons. Or the mutation could be changing the

Medicine advances by teasing things apart," says Hagemann. "A

through different chains of cause and effect leading to different

e old question of nature versus nurture. Was the stem cell born bad —


ng disorders, especially with the current focus on


e dysfunction in other neural diseases featuring aggregates of misformed

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Alexander disease is a

devastating brain disease that

almost nobody has heard of

unless someone in the

family is afflicted with it.

Alexander disease strikes

young or old, and in children

destroys white matter in the

front of the brain. Many

patients, especially those with

early onset, have significant

intellectual disabilities.

Regardless of the age when it

begins, Alexander disease is




News ‘ up

Pathology

CANADA

Coroners embrace new organ return policy

"The new policy says that any pathologist who thinks they might need to retain an organ must inform the family that the organ

going to be retained,” she said. “They must get written instructions from the family about what to do when testing is finished."

coroner's office in Thunder Bay has fielded inquiries from about six families with regard to returning organs to loved ones.




ws ‘ up-dates ’ from around the World

CANADA Sept 20 2013


.

"The new policy says that any pathologist who thinks they might need to retain an organ must inform the family that the organ

e retained,” she said. “They must get written instructions from the family about what to do when testing is finished."


The Ontario coroner's office is reaching

out to people whose loved ones

underwent autopsies and then had their

organs kept by the

pathologists sometimes need more time

after an autopsy to study organs more

closely. But before 2010, there was no

protocol for returning those organs to the

person's family.

Toby Rose, the province's deputy chief

forensic pathologist,

requires her office to notify families if

organs are retained, and get written

instructions on what to do with them

afterwards. (Ontario Forensic Pathology

Service)

The province's deputy chief forensic

pathologist said a new policy requir

her office to notify families if organs are

retained, and get written instructions on

what to do with them afterward.

"Many families feel it's important when

they bury a loved one that all of the

organs are present,” Toby Rose said.

“And we needed to ha

would ensure that."

has returned organs to about 30 families,

she added.



dates ’ from around the World


"The new policy says that any pathologist who thinks they might need to retain an organ must inform the family that the organ is

e retained,” she said. “They must get written instructions from the family about what to do when testing is finished." The


The Ontario coroner's office is reaching

out to people whose loved ones

underwent autopsies and then had their

organs kept by the province. Forensic

pathologists sometimes need more time

after an autopsy to study organs more

closely. But before 2010, there was no

protocol for returning those organs to the

person's family.

Toby Rose, the province's deputy chief

forensic pathologist, says a new policy

requires her office to notify families if

organs are retained, and get written

instructions on what to do with them

afterwards. (Ontario Forensic Pathology

The province's deputy chief forensic

pathologist said a new policy requires

her office to notify families if organs are

retained, and get written instructions on

what to do with them afterward.

"Many families feel it's important when

they bury a loved one that all of the

organs are present,” Toby Rose said.

“And we needed to have a policy that

would ensure that." So far the province

has returned organs to about 30 families,




Pakistan's Premier Financial Daily

'Unqualified pathologists playing with lives of patients' RECORDER REPORT November 19, 2013

Non-reliable pathology laboratories being run by unqualified pathologists are playing havoc with the lives of poor

patients in the country due to faulty medical reports, Dr Sajid Mushtaq, Consultant Pathologist, Shaukat Khanum

Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre said.

Talking to Business Recorder, Dr Sajid Mushtaq said, "In Pakistan, with few exceptions, reliable pathology lab is a

scarce phenomenon. Decades have passed, when mushroom medical laboratories in the private sector started

practicing. It does not take much to recognize that the motive behind that whole exercise was profiteering with little

regard for humanity. In the absence of a watch-dog authority, the scenario, more or less, is same now."

According to him, many laboratories with fancy front offices report manufactured tests results in many ways. Some of

them just write down the results without actually running samples out to a second laboratory and then copy results on

to their own result sheets; still others use sub-optimal instruments or reagents for analysing patient samples, producing

spurious and unreliable results. A major source of concern is the standard or qualification of the technologist running

the laboratory test. Most of these substandard laboratories prefer to hire personnel with minimal qualification or

experience to run the instruments.

The pathologist, if one could be called one, comes in for the limited amount of time to sign the reports or may even

decide to call up someone else to sign-out the test results under his name. A conducted survey already proved that

these poor quality laboratories charged more or less the same amount for tests as charged by high quality laboratories.

This practice risks the patients' health and even life, he said, adding: "Unfortunately, commercialisation has

overshadowed the human aspects of the noble field of medicine and as a result poor quality laboratories have brought

misery instead of healing for the unsuspected patients."

Highlighting the importance of accurate medical reports, Dr Sajid said, pathology lab testing plays an essential and

pivotal role in the delivery of quality health care. Laboratory tests provide physicians, nurses, and other health care

providers with objective information that is needed to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage disease. Laboratory

services are an integral part of disease diagnosis, treatment, monitoring response to treatment, disease surveillance

programs and clinical research. Simple laboratories carry out simple tests like urine analysis and haemoglobin

estimation whereas large centers are equipped with sophisticated automated technology and trained manpower to

carryout complex investigations. It is done through the scientific analysis of specimens of blood, fluids, tissue and

other samples; interpretation and reporting of clinically meaningful results; and provision of expert medical opinion

through consultation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013




News ‘ up

Verterinary / Zoology

Britain on brink of RABIES outbreak as

disease sweeps through 'lax' EUTHE safety of the EU’s controversial “pet passport” scheme has been seriously questioned after two rabiesEurope were found less than 200 miles from Britain. By: Owen Bennett - Political Reporter

The latest cases, in Holland, increase the pressure on the Government

which were voluntarily relaxed and brought in line with EU regulations to save pet owners a

fees. Campaigners believe it is only a matter of time before pets carrying rabies are smuggled i

countries where the disease is on the rise.

is “far too close for comfort”. They were from the same litter and had appeared to be travelli

paperwork. Both had also been microc

the Dutch capital Amsterdam, and the other was in Rotterdam, some 50 mi

symptoms of rabies on October 10 and w

Earlier this month the Express Online revealed growing concern from the Dog's Trust over the chances of rabies

reaching the UK thanks to the relaxed quarantine rules and the influ

covered by the BBC Radio 5 Live Inv

The EU’s rules mean puppies coming into the UK no longer have to be blood tested and wait six months follo

rabies vaccination. Instead, pet owners now only have to produce a documen

vaccine. Demand for designer pets in western European countries has triggered a rise in puppy farms in the east of the

continent.

The latest development has prompted the British Veterinary Association (BVA) to add

of the changes. BVA President Robin Hargreaves said the rabies cases in the Netherlands "is deeply worrying" an

"far too close for comfort". He said: "It must be a wake

movements into the UK remains a priority.

legislation last year had significant unintended consequences in boosting the number of puppies and kitten

the UK for sale. Although the pet travel scheme is not intended to cover commercial movements, the fact that animals

can enter the UK at a younger age has meant that people are abusing the legislation for this purpose with pot

grave consequences. The Government mu

the right measures in place to protect

The latest cases, in Holland, increase the

pressure on the Government to urgently review

British quarantine laws, which were voluntarily

relaxed and brought in line with EU regulations

to save pet owners about £7million in kennel

fees. Campaigners believe it is only a matter of

time before pets carrying rabies are smuggled

into Britain from countries where the disease is

on the rise. They are urging ministers to “wake

up” to the danger, saying the Dutch case i

too close for comfort”.

The four-month-old puppies were brought to the

Netherlands from Bulgaria on October 5.

were from the same litter and had appeared to be

travelling with the correct paperwork.

also been microchipped, as per the EU’s rules.




News ‘ up-dates ’ from around the World

Verterinary / Zoology


disease sweeps through 'lax' EU THE safety of the EU’s controversial “pet passport” scheme has been seriously questioned after two rabies-infected puppies from eastern Europe were found less than 200 miles from Britain.

Political Reporter Thu, October 24, 2013

The latest cases, in Holland, increase the pressure on the Government to urgently review British quarantine laws,

which were voluntarily relaxed and brought in line with EU regulations to save pet owners about £7million in kennel

Campaigners believe it is only a matter of time before pets carrying rabies are smuggled i

e the disease is on the rise. They are urging ministers to “wake up” to the danger, saying the Dutch case

They were from the same litter and had appeared to be travelli

Both had also been microchipped, as per the EU’s rules. One was found in Zaandam, a town just outside

the Dutch capital Amsterdam, and the other was in Rotterdam, some 50 miles south. They both began displaying

symptoms of rabies on October 10 and were put down eight days later.


reaching the UK thanks to the relaxed quarantine rules and the influx of pets from eastern Europe.

covered by the BBC Radio 5 Live Investigates programme last week.

The EU’s rules mean puppies coming into the UK no longer have to be blood tested and wait six months follo

Instead, pet owners now only have to produce a document to show their

Demand for designer pets in western European countries has triggered a rise in puppy farms in the east of the

The latest development has prompted the British Veterinary Association (BVA) to add its voice to calls

BVA President Robin Hargreaves said the rabies cases in the Netherlands "is deeply worrying" an

He said: "It must be a wake-up call to UK authorities to ensure that enforcement

to the UK remains a priority. We have been raising concerns with the Government that the changes in

legislation last year had significant unintended consequences in boosting the number of puppies and kitten

Although the pet travel scheme is not intended to cover commercial movements, the fact that animals

can enter the UK at a younger age has meant that people are abusing the legislation for this purpose with pot

The Government must review current enforcement of the legislation and be certain that we have

the right measures in place to protect the UK's rabies-free status. The news from the Netherlands should also be a

Animals are being smuggled into Britain, say vets, increasing the threat of rabies

The latest cases, in Holland, increase the

pressure on the Government to urgently review

British quarantine laws, which were voluntarily

elaxed and brought in line with EU regulations

bout £7million in kennel

Campaigners believe it is only a matter of

time before pets carrying rabies are smuggled

e the disease is

e urging ministers to “wake

up” to the danger, saying the Dutch case is “far

old puppies were brought to the

ds from Bulgaria on October 5. They

were from the same litter and had appeared to be

h the correct paperwork. Both had

hipped, as per the EU’s rules.



dates ’ from around the World


THE safety of the EU’s controversial “pet passport” scheme has been infected puppies from eastern

to urgently review British quarantine laws,

bout £7million in kennel

Campaigners believe it is only a matter of time before pets carrying rabies are smuggled into Britain from

They are urging ministers to “wake up” to the danger, saying the Dutch case

They were from the same litter and had appeared to be travelling with the correct

One was found in Zaandam, a town just outside

They both began displaying


x of pets from eastern Europe. The issue was then

The EU’s rules mean puppies coming into the UK no longer have to be blood tested and wait six months following a

t to show their animals have had the

Demand for designer pets in western European countries has triggered a rise in puppy farms in the east of the

its voice to calls for a review

BVA President Robin Hargreaves said the rabies cases in the Netherlands "is deeply worrying" and

up call to UK authorities to ensure that enforcement of pet

We have been raising concerns with the Government that the changes in

legislation last year had significant unintended consequences in boosting the number of puppies and kittens coming to

Although the pet travel scheme is not intended to cover commercial movements, the fact that animals

can enter the UK at a younger age has meant that people are abusing the legislation for this purpose with potentially

st review current enforcement of the legislation and be certain that we have

The news from the Netherlands should also be a

Animals are being smuggled into Britain, say vets, increasing the threat of rabies [GETTY]




serious wake-up call to potential pet owners who must always ask about the animal's background and ask to see it

with its mother."

The Pet Passport scheme has led to a 60 per cent increase in the number of people travelling with pets, but the Dog’s

Trust and top vets believe some animals are entering the country on false papers. From January 2014, millions of

Bulgarians and Romanians will be able to come to the UK to work thanks to EU's freedom of movement laws. In

Romania alone there has been 751 cases of rabies in pets and other animals since the quarantine laws were relaxed in

January 2012.

Vet Caroline Allen, who is also the Green Party spokesman on animal issues, says she has seen fake Pet Passports

accompanying animals brought in from eastern European countries. She is urging the Department for Environment

Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to tighten up its quarantine rules before the predicted influx of people and their pets in

the new year. “When we've reported these concerns to Defra they simply don't care, telling us instead to report the

issue to Trading Standards,” she said. This is a shocking failure. Vets are at the frontline in ensuring that rabies does

not reach the UK and need to be properly supported.” A Defra spokesperson played down the implications of the

recent rabies cases in mainland Europe. She said: “This incident in the Netherlands does not increase the risk to the

UK. There are already robust checks in place to make sure that any pets entering this country are not a threat to animal

and human health.”

The Daily Reveille Louisiana, U.S.A.

New veterinary disease laboratory opens on campus Lab brings LADDL staff under one roof for the first time - November 10, 2013

By Olivia McClure

Photo by Richard Redmann Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

surveillance in mosquito populations statewide, which is important to both human and animal health.

Paulsen said the building has new equipment that will allow LADDL to begin conducting endocrinology tests and

polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, a process used to study genes to detect bacteria and viruses. Equine

medical surveillance — drug testing for race horses and show animals — is also expected to be transferred to

LADDL, he said. LADDL was originally administered by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and

became a division of the Vet School around 1980, Paulsen said. Today, LADDL operates as a partnership between the

University and the Vet School, as well as with veterinarians and animal producers throughout the state.

The design process for the new building began in 2003 and was completed in 2006. Its construction was funded by the

state Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the finished building was donated to the University. Space in the

Vet School building was becoming more precious, Paulsen said. Plus, LADDL was increasing the number of services

it provided, and staff needed their own space. Now that everyone at LADDL is under the same roof, Paulsen said he

predicts greater efficiency for the lab.

The Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

(LADDL) building opened Thursday, uniting its

equipment and staff in a dedicated location for the first

time since moving to the University three decades ago.

The facility, located behind the School of Veterinary

Medicine, houses about 30 LADDL staff members who

provide comprehensive diagnostic services for most

animal diseases. Previously, they were scattered

throughout the Vet School building, according to

LADDL director Daniel Paulsen.

The lab provides microbiology, bacteriology, virology,

toxicology, pathology and molecular diagnostics

services for animals. Paulsen said vet students,

particularly those in pathology rotations, have

opportunities to work with LADDL staff. Paulsen said

pet ownership has been increasing, so services for those

animals have been in greater demand. The rise in cases

of West Nile virus a few years ago was another boost

for LADDL, he said, because the lab conducts disease




Science & Environment Oldest big cat fossil found in Tibet By James Morgan Science reporter, BBC News 13th November 2013

Panthera blytheae was similar to modern snow leopards, palaeontologists say

overlap many of the species we know today. "This cat is a sister of living snow leopards - it has a broad forehead and

a short face. But it's a little smaller - the size of clouded leopards," said lead author Dr Jack Tseng of the University of

Southern California. "This ties up a lot of questions we had on how these animals evolved and spread throughout the

world. Biologists had hypothesised that big cats originated in Asia. But there was a division between the DNA data

and the fossil record."

Surprising find The so-called "big cats" - the Pantherinae subfamily - includes lions, jaguars, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, and

clouded leopards. DNA evidence suggests they diverged from their cousins the Felinae - which includes cougars,

lynxes, and domestic cats - about 6.37 million years ago. But the earliest fossils previously found were just 3.6 million

years old - tooth fragments uncovered at Laetoli in Tanzania, the famous hominin site excavated by Mary Leakey in

the 1970s.

It is rare for such an ancient carnivore fossil to be so well preserved

"The authors' claim that this skull is similar to the snow leopard is very weakly supported based on morphological

characters alone, and this morphology-based tree is inconsistent with the DNA-based tree of living cats," he told BBC

News. "It remains equally probable that this fossil is ancestral to the living big cats. More complete skeletons would

The new fossils were dug up on an expedition in 2010 in the

remote Zanda Basin in southwestern Tibet, by a team including

Dr Tseng and his wife Juan Liu - a fellow palaeontologist. They

found over 100 bones deposited by a river eroding out of a cliff,

including the crushed - but largely complete - remains of a big

cat skull. "We were very surprised to find a cat fossil in that

basin," Dr Tseng told BBC News. "Usually we find antelopes

and rhinos, but this site was special. We found multiple

carnivores - badgers, weasels and foxes."

Among the bones were seven skull fragments, belonging to at

least three individual cats, including one nearly complete skull.

The fragments were dated using magnetostratigraphy - which

relies on historical reversals in the Earth's magnetic field

recorded in layers of rock. They ranged between 4.10 and 5.95

million years old, the complete skull being around 4.4 million

years of age.

"This is a very significant finding - it fills a very wide gap in

the fossil record," said Dr Manabu Sakamoto of the University

of Bristol, an expert on Pantherinae evolution. The discovery

presents strong support for the Asian origin hypothesis for the

big cats. It gives us a great insight into what early big cats may

have looked like and where they may have lived." However,

Prof William Murphy of Texas A&M University, another

expert on the evolutionary relationship of big cats, questioned

whether the new species was really a sister of the snow leopard.

The oldest big cat fossils ever found - from a

previously unknown species "similar to a

snow leopard" - have been unearthed in the

Himalayas. The skull fragments of the newly-

named Panthera blytheae have been dated

between 4.1 and 5.95 million years old. Their

discovery in Tibet supports the theory that big

cats evolved in central Asia - not Africa - and

spread outward. The findings by US and

Chinese palaeontologists are published in the

Royal Society journal Proceedings B.

They used both anatomical and DNA data to

determine that the skulls belonged to an

extinct big cat, whose territory appears to

overlap many of the species we know today.

is very weakly supported based on morphological characters alone, and this morphology-based tree is inconsistent with

the DNA-based tree of living cats," he told BBC News. "It remains equally probable that this fossil is ancestral to the

living big cats. More complete skeletons would be beneficial to confirm their findings." Dr Tseng and his team plan to

return to the fossil site in Tibet next summer to search for more specimens.




Science & Environment

DNA hint of European origin for dogs By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News 14

th November 2013

Some dog-looking remains are more than 30,000 years old

all its shapes and sizes - could track its beginnings back to wolves that attached themselves to human societies in the

Middle East or perhaps in East Asia as recently as 15,000 years ago. The problem with these claims is that

palaeontologists have found fossils of distinctly dog-looking animals that are 30,000 years old or more.

Dr Thalmann, from Finland's University of Turku, and his team, have had another go at trying to sort through the

conflicting DNA evidence. They compared genetic sequences from a wide range of ancient animals - both dogs and

wolves - with material taken from living canines - again, from both dogs and wolves. This analysis reveals modern

dogs to be most closely related to ancient European wolves or dogs - not to any of the wolf groups from outside

Europe, nor even to modern European wolves (suggesting the link is with old European wolves that are now extinct).

And because the dog remains used in the research are dated to be more than 18,000 years old, it indicates a timing for

domestication that is much older than some researchers have previously argued. If correct, it means dogs started to

diverge from wolf populations when humans had yet to settle into fixed, agricultural communities and were still

hunting and gathering.

The story of how dogs came to be so closely associated with humans is open to debate

on the subject, however. Using DNA - and the subtle changes it undergoes over time - to examine animal origins and

relationships is a very powerful tool, but far from fool-proof.

One of the problems scientists have is that dog populations have become very mixed over time, as a result of being

moved around by their human owners. This complicates the genetic signal. The difficulty is further amplified by the

fact that some dogs have at times also clearly back-bred with wild wolves. Teasing all this apart is very difficult.

A resolution will require more sampling and more analysis, particularly of the core, or nuclear, DNA of ancient

animals. This and many of the previous studies have relied on so-called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a small sub-

packet of genetic material in cells that, although incredibly useful, does not represent the fullest information possible.

The larger nuclear DNA material could provide the more compelling answers but it is far harder to retrieve, especially

in very old bones or fossils. A number of research groups around the world are trying, though.

The results of a DNA study suggest that dogs were

domesticated in Europe. No-one doubts that "man's best

friend" is an evolutionary off-shoot of the grey wolf, but

scientists have long argued over the precise timing and

location for their emergence. The new research, based on a

genetic analysis of ancient and modern dog and wolf

samples, points to a European origin at least 18,000 years

ago. Olaf Thalmann and colleagues report the investigation

in Science magazine. It adds a further layer of complexity to

the story.

Earlier DNA studies have suggested the modern pooch - in

It is possible there were wolves that would

follow these hunters, may be at a distance at

first, living off the scraps and discards from the

humans' big-game kills such as mammoth,

before eventually being incorporated into the

human groups as they became less wary. "You

can see how wolves benefitted from living near

humans because they got these carcases, but

humans too would have benefitted," said Dr

Thalmann. "You have to remember that 18,800-

32,000 years ago, Europe had much bigger

predators than even wolves, such as bears and

hyenas. And you can imagine that having

wolves living close to you might be a very

useful alarm system," he told BBC News. "It's a

plausible scenario for the origin of the

domestication of dogs."

The latest study is unlikely to be the last word




News ‘ up-dates ’ from around the World

Miscellaneous

China

Chinese man has new nose grown on forehead The BBC's Carrie Gracie reports.

Mr Shehan Hettiaratchy is Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

and a member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). He says: "The

forehead is a traditional place to get extra tissue from to rebuild a nose. The skin from there is a good match for nose

skin. Most importantly, the forehead skin can be moved to the nose and keep its blood supply, which is essential

otherwise the skin would die.

Al Arabiya Saudi Arabia Driving affects ovaries and pelvis, Saudi sheikh warns women

Saudi female activists have launched an online campaign urging women to drive on Oct. 26. More than 11,000

women have signed the oct26driving.com declaration that says: “Since there are no clear justifications for the state to

A new nose has been grown by

surgeons on a patient's forehead, so it

can be transplanted to replace his

original one. Xiaolian, 22, didn't look

after his badly damaged nose

following a traffic accident in August

2012. The infection corroded the

cartilage of his nose, making it

impossible for surgeons to fix it.

They then decided to grow him a new

one at a hospital in Fuzhou in Fujian

province, China. It was grown by

placing a skin tissue expander onto

Xiaolian's forehead, cutting it into the

shape of a nose and planting cartilage

taken from his ribs. The surgeons

said that the new nose is in good

shape and the transplant surgery

could be performed soon.

Saudi women seeking to challenge a de facto ban

on driving should realize that this could affect

their ovaries and pelvises, Sheikh Saleh bin Saad

al-Luhaydan, a judicial and psychological

consultant to the Gulf Psychological

Association, told Saudi news website sabq.org.

Driving “could have a reverse physiological

impact. Physiological science and functional

medicine studied this side [and found] that it

automatically affects ovaries and rolls up the

pelvis. This is why we find for women who

continuously drive cars their children are born

with clinical disorders of varying degrees,”

Sheikh al-Luhaydan said.




ban adult, capable women from driving. We call for enabling women to have driving tests and for issuing licenses for

those who pass.”

Sheikh al-Luhaydan urged these women to consider “the mind before the heart and emotion and look at this issue with

a realistic eye. The result of this is bad and they should wait and consider the negativities,” he said.

With thanks to Catherine McCarney who spotted this article

Asia British scientist 'solves' mystery of Himalayan yetis

Research by a British scientist has concluded that the legendary Himalayan yeti may in fact be a sub-species of brown

bear. DNA tests on hair samples carried out by Oxford University genetics professor Bryan Sykes found that they

matched those from an ancient polar bear. He subjected the hairs to the most advanced tests available. He says the

most likely explanation for the myth is that the animal is a hybrid of polar bears and brown bears.

Prof Sykes told the BBC that there may be a real biological animal behind the yeti myth. "I think this bear, which

nobody has seen alive,... may still be there and may have quite a lot of polar bear in it," he said. "It may be some sort

of hybrid and if its behaviour is different from normal bears, which is what eyewitnesses report, then I think that may

well be the source of the mystery and the source of the legend."

Prof Sykes conducted the DNA tests on hairs from two unidentified animals, one from Ladakh - in northern India on

the west of the Himalayas - and the other from Bhutan, 1,285km (800 miles) further east. The results were then

compared with the genomes of other animals that are stored on a database of all published DNA sequences.

Suspected yeti footprints - such as these in Nepal

- are regularly photographed

Prof Sykes found that he had a 100% match with a sample from

an ancient polar bear jawbone found in Svalbard, Norway, that

dates back to between 40,000 and 120,000 years ago - a time

when the polar bear and closely related brown bear were

separating as different species. The species are closely related

and are known to interbreed where their territories overlap.

The sample from Ladakh came from the mummified remains of

a creature shot by a hunter around 40 years ago, while the second

sample was in the form of a single hair, found in a bamboo forest

by an expedition of filmmakers around 10 years ago.

Prof Sykes said that his results were "completely unexpected"

and that more work needed to be done interpreting them. He said

that while they did not mean that "ancient polar bears are

wandering around the Himalayas", there could be a sub-species

of brown bear in the High Himalayas descended from an

ancestor of the polar bear. "Or it could mean there has been more

recent hybridisation between the brown bear and the descendant

of the ancient polar bear," he said.

In 2008 scientists in the US examined hairs given to the BBC

which some had claimed were from a yeti. The scientists

concluded that in fact the hairs - obtained from the north-east

Indian state of Meghalaya - belonged to a species of Himalayan

goat known as a Himalayan Goral.





Fresh effort to clone extinct animal

By Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website 22nd

November 2013

begin preliminary work on the cells from the last animal, named Celia. One of the scientists behind the cloning effort,

Dr Alberto Fernandez-Arias, told BBC News: "At this moment, we are not initiating a 'bucardo recovery plan', we

only want to know if Celia's cells are still alive after having been maintained frozen during 14 years in liquid

nitrogen." In addition to this in vitro work, they will also attempt to clone embryos and implant them in female goats.

"In this process, one or more live female bucardo clones could be obtained. If that is the case, the feasibility of a

bucardo recovery plan will be discussed," Dr Fernandez-Arias, who is head of the Aragon Hunting, Fishing and

Wetlands Service, explained.

Consultant biologist Juan Seijas (L) and Alberto Fernandez-Arias (R) obtain

tissue samples from Celia on 20 April 1999

falling tree in the National Park of Ordesa in north-east Spain. But a team including Dr Fernandez-Arias, Jose Folch

and others were able to inject nuclei from Celia's preserved cells into goat eggs that had been emptied of their own

DNA. Then they implanted the eggs into surrogates - hybrids between Spanish ibex and domestic goats. Of 57

implantations, seven animals became pregnant and one was carried to term.

The baby bucardo was born in 2003 - the first successful "de-extinction". But the clone of Celia died a few minutes

later due to a defect in one of its lungs. Earlier this year, Dr Fernandez-Arias related the story in a TEDx talk, as part

of a meeting on de-extinction. Even if the new effort succeeds in producing healthy clones, any future recovery plan

for the bucardo would be fraught with difficulty - especially given the only frozen tissue is from a lone female.

One possible approach for bringing back the bucardo might be to cross a healthy female bucardo clone with a closely

related sub-species - such as the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) or the Gredos ibex (Capra pyrenaica victoriae) - and then selectively breeding the offspring to enhance traits typical of the bucardo.

Celia can now be seen at the reception centre of the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido in Aragon

Scientists in Spain have received funding to test

whether an extinct mountain goat can be cloned

from preserved cells.

The bucardo became extinct in 2000, but cells

from the last animal were frozen in liquid

nitrogen. In 2003, a cloned calf was brought to

term but died a few minutes after birth. Now, the

scientists will test the viability of the female

bucardo's 14-year-old preserved cells. The

bucardo, or Pyrenean ibex, calf born through

cloning was an historic event: the first "de-

extinction", in which a lost species or sub-species

was resurrected.

he Aragon Hunting Federation signed an

agreement with the Centre for Research and Food

Technology of Aragon (CITA) in Zaragoza to

The bucardo (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica)

was a sub-species of ibex, with distinct

physical and genetic characteristics to other

mountain goats inhabiting the Iberian

Peninsula. It was perfectly adapted to life in

its mountain habitat, and to survive the

extreme cold and snow of winter in the

Pyrenees. However, its population had been

declining for years for several reasons,

including hunting. In April 1999, researchers

captured the last animal, a female named

Celia. They obtained skin biopsies and froze

the tissue in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of

-196C (-321F).

The following year, Celia was killed by a

falling tree in the National Park of Ordesa in




Several other possibilities could also be explored. For instance, researchers have been able to reverse the sex of female

mouse embryos by introducing a key gene that makes them develop as males.

Other options

In addition, George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard University, explained that a technique known as Crispr

opened up new opportunities in the field of endangered species conservation and de-extinction. The technique allows

researchers to edit genomes with extraordinary precision. Such "genome editing" techniques could be used to

introduce genetic diversity in populations that are so closely related it poses a threat to their survival. "In some cases,

you have a hunch as to what diversity is needed. You might specifically want diversity in the major histocompatibility

complex [a large gene family involved in immune responses]," Prof Church told BBC News. "For example, part of the

problem with the Tasmanian devil is that they are so closely related in terms of their immune system that they have

problems rejecting the facial tumour cells that they spread by biting each other." However, he said, such techniques

might eventually offer a way to extensively edit the genome of an Asian elephant to make it more like a mammoth,

using a genetic sequence from the extinct animals.

Commenting on plans for the bucardo cells, the Aragon Hunting Federation said it wanted to "develop initiatives in

the field of ecology in order to defend the natural environment". The sum provided to fund the research at CITA has

not been disclosed.

Europe Link to Oetzi the Iceman found in living Austrians

Oetzi's genome was published in February, indicating his probable eye colour and blood type

Their relationship was established through DNA analysis by scientists from the Institute of Legal Medicine at

Innsbruck Medical University. The men have not been told about their connection to Oetzi. The DNA tests were taken

from blood donors in Tyrol. A particular genetic mutation was matched, the APA news agency reports.

Austrian scientists have found that 19

Tyrolean men alive today are related to

Oetzi the Iceman, whose 5,300-year-old

frozen body was found in the Alps. Their

relationship was established through DNA

analysis by scientists from the Institute of

Legal Medicine at Innsbruck Medical

University. The men have not been told

about their connection to Oetzi. The DNA

tests were taken from blood donors in

Tyrol. A particular genetic mutation was

matched, the APA news agency reports.

Austrian scientists have found that 19

Tyrolean men alive today are related to

Oetzi the Iceman, whose 5,300-year- year-

old frozen body was found in the Alps.

Their

Oetzi's body was found frozen in the Italian Alps in 1991. A reconstruction shows what Oetzi may have looked like before an arrow felled him

Walther Parson from the Institute told APA, the

Austrian Press Agency, that the same mutation

might be found in the nearby Swiss region of

Engadine and in Italy's South Tyrol region."We

have already found Swiss and Italian partners so

that we can pursue our research," he said. He was

quoted as saying DNA had been analysed from

3,700 men who had given blood donations in

Tyrol. They also provided data on their ancestry.

Women were not included in the study, as a

different procedure would be required to match

their genes.

Since Oetzi was first found by hikers with an

arrow buried in his back, experts have

determined that he died from his wounds. There

has been extensive debate as to whether he fell

where he died or was buried there by others.




Light shed on how genes shape faceBy Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC World Service

Prof Visel said: "In the mouse embryos we can see where exactly, as the face develops, this switch turns on the gene

that it controls."

Designer babies?

Understanding this could also help to reveal why and how things can go wrong as embryos develop in the womb,

leading to facial birth defects. Prof Visel said: "There are many kinds of craniofacial birth defects; cleft of the lip and

palate are the most common ones. And they have s

feeding, speech, breathing, they can require extensive surgery and they have psychological implications."

of these are caused by genetic mutations, the researchers want to understand

Professor Visel added that scientists were just at the beginning of understanding the processes that shape the face, but

their early results suggested it was an extremely complex process.

could be used to predict someone's exact appearance, or that parents could alter genetic material to change the way a

baby looks.

Scientists are starting to understand why one person's

face can look so different from another's.

mice, researchers have identified thousands of small

regions of DNA that influence the way facial features

develop. The study also shows that tweaks to genetic

material can subtly alter face shape.

published in Science, could also help researchers to

learn how facial birth defects arise.

that although the work was carried out on animals, the

human face was likely to develop in the same way.

Professor Axel Visel, from the Joint Genome Institute at

the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in

California, told BBC News: "We're

how these instructions for building the human face are

embedded in human DNA. Somewhere in there must be

that blueprint that defines what our face looks like."

Switch off

The international team has found more than 4,000

"enhancers" in the mouse genome that appear to play a

role in facial appearance. These short stretches of DNA

act like switches, turning genes on and off. And for 200

of these, the researchers have identified how and where

they work in developing mice.

Transgenic mice revealed how genes affected the face during development





Light shed on how genes shape faceScience reporter, BBC World Service

Thousands of small regions of DNA influence the way facial features develop

said: "In the mouse embryos we can see where exactly, as the face develops, this switch turns on the gene

also help to reveal why and how things can go wrong as embryos develop in the womb,

Prof Visel said: "There are many kinds of craniofacial birth defects; cleft of the lip and

palate are the most common ones. And they have severe implications for the kids that are affected. They affect

feeding, speech, breathing, they can require extensive surgery and they have psychological implications."

of these are caused by genetic mutations, the researchers want to understand how the genetic switches interact.


their early results suggested it was an extremely complex process. He said it was unlikely in the n


Scientists are starting to understand why one person's

face can look so different from another's. Working on

mice, researchers have identified thousands of small

regions of DNA that influence the way facial features

The study also shows that tweaks to genetic

material can subtly alter face shape. The findings,

published in Science, could also help researchers to

learn how facial birth defects arise. The researchers said

that although the work was carried out on animals, the

human face was likely to develop in the same way.

Professor Axel Visel, from the Joint Genome Institute at

the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in

California, told BBC News: "We're trying to find out

how these instructions for building the human face are

embedded in human DNA. Somewhere in there must be

that blueprint that defines what our face looks like."

The international team has found more than 4,000

the mouse genome that appear to play a

These short stretches of DNA

act like switches, turning genes on and off. And for 200

of these, the researchers have identified how and where

Transgenic mice revealed how genes affected the face during

The scientists also looked at what happened when three

of these genetic switches were removed from mice.

"These mice looked pretty normal, but it is really hard

for humans to see differences in the face of mice,"

explained Prof Visel. The way we can get around this

is to use CT scans to study the shapes of the skulls of

these mice. We take them and scan their heads. then

we can measure the shape of the skull of these mice

and we can do this in a very precise way."

comparing the transgenic mice with unmodified mice,

the researchers found that the changes were very

subtle. However some mice developed longer or

shorter skulls, while others have wider or narrower

faces. "What this really tells us is that this particular

switch also plays a role in development of the skull and

can affect what exactly the skull looks like," he

explained.




Light shed on how genes shape face

all regions of DNA influence the way facial features develop

said: "In the mouse embryos we can see where exactly, as the face develops, this switch turns on the gene

also help to reveal why and how things can go wrong as embryos develop in the womb,

Prof Visel said: "There are many kinds of craniofacial birth defects; cleft of the lip and

evere implications for the kids that are affected. They affect

feeding, speech, breathing, they can require extensive surgery and they have psychological implications." While some

how the genetic switches interact.


He said it was unlikely in the near future that DNA


The scientists also looked at what happened when three

of these genetic switches were removed from mice.

"These mice looked pretty normal, but it is really hard

es in the face of mice,"

The way we can get around this

is to use CT scans to study the shapes of the skulls of

these mice. We take them and scan their heads. then

we can measure the shape of the skull of these mice

in a very precise way." By

comparing the transgenic mice with unmodified mice,

the researchers found that the changes were very

subtle. However some mice developed longer or

shorter skulls, while others have wider or narrower

s us is that this particular

switch also plays a role in development of the skull and

can affect what exactly the skull looks like," he




mail.com U.S.A. 8th November 2013 Rickets making a comeback in the UK, doctors say

"It's very surprising to see this," said Dr. Mitch Blair, an officer for health promotion at the Royal College of

Paediatrics and Child Health. "Children come in with bendy legs, swollen wrists and sometimes swollen ribs," he said.

"This is not something we should be seeing because it's completely preventable." He said the condition was reversible

once children start getting enough vitamin D, usually in tablets or injections. Blair cited a number of reasons for the

jump in rickets, including changing cultural habits — like children spending more time playing indoors, the stringent

use of sunscreen, and religious beliefs that mean skin is covered. Children with dark skin are particularly susceptible,

since they need a higher dose of sunshine than pale-skinned children. Unlike in other countries like Canada, the U.S.

and Australia, Britain does not fortify foods like milk or flour with vitamin D.

In the U.S., doctors said there has also been a rise in rickets, though there are no solid national figures to confirm it.

Dr. Craig Langman of Northwestern University said some small studies suggested vitamin D deficiency was rampant

in U.S. populations but that it was more common for doctors to see children with subtler forms of nutrient deficiency

as opposed to rickets.

"It's a product of our changed society," said Dr. Laura Tosi, an orthopedic surgeon at Children's National Medical

Center in Washington, D.C. "Kids with rickets are children who don't have exposure to safe places to play and (who)

stop drinking milk as soon as they're weaned," she said. Tosi said some well-intentioned public health campaigns —

like the drive to remove flavoured milk from schools — could hurt children's bone health. Tosi said the majority of

children with rickets recover completely but the most severe cases could require surgery. "If the vitamin D deficiency

is ongoing for a long time, these kids come in with horrific bowing of the legs and I have to think about breaking the

bones to straighten them," she said. Tosi said the British suggestion to provide free vitamins for children might help

combat the disease's resurgence. "There's only a limited amount of time to build up children's bones," she said. "Given

how cloudy it is (in the U.K.), I hope they're supplementing their kids with vitamins."

Photo: AP Physical therapist Estrid Dane carefully supports two-year-old Anthony Bull, seen here walking up a corrugated ladder during exercises which are designed to strengthen his legs in East London. Rickets, the childhood disease that once caused an epidemic of bowed legs and curved spines during the Victorian era, is making a shocking comeback in 21st-century Britain. Derived from the Old English word “wrickken” meaning to twist, rickets is the result of a severe deficiency of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. Rickets was historically considered to be a disease of poverty among children who toiled in factories during the Industrial Revolution and some experts have hypothesized it afflicted literary characters like Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

LONDON (AP) — Rickets, the childhood disease that

once caused an epidemic of bowed legs and curved

spines during the Victorian era, is making a shocking

comeback in 21st-century Britain. Rickets results from

a severe deficiency of vitamin D, which helps the body

absorb calcium. Rickets was historically considered to

be a disease of poverty among children who toiled in

factories during the Industrial Revolution, and some

experts have hypothesized it afflicted literary

characters like Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens' "A

Christmas Carol."

Last month, Britain's chief medical officer, Dr. Sally

Davies, described the return of rickets as "appalling."

She proposed the country give free vitamins to all

children under 5 and asked the country's independent

health watchdog to study if that would be worthwhile.

Most people get vitamin D from the sun, oily fish,

eggs or dairy products. Rickets largely disappeared

from Britain in the 1950s, when the country embarked

on mass programs to give children cod liver oil. But in

the last 15 years, the number of reported cases of

rickets in hospitalized children has increased fourfold

— from 183 cases in 1995 to 762 cases in 2011.

Experts said the actual number is probably even higher

since there's no official surveillance system and it's

unknown whether the disease has peaked.




News of and from MembersNews of and from MembersNews of and from MembersNews of and from Members

Meet the Members – Erica Gummery

Veterinary School, Sutton Bonnington,

The University of Nottingham,

links with third parties. Now the facility and the school are more established I have

moved my attention to more of the teaching and learning aspects of the role, and am

involved in the delivery of teaching and assessment. I am also studying for a PhD in

Veterinary Education

Ed: So Erica, what led you into working in Anatomy? Is it something you always wanted

to do?

Erica: I think like most people who work in anatomy – no! It would be fair to say I

had an interest, since I had previously worked in necropsy, but at the time I applied

for the job as an anatomy lab assistant at RVC, I wasn’t planning on making a career

out of teaching anatomy. As it happened I had a 4 and a half hour round trip on the

train every day which gave me plenty of opportunity to read up on areas of interest!

Ed: If you had not been doing this work, what other career do you think you would have

followed?

Erica: I was a qualified hearing aid audiologist before working at RVC, and like to

think I would have gone back into some healthcare profession.

Ed: Is there a profession or jobs you would you NOT like to do?

Erica: I worked in a call centre as a temp for a while. (shudder!)

Ed: Hello Erica, thank you for agreeing

to be interviewed for the ‘Meet the

Members’ piece.

So, let us begin the long list of the now

familiar questions. Now, I know you work at

the Veterinary School at Sutton Bonnington,

which is a part of the University of

Nottingham, so could you tell us a little of

your work there

Erica: I began working at Sutton

Bonington in 2006, before our first intake

of students. Initially I was involved in

planning and equipping the dissection and cadaver surgery facilities, sourcing and

developing resources, and establishing




Ed: You have been a member for several years now, so how did you find out about the

IAS and what led you to join?

Erica: Andrew Crook at RVC. He was a member for a number of years. He was a

good mentor to me!

Ed: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Erica: I took up rowing 2 years ago and love it! I row as a pair with my partner

Zoe, but we recently rowed 50k and she has been a bit broken ever since (she

dislocated her knee getting out of bed the following morning). We’re hoping to be

back in the boat soon though.

Ed: If you could have your choice, where would you choose to live?

Erica: I’m really lucky in where I live at the moment. It’s in the middle of no-

where but it’s lovely. It took me a long time to adjust to the move from Camden

though!

Ed: Now we come to the well-known list of questions that deals with your personal

‘favourites’. So number one, Do you have a favourite food?

Erica: I love a well-cooked medium rare steak cooked in tonnes of butter

Ed: And is there a food that you hate?

Erica: Goat’s cheese! It is unnecessary for it to still smell like goat!

Ed: What is your favourite type of music, or who is your favourite artist or

composer?

Erica: Anything that can keep me going on a rowing machine

Ed: Do you have a favourite colour?

Erica: I like a hot pink (but in small doses)

Ed: And is there a sound or noise you hate?

Erica: Nails on fabric

Ed: And the final question Erica, if Heaven exists, what do you think God will say to

you when you arrive?

Erica: I’m pretty sure the mistake will be dealt with before my entering in to any

conversation!

Ed: Erica, Thank you!




At The Cutting Edge

The Royal Veterinary College Written by Sarah Nicoll BSc L.I.A.S (Anatomy Technician) with the assistance of Mr Jon Parry

(Head of Widening Participation and Community Engagement)

On July 5th 2013 the RVC held its 3rd annual “At The Cutting Edge” Dissection Day aimed at lecturers, teachers

and animal technicians who wish to continue to develop their anatomical and dissection skills in order to promote

the learning of their students.

This project began back in 2011 when VETNET LLN (The National Lifelong Learning Network for Veterinary &

Allied Professionals) wanted to support projects aimed at improving the skills of students studying vocational

courses at further education and land based colleges. The RVC has a wide variety of contacts at many such

institutions and had been aware of many science teachers expressing the desire to upscale their practical skills,

which can prove difficult with many current CPD courses being primarily theoretical.

It has been a sad fact that in recent years the amount of dissection and anatomy taught in schools and colleges

has decreased considerably, often due to perceived H&S problems. This has had a knock on effect with many

students not even having a basic knowledge of anatomy when moving on to higher education. The RVC put forward

a proposal to VETNET LLN to run a dissection day providing training for teachers which they could then cascade

down to their students. The project was pursued and the first “At the Cutting Edge” Dissection Day was held on

the 8th July 2011. It was funded by VETNET LLN and was attended by 40 delegates from around the country.

The RVCs first Dissection Day was a great success and received excellent evaluations with many of the delegates

heading back to their workplaces with new skills and full of enthusiasm which they passed it on to their colleagues

and utilised in their teaching. Unfortunately despite this success VETNET LLN was unable to providing funding

after the first year; however the RVC decided to continue with the project and it has just held its 3rd annual

Dissection Day.

The event is publicised through VETNET LLN to its members and also by the RVC directly to its wide range of

contacts at schools and colleges. This results in

delegates attending from a wide geographical and educational range and offers good networking opportunities in

addition to the skills and information obtained throughout the day.

At this year’s event delegates spent a full day in the dissection room (DR)

working in small groups. They began the day with a short presentation by the

RVCs Head of Anatomy Service, Andrew Crook MBE FRSA which covered a

brief summary of the RVC, its BVetMed course curriculum, and any necessary

Health and Safety information and how this can be applied by the delegates at

their respective workplaces. Following this they spent the rest of the day in

the DR using specially prepared guides to dissect a formalin fixed canine hind

limb and a fresh chicken.

During the event display stands were in the DR presenting various products or

companies, including a stand promoting the IAS, all of which the delegates were

invited to take a look at throughout the day. Several delegates left the

conference with IAS membership forms which has resulted so far in at least

one new member.

The RVC hopes to continue to provide future Dissection Days with the aim of

increasing the provision for the teaching of anatomy within schools and colleges nationwide.




The Back Pages Quiz submitted by Prof Robin O’Sullivan and Malcolm Halket

LONERGAN AND THE PRESERVATION OF AUTONOMY BY

THE HIGHER INTEGRATION OF UNDERLYING MANIFOLDS!

1. Bernard Lonergan was the greatest 20th century philosopher in the tradition of

Thomas Aquinas. Ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1936, he held the Chair of Dogmatic

Theology in the Gregorian University. In which European city is that university located?

2. Although his autonomy was not preserved, the doctor who performed the autopsy in

1821 is alleged to have preserved which one of the manifold parts of Napoleon?

3. Bernard Lonergan was born in Canada in 1904. That was the year in which the Russo-

Japanese war began, with a Japanese attack on which Russian naval base?

4. The majority of plumbers favour the use of underfloor manifolds in the provision of

central heating. Which plumber featured in Barak Obama’s first presidential election?

5. When asked what he thought of Lonergan’s thesis, Little Noddy shook his head and

the bell on his cap sounded a sorrowful note. What colour was Little Noddy’s cap?

6. In his book titled “Insight”, an exquisitely detailed study of the act of human

understanding teased out over nearly 800 pages, Bernard Lonergan commences by offering

as a dramatic example the compelling image of which Greek philosopher leaping naked from

his bath shouting “Eureka!” ?

7. In many of his paintings, Picasso could be aptly described as striving to integrate the

underlying manifolds of the subject. What was his first name?

8. David Beckham admitted he hadn’t the foggiest idea what Lonergan was on about,

because he never learned to do sums. He offered to ask his wife. What is she learning to

do?

9. While undoubtedly fascinated by the underlying manifolds, the effort of integration

was beyond the capability of Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner. The wedding guest in the same

poem laboured on the problem all night. How did he rise on the following morning?

10. In the Japanese art of paper folding, it is possible to create virtually any autonomous

form as long as you can achieve the underlying many folds and integrate them in the

correct sequence. What is that art called?

ANSWERS ON PAGE 49




Curio CornerCurio CornerCurio CornerCurio Corner bybybyby Benedictus.Benedictus.Benedictus.Benedictus.

Burke - The Anatomy of Edinburgh's

Medical Murderer I start with an apology to all those members who know the full story of Burke and

Hare – and I have to admit that I thought was everyone! But when talking with some

of our new young members, particularly those from outside the UK, I found that was

not the case. You cannot know something if you have never been told, and so for those

young members, here, very briefly, is the story of Burke and Hare and how the word

Burke entered the English dictionary. So, let’s start with the definition in the OED.

William Burke on trial, 1829.

best to keep up with demand by their covert exhumations, it was not enough and the universities were still left choked of good, clean, healthy bodies to open, probe and pick apart. Cue the entrance of the entrepreneurial Irishmen William Burke and William Hare, who simply cut out the middleman (death by natural causes), delivering straight from murder scene to dissection table in a matter of hours.

William Hare giving evidence, 1829.

BURKE [William Burke, executed at Edinburgh in 1829 for murdering by

suffocation or strangulation to sell bodies for dissection.]

1 Kill (a person) to sell the body for dissection; suffocate or strangle secretly. archaic. E19

2 figurative. Stifle, smother (publicity or inquiry);

hush up, suppress (rumour); avoid (a problem). M19

And now the story. In the 19th century, Edinburgh had a problem: although it was a world-renowned centre of medical science and anatomical research, it had a shortage of bodies for dissection. The main source of legal cadavers, executed criminals, was dwindling, and while body-snatchers (the ghoulishly termed Resurrectionists) did their

While there is a morbid interest and fascination in the activities of Burke and Hare (even in Edinburgh, which proudly advertises their gruesome misdeeds to cooing tourists), these were, as if it needed to be spelt out, men of quite horrific brutality. They stumbled somewhat into their murderous careers when a pensioner they knew died of natural causes. No doubt aware of the need for cadavers (the Resurrectionists' work was well-known and the subject of ardent public revulsion), they sold the poor man's mortal remains to a Dr Robert Knox for £7.10s. From that moment, unwilling to idly wait for acquaintances to die of their own accord, Burke and Hare embarked on a murderous campaign that would last ten months and claim at least sixteen victims. Their usual method was to lure the victims back to their lodgings, ply them with alcohol, and then strangle or suffocate them. Their victims were usually working-class women, but also included an 18-year-old man who suffered from some form of intellectual disability and a mute 12-year-old boy.

Dr Robert Knox

Their crimes were detected after a body was discovered in Burke's house. It was generally agreed that Burke, being the more intelligent of the two, was the brains of the operation, and so Hare was offered immunity from prosecution if he confessed and testified against Burke. He did, and Burke was convicted and sentenced to death. He was hanged on the 28th January 1829 before a crowd of over 20,000 onlookers. The following day his body was publicly dissected to a sell-out audience and his skeleton is still displayed in the University of Edinburgh's Anatomy Museum. William Hare left Edinburgh and, after several sightings, he disappeared from public view altogether; his ultimate fate remains unknown. Dr Knox, while legally cleared of any implication in the crimes, was found guilty in the ‘court of public opinion’ (probably not least because he was a very creepy looking fellow) and his reputation, business and research suffered irreparable damage while the infamy of this case led to the introduction of the first

Anatomy Acts. BenedictusBenedictusBenedictusBenedictus




And finallyAnd finallyAnd finallyAnd finally

The works of The works of The works of The works of Heather JanschHeather JanschHeather JanschHeather Jansch

There is always a discussion as There is always a discussion as There is always a discussion as There is always a discussion as to what constitutes art, to what constitutes art, to what constitutes art, to what constitutes art, particularly at this time of year particularly at this time of year particularly at this time of year particularly at this time of year with the Turner Prize and its with the Turner Prize and its with the Turner Prize and its with the Turner Prize and its many controversial entries ...many controversial entries ...many controversial entries ...many controversial entries ... Whatever your view I think Whatever your view I think Whatever your view I think Whatever your view I think you have to agree these life size you have to agree these life size you have to agree these life size you have to agree these life size sculptures of horses are just sculptures of horses are just sculptures of horses are just sculptures of horses are just amazing! They are by British amazing! They are by British amazing! They are by British amazing! They are by British

artist artist artist artist Heather JanschHeather JanschHeather JanschHeather Jansch and and and and

the sculptures are all made the sculptures are all made the sculptures are all made the sculptures are all made entirely entirely entirely entirely from driftwood. I’m from driftwood. I’m from driftwood. I’m from driftwood. I’m sure you agree she has a sure you agree she has a sure you agree she has a sure you agree she has a wonderful eye for equine wonderful eye for equine wonderful eye for equine wonderful eye for equine gragragragrace ce ce ce and anatomyand anatomyand anatomyand anatomy ---- EdEdEdEd




From the Editor

continued generous support of the Finally at this time of year that is special religions, may I wish you all a very Happy ChristmasYear!




From the Editor

continued generous support of the IAS in 2013. Finally at this time of year that is special for so many people and religions, may I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New

I hope you have enjoyed reading your News magazines over the last year and may I take this opportunity thank all those who have contributed in 2013, and I hope that many more of you will contribute in 2014! Remember, this is YOUR magazine, run by members FOR members, so we are always interested in hearing from you.

I would also like to thank our sponsor



and holy in many and a happy and healthy New

I hope you have enjoyed reading your News magazines ay I take this opportunity to

ed in 2013, and I hope that many more of you will contribute in 2014! Remember, this is YOUR magazine, run by members FOR members, so we are always interested in hearing

I would also like to thank our sponsors for their




Answers to the quiz on page 45

LONERGAN AND THE PRESERVATION OF AUTONOMY BY THE HIGHER

INTEGRATION OF UNDERLYING MANIFOLDS

1. Bernard Lonergan was the greatest 20th century philosopher in the tradition of Thomas Aquinas. Ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1936, he held the Chair of Dogmatic Theology in the Gregorian University. In which European city is that

university located?

ROME

2. Although his autonomy was not preserved, the doctor who performed the autopsy in 1821 is alleged to have preserved which one of the manifold parts of Napoleon?

HIS PENIS

3. Bernard Lonergan was born in Canada in 1904. That was the year in which the Russo-Japanese war began, with a Japanese attack on which Russian naval base?

PORT ARTHUR

4. The majority of plumbers favour the use of underfloor manifolds in the provision of central heating. Which plumber featured in Barak Obama’s first presidential election?

JOE THE PLUMBER

5. When asked what he thought of Lonergan’s thesis, Little Noddy shook his head and the bell on his cap sounded a sorrowful note. What colour was Little Noddy’s cap?

BLUE

6. In his book titled “Insight”, an exquisitely detailed study of the act of human understanding teased out over nearly 800 pages, Bernard Lonergan commences by offering as a dramatic example the compelling image of which Greek philosopher

leaping naked from his bath shouting “Eureka!” ?

ARCHIMEDES

7. In many of his paintings, Picasso could be aptly described as striving to integrate the underlying manifolds of the subject. What was his first name?

PABLO

8. David Beckham admitted he hadn’t the foggiest idea what Lonergan was on about, because he never learned to do sums. He offered to ask his wife. What is she learning to do?

FLY (“Learning to Fly” is the title of her autobiography)

9. While undoubtedly fascinated by the underlying manifolds, the effort of integration was beyond the capability of Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner. The wedding guest in the same poem laboured on the problem all night. How did he rise on

the following morning?

“A SADDER AND A WISER MAN, HE ROSE THE MORROW MORN”

10. In the Japanese art of paper folding, it is possible to create virtually any autonomous form as long as you can achieve the underlying many folds and integrate them in the correct sequence. What is that art called?

ORIGAMI

The views and opinions expressed by contributors in this edition do not necessarily represent

those of the Council nor those of the Institute of Anatomical Science. The Editors reserve the right of editorial control and to use their discretion on what is

published and to withhold articles should it be felt necessary to do so.




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Documents

Health Study links synaesthesia to autism · glymphatic system became 10-times more active when the mice were asleep. Cells in the brain, probably the glial cells which keep nerve