Scientists identify epigenetic marks on DNA of ancient humans

    

A new study by anthropologists from The University of Texas at Austin shows for the first time that epigenetic marks on DNA can be detected in a large number of ancient human remains, which may lead to further understanding about the effects of famine and disease in the ancient world.

The field of epigenetics looks at chemical modifications to DNA, known as epigenetic marks, that influence which genes are expressed -- or turned on or off. Some epigenetic marks stay in place throughout a person's life, but others may be added or removed in response to environmental factors such as diet, disease and climate. If the modification is made to sperm or egg DNA, the changes could be inherited.

"By looking at epigenetic marks, we can better understand what genes are expressed during a person's life and how different environmental stresses shaped physical traits and health across generations," said UT Austin anthropology researcher Rick Smith, lead author of the study.

Previous studies of modern DNA looked at people who experienced famine in utero during World War II, revealing epigenetic changes related to diet, growth and metabolism. Similarly, other modern DNA studies have shown that some epigenetic marks are tied to cancer and may contribute to the development of the disease. Researchers say that investigating these marks in ancient DNA could improve understanding of the health of ancient populations.

Smith worked with Deborah Bolnick, a UT Austin associate professor of anthropology, and Cara Monroe, a Washington State University anthropologist, looking for an epigenetic mark known as cytosine methylation in the remains of 30 ancient humans from five archaeological sites in North America, ranging in age from 230 to more than 4,500 years old. The researchers successfully recovered methylation in 29 of the samples -- a dramatic improvement over previous studies, Smith said.

Prior to this study, cytosine methylation had primarily been detected in isolated ancient remains -- one Neanderthal and one Denisovan from Siberia, between 50,000 and 130,000 years old; a 4,000-year-old Paleo-Eskimo from Greenland; and a 26,000-year-old bison from Canada. Researchers have also identified methylation in barley samples from Egypt that are between 200 and 2,800 years old.

Unlike these previous studies of ancient DNA, Smith used a technique called bisulfite sequencing -- a "gold standard" method commonly used to measure methylation in modern DNA, providing more precise measurements. Many researchers thought it wouldn't yield results when applied to degraded ancient DNA, because it further degrades DNA. However, this research indicates that bisulfite sequencing can be successful when used on more recent and better-preserved DNA, Smith said.

"By studying methylation in ancient DNA from archaeological populations, not just isolated samples, we may gain insights into how past environments affected ancient societies," Bolnick said. "Future research in ancient epigenetics should open a new window into the lives and experiences of people who lived long ago."

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Researchers find high rate of chronic complications tied to tatoos

© webmd
MRSA Infected Arm Tattoo

    

In what they believe to be the first survey of its kind in the United States, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have found that as many as 6 percent of adult New Yorkers who get "inked" — in other words, those who get a tattoo — have experienced some form of tattoo-related rash, severe itching or swelling that lasted longer than four months and, in some cases, for many years.

"We were rather alarmed at the high rate of reported chronic complications tied to getting a tattoo," says senior study investigator and NYU Langone dermatologist Marie Leger, MD, PhD, whose team's latest findings appear in the journal online May 27.

"Given the growing popularity of tattoos," says Leger, an assistant professor in NYU Langone's Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, "physicians, public health officials, and consumers need to be aware of the risks involved."

Leger says some adverse skin reactions are treatable with anti-inflammatory steroid drugs, but others may require laser surgery. For stronger reactions, surgery is sometimes necessary to remove tattooed areas of the skin or built-up scar tissue and granular skin lesions, which can rise several millimeters on the skin and cause considerable itching and emotional distress.

According to Leger, an estimated one in five adult Americans now has at least one tattoo.

Leger says the study findings, derived from survey interviews with some 300 adults in New York's Central Park in June 2013, mirror those in other European countries, which have only recently begun to monitor medical complications associated with tattoos.

Leger cites the lack of regulatory oversight as an underlying weakness in measuring the true scope of the complications tied to tattooing, noting that the chemical composition of colored inks used in the process is poorly understood and not standardized among dye manufacturers. "It is not yet known if the reactions being observed are due to chemicals in the ink itself or to other chemicals, such as preservatives or brighteners, added to them, or to the chemicals' breakdown over time," says Leger. "The lack of a national database or reporting requirements also hinders reliable monitoring."

"The skin is a highly immune-sensitive organ, and the long-term consequences of repeatedly testing the body's immune system with injected dyes and colored inks are poorly understood," says Leger. "Some of the reactions appear to be an immune response, yet we do not know who is most likely to have an immune reaction to a tattoo."

Among the study's other key findings was that similar types of short-term complications, including delayed healing, pain, swelling, and infection within weeks of getting tattooed, occur in as many as 10 percent of people. In addition, the data showed that only a third of those who did experience a reaction sought medical advice or help. Instead, Leger notes, other studies have shown that many go back to the tattoo parlor for advice.

Most long-lasting complications occurred in skin regions injected with the two most common tattoo ink colors, red and black. Almost half (44 percent) of chronic reactions were to red ink, even though only slightly more than a third (36 percent) had tattoos with red ink. One-third of chronic cases involved black ink, while over 90 percent of tattoos encompass black coloring.

Survey respondents ranged in age from 18 to 69, with a majority having no more than five tattoos. One had 53, and the arm was the most popular tattoo site (at 67 percent).

Leger has plans for a larger survey to determine what colored inks and possible dye components are most closely tied to adverse reactions. She says her investigation might also reveal other factors that might put people at greater risk of suffering chronic complications.

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Beaches closed along southern California coast as globs of tar wash ashore from unknown source

© AP Photo/Nick Ut
A cleanup crew collects balls of tar that washed ashore in Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Popular beaches along nearly 7 miles of Los Angeles-area coastline are off-limits to surfing and swimming after balls of tar washed ashore. The beaches along south Santa Monica Bay appeared virtually free of oil Thursday morning after an overnight cleanup, but officials aren't sure if more tar will show up.

    

Popular beaches along nearly 7 miles of Los Angeles-area coastline were off-limits to surfing and swimming Thursday as scientists looked for the source of globs of tar that washed ashore.

The sand and surf on south Santa Monica Bay appeared virtually free of oil after an overnight cleanup, but officials weren't sure if more tar would show up. They planned to assess during low tide at midday.

U.S. Coast Guard and state officials said samples of tar and water would be analyzed to identify where it originated, but it could take days to get the results. Nothing has been ruled out, including last week's coastal oil spill that created a 10-square-mile slick about 100 miles to the northwest off the Santa Barbara County coast.

There is also a refinery and offshore oil tanker terminal nearby, but the Coast Guard did not find a sheen from a spill after the tar started to accumulate Wednesday.

No problems with wildlife have been reported, said Sau Garcia of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Lifeguards chased a handful of surfers out of the water, but beach life was otherwise normal for people exercising, playing volleyball, skating and riding bikes along the shore.

"I got a couple waves in and then they came by again and told me to get out," said Scott Berk, who regularly surfs at Manhattan Beach.

He said surfers are used to seeing bits of tar in the water and on the shore from natural seafloor seepage, but the amount that came in Wednesday was concerning.

"I hope they clean it up quickly," he said.

Public health officials told people to avoid contact with the water, wet sand or any material that washed up in the area. They warned that contact with petroleum products can cause skin irritation and result in long-term health problems.

© AP Photo/Nick Ut
Contaminated bags of sand and oil are loaded onto a track loader in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Popular beaches along nearly 7 miles of Los Angeles-area coastline are off-limits to surfing and swimming after balls of tar washed ashore. The beaches along south Santa Monica Bay appeared virtually free of oil Thursday morning after an overnight cleanup, but officials aren't sure if more tar will show up.

    

Officials said it appeared to be about a barrel or two of oil—nothing like the Santa Barbara spill that killed some 16 birds and nine marine mammals, including dolphins and sea lions.

A small amount of tar also was reported Wednesday about 60 miles to the north in Oxnard, officials said.

Jane Hamburg, 54, of Cincinnati, saw news of the tar on TV and came down expecting black beaches. Instead, she found clean, groomed sand and no shortage of joggers, bicyclists and dog walkers.

"Looks good from where I'm standing," she said in Manhattan Beach. "I was expecting it to interrupt my day. Now, I just hope the sun comes out."

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Tornado strikes natural gas drilling rig in Texas panhandle

© kfor.com
The Canadian, Texas tornado just before it struck an oil rig in Texas.

    

At least three people were injured on Wednesday when a tornado hit a natural gas drilling rig in northern Texas, the Hemphill County sheriff and a hospital official said.

One victim sustained minor injuries, the second had non-life-threatening injuries to the face, and the third suffered "an impalement to the abdomen," Hemphill County Sheriff James Pearson said in a statement.

Two of the more seriously injured were transported to a hospital in Amarillo and one was treated at Hemphill County Hospital in Canadian, Hemphill Hospital Chief Executive Christy Francis said.

The patient who remained at Hemphill County Hospital was in stable condition, Francis said.

The drilling rig is near Canadian, a town of nearly 3,000 residents that is about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Amarillo in the Texas panhandle.

Pearson said highways were closed due to debris from downed trees and flooding.

There was no word on the rig's operations but Pearson said there was "extensive damage to the doghouses," the general-purpose rooms adjacent to the rig floor.

Storms have battered Texas this week, killing at least 15 people in weather-related incidents, including six in Houston.

The death toll in the state was expected to rise, with about a dozen people still missing and a new round of thunderstorms pelting the already flooded cities of Houston and Austin.

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Wild elephant kills man in Chandil, India

Elephants chilling out.

    

A body of a 35-year-old man was recovered from Tarkuan jungles in Manikui under Chandil police station area in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

The deceased, identified Ajay Kujur, had been trampled to death by a wild elephant at Tarkuan jungle, which is a natural habitat of the pachyderms.

According to sources, Ajay who was a resident of adjoining Chhotakha village in Chandil had gone into the jungle for procuring 'datoons' along with two other villagers last morning, but did not return.

Rampaging herds of tuskers in the villages of West Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharsawan district are forcing innocent tribal to spend sleepless nights.

A forest official said: "We paid the victim's family Rs 25,000 today as compensation, and will pay the remaining Rs 2.25 lakh within a week," said the range officer.

In an area that boasts of a forest cover of 30 percent, the human-animal conflict is major concern of the people.

In past one month cases of elephant's regularly damaging standing crops and attacking villagers have shot up.

Under Jhinkpani block areas like Choya, Beteya and Kudapi are worst affected. Just recently herds of elephants entered village under Manjahri police station and destroyed crops.

In many villages, people are forced to spend their nights on trees in fear. Some even light fires and drumming up traditional instruments to keep tuskers at bay.

People are in state of havoc due to such menace. Sometimes villagers migrate to safer places for a week or more to avoid the sudden night-time attacks of the wild elephant herds.

"We are forced to spend sleepless nights. Our lives are at risk due to rampaging elephants. Elephants regularly venture into villages, destroy houses, damage standing crops and even trample people to death. We are forced to work like a 'night guard' to save our lives and crops" said Ramesh Munda of Jhinkpani.

He said that rampaging elephants are a cause of concern. Some measures have been adopted and there is need to do more to protect the people.

He added that when the villagers force them to migrate to Manjhari area they enter Choya area under Jhinkpani.

There are two groups of tuckers active in the area and one of which also consists of baby elephants.

Meanwhile the officials of the forest department said the department is installing solar electric to safeguard villagers.

When the animals would come into contact with the fence, they would experience mild electric shock, which would force them to leave the place immediately. The fencing will not lead to death of animals.

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Putin: BRICS Summit in July will be setting for launch of New Development Bank and currency pool

© RIA Novosti / Alexei Druzhinin

    

Russia expects to launch the $100-billion BRICS New Development Bank along with a currency reserve pool worth another $100 billion at the July summit in Ufa, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We expect to reach agreement in Ufa on the launch of practical operations of the BRICS Bank and a pool of currency reserves," Putin said on Thursday at a ceremony to receive the credentials of ambassadors of foreign states, TASS reports.

Putin recalled that the BRICS was created in 2006 under Russia's initiative, and that the group "has already become an influential factor in world policy and economy."

"Russia is interested in further intensifying cooperation between the BRICS countries and developing new interaction mechanisms, including in the financial and economic sphere," he said.

An additional impulse would be given in the next days "to the development of inter-parliamentary relations, humanitarian and information cooperation, the intensification of contacts between trade unions and non-governmental organizations," he added.

The agreement on the establishment of the New Development bank was signed by the BRICS countries in July 2014. The bank seen as rival to the existing US-led institutions, the IMF and World Bank, will finance infrastructure projects and ensure the sustainable development of the group and other developing countries.

President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce Sergey Katyrin took over the chairmanship of a business council of BRICS, an economic association made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, on April 1.

The reserve currencies pool worth $100 billion is intended to protect national currencies from volatility in global markets and will allow the five BRICS member states to depend less on fluctuations in the world economy, bypass market volatility and other negative factors.

The upcoming BRICS Summit is to be held in the Russian city of Ufa on 8-9 July. The countries are expected to discuss the IMF reform that should give a louder voice to developing countries in decision-making, and the possibility of creating an independent BRICS rating agency. Russia was chosen to assume the BRICS rotating leadership in April 2015.

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Putin: FIFA arrests one more attempt for U.S. to impose their law against other states

    

The FIFA-linked arrests on the eve of the re-election of the organization's chief are an obvious attempt to thwart Sepp Blatter's re-appointment, Vladimir Putin said, answering journalists' questions. He added it's another example of US meddling abroad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the US could be selfishly motivated for its own gain, as was the case with Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.

"Unfortunately our American partners are using these methods in order to achieve their own selfish gains and it is illegal to persecute people. I would not rule out that in regards to FIFA, the same thing could be happening, though I do not know how it will end," he said.

"However, the fact that this is happening right on the eve of the FIFA presidential elections, gives one this exact impression."

Putin added this is an obvious attempt to expand Washington's jurisdiction in other countries.

"This is yet one more attempt to try and impose their law against other states. I am absolutely sure that this is an attempt to try and stop Blatter from being re-elected as FIFA president, which is a grave breach of the principles of a functioning international organization."

He also said pressure had been applied on Blatter "to force him to take the 2018 World Cup from Russia."

"We know his position - which has nothing to do with any kind of special relationship between Russia and FIFA - he thinks that sport and politics should be separate."

"In terms of these arrests, it looks rather strange at the very least. These arrests took place at the request of the Americans and they were accused of corruption," Putin told journalists, pointing out that that the accusations were being made against international officials.

"One could say that maybe someone might be guilty of something. I do not know this, but what I do know is that this has nothing to do with the USA," he added. "They, these officials, are not citizens of the USA, and if something happened, it did not take place on the territory of the United States and the US has no business in this."

Putin added that the "prosecutor of the United States, according to our mass media has already said that these FIFA committee members have committed a crime. This is almost as though the prosecutor doesn't know of the rule 'innocent until proven guilty'."

"Whether the people are guilty or not, this should be decided in a court."

The Russian president recalled the history surrounding the former National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden, who managed to leak documents surrounding the illegal actions of the USA across the world, which included creating secret surveillance programs to listen in on the conversations of world leaders.

"No one wants to give him the right to be accepted as an asylum seeker or to guarantee his safety. No one wants to get in a quarrel with their partners, with their more senior partners."

Putin added that Assange's case is also relevant.

"They are after him because he leaked information, which he received from US defense, which detailed the actions of the US army in the Middle East and in particular in Iraq."

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