Neural tube defect in a 4000-year-old Egyptian infant mummy: A case of meningocele from the museum of anthropology and ethnography of Turin (Italy)

Boano, Rosa; Fulcheri, Ezio; Martina, Maria Cristina; Ferraris, Andrea; Grilletto, Renato; Cremo, R.; Cesarani, Federico; Gandini, Giovanni; Massa, E. Rabino

doi:10.1016/j.ejpn.2008.11.007

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…[6][7][8][9][10] Recently, a congenital malformation of the neural tube was diagnosed in an infant mummy using computed tomography scan. 11 In ancient Egypt, consanguinity, a well-known cause of congenital malformations, was common, especially in the royal family, as evidenced by the Tutankhamun pedigree. 1 However, owing to the embalming process that required a complete evisceration, no congenital heart disease has been reported so far to our knowledge.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, medical techniques such as radiographs, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and deoxyribonucleic acid analysis are now widely used in this context 6 10 Recently, a congenital malformation of the neural tube was diagnosed in an infant mummy using computed tomography scan 11 . In ancient Egypt, consanguinity, a well-known cause of congenital malformations, was common, especially in the royal family, as evidenced by the Tutankhamun pedigree 1 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A dextrocardia in a foetal Egyptian mummy?

2012

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A dextrocardia in a foetal Egyptian mummy?

2012

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“…Il a été rapporté, par des spécialistes, des cas d'anomalies du système nerveux (Hydrocéphalie, Spina bifida), pieds bots, luxation de hanches, scoliose…. [19,20].…”

Section: La Préhistoireunclassified

Il était une fois les "humains-monstres":Grains d'histoire d'un phénomène venu du fond des âges.

SAHBATOU¹

2018

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RésuméD’un point de vue historiographique, la traçabilité de l’étude des malformations congénitales est complexe. Les reconstitutions chronologiques sont difficiles car les données sont fragmentaires, éparses, se perdant dans les méandres même de l’histoire des civilisations et de l’art de soigner en ses débuts. L’empreinte de la mythologie dans tous ses contours et sa diversité a profondément marqué cette branche de la pathologie humaine qu’est la tératologie. En effet, les anomalies physiques humaines ont été pendant de longs siècles un sujet dont l’abord était teinté de multiples incompréhensions, d’appréhensions ou autres approches imaginatives et fabulistes. Le développement puis l’amalgame de cultures d’horizons divers ont contribués à complexifier la perception du phénomène.A travers les développements suivants, nous dessinerons la dynamique de diverses perceptions des difformités humaines à travers l’histoire. Nous citerons également les principales figures scientifiques du XVIIIème ou XIXème siècle qui, grâce à leurs travaux, ont été à l’origine des longs processus de transition conduisant à la naissance de la tératologie humaine.Le recueil et l’analyse de plusieurs sources documentaires d’histoire et publications sur le sujet ont été à la base de ce travail.Mots-Clés : Monstres-Difformités-Mythologie-Tératologie.

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“… 1 , 2 Severe NTD (a meningocele) has been described in a 4000-year-old Egyptian infant mummy; however, the role of folic acid insufficiency as a risk factor for NTD was only recognized in the 20th century. 3 Approximately 4500 of these cases occur in Europe, at a rate of ∼11 per 10,000 births in the UK and Ireland, 4 with a similar rate in New Zealand. 5 Although no precise figures on NTDs are available in Egypt, rough estimates of 4.26/1000 live born babies, and a relatively high incidence at Cairo University Children Hospital have been observed (unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Folic Acid Intake and Neural Tube Defects

et al. 2015

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Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of congenital malformations with worldwide distribution and complex etiopathogenesis. Folic acid plays a pivotal role in their prevention. We aimed to identify the protective effect of folic acid intake against NTDs and its dependence on different socioeconomic and environmental factors in a cohort of mothers in Egypt.A cross-sectional study was carried over a period of 12 months on mothers who gave birth to babies with NTDs (group 1) and a control group with healthy offsprings (group 2). Both groups completed 2 questionnaires: food frequency questionnaire targeting the daily folate intake, and socioeconomic status and medical history questionnaire.Both groups of mothers received folate <800 μg/day, recommended for pregnant women. A strong association was detected between NTDs and urban residency with medium educated mothers, with negative consanguinity, who had folate intake < 400 μg daily, and who had their food long cooked. Each of these factors separately had a limited impact to cause NTDs, but when present together they did augment each other. Interestingly enough is the role of fava bean, cauliflower, spinach, and mango in predisposing of NTDs in the presence of the above-mentioned factors.The protective effect of folic acid intake against NTDs may depend on the synergism of different socioeconomic and environmental factors (which differ from country to another). In Egypt, females especially the medium-educated who live in urban areas should be well-informed with the value of folate intake in the periconceptional period.

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Neural tube defect in a 4000-year-old Egyptian infant mummy: A case of meningocele from the museum of anthropology and ethnography of Turin (Italy)

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

A dextrocardia in a foetal Egyptian mummy?

A dextrocardia in a foetal Egyptian mummy?

Il était une fois les "humains-monstres":Grains d'histoire d'un phénomène venu du fond des âges.

Folic Acid Intake and Neural Tube Defects

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