Ruggero D’Anastasio, Francesca Monza, Jacopo Cilli, Luigi Capasso
{"title":"Generalized dermatitis in the natural mummy of the Roman Catholic nun Marie-Léonie Martin (France, 1863–1941)","authors":"Ruggero D’Anastasio, Francesca Monza, Jacopo Cilli, Luigi Capasso","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2022.09.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To document skin lesions on a mummified individual from the XIX century and to diagnose the pathology based historical documentation and physical examination.</p></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><p>Marie Leonie Martin (1863–1941) was a Roman Catholic nun. Her naturally mummified body is currently preserved in the Monastery of the Visitation in Caen (France). On the occasion of her beatification, the body was exhumed, studied and restored for conservation purposes.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The mummy was analyzed histologically and with CT imaging.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The examination of the body noted areas of skin discoloration of reddish color; the paleopathological investigations revealed the presence of skin lesions (pustules) distributed throughout the body, with the exception of the face, abdomen and palms. The histological analyses of the pustules showed the presence of a central duct for the leakage of exudate, hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum and a proliferation of cells in the spinous layer (acanthosis) of the epidermis.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The red discoloration of the skin is typical of extensive erythema.</p></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><p>Our understanding of skin conditions in the past is extremely limited. This study provides the first paleopathological case of diagnosed unclassified endogenous eczema and provides insight into the antiquity and effects of the disease.</p></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><p>It was not possible to carry out a genetic analysis due to DNA contamination of the mummy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"39 ","pages":"Pages 64-69"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Paleopathology","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981722000493","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PALEONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
To document skin lesions on a mummified individual from the XIX century and to diagnose the pathology based historical documentation and physical examination.
Materials
Marie Leonie Martin (1863–1941) was a Roman Catholic nun. Her naturally mummified body is currently preserved in the Monastery of the Visitation in Caen (France). On the occasion of her beatification, the body was exhumed, studied and restored for conservation purposes.
Methods
The mummy was analyzed histologically and with CT imaging.
Results
The examination of the body noted areas of skin discoloration of reddish color; the paleopathological investigations revealed the presence of skin lesions (pustules) distributed throughout the body, with the exception of the face, abdomen and palms. The histological analyses of the pustules showed the presence of a central duct for the leakage of exudate, hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum and a proliferation of cells in the spinous layer (acanthosis) of the epidermis.
Conclusions
The red discoloration of the skin is typical of extensive erythema.
Significance
Our understanding of skin conditions in the past is extremely limited. This study provides the first paleopathological case of diagnosed unclassified endogenous eczema and provides insight into the antiquity and effects of the disease.
Limitations
It was not possible to carry out a genetic analysis due to DNA contamination of the mummy.
期刊介绍：
Paleopathology is the study and application of methods and techniques for investigating diseases and related conditions from skeletal and soft tissue remains. The International Journal of Paleopathology (IJPP) will publish original and significant articles on human and animal (including hominids) disease, based upon the study of physical remains, including osseous, dental, and preserved soft tissues at a range of methodological levels, from direct observation to molecular, chemical, histological and radiographic analysis. Discussion of ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health, disease and life histories in the past is central to the discipline, so the journal would also encourage papers covering interpretive and theoretical issues, and those that place the study of disease at the centre of a bioarchaeological or biocultural approach. Papers dealing with historical evidence relating to disease in the past (rather than history of medicine) will also be published. The journal will also accept significant studies that applied previously developed techniques to new materials, setting the research in the context of current debates on past human and animal health.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
