Korean Mummy Holds Clues to Disease

!oohaY ^ | Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007 | Jeanna Bryner

[SunkenCiv]

The liver of a child mummy preserved for 500 years still holds samples of the hepatitis B virus... Mark Spigelman of the Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem... is a paleo-epidemiologist, who studies ancient diseases found on mummified bodies to shed light on the modern forms of such illnesses. This is the first time hepatitis B has been spotted in a mummified body. In South Korea, 12 percent of the population are hepatitis carriers, more than double the world average. The virus, responsible for about 1 million deaths each year, spreads through contact with an infected person's body fluids, such as blood and semen. The body typically recovers from the infection on its own after a few months, but chronic infections can last a lifetime and cause scarring of the liver, liver cancer or failure. Until recently, scientists didn't think mummies existed in South Korea. A building boom in the country has led to the relocation of many cemeteries and the discovery of mummies... Spigelman is now part of an international team, including experts from the Liver Unit at Hadassah University Hospital-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, Dankook University, Seoul National University and University College London. The researchers will compare the genome of the 500-year-old virus with today's hepatitis B to see how it evolved over the centuries.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

I've resolved not to make any more stupid mummy jokes. For the time being.

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[mtbopfuyn]

Great, lets hope it’s not still alive.

[theDentist]

Korean Mummy Holds Clues to Disease

"Professor Spigelman, in the Foyer, with a wrench!"

[CholeraJoe]

"Mummyyyyy,
How I luv ya,
How I luv ya,
My dear ol' mummy!"

[ASA Vet]

I've resolved not to make any more stupid mummy jokes

You've wrapped that up nicely.

[Judith Anne]

Ancient mummies have odd relations with the deadies.

[Cold Heart]

Hepatitis bump

[SunkenCiv]

Chicken pox or measles, maybe, but no bump from hepatitis. ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, I knew you would all come through for me, and take a bandage of the opportunity.

[wildbill]

Well, I guess that wraps the mummy jokes up. Suits me.

[Judith Anne]

It’s just pyramiding. I can’t believe it.

[AdmSmith]

If there is a prevalence of some 10 % and at maximum 15 %, assume 10 % will become chronically infected, that would be roughly 1 % of the population in the good old times. Those affected will have a 10 - 25 % risk of dying of liver cancer or cirrhosis, i.e 0.1 - 0.25 %. Al in all I do not think that this was the largest chance to become a mummy.

It will be very interesting to compare the genome with the present HBV.

[SunkenCiv]

HBV?

[SunkenCiv]

It’s not coffin we get a chance at those.

[SunkenCiv]

Oh, the horus!

[AdmSmith]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
http://www.hepatitis-b.org/malady/front/pages/index.jsp?&lang=EN&codeRubrique=3&codePage=HEPATITISB

[SunkenCiv]

Oops, I knew that one... sorry.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Renfield.

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[wildbill]

nope. Only when we get a can o pics, jarring us out of our graveside manner into smiling with a nu biz.