BackgroundPrevious genetic studies of modern and ancient mitochondrial DNA have confirmed the Near Eastern origin of early European domestic cattle. However, these studies were not able to test whether hybridisation with male aurochs occurred post-domestication. To address this issue, Götherström and colleagues (2005) investigated the frequencies of two Y-chromosomal haplotypes in extant bulls. They found a significant influence of wild aurochs males on domestic populations thus challenging the common view on early domestication and Neolithic stock-rearing. To test their hypothesis, we applied these Y-markers on Neolithic bone specimens from various European archaeological sites.Methods and FindingsHere, we have analysed the ancient DNA of 59 Neolithic skeletal samples. After initial molecular sexing, two segregating Y-SNPs were identified in 13 bulls. Strikingly, our results do not support the hypothesis that these markers distinguish European aurochs from domesticated cattle.ConclusionsThe model of a rapid introduction of domestic cattle into Central Europe without significant crossbreeding with local wild cattle remains unchallenged.

Endoscopic treatment for stenosis of an anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been proven to be effective and safe, but the long-term outcomes and the risk factors for recurrence are unknown. All 374 patients who underwent OLT at Frankfurt University Hospital were screened for the occurrence of ABSs. ABSs were treated via the endoscopic insertion of a plastic endoprosthesis (29.8%), balloon dilation (12.8%), or a combination of the two (57.4%). The mean follow-up time was 151 weeks, and the mean survival time was 3.4 years. ABSs were observed in 47 patients (12.6%). The mean time from OLT to an ABS was 16.25 months (median 5 3.25 months). The cumulative incidence rates for ABSs were 0.09 after 12 months, 0.10/24 m. and 0.11/36 m. In 12 cases (25.5%), ABSs were observed more than 12 months after OLT. ABSs recurred in 16 of the 47 patients (34%). The occurrence of an ABS 6 weeks or more after OLT was a significant predictor of ABS recurrence [P 5 0.04, hazard ratio (HR) 5 0.235]. There was a trend of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections being predominant in patients experiencing ABS recurrence (30% for HCV etiology versus 4% for non-HCV etiology) in comparison with patients not experiencing recurrence (36% for HCV etiology versus 30% for non-HCV etiology, P > 0.05). The severity of the initial stricture predicted ABS recurrence (P 5 0.046, HR 5 2.78), but it did not influence overall survival. The long-term resolution of ABSs was observed in 45 of the 47 patients (95.7%), and ABS recurrence was treated with another attempt (n 5 16 or 34%) or 2 more attempts (n 5 1) at endoscopic treatment. In conclusion, the long-term success of the endoscopic treatment of ABSs is highly probable if recurrent strictures are again treated endoscopically. ABSs might occur late (>36 months) after OLT, and lifelong follow-up is essential for identifying OLT patients with ABSs. Liver Transpl 19:586-593, 2013. V C 2013 AASLD.Received September 3, 2012; accepted February 14, 2013. Anastomotic biliary strictures (ABSs; ie, strictures of biliobiliary anastomoses) are a major cause of morbidity in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), with an incidence ranging from 8% to approximately 20%.1-3 Many strictures are symptomatic within the first year after OLT, but they may occur later. Risk factors include biliary leakage and issues of surgical technique, but the development of stenosis is incompletely understood. Nonoperative ABS management has become the treatment of first choice, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography

Domestication is an ongoing process continuously changing the lives of animals and humans and the environment. For the majority of European cattle (Bos taurus) genetic and archaeozoological evidence support initial domestication ca. 11'000 BP in the Near East from few founder aurochs (Bos primigenius) belonging to the mitochondrial DNA T macro-haplogroup. Gene flow between wild European aurochs of P haplogroup and domestic cattle of T haplogroup, coexisting over thousands of years, appears to have been sporadic. We report archaeozoological and ancient DNA evidence for the incorporation of wild stock into a domestic cattle herd from a Neolithic lake-dwelling in Switzerland. A complete metacarpus of a small and compact adult bovid is morphologically and genetically a female. With withers height of ca. 112 cm, it is comparable in size with small domestic cattle from contemporaneous sites in the area. The bone is directly dated to 3360–3090 cal BC and associated to the Horgen culture, a period of the secondary products revolution. The cow possessed a novel mtDNA P haplotype variant of the European aurochs. We argue this is either a single event or, based on osteological characteristics of the Horgen cattle, a rare instance of intentional breeding with female aurochs.

Faunal remains from Palaeolithic sites are important genetic sources to study preglacial and postglacial populations and to investigate the effect of climate change and human impact. Post mortem decay, resulting in fragmented and chemically modified DNA, is a key obstacle in ancient DNA analyses. In the absence of reliable methods to determine the presence of endogenous DNA in sub-fossil samples, temporal and spatial surveys of DNA survival on a regional scale may help to estimate the potential of faunal remains from a given time period and region. We therefore investigated PCR amplification success, PCR performance and post mortem damage in c. 47,000 to c. 12,000-year-old horse remains from 14 Palaeolithic sites along the Swiss Jura Mountains in relation to depositional context, tissue type, storage time and age, potentially influencing DNA preservation. The targeted 75 base pair mitochondrial DNA fragment could be amplified solely from equid remains from caves and not from any of the open dry and (temporary) wetland sites. Whether teeth are better than bones cannot be ultimately decided; however, both storage time after excavation and age significantly affect PCR amplification and performance, albeit not in a linear way. This is best explained by theinevitable-heterogeneity of the data set. The extent of post mortem damage is not related to any of the potential impact factors. The results encourage comprehensive investigations of Palaeolithic cave sites, even from temperate regions.

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