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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
DNA study reveals mystery of ancient Scots buried at Belgian abbey
What was eventually discerned to be the town's medieval graveyard yielded a snapshot of the people who had lived or travelled to the town and died there since at least 800 AD. But when scientists began to test the lineage of the cemetery's inhabitants, a surprising discovery was made. While the vast majority could be traced to people who lived across the low countries or in Germany, five bodies from the cemetery were identified as coming from much further afield. And researchers have concluded that each – three men and two boys, or juveniles – came from Scotland or possibly Western Ireland. The dig took place in the centre of the town (image: Aron Bvba)But none are related to each other or to anyone else in the graveyard, and were not even buried in the same areas. Now it is thought that the mystery has been solved – hinting at closer links between medieval Scotland and the hinterlands of Europe than was previously thought. Today, St Truiden is a small town far from the coast in the centre of Belgium, with a population of around 40,000. Established in the first Milleneum, it traces its roots back to the establishment of an abbey by St Trudo in the 7th century around a sacred spring said to have healing properties. The town itself grew up around the abbey, becoming established by the mid-800s. It would go on to become a centre of the textile trade, with links across Europe, its stable population interred on top of each other at the same site. 'It's fascinating to see the genetic data from hundreds of years here in one little city,' KU Leuven professor and genealogist Maarten Larmuseau, who co-led the study, told the local Brussels Times. 'We could sample so many individuals from such a long period and same place, making it the biggest study ever for one location.' Graves dating back centuries were discovered (Image: Aron Bvba) The study of the bones' DNA shows that four of the Scots came from between the years 1000 AD to 1286 - with the fifth believed to have originated slightly later. At this time Christianity had deep roots in Scotland, which was becoming established as the Kingdom of Alba as Gaelic domination overrode the realms of the Picts and Britons who also occupied parts of the land. As the bodies found in the graveyard were traced to either Scotland or Ireland, it is likely they were Gaels from the west who had travelled to Europe. The study rules out any links to the well-travelled Vikings, whose DNA samples were also used for comparison, and who settled many parts of Scotland in the centuries prior to the date the bodies were interred. Instead, the study believes the men and boys found in the graveyard were linked to the town's abbey itself, with one buried close to its grounds. READ MORE: 'Exceptional' ancient artefacts uncovered as new golf course takes shape New Viking displays bring Orkney's Norse past to life The study says: 'Contrary to what might be expected based on the abbey's international connections, as noted in its chronicles, and the long-distance trade of products from Sint-Truiden, no long-distance migrants from regions outside Northwest Europe were identified among the genomes we studied. 'Most individuals in Sint-Truiden, based on their clustering with modern-day genomes from Flanders, likely had local origins in the region surrounding Sint-Truiden. 'The only exception in our sample to the predominantly local ancestry profile typical to the Low Countries is a distinct group of five individuals with profiles similar to those from Ireland and Scotland.' It adds: 'Four of the outliers date to 1000–1286 and one to Early Middle Ages, and they were buried separately at the cemetery site. 'All male individuals belonged to the Y chromosome haplogroup R1b2-L21 clade, whose ancestry is uniquely related to the British Isles. 'Despite two of the outliers being juveniles, none of the individuals shared close genetic relationships with each other or anyone else sampled from Sint-Truiden.' The graveyard covered a huge area (Image: Aron Bvba) At this time links religious between Scotland and the continent had become strong, with Benedectine monks establishing abbeys in several locations. Tellingly, the abbey in Sint Truiden was also Benedictine, suggesting the men and boys were monks or at least pilgrims. However, records kept by the abbey make no mention of Scottish connections, which would be expected if there were formal links with Caledonian abbeys. But the other possibility is that the group were stonemasons or carpenters who were plying their trade in Europe at the time the abbey underwent reconstruction, and another large church was built in Sint Truiden. The study says: 'It is plausible that these persons were connected to the Benedictine abbey, although the abbey's chronicles make no mention of connections to Ireland or Scotland. 'Therefore, they may have been specialized craftsmen or pilgrims during the abbey's period of growth when a large church and other parts of the abbey were constructed.' Despite the mystery, the projects leaders remain pleased with the discovery, which represents the first remains of individuals from Scotland in the Low Countries during this period. Aside from the Scots' remains, the DNA study also uncovered some rather more macabre findings. Among the bones dating to the 14th century was the first trace of the lack Death in discovered medieval Flanders. Known to be found in England and in Germany at the time, the discovery is the first time it has been found in the Low Countries or in Flanders. But unlike the plague pits of elsewhere, Individuals with traces of the disease were buried in scattered, individual graves. 'What was really interesting was that they were not buried in a mass grave, but really separated from each other. So maybe people at that time didn't know why they were dying,' Prof Larmuseau said. There is no mention of the plague in the chronicles of the abbey and in the city records in the 14th century, but it is then found in the DNA – which is 'amazing' , says the researcher. However, there was the study also allowed researchers to fit together family trees from long-forgotten remains – finding that many relatives of the same familes were interred in the Cemetry during the centuries. With so many bodies buried over so long a time, it was no surprise that the study allowed researchers to find connections between the bones.
Arabian Business
25-04-2025
- Health
- Arabian Business
Keylika develops first Buccal Patch for Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
You probably know at least one person suffering from iron deficiency – however, it still remains one of the top undermined health problems today. Despite affecting over 10 million Americans and a staggering 1.3 billion people worldwide, treatment options remain stuck in the past – until now. Specific to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the high tea consumption laden with phytates and tannins inhibits dietary iron absorption, contributing to higher rates of iron deficiency here. 'Most people have no idea how debilitating iron deficiency anemia can be. As a critical micronutrient, iron has a foundational role to play in multiple biological processes in the body down to the cellular level, its uncorrected deficiency has far-reaching consequences,' says Buddha Chaudhuri, Ph.D., CEO of biotech company, Keylika. After years working on drug delivery and medical devices, Keylika's team has pioneered what could be a breakthrough solution: the world's first buccal patch for treating iron deficiency. Bringing scientific expertise to the challenge With a Ph.D. in drug delivery systems from KU Leuven and Imec in Belgium, Buddha brings extensive expertise to combat iron deficiency treatment. His career spans postdoctoral research at UCSF and UC Berkeley, along with leadership roles directing microsystems technology at Biolinq, where he developed wearable continuous glucose monitoring devices. 'My background in microfabrication, materials science and drug delivery systems gave me unique insights into how we might solve this widespread problem,' Buddha explains. This specialised knowledge led him to establish Keylika, a Y Combinator-backed Biotech startup now developing a first-of-its-kind solution for iron deficiency. Symptoms and challenges in diagnosis of IDA Iron is a core component of haemoglobin, the oxygen-transporting protein in the body. Without it, oxygen carrying is impacted and virtually every organ system of the body can suffer damage. Sustained iron deficiency can cause persistent fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, compromised immunity, musculoskeletal problems, skin and hair issues and even neurocognitive impairment. These symptoms are often debilitating and mask the underlying condition, which is why many doctors dismiss them as stress, anxiety, or depression, particularly in women. This leads to underdiagnosis and undertreatment, perpetuating the cycle of suffering. Overcoming the limitations of existing treatments Anyone who has taken iron pills knows the unpleasant side effects. Stomach pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea – it's no wonder compliance rates are so poor. Dr. Christy Evans, a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and functional women's health practitioner at Almond ObGyn in Los Angeles, sees the problem firsthand. 'Iron deficiency impacts roughly 40 per cent of adolescent women and up to 35 per cent of adult women of reproductive age,' she explains. 'Standard oral supplements have low bioavailability and poor gastrointestinal tolerance, which become especially more pronounced in pregnancy.' Several factors increase risk for iron deficiency anemia, especially in women, including: Monthly menstrual blood loss, particularly for women with heavy periods Pregnancy and post-partum, when iron demands often exceed dietary intake Underlying conditions that result in iron malabsorption, e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, post-bariatric surgery, cancer, etc. Vegetarian or vegan diets, as plant sources provide less bioavailable iron, and polyphenols inhibit iron absorption Intense physical activity, which places a higher burden on oxygen transport, thereby consuming more iron, leading to faster iron depletion Despite affecting 1 in 4 women globally, iron deficiency often gets misdiagnosed as anxiety, depression, or simply being 'tired.' This dismissal leads to misdiagnosis and prolonged suffering for millions. The alternative isn't much better. Intravenous (IV) iron infusions work well but require clinical settings, carry risks, and cost a small fortune. According to another physician, Dr. Rondeep Brar, Clinical Professor of Medicine-Haematology at Stanford School of Medicine: 'Such infusions are safe and effective, though require clinical supervision in an infusion center, are not readily accessible to many patients, and carry significant cost.' Introducing the Buccal Patch: A world first for iron delivery Keylika's innovative approach centers on a proprietary non-heme iron complex delivered through a dissolvable buccal patch technology called KEYPaxtek™. The patch adheres to the inner oral cheek for less than 30 minutes, allowing iron to absorb directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and the first pass metabolism. 'We've developed a new small-molecule drug that permeates the buccal mucosa and eliminates the GI side effects associated with oral supplements,' Buddha notes. 'Our preclinical studies have demonstrated both safety and efficacy in the buccal delivery of iron into systemic circulation.' The idea has caught the attention of specialists like Dr. Rondeep Brar, at Stanford. 'A novel transbuccal solution could be a valuable addition to available options if a therapeutically relevant dose can be delivered without significant side effects,' notes Dr. Brar. Early tests look promising. In experiments with iron-deficient hamsters, the patch successfully delivered iron directly into the bloodstream without toxic effects. Keylika is exploring potential partnership opportunities with pharma companies to develop the technology further. Dr Evans, who sees many female patients with iron deficiency, can imagine its impact on her patient population, 'Keylika's unique approach of delivering a more absorbable form of iron with a buccal patch can be a game-changer as it has the potential to achieve significantly higher efficacy minus the typical GI side effects of orals.' Vision for a platform technology Buddha isn't working alone. His co-founder and CTO, Frederik Ceyssens, Ph.D., brings complementary medical expertise with over 150 published research articles. Together with advisors from major medical institutions, they are tackling challenges like ensuring the patch is shelf-stable and tastes acceptable while scaling up manufacturing. 'While iron deficiency constitutes a huge unmet medical need, and is our first go-to clinical indication, this is not our only asset,' says Buddha. Frederik Ceyssens explains, 'Our buccal patch has been demonstrated as a platform drug delivery technology, one that can be used to deliver a wide range of molecules less than 10 kDa molecular size that suffer from poor oral bioavailability, directly into blood circulation without the need for injections.' In that, Keylika's buccal technology represents a step-change in oral drug delivery norms, with the overarching goal of administering hard-to-deliver drugs systemically bridging molecular size and dosage constraints. The company's next strategic asset class is peptides and hormones, with the KEYPaxtek™ delivery tech exhibiting the potential to deliver these molecules. Keylika was recently accepted into Bakar Labs at UC Berkeley, giving them access to additional resources and expertise. The next major milestone will be more preclinical tests culminating in first-in-human studies, followed by FDA submissions. 'Our goal has always been to find solutions that actually work for patients,' Buddha says. 'When you're iron deficient, you just want to feel better without trading in one problem for another.' If Keylika succeeds, millions of people might finally have an option that doesn't force them to choose between adverse oral side effects or hasslesome injections.
South China Morning Post
21-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Baron Guy Ullens, art collector, gallery owner and philanthropist, dies aged 90
Baron Guy Ullens, the Belgian businessman and philanthropist known for his pioneering contemporary art centre in Beijing and a violent family tragedy two years ago, died on April 19 at the age of 90. Advertisement Ullens was born in San Francisco into an aristocratic Belgian family, and spent his early years moving from one country to another because of his father's career as a diplomat. After graduating with a law degree from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven [now KU Leuven] in Belgium, and an MBA from Stanford University in the US, he joined his family's sugar refinery business Raffinerie Tirlemontoise and orchestrated its 1989 sale to Germany's Südzucker. In 1999, as head of investment company Artal Group, he acquired majority control of Weight Watchers International through what Forbes described as 'the private equity deal of the century'. It was a highly profitable move which made him one of Belgium's richest individuals. Shortly afterwards, he retired from business and dedicated himself to philanthropy after marrying his second wife Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens. Among the charitable foundations set up by the couple was the Fondation Guy & Myriam Ullens, based in Switzerland, which held the duo's vast art collection. Philanthropist Guy Ullens (left) and wife Myriam, during a party to celebrate the opening of The Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, in 798 Art District, Beijing, in 2007. Photo: Chang Liang BJ – Imaginechina Guy Ullens began collecting art from around the world in the 1960s. Then, in the 1980s, just after China opened up to foreign investments, he became interested in Chinese art and antiques after travelling to the country frequently on business. He was among the first wave of international collectors, with Uli Sigg and David Tang, who were drawn to China's independent contemporary art scene. The foundation eventually amassed a significant collection of key works by artists such as Zeng Fanzhi, Zhang Xiaogang and Huang Yongping.
Morocco World
25-03-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Measles Virus Linked to Morocco Found in Brussels Sewage
Rabat – Researchers from KU Leuven have detected a high concentration of the measles virus in Brussels' sewage water. According to Elke Wollants, a lab manager at the Rega Institute, the detected virus is genotype B3, a strain linked to Morocco. The concentration of the virus peaked on March 11. However, Belgium's health institute Vivalis has recorded only 18 measles cases in Brussels this year. 'This is likely an underestimation,' Wollants noted . She also explained that this type of measles has a high viral load in patient samples, which may affect the results. Morocco has been experiencing an alarming rise in measles cases and related deaths in recent months. The country reported around 20,000 cases since October 2023, resulting in the death of over 107 people, half of whom were children under 12. The outbreak mainly affected schools and prison institutions across the country. Wollants warned that the virus is spreading across Europe, with the Netherlands recording 45 cases in just two weeks. 'Spain and France are also struggling,' she said. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported 551 measles cases in Belgium from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025. Only Romania, Italy, and Germany had more cases during that period. Measles can be deadly, particularly for children. Symptoms include red rashes starting behind the ears, high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, and a runny nose. The disease can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or brain infections. Wollants urged people to check their vaccination records through old vaccination cards or their doctor's records. To address the outbreak, Moroccan authorities have introduced several initiatives, such as opening up vaccination for adults, expanding their previous campaign that only targeted children under 18. In addition, the ministries of health and education require students diagnosed with contagious diseases, including measles, to be temporarily excluded from school. Tags: BrusselsmeaslesMorocco
