Artefactual, environmental and archaeological evidence from the Holyrood Parliament Site excavations

The site of the new Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (NGR: NT 26702 73840) was the focus of archaeological work that illuminated medieval Canongate and unravelled the history of Queensberry House. It appears that the site was the location for prehistoric human activity, perhaps from the earliest period of habitation in Scotland. The material from the main excavation encompasses a broad date range, mainly reflecting the site’s occupation from the medieval period until recent times, although a lithic assemblage of prehistoric date was also present. The finds from the Queensberry House excavation provide additional insights, particularly into the later periods of activity on the site. The environmental evidence comprised carbonised plant remains, animal and fish bone, and soils and sediments.</jats:p

Bone mineral density in relation to efficacy and side effects of budesonide and prednisolone in Crohn's disease

Background & Aims: Osteoporosis frequently occurs in Crohn's disease, often because of corticosteroids. Budesonide as controlled release capsules is a locally acting corticosteroid with low systemic bioavailability. We investigated its effects on bone compared with prednisolone. Methods: In 34 international centers, 272 patients with Crohn's disease involving ileum and/or colon ascendens were randomized to once daily treatment with budesonide or prednisolone for 2 years at doses adapted to disease activity. One hundred eighty-one corticosteroid-free patients had active disease (98 had never received corticosteroids, corticosteroid naive; 83 had received corticosteroids previously, corticosteroid exposed), and 90 had quiescent disease, receiving long-term low doses of corticosteroids, corticosteroid-dependent; in 1 patient, no efficacy data were obtained. Bone mineral density and fractures were assessed in a double-blinded fashion; disease activity, side effects, and quality of life were monitored. Results: Neither the corticosteroid-free nor the corticosteroid-dependent patients treated with budesonide differed significantly in bone mineral density from those receiving prednisolone. However, corticosteroid-naive patients receiving budesonide had smaller reductions in bone mineral density than those on prednisolone (mean, -1.04% vs -3.84%; P =. 0084). Treatment-emergent corticosteroid side effects were less frequent with budesonide. Efficacy was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Treatment with budesonide is associated with better preserved bone mass compared with prednisolone in only the corticosteroid-naive patients with active ileocecal Crohn's disease. In both the corticosteroid-free and corticosteroid-dependent groups, budesonide and prednisolone were equally effective for up to 2 years, but budesonide caused fewer corticosteroid side effects