He said three others showed indications of disease, atherosclerosis, with plaque in the coronary arteries, while the fifth was poorly preserved. Colleter said archaeologists excavated the Jacobins convent in Rennes from 2011 to 2013. He said convent was constructed in 1369 and became an important pilgrimage and burial site from the 15th to 17th centuries. He said more than 800 graves were found during the excavation. Dr Fatima-Zohra Mokrane, Radiologist of Rangueil Hospital at the University Hospital of Toulouse, said only one heart belonged to a woman, and was totally degraded, permitting no study.

She said one of hearts belonged to a nobleman identified by an inscription on the urn as Toussaint Perrien, Knight of Brefeillac, who died in 1649. Mokrane said his heart had been removed upon his death and was later buried with his wife, Louise de Quengo, Lady of Brefeillac, who died in 1656. She said her wonderfully preserved body was found in a coffin at the site, still wearing a cape, wool dress, bonnet and leather shoes with cork soles. “The earliest of the urns was dated 1584. The latest was dated 1655.

Mokrane said an important aspect of the study was the finding that people hundreds of years ago had atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was a disease in which plaque made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances builds up inside the arteries. Plaque hardens over time and narrows the arteries. Atherosclerosis can trigger heart attacks and strokes. Mokrane said atherosclerosis was not only a recent pathology, because it was found in different hearts studied. She said the researchers cleaned each of the hearts, removed the embalming material and examined them with MRI imaging, CT scans and other methods. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: Leadership Online