Journal: American Journal of Physical Anthropology

Abbreviation

Am. j. phys. anthropol.

Publisher

Wiley-Liss

Journal Volumes

ISSN

0002-9483
1096-8644

Description

Filters

2001 - 20085
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Publications 1 - 5 of 5
  • Investigation of stable Sr isotope ratios in prehistoric human bones and teeth using laser ablation ICP-MS.
    Item type: Journal Article
    Prohaska, Thomas; Latkoczy, Christopher; Schultheis, G.; et al. (2003)
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology
  • Diagnostic value of micro-CT in comparison with histology in the qualitative assessment of historical human skull bone pathologies
    Item type: Journal Article
    Rühli, Frank J.; Kuhn, Gabor; Evison, Rhiannon; et al. (2007)
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology
    Cases of pathologically changed bone might constitute a diagnostic pitfall and frequently need histological methods to be etiologically properly evaluated. With micro-computed tomography (μCT), a new epoch of 2D and 3D imaging has been launched. We evaluated the diagnostic investigation of this analytical method versus well established histological investigations of historical human bone. Pathological changes due to various etiologies (infectious, traumatic, endocrinological, neoplasia) observed in autopsy-based macerated human skulls (Galler Collection, Natural History Museum Basel, Switzerland) were investigated by μCT and compared with histological thin ground sections using polarized light. Micro-CT images visualize the architecture of the bone with high spatial resolution without preparation or destruction of the sample in the area to be sectioned. Changes in the bone surfaces as well as alterations of the diploë can be assessed. However, morphological patterns caused by reactive response, such as typical arrangements of collagen fibers, can only be visualized by the microscopic investigation of thin ground sections using polarized light. A great advantage of μCT is the high number of slices obtained so that spatial differences within the areas of the specimen become visible. Micro-CT is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of vestiges of skull bone diseases. Its advantages over histology are the fast, automated image acquisition and the fact that the specimen is not completely destroyed. Only excision of the area to be scanned is necessary, if the specimen is too large to be scanned as a whole. Further, the 3D visualization of the micro-architecture allows an easy orientation within the sample, for example, for the choice of the location of the histological slices. However, the need to differentiate woven from lamellar bone still makes histology an indispensable method.
  • Technical note: Standardized and semiautomated Harris lines detection
    Item type: Journal Article
    Suter, Susanne; Harders, Maureen; Papageorgopoulou, Christina; et al. (2008)
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology
    Arrest in long bone growth and the subsequent resumption of growth may be visible as radiopaque transverse lines in radiographs (Harris lines, HL; Harris, HA. 1933. Bone growth in health and disease. London: Oxford University Press). The assessment of individual age at occurrence of such lines, as part of paleopathological skeletal studies, is time-consuming and shows large intra- and interobserver variability. Thus, a standardized, automated detection algorithm would help to increase the validity of such paleopathological research. We present an image analysis application facilitating automatic detection of HL. On the basis of established age calculation methods, the individual age-at-formation can be automatically assessed with the tool presented. Additional user input to confirm the automatic result is possible via an intuitive graphical user interface. Automated detection of HL from digital radiographs of a sample of late Medieval Swiss tibiae was compared to the consensus of manual assessment by two blinded expert observers. The intra- and interobserver variability was high. The quality of the observer result improved when standardized detection criteria were defined and applied. The newly developed algorithm detected two-thirds of the HL that were identified as consensus lines between the observers. It was, however, necessary to validate the last one-third by manual editing. The lack of a large test series must be noted. The application is freely available for further testing by any interested researcher.
  • Diagenetic alterations in archeological human skeletal remains via light microscopy and their implications.
    Item type: Journal Article
    Novotny, F.; Teschler-Nicola, M.; Prohaska, Thomas; et al. (2003)
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology
  • Three-dimensional analysis of nonhuman primate trabecular architecture using micro-computed tomography
    Item type: Journal Article
    Fajardo, R.J.; Müller, Ralph (2001)
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Publications 1 - 5 of 5