John Magnussen

Analysis of periosteal lesions from commingled human remains at the Xagħra Circle hypogeum reveals the first case of probable scurvy from Neolithic Malta

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 15-09-2021

DOI: 10.1002/OA.3040

Abstract: Palaeopathological analysis is key for characterising population health at the in idual level and across large assemblages but is rarely exploited to unite the remains of disarticulated in iduals. This study explores the potential for in idual identification through differential diagnosis of periosteal lesions in a commingled deposit, both to ascertain the number of in iduals represented and provide a differential diagnosis. The late Neolithic Xagħra Circle hypogeum on Gozo contains the remains of more than 800 in iduals, most of which were transformed to a collective disarticulated assemblage. Across the excavated population, pathological observations are strikingly low. In one specific 1 × 1‐m area in a single stratigraphic context, fragmented and disarticulated cranial and post‐cranial non‐adult bones were identified that displayed periosteal new bone formation. To aid differential diagnosis, macroscopic analysis, taphonomic analysis and micro‐computed tomography (μCT) imaging were integrated. This approach, when combined with osteobiographical analyses, reveals that the elements most likely derive from one in idual, a young child, who presents a probable case of scurvy. The potential for micronutrient co‐morbidities are explored, but without further microscopic study it cannot be determined if this in idual also experienced iron‐deficiency anaemia and/or rickets. In the context of the Mediterranean and Europe in later prehistory, reported cases of scurvy are currently low and often reveal periods of environmental instability and resource insufficiency. Our finding of non‐adult scurvy in late 3rd millennium BC Malta contributes to a developing picture of an increasingly unstable palaeoenvironment and declining population health at this time, although it may also indicate an in idual case of poor childhood health within this broader context.

Characteristics and Effectiveness of Interventions That Target the Reporting, Communication, or Clinical Interpretation of Lumbar Imaging Findings: A Systematic Review

Publisher: American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR)

Date: 24-02-2022

DOI: 10.3174/AJNR.A7432

Cerebellar Tonsillar Descent Mimicking Chiari Malformation

Publisher: MDPI AG

Date: 09-04-2023

DOI: 10.3390/JCM12082786

Abstract: Chiari I malformation has been defined as cerebellar tonsillar descent greater than 5 mm below the foramen magnum. Suboccipital decompression remains the mainstay of treatment for symptomatic patients. Other conditions sometimes have imaging features that mimic Chiari I malformation. These patients are at risk of misdiagnosis and mismanagement, including surgery that may be unnecessary or may even worsen the underlying condition. The aim of this study was to analyse a series of Chiari I malformation mimics and identify differentiating imaging features. The mimics are categorised as post-traumatic cranio-cervical junction arachnoiditis, dural band, spontaneous intracranial hypotension, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and cysts. Better understanding of these conditions will assist with diagnosis and optimal management, including avoiding unnecessary surgery.

Prospective Comparison of Changes in Lumbar Spine MRI Findings over Time between Individuals with Acute Low Back Pain and Controls: An Exploratory Study

Publisher: American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR)

Date: 03-08-2017

DOI: 10.3174/AJNR.A5357

Advanced computational and statistical multiparametric analysis of Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging to characterize gliomas and brain metastases

Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Date: 25-04-2020

DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.24.060830

Abstract: Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a technique useful for evaluation of the internal structures of brain tumors, including microvasculature and microbleeds. Intratumoral patterns of magnetic susceptibility can be quantified by means of fractal analysis. Here, we propose a radiomics methodological pipeline to merge advanced fractal-based computational modelling with statistical analysis to objectively characterize the fingerprint of gliomas and brain metastases. Forty-seven patients with glioma (grades II-IV, according to the WHO 2016 classification system) and fourteen with brain metastases underwent 3 Tesla MRI using a SWI protocol. All images underwent computational analysis aimed to quantify three Euclidean parameters (related to tumor and SWI volume) and five fractal-based parameters (related to the pixel distribution and geometrical complexity of the SWI patterns). Principal components analysis, linear and quadratic discriminant analysis, K-nearest neighbor and support vector machine methods were used to discriminate between tumor types. The combination of parameters offered an objective evaluation of the SWI pattern in gliomas and brain metastases. The model accurately predicted 88% of glioblastoma, according to the quantification of intratumoral SWI features, failing to discriminate the other types. SWI is not normally used to classify brain tumors, however fractal-based multi-parametric computational analysis can be used to characterize intratumoral SWI patterns to objectively quantify tumors-related features. Specific parameters still have to be identified to provide completely automatic computerized differential diagnosis.

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0562598

Start Date: 04-2006

End Date: 10-2009

Amount: $464,973.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP180100425

Start Date: 02-2018

End Date: 12-2021

Amount: $418,768.00

Funder: Australian Research Council