Computer-Aided Facial Reconstruction of "Mary-Magdalene" Relics Following Hair and Skull Analyses

The supposed relics of “Mary-Magdalene” are preserved in Provence (France) in an ancient tradition. They consist of a dry skull and a lock of hair. For the first time, they were officially subjected to an extensive medico-surgical examination by photogrammetry, high-magnification binocular lenses, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray elemental analysis, to propose a full computer-aided facial reconstruction. The preliminary results are presented here.

Schizophrenia: four examples of historical retrospective diagnosis

It is difficult to know precisely the history of a functional disease, unlike the natural history of infectious agents, tumour processes or poly-malformative syndromes. In the case of psychiatry, and especially schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, a retrospective look at artistic productions (writings and drawings) makes it possible to reconstitute a whole section of this pathological context. Through four medieval and modern examples, we will see how it is possible to do a paleo-psychiatry: Opicinus de Canistris (14th c.), the Voynich manuscript (15th c.), Hieronymus Bosch (15th-16th c.), and the Codex Seraphinianus (20th c.).

Mudslide and/or animal attack are more plausible causes and circumstances of death for AL 288 ('Lucy'): A forensic anthropology analysis

Following a global morphological and micro-CT scan examination of the original and cast of the skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis AL 288 ('Lucy'), Kappelman et al. have recently proposed a diagnosis of a fall from a significant height (a tree) as a cause of her death. According to topographical data from the discovery site, complete re-examination of a high-quality resin cast of the whole skeleton and forensic experience, we propose that the physical process of a vertical deceleration cannot be the only cause for her observed injuries. Two different factors were involved: rolling and multiple impacts in the context of a mudslide and an animal attack with bite marks, multi-focal fractures and violent movement of the body. It is important to consider a differential diagnosis of the observed fossil lesions because environmental factors should not be excluded in this ancient archaeological context as with any modern forensic anthropological case.

Re-emerging infectious diseases from the past: Hysteria or real risk?

BACKGROUND

Work on human remains and old biological samples is a potential source of contamination by conventional or atypical infectious agents. Similarly, current and future environmental changes are a source of resurgence of ancient epidemic diseases. To what extent are anthropologists sorcerer apprentices (especially those working on ancient samples, i.e. paleo-anthropologists)? Are ancient skeletons, palaeosols and museum objects with a biological component at risk for current populations? Unless there are unfounded fears and undue risk… What can be learned from the recent scientific literature and the common sense of the researchers?

METHODS

We have attempted to compile data from the literature and from our personal experience in the fields of anthropology, clinical medicine and epidemiology, in order to grasp the reality of the risk to the human population.

RESULTS

It appears that the risk is real, but extremely limited. Specific and simple protective measures must be taken in terms of overall and individual health, both in the field and in the laboratory.

CONCLUSION

These data are important for the internist, due to the possibility of atypical infections, both in specialized workers and in populations at risk (environmental context).

["Palimpsest scar" lesions in a context of torture (Darfur, Sudan)]

BACKGROUND

As a result of the current exponentially growing refugee population from the Middle-East and East Africa (Sudan, Darfur, Eritrea), clinicians (including forensic pathologists) are seeing atypical skin lesions, mainly of a traumatic nature, but in some cases associated with long-standing lesions related to ethnic practices.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A case of torture sequelae is presented herein in a patient originally from Darfur (Sudan): cutaneous incisions were made on old scars several times using a knife.

DISCUSSION

The clinical presentation of scarification lesions and that of atypically healed wounds (presumably an effect of inflammation induced by the introduction of irritating foreign bodies such as sand, salt, etc.) are completely different: in all cases they indicate a relative timeframe of the facts, which the clinician should not overlook in reconstructing the patient's course and the injuries to which he has been subjected (hence the proposed designation of "palimpsest scar", in the sense that a palimpsest is a manuscript on a parchment that previously contained writing but has been scratched clean to be overwritten). Thus, a "palimpsest scar" constitutes a fresh scar on top of and hiding another (ritual) scar in a context of ethnic cleansing. The diagnostic and clinical significance comes from the importance of differentiating between ethnic-type lesions and those induced by physical violence and abuse in a context of war.