Improvement of Novel Imaging Technologies to Study Anatomical and Pathological Morphology in Ancient Human Remains: Terahertz Imaging and Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

进化医学（EM）是连接过去、现在和未来的桥梁。古病理学是EM的一个分支学科，研究历史时期疾病的发生、变化和原因，重点关注过去一千年。在古病理学中，对古代木乃伊的检查是特别有趣的，因为骨骼和软组织都保存在木乃伊中，这使得研究各种各样的疾病成为可能。古代木乃伊是独特而有价值的物品，它们的检查应该主要以非侵入性的方式进行。目前，历史遗迹和骨骼材料的无创成像的金标准是传统的x射线成像和计算机辅助断层扫描（CT）。不幸的是，这些基于x射线技术的木乃伊软组织（如关节、肌肉或椎间盘）的可视化仍然不足，需要提高图像对比度的替代成像方式来进行软组织分化。在本项目中，将开发基于磁共振（MR）和太赫兹（THz）成像的古代遗骸新成像和光谱技术，以补充传统成像方式。MRI和太赫兹成像和光谱技术都是木乃伊研究的新成像技术；然而，申请者的初步结果已经显示出他们在古代遗迹成像方面的潜力。该项目的目的是进一步开发新的MR采集方法和硬件，以克服目前由脱水木乃伊组织的MR信号快速衰减引起的限制。此外，将设计一个移动太赫兹扫描仪，用于博物馆和挖掘现场，为使用CT、MRI或太赫兹光谱的进一步检查提供指导。跨学科的研究团队将把这些新的成像技术应用于一系列明确定义的木乃伊组织，为EM研究建立一个数据库。除了在EM中的应用之外，这些方法还将测试其临床适用性；例如，新的MRI序列有望应用于肺组织或骨骼的成像。

Evolutionary medicine (EM) bridges the past with the present and the future. Paleopathology, a sub-discipline of EM, investigates the occurrence, change and cause of diseases over historical periods with a focus on the last millennia. In Paleopathology the examination of ancient mummies is of special interest, because both bone and soft tissues are preserved in mummies which enables the study of a large variety of diseases. Ancient mummies are unique and valuable objects, and their examination should predominantly be performed with non-invasive modalities. Currently, the Gold standard in non-invasive imaging of historical remains and skeleton material are conventional X-ray imaging and computer assisted tomography (CT). Unfortunately, the visualization of mummified soft tissues such as joints, muscle or intervertebral disks remains insufficient withthese X-ray-based technologies, and alternative imaging modalities with improved image contrast are required for soft tissue differentiation.In this project, new imaging and spectroscopic techniques shall be developed for ancient remains based on magnetic resonance (MR) and Terahertz (THz) imaging to complement conventional imaging modalities. Both MRI and THz imaging and spectroscopy are novel imaging technologies for mummy research; however, preliminary results of the applicants already show their potential for imaging of ancient remains. The aim of this project is the further development of new MR acquisition methods and hardware to overcome the current limitations caused by the rapid MR signal decay of the de-hydrated mummified tissues. In addition, a mobile THz scanner will be designed for use in museums and on excavation sites to provide guidance for further exams using CT, MRI, or THz spectroscopy. The interdisciplinary research team will then apply these novel imaging technologies to a series of well-defined mummified tissues to build a database for EM research. Beyond their use in EM, the methodologies will also be tested for their clinical applicability; for example, the novel MRI sequences are expected to be applicable in the imaging of lung tissue or bone.