Roberta Fusco
Biographic Data
| ID | 126506 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Roberta Fusco |
| GIVEN NAMES | Roberta |
| FAMILY NAME | Fusco |
| SIGNATURE | FUSCO R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Insubria |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5443-8364 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Pulmonary pathologies
INTRODUCTIONThe Church of San Colombano in Bobbio, Italy, represents one of the most important centers of early medieval monasticism in Europe and offers a valuable context for bioarchaeological research. Among the most significant discoveries is Tomb 1, a deep, multi-use burial chamber containing commingled remains of numerous individuals. The assemblage provides an opportunity to investigate health conditions and lived experiences within a medi…
Between Memory and Oblivion
The Body as Data
The digitization of human remains is transforming the ways in which biological anthropology, museums, and heritage institutions engage with the dead. While digital technologies promise greater accessibility, reproducibility, and preservation, they also introduce complex ethical, legal, and cultural questions. This paper reviews current literature on the implications of converting human remains into digital data, focusing on key themes such as own…
Humanizing the past
Facial approximation in archaeological contexts represents a complex intersection of science, art, and ethics. While these reconstructions offer a unique opportunity to engage the public with the past, they also raise critical concerns regarding accuracy, representation, and the dignity of the deceased. This literature review examines the ethical discourse surrounding facial approximations in museums, emphasizing the need for transparency in thei…
Anatomical alterations
Cranial anatomical variations, such as biparietal thinning, offer critical insights into the health and living conditions of ancient populations. Despite the presence of extensive archaeological records, biparietal thinning remains a relatively rare and understudied condition. This review aims to synthesize existing bioarchaeological literature on biparietal thinning, addressing its historical prevalence, geographical distribution, and potential …
A Possible Case of β‐Thalassemia From the Cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli (Piedmont, Northern Italy,18th Century)
In Italy's Piedmont region, the city of Vercelli has a history of malaria transmission due to favorable conditions for Anopheles mosquitoes, which may have influenced the genetic prevalence of thalassemia. This study investigates the skeletal remains of a nonadult individual from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, dating to the 18th century, and suggests possible pathological changes indicative of β‐thalassemia. The skeletal analysis…
Calcified uterine leiomyoma from an 18th-century nunnery in North Italy
OBJECTIVE: To develop a differential diagnosis of a mass retrieved alongside skeletal remains in the crypt of the church of Santissima Annunziata of Valenza (Province of Alessandria, Northern Italy). MATERIAL: A calcified mass measuring 40 × 39 mm and 17.62 × 16.3817.62 × 16.38 mm. METHOD: The analysis utilized macroscopic assessment and histologic examination (including histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses). RESULTS: Morphological trai…
Priest-physicians in 18th-century Milan
This study explores the controversy over priests practicing medicine in 18th-century Milan. The analysis of existing norms, exceptions, and contemporary reflections highlights the tensions between ecclesiastical directives, civil laws, and the practical and social needs of the period. Among the issues addressed are the role of the state in regulating the professions, the relationship between religion and medicine, and the challenges associated wi…
Development of a Scanning Protocol for Anthropological Remains
Structured-light scanning is a fast and efficient technique for the acquisition of 3D point clouds. However, the extensive and daily application of this class of scanners can be challenging because of the technical know-how necessary to validate the low-cost instrumentation. This challenge is worth accepting because of the large amount of data that can be collected accurately with the aid of specific technical protocols. This work is a preliminar…
Health and Heritage
Imagining life before the advent of modern medical treatments is challenging. Today, congenital dysplasia is typically diagnosed within the first months of a child’s life, allowing for timely intervention. In the past, however, this condition often went unrecognized and untreated, as evidenced by archaeological findings that document the presence of congenital dysplasia persisting into adulthood. We present the case of the individual recovered fr…
Autopsy or anatomical dissection? Comparative analysis of an osteoarchaeological sample from an 18-19th century hypogeal cemetery (northern Italy)
Skeletal evidence of post-mortem procedures is not uncommon in paleopathological studies. This aspect is often overshadowed by the description of the pathology found due to the difficulty in differentiating the stigmata left on the bones from technically similar practices such as autopsy and dissection. The discovery of five crania of adult individuals exhibiting post-mortem lesions during the bioarchaeological recovery phases of the hypogeal cem…
Elongated styloid process of an autopsied skull from the Cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, 18th-19th century (Piedmont, northern Italy)
century). The skull presents an oblique cleft, which from the top of the frontal bone bends towards the occipital, and the left styloid process is elongated compared to normal values (48 mm). The elongated styloid process is due to the ossification of the styloid ligament which has several possible causes. To increase the knowledge about this pathological condition in the past, it was necessary to compare all the data present in the literature to…
A possible case of orbital osteomyelitis from the medieval cemetery of Sant’ Agostino in Caravate (Varese, Northern Italy)
A possible case of "kissing" osteochondroma and multiple enchondromas in a medieval skeleton from the church of Sant' Agostino in Caravate (Northern Italy)
This work presents the neoplastic bone changes found in the lower limb of a medieval skeleton from the church of Sant' Agostino in Caravate (Northern Italy). After briefly assessing the individual's overall pathological picture, a differential diagnosis for the neoplastic changes is now proposed. These changes were analysed macroscopically and radiographically and subsequently evaluated considering the paleopathological and clinical literature av…
Defects-related early childhood caries as hints of possible maternal-fetal health issues
Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are important markers of stress as they arise from the disruption of ameloblastic activity during enamel matrix secretion and mineralization. Defects on the crowns of the deciduous dentition provide insights into maternal-fetal health because they can emerge during intrauterine development as a result of gestational issues. The presence of previous defective enamel represents one of the most predisposing caus…
Wounded to death. Holistic, multimodal reconstruction of the dynamics in a case of multiple perimortem cranial injuries from a medieval site in northern Italy
Abbreviated MRI Protocol for the Assessment of Ablated Area in HCC Patients
The abbreviated dynamic protocol showed similar diagnostic accuracy to conventional MRI study in the assessment of treated HCCs, with a reduction of the acquisition study time of 30% respect to conventional MRI
Tourism in the Time of Coronavirus. Fruition of the “Minor Heritage” through the Development of Bioarchaeological Sites—A Proposal
The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are and will continue to be devastating for the tourism sector, especially for the cultural one. It is necessary to reflect on the new strategies to be adopted to deal with the heavy losses that the world of cultural heritage is suffering. The great archaeological attractions will no longer be able to accommodate the prepandemic numbers and therefore we must also think of alternative routes to present …
Chest CT Computerized Aided Quantification of PNEUMONIA Lesions in Covid-19 Infection
Computer-aided pneumonia quantification could be an easy and feasible way to stratify COVID-19 cases according to severity; however, a great variability among quantitative measurements provided by computer tools should be considered
A possible case of "kissing" osteochondroma and multiple enchondromas in a medieval skeleton from the church of Sant' Agostino in Caravate (Northern Italy)
This work presents the neoplastic bone changes found in the lower limb of a medieval skeleton from the church of Sant' Agostino in Caravate (Northern Italy). After briefly assessing the individual's overall pathological picture, a differential diagnosis for the neoplastic changes is now proposed. These changes were analysed macroscopically and radiographically and subsequently evaluated considering the paleopathological and clinical literature av…
Tourism in the Time of Coronavirus. Fruition of the “Minor Heritage” through the Development of Bioarchaeological Sites—A Proposal
The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are and will continue to be devastating for the tourism sector, especially for the cultural one. It is necessary to reflect on the new strategies to be adopted to deal with the heavy losses that the world of cultural heritage is suffering. The great archaeological attractions will no longer be able to accommodate the prepandemic numbers and therefore we must also think of alternative routes to present …
Defects-related early childhood caries as hints of possible maternal-fetal health issues
Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are important markers of stress as they arise from the disruption of ameloblastic activity during enamel matrix secretion and mineralization. Defects on the crowns of the deciduous dentition provide insights into maternal-fetal health because they can emerge during intrauterine development as a result of gestational issues. The presence of previous defective enamel represents one of the most predisposing caus…
Wounded to death. Holistic, multimodal reconstruction of the dynamics in a case of multiple perimortem cranial injuries from a medieval site in northern Italy
Chest CT Computerized Aided Quantification of PNEUMONIA Lesions in Covid-19 Infection
Computer-aided pneumonia quantification could be an easy and feasible way to stratify COVID-19 cases according to severity; however, a great variability among quantitative measurements provided by computer tools should be considered
Abbreviated MRI Protocol for the Assessment of Ablated Area in HCC Patients
The abbreviated dynamic protocol showed similar diagnostic accuracy to conventional MRI study in the assessment of treated HCCs, with a reduction of the acquisition study time of 30% respect to conventional MRI
Tourism in the Time of Coronavirus. Fruition of the “Minor Heritage” through the Development of Bioarchaeological Sites—A Proposal
The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are and will continue to be devastating for the tourism sector, especially for the cultural one. It is necessary to reflect on the new strategies to be adopted to deal with the heavy losses that the world of cultural heritage is suffering. The great archaeological attractions will no longer be able to accommodate the prepandemic numbers and therefore we must also think of alternative routes to present …
Wounded to death. Holistic, multimodal reconstruction of the dynamics in a case of multiple perimortem cranial injuries from a medieval site in northern Italy
A possible case of orbital osteomyelitis from the medieval cemetery of Sant’ Agostino in Caravate (Varese, Northern Italy)
A possible case of "kissing" osteochondroma and multiple enchondromas in a medieval skeleton from the church of Sant' Agostino in Caravate (Northern Italy)
This work presents the neoplastic bone changes found in the lower limb of a medieval skeleton from the church of Sant' Agostino in Caravate (Northern Italy). After briefly assessing the individual's overall pathological picture, a differential diagnosis for the neoplastic changes is now proposed. These changes were analysed macroscopically and radiographically and subsequently evaluated considering the paleopathological and clinical literature av…
Defects-related early childhood caries as hints of possible maternal-fetal health issues
Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are important markers of stress as they arise from the disruption of ameloblastic activity during enamel matrix secretion and mineralization. Defects on the crowns of the deciduous dentition provide insights into maternal-fetal health because they can emerge during intrauterine development as a result of gestational issues. The presence of previous defective enamel represents one of the most predisposing caus…
Calcified uterine leiomyoma from an 18th-century nunnery in North Italy
OBJECTIVE: To develop a differential diagnosis of a mass retrieved alongside skeletal remains in the crypt of the church of Santissima Annunziata of Valenza (Province of Alessandria, Northern Italy). MATERIAL: A calcified mass measuring 40 × 39 mm and 17.62 × 16.3817.62 × 16.38 mm. METHOD: The analysis utilized macroscopic assessment and histologic examination (including histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses). RESULTS: Morphological trai…
Priest-physicians in 18th-century Milan
This study explores the controversy over priests practicing medicine in 18th-century Milan. The analysis of existing norms, exceptions, and contemporary reflections highlights the tensions between ecclesiastical directives, civil laws, and the practical and social needs of the period. Among the issues addressed are the role of the state in regulating the professions, the relationship between religion and medicine, and the challenges associated wi…
Development of a Scanning Protocol for Anthropological Remains
Structured-light scanning is a fast and efficient technique for the acquisition of 3D point clouds. However, the extensive and daily application of this class of scanners can be challenging because of the technical know-how necessary to validate the low-cost instrumentation. This challenge is worth accepting because of the large amount of data that can be collected accurately with the aid of specific technical protocols. This work is a preliminar…
Health and Heritage
Imagining life before the advent of modern medical treatments is challenging. Today, congenital dysplasia is typically diagnosed within the first months of a child’s life, allowing for timely intervention. In the past, however, this condition often went unrecognized and untreated, as evidenced by archaeological findings that document the presence of congenital dysplasia persisting into adulthood. We present the case of the individual recovered fr…
Autopsy or anatomical dissection? Comparative analysis of an osteoarchaeological sample from an 18-19th century hypogeal cemetery (northern Italy)
Skeletal evidence of post-mortem procedures is not uncommon in paleopathological studies. This aspect is often overshadowed by the description of the pathology found due to the difficulty in differentiating the stigmata left on the bones from technically similar practices such as autopsy and dissection. The discovery of five crania of adult individuals exhibiting post-mortem lesions during the bioarchaeological recovery phases of the hypogeal cem…
Elongated styloid process of an autopsied skull from the Cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, 18th-19th century (Piedmont, northern Italy)
century). The skull presents an oblique cleft, which from the top of the frontal bone bends towards the occipital, and the left styloid process is elongated compared to normal values (48 mm). The elongated styloid process is due to the ossification of the styloid ligament which has several possible causes. To increase the knowledge about this pathological condition in the past, it was necessary to compare all the data present in the literature to…
Humanizing the past
Facial approximation in archaeological contexts represents a complex intersection of science, art, and ethics. While these reconstructions offer a unique opportunity to engage the public with the past, they also raise critical concerns regarding accuracy, representation, and the dignity of the deceased. This literature review examines the ethical discourse surrounding facial approximations in museums, emphasizing the need for transparency in thei…
Anatomical alterations
Cranial anatomical variations, such as biparietal thinning, offer critical insights into the health and living conditions of ancient populations. Despite the presence of extensive archaeological records, biparietal thinning remains a relatively rare and understudied condition. This review aims to synthesize existing bioarchaeological literature on biparietal thinning, addressing its historical prevalence, geographical distribution, and potential …
A Possible Case of β‐Thalassemia From the Cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli (Piedmont, Northern Italy,18th Century)
In Italy's Piedmont region, the city of Vercelli has a history of malaria transmission due to favorable conditions for Anopheles mosquitoes, which may have influenced the genetic prevalence of thalassemia. This study investigates the skeletal remains of a nonadult individual from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, dating to the 18th century, and suggests possible pathological changes indicative of β‐thalassemia. The skeletal analysis…
Pulmonary pathologies
INTRODUCTIONThe Church of San Colombano in Bobbio, Italy, represents one of the most important centers of early medieval monasticism in Europe and offers a valuable context for bioarchaeological research. Among the most significant discoveries is Tomb 1, a deep, multi-use burial chamber containing commingled remains of numerous individuals. The assemblage provides an opportunity to investigate health conditions and lived experiences within a medi…
Between Memory and Oblivion
The Body as Data
The digitization of human remains is transforming the ways in which biological anthropology, museums, and heritage institutions engage with the dead. While digital technologies promise greater accessibility, reproducibility, and preservation, they also introduce complex ethical, legal, and cultural questions. This paper reviews current literature on the implications of converting human remains into digital data, focusing on key themes such as own…
Medicine (13 works) · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (8 works) · Archaeology (6 works) · Geography (6 works) · Paleopathology and ancient diseases (6 works) · Pathology (6 works) · History (5 works) · Anatomy (4 works) · History (4 works) · Art (3 works)