Bone Diameter Research Articles

RELATIVE AGE IN FEMALE FUTSAL ATHLETES: IMPLICATIONS ON ANTHROPOMETRIC PROFILE AND STARTER STATUS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Evidence suggests that a higher distribution of elite athletes have birth dates in the first few months of the year. However, the advantages of birth month on performance related to starter status, structure and body composition in female futsal (5-a-side football played on a hard court, mainly indoors), are unknown. Objective: To determine the effect of relative age (ERA) on competitive female futsal athletes, and its influence on anthropometric profile and starter status. Methods: One hundred and fifteen athletes, participants in the 20th Brazilian Cup of Adult Futsal Clubs, special division, were submitted to measurements of body mass, height, skinfold thickness, body perimeters and bone diameters, in order to characterize the anthropometric profile and determine the body somatotype. The athletes were distributed in semesters and quartiles of the months of the year, according to their birth dates. Differences in the distribution of expected and observed birth dates were tested using Chi-square tests (χ2). Comparisons between semesters and birth quartiles were performed using parametric and non-parametric tests. Results: There was no ERA in distribution (p=0.248), anthropometric profile (p=0.872 to 0.912), or starter status between athletes born from January to June (p=0.352) and those born between July and December (p=0.744). On the other hand, those born in the first months of the year showed longer practice times than those born in the latter months of the year. Conclusion: Although the ERA in this study reveals longer practice times favoring female futsal athletes born in the first quartile of the year, it did not influence the starter status, the distribution in the teams, or any advantage in anthropometric profile. Level of evidence III, Case-Control Study.

Anthropometric profile, body composition, and somatotype in stand-up paddle (SUP) boarding international athletes: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: the anthropometric characteristics of international stand-up paddle (SUP) boarders are relevant aspects when it comes to their performance. However, very little research has been carried out within this sport, almost none regarding the body composition and anthropometric characteristics of SUP practitioners. Therefore, the aim of this research will be to describe the anthropometric profile of international SUP boarders. Material and methods: a cross-sectional design in thirty-one international SUP boarders (34.2 ± 12.4 years). Height, body mass, 8 skinfolds, 2 bone diameters, and 5 perimeters were measured, and corrected perimeters were calculated by the same two level-2 internationally certified anthropometrists. Anthropometric measurements were taken following the International Society of Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Body fat mass (FM) was calculated using Carter, Faulkner, Yuhasz, and Withers equations, whereas muscle mass (MM) was estimated using the Lee 2000 equation. Somatotype was calculated by applying the Heath and Carter equation. Bioimpedance (BIA) measurements were also recorded. Results: international SUP athletes had a body mass of 74.6 (6.6) kg, a body fat percentage of 7.6 % (2.1 %) (Carter), 11.3 % (3.5 %) (Faulkner), 7.6 % (2.1 %) (Yuhasz), and 9.0 % (3.6 %) (Whiters), and skinfold sums of 48.2 (20.6) mm for 6, and 57.8 (22.2) mm for 8 skinfolds. Muscle mass was 47.3 % (2.6 %) and somatotype was ecto-mesomorphic with values of 1.9 (0.9) for endomorphy, 5.4 (1.0) for mesomorphy, and 2.4 (0.9) for ectomorphy. BIA results for FM were 11.7 % (4.4 %), and for MM were 50.0 % (2.9 %). Conclusion: these results suggest that a low body fat percentage and high muscle mass are representative characteristics of international stand-up paddlers, as well as a balanced mesomorphic somatotype. According to these, a low skindfold sum and high arm muscle mass may represent key factors for performance in this sport because of their relation to acceleration and stroke force.

Clinical and Radiographic Assessments of Tooth Socket Preservation Using Leukocyte Platelet-Rich Fibrin.

Leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) has the potential to accelerate wound healing. Here, we assess clinical and radiographic outcomes of socket preservation using L-PRF. For this single-blind, randomized, split-mouth clinical trial, we selected 22 patients (15 males and seven females), who required extraction of single-rooted teeth. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. We used L-PRF in the extraction socket on one side and no material on the contralateral side. We obtained cone-beam computed tomographic images and diagnostic casts from tooth extraction sockets before surgery and 3 mo after the procedure. Changes in buccolingual diameter and height of bone at 3 mo after tooth extraction (compared to baseline) were determined and digitized data statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, ver. 25.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY) via the paired t-test. In tooth sockets with/without L-PRF application 3 mo after extraction, bone buccolingual diameter significantly decreased at socket center to 0, 1, and 3 mm from the ridge crest, compared to baseline. A significant reduction occurred in sockets with/without L-PRF application in buccal and lingual bone height at the bony socket midbuccal portion of and mesial and distal septa (p < 0.0001). However, the Mann-Whitney U test showed changes to be significantly greater in controls than the case group (p < 0.0001). Taking into account study limitations, application of L-PRF in tooth extraction sockets significantly decreased reductions in bone height and buccolingual diameter compared to control sockets.

Changes in the structural organization of bone after amputation

Introduction: Despite a considerable amount of work on limb amputations, questions of the mechanism and conditions for the occurrence of pathological rearrangement in the bone stump and ways to prevent it remain unexplored. Aim: To study the nature of changes in the structural organization of bone stump after amputation. Material and methods: Nine series of experiments were conducted on 129 rabbits with amputation of the thigh and closure of the filing with fascia, muscles with varying degrees of tension and a bone plate. Duration of observation is 1, 3, and 6 months. The research method is histological with a filling of blood vessels with a mascara-gelatin mixture. Results and discussion: Tight closure of the bone marrow cavity and uniform muscle tension during plastic surgery in the I–III series of experiments make it possible to obtain cylindrical stumps with the formation of a bone closure plate and the completion of the reparative process. In the majority of observations of the IV–IX series, significant violations of the structural organization of the bone occurred in the form of conical, club-shaped, swollen stumps, creeping fractures. Conclusions: The rapid completion of the reparative process and the normalization of intraosseous circulation with a locking bone plate, while maintaining normal bone marrow tissue, is possible only with a dense closure of the filing. The lack of tight closure of the bone marrow canal and uneven muscle tension cause a violation of regeneration with changes in the structural organization of the bone. These changes are manifested by a thickening of the bone diameter, axis curvature, creeping fractures.

Periosteum: The forgotten source of osteoprogenitors

Bone is one of the few tissues capable of authentic regenerative repair. However, despite advances in surgical technique, orthopaedic hardware and our understanding of fracture biology, inadequate bone repair remains a major concern in both veterinary and human medicine. Cell-based technologies provide opportunities to utilize the osteogenic capacities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) to augment bone repair. Much of the research on MSC biology has focused on cells derived from the bone marrow/endosteal compartment; however, osteoprogenitor cells (OPC) also reside in the periosteum. Periosteum develops as a fibro-cellular envelope surrounding developing skeletal elements. The inner, or cambium layer of periosteum, includes committed OPCs directly adjacent the bone surface, and a distinct sub-population of progenitors within the periosteal mid-substance that retain both chondrogenic and osteogenic capacities. During skeletogenesis, periosteal OPCs are responsible for appositional intramembranous bone formation that increases the radial diameter of long bones. Of critical importance, periosteal stem cells are the predominant cell population responsible for generating the cartilaginous or ‘soft’ callus that provides intermediate stabilization and a scaffold for subsequent callus ossification by endochondral ossification; the primary mechanism of bone repair. In recent experiments using isolates from ‘donor-matched’ periosteum and bone marrow, we have found that the basal osteogenic capacity of equine OPCs is considerably less than that of bone marrow-derived MSCs. Periosteal OPCs require exogenous Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) for robust osteogenesis, a finding consistent with the clinical responses of bone to recombinant BMP protein. Perhaps more surprising, the osteogenic capacity of adult (2-10 years of age) OPCs is comparable to those of young foals’, although the cell yield is considerably greater from foal specimens. In light of the vital importance of callus formation for successful fracture healing of most, further research on the biology and clinical manipulation of periosteal OPCs is highly warranted.

Radio-opacity of the Bones of Commonly Consumed Fish from the Red Sea.

IntroductionForeign body (FB) ingestion is one of the most common complaints presenting at an emergency department (ED), with fish bone impaction being a frequent cause of presentation. Fish bones might be challenging to identify on routine radiography and ED physicians are often left in a state of uneasiness owing to the fear of complications occurring if the fish bone is not removed.ObjectiveThis study aimed to establish the factors affecting the radio-opacity of fish bones on X-ray.Materials and methodsThe study involved the top three fish species consumed on Saudi Arabia’s western coast. Fish bones from three specimens of each species were radiographically examined by hand-picking bones from different parts of the fish, with particular attention paid to bones that are difficult to spot. Bones were then arranged beside each other, and radiographs were taken for comparison. Inter-species and intra-species radio-opacity variation was tested. Further, the weight of each fish and method of cooking (baked vs. fried) were tested for their effect on radio-opacity.ResultsNo significant difference in radio-opacity was found among and between different species, and the method of cooking did not alter the radio-opacity of fish bones. Significant differences in radio-opacity were noted with the difference in the diameter and size of the fish bones, which tended to be less radio-opaque in smaller-sized fish, regardless of the species.ConclusionThe exact fish species and method of cooking did not alter the fish bone density on an X-ray. The size of the fish and the size of the fish bone are better predictors of higher fish bone density.

Ontogenetic and inter-elemental osteohistological variability in the leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis.

Testudines are a group of reptiles characterized by the presence of a shell covered by keratinous shields. Stigmochelys pardalis is the most widely distributed terrestrial testudine in southern Africa. Although relatively common with some life history traits being well known, the growth of this species has yet to be studied in any detail. The bone microanatomy of this clade differs from that found in other amniotes, where terrestrial species tend to display characteristics normally seen in aquatic species and vice versa. A detailed histological analysis of the limb bones of S. pardalis reveals extensive variation through ontogeny. Cortical bone becomes increasingly thicker through ontogeny and is finally resorbed in the late sub-adult stage, resulting in a thin cortex and a large infilled medullary cavity. The predominant bone tissues are parallel-fibred and lamellar-zonal for the forelimbs and hind limbs respectively. The oldest individual displayed an External Fundamental System indicating that the growth rate had decreased substantially by this stage. Variability is prevalent between the forelimb and hind limb as well as between early and late sub-adults Forelimb elements exhibit characteristics such as faster growing parallel-fibered bone tissue, slightly higher vascularization and a predominance of annuli over Lines of Arrested Growth (LAG) compared to the hind limb which exhibits poorly vascularized, slower growing lamellar-zonal bone interrupted by LAGs. These differences indicate that the forelimb grew more rapidly than the hind limb, possibly due to the method of locomotion seen in terrestrial species. The extensive bone resorption that occurs from the early sub-adult stage destroys much of the primary cortex and results in a significantly different ratio of inner and outer bone diameter (p = 3.59 × 10­−5; df = 28.04) as well as compactness (p = 2.91 × 10­−5; df = 31.27) between early and late sub-adults. The extensive bone resorption seen also destroys the ecological signal and infers an aquatic lifestyle for this species despite it being clearly terrestrial. This supports the results of other studies that have found that using bone microanatomy to determine lifestyle in testudines does not produce accurate results.

Skeletal toxicity resulting from exposure of growing male rats to coplanar PCB 126 is associated with disruption of calcium homeostasis and the GH-IGF-1 axis and direct effects on bone formation.

Skeletal toxicity has been reported following exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixtures. However, molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We exposed groups of male 4-5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats to 3,3', 4, 4', 5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126), a dioxin-like coplanar PCB congener by a single i.p. injection of 5µmol/kg in soy oil vehicle or vehicle alone. After 4weeks, rats were euthanized. PCB exposure resulted in hypocalcemia (P < 0.05) and significant increases in serum PTH without changes in serum phosphorous. Hyperparathyroidism was accompanied by increased expression of mRNAs of vitamin D3 metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP27B1 and CYP24 in the kidney (P < 0.05). PCB exposure also reduced body weight, serum IGF-1, and hepatic expression of mRNAs encoding the male-specific GH-pattern-regulated CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 relative to controls (P < 0.05). PCB exposure reduced long bone length, diameter, and surface area, but increased trabecular thickness and volume (P < 0.05). Serum osteocalcin (P < 0.05), a marker and a regulator of bone formation, was reduced, but PCB exposure had no effect on the bone resorption marker RatLaps. Exposure of human intestinal Caco-2 cells to 10-100nM PCB 126 in the presence of vitamin D3 resulted in inhibition of mRNAs for the calcium transporters TRPV6 and PMCA1b (P < 0.05). In addition, PCB 126 suppressed osteoblastogenesis in primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell cultures which was blunted by the AhR antagonist CH-223191. These data provide novel evidence that skeletal toxicity after exposure to PCB 126 is a result of disruption of calcium homeostasis and the GH-IGF-1 axis, and involves direct AhR-mediated effects on bone formation.

Risk factors for refracture after plate removal for midshaft clavicle fracture after bone union

BackgroundOpen reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and screws is one of the treatment options for clavicle fractures. However, an additional operation for implant removal after union of the fracture is commonly performed due to a high incidence of hardware irritation. Despite union of the fracture, a subsequent refracture might occur after removal of the implant which requires additional surgeries for fixation. This study aims to determine the risk factors associated with refracture of the clavicle after hardware removal.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 278 patients that were diagnosed with a midshaft clavicle fracture (male 190; female 88) that had (1) undergone ORIF of the clavicle with plates and (2) received a second operation for removal of hardware after solid union of the fracture between 2010 and 2017. Their mean age was 40.1 ± 15.1 years, and mean interval from fixation to plate removal was 12.5 ± 7.5 months. The patients were then divided into two groups based on the presence of refracture (n = 20) or without refracture (n = 258). We analyzed patient demographics, interval between fixation and implant removal, fracture classification (AO/OTA, Robinson), fixation device, whether wires or interfragmentary screws were used, clavicular length, and bone diameter at the fracture site.ResultsThe overall refracture rate was 7.2%, and the mean interval between plate removal and refracture was 23.9 days. A multivariate analysis showed that female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.74; 95% CI 1.6–14.1) and body mass index [BMI] (for every 1-unit decrease, aOR 1.25; 95% CI 1.06–1.48) were risk factors for refracture. In women, BMI was the only risk factor. The optimal BMI cutoff value was 22.73. In a female patient with a lower BMI, the refracture rate was 29.8%.ConclusionsThere are no significant radiographic parameters associated with refracture. Routine plate removal in a female patient with a low BMI after bony union of a midshaft clavicle fracture is not recommended because of a high refracture rate.

Flexible intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures: closed versus open reduction.

Children's femoral shaft fractures are commonly treated with flexible intramedullary nailing after closed or open reduction, but there is little information concerning indications for open reduction. The purpose of this study was to determine radiographic and clinical features likely to lead to open reduction before flexible intramedullary nailing. Record review identified 158 femoral shaft fractures treated with flexible intramedullary nailing. In addition to patient demographics and mechanism of injury, data obtained included surgeon name, estimated blood loss, type of reduction, type and diameter of nail, type of operating table, the use of percutaneous reduction techniques or supplemental casting, time to and duration of surgery, total time in operating room, and time to union. Fracture ratios were calculated based on established radiographic protocol. Of 158 fractures, 141 were treated with closed reduction and 17 with open reduction. The anteroposterior fracture index (1.3 ± 0.4, P = 0.0007), surgeon (P = 0.002), and flattop operating table (0.05) were associated with open reduction. Smaller lateral diameter of bone at the fracture site, transverse fracture, and surgeon were all found to be independent risk factors for open reduction; patient characteristics, including age, sex, and BMI, did not seem to influence the choice of open reduction. Fractures with a lower fracture index or pattern resembling a transverse fracture rather than oblique or spiral had an increased risk of converting to an open reduction. Surgeon preference and use of flattop tables also had a significant influence on how the fracture was treated.

Effects of Judo Training on Bones: A Systematic Literature Review.

Ciaccioni, S, Condello, G, Guidotti, F, and Capranica, L. Effects of judo training on bones: a systematic literature review. J Strength Cond Res 33(10): 2882-2896, 2019-The aim of this study was to provide a systematic literature review on the osteogenic effects of judo (PROSPERO: CRD42016041803). The online search was conducted according to the inclusion criteria: observational studies and clinical/interventional trials in English from inception to June 2016; bone health, bone mineral density (BMD), diameters, impact force, and bone turnover marker (BTM) outcomes. Thirty-four studies were included and graded for their methodological quality ("fair" quality: 79.4%). The most used assessment method (44.1%) was X-ray absorptiometry. A positive association between judo and bone health/status emerged. Findings support site-specific BMD accrual in children, adolescents, adult athletes, and in premenopausal and postmenopausal female practitioners. Bone turnover markers revealed a hypermetabolic status in high-level judo athletes. The osteogenic stimuli of judo seem to protect athletes from alterations in bone metabolic balance due to weight loss cycling. Sexual dimorphism was found between judoka in bone diameters and mass, and significant differences in bone breadths emerged between elite and nonelite judokas. The fall techniques reduced bone impact force and velocity with respect to "natural" fall. Further longitudinal, cross-sectional, and interventional researches are required. This article provides useful information on bone for health sport scientists, coaches, and practitioners, stimulating future research lines on judo. In particular, coaches and physical trainers should consider introducing judo fall techniques in their training plans to prevent fall-related injuries, especially relevant in the older population. Conversely, coaches are urged to carefully control weight cycling dietary habits of their athletes, which can produce serious metabolic responses on bones.

Predicting primary stability of orthodontic mini-implants, according to position, screw-size, and bone quality, in the maxilla of aged patients: a cadaveric study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implant size and bone condition on primary stability of orthodontic mini-implants with a view to predict the primary stability before insertion. Four-hundred and forty mini-implants of two different diameters (2.0 and 2.3mm) and lengths (7 and 12mm) were inserted at 11 different positions in human cadaver maxillae. Before placement of mini-implants, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed to measure bone density and cortical thickness and, after mini-implant placement, implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were determined by resonance frequency analysis and cofactors were analyzed to determine their influence on the primary stability. Additionally, an equation was developed to predict the expected stability based on implant size and bone quality. Bone density varied between 433(SD122) and 587(SD249) Hounsfield units (HU), and cortical thickness varied between 0.49(SD0.42) and 0.98(SD0.60)mm. The lowest ISQ value, of 15.50(SD7.29) (bone density: 531 (SD219) HU; cortical thickness: 0.65(SD0.58)mm), was found for a mini-implant of 2.0×7mm and the highest ISQ value, of 46.30(SD8.69) (bone density: 587(SD249) HU; cortical thickness: 0.98(SD0.60)mm), was found for a mini-implant of 2.3×11mm. Statistically significant influences of the cofactors on primary stability were demonstrated. To visualize the predictive power of the model, the observed values versus the predicted values of primary stability were compared and the model fit was represented by residual plots. The expected primary stability can be estimated by a linear regression model comprising the radiologically determined bone density, cortical thickness, implant length and diameter, and placement position.

Artificial neural network to estimate micro-architectural properties of cortical bone using ultrasonic attenuation: A 2-D numerical study

The goal of this study is to estimate micro-architectural parameters of cortical porosity such as pore diameter (φ), pore density (ρ) and porosity (ν) of cortical bone from ultrasound frequency dependent attenuation using an artificial neural network (ANN). First, heterogeneous structures with controlled pore diameters and pore densities (mono-disperse) were generated, to mimic simplified structure of cortical bone. Then, more realistic structures were obtained from high resolution CT scans of human cortical bone. 2-D finite-difference time-domain simulations were conducted to calculate the frequency-dependent attenuation in the 1–8 MHz range. An ANN was then trained with the ultrasonic attenuation at different frequencies as the input feature vectors while the output was set as the micro-architectural parameters (pore diameter, pore density and porosity). The ANN is composed of three fully connected dense layers with 24, 12 and 6 neurons, connected to the output layer. The dataset was trained over 6000 epochs with a batch size of 16. The trained ANN exhibits the ability to predict the micro-architectural parameters with high accuracy and low losses. ANN approaches could potentially be used as a tool to help inform physics-based modelling of ultrasound propagation in complex media such as cortical bone. This will lead to the solution of inverse-problems to retrieve bone micro-architectural parameters from ultrasound measurements for the non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring osteoporosis.

First trimester supratentorial and infratentorial abnormalities in fetuses with open spina bifida

Objectives To examine whether supratentorial, infratentorial, and calvarial manifestations of open spina bifida (OSB) occur in the first-trimester. Methods Supratentorial (midbrain curvature, thalamic height), infratentorial (fourth ventricle diameter, brain-stem diameter [BSD], ratio of BSD to BSD-occipital bone diameter [BSOB]), and calvarial (frontomaxillary facial [FMF] angle) parameters were measured in stored midsagittal facial images at 110–136 weeks of 500 normal and 10 open spina-bifida fetuses by 3 blinded examiners. Results OSB fetuses displayed a larger midbrain curvature (93.26 ± 6.97 versus 97.79 ± 10.04, p < .05), decreased FMF angle (84.10 ± 5.44 versus 78.46 ± 5.82, p < .001), smaller fourth ventricle diameter (0.25 ± 0.04 mm versus 0.18 ± 0.05 mm, p < .001), smaller BSD (0.29 ± 0.04 mm versus 0.23 ± 0.04 mm; p < .001), and increased BSD to BSOB ratio (0.64 ± 0.71 versus 0.73 ± 0.93, p < .03) than normal controls, respectively. Thalamic height was not significantly altered. Detection rates of OSB were highest for fourth ventricle diameter and FMF angle (60% and 40%, respectively, at 95% specificity). BSD, BSD to BSOB ratio, midbrain curvature yielded sensitivities of 30% with 95% specificity. Two-dimensional discrimination for pairs of measures combining fourth ventricle diameter with FMF angle increased sensitivity to 90% with specificity of 90.7%. Conclusions Our findings suggest that supratentorial, infratentorial, and calvarial changes consistent with the Chiari-II malformation are already established in first-trimester fetuses with OSB.

TOMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE S2-ALAR-ILIAC SCREW TECHNIQUE IN BRAZILIAN MEN

ABSTRACT Objective The use of pedicle screws was a milestone for modern spinal surgery. This type of fixation, due to its superior biomechanics, gave greater fixation power, greater capacity to withstand the pulling forces and, therefore, greater stability and lower rates of pseudoarthrosis. Fixation of the lumbosacral junction, even with the development of these new implants, remains a challenge mainly because the considerable rates of pseudoarthrosis. The use of iliac screws solves the biomechanical difficulties. However, its use shows high rates of surgical wound problems. The S2-Alar-Iliac screw (S2AI) came as a solution to these complications. The lack of studies about anatomical and anthropometric parameters in the Brazilian population justifies the study. Methods Eleven hip tomographies of Brazilian adult males were analyzed by four evaluators. The right and left sides were considered. In each patient, measurements were made of greater and shorter bone length, greater and smaller bone diameter, distance from the entry point to the skin, sagittal and axial angles related to the hypothetical insertion of an S2AI screw and compared to the same measurements obtained with the iliac screw. Results The mean bone length was 136.7 mm, the greatest bone diameter was 24.8 mm, the smallest bone diameter was 19.7 mm and the distance from the screw to the skin was 42.1 mm for the S2AI screw. Conclusions The obtained data present an average of the sample that can be useful in the decision of the surgical technique in the studied group. Level of evidence I; Diagnostic Studies (Anatomical Investigation).

Changes in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of the Bone after Puncture Cryoablation: Experimental Study

Purpose of the study — to evaluate possible impact of cryoablation on a healthy bone and to identify probable causes of postoperative fractures.Materials and Methods. The authors performed cryoablation of the femur in the experiment on 8 mature rabbits of Soviet Chinchilla (SC) breed with a follow up for up to two months. Anitrogenous cryoprobe of 1.5 mm in diameter was introduced into the femur through a perforation hole. The bone was completely frozen up to -180°С in two cycles with continuous thermometry. Pathomorfological examinations were performed after 7 and 55 days along with assessment of bone hardness. Preparation of material stipulated sawing the bone at the fracture site along the bone axis. One half-bone was used for histological examination, and another one — for measuring mechanical properties by local pressing of a diamond indenter onto the bone at certain applied force. The distance between measurement points along the bone was 250 μm. Statistical processing included variance significance analysis using t-test.Results. The authors reported bone fractures at the site of cryodestruction in all animals in one week after the procedure. Statistical analysis of the measurements and histological examination demonstrated that freezing of the entire bone diameter up to -180°С results in its complete destruction. Strength reduction around the fracture site corresponded to the temperature distribution area in the range from -9ºС to -15ºС. However, areas of cooling below -40ºС exhibited some bone segments with normal hardness. Mosaic pattern of strength reduction is explained by microcirculation disorders. Histology confirmed thrombosis of intraosseous blood vessels in the area of cryotherapy. The first focal signs of osteomalacia emerged by the end of the first week after cryoablation. Subsequently, the bone preserved its regenerative properties, but by the end of the second month after the procedure the histogenesis was still not completed and the bone did not regain its strength.Conclusion. The authors believe that a limited number of cases, the specific features of the angioarchitecture of animal bones and their ability to produce a heavy periosteal response do not allow to apply obtained quantitative outcomes of the present study to clinical situations. However, complete freezing of the entire bone diameter inevitably results in fracture formation.

First-trimester cystic posterior fossa: reference ranges, associated findings, and pregnancy outcomes

Objective To report reference ranges for fetal cerebral posterior fossa measurements and to describe the sonographic findings, karyotype results, and pregnancy outcomes in fetuses presenting with cystic posterior fossa (CPF) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods Two groups of patients undergoing first-trimester sonographic screening at 11–13 weeks’ gestation were studied. The first (control group) consisted of 253 consecutive fetuses with normal posterior fossa, in which the brainstem (BS), fourth ventricle, cisterna magna, and BS-occipital bone (BS−OB) diameter were prospectively measured and the BS/BS−OB diameter ratio was calculated. The second (study group) consisted of 14 fetuses in which a CPF was detected. Information on sonographic findings, prenatal karyotype results, and pregnancy outcomes was obtained by reviewing ultrasound reports and medical records. The results from the two groups were then compared. Results In the control group, the size of all posterior fossa structures increased and the BS/BS−OB diameter ratio slightly decreased as the pregnancy progressed. In the study group, the BS diameter did not differ significantly from the measurements obtained in the control group. However, the BS−OB diameter and the fourth ventricle were significantly larger (p < .05 and p < .001, respectively) in the study group than in the control group. Additionally, the cisterna magna was not identified in 13 of the 14 fetuses (93%) in the study group, in comparison to zero out of the 253 fetuses in the control group (p < .001). Finally, the BS/BS−OB diameter ratio was significantly smaller in the study group when compared with the control group (p < .05). Regarding pregnancy outcomes, 12 of the 14 (86%) affected pregnancies underwent elective termination (n = 11) or ended in an early intrauterine demise (n = 1) due to the associated chromosomal abnormalities or structural defects. The two fetuses with isolated CPF had a normal second-trimester scan and resulted in the delivery of healthy newborn infants. Conclusions The detection of a CPF in the first trimester is associated with a high rate of chromosomal and structural defects. By using normative data, early sonographic screening and detection of mildly and moderately abnormal cases is possible. Fetuses with isolated CPF require further study with a detailed second-trimester scan. This is essential in order to differentiate cases with poor and good perinatal outcomes. Finally, our data also demonstrate that the main sonographic tool when screening for CPF in the first trimester is the assessment of the fourth ventricle, which is significantly larger in abnormal cases as the result of the wide communication between the fourth ventricle and the cisterna magna.

An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach to extract micro-architectural properties of cortical bone using ultrasound attenuation: A numerical study

The goal of this study is to estimate the porosity parameters including pore diameter, pore density, and porosity of cortical bone from ultrasound attenuation measurements using an artificial neural network (ANN). Two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain simulations are conducted to calculate the frequency-dependent attenuation in the range of 1–8 MHz in mono-disperse structures (constant pore size) with a pore diameter and density ranging from 20 to 120 µm and 3–16 pore/mm2, respectively. Furthermore, poly-disperse structures (non-uniform pore distribution) are obtained from high resolution CT scans of human cortical bone and 2D numerical simulations are carried out in the same frequency range as for the mono-disperse cases. Then, a regression problem is formulated with the ultrasonic attenuation at different frequencies acting as the feature vectors and the output being set as the porosity parameters. Our dataset consists of 330 structures for the mono-disperse model and 668 structures for the poly-disperse model. ANN-based (3 hidden layers with 806 trainable weights) parameter prediction method achieves accuracies as high as 96% for pore size, 97% for porosity, and 78% for pore density for the poly-disperse model. This work demonstrates the potential of combining ultrasound methods to deep neural networks to quantify cortical bone parameters with high accuracies.

Positive effect of low dose vitamin D supplementation on growth of fetal bones: A randomized prospective study

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on growth of fetal bones during pregnancy is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low dose vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on bony anthropometric aspects of the fetus. In this prospective randomized trial, 140 patients were divided into two equally matched groups according to age, 25(OH)D level, exercise, and dietary intake. Then 1000 IU per day vitamin D supplement was given to the intervention group while the control group received placebo. Then crown-rump length (CRL) and femur length (FL) during the first trimester and humerus and femur lengths as well as their proximal metaphyseal diameter (PMD), midshaft diameter (MSD) and distal metaphyseal diameter (DMD) in the second and third trimester were measured using ultrasonography technique. Finally, no significant difference was observed for CRL (p = 0.93). Although FL was not statistically significant in the first trimester (p = 0.54), its measurement in the intervention group and the control group in the second (28.87 ± 2.14 vs. 26.89 ± 2.08; p ≤0.001) and the third (65.31 ± 2.17 vs. 62.85 ± 1.94; p ≤0.001) trimesters was significantly different. Femoral PMD, MSD, and DMD measurement increased more in the intervention group in comparison with the control group with P values <0.05. HL measurement in the intervention group and the control group in the second (28.62 ± 1.94 vs. 27.23 ± 2.08; p ≤0.001) and the third (61.29 ± 2.84 vs. 59.85 ± 1.79; p ≤0.001) trimesters revealed significant differences. Humeral PMD, MSD, and DMD measurement increased in the intervention group in comparison with the control group with P values <0.001 for all. It is suggested to prescribe low dose vitamin D (1000 IU per day) from early pregnancy with possible increment in length and diameter of femur and humerus bones of the fetus.

Morphological diversification of biomechanical traits: mustelid locomotor specializations and the macroevolution of long bone cross-sectional morphology

BackgroundMorphological diversity of limb bone lengths, diameters, and proportions in mammals is known to vary strongly with locomotor habit. It remains less well known how different locomotor habits are correlated with cross-sectional traits of the limb skeleton, such as cross-sectional area (CSA), second moments of area (SMA), and section modulus (MOD) and whether these traits have evolved adaptively. CSA and SMA represent the bone’s resistance to axial compression and bending, respectively, whereas MOD represents bone structural strength related to shape. Sampling 28 species of mustelids, a carnivoran lineage with diverse locomotor habits, we tested for differences in humeral, radial, and ulnar cross-sectional traits among specialists for climbing, digging, and swimming, in addition to generalists. Given that the limbs of digging specialists function in the dense substance of soil, and that swimming specialists need to counteract buoyancy, we predicted that these mustelids with these specializations should have the greatest values of cross-sectional traits.ResultsWe analyzed cross-sectional traits (calculated via μCT scanning and rendered dimensionless) in 5% increments along a bone’s length and found significant differences among locomotor habits, though differences in ulnar cross-sectional traits were fewer than those for the humerus and radius. Swimming specialists had the greatest values of cross-sectional traits, followed by digging specialists. Climbing specialists had the lowest values of cross-sectional traits. However, phylogenetic affinity underlies these results. Fitting models of trait evolution to CSA and SMA revealed that a multi-rate Brownian motion model and a multi-optima Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model are the best-fitting models of evolution for these traits. However, inspection of α-values uncovered that many of the OU models did not differ from a Brownian motion model.ConclusionsWithin Mustelidae, differences in limb function and locomotor habit influence cross-sectional traits in ways that produce patterns that may diverge from adaptive patterns exhibited by external traits (e.g., bone lengths) of the mammalian limb skeleton. These results suggest that not all the traits of a single organ evolve under a single evolutionary process and that models of trait evolution should be fit to a range of traits for a better understanding of the evolution of the mammalian locomotor system.