Limb Bones Research Articles

Vitamin C Deficiency Causes Hematological and Skeletal Abnormalities during Fetal Development in Swine

The influence of maternal vitamin C deficiency on fetal development was studied in swine with a hereditary lack of ability to synthesize ascorbic acid (OD pigs). Thirteen pregnant sows homozygous (od/od) for the defect were depleted of ascorbic acid for 24 to 38 d at various stages of gestation. Six normal (OD/OD) sows were used as controls. Only a few experimental sows showed clinical symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. Nevertheless, severe pathological changes were seen in the uterus and fetuses. Characteristic findings were hemorrhages and hematomas in both fetal and maternal placenta, and general edema and subcutaneous hemorrhages in the fetuses. Similarities were noted to the abruptio placentae syndrome in women. Depletion of vitamin C resulted in a pronounced decline in ascorbic acid concentration in most maternal and fetal organs as well as in plasma and embryonic fluids. No morphological malformations were found in the fetuses, but the ossification of the skeleton was severely deranged. Macroscopically the lesions comprised swelling of the costochondral junction and separation of the epiphysial cartilage from the spongiosa in ribs and limb bones. Another characteristic finding was loosening of the periost from the cortex, often resulting in subperiosteal bleedings. Microscopically normal osteoblasts were few and the formation of osteoid defective.

Radial porosity profiles are a powerful tool for tracing locomotor maturation in developing limb bones.

Radial porosity profiles (RPP) are a new quantitative osteohistological parameter designed to capture the dynamic changes in the primary porosity of limb bones through ontogeny, providing insights into skeletal growth and functional development of extant and extinct vertebrates. Previous work hypothesized that RPP channelization-the intraskeletal alignment of RPPs across different bones resulting from similar cortical compaction patterns-indicates increasing locomotor performance of the developing limbs. By investigating RPPs in ontogenetic series of pheasants, pigeons and ducks representing distinct locomotor developmental strategies, we test this hypothesis here and show that RPPs are indeed powerful osteohistological correlates of locomotor ontogeny. Qualitative and quantitative analyses reveal strong association between RPP channelization and fledging, the most drastic locomotor transition in the life history of volant birds. The channelization signal is less clear in precocial leg function; however, when additional intraskeletal and intercohort RPP characteristics are considered, patterns related to leg precocity can also be identified. Thus, we demonstrate that RPPs can be used in future by palaeobiologists to generate breakthroughs in the study of the ontogeny and evolution of flight in fossil birds and pterosaurs. With further baseline data collection from modern terrestrial vertebrates, RPPs could also test hypotheses regarding ontogenetic postural shifts in dinosaurs and other terrestrial archosaurs.

New specimens of the early Permian apex predator Varanops brevirostris at Richards Spur, Oklahoma, with histological information about its growth pattern.

An articulated pelvic region and additional isolated material of Varanops brevirostris, which are indistinguishable from those of the generotype from the Cacops bonebed, demonstrate the presence of this large varanopid at the Richards Spur locality. The articulated specimen includes lumbar, sacral, and anterior caudal vertebrae, partial pelvis, femur, and proximal part of tibia, confirming the autapomorphies previously suggested for this species. These include the presence of distinct blade-like shapes of the neural spines in the sacral region, the presence of deeply excavated pubis, and the presence of a distinct transverse ridge on the ventral surface of the femur distal to the intertrochanteric fossa. It has also been found that the transverse ridges and grooves become larger during ontogeny since the juvenile specimen did not exhibit a well-developed ridge. Histological analysis of isolated limb bones and neutron computed tomography (nCT) of the articulated specimen indicate that the latter likely belonged to an adult individual. This is in contrast to the other varanopid at Richards Spur, the significantly smaller, more gracile predator Mesenosaurus efremovi, which also shows the presence of growth lines and the external fundamental system with an estimated minimum age of fourteen.

Pediatric myofibroma/myofibromatosis of the soft tissue and bone: a clinicopathological analysis of 28 cases

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pediatric myofibroma/myofibromatosis of the soft tissue and bone. Methods: All cases of pediatric myofibroma/myofibromatosis of the soft tissue and bone diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2018 were retrieved from the surgical pathology records in the Department of Pathology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China. Clinical and radiological data were collected. H&E and immunohistochemistry were used to examine histological and immunophenotypic features and to make the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The relevant literature was also reviewed. Results: Twenty-eight cases of pediatric myofibroma/myofibromatosis of the soft tissue and bone were respectively collected. The patients' ages ranged from 2 months to 14 years, with a mean age of 7 years. There were 7 females and 21 males. There were 12 cases located in soft tissue, including the finger (n=9), upper arm (n=1) and foot (n=2). There were 14 cases located in the bone of limb, including the femur (n=8), tibia (n=4), clavicle (n=2), fibula (n=2) and radius (n=1). There were 2 cases of myofibromatosis involving multiple bones. Radiology showed lytic lesions in the bone. The proliferation of spindle-shaped myofibroblasts arranged in fascicles with indistinct eosinophilic cytoplasm and bland nuclei, with no pleomorphism and cytological atypia. The characteristic histologic structure was the biphasic nodular growth pattern with cellular and paucicellular regions. The tumors might arrange in a hemangiopericytoma-like pattern. The stroma varied between dense fibrosis and myxoid changes. The reactive new bone formation and inflammatory cell infiltration also existed. Immunohistochemical study showed that the SMA was positive. The surgical resections were performed. One of the patients had tumor recurrence as a result of 11-month follow-up. Conclusions: The pediatric myofibroma/myofibromatosis of the soft tissue and bone is a very rare benign tumor and has a good prognosis. It has a characteristic morphology and its differential diagnosis from other spindle cell tumors could be made with the immunohistochemical analysis.

Heat-Killed Staphylococcus aureus Induces Bone Mass Loss through Telomere Erosion

The mechanism of systemic osteoporosis caused by chronic infection is not completely clear, and there is a lack of reasonable interventions for this disease. In this study, heat-killed S. aureus (HKSA) was applied to simulate the inflammation caused by the typical clinical pathogen and to explore the mechanism of systemic bone loss caused by it. In this study, we found that the systemic application of HKSA caused bone loss in mice. Further exploration found that HKSA caused cellular senescence, telomere length shortening, and telomere dysfunction-induced foci (TIF) in limb bones. As a well-known telomerase activator, cycloastragenol (CAG) significantly alleviated HKSA-induced telomere erosion and bone loss. These results suggested that telomere erosion in bone marrow cells is a possible mechanism of HKSA-induced bone loss. CAG may protect against HKSA-induced bone loss by alleviating telomere erosion in bone marrow cells.

Dystrophic Calcified Mass Found in the Semimembranosus Muscle in a Cadaver: A Case Report

Most of the soft tissue calcified mass formations are sporadic incidences that occur in an idiopathic form. Ectopic calcification changes were seen in various soft tissues beyond the skeleton. They are often asymptomatic masses located in the superficial or deeper aspect of the body, but may not be related to the bone directly. Increased levels of serum calcium, phosphate, or Vitamin D hypervitaminosis may be associated with the calcification process, causing mass accretion in the tissues like bones of limbs, and cranium, or showing some dental abnormalities. During the routine dissection of the hamstring compartment of the left lower limb in a male cadaver aged around 70 years in the Department of Anatomy, we noticed nodular fragments and lengthy slender pieces, which were hard in consistency and bony in its appearance found within the semimembranosus muscle. The histopathology of these masses was revealed as “Dystrophic Calcified Masses”. A holistic description of calcification changes in the soft tissues will be considered in the article. Keywords: calcification, dystrophy, hypervitaminosis

Prevalence pattern, phenotypic manifestation, and descriptive genetics of congenital limb deficiencies in Pakistan.

Congenital limb deficiency (CLD) is a group of very rare disorders characterized by substantial hypoplasia or the complete absence of 1 or more bones of limbs. Congenital limb deficiency has a significant physical, clinical, and psychological burden on the affected individuals and their families. This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the prevalence pattern, phenotypic manifestations, and biodemographic factors associated with CLD in a cohort assembled from the Pakistani population from the Northwestern region. Through a prospective cross-sectional study, 141 individuals having 166 limbs with CLD were recruited during 2017-2021. There were 77 (55%) individuals with transverse defects, 61 (43%) with longitudinal defects, and 3 (2%) with Intercalary defects. Among the patients with transverse defects, 52 had terminal amputations and 25 had symbrachydactyly. Among the longitudinal defects, thumb aplasia/hypoplasia was the most common presentation (20 patients), followed by oligodactyly (18), and radial hemimelia (18). Eighty six percent had upper-limb deficiencies, 83% had unilateral deficiencies, and 92% were sporadic in nature. The parental consanguinity was observed in 33% individuals, and 79% cases had an isolated presentation which may be indicative of the substantial role of nongenetic factors in the etiology of CLD. This study demonstrates marked heterogeneity in CLD subtypes in the involvement of limbs and associated variables. There is a need to establish a national registry for CLD, molecular genetic diagnosis, and multidisciplinary medical and social rehabilitation services for these individuals.

Bone size and its effect on body mass in Eothenomys miletus from the Hengduan Mountain region

Morphological characteristics are closely related to habitat characteristics; habitat differences drive morphological differentiation, resulting in intraspecific and interspecific differences. In the present study, it was shown that body mass and body length in Eothenomys miletus from five regions: (Dali (DL), Jianchuan (JC), Lijiang (LJ), Xianggelila (XGLL) and Deqin (DQ)) of Hengduan Mountain, showed differentiation in bone morphological indices. The length of the sternum in E. miletus in JC is smaller than that in XGLL, and the length of the lumbar vertebrae is smaller than that in XGLL and DQ. The length of other trunk bones and limb bones of E. miletus in DL, JC and LJ at low latitudes and high temperatures were longer than in XGLL and DQ at high latitudes and low temperatures. Principal component analysis associated XGLL and DQ populations and cluster analysis divided the populations from five regions into two categories. The increase in bone length and mass correlated with increased body mass in E. miletus. Change in bone length does not conform to Bergmann's Law, which was affected by altitude, average annual temperature and latitude. Moreover, food, terrain, and living habits may also affect bone morphology in E. miletus.

Design and Simulation Analysis of Robot-Assisted Plate Internal Fixation Device for Lower Limb Fractures

Abstract: Internal fixation with steel plates is a common method for the therapy of lower limb fractures. Due to the disadvantages of traditional surgical methods such as high trauma and complications, the application of robots for minimally invasive surgery has become a popular research direction. In this article, we have designed and simulated the overall structure of a steel plate internal fixation device used in conjunction with a robotic arm. Firstly, a finite element model of cortical bone drilling was established based on ABAQUS to obtain the torque and axial force when drilling the cortical bone. Then a virtual prototype of the robot-assisted lower limb bone fracture plate internal fixation device was designed, and the outer shell, drilling mechanism, nail placement mechanism, nail supply mechanism, drive mechanism, and guide sleeve were refined based on the overall mechanical structure of the device, so that the device could continuously perform drilling and nail placement. Afterward, the device was simulated based on ADAMS, and the motion curves of each component were obtained to verify the feasibility of the device’s working principle and to validate the performance of the servo. Finally, the modal analysis of the device was carried out with the finite element software ABAQUS, and the modal parameters of the first six orders were obtained, which were compared with the operating frequencies of the motor and the servo to verify that the device is not easy to resonate during normal operation, and the static strength checks of the key components were carried out, and the stress and deformation clouds and upper limits of flexural values of the components were obtained, which proved that the structure has stability.

The Current Status, Prospects, and Challenges of Shape Memory Polymers Application in Bone Tissue Engineering.

Bone defects can occur after severe trauma, infection, or bone tumor resection surgery, which requires grafting to repair the defect when it reaches a critical size, as the bone's self-healing ability is insufficient to complete the bone repair. Natural bone grafts or artificial bone grafts, such as bioceramics, are currently used in bone tissue engineering, but the low availability of bone and high cost limit these treatments. Therefore, shape memory polymers (SMPs), which combine biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, shape tunability, ease of access, and minimally invasive implantation, have received attention in bone tissue engineering in recent years. Here, we reviewed the various excellent properties of SMPs and their contribution to bone formation in experiments at the cellular and animal levels, respectively, especially for the repair of defects in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) and limb bones, to provide new ideas for the application of these new SMPs in bone tissue engineering.

Osteology and radiology of the thoracic limb of nine-banded armadillo, dasypus novemcinctus linnaeus, 1758

In Brazil, injured nine-banded armadillos are frequently taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers due to direct or indirect anthropic interactions, however, database about osseous structures useful to radiographic interpretation are limited. This work provides bones description from thoracic limb of Dasypus novemcinctus as well as references to radiographic interpretation and the best positioning to perform the radiographies. Twelve deceased specimens seized by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) were used to check osteology and radiographic anatomy. Radiographic images were taken in practical routine plans of small animals and were followed by limbs dissection and bones preparations. The bone structure of the thoracic limb was similar to those of other species of armadillos. The scapula presented a prominent caudal angle, as well as a thick acromion with a wide hamate process; the humerus is short, spiraled with a prominent deltoid tuberosity and a wide lateral epicondylar crest; the radius and ulna did not present any fusion between then, allowing a wide rotation movement of the forearm. In general, the bone components of the hand maintained a short and robust shape, digits with developed distal phalange followed by long claws. Several sesamoid bones were found in the metacarpal and interphalangical joints. Clear visualization of bone characteristics was possible using proposed positioning to take the radiographies.

Fracture liaison services creation is the key to decrease fragility fractures morbidity

Background . Fragility fractures (FF) determine main severity of medical and social consequences of osteoporosis. FF prophylaxis considers to prevent repeated fractures. For this reason special services are being created. Their principles and effectiveness require improvement and additional study. Aim . Тo highlight key role of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) for reducing incidence of FF by means of scientific publications and own material analysis. Materials and methods . Clinical material was collected at the Artashat Medical Center (Republic of Armenia). Study included 2,332 patients aged 50–97 years, including 1,656 women (71%) and 676 men (29%) with typical FF of limb bones. First group included 765 patients treated in 2011–2013, for whom anti-osteoporotic pharmacotherapy (AP) was prescribed due to known X-ray techniques. In second group of 1567 patients the AP was prescribed based on electronic FRAX calculator in 2014–2017. Proportions of patients in two clinical groups with and without AP were compares along with proportions who had repeated low-energy bone fractures. Moreover, past 20 years scientific publications analysis dedicated to prevention of FF and role of FLS was carried out. Results . Comparative analysis revealed that patients proportion with prescribed AF based on use of FRAX calculator in second clinical group, significantly (p<0.05) increased by 16.6%, while patients proportion with repeated FF significantly (p<0.05) decreased by 6.5% (or 1.17 times) in relation to first group. Analysis of publications has shown high efficiency of FLS and their important role in reducing incidence of FF in general. Conclusion . Use of FRAX calculator for AP prescription allowed to achieve significant (p<0.05) increase by 16.6% in proportion with prescribed specific AP, which led to significant (p<0.05) decrease of patient proportion (6.5%) with repeated low-energy fractures. Analysis of scientific publications and own material confirmed key role of FLS for reducing the incidence of FF.

The incidence of post amputation syndrome after pericapsular nerve group block versus sciatico-femoral nerve block in patients undergoing above knee amputation

Background & objective: Regional anesthesia for orthopedic procedures has been widely practiced around the globe, and it has been employed either alone or in combination with general anesthesia. An above knee amputation will need blockade of both femoral and sciatic nerves for successful pain control and help with peripheral sensitization for the patient. Pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a novel regional nerve block to provide analgesia in fractured hip patients. We assessed the effectiveness of this block compared to sciatico-femoral block and the incidence of post amputation syndrome in patients undergoing above knee amputation. Methodology: This randomized controlled single-blinded study was carried out on 30 patients with lower limb bone tumors indicated for above knee amputation admitted to surgery clinic, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. The duration of study was from January 2021 to May 2022. Patients were randomized equally using opaque sealed envelopes into 2 groups Group A: (n = 15) pericapsular nerve group block group (PNGB) to receive 20 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine with 4 mg dexamethasone at the pubic ramus just medial to the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS). Group B: (n = 15) patients received sciatico-femoral block with a mixture of 20 mL 0.125% bupivacaine with 4 mg dexamethasone injected in the femoral and sciatic nerve. Postoperative VAS scores, the time to first analgesic request was and the total morphine consumed as rescue analgesic were recorded. Results: Time to first analgesic request was significantly prolonged in group B than group A (P < 0.001). Total morphine dose in first 24 h postoperative and in first 48 h postoperative were significantly lower in group B than in group A (P < 0.001 and 0.003 respectively). VAS scores were significantly lower at 2, 4 and 8 h in group B than group A (P < 0.05) and were insignificantly different at 12, 24 h, and on 2nd and 7th day between the two groups. Phantom limb syndrome frequency was significantly lower at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months in group B than in group A (P < 0.05); at 6 mo it was noted in 10 (66.67%) patients in group A and 4 (26.67%) in group B with 2.5 (1:6.23) RR (95% CI) (P = 0.028). Conclusions: Sciatico-femoral block has better outcomes than pericapsular nerve block in patients undergoing above knee amputation regarding analgesic effect and the development of phantom limb syndrome. Abbreviations: AIIS - Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine; PNGB - Pericapsular Nerve Group Block; PLP - Phantom Limb Pain; SFB - Sciatic–Femoral Nerve Block; VAS – Visual Analog Scale Key words: Above Knee Amputation; Peri Capsular Nerve Group Block; Post Amputation Syndrome; Sciatico-femoral Nerve Block Citation: Bakeer AHMH, Hussien AIH, Abd El Aziz El Shaikh SM, Soliman Idris AM. The incidence of post amputation syndrome after pericapsular nerve group block versus sciatico-femoral nerve block in patients undergoing above knee amputation. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;27(2):665−672; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i2.2356 Received: May 11, 2023; Revised: September 08, 2023; Accepted: September 17, 2023

Size And Locomotor Ecology Have Differing Effects on the External and Internal Morphologies of Squirrel (Rodentia: Sciuridae) Limb Bones.

Mammals exhibit a diverse range of limb morphologies that are associated with different locomotor ecologies and structural mechanics. Much remains to be investigated, however, about the combined effects of locomotor modes and scaling on the external shape and structural properties of limb bones. Here, we used squirrels (Sciuridae) as a model clade to examine the effects of locomotor mode and scaling on the external shape and structure of the two major limb bones, the humerus and femur. We quantified humeral and femoral morphologies using 3D geometric morphometrics and bone structure analyses on a sample of 76 squirrel species across their four major ecotypes. We then used phylogenetic generalized linear models to test how locomotor ecology, size, and their interaction influenced morphological traits. We found that size and locomotor mode exhibit different relationships with the external shape and structure of the limb bones, and that these relationships differ between the humerus and femur. External shapes of the humerus and, to a lesser extent, the femur are best explained by locomotor ecology rather than by size, whereas structures of both bones are best explained by interactions between locomotor ecology and scaling. Interestingly, the statistical relationships between limb morphologies and ecotype were lost when accounting for phylogenetic relationships among species under Brownian motion. That assuming Brownian motion confounded these relationships is not surprising considering squirrel ecotypes are phylogenetically clustered; our results suggest that humeral and femoral variation partitioned early between clades and their ecomorphologies were maintained to the present. Overall, our results show how mechanical constraints, locomotor ecology, and evolutionary history may enact different pressures on the shape and structure of limb bones in mammals.

Significant changes in lower limb alignment due to flexion and rotation—a systematic 3D simulation of radiographic measurements

BackgroundMany radiographic lower limb alignment measurements are dependent on patients’ position, which makes a standardised image acquisition of long-leg radiographs (LLRs) essential for valid measurements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of rotation and flexion of the lower limb on common radiological alignment parameters using three-dimensional (3D) simulation.MethodsJoint angles and alignment parameters of 3D lower limb bone models (n = 60), generated from computed tomography (CT) scans, were assessed and projected into the coronal plane to mimic radiographic imaging. Bone models were subsequently rotated around the longitudinal mechanical axis up to 15° inward/outward and additionally flexed along the femoral intercondylar axis up to 30°. This resulted in 28 combinations of rotation and flexion for each leg. The results were statistically analysed on a descriptive level and using a linear mixed effects model.ResultsA total of 1680 simulations were performed. Mechanical axis deviation (MAD) revealed a medial deviation with increasing internal rotation and a lateral deviation with increasing external rotation. This effect increased significantly (p < 0.05) with combined flexion up to 30° flexion (− 25.4 mm to 25.2 mm). With the knee extended, the mean deviation of hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA) was small over all rotational steps but increased toward more varus/valgus when combined with flexion (8.4° to − 8.5°). Rotation alone changed the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) in opposite directions, and the effects increased significantly (p < 0.05) when flexion was present.ConclusionsAxial rotation and flexion of the 3D lower limb has a huge impact on the projected two-dimensional alignment measurements in the coronal plane. The observed effects were small for isolated rotation or flexion, but became pronounced and clinically relevant when there was a combination of both. This must be considered when evaluating X-ray images. Extension deficits of the knee make LLR prone to error and this calls into question direct postoperative alignment controls.Level of evidenceIII (retrospective cohort study).

Can growth in captivity alter the calcaneal microanatomy of a wild ungulate?

Reduced mobility associated with captivity induces changes in biomechanical stress on the skeleton of domesticated animals. Due to bone plasticity, bone’s morphology and internal structure can respond to these new biomechanical stresses over individuals’ lifetime. In a context where documenting early process of animal domestication is challenging, this study will test the hypothesis that change in mobility patterns during a wild ungulate’s life will alter the internal structure of its limb bones and provide a proof of concept for the application of this knowledge in Zooarchaeology. Using the calcaneus as a phenotypic marker through qualitative and quantitative 3D microanatomical analyses, we relied on a comparative study across wild boars (Sus scrofa) populations from controlled experimental conditions with different mobility patterns (natural habitat, large pen, and stall) and archaeological specimens collected from middle and late Mesolithic as surrogate for the norm of reaction in European wild boar phenotype before the spread of agriculture and domestic pigs. Results provide evidence for compressive and tensile forces as the main elements affecting the variation in the cortical thickness along the calcaneus. Furthermore, changes in the internal structure of the calcaneus between mobility patterns are observed but their intensity is not directly associated with the degree of mobility restriction and only weakly impacted by the size or weight of the individuals. Despite having greater bone volume, the calcaneus of the Mesolithic wild boars displays a very similar microanatomy compared to the present-day hunted or captive wild boars. These results suggest that calcaneal microanatomy is more affected by population differences than by locomotor variation. For all these reasons, this preliminary study doesn’t support the use of microanatomy of the calcaneus as an indicator of change in locomotor behaviour induced by captivity in the archaeological record.

Эффективность лазерной терапии в комплексном лечении огнестрельных ран конечностей с обширным повреждением мягких тканей

The article presents comparative results of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) and its combination with laser irradiation of the wound surface in the complex treatment of gunshot wounds of the extremities. The treatment results of 40 wounded patients with gunshot fractures of long bones of limbs were analyzed and divided into 2 groups: the 1st group (control group) included 20 (50%) wounded patients in whom VAC-therapy was administered alone; the 2nd group (comparison group) included 20 (50%) wounded patients who underwent VAC-therapy combined with narrow-band light irradiation with a wavelength of 980 nm. According to the results of the analysis of wound healing indicators and the number of complications, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. Based on the histologic examination, the 2nd group showed an accelerated onset of the regeneration phase in the form of more pronounced angiogenesis with the formation of granulation tissue and reduced inflammation. The duration of preparation of the gunshot wound for reconstructive-plastic defect replacement in Group 2 was by 7.1% shorter than in Group 1. Thus, the use of VAC-therapy in combination with laser irradiation allows to reduce the period of wound preparation for reconstructive-restorative surgery.

PS-B08-5: EFFECT OF HIGH SALT INTAKE ON THE SODIUM CONTENT OF EACH BONE IN RATS

Objective: It has been reported that salt intake affects sodium content at the tissue level. Salt intake alters bone sodium content, which shifts the balance of osteoblasts and osteoclasts population and thereby affects bone density. However, it remains to be clarified whether there are site-specific changes in bone sodium content. In the present study, we examined the effect of high salt intake on the sodium content of each bone in normal rats. Design and method: Male Sprague Dawley rats (9 weeks old) were fed with a 0.2% normal salt diet with tap water to drink or a 4% high salt diet with 0.9% NaCl water to drink for 3 weeks. Each bone sodium content was measured by the ashing-flame photometer method. Results: High salt intake significantly increased total bone sodium content. Compared with normal salt group, high salt group exhibited a significant increase in the bone sodium content of skulls, ribs, or tailbones. On the other hand, high salt intake did not alter bone sodium content in the scapula, pelvis, vertebrae, and limb bones. Conclusions: There is a site-specificity of bone sodium accumulation with high salt intake. These findings suggest that each bone has local sodium regulation independently of whole bones and that bones could be separated into whether or not to store sodium. It may be necessary to evaluate the sodium content of each bone in various pathological models, rather than a simple measurement of the total bone sodium content.

Does Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake Associate With Bone Mineral Density and Limb Structural Changes in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that can result in bone erosion, lean mass lowering, and increase of fat mass without changes in body weight. The dietary consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been assessed in many studies due to their potential anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this research was to identify if dietary intake of PUFAs associates with bone mineral density (BMD) and limb structural changes in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) compared to a population-based control group. The study was conducted because previous results have been insufficient. The study group consisted of 83 ERA patients and 321 control subjects. A dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine was used to measure hip, lumbar spine, and radius BMD, as well as arm and leg fat, lean, and bone mass. Dietary habits and inflammatory markers were assessed to evaluate the effects to BMD and limb structural changes. In ERA subjects, higher dietary consumption of PUFAs was associated with a decrease in arm fat mass (b -28.17, P = .02) and possibly with higher lumbar BMD (b 0.008, P = .058). Limb bone and lean mass changes were not associated with dietary intake of PUFAs. Balanced nutrition is essential. Consuming PUFAs could be beneficial in ERA preventing structural changes to hands, but additional research is needed.

Skeletochronology in long tubular bones of the Javan water monitor lizard, Varanus salvator bivittatus in the juvenile stage (Lacertilia: Varanidae)

Age estimation of the juvenile stage of Varanus salvator bivittatus using limb bones, namely the big long tubular bones (femur, tibia, humerus) and the small long tubular bones (fibula, radius, ulna, phalanx), was performed using the skeletochronological method. Samples were from Java Island, Indonesia and provided by the pet exporters. Lines of arrested growth (LAG) were present and the first growth mark was visible on a female with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 18.8 cm, and a male with SVL of 19.3 cm. The process of resorption begins in the juvenile stage, and resorption occurs in all long tubular bones. Inside the big long tubular bones, resorption begins earlier and is more extensive than in the small long tubular bones, and in one individual with SVL 25.0 cm, the endosteal bone had completely eroded in all big tubular bones. Resorption also occurred in the small long tubular bones; however, on one individual with an SVL of 25.0 cm, the remaining endosteal bone was still visible only in fibula bone. Linear regression analysis resulted in a weak correlation, statistically insignificant between the SVL and the diameter of the marrow cavity (d) in the fibula bone, while in other bones the correlations were strong and statistically significant (p < 0.005). Among seven tubular bones, the resorption rate in the fibula bone was the lowest but very high in the phalanx bone. Radial osteon formation has occurred in the smallest individual with SVL 14.4 cm to the biggest one with SVL 25.0 cm, and radial osteon density increases with increased SVL. There was no radial osteon in fibula and phalanx bones in any sampled specimen. In general, there were no significant differences in bone diameter (D), marrow cavity diameter (d) and bone thickness (MP) in all long tubular bones in both male and female individuals, and the density of radial osteon on some tubular bones was influenced by body length, but not by sex.