Number Of Ossification Centers Research Articles

Limb development in skeletally-immature large-sized dogs: A radiographic study.

Despite the extreme morphological variability of the canine species, data on limb development are limited and the time windows for the appearance of the limb ossification centres (OCs) reported in veterinary textbooks, considered universally valid for all dogs, are based on dated studies. The aim of this study was to acquire up-to-date information regarding the arm, forearm and leg bone development in skeletally-immature large-sized dogs from 6 weeks to 16 weeks of age. Nine litters of 5 large-sized breeds (Boxer, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Saarloos Wolfdog, White Swiss Shepherd Dog) were included, for a total of 54 dogs, which were subject to radiographic examination on a bi-weekly basis. The appearance of 18 limb OCs was recorded and 14 radiographic measurements were performed; their relationship with age and body weight was investigated and any breed differences were analysed using different statistical non-parametric tests. The number of OCs present was significantly different at 6 and 8 weeks of age between the investigated breeds. The appearance of the OCs occurred earlier in the Saarloos Wolfdog, while the Labrador Retriever was the later breed. In Boxers and Labrador Retrievers, various OCs showed a delayed appearance compared to the data reported in the literature. The number of OCs was strongly and positively correlated to body weight. Breed differences were also observed in the relative increase of the measured OCs and were not limited to dogs of different morphotypes. Statistically significant differences were most frequently observed between Saarloos Wolfdogs and the other breeds. The OCs that showed a greater variability in their development were the olecranon tuber, the patella and the tibial tuberosity. Their increase was more strongly correlated with the dog’s age and body weight. Our data strongly suggest that differences in limb development exist in dog breeds of similar size and morphotype.

The prevalence and ossification pattern of the biphalangeal and triphalangeal lateral toes

PurposeBiphalangealism of the toes is an exclusively human phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of the lateral toes in childhood by following the ossification pattern of the phalanges.MethodsFoot radiographs of 913 adults have been evaluated for biphalangealism of 3rd to 5th toe. The pediatric group, aged 6–15 years of age, was assessed for the number of ossification centers in the foot.ResultsIn adults, the mean prevalence of biphalangealism in the 5th toe was 41.39%, in the 4th toe was 2.15%, and in the 3rd toe was 0.48%. In children, 45% feet had four ossification centers in the 5th toe. The epiphysis center of the middle and distal phalanx was missing. In the 4th toe, four centers were present in of 2.47% of cases. Those values are similar to the prevalence of the biphalangeal toes in adult population. The remaining toes had 5 or 6 ossification centers. In the 5-center toe, the epiphysis of the middle phalanx was missing.ConclusionA missing distal phalanx epiphyseal ossification center is considered indicative of a biphalangeal toe, and the toes with 5 or 6 ossification centers are indicative of triphalangeal toes. The reason for such evolution of the lateral toes is still debated, but the differences in anatomy most likely have no impact on foot function.

Prevalence, morphological variation and ossification of sesamoid bones of the forefoot: a retrospective radiographic study of 8,716 Chinese subjects

Background and Aim: Previous studies provided evidence of a genetic basis for the occurrence of sesamoids bone in the foot among different ethnic populations. However, information for the Chinese population has not been previously reported. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the distribution, morphological variation and ossification timeline of sesamoid bones of the forefoot in a large sample of the Chinese population. Methods: Antero-posterior (AP) and oblique radiographs of 4,417 left and 4,299 right feet obtained from 8,716 patients in the Hebei province of Northern China, and retrospectively examined for the presence of sesamoid bones, identified as a small oval bone plantar to each metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and the first interphalangeal (IP) joint. Results and Conclusions: The prevalence rate of a sesamoid bone associated with the first to fifth MTP joints and the first IP joint was 99.96%, 3.08%, 0.39%, 0.69%, 8.94%, and 59.22%, respectively. Moreover, a morphological variation in hallucal sesamoids was identified in 12.09% of feet, with variations classified into three distinct types according to bone size and the number of ossification centers. Ossification begins in the hallucal MTP and IP joints at approximately 8 years of age, with the final ossification center being evidence for the sesamoid bone of the fourth MTP joint at 28 years of age. Relevance for patients: Our study provides important anatomical data regarding the prevalence of sesamoid bones in the forefoot of a large population of Chinese adult and pediatric patients for use in clinical practice and research in forensic science and anthropology.

Sternal development in the pediatric population: evaluation using computed tomography

The normal development of the sternum using CT imaging is not known. To describe the normal development of the sternum in children on chest CT imaging. CT imaging of 300 patients (150 male, 150 female), mean age: 4.97 years (range: 0.01-9.9 years), were evaluated retrospectively. The presence and number of ossification centers in the manubrium, each individual mesosternal segment and the xiphoid were reviewed. Additionally, the vertical and horizontal fusion between ossification centers was evaluated. Differences among age and gender were calculated. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variances (ANOVA), chi-square and Fisher exact tests were performed for statistical analysis. Manubrium: A single ossification center was seen in 88% of cases and two or three ossification centers were seen in 12%. More manubrial ossification centers were correlated to a younger age (P < 0.001, R = -0.2). Mesosternum: Majority of patients had a single ossification center in the first segment (85%). The majority of patients had double ossification centers in the second and third segments (51% and 64%, respectively). No ossification center was seen in the fourth segment in 38% of patients. No significant difference among the age of vertical ossification between mesosternal segments was found. (ANOVA; P > 0.05). Xiphoid: Absence was seen in 67% of the patients. Bifid xiphoid was seen in 1% of the patients. The normal development of the different components of the sternum is a process with wide variation among children. The large variability of mesosternal ossification center types should not be confused with pathology.

ENG

The continuous movement of people across borders has resulted in an increase in children who are unable to prove their age when challenged by authorities. The use of the left hand-wrist radiograph for age estimation, especially in younger children has been shown to be an effective method of assessing skeletal age. This study looks at a population of Roma children aged between 1 year and 9 years of age and examines the relationship between the appearance of the ossification centres of the hand-wrist and the age of the child with a view to understanding which of these ossification centres is most predictive of age. The radiographs of 388 children (214 boys, 174 girls) were examined and each ossification centre scored on their appearance in the radiograph. Discriminant function analysis was undertaken on the results to understand the relationship between the appearance of each ossification centre and chronological age. The results showed that there were a number of ossification centres which could be considered to be more predictive of age for both boys and girls including the ossification centres of the distal ulna, the scaphoid and the 5 th distal phalanx.

Number of Ossification Centers in the Anuran Cranial Bones Depends upon the Rate of Development: Experimental Evidence

Cranial development was compared in Rana temporaria (Anura; Ranidae) and Bombina variegata (Anura; Discoglossidae) specimens reared at normal, high, and low level of thyroid hormone (TH). Sequence and timing of cranial ossification as well as rate of a particular bone’s differentiation and growth depend upon TH level. Also, bones which normally develop from a single ossification center (frontoparietal, parasphenoid, vomer, squamosal, angulosplenial, septomaxilla, pterygoid, and premaxilla) were revealed to form from two or more ossification centers in specimens reared at high and low TH level. This indicates them to develop from several early precalcified anlagen which normally fuse prior to the beginning of calcification thus appearing as a single ossification center. Changes in the rate of a particular bone’s differentiation and growth caused by manipulation with a TH level may cause precocious beginning of their calcification or their delayed fusion. As a result, they begin to calcify prior to their fusion thus appearing as several separate ossification centers. Number of ossification centers depends upon the rate of cranial and overall somatic development. Interspecies and individual differences in the rate of cranial and overall ontogeny are responsible for the inter- and intraspecific variability in the number of ossification centers recorded in anurans.

Study of feasibility of the treatment with procainamide hydrochloride and cisplatin in pregnant mice

Cisplatin is one of the most widely utilized anticancer drugs; nevertheless its use is often hampered by the onset of serious side effects. In spite of its tight binding to DNA, great teratogenic effects do not characterize cisplatin, although its embryolethal and growth retardation activities are quite remarkable. On the basis of our previous observations, demonstrating the usefulness of procainamide hydrochloride for the protection against cisplatin toxic effects in adult mice and rats, we now analyze the feasibility of the combined treatment with cisplatin and the antiarrhythmic drug procainamide hydrochloride in pregnant mice and the possible protective action of procainamide against the embryotoxic activity of cisplatin. Our data, obtained in CD-1 dams after treatment with 8 or 12 mg/kg cisplatin ip, with or without 50 mg/kg procainamide hydrochloride iv, confirm the embryotoxic effects of cisplatin. We also demonstrate that procainamide may be administered with cisplatin without causing an increase in its embryotoxic effects, but slightly improving some embryotoxicity parameters in living embryos such as the fetal weight, the percentage of fetuses with skeletal anomalies, and the number of ossification centres. The mechanism of action of this partially protective activity seems to be linked in part to the lower cisplatin accumulation in fetal tissue, probably due to an interaction of drugs at the level of placenta, in part to the protection of procainamide against maternal toxicity of cisplatin. A relevant result of this research is the suggestion that procainamide hydrochloride might be administered in case of pregnancy to protect against the maternal toxic effects of cisplatin without an increased embryotoxic/teratogenic risk for the offspring.

The development of the fetal sternum: a cross-sectional sonographic study.

To assess the relationship between gestational age and sonographic appearance of the various sternal components and establish growth during human gestation. A prospective cross-sectional study. The study was performed on 252 consecutive normal singleton pregnancies from 19 weeks of gestation until term, using transabdominal high-resolution ultrasound techniques. The sternal length, as well as the number of ossification centers at each gestational age, were recorded. The first occasion at which a fetal human sternum could be visualized with two to three ossification centers was at 19 weeks' gestational age. The fifth ossification center was first visualized at 29 weeks' gestation. The mean +/- SE of sternal length varied from 15 +/- 0.98 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.79-17.21) at 19-20 weeks, to 36.50 +/- 0.29 mm (95% CI 35.58-37.42) at 37-38 weeks' gestation. Sternal length as a function of gestational age was expressed by the regression equation: sternal length (mm) = -11.06 + 1.39 x gestational age (weeks). The correlation coefficient, r = 0.924 for sternal length, was found to be highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The presented data offer normative measurements of the fetal sternum which may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital syndromes that include, among other manifestations, abnormalities of sternal development.

Lack of Protective Effect of Breast-feeding in Congenital Hypothyroidism: Report of 12 Cases

Hypothyroid babies being breast-fed (12 cases) or bottle-fed (33 cases) have been compared. Anthropometric measurements at referral as well as biochemical values including plasma T4, T3, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were not significantly different. Bone maturation expressed as number of ossification centers or their surface were identical. Babies from both groups had similar psychologic performance at their first anniversay. It is concluded that breast-feeding does not protect against the deleterious effects of congenital hypothyroidism,.

The braincase of Pholidophorid and Leptolepid fishes, with a review of the Actinopterygian braincase

The braincase of Pholidophorid and Leptolepid fishes, with a review of the Actinopterygian braincase

A Radiographic Study of Development of the Appendicular Skeleton in the Fetal Pig

In this study litters or groups of fetuses and piglets were taken at approximately 5 day internals from the 35th day of gestation to one month after birth and radiographs were prepared of their appendicular skeletons. A total of 502 fetuses and piglets from 49 litters or groups were used. From the radiographs the lengths of calcified diaphyses (humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals III & IV, femur, tibia and metatarsals III & IV) were measured and the numbers of ossification centres were counted. The times of appearance and chronological order of the individual ossification centres in the limbs were also studied and a detailed sequence schedule is presented. Collected data were analysed statistically and mean development curves are given for each variable. Where applicable tolerance limits defining the boundaries within which 95% of values for normal individuals should fall are also expressed. Diaphyseal length was in all cases found to be a linear function of age and could be accurately expressed in terms of regression equations. The relationship between number of ossification centres and age was, however, complex and curvilinear but a graph expressing this relationship could be drawn by eye because of the very close relationship between the 2 factors. Sex differences in the skeletal parameters were small and not statistically significant though ossification was slightly faster in fernales than in males. It is concluded that this radiographic technique together with the normal developmental standards derived herein may be of value not only for accurate assessment of age in pig fetuses but also as a basis for comparison in cases where abnormal fetal development is suspected.

EVIDENCE FOR INDEPENDENT REGULATORS OF ORGAN MATURATION IN FETAL RABBITS

The degree of organ development bears a relationship to gestational age, but in a given infant not all organs need be at the same stage of development. The range of variation of organ maturation can be best studied in an animal with a large litter, such as the rabbit, in which gestation can be precisely timed. Body weight, ossification centers, and lung "maturity," defined as distensibility and stability on deflation, were all measured. Marked variations within a litter allowed study of the relationships between them. Body weight and the number of ossification centers were closely correlated at the same gestational age (R = 0.88, p 001). Ossification centers were less well correlated with gestational age. Lung "age," on the other hand, was more closely related to gestational age than body weight. A single injection of the fetus with 9-fluoroprednisolone, a glucocorticoid, at 24 days resulted in an acceleration of lung maturation, defined in terms of distensibility and the presence of surfactant by 26 to 27 days. No increase in lung weight took place. Similarly, the glucocorticoid had no effect on body size or the number of ossification centers, suggesting that regulators of maturation of these organs are independent.

Nonendocrine deviations from the normal pattern of osseous development.

THE BONE age, as measured by the number of ossification centers which are calcified, has become an index of the stage of development of the growing child. The disturbances in the appearance of these ossification centers associated with endocrine dysfunction are clearly defined. But there are many instances of abnormal ossification in which the causative factors are not understood. The purpose of this paper is to describe a small group of patients, some with retarded and others with precipitated development of ossification centers, who did not have other evidence of endocrine dysfunctions, and the occurrence of nonrachitic craniotabes in the latter group. REPORT OF CASES The first six cases are examples of retarded osseous development (Table 1). Five of these children were short in stature, and none of the six revealed any sign of the endocrine disorders which are characterized by delayed skeletal maturation. The next seven cases (Table 2)