Skeletal Measurements Research Articles

LAIV vaccination prior to pregnancy protects against lethal influenza infection and prevents infection-associated outcomes in offspring

Abstract Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of public health concern. Pregnant women are among those at greater risk of suffering from serious influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Compromised cell-mediated immune responses, low inactivated vaccine efficacy, and poor vaccine uptake all increase the likelihood that exposure to the virus during pregnancy will result in infection-associated maternal and gestational complications such as stillbirths, preterm delivery, and low birthweights. The protective potential of IAV-specific immunological T cell memory induced by vaccination with a cold adapted live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) during pregnancy has not been described; this immunity has the potential to mediate universal protection against influenza. Here, we investigated how LAIV priming before pregnancy and subsequent heterosubtypic IAV challenge during pregnancy impacts maternal and fetal outcomes in mice. LAIV priming prior to pregnancy completely protects pregnant dams against the morbidity and mortality of infection that is lethal to unprimed mice and primed dams go on to drop average sized litters. Pups born to unprimed dams are significantly smaller in terms of weight on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 when compared to pups born to LAIV primed dams. In contrast, morphological development determined by crown-rump length and skeletal measurements, while initially hindered, does not significantly differ between pups born to unprimed and primed dams after the first week following birth. LAIV priming prior to pregnancy thus appears to prevent adverse maternal and fetal IAV-associated outcomes. These data support that LAIV has potential for use as a universal vaccine to protect pregnant females against pandemic IAV.

Skeletal Health and Associated Injury Risk in Collegiate Female Rowers.

Baker, BS, Buchanan, SR, and Bemben, DA. Skeletal health and associated injury risk in collegiate female rowers. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 1125-1133, 2022-Rowing has been associated with low bone mass and stress fractures. The aim of this study was to compare bone density, geometry, and skeletal asymmetries between competitive female rowers and matched controls and within rowers based on reported injury status, allowing for the calculation of practical injury risk prediction equations. Rowers (n = 24) and controls (n = 24) completed total body, lumbar spine, and and dual femur and radii dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans. One-way analyses of covariance were performed between rowers and controls, and one-way analyses of variance were performed between rowers based on reported rib injury status (injured [n = 11]; injury-free [n = 13]). Logistic regression was used to create prediction models of rowers' injury status. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Rowers were taller, had greater lean mass, less fat mass, and mostly equivalent skeletal measures compared to controls, which were within normal ranges (p < 0.048). Injury-free rowers consumed over 500 mg·d-1 more calcium and were less symmetrical at the 4% tibiae and hips (p < 0.015). The strongest predictive regression model of reported rib injury in rowers comprised calcium intake and the symmetry index of hip strength index (R2 = 0.833; p < 0.001). A more practical model including daily calcium intake and total bone specific physical activity (PA) scores can be used to correctly predict injury status 75% of the time (R2 = 0.750; p = 0.022). This is the first study to provide practitioners an injury prediction model for competitive rowers, reiterating the importance of proper nutrition and auxiliary PA focusing on balanced movement patterns.

Skeletal stability after 2-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach in facial asymmetry patients using CBCT

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to compare the skeletal stability of two-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach with conventional two-jaw surgery in facial asymmetry patients by measuring the skeletal changes after surgery from a three-dimensional analysis. From January 2010 to January 2014, 40 patients with facial asymmetry who underwent two-jaw surgery in Pusan National University Hospital were included in this study. They were classified into experimental group (n = 20) who underwent two-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach and control group (n = 20) who underwent conventional two-jaw surgery. After selection of 24 landmarks and the construction of horizontal and sagittal, coronal reference planes, changes in 10 linear measurements and 2 angular measurements were compared between the surgery-first approach and conventional groups in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and postoperative periods. The paired t test and Student t test were used for statistical analysis. The mean and standard deviation of the measurement were calculated for the experimental and control groups.ResultsThe statistical analysis showed that changes in skeletal measurements were similar between the surgery-first approach and conventional groups, according to each period. However, U1-SRP measurement showed statistically significant changes in surgery-first approach groups at postsurgical change (T1 to T2). Also, the mean treatment duration in the treatment group was 15.9 ± 5.48 months whereas that in the control group was 32.9 ± 14.05 months.ConclusionIn facial asymmetry patients, similar results were observed in the postoperative skeletal stability when 2-jaw surgery via surgery-first approach was compared with conventional 2-jaw surgery. However, significant lateral deviation of upper incisor midline was observed. In addition, a shorter average treatment duration was observed. To stabilize the unstable occlusion after surgery, increased wearing of the stent and proactive rubber guidance will be needed.

Evaluation of Electromyographic Activity Concomitant to Class II Correction Using Carrier Distalizer Appliance

Purpose: To assess the electromyographic activity of oral muscles concomitant to Class II malocclusion correction using Carrier Distalizer appliance. Materials and Methods: 10 female patients with age ranged between (18-21) years old were selected for this study. All patients were examined to fulfill the inclusion criteria. All patients in this study underwent radiographic evaluation (panoramic and lateral cephalometric) and electromyographic evaluation before and after Class II correction using Carrier Distalizer appliance. Study duration for patients was six months. Results: The result of this study showed that no significant changes occurred in skeletal measurements except increase angle of convexity. Regarding electromyographic measurements there is statistically significant increase in masseter muscle activity at rest and at occlusion after treatment. And about the dentoalveolar changes including slight maxillary molar distalization, in addition to mesialization of the lower molars and proclination of the lower incisors. Conclusion: It was concluded that Carriere Distalizer appliance was able to correct Class II molar relation into Class I relation in adult patients with masseter and temporalis muscles activity were improved after treatment.

Morphological Grouping and Body Mass Prediction Models

Every facet of an organism’s function is affected by its body size, such as heart rate, metabolism, organ size and function, feeding ecology, and locomotion. Using body size to assess the function and size of organs in extant mammals is relatively easy. However, estimating the body size and organ function of transitional fossil species, such as the Eocene whales, is difficult. The Eocene whales are diverse in body size, structure, and habitat, therefore a single allometric model will not provide the most accurate body size estimation for each fossil whale family and therefore less accurate organ function assessment. The goal of my research is to predict the body size of the Eocene whales using morphological models of extant mammals as guides. The first stage is the morphological grouping and body mass prediction models using modern mammal skeletons.I measured the skull, vertebrae, and appendicular bones of multiple species of modern aquatic, semi‐aquatic, and terrestrial mammals. I calculated an average body mass representative of each species using recorded body weights. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), I determined morphological groupings for these mammals from the skeletal measurements. For each PCA analysis completed, I created a linear regression equation to predict body size from the skeletal variables used in each analysis and the calculated average body sizes. I tested these prediction models using the measurements from 12 representative skeletons that were not included in the data set used to create the model, specifically Odocoileus virginianus, Tragulus napu, Hippopotamus amphibus, Tapirus indicus, Sus scrofa, Canis lupus lycaon, Nyctereutes procyonid, Ehydra lutris, Gulo gulo, Neophoca cinerea, Lobodon carinophagus, and Ursus maritimus.From the PCA, I identified five morphological groups for the mammals selected: Aquatic, Semi‐aquatic, Semi‐terrestrial, Large Terrestrial and Small Terrestrial. For the prediction model using all skeletal variables, the standard error of the estimate (SEE) for all 12 test individuals ranged from 0.3359 – 0.7496. For the skull variables, the SEE ranged from 0.1260 – 0.3197. For the limb variables, the SEE ranged from 0.1716 – 0.3964. For the vertebral variables, the SEE ranged from 0.1511 – 0.2851. These small SEE values and the large sample size substantiate the accuracy of these predictive models and the reliability of their respective confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals (PI) for the models. The results confirm that these linear regression models will be appropriate to predict the body mass of the Eocene whales in the second stage of this project.Support or Funding InformationKent State University; East Tennessee State University; Sigma Xi

Skeletal correlates of flight specialization in large birds and their application to extinct giants

This study addresses questions related to the size limits of flying birds and tradeoffs associated with the evolution of large size. Flight imposes unique limits on size in animals, and as such, form and function in large flyers can provide unique insights regarding the mechanical and physiological limits of vertebrate animals. We focused on specializations in skeletal morphology associated with the large size of flying birds. We developed a large comparative dataset of axial and appendicular skeletal proportions for living birds, using the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. We examined skeletal proportions because they provide mechanically relevant data and because of their applicability to fossil taxa. Some extinct, flight‐capable birds achieved sizes far exceeding that of any living flying birds. The ecologies and flight performance profiles of these extinct forms are a matter of debate. Our dataset and methodology address these questions related to flight capacity.We consider the implications of our results for three different extinct giant flying birds: pelagornithids, teratorns, and giant storks. The largest pelagornithids had wingspans of up to 6 meters, twice that of the largest span in living birds. The teratorns contain the largest flying birds in the world with wingspans potentially reaching 6.5 m, and masses up to 75 kg. The flight capability of Leptoptilos robustus, a giant stork from the Indonesian island of Flores, is largely debated. This animal was nearly 1.8 meters tall and likely massed over 16 kg.We took mechanically relevant skeletal measurements from over 300 living birds, focusing on the forelimb, hind limb, and sternal elements. Analysis of residuals from a series of linear regressions showed that large soaring specialists have significantly longer humeri compared to their sterna than other birds. This analysis also revealed that wing propelled swimmers and burst flyers tend to possess significantly shortened humeri. Burst adapted flyers, especially the largest burst specialists (wild turkeys), possess sterna that are significantly longer and deeper, relative to sternal width, than those of other birds. Interestingly, large wing‐propelled swimmers also have higher sternal length to width ratios than other birds. By contrast, soaring specialists have relatively “typical” sternal proportions, as indicated by small residuals in sternal length when regressed against sternal width.These results, taken together, indicate that relatively simple measurements of limb bone and sternum dimensions can be a powerful tool for distinguishing between burst adapted and soaring adapted large flyers. Since large flying animals rely on high fractions of anaerobic flight muscle to maintain sufficient mass‐specific power for flight, most large flyers specialize in either burst takeoff or soaring flight. Our methodology distinguishes between these specializations with a high degree of accuracy in living taxa. We propose the same approach can be used for fossil taxa. Preliminary application of our comparative metrics suggest that teratorns were less condor‐like in their flight performance profile than previously suggested and pelagornithids, while clearly soaring specialized, may have been marine thermal users, rather than dynamic soaring specialists.

Adjusting posterior probabilities to meet predefined accuracy criteria: A proposal for a novel approach to osteometric sex estimation

The osteometric methods are the most reliable way to estimate the sex of skeletons when DNA analysis is not used. However, as osteometric studies usually ignore the overlap in male and female skeletal dimensions, they rarely achieve accuracy sufficient for forensic application. To resolve this issue, recent studies suggest sex estimation only when posterior probability (pp) is greater than 0.95, but that approach does not always provide sufficient accuracy and creates a large proportion of unsexed skeleton. Thus, our study aimed to explore whether it is possible to adjust pp on skeletal measurements with pronounced sexual dimorphism to meet 95% accuracy and to enable sex estimation on a reasonable proportion of individuals. From 207 skeletons, we included 65 postcranial measurements and selected 10% of variables with the highest sexual dimorphism. We computed univariate and bivariate discriminant functions using pp threshold of 0.5, 0.95, and the threshold required to achieve accuracy of ≥ 95%. Discriminant functions with pp=0.5 obtained accuracy of 85%–93%, while those with pp≥0.95 and adjusted posterior probabilities obtained 94%–99%. However, we showed that by selecting a particular threshold, sex could be estimated on a greater proportion of individuals than for pp≥0.95: 42%–86% vs. 24%–62% for univariate and 69%–95% vs. 49%–78% for bivariate functions. Therefore, when developing sex estimation models, we suggest not to use fixed pp level, but to adjust pp to achieve 95% accuracy and to minimize the percentage of unsexed skeletons.

Pre-Operative Pectoralis Muscle Quantity and Attenuation by Computed Tomography are Predictive of Recurrent Gastrointestinal Bleeding on Left Ventricular Assist Device Support: A Multicenter Analysis

Pectoralis muscle mass and tissue attenuation obtained on preoperative CT scans are powerful predictors of mortality after LVAD implantation. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding remains a common problem on mechanical support. It is unknown whether these skeletal muscle measures, which correlate with frailty and tissue quality, are associated with the development of recurrent GI bleeding. We performed a retrospective, multi-centered study which included patients with chest CTs performed ≤ 3 months prior to LVAD implantation at the University of Minnesota (n=143) and Houston Methodist Hospital (n=133). Unilateral pectoralis muscle mass indexed to body surface area (PMI) and attenuation (approximated by mean Hounsfield units; PHUm) were measured on preoperative chest CT scans. GIB events were captured for the first two years of LVAD support. Negative binomial regression analyses were performed to determine the association between pectoralis muscle measures and number of GIB events on LVAD support. The mean age of the study cohort was 59 + /- 13 years, 43 % were bridge to transplant and 62 % had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Thirty-two patients had at last one GI bleed while on LVAD support over 2 years. Both pectoralis muscle mass and tissue attenuation were associated with the incidence rate of GI bleeding on LVAD support. Each 5 unit increase in PHUm was associated with reduction in the incidence rate of GIB (adjusted 18 % reduction, 95 % CI 6-28 %, p = 0.005). Each unit increase in PMI was associated with a reduction in the incidence of GIB (adjusted 19 % reduction, 95 % CI 3- 34 %, p = 0.029). The final models were adjusted for age, sex, INTERMACS profile, BTT status, creatinine and albumin. Preoperative pectoralis muscle size and attenuation were associated with the development of recurrent GI bleeding after LVAD implantation in this multicenter cohort. This one time, internal assessment of patient substrate appears to predict not only mortality after LVAD, but morbidity as well.

External Validation of the Minnesota Pectoralis Muscle Risk Score to Predict Mortality after Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

We previously developed a post LVAD mortality prediction model using multicenter data incorporating pectoralis muscle mass and tissue attenuation obtained on preoperative CT scans. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the performance of this model in a prospective cohort including the most contemporary LVADs. Since 2016, all patients who underwent first time LVAD implantation at the University of Minnesota had chest CTs performed prior to surgery (n=82). None of the patients included in the Minnesota Pectoralis Muscle Risk Score (MPRS) development cohort were included in this analysis. Unilateral pectoralis muscle mass indexed to body surface area (PMI) and attenuation (approximated by mean Hounsfield units; PHUm) were measured from pre-operative CT scans. MPRSs were calculated on all patients using the following variables: PHUm, PMI, African American race, creatinine, total bilirubin, body mass index, bridge to transplant status and presence or absence of contrast. Cox regression analysis was performed to test the association between the MPRS and post LVAD mortality. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then generated to test model discrimination at 30 and 90 days post LVAD implantation. The prospective cohort included 62% HeartMate 3, 17% HVAD, and 20% HeartMate 2 devices. Each two point increase in MPRS was associated with a 2.6 fold increase in the mortality after LVAD (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.4, p=0.01). The area under the curve for the MPRS was 0.73 at 30 days and 0.72 at 90 days. The Pectoralis Muscle Risk Score had favorable discrimination in this contemporary prospective cohort, which was largely comprised of patients receiving HeartMate 3 devices. These skeletal muscle measures, which are associated with heart failure stage and frailty, continue to add important information to pre-operative risk assessment.

Cephalometric traits in children and adolescents with and without atypical swallowing: A retrospective study.

It has been suggested that atypical swallowing (AS) may negatively influence the skeletal and alveolar development, but its specific effects are still unclear. The aim of this work is to compare the cephalometric characteristics of children and adolescents with and without AS. Study design: Case-control retrospective cross-sectional study. One hundred patients with (AS group) and 100 patients without AS (control group, C) were retrospectively selected. Their cephalometric data before orthodontic treatment were compared using a 3-way ANOVA variance test to detect any differences between groups considering: the type of swallowing (AS vs C); whether or not the second dentition was completed (SDC vs SDNC); and the gender (males-M and females-F). In addition, a Student-t test for unpaired data was carried out to detect differences between M and F within the AS and C groups. When compared to the controls, AS patients showed a significantly decreased SNB angle (p<.01), increased ANB and SN^Go. Me angles (p<.0001), increased overjet and lower facial height (p<.01), decreased overbite (p<.0001), and increased proclination of the upper incisors. AS-SDC patients also showed significantly increased alveolar length. Within the AS and C groups, skeletal and alveolar measurements were larger in males, with higher significance in the C group, suggesting a different trend of growth in AS patients. AS seems to affect the skeletal growth causing mandibular clockwise rotation, skeletal Class II, open bite and incisor proclination. To compensate for these effects, an increase in alveolar growth together with molar eruption seems to be induced.

English

The aim of the study is to characterize Begait cattle using morphometric and qualitative traits. The breed was kept under farm and ranch management systems in Western Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 368 Begait cattle which included 24 male Begait cattle were selected using simple random sampling method and the data were analyzed using statistical packages for social sciences and statistical analysis software. Begait cows exhibited chest girth of 152.8±0.40 cm, height at withers of 129.1±0.28 cm, backline length (loin length + back length) of 88.4±0.26 cm and tail length of 96.2±0.44 cm. Whilst Begait breeding males showed chest girth of 170.7±1.35 cm, height at withers of 145.1±1.18 cm, backline length of 90.0±1.13 cm and tail length of 108.2±1.29 cm. The skeletal measurements of Begait cattle are good indicators of the breed as a potential dual-purpose breed and the gene could be improved through selection. Humera ranch should own superior male Begait cattle for genetic improvement of the breed. The correlation was significant (P<0.01) among most of the morphometric traits of Begait cows. The most frequently observed coat color patterns of Begait cows were pied (42.4%) and spotted (33.1%) whilst the body coat color types of the cows were combination of black and white (34.6%) and brown (29.7%). All males were humped and majority of Begait cows (88.1%) were humpless. Begait cows had concave face profile (72.1%) and roofy rump profile (69.2%). The information generated from this research work will be used for planning Begait cattle genetic resources management in sustainable manner for the development of Regional and National economy. Key words: Characterization, Begait cattle, qualitative traits, morphometric traits.

Physiological Responses to Increasing Battling Rope Weight During Two 3-Week High-Intensity Interval Training Programs.

Bornath, DPD and Kenno, KA. Physiological responses to increasing battling rope weight during two 3-week high-intensity interval training programs. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 352-358, 2022-The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of increasing battling rope weight during 6 weeks (wks) of battling rope high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on upper-body oxygen consumption and skeletal muscle strength, power, and endurance performance. Eighteen recreationally active men and 15 women (23 ± 2 year) performed 10 × 30-second (s) bouts of all-out exercise, interchanging between double and alternating whip battling rope exercises, separated by 60 seconds of rest, 3×/wk, for 6 weeks. For the first 3 weeks, women used 40-foot, 1.5-inch diameter, 20-lb ropes and men used 50-foot, 1.5-inch diameter, 25-lb ropes, after which the battling rope weight was increased by 10 lb for a second 3-week period of battling rope HIIT. Men and women exercised at a minimum of 85% of their predicted maximum heart rate with post-exercise blood lactate concentrations peaking at 10.79 mmol·L-1 and 8.33 mmol·L-1, respectively. After 3 and 6 weeks of battling rope HIIT, men and women increased upper-body maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max), maximum voluntary contraction isometric shoulder flexion and extension strength, shoulder power output, and push-up and sit-up endurance. These increases in aerobic and skeletal muscle measurements are similar to previous HIIT studies involving treadmills and cycle ergometers. Battling rope HIIT produced adaptations in skeletal muscle and aerobic performance in as little as 3 weeks, and with increases in battling rope weight displayed further improvements after 6 weeks of battling rope HIIT. These data support the implementation of battling rope HIIT to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and skeletal muscle performance with increased workloads.

Beyond ambulation: Measuring physical activity in youth with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) develop skeletal muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy. Validated skeletal muscle outcome measures are limited to ambulatory patients, but most DMD patients in cardiac trials are non-ambulatory. New objective functional assessments are needed. This study's objective was to assess the correlation and longitudinal change of two measures: quantitative muscle testing (QMT) and accelerometry. Patients with DMD were prospectively enrolled and underwent QMT and wore wrist and ankle accelerometers for seven days at baseline, 1-, and 2-years. QMT measures were indexed to age. Accelerometer recordings were total vector magnitudes and awake vector magnitude. Correlations were assessed using a Spearman correlation, and longitudinal change was evaluated using a paired t-test or a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Forty-eight participants were included. QMT and accelerometry measures had a moderate or strong correlation, particularly indexed arm QMT with total wrist vector magnitude (rho=0.85, p<0.001), total indexed QMT with total wrist vector magnitude (rho=0.8, p<0.001) and indexed leg QMT with total ankle vector magnitude (rho=0.69, p<0.001). QMT and accelerometry measures declined significantly over time. Accelerometry correlates with QMT and indexed QMT in boys with DMD. A combination of QMT and accelerometry may provide a complementary assessment of skeletal muscle function in non-ambulatory boys with DMD.

Reassessment of the Triassic archosauriform Scleromochlus taylori: neither runner nor biped, but hopper.

The six known specimens of Scleromochlus taylori and casts made from their negative impressions were examined to reassess the osteological evidence that has been used to interpret Scleromochlus’s locomotion and phylogenetic relationships. It was found that the trunk was dorsoventrally compressed. The upper temporal fenestra was on the lateral surface of skull and two-thirds the size of the lower, the jaw joint posteriorly placed with short retroarticular process, and teeth short and subconical, but no evidence of external nares or antorbital fossae was found. The posterior trunk was covered with ~20 rows of closely spaced transversely elongate dorsal osteoderms. The coracoid was robust and elongate. The acetabulum was imperforate and the femoral head hemispherical and only weakly inturned such that the hip joint was unsuited to swinging in a parasagittal plane. The presence of four distal tarsals is confirmed. The marked disparity of tibial and fibular shaft diameters and of proximal tarsal dimensions indicates that the larger proximal tarsal is the astragalus and the significantly smaller tarsal is the calcaneum. The astragalus and calcaneum bear little resemblance to those of Lagosuchus, and the prominent calcaneal tuber confirms that the ankle was crurotarsal. There is no evidence that preserved body and limb postures are unnatural, and most specimens are preserved in what is interpreted as a typical sprawling resting pose. A principal component analysis of skeletal measurements of Scleromochlus and other vertebrates of known locomotor type found Scleromochlus to plot with frogs, and that finding combined with skeletal morphology suggests Scleromochlus was a sprawling quadrupedal hopper. Phylogenetic analyses found that Scleromochlus was not an ornithodiran, but was either within the Doswelliidae or outside the clade consisting of the most recent common ancestor of the Erythrosuchidae and Archosauria and all its descendants.

The Influence of Dietary Betaine Supplementation of Ossimi Rams on: (B) Carcass Characteristics

Eighteen Ossimi rams of about 40.63 kg body weight were used to evaluate the impacts of betaine supplementation on carcass characteristics of Ossimi rams. Animals were assigned randomly to three treatment groups (CO, BET1 and BET2), the control group was fed a BET free diet while BET1 and BET2 groups received 2.0 and 4.0g BET/h/d for 120 days experimental period. three rams from each group were slaughtered at the end of the experiment. The results revealed that, BET2 group increased (P≤0.05) fasting and empty weight compared with BET1 and control groups. Hot carcass and carcass weight without tail tended to be heavier in BET treated rams than control. Betaine supplementation led to improve the dressing percentage compared with control. Carcass measurements influenced significantly due to feeding on betaine. A significant increase in weights of liver and sex organs of BET2 than BET1 and control diets. Fed betaine caused a significant (P≤0.05) lower in carcass fats than control. Testicular morphology increased (P≤0.05) in treated animals. BET2 were higher (P≤0.05) leg weight and length than control. Weights of shoulder, fore shank and breast were heavier (P≤0.05) in BET2 than BET1 and control groups. Betaine supplementation increased (P≤0.05) weights of 9,10 and 11 ribs cut and muscle weight and lower (P≤0.05) fat and bone weight compared with control. All individual skeletal muscle measurements were higher in rams fed on BET than control. No significant differences among treatments on chemical composition of muscles. In conclusion, betaine supplementation may improve carcass characteristics of treated rams.

Changes in the skeletal dimensions of the digits of the thoracic limb of Holstein cows after maturation.

The 12 left digits of the thoracic limb of Holstein female cows were obtained from a slaughterhouse, and 13 linear measurements of skeletal specimens of the digits of the thoracic limb were used in this study. Bivariate plots, regressions and correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationships between osteometric data and age, and between osteometric data and body size. The geometric mean (GM) of the metacarpal size was used as a proxy of body weight. The results of the regression analysis demonstrated that the length and the width of the distal phalanx were significantly correlated with age, whereas those of other bones were not. In addition, the correlations of the distal phalanx tended to be higher with age than with the GM of the metacarpal size, and their skeletal measurements tended to be longer in older animals than in younger animals. These findings suggest that the distal phalanx is slightly elongated and enlarged in its solear aspect with increasing age in skeletally mature cows. Moreover, although the side difference in the distal phalanx between the lateral and medial digits did not increase significantly with age, the solear aspect of the distal phalanx tended to be rougher, and deformation of the flexor tubercle tended to be more pronounced in the medial digit compared with the lateral digit. Therefore, in the distal phalanx of the front feet, the skeletal deformation with age and asymmetrical bone development might be related to the pathogenesis of claw horn lesions, as in the hind feet.

Kambin's triangle and the position of the dorsal nerve root in the lumbar neural foramen.

As a result of the increased utilization of neurosurgical arthroscopic techniques, investigations into population and sex-specific trends of anatomical considerations have become increasingly important. This study aimed to investigate and describe aspects of the neuroanatomical morphometry of lumbar spines in a cadaveric and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sample. Twenty white adult (>18 years) cadavers (9 males; 11 females) were obtained under Ethical clearance. The lumbar regions were dissected and the position of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and dimensions of Kambin's triangle were determined. Twenty-six black adult (>18 years) MRI scans (17 males; 9 females) were obtained from an Academic Hospital and were used to determine the dimensions of the neural foramen and the DRGs within. The ganglia were mostly at the midline of the caudal pedicle. Similar to previous studies, the diagonal measurement from Kambin's triangle was the largest and the vertical measurement the shortest. Skeletal and soft-tissue measurements indicated distinct trends when moving caudolaterally in the spine. Soft-tissue parameters from the current study were within the upper limits of those from previous studies, whereas skeletal parameters were in agreement with those reported by previous authors. Results from this study suggest a variation of certain parameters between studies with varying population groups and therefore supports the need for and the importance of possible population-specific trends of anatomical parameters considered during surgical procedures.

Abdominal Skeletal Muscle Index as a Potential Novel Biomarker in Adult Fontan Patients

BackgroundFontan palliation results in a chronic multisystem disorder with diminished exercise capacity and increased risk of muscle wasting. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of skeletal muscle mass measurements in Fontan patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging liver surveillance to compare muscle mass with a historic control and to assess its correlation with cardiorespiratory fitness. MethodsSkeletal muscle area (SMA) and skeletal muscle index (SMI) were measured at T12 and L3. A young, healthy historic cohort was used as a comparison group. ResultsForty patients with a Fontan circulation (mean age, 25.5 ± 7.9 years; 50% were men) were included. Measurements of SMA and SMI were feasible and highly reproducible. Mean SMA and SMI were significantly lower in women compared with men at both T12 (SMA: 25.1 ± 4.9 cm2 vs 33.5 ± 8.4 cm2, P < 0.001; SMI: 9.7 ± 2.1 cm2/m2 vs 11.3 ± 2.7 cm2/m2, P = 0.045) and L3 (SMA: 121 ± 12 cm2 vs 162 ± 24 cm2, P < 0.001; SMI: 46.9 ± 7.0 cm2/m2 vs 54.5 ± 7.4 cm2/m2, P = 0.002). Mean SMI at L3 was significantly lower in the male Fontan population compared with the healthy historic cohort (54.5 ± 7.4 cm2/m2 vs 60.9 ± 7.8 cm2/m2, P < 0.001), but was similar for women (46.9 ± 7.0 cm2/m2 vs 47.5 ± 6.6 cm2/m2, P = 0.692). SMI at L3, but not at T12, was positively correlated with peak oxygen consumption, oxygen pulse, and workload. Four patients (10%) met criteria for muscle wasting in the sarcopenic range based on L3 measurements. ConclusionsAbdominal skeletal muscle mass can be reproducibly determined on surveillance liver magnetic resonance imaging scans. Muscle wasting appears to occur commonly in Fontan patients. Further research is needed to better define the value of SMI as a biomarker in the Fontan population.

Evaluation of post-surgical stability in skeletal class II patients with idiopathic condylar resorption treated with functional splint therapy

PurposeTo assess postsurgical stability of mandibular advancement combined with orthodontic treatment, following functional splint therapy, in patients with idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR). Patients and methodsSixteen patients who were treated with functional splint therapy followed by orthognathic surgery combined with orthodontic treatment between 2010 and 2017 were included in this retrospective study. The primary outcome variable was skeletal stability, measured on the y-axis to point B (y-axis–B). Cephalometric analysis, including measurement of temporomandibular joint spaces, was carried out on serial magnetic resonance images (MRI) prior to orthognathic surgery (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), and after at least 1 year of follow-up (T2). The differences in the data between time points were compared using statistical analyses. ResultsAll patients obtained an esthetic facial profile after orthognathic surgery, with normal occlusion as well as normal protrusive and laterotrusive excursion after treatment. Mean advancement of the mandible immediately following surgery (y-axis–B, T1 − T0) was 7.28 ± 5.79 mm. This was the only skeletal measurement that showed a sagittal positional change of the mandible. Mean backward movement (T2 − T1) was −1.04 ± 2.35 mm (p2 = 0.116). Thirteen out of 16 patients experienced no postsurgical relapse or less than 2 mm of mandibular backward movement (81.25%), while two out of 16 patients showed more than 2 mm of mandibular backward movement (12.5%). ConclusionsPatients who underwent mandibular advancement combined with orthodontic treatment, following functional splint therapy, exhibited a stable mandibular position at the 1-year follow-up. This study indicated that functional splint therapy prior to orthognathic surgery for mandibular advancement may be a good adjuvant treatment for ICR patients.

The correlation between Class I, II, III dental and skeletal malocclusion in ethnic Javanese: A cross sectional study

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the correlations between skeletal and dental Class I, II, III malocclusion and the association between molar relation and skeletal classes among Javanese people at Universitas Airlangga Dental Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: An observational analysis study with cross-sectional and total sampling method was conducted. A minimum sample size is determined by Lameshow’s formula. Samples (n = 132) were collected from Airlangga University Dental Hospital. Study models were taken and assessed for the overjet and overbite values and molar relationship according to Angle classification. The lateral cephalography was analyzed to obtain Sella–Nasion–A point (SNA), Sella–Nasion–B point (SNB), A point–Nasion–B point (ANB), Wits, upper incisor–Nasion–A point (U1-NA), and lower incisor–Nasion–B point (L1-NB). The descriptive statistics were performed for calculating the mean and standard deviation. Pearson’s correlation test and Spearman’s rho test were applied to determine the possible correlation between skeletal and dental measurements (P < 0.05). Results: There was an increase of U1-NA and L1-NB in all three classes. On the contrary, there was a decrease of SNB in Class II malocclusion. Class III malocclusion showed an increase of SNB and a decrease of SNA. There is a correlation between skeletal and dental measurements in all three classes. The association between molar relations and skeletal classes in this experiment is intermediate. Conclusion: There was a correlation between skeletal and dental conditions that can exacerbate malocclusion in ethnic Javanese.