股骨头骨坏死样本空间结构的Micro-CT评估

目的以股骨头骨坏死样本的Micro-CT断层图像为基础，对其进行空间结构评估。方法2003年11月～2005年6月，收集股骨头骨坏死患者行全髋关节置换术时取出的股骨头样本6个，对样本进行Micro-CT断层扫描，获取股骨头骨坏死样本的计算机三维图像，图像空间分辨率为36μm×36μm×36μm。手工选取兴趣区，随后采用骨体积分数（BV／TV）、骨小梁间隙（Tb．Sp）、骨小梁厚度（Tb，Th）、骨小梁数目（Tb．N）、骨表面积体积比（BS／BV）、结构模型指数（SMI）、骨小梁模型因子（Tb．Pf）等三维空间参数分别对股骨头骨坏死标本的正常区域、硬化带和塌陷区进行评价。结果晚期股骨头骨坏死硬化区和塌陷区的骨小梁空间结构明显改变：硬化区Bv／Tv明显增加，Tb．Th明显增厚，Tb，Sp变窄，SMI与正常区域的骨小梁无差别；而塌陷区Bv／Tv明显减少，BS／BV增大，Tb．N和Tb．Pf增加，Tb，Th改变不明显。结论Micro-CT作为一种新的检测手段，能够在不损伤样本的条件下快速获取股骨头骨坏死样本断层图像，具有精度高、检测快、可进行三维重建分析的优点。晚期股骨头骨坏死不同区域的骨三维结构呈现出不同的空间结构特征。     

Micro-CT observation of rat dental pulp healing after pulpotomy in in vivo study

We report the newly developed Micro-CT, which allows us to observe the individual animal over a long experimental period and to compare changes in pulp tissue in relation to growth and aging without considering individual differences. Further, we used pathological examination to prove similar the result observing from Micro-CT. We have examined wound healing of teeth after pulpotomy in rats, and could clearly observe histopathological changes in the affected teeth and the absorption of temporary filling material and pulp capping agents. In cases with breakage of the dental crown, the CT images agreed with the pathological observations, and it was possible to estimate the time of breakage. In vivo Micro-CT is possible to apply in continuous recording of small experimental animals, such as rats, under anesthesia and the result is sufficiently high. High-quality image was obtained in of the entire head region of the rat. It was suggested that this method can be used for long-term continuous observation of changes in the teeth conditions after pulpotomy in experimental animals. We report the newly developed Micro-CT, which allows us to observe the individual animal over a long experimental period and to compare changes in pulp tissue in relation to growth and aging without considering individual differences.     

芦荟素通过激活ERK1/2-Runx 2信号通路介导对去卵巢大鼠骨量流失的保护作用

目的观察芦荟素对去卵巢大鼠骨量的影响,并探讨可能的机制。方法将30只雌性Sprague Dawley大鼠随机分为3组:假手术组(Sham)、去卵巢组(OVX)及去卵巢大鼠+芦荟素治疗组(LHS,去卵巢大鼠每天接受50 mg/kg芦荟素治疗,持续12周)。12周后取双侧股骨进行微型计算机断层扫描(Micro-CT)检测股骨干骺端微观结果,通过组织病理切片观察骨小梁结果变化,通过骨生物力学检测骨强度改变以及运用蛋白质印迹(WB)检测可能的机制。结果OVX组大鼠的骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD)、骨显微结构、最大载荷和弹性模量等指标均明显低于Sham组(P<0.05)。芦荟素治疗后大鼠的骨密度、骨显微结构、最大载荷和弹性模量等指标均有明显改善,比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。WB检测显示OVX组p-Erk1/2、Erk1/2、ALP、RUNX 2、OCN和OPN表达水平较Sham组明显下调(P<0.05)。LHS组p-Erk1/2、Erk1/2、ALP、RUNX 2、OCN和OPN表达水平较OVX组明显上调。结论芦荟素可以显著改善去卵巢大鼠股骨骨强度和骨量,这种疗效可能通过激活ERK1/2-Runx 2信号通路促进成骨来实现的。     

不同角度载荷下股骨头骨小梁的生物力学特性

目的探讨不同角度载荷对股骨头骨小梁形态学与力学性能的影响,为研究股骨头坏死、塌陷的生物力学机制提供理论依据。方法利用12月龄羊股骨头和人尸体股骨头分别制作羊股骨头骨小梁试件94个和人股骨头骨小梁试件43个。按照受力方向与骨小梁主压力方向之间的不同夹角,将骨小梁以10°间隔分为内翻10°、0°和外翻10°、20°、30°共计5组,模拟股骨颈骨折内固定术后不同戈登(Garden)对线指数下的复位情况。通过分别对羊股骨头骨小梁进行micro-CT扫描、计算与压缩破坏试验以及对人尸体股骨头骨小梁进行循环压缩试验,分析不同受力方向下股骨头骨小梁的骨体积分数(BV/TV)、骨表面积/骨体积(BS/BV)、骨小梁平均厚度(Tb.Th)、骨小梁数量(Tb.N)、骨小梁间距(Tb.Sp)等形态学指标以及弹性模量、极限强度、屈服强度、初始弹性模量、循环次数等力学指标。结果加载方向与骨小梁的主压力方向之间夹角为0°时,BV/TV、Tb.Th以及弹性模量、极限强度、屈服强度、初始弹性模量、循环次数均为最大,而BS/BV与Tb.N为最小,并随着夹角增大前者呈递减而后者呈递增趋势。结论 12月龄羊股骨头骨小梁BV/TV与极限强度随受力方向与骨小梁主压力方向之间夹角变化的趋势与人股骨头骨小梁一致;加载方向与主压力骨小梁之间夹角增大时,股骨头骨小梁形态学与力学性能均下降;Garden指数偏离160°越大时,股骨头内骨小梁越易发生损伤。     

骨质疏松症对松质骨骨小梁应力与微损伤关系的影响

目的应用显微CT和微有限元分析评估微损伤、微骨折骨小梁的应力、应变,探讨骨质疏松症对骨小梁应力和微损伤、微骨折之间关系的影响。方法通过显微CT扫描健康和骨质疏松人体髋臼松质骨,构建松质骨块三维微有限元模型,在无摩擦的位移边界条件下模拟松质骨块的单轴压缩实验,通过非线性微有限元分析得到在不同表观应变下骨小梁的应力、应变、微损伤和微骨折。结果 0.05%~0.50%表观应变下,健康和骨质疏松松质骨未损伤骨小梁的应力在50 MPa以下,微损伤骨小梁应力在110 MPa以上。健康松质骨骨小梁的平均应力相对较高,骨质疏松松质骨骨小梁最高应力值相对较高。健康和骨质疏松松质骨骨小梁均出现微损伤,健康松质骨骨小梁微损伤较多,骨质疏松骨骨小梁出现微骨折。结论在表观小应变范围内,健康松质骨骨小梁能承受更高的应力,出现较多的微损伤,而骨质疏松松质骨高应力骨小梁群内出现微骨折。     

Calendering as a direct shaping tool for the continuous production of fixed-dose combination products via co-extrusion

In this study calendering is used as a downstream technique to shape monolithic co-extruded fixed-dose combination products in a continuous way. Co-extrudates with a metoprolol tartrate-loaded sustained-release core and a hydrochlorothiazide-loaded immediate-release coat were produced and immediately shaped into a monolithic drug delivery system via calendering, using chilled rolls with tablet-shaped cavities. In vitro metoprolol tartrate release from the ethylcellulose core of the calendered tablets was prolonged in comparison with the sustained release of a multiparticulate dosage form, prepared manually by cutting co-extrudates into mini-matrices. Analysis of the dosage forms using X-ray micro-computed tomography only detected small differences between the pore structure of the core of the calendered tablet and the mini-matrices. Diffusion path length was shown to be the main mechanism behind the release kinetics. Terahertz pulsed imaging visualized that adhesion between the core and coat of the calendered tablet was not complete and a gradient in coat thickness (varying from 200 to 600 μm) was observed. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction indicated that the solid-state properties of both drugs were not affected by the calendering procedure.     

Micro-CT evaluation of bone defects: Applications to osteolytic bone metastases,bone cysts,and fracture

Bone defects can occur in various forms and present challenges to performing a standard micro-CT evaluation of bone quality because most measures are suited to homogeneous structures rather than ones with spatially focal abnormalities. Such defects are commonly associated with pain and fragility. Research involving bone defects requires quantitative approaches to be developed if micro-CT is to be employed. In this study, we demonstrate that measures of inter-microarchitectural bone spacing are sensitive to the presence of focal defects in the proximal tibia of two distinctly different mouse models: a burr-hole model for fracture healing research, and a model of osteolytic bone metastases. In these models, the cortical and trabecular bone compartments were both affected by the defect and were, therefore, evaluated as a single unit to avoid splitting the defects into multiple analysis regions. The burr-hole defect increased mean spacing (Sp) by 27.6%, spacing standard deviation (SpSD) by 113%, and maximum spacing (Sp_max) by 72.8%. Regression modeling revealed SpSD (β = 0.974, p < 0.0001) to be a significant predictor of the defect volume (R² = 0.949) and Sp_max (β = 0.712, p < 0.0001) and SpSD (β = 0.271, p = 0.022) to be significant predictors of the defect diameter (R² = 0.954). In the mice with osteolytic bone metastases, spacing parameters followed similar patterns of change as reflected by other imaging technologies, specifically bioluminescence data which is indicative of tumor burden. These data highlight the sensitivity of spacing measurements to bone architectural abnormalities from 3D micro-CT data and provide a tool for quantitative evaluation of defects within a bone.     

Influence of differences in the hardness and calcium content of diets on the growth of craniofacial bone in rats

Objective:To examine the effects of a soft diet and a low-calcium diet on the craniofacial growth and bone architectures of the maxilla and mandible.Materials and Methods:Male rats (n  =  20, 3 weeks old) were divided into four groups. Ten rats were given a normal-calcium diet, and the other rats were given a low-calcium diet. Each group was then divided into two subgroups, which were fed a hard or a soft diet. After 4 weeks, craniofacial growth and architecture in maxillary and mandibular bone were analyzed using cephalometry, micro-computed tomography, and histopathology.Results:The low-calcium diet had no effect on serum calcium levels. The low-calcium diet had the greatest effect on craniofacial bone growth, while the soft diet affected the growth of several bone sites that are attached to the masseter muscle. A low-calcium diet resulted in the deterioration of the connectivity of the trabeculae in the furcation region of the maxillary and mandibular first molar, while a soft diet resulted in the diffuse disappearance of trabeculae in the central part of the furcation regions. In the midpalatal suture, a low-calcium diet resulted in inhibition of cartilaginous ossification, although the midpalatal suture had a normal cartilaginous structure. A soft diet resulted in narrower cartilage cell layers in the midpalatal suture.Conclusions:We demonstrated that a low-calcium diet and a soft diet resulted in a deterioration of bone structures in both the maxilla and in the mandible; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects differed between diets.     

TM种植体-骨结合界面的显微CT观察

目的 研究TM种植体-骨结合界面及其上 1/3倒楔形间隙的成骨情况.方法 用医用钝钛钛棒加工成两组种植体,实验组为锥度5.44°、表面进行喷砂酸蚀处理的TM种植体,锥度从种植体上1/3处开始变化;对照组为仿straumann的表面喷砂酸蚀(sandblast large grit and acid-etching,SLA)圆柱状螺纹种植体.建立Beagle犬下颌骨种植模型,3只犬每只植入实验组TM种植体和对照组仿straumann -SLA圆柱状螺纹种植体各4枚,3只实验犬分别于4周、8周和12周处死,截取下颌骨行显微CT三维重建,观察种植体-骨结合界面及上1/3间隙的成骨情况.结果 8周时实验组TM种植体上1/3倒楔形间隙开始有骨修复,12周时对照组仿straumann-SLA种植体颈部骨质有吸收迹象,实验组TM种植体颈部骨质仍得到良好保存.结论 TM种植体能形成良好骨结合界面,体部上1/3的锥度设计可保存颈部皮质骨.