Relationship Among MRTA, DXA, and QUS

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) are the accepted modalities for the evaluation of fracture risk in the clinical setting. However, neither method provides a direct measurement of bone mechanics. In this study, we investigated a prototype device, known as a mechanical response tissue analyzer (MRTA), which provides direct mechanical measurements of mechanical properties of bone. A total of 56 healthy volunteers (20 men and 36 women) between the ages of 18 and 83 were recruited. The MRTA was used to measure the cross-sectional bending stiffness (EI) of the ulna bone. Axial speed of sound (SOS) at the ulna bone was determined by QUS; bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by DXA. Correlations, regression analysis, and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to compare the three modalities. These analyses revealed that although there are strong linear relationships among the data collected by the various technologies, the bone properties reflected by MRTA are not fully explained by DXA and QUS. We conclude that the total information conveyed by MRTA measurements is unique. Further research is needed to delineate the different qualities of bone strength that are captured by MRTA, but not by DXA or QUS.     

Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.     

Growth, bone maturation and pubertal development in children with the EMG-syndrome

In 7 patients (5 girls, 2 boys) with the EMG or Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome, statural growth, bone age (BA), weight and pubertal development were studied longitudinally. Height was above the 90th percentile (%) for chronological age (CA) after age 2 years, reaching an average of 2.5 SD above the mean at or after puberty. Adult or attained height also exceeded significantly (P<0.015) parental (genetic) target height by 13.2 cm on the average. In one girl, adult height prognosis (190 cm) could be reduced to an adult height of 183 cm by high-dose estrogen treatment. In most children, growth velocity remained above the 90th % up to 4–6 years of age and normalized thereafter. In all patients studied, bone age was markedly advanced and particularly so during the first 4 years after birth. Weight was above the 90th–97th % during infancy and early childhood and remained there, appropriate or slightly subnormal for height, until adulthood, except for 3 girls who reached and maintained the 50th % during or after puberty. Spontaneous pubertal development occurred within normal limits for CA and around the 50th % for BA. Except for the marked bone age acceleration, the reason for the increased statural growth and adult height in patients with the EMG syndrome is still unknown.     

Occurrence and Distribution of Bone Tumors in Beagle Dogs Exposed to 90Sr

Radiation-induced bone tumors in beagle dogs exposed to ⁹⁰Sr have been evaluated in terms of their incidence, time of appearance, occurrence as multiple tumors, anatomic distribution, and the influence of sex on their development. Among dogs fed ⁹⁰Sr during skeletal development, the incidence of bone tumors was dose dependent. Tumors thus appeared in 10 of 19 dogs receiving average skeletal doses of 130 Gy, 15 of 60 receiving 97 Gy, 5 of 61 receiving 61 Gy, 2 of 65 receiving 26 Gy, and 1 of 40 receiving 1.3 Gy. No tumors appeared among 66 dogs who received 8 Gy, 78 who received 0.3 Gy, and 80 non-irradiated controls, all of which have been observed for life. Among dogs given a single intravenous injection of ⁹⁰Sr in early adulthood, tumor production was somewhat higher than among ⁹⁰Sr-fed dogs at the same radiation dose: bone tumors were present in 6 of 25 dogs who received 62 Gy and 1 of 20 dogs who received 7.5 Gy. Bone tumors appeared sooner and were more often multiple in animals receiving the higher doses. Long bones were the sites of most of the tumors appearing after the highest dose level. Bones of the head, particularly the mandible, were the predominant site of tumors in the next highest dose level group.     

Potency variation of small-molecule chymase inhibitors across species

Chymases (EC 3.4.21.39) are mast cell serine proteinases that are variably expressed in different species and, in most cases, display either chymotryptic or elastolytic substrate specificity. Given that chymase inhibitors have emerged as potential therapeutic agents for treating various inflammatory, allergic, and cardiovascular disorders, it is important to understand interspecies differences of the enzymes as well as the behavior of inhibitors with them. We have expressed chymases from humans, macaques, dogs, sheep (MCP2 and MCP3), guinea pigs, and hamsters (HAM1 and HAM2) in baculovirus-infected insect cells. The enzymes were purified and characterized with kinetic constants by using chromogenic substrates. We evaluated in vitro the potency of five nonpeptide inhibitors, originally targeted against human chymase. The inhibitors exhibited remarkable cross-species variation of sensitivity, with the greatest potency observed against human and macaque chymases, with K_i values ranging from ∼0.4 to 72 nM. Compounds were 10-300-fold less potent, and in some instances ineffective, against chymases from the other species. The X-ray structure of one of the potent phosphinate inhibitors, JNJ-18054478, complexed with human chymase was solved at 1.8 Å resolution to further understand the binding mode. Subtle variations in the residues in the active site that are already known to influence chymase substrate specificity can also strongly affect the compound potency. The results are discussed in the context of selecting a suitable animal model to study compounds ultimately targeted for human chymase.     

骨髓间充质干细胞促进骨-肌腱结合部愈合的初步观察

[目的]观察骨髓间充质干细胞对骨-肌腱结合部愈合的影响.[方法]采用骨髓穿刺、全骨髓培养法获取兔骨髓间充质干细胞.36只18周龄新西兰大白兔随机分为2组,实验组将骨髓间充质干细胞与Pluronic F-127载体材料结合后,植入兔髌骨部分切除模型,对照组只进行手术,不植入细胞.在术后6、12、18周进行X线片、大体和组织学观察评估.[结果]X线片显示术后6、12、18周实验组骨-肌腱结合部新生骨面积显著大于对照组（P＜0.01）.大体观察可见实验组骨-腱结合部愈合较早.HE染色显示实验组术后6周有大量的纤维母细胞和类软骨细胞增生,并可见新骨形成;12周,髌腱与松质骨接触面软骨细胞移行带形成;18周,纤维软骨移行带排列更有序.Safranin 0染色显示实验组术后6周,基质染色较深,部分骨-腱结合处可见相对浓染区;12周,基质染色范围明显减少,沿类软骨细胞走行分布;18周,类软骨细胞集中的区域染色较12周有所减退.组织学检查显示实验组术后6、12、18周骨-腱结合部组织愈合明显,较对照组迅速.[结论]骨髓间充质干细胞可以促进骨-肌腱结合部细胞增生,促进其早期愈合.     

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。     

骨髓间充质细胞与速固化磷酸钙支架共培养的实验研究

[目的]观察人骨髓间充质干细胞在速固化磷酸钙骨水泥支架中的增殖和生长情况。[方法]将速固化壳聚糖-磷酸钙骨水泥支架材料预先成形。采用全骨髓法分离人骨髓间充质细胞并在体外对细胞进行培养和扩增。72h首次换液,细胞融合80%传代,取第3代细胞用于实验。将细胞与磷酸钙骨水泥支架复合培养,分别利用四甲基偶氮唑蓝MTT法及扫描电镜等检测细胞在材料中的增殖和生长情况。[结果]用酶标仪检测OD值提示共培养后,支架内的细胞数量逐渐增加。扫描电镜结果显示支架材料内部为多孔结构,孔内见有细胞生长,细胞表面可见分泌颗粒。[结论]速固化壳聚糖-磷酸钙骨水泥对人骨髓间充质干细胞有较好的细胞相容性,细胞可在材料内黏附和增殖,是理想的骨组织工程支架材料。     

导航在长骨干骨折髓内钉固定中的应用

目的阐述透视导航技术在长骨干(股骨和胫骨)骨折,特别是在术中远端交锁髓内钉固定中的应用。探索在导航条件下术中应用髓内钉图像库开展远端交锁固定的可行性。此外,医用机器人的开发旨在被进一步用来改善手术程序的精确性。方法导航手术下,55例行股骨远端交锁钉固定和36例行胫骨远端交锁钉固定。其中13例术中应用图像库开展远端交锁固定。结果远端交锁固定成功率为97%。结论透视导航在长骨干骨折术中,使远端髓内交锁钉固定成功率增高。图像库的应用可以进一步减少患者和手术人员的X线辐射剂量。