Carbonate apatite crystals in primary normophosphatemic tumoral calcinosis

A 66‐year‐old woman developed firm, painless, slowly growing nodular masses over her elbows, fingers, toes, and left hip over four years. Aspiration of the elbow mass revealed a white chalky material that was shown to be carbonate apatite on infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. We discuss the classification of tumoral calcinosis and the nature of the calcium deposits. Tumoral calcinosis should be differentiated from tophaceous gout and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. Polarizing light microscopy and crystal analysis by X‐ray and infrared spectroscopy, electron or X‐ray diffraction will confirm the diagnosis. Secondary causes of tumoral calcinosis should also be excluded.     

Apatite Determination and Distribution in an Early Stage of Gallbladder Calcification

This study is concerned with the nature and distribution of mineral in the gallbladder of a patient with chronic cholecystitis. Light and electron microscopic imaging revealed the mineral to be in the epithelial cells of the mucosa and fibroblasts of the submucosa. In the epithelial cells at the early stages of deposition, mineral was located in the nuclei and throughout the cytoplasm in association with interdigitating cell processes and apical microvilli but was absent in mitochondria. Elemental and electron diffraction analyses indicated the mineral inclusions to be apatite in nature.     

钛表面纳米仿生磷灰石涂层对成骨样细胞活性的生物增强效应

目的：观察钛表面纳米仿生磷灰石涂层对成骨样细胞行为的影响，为骨科常用钛植入体的表面改性及其生物效应提供实验依据。方法: 商业用纯钛经过物理、化学和生物处理，表面生成均匀薄层仿生的纳米磷灰石涂层，将仿生涂层的钛金属板与成骨样细胞复合培养，以纯钛和只经磨砂、酸蚀处理的钛板作为对照，采用MTT法检测细胞活力和增殖变化、扫描电镜和激光共聚焦荧光显微镜观察细胞形态、RT-PCR检测碱性磷酸酶基因表达。结果: 纳米仿生磷灰石涂层比非涂层钛金属表面细胞的增殖数量明显增高，细胞的形态和分布也优于对照组；培养12 d，涂层对细胞ALP基因表达的量明显高于对照组。结论: 钛金属表面纳米仿生磷灰石涂层可以增强细胞的生物效应，提高钛植入体的骨界面早期结合，具有很好的应用前景。     

纳米锶磷灰石纤维多孔钛复合材料的生物安全性研究

目的评价新型生物材料纳米锶磷灰石纤维多孔钛复合材料的生物安全性。方法对纳米锶磷灰石纤维多孔钛复合材料的生物安全性进行体外评价,分别进行以下实验:急性全身毒性实验;血液相容性评价(溶血试验);热原试验;皮内刺激实验。结果纳米锶磷灰石纤维多孔钛复合材料对生物体无毒性、无致热原性、无刺激性,不引起溶血反应。结论纳米锶磷灰石纤维多孔钛复合材料具有良好的生物安全性,有望作为新型骨植入生物材料应用于临床。     

在动态模拟体液中致密CaP陶瓷表面形貌对类骨磷灰石层形成的影响研究

磷酸钙陶瓷植入体内后其表面类骨磷灰石层的形成是诱导成骨的先决条件。本实验在模拟体液 (Simu-lated body fluid,SBF)以人体骨骼肌组织的正常生理流率 (2 ml/ 10 0 m l· min)下 ,研究在动态 SBF中致密磷酸钙陶瓷表面形貌对类骨磷灰石层形成的影响。结果表明 :在生理流速条件下 ,材料的粗糙表面有利于类骨磷灰石层的形成 ,加大 SBF中 Ca2 +、HPO4 2 -离子浓度 ,类骨磷灰石层的形成速度加快。本研究进一步证实了材料的几何形貌对类骨磷灰石形成的影响 ,加深了对磷酸钙陶瓷在体内诱导成骨机理的理解     

三层式nCHAC/PLGA复合膜体外降解行为的研究

目的探讨引导组织再生性复合膜-纳米碳羟磷灰石/胶原/聚乳酸羟基乙酸复合膜(nCHAC/PLGA) 在体外的生物降解行为。方法根据牙周治疗的特点,功能分级材料nCHAC/PLGA膜制备成三层,即8wt％ nCHAC PLGA/4wt％nCHAC PLGA/PLGA。其中一面为多孔结构,利于细胞在其上生长;另一面表面光滑,籍此抑制细胞的粘附。以纯聚乳酸羟基乙酸(PLGA)膜作为对照,将样本浸泡在37℃人工唾液中,比较两者生物降解行为。结果膜重量持续减轻,nCHAC/PLGA三层式功能分级复合膜在4周后重量减少23．1％, 12周后减少88％;单层纯聚乳酸羟基乙酸膜在4周后重量减轻30．7％,12周后减轻98．9％。处理4周后,因纳米碳羟磷灰石的降解,介质中钙离子浓度显著增加。另外,浸泡nCHAC/PLGA膜的溶液pH值略高于浸泡纯PLGA膜者,提示nCHAC复合物可能对溶液中PLGA酸性产物具中和作用。实验过程中,测试样本整体原形能维持4周,8周和12周时变成粉末状。扫描电镜结果显示,随着浸泡时间延长,膜的8wt％ nCHAC PLGA多孔疏松面增加,PLGA致密光滑面亦出现小孔结构。结论复合膜的降解过程符合牙周修复的实际过程;此外,复合膜表面形成新的矿物结构,将对体内新骨再生起积极效应。     

Morphology of the mineral phase of bone

Department of Experimental Morphology, Research Laboratory of Biological Structures, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. S. Debov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 6, pp. 614–616, June, 1990.     

生物体活性梯度功能材料

讨论了人工生物活性梯度功能材料之现状,展望了其发展趋势。     

pH and Carbonate Levels in Developing Enamel

Our earlier studies showed that the surface of developing and calcifying enamel changes its pH alternatively along the tooth axis when stained with pH indicating dyes. Based on the pH conditions, the enamel at this stage was distinguished as neutral zone (N1 and N2) and acid zone (A1 and A2). The aim of the present study was to correlate changes of pH with proteolytic activity and crystal size of the calcifying bovine enamel. Specimens of developing bovine enamel were separated into four maturing stages using pH staining methods. Crystal chemistry of the developing enamel was investigated using thermo-gravimetry (TGA), ICP emission spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Previous biochemical analysis of proteolytic enzyme activity from enamel indicated that the optimal pH of the major protease was approximately pH 6.0, coinciding with the pH of the Al zone. IR, TGA and XRD analyses showed that most of the organic components of the enamel decomposed at 580°C. Higher levels of carbonate were observed in the secretory stages than in mature enamel. The Ca/P molar ratio of the enamel apatite was lower than the stoichiometric value of 1.67. These results suggest that growth and maturation of enamel apatite crystals is related to a decrease in the carbonate level and appear to be related to the alternative calcification and decomposition of enamel proteins.     

Hypermineralized Whale Rostrum as the Exemplar for Bone Mineral

Abstract

Although bone is a nanocomposite of mineral and collagen, mineral has been the more elusive component of study. A standard for bone mineral is clearly needed. We hypothesized that the most natural, least-processed bone mineral could be retrieved from the most highly mineralized bone. We therefore studied the rostrum of the toothed whale Mesoplodon densirostris, which has the densest recognized bone. Essential to establishment of a standard for bone mineral is the documentation that the proposed tissue is bone-like in all properties except for its remarkably high concentration of mineral. Transmitted-light microscopy of unstained sections of rostral material shows normal bone morphology in osteon geometry, lacunae concentration, and vasculature development. Stained sections reveal extremely low density of thin collagen fibers in most of the bone, but enrichment of thicker collagen fibers around vascular holes and in a minority of osteons. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy shows the rostrum mostly consists of dense mineral prisms. Most rostral areas have the same chemical–structural features, i.e., Raman spectroscopically dominated by strong bands at ～962 Δcm^–1 and weak bands at ～2940 Δcm^–1. Spectral features indicate that the rostrum is composed mainly of the calcium phosphate mineral apatite and has only about 4 wt.% organic content. The degree of carbonate substitution (～8.5 wt.% carbonate) in the apatite is in the upper range found in most types of bone. We conclude that, despite its enamel-like extraordinarily high degree of mineralization, the rostrum is in all other features bone-like. Its mineral component is the long-sought uncontaminated, unaltered exemplar of bone mineral.