Relationships between the anisotropy of longitudinal wave velocity and hydroxyapatite crystallite orientation in bovine cortical bone

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is now widely used for evaluating bone in vivo, because obtained ultrasonic wave properties directly reflect the visco-elasticity. Bone tissue is composed of minerals like hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a collagen matrix. HAp crystallites orientation is thus one parameter of bone elasticity. In this study, we experimentally investigated the anisotropy of ultrasonic wave velocity and the HAp crystallites orientation in the axial-radial and axial-tangential planes in detail, using cylindrical specimens obtained from the cortical bone of three bovine femurs. Longitudinal bulk wave propagation was investigated by using a conventional ultrasonic pulse system. We used the one cycle of sinusoidal pulse which was emitted from wide band transmitter. The nominal frequency of the pulse was 1 MHz. First, we investigated the anisotropy of longitudinal wave velocity, measuring the anisotropy of velocity in two planes using cylindrical specimens obtained from identical bone areas. The wave velocity changed due to the rotation angle, showing the maximum value in the direction a little off the bone axis. Moreover, X-ray pole figure measurements also indicated that there were small tilts in the HAp crystallites orientation from the bone axis. The tilt angles were similar to those of the highest velocity direction. There were good correlations between velocity and HAp crystallites orientation obtained in different directions. However, a comparatively low correlation was found in posterior bone areas, which shows the stronger effects of bone microstructure. In the radial-tangential plane, where the HAp crystallites hardly ever align, weak anisotropy of velocity was found which seemed to depend on the bone microstructure.     

The Use of Bone Substitutes in the Treatment of Bone Defects – the Clinical View and History

Summary: Bone has the ability to regenerate and remodel itself. In the clinic circumstances appear when bone defects do not heal spontaneously. These situations frequently result from trauma, congenital abnormities, infection or tumor resection. Hence, filling of the resulting defect by bone transplantation is a common practise with an increasing value in the re-establishment of the musculoskeletal system to promote bone healing. Since decades, efforts have been put to improve the effectiveness of bone substitutes. Conventional approaches with the use of ivory, animal and also human bone were not satisfactory. Negative effects like allergic reactions, rejection reactions, inflammations and other problems occurred. These led to implant failure, non union and amputation, to only mention a few. The introduction of bone banks and the development of standards in bone transplantation brought up the false hope to find a final solution for the treatment of bone loss. Disease transmissions (HIV) by allografts caused critical discussions. Despite all efforts, transplantation of autogenous cancellous bone is still the “gold standard” to induce bone healing. However, autografts are only limited available and are accompanied with high morbidity and mortality during the harvest. The problems associated with autologous and allogenous bone grafts promoted the development of multiple organic and inorganic bone substitutes. Well established substitutes at the present are demineralised bone matrix (DBM), composites and calcium phosphates (hydroxyl apatite and tri-calcium phosphate). These osteoconductive substances have shown to improve new bone formation. Nevertheless, clinical application of these materials is merely successful in a good bony environment but does not induce large progress in critical bone defects.     

Osteogenesis of Osteoblast Seeded Polyurethane-Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds in Nude Mice

Summary: Biodegradable porous polyurethane (PU) scaffolds were used in a tissue engineering approach to create new bone. Two groups of elastomeric bioresorbable PU disks were seeded with osteoblasts and implanted into nude mice. One group had disks of pure PU while the other group had disks of PU- hydroxyapatite composite (PU-HA). After 5 weeks both groups showed radiographic and histologic evidence of significant bone formation. As the new bone formed it replaced the PU scaffolds. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward more bone formation in the PU-HA group. Bioresorbable PU shows promise for use in bone tissue engineering.     

New Approaches in the Treatment of Critical-Size Segmental Defects in Long Bones

Summary : The treatment of large segmental diaphyseal bone deficiencies presents a formidable challenge. The standard treatment modalities such as cancellous bone grafting, cortical allografts, vascularized bone transfer, or distraction osteogenesis exhibit extremely high complication rates, and can culminate in limb amputation or major functional deficits. Recent efforts to develop new treatment modalities for segmental bone loss have resulted in designing new biodegradable polymeric and metallic mesh implants that can incorporate novel osteogenic, osteoinductive, and/or osteoconductive bone healing augmentation materials. These biologic implant composites are capable of further enhancing the efficacy of the treatment applied. This paper briefly reviews the limitations of the currently applied standard treatment modalities for segmental critical size bone defects, provides insight into the specific treatment challenges, and presents the animal and initial clinical results of new alterative treatment approaches that involve the application of cylindrical mesh implants consisting of biodegradable polylactide membranes or titanium cages as a means of potentiating the efficacy of bone graft.     

骨组织工程支架材料研究进展*

骨在组织工程中得到了非常广泛、深入的研究.支架材料与许多可降解材料一起也在进行探索性研究.用于骨组织工程的生物材料可以是三维多孔的刚硬材料,也可以是可注射材料.本文从聚合物角度综述了骨组织工程对支架材料的基本要求,用于骨组织工程的可降解生物材料、支架材料的设计和制备技术以及支架材料的表面修饰等方面的研究进展.     

高效液相色谱法测定全血中骨碱性磷酸酶的活力

 建立了测定全血中骨碱性磷酸酶(BALP)的高效液相色谱法(HPLC)。色谱柱为SpectraPhysicsODS反相柱,以V(0.01mol/L乙酸,pH4.8)∶V(甲醇)=70∶30的溶液为流动相,流速为0.8mL/min,检测波长为275nm。当BALP的质量浓度为8～200mg/L时,其活性对峰面积呈良好的线性关系(r=0.996),检测限为3ng。该方法简便、快速、可靠,可用于临床测定全血中的BALP。     

The Effect of Physical Activity on the Properties of Bone Tissue

The effect of sports training or lack of physical activity on the properties of bone tissue is investigated. People with normal physical activity, sportsmen, and hypodynamic persons are tested. Ultrasound as a safe and noninvasive method is used. In normal activity and after short-time sports training or bed rest, the maximum ultrasound velocity is observed in the middle part of the tibia diaphysis because this region has the highest bending moment. Long-time sports training (more than seven years) in basketball and freestyle skiing alters the distribution of ultrasound velocity along the tibia: the maximum velocity is found in the distal diaphysis of the tibia due to the existence of high mechanical stresses in this region caused by the intense external impact loads and the calf muscle contraction. The maximum velocity for rowers is in the middle diaphysis or in the region between the proximal and middle diaphysis, since high impact loads are not characteristic of their foot joints. Long-time hypodynamia weakens the distal diaphysis of the tibia due to the lack of naturally occuring high stresses in this part of the bone.     

载荷诱导骨生长的力学细胞生物学机制

骨骼的结构和功能在很大程度上依赖于其所处的力学环境,这一观点已被广为接受．自从Ｗｏｌｆｆ提出其著名的骨转换定律以来,骨生长与载荷间的关系一直是生物力学中一个重要的问题．大量的动物实验均证明二者之间存在明确的关联．然而,载荷诱导骨生长的力学细胞生物学（ｍｅｃｈａｎｏｃｙ－ｔｏｂｉｏｌｏｇｙ）机制仍很不清楚．十余年来体外培养骨骼细胞加载的研究为应力（应变）诱导骨生长提供了一个微观理论框架．目前认为,载荷诱导骨生长的过程可分为四个环节,即：力学耦联、生物化学耦联、胞间信号转导和效应细胞反应．详细阐述了这几个环节,并就今后的研究方向作一讨论．     

含液体松质骨的压缩实验分析

在本文中,假设不含液体松质骨为红弹性体,以及松质骨固液两相结构特性,建立了含液体松质骨的单向压缩本构方程,其形式与三参量线粘弹性体的本构方程相同。并通过拟合实验结果,得到本构方程中有关参数的值。     

人的密质骨的力学性能

本文把骨组织看作是一种材料和骨骼系统的粘弹性结构元件,评述了它们的力学性能.首先描述了骨的结构,包括宏观结构、微结构和超微结构.随后是骨的力学性能.第三部分介绍了哈弗氏骨的力学模型.笔者指出,单个哈弗氏骨可考虑为正交铺设的胶原纤维增强的粘弹性厚壁筒.最后讨论了哈弗氏骨的应力-应变关系.显然,简单的弹性关系是不可用于实际的.