Assessment of bone calcium and phosphorus content using micro X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ‐EDXRF): effects of long‐term cadmium poisoning

This study assesses whether the concentrations of biologically important elements in bones are altered by long‐term consumption of cadmium (Cd)‐contaminated water. Heavy metal poisoning has significant impact on humans, and pollutants such as Cd are often found at high concentrations in waterways. Twelve Sprague Dawley rats consumed water with 50 p.p.m. Cd (Cd group), and another 12 consumed normal water (control group). Six subjects from each group were sacrificed after 2 weeks and the others after 4 weeks. Spectra were acquired from the femur by using the EDAX Eagle III micro‐XRF setup, and quantitative calculations were performed by using the fundamental parameter method to determine the concentrations of elements. A bone calcium/phosphorus concentration ratio (Ca/P) of 2.07 ± 0.001 is observed in the spectra from control subjects after 2 weeks and 2.07 ± 0.001 after 4 weeks. In Cd subjects, Ca/P after 2 weeks is 2.04 ± 0.001 and after 4 weeks is 1.97 ± 0.003. Statistically significant differences are obtained when comparing controls with Cd subjects at both time points and when comparing Cd subjects at both time points. Cadmium poisoning significantly affects bone Ca and P concentrations, increasing the likelihood of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Propagation of time-reversed Lamb waves in acrylic cylindrical tubes as cortical-bone-mimicking phantoms

The present study aims to investigate the propagation of time-reversed Lamb waves in acrylic cylindrical tubes as cortical-bone-mimicking phantoms. Time-reversed Lamb waves could be successfully launched in 6 acrylic tubes with wall thicknesses from 2 to 12 mm by using a modified time reversal method. The group velocities of the time-reversed Lamb waves in the acrylic tubes were measured by using the axial transmission technique. They decreased very slightly with increasing wall thickness, showing good agreement with the theoretical group velocity of the A0 Lamb wave in the acrylic plate. These results suggest that the time-reversed Lamb waves in the acrylic tubes would essentially behave as the A0 Lamb wave, consistent with the behavior of the slow guided wave in long cortical bones. It is expected that the application of the time-reversed Lamb waves in long bones would enhance clinical potential of ultrasonic technologies for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.     

Gelatin Nanoparticles with Enhanced Affinity for Calcium Phosphate

Gelatin nanoparticles can be tuned with respect to their drug loading efficiency, degradation rate, and release kinetics, which renders these drug carriers highly suitable for a wide variety of biomedical applications. The ease of functionalization has rendered gelatin an interesting candidate material to introduce specific motifs for selective targeting to specific organs, but gelatin nanoparticles have not yet been modified to increase their affinity to mineralized tissue. By means of conjugating bone‐targeting alendronate to biocompatible gelatin nanoparticles, a simple method is developed for the preparation of gelatin nanoparticles which exhibit strong affinity to mineralized surfaces. It has been shown that the degree of alendronate functionalization can be tuned by controlling the glutaraldehyde crosslinking density, the molar ratio between alendronate and glutaraldehyde, as well as the pH of the conjugation reaction. Moreover, it has been shown that the affinity of gelatin nanoparticles to calcium phosphate increases considerably upon functionalization with alendronate. In summary, gelatin nanoparticles have been developed, which exhibit great potential for use in bone‐specific drug delivery and regenerative medicine.

     

Towards the development of a fossil bone geochemical standard: an inter-laboratory study

Ten international laboratories participated in an inter-laboratory comparison of a fossil bone composite with the objective of producing a matrix and structure-matched reference material for studies of the bio-mineralization of ancient fossil bone. We report the major and trace element compositions of the fossil bone composite, using in-situ method as well as various wet chemical digestion techniques.For major element concentrations, the intra-laboratory analytical precision (%RSD_r) ranges from 7 to 18%, with higher percentages for Ti and K. The %RSD_r are smaller than the inter-laboratory analytical precision (%RSD_R; <15-30%). Trace element concentrations vary by ∼5 orders of magnitude (0.1 mg kg⁻¹ for Th to 10,000 mg kg⁻¹ for Ba). The intra-laboratory analytical precision %RSD_r varies between 8 and 45%. The reproducibility values (%RSD_R) range from 13 to <50%, although extreme value >100% was found for the high field strength elements (Hf, Th, Zr, Nb). The rare earth element (REE) concentrations, which vary over 3 orders of magnitude, have %RSD_r and %RSD_R values at 8-15% and 20-32%, respectively. However, the REE patterns (which are very important for paleo-environmental, taphonomic and paleo-oceanographic analyses) are much more consistent.These data suggest that the complex and unpredictable nature of the mineralogical and chemical composition of fossil bone makes it difficult to set-up and calibrate analytical instruments using conventional standards, and may result in non-spectral matrix effects. We propose an analytical protocol that can be employed in future inter-laboratory studies to produce a certified fossil bone geochemical standard.     

反相高效液相色谱法测定尿中吡啶醚和脱氧吡啶醚

尿中吡啶醚（ｐｙｒｉｄｉｎｏｌｉｎｅ,ＰＹＤ）和脱氧吡啶醚（ｄｅｏｘｙｐｙｒｉｄｉｎｏｌｉｎｅ,ＤＰＤ）是骨代谢特异的生化指标。应用高效液相色谱法（ＨＰＬＣ）建立了尿中ＰＹＤ和ＤＰＤ的测定方法。尿液用６ｍｏｌ／ＬＨＣｌ水解后,以纤维素ＣＦ１小柱提取,然后用ＨＰＬＣ测定;色谱系统为ＳｐｈｅｒｉｓｏｒｂＣ１８反相色谱柱,流动相组成为１５％甲醇添加０．１％七氟丁酸,流速为１．２ｍＬ／ｍｉｎ。系统的检测限：ＰＹＤ为１０ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ,ＤＰＤ为７ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ;回收率：ＰＹＤ为９１．５％,ＤＰＤ为１０６．１％;日内变异     

Laser polarimetry of the orientation structure of bone tissue osteons

A matrix method is proposed for describing polarization properties of biological tissues as an aggregate of uniaxial crystal structures. We investigated 25 μm-thick histological sections of compact bone tissue which provided single light scattering. It is shown that in this case there exists a unique relationship between the polarization parameters of the boundary laser field and the parameters of anisotropy and orientation of the structural elements of biological tissue. On this basis, contactless methods of laser polarimetry of histological sections of bone tissue have been proposed. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 52–55, January–February, 2000.     

反演在骨生长方程参数识别中的应用

基于BFGS算法,根据自行设计的动物实验,得到在不同应力环境中,快速生长期大鼠股骨生 长与重建过程中骨密度实测数据,采用反演数值方法,获取了骨生长方程中随时间变化的 生物参数B和K. 通过正演验证,表明所建立的基于BFGS算法的参数识别方法具有较好的 稳定性和较高的识别精度,能够反演出比较切合实际的生物参数数值. 研究表明,反问 题方法是解决生命现象不可测性和未知性问题的有效手段,把反演方法应用到骨生长与重建 等生命现象的研究中,可确定、修正预设的数学模式,为数值量化骨适应生物模型的建立提 供了一条可行的途径.     

Hydrostatic extrusion of polyethylene filled with hydroxyapatite

The hydrostatic extrusion of polyethylene filled with hydroxyapatite has been studied. It is shown that the extrusion behavior is qualitatively similar to that of unfilled polymer. Extruded products with flexural moduli of at least 10 GPa and flexural strengths of 90 MPa have been produced, which can be considered as candidates for load-bearing bone substitute materials. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

K-Carrageenan Stimulates Pre-Osteoblast Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation: A Potential Factor for the Promotion of Bone Regeneration?

Current cell-based bone tissue regeneration strategies cannot cover large bone defects. K-carrageenan is a highly hydrophilic and biocompatible seaweed-derived sulfated polysaccharide, that has been proposed as a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications. Whether κ-carrageenan can be used to enhance bone regeneration is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether κ-carrageenan has osteogenic potential by testing its effect on pre-osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Treatment with κ-carrageenan (0.5 and 2 mg/mL) increased both MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast adhesion and spreading at 1 h. K-carrageenan (0.125–2 mg/mL) dose-dependently increased pre-osteoblast proliferation and metabolic activity, with a maximum effect at 2 mg/mL at day three. K-carrageenan (0.5 and 2 mg/mL) increased osteogenic differentiation, as shown by enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity (1.8-fold increase at 2 mg/mL) at day four, and matrix mineralization (6.2-fold increase at 2 mg/mL) at day 21. K-carrageenan enhanced osteogenic gene expression (Opn, Dmp1, and Mepe) at day 14 and 21. In conclusion, κ-carrageenan promoted MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast adhesion and spreading, metabolic activity, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, suggesting that κ-carrageenan is a potential osteogenic inductive factor for clinical application to enhance bone regeneration.     

切应力对牛骨蠕变变形的影响研究

骨尤其是湿骨,在恒定载荷作用下会发生蠕变变形。为了确定切应力是否影响骨的蠕变变形,采用对骨薄板试样分别施加集中载荷和均布载荷的方式,测量试样挠度实时的变化曲线。结果显示,在载荷恒定时,骨试样的挠度随时间不断增加,体现了典型的蠕变特性。集中荷载下骨的蠕变变形远大于均布荷载下骨的蠕变变形,湿骨的蠕变位移比干骨高近7倍。分析认为,对试样粘弹性性质的影响不仅有正应力的作用,也有切应力的作用;切应力产生的蠕变变形约为正应力所产生蠕变变形的0.85倍。