LAXS investigation of finger phantoms

Osteoporosis is a bone condition that is caused mainly by the degradation of trabecular and cortical bone resulting in the decrease of bone strength and eventually leads to bone fracture. A low angle X-ray scattering (LAXS) system that uses mainly the coherent scattering process for the characterisation of materials was constructed to study such bone conditions. Several finger phantoms were fabricated to simulate bone of varying densities. The LAXS method was able to identify the changes in bone density quite well by comparing energy dispersive X-ray diffraction patterns as well as the angular patterns. Quantitative information can be extracted from such patterns that relate to bone loss. Signature patterns at low exposure times were produced in order to reduce the dose received with reasonable identification power but at slightly higher statistical errors compared with long exposure patterns. Use of other parameters to increase the sensitivity was attempted.     

The TEM characterization of the lamellar structure of osteoporotic human trabecular bone

The lamellar structure of osteoporotic human trabecular bone was characterized experimentally by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). More specifically, the TEM was used to determine if trabecular bone exhibits similar lamellar structural motifs as cortical bone by analyzing unmineralized, mineralized and demineralized bone, and to study the influence of the osteocyte network on the lamellar structure of osteoporotic trabecular bone. Comparison with normal trabecular bone is included. This paper summarizes partial results of a larger study, which addressed the characterization of the hierarchical structure of normal versus osteoporotic human trabecular bone [Rubin, M.A., 2001. Multiscale characterization of the ultrastructure of trabecular bone in osteoporotic and normal humans and in two inbred strains of mice. MS Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology.] at several structural scales.     

Thiol derivatives of arylnaphthylmethane as novel anti-osteoporotic agents

(Mercaptophenyl)naphthylmethane derivatives were synthesized as novel estrogen receptor binding ligands. [4-(Methylsulfonyl)phenyl](naphth-1-yl)ketone shows a very promising activity towards osteoporosis. Correspondence: Sangita, Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.     

Novel Bone-targeted Agents for Treatment of Osteoporosis

The novel bone-targeted agents were designed and synthesized by the combination of raloxifene and bisphosphonates. The anti-osteoporosis effect was evaluated by bone mineral density (BMD) obtained from OVX mice in vivo. The results indicated that the compound 8, 9 not only prevented ovariectomy induced loss of bone but also enhanced BMD to 0.87% and 19.67% compared to Sham, respectively.     

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.     

Semi-empirical bone model for determination of trabecular structure properties from backscattered ultrasound

A novel semi-empirical scattering model of trabecular bone facilitating its characterization and allowing optimization of the interrogating pulse-echo transducer performance was developed. The model accounts for spatial density distribution of the trabeculae and includes measurement conditions such as pressure–time waveform of the probing ultrasound wave, the emitted field structure, and the transfer function and limited bandwidth of the acoustic source operating in pulse-echo mode. These measurement conditions are of importance as they modify the scattered echoes, which in turn are linked to the micro-architecture of the bone. The bone was modeled by a random distribution of long and thin cylindrical scatterers having randomly varying diameters and mechanical properties, and oriented perpendicularly to the ultrasound beam axis. To mimic clinically encountered conditions the relevant empirical data obtained at 1 MHz were input to the model. The data included pulse-echo source pressure field distribution in the focal zone and the above mentioned transfer function. With these data the model allowed frequency dependent backscattering coefficient of the simulated bone structure and its statistical properties to be determined. The results obtained indicated that the computer simulation is of particular relevance in studying scattering properties of the cancellous bone and holds promise as a tool to determine the relationship between the physical dimensions and shape of the scatterers and for monitoring of osteoporosis. The results of simulations also indicated that the new bone model proposed is well suited to mimic clinically relevant conditions. In contrast to the existing bone models, which usually assume scatterers to be randomly distributed as infinitely long identical cylinders with a cross-section much smaller than the probing ultrasound wave, the new model includes two populations of scatterers having different physical dimensions and also allows the mechanical properties of the scatterers to be varied.     

Effect of strontium substitution on the composition and microstructure of sol–gel derived calcium phosphates

Sr-doped calcium phosphates have been prepared by sol–gel chemistry. All samples exhibit two phases: hydroxyapatite (HAp) and tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). With respect to undoped sample, the Sr-doped samples exhibit higher proportion of β-TCP phase but the quantity appears to be quite independent of the doping level. To explain the mismatch with the nominal stoichiometry, the presence of amorphous CaO and SrO compounds have been postulated and their proportions evaluated. The insertion of Sr²⁺ ions in the two crystalline phases HAp and β-TCP is almost total for low doping levels but quite incomplete for the highest doping level. The majority of the inserted Sr²⁺ ions are in the β-TCP phase. Considering the acknowledged beneficial effect of Sr²⁺ on the bone regeneration process, the effective partial substitution of Sr in biphasic calcium phosphate makes these materials very interesting for clinical applications. The Sr-substituted HAp and β-TCP cell parameters agree fairly well with the Vegard’s law and Sr²⁺ ions substitute preferentially for Ca²⁺ in the Ca2 site for hydroxyapatite and in the Ca4 site for β-TCP. The microstructural parameters confirm the previous observation and give a new evidence of clear stabilizing effect of Sr²⁺ ions towards the β-TCP structure.     

老年人骨质疏松性髋部骨折的治疗初探

目的探讨老年骨质疏松性髋部骨折的临床诊治方法及疗效。方法自2005年4月～2010年3月共治疗70岁以上（70—96岁）骨质疏松性髋部骨折100例,其中男39例,女61例。骨折类型：股骨颈骨折71例,股骨粗隆间骨折29例。其中手术治疗92例,保守治疗8例。其中股骨粗隆间骨折DHS内固定20例,保守治疗8例,人工股骨头置换1例;股骨颈骨折71例人工股骨头置换33例,全髋置换38例。本组患者同时配合抗骨质疏松药物治疗。结果本组所有患者手术顺利进行,术后伤口均一期愈合。本组100例获得随访,随访时间6月～28月,平均14．2月。术后股骨头缺血坏死4例,内固定物松动、滑脱5例、断裂2例,人工股骨头下沉致疼痛5例,脱位2例,精神症状2例。本组病例无肺栓塞、深静脉血栓形成、感染等并发症发生。术后5月,患者均能下地行走,生活自理。平均Harris评分由术前的（45．4±10．7）分恢复到术后1年的（91．5±7．2）分,术后与术前Harris评分比较t=21．1674,P〈0．05。x线片检查示内植物位置良好。结论老年骨质疏松性髋部骨折需要积极的以手术为主的综合治疗。     

补肾壮骨颗粒对维甲酸致骨质疏松大鼠骨组织计量学的影响

目的研究补肾壮骨颗粒对维甲酸致骨质疏松大鼠骨组织计量学的影响,探讨补肾壮骨颗粒防治骨质疏松症的机制。方法实验选用3月龄SD大鼠,按体重随机分为5组:正常对照组、骨质疏松模型组、补肾壮骨颗粒高低剂量组、仙灵骨葆阳性对照组。各组大鼠上午均灌胃给予维甲酸2周,造模同时下午按上述剂量灌胃给予受试药3周,末次给药后晚上禁食,次日以10%水合氯醛腹腔注射麻醉动物,腹主动脉放血处死动物后取左右胫骨,并去掉附着的软组织,放入10%福尔马林中固定,移入10%EDTA溶液中脱钙,再转入酒精内脱水,石蜡包埋,切片并行H-E染色。在光镜10×10倍视野下应用高清晰度彩色病理图文分析系统对胫骨上段松质骨的骨组织作静态测量并计算骨小梁面积百分数、骨小梁厚度、骨小梁数量和骨小梁分离度(取切片中心部的五个视野测量并取其平均数),观察胫骨上段病理形态学变化。结果与正常对照组相比,模型对照组大鼠的胫骨近端骨松质骨小梁面积百分数及厚度减少,骨小梁数量及分离度增加,有统计学意义(P<0.01),说明造模成功;与模型对照组相比,补肾壮骨颗粒组胫骨近端骨松质的骨小梁面积百分数及厚度增加,骨小梁数量及分离度减少,有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论补肾壮骨颗粒能减少维甲酸通过激活破骨细胞所引起的骨丢失,改善骨小梁的形态,起到防治骨质疏松症的作用。     

低蛋白和高蛋白饲料对大鼠骨代谢的影响

应用骨组织形态计量学的方法观察并比较低蛋白和高蛋白饲料对大鼠骨骼的影响。将 3月龄雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠 18只随机分成 3组 :对照组control(Pr2 0 % )、低蛋白组LPD(Pr8% )、高蛋白组HPD(Pr2 3% )。饲喂按AOAC方法合成的提纯饲料 90d后 ,取左侧胫骨近心端不脱钙骨包埋后 ,进行骨组织形态计量学分析。测得结果为 :与对照组相比 ,LPD骨小梁面积百分率 (%Tb .Ar)减少 5 7% (P <0 .0 1) ,骨量明显减少 ,骨小梁间距 (Tb .Sp)增大185 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ,反映骨形成的指标骨形成率 (BFR TV)明显降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,荧光周长百分数 (%L .Pm)、矿化沉积率 (MAR)有降低的趋势 ;HPD亦使大鼠 %Tb .Ar减少 40 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ,呈骨低转化的趋势 ;LPD与HPD相比 ,各项指标都有所增强。由上可知高蛋白和低蛋白饲料都使大鼠骨量明显减少 ,骨结构变差 ,骨强度下降。其中低蛋白饲料对骨形成抑制大于高蛋白饲料。