Tibial Loading Increases Osteogenic Gene Expression and Cortical Bone Volume in Mature and Middle-Aged Mice

There are conflicting data on whether age reduces the response of the skeleton to mechanical stimuli. We examined this question in female BALB/c mice of different ages, ranging from young to middle-aged (2, 4, 7, 12 months). We first assessed markers of bone turnover in control (non-loaded) mice. Serum osteocalcin and CTX declined significantly from 2 to 4 months (p<0.001). There were similar age-related declines in tibial mRNA expression of osteoblast- and osteoclast-related genes, most notably in late osteoblast/matrix genes. For example, Col1a1 expression declined 90% from 2 to 7 months (p<0.001). We then assessed tibial responses to mechanical loading using age-specific forces to produce similar peak strains (−1300 µε endocortical; −2350 µε periosteal). Axial tibial compression was applied to the right leg for 60 cycles/day on alternate days for 1 or 6 weeks. qPCR after 1 week revealed no effect of loading in young (2-month) mice, but significant increases in osteoblast/matrix genes in older mice. For example, in 12-month old mice Col1a1 was increased 6-fold in loaded tibias vs. controls (p = 0.001). In vivo microCT after 6 weeks revealed that loaded tibias in each age group had greater cortical bone volume (BV) than contralateral control tibias (p<0.05), due to relative periosteal expansion. The loading-induced increase in cortical BV was greatest in 4-month old mice (+13%; p<0.05 vs. other ages). In summary, non-loaded female BALB/c mice exhibit an age-related decline in measures related to bone formation. Yet when subjected to tibial compression, mice from 2–12 months have an increase in cortical bone volume. Older mice respond with an upregulation of osteoblast/matrix genes, which increase to levels comparable to young mice. We conclude that mechanical loading of the tibia is anabolic for cortical bone in young and middle-aged female BALB/c mice

Rib biomechanical properties exhibit diagnostic potential for accurate ageing in forensic investigations

Age estimation remains one of the most challenging tasks in forensic practice when establishing a biological profile of unknown skeletonised remains. Morphological methods based on developmental markers of bones can provide accurate age estimates at a young age, but become highly unreliable for ages over 35 when all developmental markers disappear. This study explores the changes in the biomechanical properties of bone tissue and matrix, which continue to change with age even after skeletal maturity, and their potential value for age estimation. As a proof of concept we investigated the relationship of 28 variables at the macroscopic and microscopic level in rib autopsy samples from 24 individuals. Stepwise regression analysis produced a number of equations one of which with seven variables showed an R2=0.949; a mean residual error of 2.13 yrs ±0.4 (SD) and a maximum residual error value of 2.88 yrs. For forensic purposes, by using only bench top machines in tests which can be carried out within 36 hrs, a set of just 3 variables produced an equation with an R2=0.902 a mean residual error of 3.38 yrs ±2.6 (SD) and a maximum observed residual error 9.26yrs. This method outstrips all existing age-at-death methods based on ribs, thus providing a novel lab based accurate tool in the forensic investigation of human remains. The present application is optimised for fresh (uncompromised by taphonomic conditions) remains, but the potential of the principle and method is vast once the trends of the biomechanical variables are established for other environmental conditions and circumstances

Diagnosis and management of bone fragility in diabetes: an emerging challenge

Fragility fractures are increasingly recognized as a complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with fracture risk that increases with disease duration and poor glycemic control. Yet the identification and management of fracture risk in these patients remains challenging. This review explores the clinical characteristics of bone fragility in adults with diabetes and highlights recent studies that have evaluated bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure and material properties, biochemical markers, and fracture prediction algorithms (i.e., FRAX) in these patients. It further reviews the impact of diabetes drugs on bone as well as the efficacy of osteoporosis treatments in this population. We finally propose an algorithm for the identification and management of diabetic patients at increased fracture risk

Two Dimensional Deformation of a Multilayered Thermoelastic Half-Space Due to Surface Loads and Heat Source

This article deals with a 2-D problem of quasi-static deformation of a multilayered thermoelastic medium due tovsurface loads and heat source. The propagator matrix is obtained for the multilayered formalism of thermoelastic layers. Analytical solutions, in terms of the displacements, stresses, heat flux and temperature function, are obtained for normal strip and line loads, shear strip and line loads and strip and line heat sources. Numerical computation of the obtained analytical expressions is also done. The effects of layering have been studied. For the verification of the results, results of earlier studies have been obtained as particular cases of the present study

Two dimensional deformation of a multilayered thermoelastic half-space due to surface loads and heat source

This article deals with a 2-D problem of quasi-static deformation of a multilayered thermoelastic medium due tovsurface loads and heat source. The propagator matrix is obtained for the multilayered formalism of thermoelastic layers. Analytical solutions, in terms of the displacements, stresses, heat flux and temperature function, are obtained for normal strip and line loads, shear strip and line loads and strip and line heat sources. Numerical computation of the obtained analytical expressions is also done. The effects of layering have been studied. For the verification of the results, results of earlier studies have been obtained as particular cases of the present study

Effects of piezoelectricity on bulk waves in monoclinic poro-elastic materials

Piezoelectric materials are materials which produce electric field when stress is applied and get strained when electric field is applied. Piezoelectric materials are acting as very important functional components in sonar projectors, fluid monitors, pulse generators and surface acoustic wave devices. Wave propagation in porous piezoelectric material having crystal symmetry 2 is studied analytically. The Christoffel equation is derived. The phase velocities of propagation of all these waves are described in terms of complex wave velocities. The effects of phase direction, porosity, wave frequency and piezoelectric interaction on the phase velocities are studied numerically for a particular model