Bone microarchitecture in human foetuses

articleBone microarchitecture is receiving increasing attention in theassessment of the biomechanical properties of bone. While it iswell characterized in normal and pathologic human subjects,few quantitative data are available in human fetal development.In this paper, quantitative parameters of bone microarchitecturein developing human bone are reviewed from the literature andsupplemented by new data from the femoral metaphysis of hu-man fetuses. The samples were imaged using synchrotron radi-ation 3D micro-CT and processed using customized analysismethods. This technique provides 3D model independent mor-phometric parameters, anisotropy, connectivity and geometrycharacteristics, as well as information on mineralization.The morphometric parameters obtained on fetal vertebrae andfemurs evidenced a dense trabecular structure as comparedto that of young adults. The histomorphometric and the 3D mi-cro-CT analysis were consistent to show a significant in-crease of trabecular bone volume with gestational age. Tra-becular bone was found isotropic in vertebral bodies andanisotropic in femoral metaphysis, demonstrating a radialgrowth in vertebrae, and a longitudinal spreading out in longbones such as the femurs. Trabecular thickness in the maturebone of vertebral body and femoral metaphysis was around100 μm, which was in agreement with histomorphometric eval-uation. In the femoral metaphysis, three-dimensional analysisconfirmed the thickening of trabeculae with the distance tothe growth plate, and an estimated rate of thickening around 3μm/day previously obtained in histomorphometry. The 3D net-work was highly connected, and our new geometrical analysistechnique showed a strong prevalence of rod structure ascompared to the plate structure in cancellous bone

Fetal and Early Post-Natal Mineralization of the Tympanic Bulla in Fin Whales May Reveal a Hitherto Undiscovered Evolutionary Trait

The evolution of the cetacean skeleton followed a path that differentiated this group from other terrestrial mammals about 50 million years ago [1], and debate is still going on about the relationships between Cetacea and Artiodactyla [2], [3], [4]. Some skeletal traits of the basilosaurids (the more advanced forms of Archaeocetes), such as the expansion of the peribullary air sinuses, dental modification and vertebral size uniformity [5] are maintained and further emphasized also in contemporary odontocetes and mysticetes. Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry here we report that the deposition of bone mineral in fetal and newborn specimens of the fin whale Balaenoptera physalus is remarkably higher in the bulla tympanica than in the adjacent basal skull or in the rest of the skeleton. Ossification of the tympanic bulla in fetal Artiodactyla (bovine, hippopotamus) is minimal, becomes sensible after birth and then progresses during growth, contrarily to the precocious mineralization that we observed in fin whales. Given the importance of the ear bones for the precise identification of phylogenetic relationship in therian evolution [6], this feature may indicate a specific evolutionary trait of fin whales and possibly other cetacean species or families. Early mineralization of the tympanic bulla allows immediate sound conduction in the aquatic medium and consequently holds potential importance for mother-calf relationship and postnatal survival

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博士（学術）神戸大

Quantitative modeling of the physiology of ascites in portal hypertension

Although the factors involved in cirrhotic ascites have been studied for a century, a number of observations are not understood, including the action of diuretics in the treatment of ascites and the ability of the plasma-ascitic albumin gradient to diagnose portal hypertension. This communication presents an explanation of ascites based solely on pathophysiological alterations within the peritoneal cavity. A quantitative model is described based on experimental vascular and intraperitoneal pressures, lymph flow, and peritoneal space compliance. The model's predictions accurately mimic clinical observations in ascites, including the magnitude and time course of changes observed following paracentesis or diuretic therapy