Histomorphometric evaluation of bone healing in rabbit fibular osteotomy model without fixation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal models of fracture consolidation are fundamental for the understanding of the biological process of bone repair in humans, but histological studies are rare and provide only qualitative results. The objective of this article is to present the histomorphometric study of the bone healing process using an experimental model of osteotomy in rabbit fibula without interference of synthesis material.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifteen rabbits were submitted to fibular osteotomy without any fixation device. Groups of five animals were submitted to pharmacological euthanasia during a period of one (group A), two (group B) and four weeks (group C) after osteotomy. Histomorphometric evaluation was performed in the histological sections.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During week one there was intense cellularity (67/field), a large amount of woven bone (75.7%) and a small amount of lamellar bone (7.65%). At two weeks there was a decrease in woven bone (41.59%) and an increase in lamellar bone (15.16%). At four weeks there was a decrease of cellularity (19.17/field) and lamellar bone (55.56%) exceeded the quantity of woven bone (31.68%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Histomorphometric (quantitative) evaluation of the present study was shown to be compatible with bone healing achieved in qualitative experimental models that have been commended in the literature.</p

Analysis of C3 nephritic factors by ELISA

Autoantibodies to the C3 convertase of the alternative pathway of complement, called C3 nephritic factors (C3NeF), cause persistently low C3 in the circulation and production of C3 degradation fragments due to prolonged stabilization of the C3 convertase. C3NeF are associated with glomerulopathy, acquired partial lipodystrophy, and less frequently with increased susceptibility to meningococcal infection. Analysis of C3NeF is an important part of the diagnostic workup of C3 glomerulopathy, but their identification is difficult presumably due to considerable heterogeneity. Therefore it is recommended to use a combination of different analysis methods for the detection of C3NeF. Here we present an ELISA method for detection of C3NeF