Micro-CT data of early physiological cancellous bone formation in the lumbar spine of female C57BL/6 mice

Micro-CT provides critical data for musculoskeletal research, yielding three-dimensional datasets containing distributions of mineral density. Using high-resolution scans, we quantified changes in the fine architecture of bone in the spine of young mice. This data is made available as a reference to physiological cancellous bone growth. The scans (n = 19) depict the extensive structural changes typical for female C57BL/6 mice pups, aged 1-, 3-, 7-, 10- and 14-days post-partum, as they attain the mature geometry. We reveal the micro-morphology down to individual trabeculae in the spine that follow phases of mineral-tissue rearrangement in the growing lumbar vertebra on a micrometer length scale. Phantom data is provided to facilitate mineral density calibration. Conventional histomorphometry matched with our micro-CT data on selected samples confirms the validity and accuracy of our 3D scans. The data may thus serve as a reference for modeling normal bone growth and can be used to benchmark other experiments assessing the effects of biomaterials, tissue growth, healing, and regeneration

Recent cadmium exposure among male partners may affect oocyte fertilization during in vitro fertilization (IVF)

We recently reported evidence suggesting associations between urine cadmium concentrations, reflecting long-term exposure, measured in 25 female patients (relative risk = 1.41, P = 0.412) and 15 of their male partners (relative risk = 0.19, P = 0.097) and oocyte fertilization in vitro. Blood cadmium concentrations reflect more recent exposure. We here incorporate those measures into our prior data set and employ multivariable log-binomial regression models to generate hypotheses concerning the relative effects of long-term and recent cadmium exposure on oocyte fertilization in vitro. No association is indicated for blood cadmium from women and oocyte fertilization, adjusted for urine cadmium and creatinine, blood lead and mercury, age, race/ethnicity and cigarette smoking (relative risk = 0.88, P = 0.828). However, we suggest an inverse adjusted association between blood cadmium from men and oocyte fertilization (relative risk = 0.66, P = 0.143). These results suggest that consideration of long-term and recent exposures are both important for assessing the effect of partner cadmium levels on oocyte fertilization in vitro

Hochauflösende 3D-Charakterisierung zeigt einzelne Phasen der trabekulären Knochenbildung in der wachsenden Lendenwirbelsäule der Maus

Introduction: The spine plays a central role in the skeleton of all mammals with its geometry and structure being crucial for locomotion. As it is difficult to study in humans, mice have become an important alternative study model, widely used in skeletal research. In the murine spine, within the first two weeks of life, rapid, fundamental rearrangement of mineralized material takes place. However, skeletogenesis has mostly been studied only in 2D. In this work, I provide a detailed 3D quantification of the early structural evolution of the lumbar vertebra. This study describes the main growth processes leading towards the formation of load-bearing, mature cancellous bone architecture in the murine spine. Methods: Ex-vivo samples were used to study the lumbar spine of young female C57BL/6 mice (1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after birth) using phantom calibrated, high-resolution 3D μCT, supported by 2D histological analysis and mapping. Results: Three phases of cancellous bone growth were identified: During a templating phase, low mineral density material is deposited in poorly structured spicules. During a consolidation phase between day 1 and day 7, the material condenses and forms first struts while the structure begins to grow. Thereafter a phase of expansion commences beyond day 7, trabeculae reorient in space and accumulate higher mineral densities. By 14 days of age, the young lumbar spine exhibits all morphological features observed in the mature animal, suggesting that the structure is fully functional and load-bearing. Conclusion: Cancellous bone of the spine evolves through spatial rearrangement of mineralized material in three phases: Templating, rearrangement, and expansion. This occurs in parallel with the development of locomotive abilities. Understanding of physiological cancellous bone development lays the foundation for future studies of short- and long-term pharmaceutical, metabolic, endocrinological, and mechanical effects on mineralized tissue as well as tissue healing and regeneration.Einführung: Die Wirbelsäule spielt eine zentrale Rolle im Skelett aller Säugetiere, da ihre Geometrie und Aufbau entscheidend für die Fortbewegung sind. Auf Grund der Schwierigkeit von Untersuchungen am Menschen, sind Mäuse zu einem wichtigen alternativen Studienmodell geworden, das in der Skelettforschung weit verbreitet ist. In der Wirbelsäule der Maus findet innerhalb der ersten zwei Lebenswochen eine rasche, grundlegende Umlagerung von mineralisiertem Material statt. Die Skelettentstehung wurde bislang jedoch meist nur in 2D untersucht. In dieser Arbeit biete ich eine detaillierte, 3D-Quantifizierung der frühen Strukturentwicklung der Lendenwirbelsäule. Diese Studie beschreibt die zentralen Wachstumsprozesse, die zur Bildung einer belastbaren, reifen, trabekulären Knochenarchitektur in der Wirbelsäule der Maus führen. Material und Methodik: Ex-vivo Proben wurden verwendet, um die Lendenwirbelsäule von jungen, weiblichen C57BL/6 Mäusen (1, 3, 7, 10 und 14 Tage nach der Geburt) anhand von phantomkalibrierter, hochauflösender 3D μCT, zu untersuchen, unterstützt durch histologische 2D-Analysen und Darstellungen. Ergebnisse: Es wurden drei Phasen des trabekulären Knochenwachstums identifiziert: Während einer Vorlagenphase wird Material mit geringer Mineraldichte in wenig strukturierten Partikeln abgelegt. Während einer Konsolidierungsphase zwischen dem ersten und siebten Tag verdichtet sich das Material und bildet erste Verstrebungen, während die Struktur zu wachsen beginnt. Im Anschluss beginnt eine Expansionsphase nach Tag sieben, in der sich die Trabekel im Raum neu orientieren und höhere Mineraldichten akkumulieren. Im Alter von 14 Tagen weist die Lendenwirbelsäule alle morphologischen Merkmale eines ausgewachsenen Tieres auf, was darauf hindeutet, dass die Struktur voll funktionsfähig und belastbar ist. Schlussfolgerung: Trabekulärer Knochen der Wirbelsäule entsteht durch die räumliche Neuanordnung von mineralisiertem Material in drei Phasen: Vorlage, Kondensation und Expansion. Dies geschieht parallel zur Entwicklung der motorischen Fähigkeiten. Das Verständnis der physiologischen Entwicklung von trabekulärem Knochen bildet die Grundlage für zukünftige Untersuchungen der kurz- und langfristigen pharmazeutischen, metabolischen, endokrinologischen und mechanischen Auswirkungen auf mineralisiertes Gewebe sowie auf die Knochenheilung und Regeneration

Study of enzyme sensors with wide, adjustable measurement ranges for in-situ monitoring of biotechnological processes

peer reviewedWe report on a study of enzymatic glucose and lactate sensors for measurements of wide concentration ranges from 1 mM up to 600 mM and 900 mM, respectively, in biotechnological processes. Diffusion-limiting polyurethane membranes were used to extend the linear measurement range and the influence of two fabrication parameters on membrane properties and sensor performance evaluated. The polymer concentration was varied between 4% and 10% and the ratio of the solvents tetrahydrofuran and dimethylformamide between 9:1 and 1:9. Surface morphology and permeability of the membranes and the linear measurement range of membrane-covered enzyme sensors were determined. A distinct relationship between the different results was found. The sensors retained their functionality after being sterilized using gamma and electron beam irradiation. The long-term performance of the sensors was evaluated and good performance in the glucose monitoring of a culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae over 13 days was shown. © 2016 Elsevier B.V

Associations between toxic metals in follicular fluid and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes

PURPOSE: We previously reported associations between trace concentrations of Hg, Cd and Pb in blood and urine and reproductive outcomes for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Here we assess measurements in single follicular fluid (FF) specimens from 46 women as a presumably more relevant marker of dose for reproductive toxicity. METHODS: FF specimens were analyzed for Hg, Cd and Pb using sector field-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). Variability sources were assessed by nested ANOVA. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate associations for square root transformed metals with IVF outcomes, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: An inverse association is detected for FF Pb and fertilization (relative risk (RR) = 0.68, P = 0.026), although positive for Cd (RR = 9.05, P = 0.025). While no other statistically significant associations are detected, odds ratios (OR) are increased for embryo cleavage with Hg (OR = 3.83, P = 0.264) and Cd (OR = 3.18, P = 0.644), and for embryo fragmentation with Cd (OR = 4.08, P = 0.586) and Pb (OR = 2.22, P = 0.220). Positive estimates are observed for Cd with biochemical (RR = 19.02, P = 0.286) and clinical pregnancies (RR = 38.80, P = 0.212), yet with very low precision. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified associations between trace amounts of Pb and Cd in FF from a single follicle, and oocyte fertilization. Yet, the likelihood of biological variation in trace element concentrations within and between follicles, coupled with levels that are near the limits of detection suggest that future work should examine multiple follicles using a ‘one follicle-one oocyte/embryo’ approach. A larger study is merited to assess more definitively the role that these environmental factors could play with respect to egg quality in IVF programs

Cigarette smoking and risk of ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of 21 case-control studies

Contains fulltext : 118139.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)PURPOSE: The majority of previous studies have observed an increased risk of mucinous ovarian tumors associated with cigarette smoking, but the association with other histological types is unclear. In a large pooled analysis, we examined the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer associated with multiple measures of cigarette smoking with a focus on characterizing risks according to tumor behavior and histology. METHODS: We used data from 21 case-control studies of ovarian cancer (19,066 controls, 11,972 invasive and 2,752 borderline cases). Study-specific odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from logistic regression models and combined into a pooled odds ratio using a random effects model. RESULTS: Current cigarette smoking increased the risk of invasive mucinous (OR = 1.31; 95 % CI: 1.03-1.65) and borderline mucinous ovarian tumors (OR = 1.83; 95 % CI: 1.39-2.41), while former smoking increased the risk of borderline serous ovarian tumors (OR = 1.30; 95 % CI: 1.12-1.50). For these histological types, consistent dose-response associations were observed. No convincing associations between smoking and risk of invasive serous and endometrioid ovarian cancer were observed, while our results provided some evidence of a decreased risk of invasive clear cell ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed marked differences in the risk profiles of histological types of ovarian cancer with regard to cigarette smoking, although the magnitude of the observed associations was modest. Our findings, which may reflect different etiologies of the histological types, add to the fact that ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease