Age-related changes in large joints and long tubular bones of the upper extremity in children (echographic data)]

Two hundred and ten children at the age of 17 days up to 15 years have been examined. Echocameras, working in the grey scale regime have been used. At examination of the arm, forearm, brachial, elbow and radiocarpal joints in the children the most informative are longitudinal echographic approaches. At examination of the brachial bone head in the children older than 10 years only the anterior longitudinal approach is informative. To perform the echographic investigation of various elements of the locomotor apparatus of the upper extremities in children older than 9-10 years is difficult. The echographic reveal of additional nuclei of ossification and synostosis stages of the long tubular bones of the upper extremities in children often coincide in time with roentgenological data.     

Mineral saturation, ossification and synostosis of the hand bones in adolescents and youth]

The results on X-ray densitometric studies of the hand bones in adolescent and young people at the age of 10--17 years (369 persons in all) are presented in the work. Processes of mineralization, ossification and synostosis, as the investigation has demonstrated, are closely connected with each other. From the beginning of ossification in the pisiform and sesamoid bones of the first metacarpophalageal joint (11--12 years of age) up to the completion of synostosis in short tubular bones of the hand (15--16 years of age), a decrease of mineral salts is noted in osseous tissue. Hence, accumulation of mineral salts in skeleton of children and adolescent persons does not occur smoothly, but rather distinctly reflects those functional changes which take place in the adolescent organism when the genital glands begin their increased activity.     

Glycosaminoglycans at the early stages of osteogenesis of the human long tubular bones

In anlages of long tubular bones of 68 human embryos and prefetuses (6-12 weeks of the prenatal development) changes in content and composition of glycosaminoglycans have been studied at early stages of osteogenesis. Histochemical reactions with brown basic, alcian blue, using the method of critical concentration of electrolyte and toluidine blue have been applied at various low values of pH with corresponding control experiments. For ultrastructural investigation of glycosaminoglycans localization the electron histochemical reaction with nitrogen acidic bismuth has been used. The most active synthesis of glycosaminoglycane is observed in chondrocytes of the proliferative zone of the epiphyseal cartilage of the anlages. In chondrocytes of the columnar zones the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans subsides, however, the mass of the substances increases on the surface of cytolemma of chondrocytes and in the intercellular matrix. During the process of development of the human long tubular bone analages contents of low sulfated glycosaminoglycans decrease with a simultaneous increase of concentration of these components, having a more acidic reaction. An essential role of polysaccharides and their complexes with proteins in ossification and mineralization of the human long tubular bone anlages is supposed.     

Morphofunctional changes in the long tubular bones of animals which have developed while readapting after physical loads

The investigation has been performed on 120 white male rats of Wistar line. By means of the morphometry, electron microscopy and chemical methods dynamics of readaptive changes have been studied in long tubular bones during the period, when the effect of physical loadings both of dynamic and static character and of various intensity has been stopped, up to the old periods of the animals' life. Readaptation after moderate dynamic and static loadings is occurring for a long time and steadily. The changes caused by static loadings are nearly completely restored in a year. Morphofunctional rearrangements of the long tubular bones in the readaptation process after moderate dynamic loadings is characterized by residual manifestations. Prolonged readaptation after intensive physical loadings does not result in a complete restoration of all the parameters studied concerning growth and skeletal development. An intensive dynamic loading produces more stable changes, that are not subjected to a complete correction even after a passive readaptation for a year. Readaptation morphofunctional rearrangements of the long tubular skeletal bones depend on conditions of the previous regimen of the motor activity.     

Interactions of cells in zones of bone resorption under microgravity and hypokinesia

With the use of the methods of electron microscopy and autoradiography employing 3H-glycine the study was made of some morpho-functional cells-cells interactions (osteoblasts, osteocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts) in zones of adaptive remodeling of bone structures of the metaepiphyseal femoral bones of white rats which were during 28 days under experimental hypokinesia conditions, as well as of rats, flown on SLS-2 during 2 weeks. It is established that in zones of an increase of mineral matrix resorption some osteoblasts and osteocytes undergo destruction; a part of osteoblasts remains intact. The osteoclasts don't take part in destruction of osteoblasts and osteocytes. The utilization of the osteogenic cells detritus is accomplished by macrophages, coming to these zones. The resorption loci are filled not with the differentiating osteoblastic cells, as it is the case in the norm, but with fibroblasts and the bundles of collagen fibrils (fibrotic tissue) which do not undergo mineralization. Such changes are considered as one of the mechanisms of bone tissue response to a reduction of the supporting load.     

Features of the structure of the metacarpal bones of athletes in different specialties

Metacarpal bones have been examined in hand X-ray photos of 125 sportsmen at the age of 17-18 years who go in for swimming (dynamic loading on the hand) and competitive gymnastics (static loading on the hand). Under the effect of systematic trainings, which are connected with an increased loading on the hand, a number of morphological changes take place in the metacarpal bones. A prolonged loading of the dynamic character delays the synostosis process in the distal parts of the forearm bones and contributes to lengthening the I, III and IV and to widening the I-V metacarpal bones. As demonstrate decreasing indices of compactness in the swimmers, the widening diaphisis of the metacarpal bones occurs at the expense of dilatation of the medullary cavity. The static loadings result in a greater delay of the synostosis processes in the upper extremity parts mentioned, in a greater width of the I-III, V metacarpal bones in boy-gymnasts. The increased index of compactness demonstrates that the widening diaphysis of the metacarpal bones takes place at the expense of thickening of the compact substance and narrowing of the medullary cavity.     

Determination of adult stature from metatarsal length

The results of a study to determine the value of foot bones in reconstructing stature are presented. The data consist of length measurements taken on all ten metatarsals as well as on cadaver length from a sample of 130 adults of documented race, sex, stature, and, in most cases, age. Significant correlation coefficients (.58-.89) are shown between known stature and foot bone lengths. Simple and multiple regression equations computed from the length of each of these bones result in standard errors of estimated stature ranging from 40-76 mm. These errors are larger than those for stature calculated from complete long bones, but are approximately the same magnitude for stature calculated from metacarpals and fragmentary long bones. Given that metatarsals are more likely to be preserved unbroken than are long bones and given the ease with which they are accurately measured, the formulae presented here should prove useful in the study of historic and even prehistoric populations.     

Metacarpal synostosis: a simple classification and a new treatment technique

The current classification of metacarpal synostosis is based on the extent of the synostosis. The authors propose a new classification that takes into account the shape of the metacarpal bones, the curvature of the epiphysis, and the discrepancy in length between the two bones. This classification provides better guidelines for the correction of all components of the deformity. The classification is based on the authors' observations of and experience with 36 cases of metacarpal synostosis; 13 of the deformities were surgically corrected. The I-shaped deformity, whether with distinct (type d) or fused (type f) metacarpophalangeal joints, does not require surgical correction. The U-shaped deformity has parallel epiphysis and does not require surgery unless the two metacarpals are asymmetrical in length (type a) or tightly fused (type t); in these cases, simple lengthening or widening of the space with a bone graft is sufficient. Y-shaped synostosis should be separated whether the branches are symmetrical or asymmetrical, the latter having one branch shorter than the other. Because the epiphyses are already divergent, simple separation does not effectively correct Y-shaped synostosis. The authors propose an osteotomy to isolate a trapezoidal segment of bone from the bifurcation. The isolated bone segment is then reversed in the proximal-distal direction to provide a "plateau" upon which the two distal metacarpals can be realigned. Two cases of Ys (symmetrical) synostosis were successfully treated with this technique; one case of Ya (asymmetrical) synostosis also required distraction lengthening of the shorter metacarpal to achieve an excellent result. One of the most difficult types of metacarpal synostosis to treat is k-shaped synostosis, observed only between the fourth and fifth metacarpals; in this type, the head of the short fifth metacarpal abuts the metaphysis of the fourth. Osteotomy and distraction lengthening provide predictable results for correction of this deformity. The authors suggest that k-shaped synostosis might represent a late evolution of untreated Ua synostosis.     

The role of hypertrophic cartilage in endochondral ossification.

Normal stages of histogenesis of long bones show that the hypertrophy of cartilage cells is the pre-requisite for the perichondrium to take up osteoblastic activity, (Fell 1925, Lutfi 1971). Cooper (1965) found the cartilage cells from epihysis of the long bones of chick failed to induce chondrogenesis in somites in mice and chick whereas flat cells and early Peripheral cells could do same. Fell and Landauer (1935) noticed that in avian phocomelia the hypertrophied cartilage cells fail to hypertrophy leading subsequently to deformities of long bones. Presently an attempt is made to analyse this process further by culture experiments. It is found that complete tibial rudiment or part of it grows normally in vitro with good differentiation of various zones and the development of osteoid tissue. However it is noticed that when cartilage and the associated perichondrial tissues are grown separately, there is no patterned growth of cartilage and the absence of development of osteoid tissue in either types of cultures. The role of perichondrium and cartilage is discussed in the light of experimental findings.     

Collagen IX-deficiency seriously compromises growth cartilage development in mice.

For a large part, skeletal development, growth, and repair occur by endochondral ossification which comprises an orderly sequence of consecutive steps of proliferation and late differentiation of chondrocytes. After vascular invasion into hypertrophic cartilage, the tissue is remodelled into bone. At all stages, the process is under tight environmental control exerted by a combination of regulators, including nutritional supply and signalling through growth factors, hormones, and cell-matrix-interactions. Therefore, genetic elimination of collagen IX, a stabilizing component of the periphery of thin cartilage fibrils, is expected to compromise extracellular matrix properties and, hence, the chondrocyte environment required for normal cartilage development and homeostasis. Here, we have shown that growth plate cartilage morphology is markedly disturbed in mice lacking collagen IX. Abnormalities were most prominent in late proliferative, pre-hypertrophic, and hypertrophic zones whereas resting and early proliferative zones were less affected. In central epiphyseal regions of long bones, newborn animals show grossly abnormal areas with strongly reduced cell numbers, irregular distribution of glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix, and a profoundly disturbed columnar arrangement of chondrocytes with an irregular beta1 integrin immunostaining. As a result, all long bones are shorter and broader in newborn Col9a1-/- mice. Remarkably, these abnormalities are attenuated in adult mice, but the number of cells per area still is too low due to reduced cell proliferation.     

Mechanisms of development of histological and cytochemical changes in mammals (rats) during orbital flights]

The review surveys the publications on morphological and cytological changes in different functional systems of mammals (rats) flown on board the biological satellites of the Cosmos series. The paper gives an evidence that major changes in rats during orbital flights are induced by motor deprivation resulting in distinct metabolic disorders which histologically are represented as osteoporosis of the spongy segments of the long tubular skeletal bones, their periosteocytic osteolysis and atrophic developments in skeletal muscles. The paper discusses neurotrophic nature of these changes and emphasizes the contribution of stress reactions at different flight stages, especially on return to 1 g.     

Sutural effects of fronto-occipital cranial modification

Maya adult crania from the site of Lamanai, Belize provide a retrospective means of examining growth processes in the cranial vault. The Lamanai population practiced fronto-occipital deformation which is found to be significantly associated with premature sagittal synostosis and wormian bones of the lambdoidal suture. The undeformed members of the population also exhibit an abnormally high frequency of sagittal synostosis, but a significantly lower frequency than the deformed sample. It is suggested that the deforming apparatus creates tensile forces on the sagittal suture during the peak period of growth of the parietals, and that these forces might induce an adaptive response important in producing premature sagittal synostosis. The undeformed sample may have an increased congenital risk of sagittal synostosis created by their natural brachycephalic morphology in utero. The frequency patterning of wormian bones suggests a mixture of genetic and environmental causes in which tensile forces may also play a role. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

上肢长骨的性别判别分析研究

本文对100例(男女各50)国人上肢骨进行了36项测量。统计结果显示所有测量项目均值男性都大于女性并具有显著性的差异。本研究表明可以采用单一指标对破损严重的肢骨进行性别鉴定。36个测量项目中有23项单一指标性别判别率达75％以上,其中9项在80％以上。本文采用Fisher判别分析法建立了56项单一肢骨性别判别函数,判别率为80％—87％。为进一步提高判别效果,采用逐步判别分析法建立了四项逐步性别判别函数,判别率达90％以上。     

Ossification of the cartilage skeleton of the extremities of human embryos

Certain sequence in appearance of ossification points has been stated in the cartilage models of the superior and inferior extremities of the human embryos at the end of the embryonal and the beginning of the fetal periods of development. The change in the size (length) of the ossification points in anlages of the long tubular bones during the successive stages of embryogenesis is of linear character and can be described by means of the equation y = ax + b, where y--age of the embryo (days), x--length of the osseous points. Coefficients a and b are calculated for estimation the age of the embryos according to the length of the osseous points in the anlages of the brachial, femoral and radial bones.     

Principal component analysis of the elongation of metacarpal and phalangeal bones

A hypothesis that the first principal component computed from the covariance matrix of logarithms reflected the specific growth rates of corresponding bones was taken to analyze the growth pattern of the tubular bones of the hand. The total length of 19 tubular bones of the right hand was measured on standardized radiographs of Japanese children (33 boys, 33 girls). Metacarpals in boys and bones of the fifth digit in girls showed higher growth coefficients. The second, third and fourth proximal, and the third and fourth middle phalanges showed lower coefficients for both sexes. These observations suggest the signs of proximal row dominance in boys and of fifth ray dominance in girls in the elongation of the hand bones. A marked sex difference was found in the fifth middle phalanx. In girls the growth coefficients of this bone was much larger than any other bones, but was moderate in boys.     

De novo translocation t(Yq−; 15p+) in a malformed boy

Summary De novo translocation of an important portion of the long arm of the Y chromosome to the short arm of No. 15 was observed in a mentally defective boy exhibiting several abnormal features: cleft palate, contracted fingers, synostosis of the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones, narrow iliac wings. Endocrinological studies suggest extreme hypogonadism.     

Are bowing of long tubular bones and preaxial polydactyly signs of the Meckel syndrome?

We describe four cases with signs resembling those of Meckel syndrome. Two cases demonstrated postaxial polydactyly; one case, preaxial polydactyly; and one case, pre- and postaxial polydactyly. Since there is at least one other reported case with preaxial polydactyly, it may be a rare sign of the Meckel syndrome. In all four cases, various degrees of bowing of the long tubular bones were observed. Since at least two cases exhibited typical Meckel syndrome and since in a few further reported cases X-ray examination revealed bowing of long tubular bones, this sign is considered to be a further, hitherto not well recognized sign of the Meckel syndrome, and not grounds for delineation of a new syndrome. An extensive review of the literature revealed, that shortened and bowed extremities may be present in about one-sixth of all cases with Meckel syndrome.     

Estimation of chronological age in man based on the spongy structure of long bones

Estimation of chronological age in man from the spongy structure of long bones is demonstrated. The proposed method can be applied in the living and on skeletons in forensic and historical anthropology. Scoring is always based on radiographic or direct observation of structure, density and age related changes on the spongiosa and the cortex in the proximal parts of humerus and femur. On numerous cadavers of known age, sex and provenience of the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Vienna, Austria, seven morphological stages were differentiated which are characteristic for seven age classes, each of ten years width. These stages are described and demonstrated graphically and in photographs. The capacity of the method is illustrated in two examples.     

Mechanisms of Hemodynamics in Patients with Various Fractures of Lower Extremities

Ultrasound Doppler echography (USDE) of large peripheral blood vessels was performed in 110 patients with fractures in diaphyses of long tubular bones of the lower extremities. The USDE data and factor analysis of hemodynamic parameters (systolic and retrograde blood flow, blood pressure, pulse index) are presented. Compensatory mechanisms of the peripheral blood flow that are generated upon traumatic and gunshot fractures are considered.