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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 20-week exercise program on bone mineral parameters in children with overweight or obesity. Randomized controlled trial. This study took part from November 21, 2014, to June 30, 2016, in Granada, Spain. A secondary analysis of this parallel-group randomized controlled trial was performed with 77 children with overweight or obesity (9.9 ± 1.2, 65 % boys) who were randomly allocated to exercise or control group. All participants received lifestyle recommendations. The control group continued their usual routines, whereas the exercise group attended a minimum of 3 supervised 90-minute sessions/week of aerobic plus resistance training for 20 weeks. A whole-body scan by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was carried out to obtain body composition at total body less head, arms, lumbar spine, pelvis, and legs. Participants in the exercise group acquired significantly higher total body aBMD (mean z-score [95 % confidence intervals, CI], 0.607 [0.522–0.692]) compared with the participants in the control group (mean z-score, 0.472 [0.388–0.556]); difference between groups, 0.135 standard deviations [95 % CI 0.015–0.255], and legs aBMD (mean z-score, 0.629 [0.550–0.708]); control group (mean z-score, 0.518 [0.440–0.596]); difference between groups, 0.111 [0.001–0.222]; all p < 0.05. There were no significant differences between exercise group and control group at the remaining evaluated regions (p > 0.05). A 20-week non-specifically bone-targeted exercise program induced a small, yet significant, improvement on total body and legs aBMD in children with overweight or obesity. Future studies should investigate the interaction of weight status in the bone response to exercise programs. Prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02295072. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Throughout the pregnancy, there is a substantial transfer of calcium from the maternal skeleton to the fetus, which leads to a transient net reduction of the maternal bone mineral density. Aims: To assess longitudinally the changes in the bone mineral density at the femoral neck between the first and third trimester of pregnancy in a cohort of healthy participants using Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS) technology. Methods: Prospective, cohort study conducted at the University hospital of Parma, Italy between July 2022 and February 2023. We recruited healthy participants with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy before 14 completed weeks of gestation. All included participants were submitted to a sonographic examination of the femoral neck to assess the bone mineral density (and the corresponding Z-score values) using REMS at 11–13 and 36–38 weeks of pregnancy. The primary outcome was the change in the bone mineral density values at the maternal femoral neck between the first and third trimester of pregnancy. Results: Over a period of 7 months, a total of 65 participants underwent bone mineral density measurement at the femoral neck at first and third trimester of the pregnancy using REMS. A significant reduction of the bone mineral density at the femoral neck (0.723 ± 0.069 vs 0.709 ± 0.069 g/cm2; p < 0.001) was noted with a mean bone mineral density change of − 1.9 ± 0.6% between the first and third trimester of pregnancy. At multivariable linear regression analysis, none of the demographic or clinical variables of the study population proved to be independently associated with the maternal bone mineral density changes at the femoral neck. Conclusions: Our study conducted on a cohort of healthy participants with uncomplicated pregnancy demonstrates that there is a significant reduction of bone mineral density at femoral neck from early to late gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Radiologia Brasileira is the property of Radiologia Brasileira and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Data on bone density and stability in Turner syndrome (TS) are contradictory. A confounding factor for interpretation is short stature. The aim was to measure bone density, geometry and stability in girls with TS compared to idiopathic short stature (ISS). From 1999 to 2008, 59 girls with TS (35 prepubertal) were evaluated by pQCT. Mean age was 8.9 in prepubertal and 17.3 years in adolescent girls. Mean height was −3.1 and −1.8 SDS in prepubertal treatment-free and in adolescent, formerly rhGH-treated girls. For comparison, 18 prepubertal ISS girls were studied (age 7.7 years; height −3.3 SDS). Examination of radius with pQCT (XCT 2000). Cortical (CD) and trabecular density (TD), total bone area (TBA), cortical area (CA), cortical thickness, muscle area and strength strain index (SSI) were determined and compared with height related references. In prepubertal girls with TS, TD and CD were normal (0.55 and 0.90 SDS) and comparable to ISS (0.95 and 1.53 SDS). TBA was greater in girls with TS than in ISS (0.87 vs. −0.33 SDS) whereas CA was similar (1.48 vs. 1.43 SDS). The SSI was comparable (1.61 vs. 1.56 SDS). Adolescent girls with TS showed similar results with a TD of 0.48 SDS, a CD of −0.32, TBA of 1.99, a CA of −0.05 and an SSI of 0.88 SDS. The observations are consistent with normal bone density and stability but altered bone geometry in prepubertal and substituted adolescent girls with TS. This peculiarity may reflect SHOX deficiency. We therefore think that timely and adequate estrogen substitution could prevent bone loss in TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte is the property of Redprint Editora Ltda. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: Facial orthopaedic treatments based on the stimulation or restrictions of craniofacial bone growth are more effective when carried out during the pubertal growth spurt. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the reproducibility of two cervical vertebrae methods (CVM) with manual tracing and direct visual inspection. Methods: A sample of 60 lateral cephalometric radiographs (10 of each of the 6 CVM stages) was randomly selected from 171 records. 5 orthodontists classified these radiographs according to the skeletal maturation stage in 2002 and 2005, and the application of both methods was conducted by direct visual inspection and evaluation through manual tracing. Results: The average reliability of the two methods determination and the two forms of evaluation was substantial. The direct visual inspection evaluation showed the highest reliability and agreement interexaminer values for both methods, as well as the intraexaminers evaluation. Conclusion: The reproducibility of CVM method was substantial, indicating its clinical use to determine the skeletal maturity and the ideal moment for treatment execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Kiru is the property of Universidad de San Martin de Porres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Osteoporosis, a common chronic metabolic bone disease is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. As the prevalence of osteoporosis increases with age, a paralleled elevation in the rate of incident fragility fractures will be observed. This narrative review explores the origins of bone and considers physiological mechanisms involved in bone homeostasis relevant to management and treatment. Secondary causes of osteoporosis, as well as osteosarcopenia are discussed followed by an overview of the commonly used pharmacological treatments for osteoporosis in older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Selenium is a crucial trace element, and a deficiency of selenium can cause oxidative stress damage and impede the growth and development of the body. L-Se-methylselenocysteine (L-SeMC) is a naturally occurring organic-selenium, which has higher bioavailability compared to inorganic-selenium such as Na 2 SeO 3. In this study, weaned rats were fed with a selenium-deficient liquid diet to simulate the selenium-deficient breastfeeding. High and low doses of Se were supplemented in the liquid feed with L-SeMC and Na 2 SeO 3 , respectively. The results showed that the selenium-deficient diet reduced the growth rate and development of the weaned rats, leading to oxidative stress in the body and damaging liver and kidney function, as well as causing the histological lesions in heart and knee joints. Supplementing high doses (0.20 mg Se/kg) of L-SeMC and Na 2 SeO 3 could increase the body weight of selenium-deficient rats by 10.48% and 4.47%, respectively. The symptoms caused by selenium deficiency were significantly relieved after supplementation with selenium, with L-SeMC being more effective than Na 2 SeO 3. Furthermore, femoral bone mineral density (BMD) was increased by 77.0% with supplementation of L-SeMC in the selenium-deficient rats, while supplementation with Na 2 SeO 3 resulted in only a 19.4% increase in BMD. These findings indicated that due to its higher bioavailability and superior ability to alleviate oxidative stress damage and growth retardation caused by selenium deficiency, L-SeMC is a better supplement for alleviating the oxidative stress and liver and kidney damage caused by selenium deficiency, and has a superior therapeutic effect on myocardial tissue and knee joint lesions compared to Na 2 SeO 3. [Display omitted] • Selenium-deficient diets significantly impacted the growth rate of rats during their developmental phase, resulting in suppressed weight gain and delayed bone development. • Supplementing the selenium-deficient diet with selenium effectively mitigated the adverse effects of selenium deficiency. • In comparison to Na 2 SeO 3 , L-SeMC better accumulated selenium in the rat's tissues and organs, exhibiting stronger effects in promoting growth, inhibiting oxidative stress, and reversing histological lesions. • High dose of L-SeMC proved more effective in promoting femur bone development and increasing bone density than Na 2 SeO 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of cross-linkages between and within collagen is catalyzed by lysyl oxidase, which can be inhibited by β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a lathyrogen from sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) seeds. The quality and integrity of the collagenous template of skeletal elements depend on an appropriate concentration of collagen cross-links. In this study, chick embryos treated in ovo with BAPN on embryonic days (ED) 4-9 were found to develop multiple skeletal deformities. The most readily discernible and highly reproducible deformity was evident in the tibiotarsus, on which we focused to explore the chronology of the malformation process. Several lines of observation indicated that the bending deformity observable at ED10 in the tibiotarsus was inducible by BAPN administered on ED4-8; in other words, administration of BAPN on ED8 was sufficient to induce the deformity by ED10, whereas administration on ED9 was ineffective. Ultrastructurally, osteoclasts appeared to show enhanced activity in the medullary surface of the bone collar after BAPN administration. In addition, bone hyperplasia associated with the bending deformity was suggested to be correlated with higher osteoblast activity on the concave (or flexor) side of the tibiotarsal skeleton. These findings indicate that the bending deformity due to reduced mechanical integrity of the collagenous template is also associated with aberrant bone remodeling. (J Oral Sci 58, 255-263, 2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: Caffeine is a natural methylxanthine widespread throughout the food industry. Many research studies have shown that caffeine readily crosses the placenta causing teratogenic and embryotoxic effects. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of caffeine, administered at 10°C, on the development of a rat's bone tissue, with particular reference to elemental bone composition using an X-ray microprobe. Materials and methods: The research was conducted on white rats of the Wistar strain. The fertilized females were divided into two groups: an Experimental Group (Group E) and a Control Group (Group C). The females in Group E were given caffeine orally (at 10°C) in 30 mg/day doses from the 8(th) - 21(st) day of pregnancy. The females in Group C were given water at the same temperature. The foetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. Qualitative analysis of the morphology and mineralization of bones was conducted using the alcian-alizarin method. For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. Results: By staining the skeleton using the alcian-alizarin method, changes in 47 Group E foetuses were observed. The frequency of the development variants in the Group E rats was statistically higher, compared with Group C. Conclusions: On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that caffeine in high doses disturbs the development of bone tissue. An additional factor which enhances the adverse effects of this substance on bone tissue is the temperature of the administered solution (10(o)C). In the Experimental Group, a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed. The X-ray microprobe can be a perfect complement to the methods which enable determination of the mineralization of osseous tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientia Medica is the property of EDIPUCRS - Editora Universitaria da PUCRS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Objective: To determine the relationship between habitual physical activity (PA) level and peripheral qualitative computed tomography-determined quantitative tibia characteristics of premenarcheal girls. Methods: Premenarcheal girls matched for age (10–13years), bone age and maturity level were assigned into: a) low PA group (LPA, n=25), b) moderate PA group (MPA, n=17), and c) high PA group (HPA, n=18). Participants’ daily dietary intake, tibia’s geometry and serum levels of calcium and vitamin D were assessed. Results: Premenarcheal girls demonstrating HPA exhibited greater pericortical thickness, cross-sectional area (CSA) and bone mineral content (BMC) (p<.001) in cortical bone, greater BMC, volumetric bone density (vBMD) and polar stress strength index (SSIp) in trabecular bone (p<0.001–0.05) and greater total BMC (p<.05) and vBMD (p<.01) when compared to their physically inactive or moderately active counterparts. MPA exhibited greater values of cortical BMC (p<.01) and SSIp (p<.05) than LPA. Partial correlation analysis (adjusted for BMI) revealed modest associations between PA score and bone geometry parameters (r=0.36–0.49, p<.05) at 38% of tibia length. Conclusions: Habitual PA affects geometry of both cortical and trabecular areas of a long bone of premenarcheal girls in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, PA increases both the density and size of cortical bone but only the density of trabecular bone during preadolescence. Given the importance of peak bone mass for future fracture risk, high levels of PA during childhood could be a major target for public health interventions aimed at optimising bone health in prepubertal children when the greatest bone gains occur. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: This experimental study investigated the association between masticatory hypofunction and mandibular morphological dimensions and internal bone characteristics. Methods: Twenty- four 21-day-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, according to the diet consistency. The control group (CG) was fed a solid diet (pellets) and the experimental group (EG) received a powdered diet during 50 days. All animals were euthanized and their mandibles removed and processed for histomorphometric analysis. A calibrated examiner performed linear and angular measurements (mandibular body length and height, mandibular lengths, ramus depth and height, mandibular base depth, mandibular head and gonial angle) on photographs, estimated bone density in the mandibular ramus region on digital radiographs and assessed the area of cortical and trabecular bone tissue in the second molar region, in 5-µm-thick serial cuts stained with Cason's Trichrome. Measurements for the study groups were compared using Mann-Whitney test (a=0.05). Results: some of the macroscopic dimensions evaluated on photographs were significantly smaller in EG compared to CG, specifically mandibular ramus height (10.77 mm vs. 11.11 mm, p=0.0375), mandibular body length (21.67 mm vs. 22.36 mm, p=0.0165) and height (4.24 mm vs. 4.54 mm, p=0.0016), as well as mandibular base depth (1.24 mm vs. 1.47 mm, p=0.0325). The relative mineral bone density was significantly decreased in EG (1.04) compared to CG (1.25), p<0.001. Rats in the EG also presented smaller trabecular and cortical bone area (2.36 mm²) than those in CG (3.16 mm²), p<0.001. Conclusions: Based on the above-mentioned measurements, it may be concluded that masticatory hypofunction induced by a powdered diet affected mandibular morphology and was associated with significantly reduced bone content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RGO: Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia is the property of RGO: Revista Gaucha de Odontologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is a major Ca2+ influx pathway in most non-excitable cell types and Orai1 was recently identified as an essential pore-subunit of SOCE channels. Here we investigate the physiological role of Orai1 in bone homeostasis using Orai1-deficient mice (Orai1−/−). Orai1−/− mice developed osteopenia with decreased bone mineral density and trabecular bone volume. To identify the nature and origin of the bone defect, bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts from Orai1−/− mice were examined. Orai1-mediated SOCE was completely abolished in Orai1−/− osteoclast precursor cells and osteoclastogenesis in vitro from Orai1−/− mice was impaired due to a defect in cell fusion of pre-osteoclasts. Also, resorption activity in vitro was comparable but the size of pits formed by Orai1−/− osteoclasts was smaller. We next assessed the role of Orai1 in osteoblast differentiation and function by using a pre-osteoblast cell line, as well as primary osteoblasts from wild-type and Orai1−/− mice. SOCE in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells was inactivated by lentiviral overexpression of a pore-dead Orai1 mutant. Lack of SOCE in MC3T3-E1 had no effect on alkaline phosphatase staining and expression but substantially inhibited mineralized nodule formation. Consistent with this finding, Orai1-mediated SOCE was markedly reduced in Orai1−/− osteoblast precursor cells and osteoblastogenesis in vitro from Orai1−/− stromal cells showed impaired mineral deposition but no change in differentiation. This indicates that Orai1 is involved in the function but not in the differentiation of osteoblasts. Together, these results suggest that Orai1 plays a critical role in bone homeostasis by regulating both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relationship between root formation of the first premolars and skeletal maturation stages identified in hand-wrist radiographs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving the panoramic and hand-wrist radiographs obtained on the same date of 232 patients, 123 boys and 109 girls aged 4 years and 5 months to 17 years and 12 months. Root formation stages of the first premolars were related to the ossification stages of the sesamoid bone, epiphyseal stages of the phalanx of the thumb and epiphyseal stages of the radius. Results: The studied variables demonstrated statistically significant correlations. Conclusion: Roots of the lower first premolars do not reach 2/3 of their complete length before adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Universitas Médica is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses results of a study that determined whether bone mineral density (BMD) and turnover are altered during childhood. According to the article, osteoporosis is a complication common among people with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). The study showed that subjects who have T1DM have lower levels of osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type 1 propeptides amino-terminal, physical activity and calcium intake. It concluded that bone turnover is changed in T1DM children but BMD remains normal during growth.

Peak bone mass (PBM) is defined as the highest bone mineral content (BMC) reached in any period of a person's life. The bone mass once gained at the peak begins to decline and continues to do so until the end of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of nutrition and physical activity on bone mineralization during the adolescent period. The study took place at Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children's Hospital Adolescent Unit. One hundred fourteen healthy male adolescents applying for different reasons, with ages ranging between 11.1 and 16.5 years, participated in the study. When all adolescents were evaluated, no statistical relationship between the daily calcium intake, BMC and bone mineral density (BMD) was obtained. However, a positive statistical relationship was found for those participants in Tanner stage I. This result is in support of previous studies stating the importance of calcium intake and bone mineralization in the prepubertal stage, suggested by our findings, which yielded a positive correlation only in the prepubertal stage. One of the reasons for the same effect not being observed in puberty is thought to be due to the hormonal changes and active role of sex steroids. This shows how critical the prepubertal period is for future bone health. During this critical period of prepuberty, the significance of nutritions and physical activity is evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the mineralized tissue changes on the origin site of metacarpal condylar fracture in young Thoroughbred horses prior to race training. A point-projection digital x-ray imaging visualized bone slices in mediolateral planes through the centre of rotation of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint (MCPJ) of distal third metacarpal bones (Mc3) of the horses. The radiolucency found that the fracture reflects bone and joint development abnormality present before activity.

The article discusses a study which examined the relationship of birth weight (BW) to anthropometric measures, local body composition and bone development using individuals who have been recruited from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study. One of the clinical characteristics of individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) is the increased risk of developing a metabolic syndrome. A chart is presented that compared high normal and low normal birth weight.

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents research on the bone development of teenage women volleyball players in Taiwan. The athletes were examined for bone mineral content, density, and a cross section of distal radius and ulna between dominant and non-dominant limbs and compared to a control group of non-athlete teenage girls. The study found no significant differences in those areas between the two groups, indicating that volleyball training did not effect bone development in the girls.

Fetal and postnatal bone development is by tradition viewed as a process of bone mineral accretion or an increase in bone mass. Accordingly, previous approaches to bone development in neonatology and early childhood have emphasized the determinants of peak bone mass and their relationship to osteopenia, osteoporosis and fractures in later life. This suggests that the neonatal period and early childhood is an important period for bone mineral accrual, and that peak bone mass may be correlated with subsequent skeletal health. Nevertheless, describing fetal and postnatal bone development just in terms of changes in mass or density means looking at bones as if they were amorphous heaps of calcium and phosphorus. In reality, of course, bones are complex three-dimensional structures. It is therefore important to create conditions that stimulate bones to become more stable. We suggest that functional bone physiology can be used to explain fetal and postnatal bone development and to devise strategies for improved bone development in both premature infants and neonates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Accumulating data suggest that FGFs/FGFR1 plays essential roles in the bone development and human skeletal diseases. Conditional inactivation of fgfr1 caused different phenotypes displaying in different cells or specific organs and revealed some novel functions of FGFR1 in bone development. Fgfr1 mutation mainly induced 2 types of human skeletal diseases, craniosynostosis syndrome and dysplasias. Similar mutation of fgfr1 in mouse model just mimicked the phenotype that happened in human. These facilitate the investigation on the underlying mechanism of the diseases. Here we mainly focused on the advance of FGFR1 function in the bone development and its mutation caused skeletal diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Implant Dentistry is the property of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background; In order to achieve optimal effects, growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF] should be delivered with a biodegradable carrier that will release therapeutic concentrations over a sufficient length of time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone regenerative effect of PDGF-BB delivered with a chitosan/tricalcium phosphate (TCP) sponge carrier in a rat calvarial defect model. Methods: The PDGF-BB-loaded chitosan/TCP sponge carrier was fabricated by freeze-drying a mixture of chitosan solution and TCP powder and soaking in a PDGF-BB solution. The release kinetics of PDGF-BB loaded onto the sponge were measured in vitro with 125l-labeled PDGF-BB. Chitosan/TCP sponges with and without PDGF-BB were implanted into 8 mm calvarial defects in rats. Rats were sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks following implantation, and histologic and histomorphometrical examinations were performed. Results: In vitro evaluation demonstrated that an effective therapeutic concentration of PDGF-BB following a high initial burst release was maintained throughout the examination period. In the histologic examination, the chitosan/TCP sponge carrier promoted osseous healing of the rat calvarial defects as compared to controls. The addition of PDGF-BB to the carrier further enhanced bone regeneration. Evidence of the degraded sponge matrix was observed mingled within the newly formed bone without connective tissue encapsulation. Conclusions: The results of this study support the use of chitosan/TCP sponges as a delivery system for growth factors and demonstrate that PDGF-BB loaded onto chitosan/TCP sponge carriers has an osteogenic effect on bone regeneration in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chitosan is a biodegradable natural polymer that has been shown to improve wound healing. This study aimed to develop chitosan/tricalcium phosphate (TCP) sponges as tissue engineering scaffolds for bone formation by three-dimensional osteoblast culture. Methods: The sponges were prepared by freeze-drying and cross-linking a mixture of chitosan solution with TCP. Fetal rat calvarial osteoblastic cells were isolated, cultured, and seeded into the sponges. The cell-sponge constructs were cultured for 56 days. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity, and calcium deposition in the cell-sponge constructs were measured at 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days. Histologic examination was performed with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results: Chitosan/TCP sponges supported the proliferation of osteoblastic cells as well as their differentiation as indicated by high ALPase activities and deposition of mineralized matrices by the cells. Light and scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that seeded osteoblastic ceils were well attached to sponge matrices and proliferated in a multi-layer fashion. Small bone-like spicules were observed on the sponge matrix at 14 days. Seeded cells appeared to be embedded in the newly formed tissue matrix, which is characteristic of the osteoblast differentiation and their progression into osteocytic cells. The amount of mineralized tissue formed in the sponge at 56 days was significant. Conclusions; These results suggest that the chitosan/TCP sponge is a feasible tool as a scaffolding material to grow osteoblast in a three-dimensional structure for transplantation into a site for bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inappropriate intakes of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in pregnancy carry risks for the fetal development and diseases in later life. • In addition to deficit intakes of several dietary factors by mothers in India, n-3 deficiency seems to be the most prominent. • The n-3 deficiency affects fetal growing tissues globally such as the brain, motor nerve, muscle, eye, adiposity etc. • Maternal deficiency of n-3 fatty acids may also affect placental angiogenesis and thereby its structure and function. • Maternal intake of n-3 fatty acids must be followed with ISSFAL guidelines to improve maternal health and fetal development. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play multiple physiological roles. They regulate the structure and function of cell membranes and cell growth and proliferation, and apoptosis. In addition, PUFAs are involved in cellular signaling, gene expression and serve as precursors to second messengers such as eicosanoids, docosanoids etc. and regulate several physiological processes including placentation, inflammation, immunity, angiogenesis, platelet function, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, bone formation, energy homeostasis, pain sensitivity, stress, and cognitive functions. Linoleic acid, 18:2n-6 (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid, 18:3n-3 (ALA) are the two essential fatty acids obtained from the diets and subsequently their long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are accumulated in the body. The maternal plasma LCPUFAs especially accumulated in larger amounts in the brain during the third trimester of pregnancy via the placenta and postnatally from mother's breast milk. Various studies, including ours, suggest PUFA's important role in placentation, as well as in growth and development of the offspring. However, intakes of maternal n-3 PUFAs during pregnancy and lactation are much lower in India compared with the Western population. In India, n-3 fatty acid status is further reduced by higher intake of n-6 PUFA rich oils and trans fats. More data on the impacts of long term maternal n-3 PUFA deficiency on placental structure and function, gene expression, epigenetic changes and resultant cognitive function of fetus & infants are emerging. This review summarizes the impacts of n-3 PUFA deficiency in utero on fetal growth and development, adiposity, energy metabolism, musculoskeletal development, and epigenetic changes in feto-placental axis from the recently available pre-clinical and clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological data regarding the association between serum levels of IGF-I and bone mineral acquisition during childhood are scarce. Here, we investigated the association between serum levels of IGF-I and bone status during puberty. Methods: We analyzed prospective 3-year follow-up data of 254 community-dwelling children who completed both baselines (at age 11.2 years) and follow-up (at age 14.2 years) surveys in Hamamatsu, Japan. Total body (TB) bone area and bone mineral parameters were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: During the 3-year follow-up period, there were significant (P < 0.05) increases in total body less head (TBLH) areal bone mineral density (aBMD), TBLH bone mineral content (BMC), and TB bone area, and a significant decrease in TB bone mineral apparent density (BMAD, volumetric bone mineral density, vBMD). IGF-I levels showed significant positive relationships with TBLH BMC and TBLH aBMD at both baseline and follow-up. TBLH aBMD in boys and TB BMAD in girls at follow-up showed significant increases from the lowest to highest quartiles of baseline IGF-I levels after adjusting for confounding factors. Similarly, changes in TBLH aBMD in boys and TB BMAD in girls during the 3-year follow-up period showed significant increases from the lowest to highest quartiles of baseline IGF-I levels after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions: These results suggest that pubertal children with high levels of serum IGF-I tended to have high bone mineral acquisition later on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]