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Background: Prosthesis subsidence and mechanical failure were considered significant threats after vertebral body replacement during the long-term follow-up. Therefore, improving and optimizing the structure of vertebral substitutes for exceptional performance has become a pivotal challenge in spinal reconstruction. Methods: The study aimed to develop a novel artificial vertebral implant (AVI) with triply periodic minimal surface Gyroid porous structures to enhance the safety and stability of prostheses. The biomechanical performance of AVIs under different loading conditions was analyzed using the finite element method. These implants were fabricated using selective laser melting technology and evaluated through static compression and subsidence experiments. Results: The results demonstrated that the peak stress in the Gyroid porous AVI was consistently lower than that in the traditional porous AVI under all loading conditions, with a maximum reduction of 73.4%. Additionally, it effectively reduced peak stress at the bone-implant interface of the vertebrae. Static compression experiments demonstrated that the Gyroid porous AVI was about 1.63 times to traditional porous AVI in terms of the maximum compression load, indicating that Gyroid porous AVI could meet the safety requirement. Furthermore, static subsidence experiments revealed that the subsidence tendency of Gyroid porous AVI in polyurethane foam (simulated cancellous bone) was approximately 15.7% lower than that of traditional porous AVI. Conclusions: The Gyroid porous AVI exhibited higher compressive strength and lower subsidence tendency than the strut-based traditional porous AVI, indicating it may be a promising substitute for spinal reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beyond the nutrient and suprascapular foramen, the other foramina, holes or osseous deficiencies, pockets has rarely been reported in scapula. If present, the bony holes or deficiencies may lead to radiolucent areas and may be mistaken for sites of osteolytic destruction related to skeletal metastases, multiple myeloma or others. Case report: In the present case of left scapula, unusual osseous deficiencies of different size and shape along with pockets were observed in the body of scapula. The maximum height and width of largest bony deficiency was 35.8 mm and 12.6 mm. There was abnormal osseous thickening beside the lateral border of scapula along with the presence of some spines. Five nutrient foramina, three on the costal and two on the dorsal surface were noticed. Conclusions: The present case reports the osseous deficiencies, pockets and extra osseous growth along the lateral border, multiple nutrient foramina altogether in one specimen. Thorough anatomical knowledge of these unusual osseous variations can provide the clinicians, radiologists and forensic experts with better clinical judgement and may add insight to the surgical planning by orthopaedic surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chordoma is a rare bone cancer which arises from undifferentiated notochordal remnants in the axial skeleton. It generally has slow-growing and locally aggressive behavior. This tumor is usually diagnosed by CT and MRI modalities and the role of SPECT/CT is still debated. It shows reduced or normal uptake of radioisotope on bone scanning and increased tracer uptake is infrequently reported. Here we present a 33-year-old man with complaint of low back pain and numbness of his right leg. The whole body bone scan showed relatively uniform radiotracer activity throughout the skeleton. A focal increased uptake in the second lumbar vertebra was noted on SPECT/CT images. SPECT/CT also demonstrated multiple lytic lesions in lumbar vertebrae. The lesions were proven to be chordoma on biopsy. Lumbar chordoma could be one of the differential diagnoses for lytic lesions of the vertebrae which show absent or minimal tracer uptake on bone scintigraphy and SPECT/CT imaging. Our case was unusual as the patient was very young for chordoma diagnosis and bone scan showed increased uptake adjacent to the involved vertebral lesion detected by SPECT/CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The posterolateral extradural suboccipital approach can be used to reach the anterior epidural space and the retro-odontoid regions. The extent of necessary bone removal of the atlas vertebra (C1) has not yet been defined. We studied the changes in the size of the horizontal and vertical surgical windows using stepwise bone removal of C1. A representative case is shown. Methods: The anatomical study was performed bilaterally on five Thiel-fixed human cadavers (mean age, 83.7 years). The surgical window (horizontal×vertical) required to access the retro-odontoid region via a posterolateral approach was measured for an intact C1 posterior arch, after a semicircular inferior partial resection of the C1 arch, after resection of the unilateral hemiarch of C1, and finally after drilling approximately 3 mm from the medial aspect of the lateral mass of C1. Results: The intact C1 resulted in a very narrow surgical window of 6.3 mm×9.7 mm (horizontal×vertical). The vertical window increased to a 13 mm after the semicircular inferior partial resection of the C1 arch and to 17.3 mm in the case of removal of the ipsilateral C1 posterior arch. The bone removal from the medial aspect of the C1 lateral mass resulted in a widening of the horizontal surgical window to 10.3 mm. The final size of the surgical window was 10.3 mm×17.3 mm. The patient with severe kyphoscoliosis of the craniocervical spine was successfully operated on using odontoid and C1–2 facet osteotomies. Conclusion: If only the anterior epidural space or the base of the odontoid needs to be reached, the semicircular inferior partial resection of the C1 arch allows for an adequate surgical window. The tip of the odontoid could only be reached if the ipsilateral posterior arch is resected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex estimation is one of the primary steps for constructing the biological profile of skeletal remains leading to their identification in the forensic context. While the pelvis is the most sex diagnostic bone, the cranium and other post-cranial elements have been extensively studied. Earlier research has also focused on the vertebral column with varying results regarding its sex classification accuracy as well as the underlying population specificity. The present study focuses on three easily identifiable vertebrae, namely T1, T12, and L1, and utilizes two modern European populations, a Greek and a Danish, to evaluate their forensic utility in sex identification. To this end, 865 vertebrae from 339 individuals have been analyzed for sexual dimorphism by further evaluating the effects of age-at-death and population affinity on its expression. Our results show that T1 is the best sex diagnostic vertebra for both populations reaching cross-validated accuracy of almost 90%, while age-at-death has limited effect on its sexual dimorphism. On the contrary, T12 and L1 produced varying results ranging from 75 to 83% accuracy with the Greek population exhibiting distinctively more pronounced sexual dimorphism. Additionally, age-at-death had significant effect on sexual dimorphism of T12 and L1 and especially in the Greek female and Danish male groups. Our results on inter-population comparison suggest that vertebral sex discriminant functions, and especially those utilizing multiple measurements, are highly population specific and optimally suitable only for their targeted population. An open-source software tool to facilitate classifying new cases based on our results is made freely available to forensic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the biomechanical properties of intact vertebra augmented using a local osteo-enhancement procedure to inject a triphasic calcium sulfate/calcium phosphate implant material. Methods: Twenty-one fresh frozen human cadaver vertebra (Th11–L2) were randomized into three groups: treatment, sham, and control (n = 7 each). Treatment included vertebral body access, saline lavage to displace soft tissue and marrow elements, and injection of the implant material to fill approximately 20% of the vertebral body by volume. The sham group included all treatment steps, but without injection of the implant material. The control group consisted of untreated intact osteoporotic vertebra. Load at failure and displacement at failure for each of the three groups were measured in axial compression loading. Results: The mean failure load of treated vertebra (4118 N) was significantly higher than either control (2841 N) or sham (2186 N) vertebra (p < 0.05 for: treatment vs. control, treatment vs. sham). Treated vertebra (1.11 mm) showed a significantly higher mean displacement at failure than sham vertebra (0.80 mm) (p < 0.05 for: treatment vs. sham). In the control group, the mean displacement at failure was 0.99 mm. Conclusions: This biomechanical study shows that a local osteo-enhancement procedure using a triphasic implant material significantly increases the load at failure and displacement at failure in cadaveric osteoporotic vertebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of symptomatic Oppenheimer ossicle in an 18-year-old male who presented with back pain. L5 pars interarticularis defect was suspected on initial lumbar spine radiographs. A subsequent technetium99m-methylene diphosphonate (Tc99m-MDP) bone scintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) revealed focal radiotracer uptake in an Oppenheimer ossicle in L2 vertebra. CT was negative for pars defect. Oppenheimer ossicle is a developmental variant resulting from an unfused accessory ossification center at the tip of the articular process. It is important to recognize this entity as a rare cause of low back pain. Focal tracer uptake can mimic changes from pars interarticularis defect on planar and SPECT images. SPECT/CT helps to resolve both entities. To our knowledge, this is also the first report in English literature describing a symptomatic Oppenheimer ossicle on a bone scan. • Oppenheimer ossicle results from developmental non-union of secondary ossification center of lumbar spine articular process. • It is most commonly seen at the tip of L2/L3 lumbar articular process. • It is a rare cause of low back pain in young adults and mimics pars defect or fracture on radiographs and planar imaging. • It can be distinguished from pars defect, fracture or other tracer avid abnormalities on SPECT/CT bone scintigraphy. • Also, knowledge of this variant avoids mislabeling it as fracture in the setting of acute trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Current techniques for assessing vertebral fracture risk are limited in accuracy. • DTS-DVC allows for clinical assessment of vertebral bone deformation. • Displacement spatial distributions qualitatively agreed between DTS-DVC and μCT-DVC. • DTS-DVC derived displacement and stiffness were strongly correlated with μCT values. • Results support use of DTS-DVC for clinical evaluation of vertebral bone quality. Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) is a clinically available modality that allows imaging of a patient's spine in supine and standing positions. The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which vertebral displacement and stiffness derived from DTS-based digital volume correlation (DTS-DVC) are correlated with those from a reference method, i.e., microcomputed tomography-based DVC (μCT-DVC). T11 vertebral bodies from 11 cadaveric donors were DTS imaged twice in a nonloaded state and once under a fixed load level approximating upper body weight. The same vertebrae were µCT imaged in nonloaded and loaded states (40 μm voxel size). Vertebral displacements were calculated at each voxel using DVC with pairs of nonloaded and loaded images, from which endplate-to-endplate axial displacement (D DVC) and vertebral stiffness (S DVC) were calculated. Both D DVC and S DVC demonstrated strong positive correlations between DTS-DVC and μCT-DVC, with correlations being stronger when vertebral displacement was calculated using the median (R2=0.80; p <0.0002 and R2=0.93; p <0.0001, respectively) rather than average displacement (R2=0.63; p <0.004 and R2=0.69; p <0.002, respectively). In conclusion, the demonstrated relationship of DTS-DVC with the μCT standard supports further development of a biomechanics-based clinical assessment of vertebral bone quality using the DTS-DVC technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When bones are submitted to mortuaries significant time and resources from both police and anthropologists are required, even if they are subsequently determined to be non-human. A survey of non-human bone casework was made in order to determine the scope of this problem and the different bone types being assessed. This study used data from nine years of casework at the NSW Department of Forensic Medicine (DOFM), Sydney. It analyzed the number of non-human cases that were assessed, the types of animals represented in these bones, the bone elements found, their condition and their location when found. By 2016, over 70% of skeletal cases handled each year by the Sydney DOFM were non-human. The most common animal remains were sheep and cattle, and the skeletal elements appearing in the greatest number of cases were vertebrae, followed by femora and tibiae. Skull fragments were rare. Slightly more cases were found on the surface rather than buried. Fragmentation might have been expected to contribute to difficulties in identifying bones, but in fact 32% of cases consisted of complete bones only. This study shows a very high proportion of non-human forensic casework in the Sydney region. Data presented in this study may prove useful in designing training workshops in non-human bone identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an innovative procedure launched in the early 2000s. Compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, many studies show that CDA offers equivalent clinical outcomes while reducing secondary procedures and total cost.Purpose: We sought to determine the incidence of anterior bone loss after CDA and the related biomechanical effects.Study Design/ Setting: Retrospective chart review.Patient Sample: Patients who underwent CDA with one level Bryan Disc (Medtronic SofamorDanek, Memphis, TN, USA) at one institution.Outcome Measures: Radiological measurements, including the extent of anterior bone loss, global alignment angle, shell angle, lordotic angle, mean degree of angle of the endplate with the horizontal line, global range of motion (ROM) and ROM of the index level were recorded. The grading of anterior bone loss of the index level was defined as Grade 0, no remodeling; Grade 1, spur disappearance or mild change in body contour; Grade 2, obvious bone regression with Bryan Disc exposure.Methods: Anatomical measures and ROM were compared by grade of bone loss.Results: Of the 121 patients included in the study, anterior bone loss was found in 53 (43.8%) on the upper adjacent level and 54 (44.6%) on the lower adjacent level. Twenty-nine patients (23.9%) had anterior bone loss in both levels. The majority of cases had Grade 1 anterior bone loss. Grade 2 bone loss was noted in the upper adjacent vertebra in only 5 patients and in 4 patients in the lower adjacent vertebra. Age, sex, operative level, and hybrid surgery had no effect on anterior bone loss. Most radiological assessments, including global alignment angle, lordotic angle, mean degree of angle of the endplate with the horizontal line, global ROM, and ROM of the index level, showed no correlation to anterior bone loss. Shell angle was found to be different in groups with or without remodeling in the upper adjacent level: 5.0 degreesin the Grade 0 group and 7.0 degrees in the Grade 1-2 group, p<.05.Conclusions: Many more patients than predicted had anterior bone loss. Increasing the shell angle of the artificial disc may increase the incidence of anterior bone loss after CDA. Further study of the biomechanics following CDA should help clarify the mechanisms at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the impact of dose reduction in MDCT images through tube current reduction or sparse sampling on the vertebral bone strength prediction using finite element (FE) analysis for fracture risk assessment. Methods: Routine MDCT data covering lumbar vertebrae of 12 subjects (six male; six female; 74.70 ± 9.13 years old) were included in this study. Sparsely sampled and virtually reduced tube current–based MDCT images were computed using statistical iterative reconstruction (SIR) with reduced dose levels at 50, 25, and 10% of the tube current and original projections, respectively. Subject-specific static non-linear FE analyses were performed on vertebra models (L1, L2, and L3) 3-D-reconstructed from those dose-reduced MDCT images to predict bone strength. Coefficient of correlation (R 2), Bland-Altman plots, and root mean square coefficient of variation (RMSCV) were calculated to find the variation in the FE-predicted strength at different dose levels, using high-intensity dose-based strength as the reference. Results: FE-predicted failure loads were not significantly affected by up to 90% dose reduction through sparse sampling (R 2 = 0.93, RMSCV = 8.6% for 50%; R 2 = 0.89, RMSCV = 11.90% for 75%; R 2 = 0.86, RMSCV = 11.30% for 90%) and up to 50% dose reduction through tube current reduction method (R 2 = 0.96, RMSCV = 12.06%). However, further reduction in dose with the tube current reduction method affected the ability to predict the failure load accurately (R 2 = 0.88, RMSCV = 22.04% for 75%; R 2 = 0.43, RMSCV = 54.18% for 90%). Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that a 50% radiation dose reduction through reduced tube current and a 90% radiation dose reduction through sparse sampling can be used to predict vertebral bone strength. Our findings suggest that the sparse sampling–based method performs better than the tube current–reduction method in generating images required for FE-based bone strength prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a dietary phosphorus regime in freshwater on vertebra bone mineralization was assessed in diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. Fish were fed either a low phosphorus (LP) diet containing 10.5 g kg−1 total phosphorus or a normal phosphorus (NP) diet containing 17.4 g kg−1 total phosphorus from ∼3 to ∼65 g (day 126) in body weight. Two further groups were fed the NP diet from ∼3 g in body weight, but were then switched to the LP diet after 38 (∼10 g in body weight) or 77 (∼30 g in body weight) days. Growth, vertebral ash content (% ash) and radiologically detectable vertebra pathologies were assessed. Triploids were initially smaller than diploids, and again on day 77, but there was no ploidy effect on days 38 or 126. Vertebral ash content increased with increasing body size and those fish fed the NP diet had higher vertebral ash content than those groups fed the LP diet during the intervening time period, but this diet effect became less apparent as fish grew, with all groups having relatively equal vertebral ash content at termination. In general, triploids had lower vertebral ash content than diploids on day 38 and this was most evident in the group fed the LP diet. On day 77, those triploids fed the LP diet during the intervening time period had lower vertebral ash content than diploids. At termination on day 126, the triploids had the same vertebral ash content as diploids, irrespective of diet. There was a ploidy × diet interaction on vertebral deformities, with triploids having higher prevalences of fish with ≥1 deformed vertebra in all dietary groups except continuous NP. In conclusion, between days 0 and 77 (3–30 g body size), triploids required more dietary phosphorus than diploids in order to maintain similar vertebral ash content. A possible link between phosphorus feeding history and phosphorus demand is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Taiwan (my country), the proportion of people 65 years or older was over 14% in 2018, which is known as entering "aged society." More and more thoracolumbar burst fractures in the setting of osteoporosis happen nowadays. In this study, a finite element model on thoracolumbar burst fracture was established and 4 types of posterior short-segment fixations were tested under normal bone quality and osteoporotic conditions. The intact T11-L1 spine finite element model was created, and one-half of the spongy bone of the T12 vertebra was removed to simulate burst fracture. Four fixation models with posterior fusion devices were established: 1) a link (S-L); 2) intermediate bilateral screws (S-I); 3) a link and calcium sulfate cement (S-L-C); and 4) intermediate bilateral screws and calcium sulfate cement (S-I-C). The Young modulus of the osteoporotic cancellous bone was set at 70 MPa. Range of motion, as well as the maximum value and distribution of the implant stress on T11 and L1, were compared between normal bone and osteoporotic status. The strongest construct was the S-I-C group of both normal bone and osteoporosis condition. In osteoporotic status, the range of motion of construct in 4 types would be increased when comparing with normal bone. The stress on pedicle screws at the T11 and L1 level would also be increased in osteoporosis. The value of the maximal von Mises stress on the superior vertebral body (T11) for all loading conditions was larger than that on the inferior vertebral body (L1) in both normal bone and osteoporosis. The S-I-C provided the strongest construct even in osteoporosis status. But osteoporosis would result in weakness for spinal construct, which might lead to implant failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a peptide involved in the development and maintenance of bone tissue with important functions in inflammatory processes. However, the deletion of PTN in murine models does not produce a significant bone deterioration, but the mechanisms that compensate for its loss have not been studied to date. Our study was aimed at verifying how the deletion of PTN and acute inflammation affect the expression of bone factors. To this end, we used three-month-old female mice deficient for PTN (PTNKo) to which we induced acute inflammation by administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Vertebrae and tibiae were isolated to measure gene expression and carry out an osteocyte count. In cell cultures, we checked whether PTN could protect MC3T3 (osteoblast) and MLOY4 (osteocyte) cells from the induction of cell death caused by etoposide. Our results show that the expression of osteocalcin is increased in the vertebrae of PTNKo mice, and that inflammation increased the expression of podhalanin (E11), connexin 43 (Cox43) and the parathormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in the PTNKo mice treated with LPS. Administering PTN significantly reduced etoposide-induced death in MC3T3 and MLOY4 cell cultures. Thus, PTN deficiency induced increased expression of OCN, and acute inflammation produced overexpression of E11, PTHrP, and Cox43 in PTNKo mice. PTN increased the viability of osteoblastic cells and osteocytes compared to etoposide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Cohort study (level 3).Objective: The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for residual low back pain (LBP) following osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF).Summary Of Background Data: Nonunion has been proposed as the primary cause of residual LBP following OVF. However, LBP can occur even when union is maintained. Other reported causes of LBP after OVF include vertebral deformities and spinopelvic malalignment.Methods: Sixty-seven patients with single-level thoracolumbar OVF who had not received previous osteoporotic treatment were enrolled. Conservative treatment was conducted using a soft lumbosacral orthosis plus osteoporosis drugs, either weekly alendronate (bisphosphonate) or daily teriparatide. Pain scores, kyphosis angle of fractured vertebra (VKA), and spinopelvic alignment, including pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL), were assessed periodically during treatment. Radiographic union was evaluated independently by three specialists at 24 weeks post-admission. Patients were divided by pain scores >40% at 24 weeks into the LBP (n = 36) and non-LBP (n = 31) groups. Temporal changes and statistical associations were examined to identify risk factors for LBP at 24 weeks.Results: At 24 weeks, 25% of OVFs failed to achieve union. The LBP group consisted of 71% of nonunion and 48% of union cases. Stepwise multinomial regression analysis showed VKA at 24 weeks >25° was significant risk factor for the LBP group (odds ratio: 6.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.77-22.02, P = 0.004). Significant differences in VKA emerged during treatment in the LBP group, but PI-LL showed the tendency not to change throughout the treatment period. Non-union was correlated with VKA (area under the curve: 0.864).Conclusion: Although spinopelvic malalignment is considered as a preexisting factor for LBP, VKA exacerbated by nonunion predominantly led to LBP after a new OVF. Each incidence of OVF should be treated to limit further morphological changes to the fractured vertebra.Level Of Evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many mammals, gender and skull shape are related to the bone morphology of the entire body; however, this has not been well established in the domestic cat (Felis catus). This study aims to find a relationship between cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae morphometrics with regard to the sex and skull shape of domestic cats. A total of 79 samples obtained from 92 dried bones of domestic cats were used to determine morphometric measurements for a total of 29 parameters. Hierarchical clustering was used to cluster the vertebral bones found in three groups: C3-T1, T2-T11 and T12-L7. The skull shape identification process employed discriminative analysis and revealed the highest training data accuracy rate at up to 86.20% in T4 followed by L1 (86.04%) Axis (85.71%) and C5 (85.18%). Sex identification employed discriminative analysis and displayed the highest training data accuracy rate at up to 75.58% in L1 followed by, T7 (71.87%) and C6 (71.79%). Moreover, we found that 14% of the samples had one vertebra missing (T13 or L1). In conclusion, domestic cat vertebral morphometrics were found to be more related to skull shape than gender. In addition, bone clustering employed morphometric data and yielded a result that was similar to that of traditional cluster analysis involving body regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over twenty years of work on the Hanson Ranch (HR) Bonebed in the Lance Formation of eastern Wyoming has yielded over 13,000 individual elements primarily of the hadrosaurid dinosaur Edmontosaurus annectens. The fossil bones are found normally-graded within a fine-grained (claystone to siltstone) bed that varies from one to two meters in thickness. Almost all specimens exhibit exquisite preservation (i.e., little to no abrasion, weathering, and breakage), but they are disarticulated which, combined with our sedimentological observations, suggests that the bones were remobilized and buried after a period of initial decay and disarticulation of Edmontosaurus carcasses. Because of the large number of recovered fossil elements, we have been able to gain deeper insight into Edmontosaurus biostratigraphy including disarticulation and transport of skeletal elements. The most common postcranial elements in the bonebed are pubes, ischia, scapulae, ribs, and limb bones. By contrast, vertebrae, ilia, and chevrons are rare. The most common craniomandibular bones include dentaries, nasals, quadrates, and jugals, whereas the premaxillae, predentaries, and braincase bones are underrepresented. Thus, overall, chondrocranial and axial elements, as well as distal elements of the limbs, are distinctly underrepresented. We hypothesize that following decay and disarticulation, hydraulic winnowing removed the articulated sections (e.g., vertebral columns) and the small, distal-most elements before, or at the same time, the remaining bones were swept up in a subaqueous debris flow that generated the deposit. Comparison of the HR Bonebed with other widely dispersed Upper Cretaceous hadrosaurid-dominated bonebeds reveals many shared attributes, which suggests similar processes at work in the formation of these bonebeds across space and time. This in turn reflects similar behavior by populations of these species around the world resulting in similar modes of death, becoming interred in similar depositional settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological structures with extreme morphologies are puzzling because they often lack obvious functions and stymie comparisons to homologous or analogous features with more typical shapes. An example of such an extreme morphotype is the uniquely modified vertebral column of the hero shrew Scutisorex, which features numerous accessory intervertebral articulations and massively expanded transverse processes. The function of these vertebral structures is unknown, and it is difficult to meaningfully compare them to vertebrae from animals with known behavioural patterns and spinal adaptations. Here, we use trabecular bone architecture of vertebral centra and quantitative external vertebral morphology to elucidate the forces that may act on the spine of Scutisorex and that of another large shrew with unmodified vertebrae (Crocidura goliath). X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) scans of thoracolumbar columns show that Scutisorex thori is structurally intermediate between C. goliath and S. somereni internally and externally, and both Scutisorex species exhibit trabecular bone characteristics indicative of higher in vivo axial compressive loads than C. goliath. Under compressive load, Scutisorex vertebral morphology is adapted to largely restrict bending to the sagittal plane (flexion). Although these findings do not solve the mystery of how Scutisorex uses its byzantine spine in vivo, our work suggests potentially fruitful new avenues of investigation for learning more about the function of this perplexing structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Antibacterial iodine-supported titanium has an anodized oxide layer; thus, it can be expected to have a higher osteoconductivity than untreated titanium. This study aimed to compare the osteoconductivity between untreated titanium (Ti), anodically oxidized titanium (AO-Ti), and iodine-supported titanium (I-Ti) screws. Methods: The screws were inserted into the vertebral bodies of 30 dogs (12 for the biomechanical, and 18 for the histological examination). The vertebral bodies were analyzed at 4 or 8 weeks after screw insertion. Biomechanically, rotational torque of the screw was measured. Histologically, bone formation index (ratio of the length of the part where the bone directly contacts with the length of the screw) and bone volume density (ratio of the area of the bone tissue to the area between the threads of the screw) were measured. Result: At 4 weeks, the torque value was significantly higher in the AO-Ti (0.59 ± 0.16 Nm) and I-Ti (0.72 ± 0.14 Nm) groups than in the Ti group (0.39 ± 0.12 Nm), with the AO-Ti and I-Ti groups showing no significant difference. Bone formation index was significantly higher in the AO-Ti (72.5% ± 0.8%) and I-Ti (73.4% ± 1.5%) groups than in the Ti group (64.6% ±1.7%), with the AO-Ti and I-Ti groups showing no significant difference. Bone volume density did not show a significant difference. At 8 weeks, the results were similar to those at 4 weeks. Conclusions: I-Ti had a higher osteoconductivity than Ti, indicating that iodine coating did not adversely affect osteoconductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), vertebrae brittleness causes thorax deformations and leads to cardiopulmonary failure. As sclerostin-neutralizing antibodies increase bone mass and strength in animal models of osteoporosis, their administration in two murine models of severe OI enhanced the strength of vertebrae in growing female Crtap-/- mice but not in growing male Col1a1Jrt/+ mice. However, these two studies ignored the impact of antibodies on spine growth, fracture rates, and compressive mechanical properties. Here, we conducted a randomized controlled trial in oim/oim mice, an established model of human severe OI type III due to a mutation in Col1a2. Five-week-old female WT and oim/oim mice received either PBS or sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) for 9 weeks. Analyses included radiography, histomorphometry, pQCT, microcomputed tomography, and biomechanical testing. Though it did not modify vertebral axial growth, Scl-Ab treatment markedly reduced the fracture prevalence in the pelvis and caudal vertebrae, enhanced osteoblast activity (L4), increased cervico-sacral spine BMD, and improved the lumbosacral spine bone cross-sectional area. Scl-Ab did not impact vertebral height and body size but enhanced the cortical thickness and trabecular bone volume significantly in the two Scl-Ab groups. At lumbar vertebrae and tibial metaphysis, the absolute increase in cortical and trabecular bone mass was higher in Scl-Ab WT than in Scl-Ab oim/oim. The effects on trabecular bone mass were mainly due to changes in trabecular number at vertebrae and in trabecular thickness at metaphyses. Additionally, Scl-Ab did not restore a standard trabecular network, but improved bone compressive ultimate load with more robust effects at vertebrae than at metaphysis. Overall, Scl-Ab treatment may be beneficial for reducing vertebral fractures and spine deformities in patients with severe OI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) are a prevalent skeletal condition in the elderly but the mechanism behind these fractures remain unclear due to the complex biomechanical interplay between spinal segments such as the vertebra and intervertebral discs (IVDs).Purpose: To investigate the biomechanical influence of IVDs by (1) comparing finite element (FE)-predicted failure load with experimentally measured failure load of functional spinal units (FSUs) and (2) comparing this correlation with those of FE-predicted failure load and bone mineral density (BMD) of the single central vertebra with experimentally measured failure load.Study Design: A computational biomechanical analysis.Patient Sample: Ten thoracic FSUs consisting of a central vertebra, the adjacent IVDs, and the upper and lower halves of the adjacent vertebrae were harvested from formalin-fixed human donors (4 males, 6 females; mean age of 82±9 years).Outcome Measures: The outcome measures included the prediction of vertebral strength and determination of BMD in FSUs and the single central vertebra and the correlation of both measures with experimentally measured vertebral strength of the FSUs.Methods: The FSUs underwent clinical multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) (spatial resolution: 250×250×600 μm3). BMD was determined for the FSUs from the MDCT images of the central vertebrae. FE-predicted failure load was calculated in the single central vertebra of the FSUs alone and the entire FSUs. Experimentally measured failure load of the FSUs was determined in a uniaxial biomechanical test.Results: BMD of the central vertebrae correlated significantly with experimentally measured failure load (R2=0.66, p<.02), whereas FE-predicted failure load of the central vertebra showed no significant correlation with experimentally measured failure load (p=.07). However, FE-predicted failure load of FSUs best predicted experimentally measured failure load of FSUs (R2=0.93, p<.0001).Conclusions: This study demonstrated that routine clinical MDCT images can be an accurate and feasible tool for prediction of OVFs using patient-specific FE analysis of FSU models.Clinical Significance: Improved management of OVFs is essential amidst current clinical challenges. Implementation of a vertebral strength assessment tool could result in more accurate prediction of osteoporotic fracture risk and aid clinicians with better targeted early treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of extant polypterid fishes has commonly been done by describing the morphology of the entire animal. Unfortunately, in the fossil record, these fishes appear frequently only as isolated finlet spines and/or scales, occasionally vertebrae. The present study aims to describe i) the finlet organization, ii) the finlet spine morphology of living Polypteridae, in order to establish diagnosis and to study the finlet spine variability at the species level. The spines are composed of bone and dentine, covered with ganoine on the anterior face. Among the extant Polypteridae, we observed specific variation in several morphological characters of finlet spines, especially the median groove and the basal, lateral, median, and posterior processes of the spine articular head. We show here that differences observed for finlet spines are significant enough to discriminate Polypteridae at the species level and, to a lesser extant, the three Polypterus bichir subspecies. These differences could be applied successfully to the fossil record but with some caution when the fossil material is scarce or/and more or less damaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In osteoporotic bone, the quality of the bone-to-implant interface is decreased, which may lead to early implant failure. Screw anchorage can be improved by augmentation. This effect is mainly investigated with a pull-out test. To our knowledge, the effect of cement augmentation in an in vivo physiological setup focusing on screw movement has not been investigated to date. The aim of this work was to investigate and compare augmented and native screw behavior in a physiologically related setup.Methods: Twelve fresh-frozen human lumbar vertebrae were divided into two groups. Each vertebra was bilaterally instrumented with either non-augmented or augmented pedicle screw systems and loaded in a recently developed test setup that provided cyclic conditions comparable to a physiological gait. The cyclic loading should test the primary implant stability, comparable to the postoperative period of two months in a worst-case scenario in the absence of osseous remodeling. Screws were tracked optically, and screw movement and failure patterns were observed.Results: Mutual influence between the left and right sides resulted in a successive, rather than simultaneous, failure. Augmentation of the screws in vertebrae with poor bone quality reduced screw subsidence and thus improved the rigidity of the screw-to-implant interface by up to six-fold. The non-augmented condition was significantly related to early screw failure.Conclusions: Pedicle screw system failure involves a complex bilateral-coupled mechanism. The cyclic loading based on physiological conditions during walking has allowed the postoperative conditions and clinical failure mechanisms to be simulated in vitro and clarified. Future implant systems should be investigated with a physiologically related setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gender determination has been the emphasis of many forensic studies and have significance in mass fatality cases where bodies are damaged beyond recognition, as these factors are essential and various method are developed that allows gender determination. Second Cervical vertebra due to its ample degree of sexual dimorphism in its dimension allows sex determination. Forensic investigators can identify the bone by its morphological characteristics, such as the dens, short spinous process and cervical vertebra is known to be the best preserved of all the vertebra in cadavers. Aim: To compare the morphological features of second cervical vertebra between genders using Computed Tomography. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective study which included subjects visiting for CT (Computerized Tomography) of cervical spine in Department of Radio-diagnosis and Imaging, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. Sample size was calculated using the formula for estimation of population mean which gave a total sample of 160. A total of 160 patients underwent computed tomography of cervical spine on MDCT Brilliance 64 slice Philips with routine protocol and later post-processed into Multiplanar imaging. In present study nine measurements of the second cervical vertebra were taken. Anthropometric measurements were performed which was calculated using the measurement tools. The data was analyzed using SPSS (V.20.0). Results: Discriminant function analysis was performed to calculate the mean and standard deviation. Standardized canonical discriminant function was performed to find out the variable dependency and was found that maximum distance measured from the most lateral edges of the superior articular facets (DMFS) contributed much of the separation between genders. Step wise discriminant function test was performed to predict the categorical dependent variable a multivariable model was generated which showed that maximum distance measured from the most lateral edges of the superior articular facets (DMFS) and Maximum sagittal length (AS) reached the accuracy of 77.5% in gender discrimination. The most discriminant variable for the C2 was DMFS followed by AS, with expected accuracies of 73.8% and 71.9%. Among nine variables seven variables (AS, LMA, DMFS, DSD, DTD, WVF and DTMC) showed correct prediction rates approximately 78.8% and two variables (DA, DSMC) yielded no result. Conclusion: DMFS contributed much separation with high accuracy in comparison to others, affirming that there is considerable sexual dimorphism with respect to the second cervical vertebra which could determine the gender of human based on CT measurements of second cervical vertebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zoarcoid family Bathymasteridae contains seven species in three genera (Bathymaster, Rathbunella, Ronquilus) found in the North Pacific Ocean. Although several synapomorphies have been identified for the family, molecular analyses recover the family as a paraphyletic grade. The goals of this study are to provide a description of the skeleton of R. jordani as a baseline contribution for future systematic comparisons among all bathymasterid taxa and zoarcoids. We used our osteological study to discuss ontogenetically variable characters that appear to carry phylogenetic signal within Zoarcoidei. Finally, we discuss the systematic relationships of Bathymasteridae, including its monophyly and their systematic relationships. The vertebrae of Bathymasteridae develop in two distinct patterns. In Ronquilus and Bathymaster, the vertebrae initially form in the mid‐caudal region and development proceeds both anteriorly and posteriorly until the entire vertebral column is complete. In contrast, in Rathbunella the vertebrae initially form immediately posterior to the skull and development proceeds posteriorly; this is interpreted to be plesiomorphic. Other characters that were clarified (e.g., presence of well‐developed teeth on the gill rakers of Ronquilus) or described (e.g., variation in fusion caudal skeleton elements across Zoarcoidei) now must be evaluated in a taxonomically comprehensive systematic analysis of Zoarcoidei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone responds to mechanical loading by increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and/or bone area to enhance bone strength at the site of the greatest strain. Such localised adaptation has not been demonstrated at the spine. The aim of this study is to determine if BMD and/or bone mineral content (BMC) differs between dominant (ipsilateral to bowling/throwing arm) and non-dominant sides of the vertebrae in cricket fast bowlers, and whether this asymmetry differs according to stress fracture or disc injury history. A further aim was to determine if regional BMD and BMC in the lumbar spine differ between fast bowlers, other cricketers, rugby players and non-active controls, to highlight the site-specific response of lumbar vertebra to unilateral activity. 23 fast bowlers, 14 other cricketers, 22 rugby players and 20 controls underwent an antero-posterior (AP) and lateral DXA scans of their lumbar spine to assess BMD, BMC and area. A custom analysis measured BMD and BMC of the dominant and non-dominant sides (lateral 33%) of the AP lumbar spine. BMD and BMC were compared between groups, injury status, vertebrae and sides using ANOVA. Analysis of medical records showed that 6 fast bowlers had a history of lumbar stress fracture. Significantly greater BMD and BMC was found in the L4 non-dominant vertebra compared with the dominant vertebra in fast bowlers. BMD and BMC differed significantly according to vertebra, side and group, with fast bowlers having significantly greater BMD and BMC at the L3 and L4 non-dominant vertebra compared with other groups (L3: 13.3%–45.3%, L4: 15.7%–44.0%) compared with other groups. Fast bowlers who never suffered lumbar stress fracture had 3.6% and 1.7% greater BMD in the dominant and non-dominant sides of lumbar vertebrae respectively compared with those who did suffer lumbar stress fracture, but evidence of this was weaker (P = 0.08). The lumbar spine responds to a unique unilateral high loading activity through site-specific increased bone mass at the site of most strain. Fast bowlers had increased lumbar BMD, particularly on the non-dominant side of L4, although this adaptation was less marked in those with history of lumbar stress fracture. Site-specific low bone mineral density within the lumbar side may be implicated in the aetiology of lumbar stress fracture. • Cricket fast bowlers have greater BMD and BMC at the non-dominant (contralateral to bowling arm) side of the lumbar spine • This asymmetry increases in magnitude caudally, significantly differing to the dominant side at L4 • Fast bowlers have significantly greater BMD and BMC than rugby players at the non-dominant side of L2, L3 and L4 only • Reduced site-specific bone mineral accrual may be a risk factor to lumbar stress fracture in fast bowlers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pull-out tests have been widely applied to orthopaedic devices such as pedicle screws for the last decades. Despite their wide applicability, this particular pedicle screw testing method does not represent the load pattern of implanted vertebrae with the use of pedicle screw spinal constructs. In the present study a new custom made foam model (Sawbone) of human vertebra and a corresponding load pattern for pedicle screw spinal implant construct were introduced. They allow for the investigation of loosening at the bone-screw interface and constitute an alternative test method to pullout tests. The new custom made foam model of human vertebra was developed and made out of biomechanical materials Sawbones in three different variants, including varied density in order to simulate normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic quality of bone. Mechanical testing methods followed reproducible, non-pull-out loading protocols based originally on the ASTM F- 1717 standard which enables to introduce loosening at the bone-screw interface. The results include the pattern of screw loosening at the bone-screw interface , measured loosening area at the interface , and mechanical parameters characterising bone-screw interface such as initial stiffness and residual displacements. The new custom made foam model of human vertebra followed by non-pull-out load protocol enabled investigations of the loosening at the bone-screw interface. During the tests a characteristic toggling profile of loosening was found with a significant widening at the tip of the screw for the osteoporotic quality of bone. It was proposed that the model and the corresponding load protocol may extend the current testing methods based on the pull-out testing , leading to the more accurate testing of pedicle screw spinal constructs focused on the bone-implant interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histology and microanatomy of vertebrae, ribs, haemal arch, and humeri and femora of 10 individuals of Stereosternum and two dorsal ribs of 1 individual of Brazilosaurus were studied. All individuals had achieved a body length of 50 cm (equal to 65 % of the maximum known body length) or larger. All sampled bones are highly osteosclerotic due to the reduction of medullary cavities and the filling of medullary regions by endosteal bone. Calcified cartilage occurs – if at all – only locally in small clusters in the medullary regions of midshaft and in higher amounts only in non-midshaft sections of long bones and towards the medio-distal rib shaft, respectively. The primary bone tissue consists of highly organized parallel-fibred tissue and/or lamellar tissue, which is in most samples relatively lightly vascularized or even avascular. If present, vascular canals are mainly longitudinally oriented; some show a radial orientation. Simple vascular canals as well as primary osteons occur. Some of the latter are secondarily altered, i.e. widened. Remodelling of the periosteal cortex is only documented by few scattered erosion cavities and secondary osteons. The tissue is regularly stratified by lines of arrested growth (LAGs), which usually appear as double or multiple rest lines, indicating strong dependence on exogenous and endogenous factors. Because of the inhibition of periosteal remodelling the growth record is complete and no inner cycles are lost. Individuals of Stereosternum show a poor correlation of body size and number of growth marks, which might be the result of developmental plasticity. Brazilosaurus shows a highly organized, avascular lamellar tissue and a high number of regularly deposited rest lines throughout the cortex of the ribs. The medullary region in the ribs of Brazilosaurus is distinctly larger when compared to ribs of Stereosternum. However, strong osteosclerosis is obvious in both taxa, pointing to a high degree of aquatic adaption. Ribs of Stereosternum , Brazilosaurus , and Mesosaurus are clearly distinguishable from each other by the distribution of the periosteal and endosteal territory. Furthermore, Brazilosaurus differs in its growth pattern (i.e. spacing of rest lines) when compared to Stereosternum and Mesosaurus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological characters underlie diverse intraspecific variation. Investigating this variation on an intra- and interspecific level can help to understand the evolution of traits, body parts and morphological diversification of species. Variation in vertebrae number played a major role in the evolution of urodeles, while other osteological characters are less well investigated. The emerging non-invasive technique of micro-computer tomography (mCT) facilitates studies on osteological anomalies in a comprehensive way. Herein, we examined the intraspecific variation of the vertebral column and phalanges in a terrestrial salamander, genus Salamandrina. The number of trunk vertebrae showed only low variation, but the number of caudo-sacral vertebrae deviated in 40% of individuals of the regular phenotype, whereas phalange counts deviated in 22.5% of the individuals from the modal count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Weekly teriparatide treatment is reported to reduce the incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. However, the effect of weekly teriparatide on cortical bone has not been clarified. This study aimed to examine the effects of weekly teriparatide treatment on bone mass, intracortical structure, and remodeling of the lumbar vertebral cortical shell and its relation to mechanical properties in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys. Female monkeys, aged 9 to 15 years, were divided into four groups: (1) SHAM group, (2) ovariectomized group (OVX group), (3) OVX with 1.2 μg/kg once-weekly teriparatide group (LOW group), (4) OVX with 6.0 μg/kg once-weekly teriparatide group (HIGH group). After 18 months, all animals were double-labeled with calcein, and lumbar vertebrae were analyzed with histomorphometry and compressive mechanical tests. Following ovariectomy, we found reductions in the anterior cortical shell area of the vertebrae and reductions in nearly all of the tested vertebral mechanical properties. Weekly teriparatide significantly preserved the anterior cortical shell area and the energy absorption capacity of the lumbar vertebrae in a dose-dependent manner. Multiple regression analyses indicated that improved mechanical properties were more associated with the increased anterior cortical shell area rather than the cancellous bone volume. The intracortical structure of the Haversian canals was also preserved following teriparatide treatment after ovariectomy. These findings suggest the importance of the cortical shell as a therapeutic target in the treatment of osteoporosis. Weekly teriparatide treatment increases the compressive mechanical strength of the lumbar vertebrae by thickening the anterior cortical shell. Highlights • Ovariectomy led to reduced anterior cortical shell area and vertebral mechanical strength in cynomolgus monkeys. • Weekly teriparatide treatment dose-dependently preserved anterior cortical shell area and mechanical properties of the lumbar vertebrae. • Improved mechanical properties were associated more with increased anterior cortical shell area than with cancellous bone volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives Dental implants are widely used to restore function and appearance. It may be essential to choose the appropriate drilling protocol and implant design in order to optimise primary stability. This could be achieved based on an assessment of the implantation site with respect to bone quality and objective biomechanical descriptors such as stiffness and strength of the bone-implant system. The aim of this ex vivo study is to relate these descriptors with bone quality, with a pre-implantation indicator of implant stability: pilot-hole drilling force (F drilling), and with two post-implantation indicators: maximal implantation torque (T implantation) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Methods Eighty trabecular bone specimens were cored from human vertebrae and bovine tibiae. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV), a representative for bone quality, was obtained through micro-computed tomography scans. Implants were kept in controlled laboratory conditions following standard surgical procedures. Forces and torques were recorded and RFA was assessed after implantation. Off-axis compression tests were conducted on the implants until failure. Implant stability was identified by stiffness and ultimate force (F ultimate). The relationships between BV/TV, Stiffness, F ultimate and F drilling , T implantation , RFA were established. Results F drilling correlated well with BV/TV of the implantation site (r2 = 0.81), stiffness (r2 = 0.75) and F ultimate (r2 = 0.80). T implantation correlated better with stiffness (r2 = 0.86) and F ultimate (r2 = 0.94) than RFA (r2 = 0.77 and r2 = 0.74, respectively). Conclusion Our results indicate that BV/TV and bone-implant stability can be directly estimated by the force needed for the pilot drilling that occurs during the site preparation before implantation. Moreover, implantation torque outperforms RFA for evaluating the mechanical competence of the bone-implant system. Graphical abstract Trabecular bone samples were embedded and microCT scanned to evaluate the bone volume fraction, a bone quality substitute. Starting with the implantation procedure, a pilot hole was drilled and the axial force measured. Dental implants were inserted and the torque recorded. A resonance frequency analysis was performed directly after implantation. A mechanical test until failure was conducted to determine the stiffness and strength of the bone-implant system. All the metrics of primary stability were compared to each other and with stiffness and ultimate force (red arrows). fx1 Highlights • Evaluation of the pilot drilling force as a measurement of implant primary stability. • Bone volume fraction can be estimated by the force measured during pilot drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the therapeutic outcomes in patients with bone metastases receiving radiotherapy (RT), it is important to use objective radiological response criteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in pain and re-ossification after RT for painful vertebral bone metastases without paralysis by malignant spinal cord compression.Methods: The participants included 55 patients who received RT for painful vertebral bone metastases without paralysis in our institution between 2012 and 2016. Bone modifying agents (BMAs) were administered in all patients. Follow-up assessments were done just before the start of RT and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months after RT. Radiological responses of irradiated vertebrae by RT were assessed by computed tomography (CT) using MD Anderson response classification criteria (MDA criteria) and the pain response was assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Response was classified as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), progressive disease (PD), and stable disease (SD).Results: The rates of CR were 2%, 7%, 20%, 30%, and 56% at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months, respectively. The rates of CR or PR were 15%, 49%, 77%, 91%, and 91% at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months, respectively. The rates of CR or PR were significantly higher in patients with breast cancer than in patients with lung cancer (p = 0.043). At one month, there was an association between the NRS and radiological response assessed by MDA criteria. There was a significant trend that, with a better response, there were more patients without pain (p = 0.021).Conclusions: Under BMAs administration, successful RT for vertebral bone metastases decreased pain and caused re-ossification. The MD Anderson criteria could be useful for assessment of radiological responses of irradiated vertebrae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose A vertebral fracture is the most common complication of osteoporosis, and various factors are involved in its occurrence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of trabecular and cortical bone microstructure on vertebral strength using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). Methods Three female cadaveric spines were investigated (average age: 80.3 years). The whole spine (T1-L4) was scanned by second-generation HR-pQCT at a voxel size of 60.7 μm. Bone microstructure analysis and micro finite element analysis were performed after excluding the upper and lower endplates and posterior elements of a total of 48 vertebrae. Correlations between trabecular and cortical bone microstructure parameters and estimated vertebral strength were analyzed by univariate and multivariate regression models. Results Cortical thickness (Ct.Th) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) were strongly correlated with estimated failure load on univariate analysis (r = 0.89, 0.82). Trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (Tb.vBMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), and Ct.Th were correlated with estimated failure load on multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions It was suggested that, in addition to trabecular bone (Tb.vBMD, BV/TV, Tb.N), cortical bone (Ct.Th) contributed significantly to vertebral strength in elderly women. Highlights • The role of the trabecular and cortical bone microstructure on vertebral strength was investigated by HR-pQCT using cadaveric spines. • Tb.vBMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and Ct.Th were correlated with estimated failure load by multivariate regression analysis. • In addition to trabecular bone, cortical bone contributed to the vertebral strength significantly in elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The osteopetroses and related sclerosing bone dysplasias can have a broad range of manifestations. Especially in the milder forms, sandwich vertebrae are an easily recognizable and reliable radiological hallmark. We report on four patients from three families presenting with sandwich vertebrae and platyspondyly. The long bone phenotypes were discordant with one patient showing modeling defects and patchy osteosclerosis, while the second displayed only metaphyseal sclerotic bands, and the third and fourth had extreme metaphyseal flaring with uniform osteosclerosis. Two of the four patients had experienced pathological fractures, two had developmental delay, but none showed cranial nerve damage, hepatosplenomegaly, or bone marrow failure. According to these clinical features the diagnoses ranged between intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis and dysosteosclerosis. After exclusion of mutations in CLCN7 we performed gene panel and exome sequencing. Two novel mutations in SLC29A3 were found in the first two patients. In the third family a TCIRG1 C-terminal frameshift mutation in combination with a mutation at position +4 in intron 2 were detected. Our study adds two cases to the small group of individuals with SLC29A3 mutations diagnosed with dysosteosclerosis, and expands the phenotypic variability. The finding that intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis due to TCIRG1 splice site mutations can also present with platyspondyly further increases the molecular heterogeneity of dysosteosclerosis-like sclerosing bone dysplasias. Highlights • We describe sclerotic bone dysplasia due to SLC29A3 mutations with a hitherto unrecognized phenotypic variability. • Intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis with dramatic metaphyseal flaring can be due to TCIRG1 mutations. • Intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis due to TCIRG1 mutations can present like dysosteosclerosis. • Dysosteosclerosis is clinically and molecularly more heterogeneous and less malignant than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reconstruction of thoracolumbar structural stability is a formidable challenge for spine surgeons after vertebral body tumor resection. Various disadvantages of the currently used expandable or nonexpandable cages have limited their clinical applications. We sought to develop a novel prosthesis for clinical use and assess its preliminary clinical outcome in reconstruction of thoracolumbar structural stability after spinal tumor resection. Methods Using data obtained from a retrospective analysis of the morphological characteristics of the thoracolumbar vertebrae and endplates in previously reported studies, we modified the nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide-66 (n-HA/PA66) strut into a novel height-adjustable vertebral body. A retrospective study was performed of 7 patients who had undergone reconstruction of thoracolumbar structural stability with this novel prosthesis from August 2016 to January 2017. Results A novel height-adjustable vertebral body (AHVB) composed of n-HA/PA66 with 2 separate components with a 163° contact surface at each end was manufactured. The height-adjustable range was 28–37 mm. No significant implant-related complications were observed in the process of operation. All patients experienced a significant reduction in pain, with the visual analog scale score decreasing from 7.9 to 4.0. Neurological improvement was assessed using the Frankel grading system after surgery. Postoperative radiographic and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging findings indicated that the operated segment was stable, the outcome of kyphosis correction was good, and no prosthesis subsidence or dislocation was observed. Conclusion This novel prosthesis has many advantages in the reconstruction of height, lordosis, and alignment after thoracolumbar spinal tumor resection and has a favorable prospect for clinical application. Highlights • A novel AHVB composed of n-HA/PA66 was designed. • This novel prosthesis' interfaces match the morphology of thoracolumbar endplates. • The material used is similar to that of natural bones; no additional bone grafts are needed. • Good performance was found in structural stability reconstruction and deformity correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batrachuperus yenyuanensis, commonly known as Yenyuan Stream Salamander, is a hynobiid species inhabiting high-altitude (2440–4025 m above sea level) mountain stream and pond environments along the eastern fringe of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in western Sichuan Province, China. Although the species has been known for almost 70 years since its initial discovery in 1950, a thorough osteological description has never been provided. Our study provides a detailed account of the bony anatomy of this species, based on micro computed tomography scanning of multiple specimens collected from the type locality Shuangertang at Bailinshan, Yanyuan County, and several other localities in Sichuan Province. Our revised species diagnosis utilizes both bony and soft anatomical features. Comparative study of the specimens from the type locality in Yanyuan area with those from the nearby Xichang and Mianning areas confirms that they all pertain to Batrachuperus yenyuanensis, thereby removing doubt on the occurrence of the species in the latter areas. With this confirmation, the distribution of the species is extended from the type locality northwards some 180 km to the Mianning area, on both the west and east sides of the Yalong River, which is a major tributary of the upper Yangtze River. This distribution pattern indicates that the biogeographic origin and historical evolution of the species are closely associated with the orogeny of the Hengduan Mountains and formation of the Yalong River. Given the basalmost position of Batrachuperus yenyuanensis in relation to other congeneric species based on molecular studies, however, early expansion of the species distribution by dispersal is expected following the origin of the genus in early–middle Miocene in western Sichuan Province. Thus, the species may well have achieved its current distribution in western Sichuan before the drastic uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Pliocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of partial vertebrae resection laterally through intervertebral space to harvest supplemental autograft bone for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods Patients who accepted 1-segment (n = 19, 38.2 months follow-up) or 2-segment (n = 17, 40.4 months follow-up) ACDF with supplemental autograft bone were included. Cervical lordosis (CL), segmental lordosis (SL), anterior segment height (ASH), and posterior segment height (PSH) on neutrally lateral radiography, and intervertebral fusion rate on computed tomography were measured. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, Japanese Orthopedic Association score, visual analog scale around the neck or arm, Neck Disability Index, and complications were also recorded. Results Mean operation time was 86.2 and 115.6 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 41.7 and 79.4 mL in cases with 1-segment and 2-segment ACDF, respectively. At the final visit, the visual analog scale score and Neck Disability Index significantly decreased, and the Japanese Orthopedic Association score significantly increased. Significant increases were observed in the ASH, PSH, CL, and SL after 2-segment ACDF. Significant increases were observed in the CL and SL after 1-segment ACDF, but not in the ASH and PSH. All the ASH, PSH, CL, and SL kept unchanged at the final visit. All cases acquired definite intervertebral fusion, and the incidence of cage subsidence was 5.3% after 1-segment and 17.6% after 2-segment ACDF at the final visit. Conclusions Partial vertebrae resection laterally through the intervertebral space was a safe and effective method to harvest supplemental autograft bone for the ACDF. Highlights • Partial vertebrae resection laterally during ACDF would not influence blood loss, operation time or clinical outcomes. • Supplemental autograft bone for ACDF could promote intervertebral fusion and reduce the incidence of cage subsidence. • Partial vertebrae resection might be a safely and effectively supplemental method of acquiring autograft for ACDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Association of bone marrow adipose and microstructure with bone strength in osteoporotic rats using MR Dixon analysis and micro-CT was evaluated. A total of 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats (6-month-old) were divided randomly into sham-operated (SHAM, n=20) group and ovariectomized (OVX, n=20) group. Fat fraction (FF) was measured by two-point Dixon method with MR imaging at the baseline, 4th, 8th and 12th week, respectively. After sacrifice by anesthesia, the fifth lumbar vertebrae bone was sampled for micro-CT scanning. The biomechanical analysis was also performed. FF in osteoporotic rats significantly increases with time, which correlates with bone microstructure parameters. Compared with biomechanical test, FF showed negative correlation with break stress and elastic modulus. It also suggested that loss of bone mass was accompanied with the increase of adipose tissue content in vertebrae bone marrow. The impairment of bone strength leads to the risk of brittle fracture. In conclusion, the bone marrow adipose amount obtained by MR Dixon and microstructure by micro-CT correlates to bone strength in osteoporotic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Jurassic of Portugal is relatively rich in sauropod remains. We describe a new sauropod specimen, which includes a partial tail, pectoral and pelvic girdle elements, and hind limb bones, from Praia de Valmitão (Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Formation, upper Kimmeridgian–lowermost Tithonian). This specimen constitutes the holotype of Oceanotitan dantasi, gen. et sp. nov., which shows a unique combination of characters, including the presence of anterior caudal vertebrae with a medial accessory articulation on the prezygapophysis; a circular, rough tuberosity on the medial surface of the scapula; an elliptical concavity on the ventral face of the scapula; an ischium that is shorter than the pubis; and a robust fourth trochanter located at the midline of the posterior face of the femur. Multiple phylogenetic analyses recover Oceanotitan dantasi within Titanosauriformes, with one resolving it at the base of Somphospondyli. This taxon shares several apomorphies with some Cretaceous somphospondylans and turiasaurs, such as the transverse furrow on the chevron articulations (shared with Tangvayosaurus and Phuwiangosaurus) and the ischium being shorter than the pubis (shared with Mierasaurus and somphospondylans). Oceanotitan might represent the oldest known somphospondylan, and its establishment increases the known diversity of the Late Jurassic–earliest Early Cretaceous sauropod fauna in the Iberian Peninsula, which also consists of turiasaurs, diplodocids and macronarians (non-camarasaurid, non-titanosauriform macronarians; camarasaurids; and brachiosaurids). This high diversity in sauropods suggests that this region might have played an important role during the Late Jurassic in the dispersal and diversification of several sauropod lineages between North America, Africa, and Europe, especially macronarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although genetics and cumulative mechanical stress on an immature skeleton have been proposed to play a role in the development of the limbus vertebra (LV), there is no data concerning the actual degree of bone strength and bone loss in patients with LV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis in women with LV and compare with age- and body mass index-matched women. Method: This study was carried out on 171 women (aged 40-49 years) with LV and 190 women without LV. Lumbar spine BMD values were obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: A total of 361 patients were included in the study. The mean total BMD value was significantly lower (0.876 ± 0.155 vs. 0.966 ± 0.187 g/cm2, p < 0.0001), and the mean T-score value was significantly higher (-1.6 ± 1.41 vs. -0.8 ± 1.71, p < 0.0001) in patients with LV. Although the frequency of both osteopenia and osteoporosis were higher in patients with LV, the difference reached statistical significance only for osteoporosis (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Women with LV have lower BMD values and higher osteoporosis rates than age- and BMImatched controls; therefore, osteoporosis should be evaluated in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) is widely used to identify individuals at increased risk for fracture. However, cortical porosity is associated with risk for fracture independent of FRAX and is reported to improve the net reclassification of fracture cases. We wanted to test the hypothesis that women with fracture who are unidentified by high FRAX score, but identified by high cortical porosity, have a set of characteristics that contribute to their fracture risk beyond high FRAX score and high cortical porosity. We quantified FRAX score with femoral neck areal bone mineral density (FN aBMD), and femoral subtrochanteric architecture, in 211 postmenopausal women aged 54–94 years with non-vertebral fractures, and 232 fracture-free controls in Tromsø, Norway, using StrAx software. Of 211 fracture cases, FRAX score > 20% identified 53 women (sensitivity 25.1% and specificity 93.5%), while cortical porosity cut-off > 80th percentile identified 61 women (sensitivity 28.9% and specificity 87.9%). The 43 (20.4%) additional fracture cases identified by high cortical porosity alone, had lower FRAX score (12.3 vs. 26.2%) than those identified by FRAX alone, they were younger, had higher FN aBMD (806 vs. 738 mg/cm2), and fewer had a prior fracture (23.3 vs. 62.9%), all p < 0.05. They had higher cortical porosity (48.7 vs. 42.1%), thinner cortices (3.75 vs. 4.12 mm), lower cortical and total volumetric BMD (942 vs. 1053 and 586 vs. 699 mg HA/cm3), larger medullary and total cross-sectional areas (245 vs. 190 and 669 vs. 593 mm2), and higher cross-sectional moment of inertia (2619 vs. 2388 cm4) all p < 0.001. When the fracture cases and controls with high cortical porosity were compared, cases had higher cortical porosity, lower cortical vBMD, lower total vBMD, smaller cortical CSA/Total CSA, larger medullary CSA and larger total CSA than controls (all p ≤ 0.05). Thus, fracture cases, unidentified by FRAX, but identified by cortical porosity, had an architecture where the positive impact of larger bone size did not offset the negative effect of thinner cortices with increased porosity. A measurement of cortical porosity may be a marker of other characteristics that capture additional fracture risk components, not captured by FRAX. Highlights • Fracture cases identified by cortical porosity differed from cases identified by FRAX. • Cases identified by porosity had wider bones with thinner and more porous cortices. • Cortical porosity captured fracture risk components not captured by FRAX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pappochelys extends the fossil record of Triassic stem-turtles back by some 20 million years, and provides important new insights into how and in what sequence the key features of turtles arose. It shares various derived features with the early Late Triassic stem-turtle Odontochelys, such as T-shaped ribs, a short trunk, and features of the girdles and limbs. At the same time, it is more plesiomorphic in retaining a fully diapsid skull and in lacking both neurals and a plastron with plate-like elements. Pappochelys provides important new evidence that the carapace and plastron of turtles are distinct moieties that evolved independently from each other. The skull of Pappochelys is more or less triangular in plan view. The marginal dentition comprises peg-like teeth with subthecodont implantation. Whereas the upper temporal fenestra is relatively small and rounded, the lower temporal opening is large and ventrally open. The slender vomers are fused. The vertebral column of Pappochelys comprises probably eight cervical, probably nine dorsal, two sacral, and more than 24 caudal vertebrae. The dorsal ribs have asymmetrical anterior and posterior flanges and their external surfaces are heavily ornamented. The gastralia form pairs of robust elements, one per vertebral segment. The scapula has a slender dorsal shaft and a rounded ‘acromial’ flange. The humerus has a slightly dorsally raised proximal head and a gently sigmoidal curvature. The pubis closely resembles that of Odontochelys in overall shape and has a well-developed lateral process. We performed a phylogenetic analysis using a modified character-taxon matrix (272 characters, 50 taxa) from a recent study to assess the placement of Pappochelys among amniotes. Pappochelys was found to nest among Pantestudines with Eunotosaurus and the more derived Odontochelys and Proganochelys. The diapsid affinities of turtles are well supported but it is still unresolved whether turtles are saurians or only related to the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown an association between osteopenia and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and implied that osteopenia plays a causative role in AIS development. This study aimed to determine if minodronate (MIN) treatment could prevent curve progression by increasing bone mass in a thoracic restraint (TR) mouse model, which develops causes the development of thoracic scoliosis similar to human AIS. A total of 100 young female C57BL6J mice were divided into four groups: (1) control with vehicle (CON/VEH; n = 20), (2) control with MIN (CON/MIN; n = 20), (3) TR with vehicle (TR/VEH; n = 30), or (4) TR with MIN (TR/MIN; n = 30). MIN (0.01 mg/kg/week) and vehicle were administered intraperitoneally to their respective groups. TR was performed at age 4 weeks, and the mice were sacrificed at age 9 weeks. Body weights, spine radiographs, femoral bone mineral density (BMD), serum bone marker levels, and histomorphometry of the cancellous bone of the thoracic vertebrae were analyzed. TR significantly reduced weight gain in the TR/VEH group relative to the CON/VEH group. TR also induced osteoporosis with accelerated bone resorption, as indicated by decreases in femoral BMDs and thoracic cancellous bone volume and increases in serum bone resorption marker levels and histomorphometric resorption parameters in the TR/VEH group. MIN partially improved body weight gain and improved poor bone structure relative to the TR/VEH group by suppressing high bone resorption in the TR/MIN mice. MIN significantly reduced the curve magnitudes, as indicated by a 43% lower curve magnitude in the TR/MIN mice than in the TR/VEH mice (17.9 ± 8.9° vs. 31.5 ± 13.1°; p< 0.001). The administration of MIN increased bone mass and reduced the severity of scoliosis in the TR mice. MIN was suggested as a possible inhibitor of scoliosis development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xenoposeidon proneneukos is a sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Hastings Group of England. It is represented by a single partial dorsal vertebra, NHMUK PV R2095, which consists of the centrum and the base of a tall neural arch. Despite its fragmentary nature, it is recognisably distinct from all other sauropods, and is here diagnosed with five unique characters. One character previously considered unique is here recognised as shared with the rebbachisaurid diplodocoid Rebbachisaurus garasbae from the mid-Cretaceous of Morocco: an 'M'-shaped arrangement of laminae on the lateral face of the neural arch. Following the more completely preserved R. garasbae, these laminae are now interpreted as ACPL and lateral CPRL, which intersect anteriorly; and PCDL and CPOL, which intersect posteriorly. Similar arrangements are also seen in some other rebbachisaurid specimens (though not all, possibly due to serial variation), but never in non-rebbachisaurid sauropods. Xenoposeidon is therefore referred to Rebbachisauridae. Due to its inferred elevated parapophysis, the holotype vertebra is considered a mid-posterior dorsal despite its elongate centrum. Since Xenoposeidon is from the Berriasian-Valanginian (earliest Cretaceous) Ashdown Formation of the Wealden Supergroup of southern England, it is the earliest known rebbachisaurid by some 10 million years. Electronic 3Dmodels were invaluable in determining Xenoposeidon's true affinities: descriptions of complex bones such as sauropod vertebrae should always provide them where possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Titanium (Ti)-6Al-4V alloy, which is widely used in spinal instrumentation with a pedicle screw (PS) system. However, significant clinical problems, including loosening and back-out of PSs, persist. During the last decade, a novel technology that produces bioactive Ti from chemical and heat treatments has been reported that induces the spontaneous formation of a hydroxyapatite (HA) layer on the surface of Ti materials. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of bioactivation of Ti-6Al-4V PSs on the ability of HA formation in vitro and its biocompatibility and bone-bonding ability in vivo. Methods: Ti-6V-4Al alloy PSs were prepared and bioactivated by NaOH-CaCl2-heat-water treatments. The HA-forming ability of bioactive PSs in simulated body fluid (SBF) was evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Six 11-month-old female beagle dogs were used for the in vivo study. Bioactive and control (without bioactivation) PSs were left and right randomly placed from L1 to L6. One and three months after surgery, lumbar spines were removed for biomechanical and histological analyses. Results: In vitro: The surface analysis of bioactive PSs by FE-SEM and EDX showed substantial HA deposits over the entire surface. In vivo: The mean extraction torque was significantly higher for bioactive PSs compared to controls PSs (P<0.01); there was no significant difference in pull-out strength between control and bioactive PSs. Histologically, the contact area between bone tissue and screw surface showed no significant trend to be greater in bioactive PSs compared to control PSs (P = 0.06). Conclusions: Bioactive PSs prepared by chemical and heat treatments formed layers of HA on the surface of screws in vitro that improved biocompatibility and bonding ability with bone in vivo. Bioactive PSs may reduce screw loosening to overcome the obstacles confronted in spinal instrumentation surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird-line archosaurs (= Avemetatarsalia, the clade containing birds, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and their kin) originated in the Triassic Period. However, the earliest evolution of this group is poorly documented because fossils are extremely rare and consist mostly of postcrania. Here, we document the osteology of Teleocrater rhadinus, an early avemetatarsalian from the lower portion of the Middle Triassic Lifua Member of the Manda Beds of the Ruhuhu Basin, southwestern Tanzania. Material of Teleocrater rhadinus includes the holotype partial skeleton comprising a single individual, including cervical, trunk, and caudal vertebrae, pectoral, pelvic, forelimb, and hind limb material, and referred specimens representing parts (skull elements, vertebrae, pectoral, pelvic, and limb elements) of at least three other individuals collected from a bonebed. Character states of the skull elements, vertebrae, girdles, and limbs indicate that Teleocrater rhadinus represents the first documented non-ornithodiran avemetatarsalian known from well-preserved, associated material. Furthermore, Teleocrater rhadinus forms part of a newly recognized clade, Aphanosauria, which also contains formerly enigmatic archosaur taxa from across Pangea, including Dongusuchus efremovi from the Middle Triassic of Russia, Yarasuchus deccanensis from the Middle Triassic of India, and Spondylosoma absconditum from the ?Middle Triassic of Brazil. This new clade and other new discoveries from the Middle to Late Triassic elucidate the sequence of character acquisitions at the base of Avemetatarsalia and fill a crucial gap in the understanding of the anatomical transformations that enabled dinosaurs to flourish later in the Mesozoic. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP Citation for this article: Nesbitt, S. J., R. J. Butler, M. D. Ezcurra, A. J. Charig, and P. M. Barrett. 2018. The anatomy of Teleocrater rhadinus, an early avemetatarsalian from the lower portion of the Lifua Member of the Manda Beds (Middle Triassic); pp. 142-177 in C. A. Sidor and S. J. Nesbitt (eds.), Vertebrate and Climatic Evolution in the Triassic Rift Basins of Tanzania and Zambia. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir 17. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 37(6, Supplement). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procoelous caudal vertebrae, a carpometacarpus with a hypertrophied metacarpal II, and robust proximal and ungual phalanges of manual digit II of a small theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) Bissekty Formation at Dzharakuduk, Uzbekistan, show unequivocal synapomorphies of the clade Alvarezsauridae and thus are referred to it. The caudal vertebrae have a unique longitudinal canal within the neural arch. The carpometacarpus, with metacarpal III occupying about one third of the width of the carpometacarpus, shows the most plesiomorphic stage of the evolution of the forelimb among known alvarezsaurids. The proximal phalanx of manual digit II differs from the corresponding bone in Parvicursorinae in having a less asymmetrical proximal articular surface without a dorsal process and short ventral ridges. The ungual phalanx of manual digit II has laterally open ventral foramina. The Bissekty alvarezsaurid possibly represents a basal parvicursorine and is the stratigraphically oldest known alvarezsaurid in Asia known to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

†Sorbinicharax verraesi is a marine teleostean fish from the Upper Cretaceous of Nardò (Italy). It was first attributed to the otophysan order Characiformes, which represents potential evidence for the controversial marine origin of the clade. Through a review of all the available material, we demonstrate that this species is not an otophysan since it lacks key structures that would allow for its inclusion in this group. †Sorbinicharax has a body shape that recalls ground fishes classically assigned to Acanthomorpha. However, no unambiguous feature allows us to relate it to this clade. In fact, the presence of cellular bony tissue supports its exclusion from Eurypterygii. Since no feature permits the definitive attribution of †Sorbinicharax to any teleost group, it remains as Teleostei incertae sedis. We infer that the morphology of †Sorbinicharax indicates a benthic ecology. It displays: an anteriorly wide body with enlarged ribs; large pectoral fins, while anal and dorsal fins are reduced; a large head measuring ¼ of the total body length; and a mouth opening dorsally in a high position. Such morphology was so far undescribed in Nardo. It is surprisingly displayed by a non-eurypterygian teleost fish which means by a fish which does not belong to the clades that diversify since the upper Cretaceous and include the extant families that show ground ecomorphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancestry estimation is one of the four basic steps for developing a biological profile. Research has shown that there are a certain amount of morphological and anthropometric differences among skeletons in populations. The aim of this study was to examine the Pretoria Bone Collection to analyze the ancestral variation in the vertebrae of the South African black and white population. The sample was composed of complete vertebrae from 144 individuals (73 whites, 71 blacks). Ancestry differences were assessed using the discriminant function procedure. Regarding the results of this study, when vertebral columns were evaluated, the data indicated (with high reliability) a difference between the two ancestries. The analysis provided an accuracy rate of 98 % in males and 93.5 % in females. Compared to skeleton pieces such as the skull and the pelvis, which have been studied often with high reliability results, these rates are highly significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]