Craniofacial characteristics of fragile X syndrome in mouse and man.

For a disorder as common as fragile X syndrome, the most common hereditary form of cognitive impairment, the facial features are relatively ill defined. An elongated face and prominent ears are the most commonly accepted dysmorphic hallmarks. We analysed 3D facial photographs of 51 males and 15 females with full FMR1 mutations and 9 females with a premutation using dense-surface modelling techniques and a new technique that forms a directed graph with normalized face shapes as nodes and edges linking those with closest dysmorphism.

Vascular calcification is associated with cortical bone loss in chronic renal failure rats with and without ovariectomy: the calcification paradox.

Background: Increased bone loss has been associated with the development of vascular calcification in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). In this study, the effect of impaired bone metabolism on aortic calcifications was investigated in uremic rats with or without ovariectomy.

Methods: CRF was induced by administration of a 0.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2 delivery from spinal cord bridges to enhance angiogenesis following injury.

The host response to spinal cord injury can lead to an ischemic environment that can induce cell death and limits cell transplantation approaches to promote spinal cord regeneration. Spinal cord bridges that provide a localized and sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) were investigated for their ability to promote angiogenesis and nerve growth within the injury. Bridges were fabricated by fusion of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres using a gas foaming/particulate leaching technique, and proteins were incorporated by encapsulation into the microspheres and/or mixing with the microspheres before foaming.

Comparative forefoot trabecular bone architecture in extant hominids.

The appearance of a forefoot push-off mechanism in the hominin lineage has been difficult to identify, partially because researchers disagree over the use of the external skeletal morphology to differentiate metatarsophalangeal joint functional differences in extant great apes and humans. In this study, we approach the problem by quantifying properties of internal bone architecture that may reflect different loading patterns in metatarsophalangeal joints in humans and great apes. High-resolution x-ray computed tomography data were collected for first and second metatarsal heads of Homo sapiens (n = 26), Pan paniscus (n = 17), Pan troglodytes (n = 19), Gorilla gorilla (n = 16), and Pongo pygmaeus (n = 20).

Impaired body weight and tail length gain and altered bone quality after treatment with the aromatase inhibitor exemestane in male rats.

Background: Estrogen deficiency induced by aromatase inhibitors may be a novel treatment modality for growth enhancement in short children, but may have adverse effects on bone, brain and reproduction.

Aim: To assess growth effects and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition in male rats.

Methods: 26-day-old prepubertal rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week [E10, E30, E100(6)] for 6 weeks, completely covering the sexual maturation phase, or with 3 weeks E100 followed by 3 weeks placebo [E100(3)].

Marginal growth increase, altered bone quality and polycystic ovaries in female prepubertal rats after treatment with the aromatase inhibitor exemestane.

Background: Aromatase inhibition has been proposed as a potential approach for growth enhancement in children with short stature, but detailed animal studies are lacking.

Aim: To assess the effect and potential adverse effects of aromatase inhibition on growth in female rats.

Methods: Prepubertal Wistar rats received intramuscular injections with placebo or the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at a dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/week (E10, E30, E100) for 3 weeks.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in growing mice is not prevented by simultaneous intermittent PTH treatment.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in medicine for treatment of chronic diseases. Especially in children, prolonged treatment causes growth retardation and early onset of osteoporosis. Human parathyroid hormone (PTH) has an anabolic effect on bone when administrated intermittently.

Correlation of high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography with bioluminescence imaging of multiple myeloma growth in a xenograft mouse model.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable B-cell neoplasia in which progressive skeletal lesions are a characteristic feature. Earlier we established an animal model for human MM in the immune-deficient RAG2(-/-)gammac(-/-) mouse, in which the growth of luciferase-transduced MM cells was visualized using noninvasive bioluminescence imaging (BLI). This model appeared well suited to study disease progression and response to therapy by identifying the location of various foci of MM tumor growth scattered throughout the skeleton and at subsequent time points the quantitative assessment of the tumor load by using BLI.

Adequate phosphate binding with lanthanum carbonate attenuates arterial calcification in chronic renal failure rats.

Background: Hyperphosphataemia is a risk factor for arterial calcification contributing to the high cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Calcium-based phosphate binders can induce hypercalcaemia and are associated with progression of vascular calcification. Therefore, the effect of lanthanum carbonate, a non-calcium phosphate binder, on the development of vascular calcification was investigated in uraemic rats.

Ozzy, a Jag1 vestibular mouse mutant, displays characteristics of Alagille syndrome.

The mouse mutant Ozzy, originating from an ENU-mutagenesis programme, displays a head bobbing phenotype. We report here that Ozzy mice show a clear deficit in vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Micro-CT scanning of the inner ears showed narrowing and truncations of at least one of the semicircular canals and loss of the ampullae.

High-resolution X-ray microtomography is a sensitive method to detect vascular calcification in living rats with chronic renal failure.

Objective: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with a 10- to 20-fold increase in cardiovascular risk. Vascular calcification is a prominent feature of cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal failure and contributes to the excess mortality in this population. In this study, we explored in vivo X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) as a tool to detect and follow-up vascular calcifications in the aorta of living rats with adenine-induced CRF.

Histomorphometry and micro-computed tomography of bone augmentation under a titanium membrane.

Objectives: Bone augmentation underneath an occlusive titanium membrane is evaluated in most cases by means of serial histological sections and histomorphometry. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a less invasive and dynamic technique to measure bone volume in animals of a size that fits into the gantry. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the latter approach could match histomorphometry to assess bone augmentation under a titanium membrane.

Reduction of ring artefacts in high resolution micro-CT reconstructions.

High resolution micro-CT images are often corrupted by ring artefacts, prohibiting quantitative analysis and hampering post processing. Removing or at least significantly reducing such artefacts is indispensable. However, since micro-CT systems are pushed to the extremes in the quest for the ultimate spatial resolution, ring artefacts can hardly be avoided.

High-resolution X-ray microtomography for the detection of lung tumors in living mice.

In the present study, the feasibility of applying high-resolution microtomography (micro-CT) for the detection of lung tumors was investigated in live mice at an early and more advanced stage of tumor development. The chest area of anesthesized mice was scanned by X-ray micro-CT. In mice with a minor and heavy tumor load, micro-CT proved to be a fast and noninvasive imaging device for the detection of lung tumors.