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C Chappard

Publications and source records attributed to C Chappard.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of specimen conditioning on the microarchitectural parameters of trabecular bone assessed by micro-computed tomography.

The best way to preserve the mechanical properties of bone specimens is hydration in NaCl, whereas the reference process in microCT analysis is defatting. However, for finite element modelling (FEM) it is necessary to use the same bone specimens for biomechanical testing and 3D imaging. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sample conditioning on trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters. Trabecular bones were analysed by microCT under three successive conditions: first, the fatted samples were analysed immersed in NaCl (process N); second, they were hydrated for 24 h then imaged without immersion (process H); third, the samples were defatted before analysis (process D). The microarchitectural parameters bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp), number (Tb.N) and thickness (Tb.Th) were calculated. Except for BV/TV, there was no significant difference between the processes N and D. In process H, BV/TV, Tb.Th and Tb.N were higher and BS/BV and Tb.Sp were lower than in process D. Results showed that the process D may be replaced by the process N. The process H induced significant differences in microarchitectural parameters when compared to process D. Nevertheless, this sample conditioning should be used to develop FEM when microCT images are to be acquired during compressive testing.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Subchondral bone micro-architectural alterations in osteoarthritis: a synchrotron micro-computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the three-dimensional (3D) micro-architecture of subchondral trabecular (Tb) bone in osteoarthritis (OA). Due to high signal-to-noise ratio and high resolution, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) by synchrotron radiation is considered as the gold standard for bone micro-architecture imaging. DESIGN: Subchondral bone were extracted from femoral heads in OA cases in areas without cartilage (OAc-; n=6) and in adjacent areas with cartilage (OAc+; n=6) and compared to eight subchondral bone cores from osteoporosis cases (OP). The voxel size of images was 10.13 microm. We measured the bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and morphological parameters: Tb thickness (TbTh), Tb spacing (TbSp), Tb number (TbN), and bone surface/bone volume (BS/BV). The degree of anisotropy (DA), the connectivity by the Euler number and the degree of mineralization (DM) were equally assessed. RESULTS: BV/TV and morphological parameters showed significant differences between OAc- and OP samples (P<0.01 except TbTh: P<0.05) and between OAc- and OAc+ (0.05<P<0.01) but no difference between OAc+ and OP except TbN (P<0.01). The connectivity was higher in OAc- comparatively to OAc+ and OP. The DA were significantly different between OA and OP cases (P<0.01) but not between OAc- and OAc+ specimens. The DMs (mean+/-SD) were 0.817+/-0.142 g/cm(3), 0.873+/-0.161 g/cm(3), 0.906+/-0.156 g/cm(3) for OAc-, OAc+, OP (P<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: Subchondral bone changes were mainly observed in advanced OA, when cartilage has been deleted and preserved in adjacent area. These data suggest that subchondral bone changes would be rather secondary to the cartilage deterioration than a primitive mechanism of OA. Nevertheless, longitudinal data could bring more accurate conclusions.

Aged↗

Bone status in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Traditional bone involvement, such as osteoitis fibrosa, has become very rare (< 1%) in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT); nevertheless, fractures seem more frequent than in controls, with a predilection for fractures of the distal extremity of the radius, pelvis, ribs and vertebrae, and a relative modest incidence of fractures of the upper extremity of the femur. Histo-morphometric studies have stressed a discrepancy between cortical and trabecular bone with an increase of bone remodeling. The cortical width is constantly diminished and the cortical porosity is increased whereas trabecular volume is normal and micro-architecture preserved. Bone mineral density (BMD) allows an early diagnosis of bone disease and takes a growing place in the management of patients. Since the consensus conference in 1991, the measurement of BMD has been incorporated in the surgical decision with a threshold: Z-score < -2. The demineralisation predominates on sites rich in cortical bone (1/3 proximal of the distal radius); the radius, which was the first site evaluated for technical reasons, is also the most discriminating one. Spine demineralisation is met in more severe forms and BMD measurement of the whole body is promising but requires more studies. In the absence of a radical processing, moderate forms remain stable, whereas more severe forms have a tendency to deteriorate. The evaluation of spine and femoral BMD is useful for the follow-up because the bone gain after parathyroidectomy is significant early on at these sites (rich in trabecular bone with high bone turnover), whereas the BMD of radius is relatively stable.

Bone Density↗

Evaluation of error bounds on calcaneal speed of sound caused by surrounding soft tissue.

For absorptiometry measurements, soft tissue may have an impact on quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements. In the present study, we focused primarily on the quantification of measurement error on speed of sound (SOS) caused by surrounding soft tissue. The relevant soft tissue parameters affecting the inherent SOS inaccuracies are thickness and sound velocity. To meet our goal, SOS measurements were taken at the right heel using a QUS imaging device in 21 healthy subjects. Site-matched measurements of soft tissue thickness (STT) and bone width were performed using magnetic resonance imaging of the heel. Several bone velocities were calculated either by accounting for bone width (SOSBW) only or by taking into account the exact path lengths of all major components traversed by ultrasound &lapr;V(b)). Given that soft tissue composition is difficult to determine in vivo, we chose to estimate lower and upper error bounds on bone velocity (V(b lower) and V(b upper)) by spanning the full range of available values in the literature. The mean BW was 30.7 +/- 2.7 mm and the mean medial and external STTs were 8.8 +/- 1.7 and 8.5 +/- 1.5 mm, respectively. Accounting for true BW only resulted in no significant difference between SOS (1533 +/- 37) and SOSBW (1531 +/- 33). By contrast, accounting for both true BW and surrounding soft tissue resulted in an increase in the calculated bone velocity and statistically significant differences between SOS and V(b upper) (1568 +/- 36) and V(b lower) (1542 +/- 34). Root mean square errors between SOS and the calculated velocities were 0.34, 2. 32, and 0.70% for SOSBW, V(b upper), and V(b lower), respectively. We report here measurement errors caused by soft tissue to be 3 to 20 times higher than the SOS short-term precision (SOS coefficient of variation of 0.1%). Our results suggest that inaccuracies in SOS measurement caused by overlying soft tissue cannot be neglected. Overlying soft tissues may influence outcomes of longitudinal studies, especially if variations in tissue thickness and composition occur during the longitudinal follow-up. A practical way of minimizing the measurement error could be to perform an adequate correction for the overlying soft tissue. However, ideally, this should require knowing both the thickness and sound velocity in soft tissue. One might preferably conduct experimental investigations that directly control soft tissue thickness and composition to resolve this problem.

Adult↗

Ultrasound measurement on the calcaneus: influence of immersion time and rotation of the foot.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of immersion time and rotation of the heel around the leg axis on the reproducibility of measurements using an ultrasound bone imaging scanner (UBIS) with a temperature-controlled water bath. Measurements were obtained in 10 men, 11 premenopausal women and 10 postmenopausal women. The right foot of all subjects was scanned 12 times with an interval of 3 min between each scan. The first 10 measurements, performed to study the effect of immersion time, were taken without intermediate repositioning. Measurements 11 and 12 were also taken without removing the foot, but the calcaneus position was varied by an angle of +/-2.5 degrees with respect to the reference position used during the first 10 measurements. Prolonged immersion of the heel led to a decrease in the variations of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters between successive measurements. Following rapid variations with immersion time, the QUS parameters reached a plateau. The effect of immersion time on measurement error remained significant until the first two or three scans for broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and until the sixth or seventh scans for speed of sound (SOS). The variation in BUA was more pronounced (p<0.05) for the group of postmenopausal women (20. 7% change in BUA between the first and tenth scans; p<0.005) than for the group of premenopausal women (6.8% change in BUA between the first and tenth scans; p<0.005). The variations in SOS were similar in the two groups (0.8% variation; p<0.005). The impact of immersion time was smaller for men than for women [2.5%, (p<0.01) and 0.4% (p<0.005) of the change between the first and tenth scans for BUA and SOS respectively]. On the whole, the measurement errors due to rotation of the heel were lower than those caused by immersion time. The variations were significant only in men and premenopausal women. Both immersion time and rotation of the heel may play a role in the precision of QUS and should be carefully standardized, particularly for longitudinal studies. In addition, following these results we have adopted a standardized protocol to derive the technique reproducibility in groups of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The coefficients of variation were 1.1% for BUA and 0.1% for SOS in premenopausal women, and 1.4% for BUA and 0.13% for SOS in postmenopausal women.

Adult↗

Clinical evaluation of spine morphometric X-ray absorptiometry.

A new method for vertebral height measurements, morphometric X-ray absorptiometry (MXA) based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, has been proposed. This technique overcomes some limitations of morphometric radiography (MRX): the effective radiation dose is low, some sources of geometric distortion are eliminated, such as dependence on patient position, magnification gradient, and the effect of scoliosis is minimized. The purpose of this study was to compare morphometric parameters obtained by both methods (MXA and MRX), and to evaluate the agreement between morphometric evaluations and qualitative reading for vertebral fracture diagnosis. The evaluation was performed with an Hologic QDR 2000 device in 67 women without vertebral fractures and 31 women with vertebral fractures (according to a qualitative assessment). The reproducibility of the image analysis was <4% and comparable to MRX. The estimated bias between the two methods was on average 10 mm, and was a function of the vertebral height, according to the Bland and Altman method. The agreement between MXA and other methods for vertebral fracture diagnosis was poor for the thoracic level above T7, due to a lack of resolution and rib interposition. Agreement was also low for T10, due to the motion of the diaphragm muscle. MXA cannot currently be used for the diagnosis of thoracic vertebral fracture in clinical practice. Technological improvements are necessary to make this promising method useful as a screening tool to evaluate the presence of thoracic vertebral fractures.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Assessment of the relationship between broadband ultrasound attenuation and bone mineral density at the calcaneus using BUA imaging and DXA.

The purposes of this study was to determine the relationship between broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and bone mineral density (BMD) measured at different regions of the calcaneus with identical site-matched regions of interest (ROIs). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements of the calcaneus and BUA imaging were performed in 30 women (15 premenopausal and 15 postmenopausal). Four square ROIs were located in the great tuberosity and one square ROI in the foramen calcaneus. A ROI adapted to the shape and size of the whole calcaneus was also considered. All ROIs were analyzed three times with both techniques to minimize intra-observer variability. The correlation coefficient between attenuation and frequency was used as an index of BUA measurement error. Before accepting a measurement of BUA in inhomogeneous material, it could be useful to map the spatial variations of the measurement error. In all ROIs we found the BUA and BMD were strongly related (r = 0.78-0.91, p < 0.001). The correlation between BUA and BMD was slightly higher in the inferior part of the posterior tuberosity than in the superior part and in the foramen calcaneus. The very high correlation between attenuation and frequency found in all ROIs (r = 0.99) suggests that measurement errors of propagation were probably not significant. Ultrasound imaging yields the opportunity for studying the spatial acoustic properties in the calcaneus and their relation to bone mass or structural parameters provided by independent imaging techniques. BUA measured with current transmission techniques reflects mainly bone mass, and microarchitecture to a smaller extent.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Quantitative ultrasound imaging at the calcaneus using an automatic region of interest.

A new approach to measuring bone properties at the calcaneus using ultrasound parametric imaging has recently emerged. However, an additional source of observer-related error is the substantial regional variations in the pattern of ultrasound parameters. The contribution of intra-observer and inter-observer variability to the coefficient of variation can be eliminated using an algorithm which selects the region of interest (ROI) completely automatically. The objective of the present study was the clinical assessment of an automatic ROI for both broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) measurement using ultrasound parametric imaging. The automatic ROI was defined as the circular region of lowest attenuation in the posterior tuberosity of the calcaneus. We have tested this algorithm using clinical images of the calcaneus from 265 women. Mean coefficients of variation were 1.6% (95% confidence interval 1.4%-1.9%) and 0.26% (95% confidence interval 0.23%-0.32%) for BUA and SOS respectively (standardized CV was 2.1% for BUA and 2.6% for SOS). Z-scores in an osteoporotic group were -0.61 and -0.52 for BUA and SOS respectively. In healthy women, the age-related decline was -0.50 dB/ MHz per year (0.7%/year) for BUA and -1.2 m/s per year (0.08%/year) for SOS. In the subgroup of healthy postmenopausal women, using stepwise multiple regression, we found that BUA was predicted best by years since menopause (YSM) and weight, with overall model r2 = 0.28; SOS was predicted best by YSM only (r2 = 0.21). Neither the range of biological variation of ultrasound parameters nor the clinical value were affected by the choice of the region of lowest attenuation for measurement. The automatic procedure was totally independent of operator interaction, therefore excluding loss of precision due to intra- or inter-observer variability. The results showed the high precision and robustness of the procedure. These factors make this approach viable for routine clinical use.

Aged↗

Broadband ultrasound attenuation imaging: a new imaging method in osteoporosis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness in osteoporosis of a new ultrasound imaging device able to create a parametric image of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) at the os calcis. Three regions of interest were located in the great tuberosity of the os calcis. Precision was evaluated in 37 patients. Calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) and BUA were compared in 33 patients. In 236 patients (including 77 with osteoporotic fractures), BUA and lumbar and femoral BMD measurements were performed. The measurements were compared using correlation coefficients. Their clinical value was estimated by comparisons of the results between patients with fractures and age-matched controls, using comparisons of the means, areas under the ROC curves, and logistic regression. Precision was in a 1.4-3.3% range. Local BUA and BMD were highly correlated (r = 0.88). Significant correlations were found between BUA and lumbar (r = 0.56) and femur (r = 0.66) BMD. In multiple regression, years since menopause and weight were significant predictors of BUA. Patients with fractures had lower BUA and BMD than age-matched controls. BUA showed the largest difference between the two populations (13-16%). Areas under the ROC curves were similar for BUA and BMD. Logistic regression after adjustment for confounding factors showed that BUA discriminated between fracture and nonfracture subjects. Broadband ultrasound attenuation imaging improves the reproducibility of ultrasound measurements. It may be useful in osteoporosis, due to its good discriminating value.

Adult↗

Bone effects of dydrogesterone in ovariectomized rats: a biologic, histomorphometric, and densitometric study.

It has been suggested that progesterone might affect bone metabolism. Dydrogesterone (DD) has a chemical structure very close to that of natural progesterone, without androgenic effects. We compared the effect of a daily treatment with DD and estradiol (E2, 40 micrograms/kg) on 70 female rats (8 weeks old), divided in seven groups: controls; ovariectomized (OVX); OVX + E2, OVX + DD 2.5 mg/kg; OVX + DD 5 mg/kg; OVX + E2 + DD 2.5 mg/kg; and OVX + E2 + DD 5 mg/kg. Two months later we studied estradiol, osteocalcin, and acid phosphatases (TRAP) levels; histomorphometric parameters at the trabecular part of the femur; and bone mineral density of the tibiae (trabecular and cortical areas) and caudal vertebrae (cortical bone) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR 2000). In the OVX group, we found a nonsignificant increase of osteocalcin and TRAP, a decrease in the trabecular bone volume, and an increase in the intertrabecular distance. These variations were not seen in the groups treated with E2 (with or without DD). DD had no effect on trabecular architecture parameters. It induced a dose-dependent increase in the osteoclast number (TRAP + cells), without increase in trabecular separation. There was no difference in bone density of caudal vertebrae between the different groups, nor of the tibial density between the OVX and OVX + DD groups. The bone densities were not different in the control and E2-treated groups, with or without DD. During dydrogesterone treatment, there is an increase in osteoclast number, without an apparent increase in osteoclast function. Dydrogesterone did not prevent bone loss due to ovariectomy in rats, and it did not affect the protective effect of estradiol.

Analysis of Variance↗

[Severe subglottic edema caused by bird breeder's disease?].

A 44-year old female farmer and pigeon-breeder presented with paroxysmal attacks of dyspnoea caused by recurrent subglottic laryngeal oedema. The symptoms disappeared under corticosteroid therapy but returned after discharge from hospital. The avian origin of the disease, suggested by a strongly positive search for avian precipitins, was confirmed when the attacks ceased after antigen exclusion. A realistic inhalation challenge test performed on two occasions with pigeon's feathers and droppings as antigens resulted, within 15 minutes, in a 4-hour long attack of paroxysmal laryngeal dyspnoea. The dyspnoea was caused by subglottic laryngeal oedema visualized, 15 minutes after the inhalation, by pharyngeal and bronchial fibroscopy. Nasal manifestations have been reported in patients with hypersensitivity of the lung, but it seems that no case of subglottic oedema in pigeon-breeder's disease has yet been published.

Adult↗

[A rare cause of hypercalcaemia: familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (author's transl)].

Two cases of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) in the same family are presented. This congenital disease is characterized by biochemical evidence of parathyroid toxicity but differs from primary hyperparathyroidism by the presence of normal parathyroid hormone levels. However, histomorphometric studies of transiliac bone biopsy specimens after double-labeling with tetracycline shows intensive remodelling of bone tissue with increase in osteoclastic resorption and osteoblastic apposition areas, all features identical with those observed primary hyperparathyroidism. The authors suggest hypersensitivity of target-organs (bones and kidneys) to parathyroid hormone as a probable physiopathological mechanism for FHH.

Adult↗