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Biomedical subjects

S Lozanoff

Publications and source records attributed to S Lozanoff.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Accuracy and precision of computerized models of the anterior cranial base in young mice.

The quantitative analysis of craniofacial growth in experimental animals relies on computerized reconstructions in order to measure changes in form. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of computerized three-dimensional models of the anterior cranial base in mice. Ten 1-day-old non-littermates were collected and the anterior cranial base was dissected free from surrounding connective tissues. Eleven measurements were recorded from these cartilages. Twenty developmentally equivalent mice were collected and fixed with either glutaraldehyde or formalin and the anterior cranial base from each specimen was subjected to computerized reconstruction. The corresponding 11 measurements were recorded from these models. Results showed that the measurements recorded from the computerized models were not significantly different from those recorded directly from the actual anterior cranial bases. Therefore, the reconstructions were considered accurate. An analysis of the coefficients of error revealed that measurements derived from the computerized models were significantly more precise than those recorded directly from the actual tissue. The computerized three-dimensional reconstruction method provides accurate and precise models of the anterior cranial base in young mice.

Animals

Evaluation of a new periodontal curet. An in vitro study.

Removal of plaque and calculus from subgingival root surfaces is a fundamental aspect of periodontal therapy. A new type of periodontal curet (Gracey Curvette Sub-0) has been designed to better adapt to the root surfaces that may be encountered in periodontal pockets of incisor teeth. The new curet (test) was compared to a Gracey curet 1/2 (conventional) in their ability to remove deposits from the subgingival root surfaces of incisor teeth in an in vitro model. A dentiform model mounted on a dental chair was used with artificial gingiva, 6 mm pocket depths and subgingival root surfaces covered with black enamel paint. 2 groups of 12 hygienists used, on a timed basis, either the test or conventional curet on 4 of the incisor teeth and then switched to the alternate instrument for the remaining four incisors. The extent of surface material removal was determined using a computerized video routine. The test curet removed significantly (p less than 0.001) more of the surface material from all subgingival incisor root surfaces than the conventional curet (60.7% versus 46.3%). Both instruments were most effective at labial surfaces. The test curet was least effective at proximal surfaces and the conventional curet least effective at lingual surfaces. The greatest statistical difference between instruments was apparent at lingual surfaces of maxillary incisors and the least at mesial surfaces of mandibular incisors.

Alveolar Bone Loss

An imaging routine for assessing the efficacy of instruments used for scaling and root planing.

Deposits of dental plaque or calculus are typically quantified using planimetric techniques. However, error is introduced into a quantitative analysis of plaque deposits using these methods, since they require a significant amount of human intervention. The purpose of this study is to describe and validate a computerized imaging routine which has the potential to objectively identify material on dental roots and measure the area covered by these deposits. Dentiform teeth with simulated plaque were videorecorded. A computer routine was developed based on a flood-fill algorithm which analyzed images of the dentiform teeth and determined the amount of simulated plaque on their root surfaces. Results showed that the dentiform teeth and their simulated plaque patterns are duplicated by the imaging routine in a rapid and reliable fashion. The system shows a high degree of accuracy with an average error factor of only 0.58%. As well, the system enables precise reproducibility with an average error factor of only 0.71%.

Algorithms

Implementing Boissonnat's method for generating surface models of craniofacial cartilages.

Surface modeling of embryonic craniofacial morphology typically is accomplished using data derived from planar contours. Methods currently available for reconstructing embryonic craniofacial anatomy from contour data rely on shortest-path algorithms in order to interpolate surfaces. However, these techniques either fail or require a considerable amount of user interaction when complex surfaces are modeled since foramina and structural divisions cannot be interpolated properly. Recently, a new approach has been described by Boissonnat that constructs a polyhedral volume between sets of planar contours. Surfaces are interpolated by identifying the planes formed when the contours intersect the polyhedron. The purpose of this study is to determine whether craniofacial cartilages from embryonic mice can be reconstructed in an accurate and reliable fashion using this method. Embryonic mice were collected and processed for routine histological sectioning. Serial sections of the anterior cranial base and nasal capsule were obtained, subjected to videomicroscopy, and modeled. Reconstructions of the anterior cranial base and nasal capsule from embryonic mice were compared to the same structures in age-matched specimens that were processed with whole-mount staining procedures. The models compared well with the whole-mount preparations. In addition, the reconstruction technique accurately rendered complex surface features of the embryonic anterior cranial base and nasal capsule including foramina and structural branches.

Algorithms

A method to prevent wrinkles in autoradiographic emulsion when staining plastic embedded sections with hematoxylin and eosin-phloxine.

A procedure was developed which prevents wrinkles in autoradiographic emulsion when sections, embedded in glycol methacrylate, are stained with hematoxylin and eosin-phloxine. Craniofacial tissues labeled with tritiated thymidine were collected and mounted on slides. Slides were dipped in emulsion, stored for one month and developed. The slides were immersed in liquefied celloidin and subsequently stained with a modified hematoxylin and eosin-phloxine procedure. Results showed that the emulsion did not wrinkle and the procedure did not effect the occurrence of labeled cells.

Animals

Comparison between two finite-element modelling methods for measuring change in craniofacial form.

Finite-element modelling of form change is a useful morphometric technique for measuring differences between anatomical patterns. Two different finite-element algorithms currently are used. One method requires normalized coordinates as input data, while the second method uses globalized coordinates as input data. This study determines whether the two finite-element methods provide equivalent measures of three-dimensional form change when applied to the nasal septa of embryonic mice. Computer models of the nasal septa from mice of 15 and 17 days gestation were generated. Homologous landmarks were identified so that each nasal septum was represented by a tetrahedral finite-element. These elements were subjected to both finite-element modelling methods. Results show that the two algorithms use different interpolation functions and yield dissimilar intermediate results, but generate identical strain matrices as well as equivalent principal extensions, directions of form change, variables of form change, and graphical displays. Therefore, results are directly comparable from studies using either finite-element modelling method.

Animals

Developmental morphology of the solum nasi in the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus).

The solum nasi of Microcebus murinus is characterized by the presence of a zona annularis, continuity between the anterior transverse lamina and the paraseptal cartilage, a continuous paraseptal cartilage, a palatine cartilage and a posterior transverse lamina. It lacks a fibula reuniens and possibly a cartilage of the nasopalatine duct as well as a palatine papillary cartilage. The morphology in M. murinus closely resembles that seen in Tupaia and Galago. This affinity results from the retention of primitive traits. However, Galago is reported to lack a zona annularis, thus displaying a specialization not shared with M. murinus. Therefore, the zona annularis provides a useful trait for distinguishing between the ontogenies of M. murinus and Galago.

Animals

A computer graphics program for measuring two- and three-dimensional form change in developing craniofacial cartilages using finite element methods.

Allometric analysis of chondrocranial growth seeks to provide objective measures of morphogenetic form change during ontogeny of the primordial skull. Linear measures, typically employed to study differential growth, become problematic at the histological level since an external referencing system is impossible to achieve for microscopic anatomies in embryos. The purpose of this paper is to describe a computer graphics program which generates spatially invariant measures of two- and three-dimensional form change using finite element methods. Anatomical form change is viewed as a continuous deformation of an initial finite element representing an anatomical unit into a second configuration. The algorithm consists of isoparametric scaling of finite elements, strain matrix formulation, and size/shape variable derivation. The routine includes four segments serving to extract nodal data, generate the strain matrix relating the two morphologies as well as deriving corresponding size/shape variables, reference the major and minor axes of form change, and provide graphic display of the anatomical geometries. Applications are provided measuring two- and three-dimensional form change in the developing craniofacial cartilages of rats subjected to treatment with the known teratogen diazo-oxo-norleucine (DON). The finite element routine provides craniofacial form change variables which are expected in light of cellular alterations induced by DON administration. Finally, computational differences between this routine and similar approaches using finite element methods for analyzing biological form change are examined.

Animals

Surface modeling of craniofacial form in human embryos with a limited graphics terminal.

Three-dimensional morphology of the human embryo typically is visualized through computerized modeling techniques utilizing planar contours as the data base. Through this approach, tissue outlines are digitized, and contour lines are superimposed, providing a depth perspective. However, these techniques represent embryonic tissues as discontinuous surfaces and therefore ignore morphological information between sections. The purpose of this study was to develop a computerized routine for the three-dimensional surface modeling of craniofacial morphology in human embryos. Tissue outlines are digitized, thus converting contour information into x,y,z coordinate data. The three-dimensional reconstruction program BCSURF opens the data file and plots each tissue polygon. A center is determined for each contour, and this value is used to divide each polygon into four segments. Surface patches are generated by mapping each segment onto the corresponding segment of subsequent sections. A face table is constructed representing the surface patches and plane normals are generated for each patch. The normal and depth values are appended to the face table, and these measures determine the color intensity for each patch. Finally, patches are plotted providing a polygon mesh model, and each patch is filled with a dither pattern according to shading values. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the craniofacial region in Carnegie embryos (stages 15-17) are generated, and major morphological features are observed. Although bilevel shading capabilities cause discontinuous shading textures, this simple and inexpensive system can be easily upgraded for high-resolution graphics.

Computer Simulation

Measuring histological form change with finite element methods: an application using diazo-oxo-norleucine (DON)-treated rats.

Analyses of drug-induced anatomical malformations routinely rely on linear measurements as a data base. Morphometric approaches utilizing these measures become inappropriate at the histological level at which a constant external referencing system is impossible to achieve. The purpose of this study was to quantify anatomical form change in the craniofacial region of late embryonic rats induced by a known teratogen, diazo-oxo-norleucine (DON), independent of any global referencing system. A sample of 17 untreated specimens of 17-day gestation served as the control. A second group, equivalent in number and age, received 2.0 mg DON on day 15. Homologous landmarks were identified in each specimen and craniofacial regions were partitioned with respect to these bounding nodes into nasal, oral, and mandibular elements. Form change was viewed as the continuous deformation of a reference craniofacial region from a 15-day untreated specimen into each final 17-day geometry. An interactive graphics program generated spatially invariant measures of form change through finite element methods. A local coordinate system was established for each element. A point within each region of the 15-day reference specimen was selected and the spatial relationship between this point and bounding nodes was quantified through interpolation functions. Size and shape variables were derived from a Lagrangian strain tensor, and values were compared between groups. Results showed that all three craniofacial regions were smaller in size among DON-treated specimens, but only oral and mandibular region shapes were different from controls. The finite element approach was considered superior to other histological morphometric techniques since an entire geometry was described and a visual description of form change as well as spatially invariant measures of size and shape change were derived.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced

Third trochanter incidence and metric trait covariation in the human femur.

The relationship between third trochanter incidence and femoral metric trait covariation has been investigated in a group of 60 left human femora. The experimental sample was constructed so that one group consisted of 15 male and 15 female femora which displayed a third trochanter and a second group consisted of an equal number of sexed long bones which lacked this trait. A battery of ten femoral measurements was sorted according to main effects and interactions and respective covariance matrices were tested for equivalence. Covariance matrices of sorted variables determined not to be significantly different were initially subjected to both ANOVA and MANOVA and subsequently to a principal component analysis. Covariance matrices determined to be significantly different were subjected to a principal component analysis separately. Results of this study indicate that third trochanter incidence is associated with short femora displaying robust proximal diaphyses. The gluteus maximus muscle may act as a primary factor governing third trochanter expression. Further, this infracranial discrete trait appears well suited for human taxonomy studies.

Analysis of Variance

The effect of lithium carbonate administration on growth in the domestic fowl.

Lithium carbonate is routinely used for the treatment of aggressive behavior disorders in adolescents. The current study was undertaken in order to determine the effect of lithium carbonate administration on growth in a domestic fowl model. The results showed that lithium treatment at a therapeutic level (0.2-2.0 mEq/L) did not significantly alter plasma pH levels, food intake, fecal output or body weight gain. Bivariate and multivariate analysis of tibial dimensions revealed that lithium treatment primarily caused increased growth of proximal epiphyseal height. Allometric analyses indicated that lithium administration increased the growth differential between proximal and distal epiphyses. Two possible mechanisms by which lithium carbonate administration may cause accelerated osseous growth are given.

Animals