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Vanessa R Yingling

Publications and source records attributed to Vanessa R Yingling.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparative assessment of bone mass and structure using texture-based and histomorphometric analyses.

The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology for quantitatively assessing bone quantity and anisotropy based on texture analysis using Gabor wavelets. The wavelet approach has the capability to simultaneously examine the images at low and high resolutions to gain information on both global and detailed local features of the bone image. The program that implemented the texture analysis gave measures of density (M(Density)) and anisotropy (M(Anisotropy)). It also allowed us to examine the texture energy at four orientations (0 degrees , 45 degrees , 90 degrees , 135 degrees) to gain insight about the details of the anisotropy. Analysis of templates of four simulated patterns, which had same number of dots but with differing orientations, demonstrated how the texture-based analysis differentiated between these templates. The measures of M(Anisotropy) discriminated between the four simulated patterns. The M(Density) measures were similar across all patterns. These outcomes matched the design intent of the simulated patterns. We also compared the trabecular bone images obtained from a previous study, in which the right forelimbs of normal female retired breeder beagle dogs (5-7 years old) were cast for 12 months to induce bone loss, using both histomorphometry and texture analysis. Both histomorphometry and the texture analysis detected significant differences in the trabecular bone of the distal metatarsal between the control and disuse groups. Percent trabecular bone (Tb.Ar/T.Ar) and the textural density parameter (M(Density)) were highly correlated (r=0.962). M(Anisotropy) was decreased (3.9%) after the 12-month disuse protocol, but was not significantly different from normal. However, the texture energy values at all orientations (0 degrees , 45 degrees , 90 degrees and 135 degrees) were significantly decreased in the disuse group. Therefore, texture analysis was able to assess anisotropy, which could not be extracted from histomorphometric parameters. We conclude that texture analysis is an effective tool for assessing 2D bone images that yields information regarding the quantity of bone as well as the orientation of the trabecular structure that can augment our ability to discriminate between normal and pathological bone tissue.

Animals↗

The effect of a short-term delay of puberty on trabecular bone mass and structure in female rats: a texture-based and histomorphometric analysis.

Accrual of bone mass and strength during development is imperative in order to reduce the risk of fracture later in life. Although delayed pubertal onset is associated with an increased incidence of stress fracture, evidence supports the concept of "catch up" growth. It remains unclear if deficits in bone mass associated with delayed puberty have long-term effects on trabecular bone structure and strength. The purpose of this study was to use texture-based analysis and histomorphometry to investigate the effect of a delay in puberty on trabecular bone mass and structure immediately post-puberty and at maturity in female rats. Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats (25 days) were randomly assigned to one of four groups; (1) short-term control (C-ST), (2) long-term control (C-LT), (3) short-term GnRH antagonist (G-ST) and (4) long-term GnRH antagonist (G-LT). Injections of either saline or gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-a) (100 microg/day) (Cetrotide, Serono, Inc.) were given intraperitoneally for 18 days (day 25-42) to both ST and LT. The ST groups were sacrificed after the last injection (day 43) and the LT groups at 6 months of age. Pubertal and gonadal development was retarded by the GnRA antagonist injections as indicated by a delay in vaginal opening, lower ovarian and uterine weights and suppressed estradiol levels in the short-term experimental animals (G-ST). Delayed puberty caused a transient reduction in trabecular bone area as assessed by histomorphometry. Specifically, the significant deficit in bone area resulted from a decreased trabecula number and an increase in trabecular separation. Texture analysis, a new method to assess bone density and structural anisotropy, correlated well with the standard histomorphometry and measured significant deficits in the density measure (M(Density)) in the G-ST group that remained at maturity (6 months). The texture energy deficit in the G-ST group was primarily in the 0 degrees orientation (-13.2%), which measures the longitudinal trabeculae in the proximal tibia. However, the deficit in the G-LT group was in the 45 degrees and 135 degrees orientations. These results suggest that any "catch-up" growth following the cessation of the GnRH-antagonist injection protocol may be directed in trabeculae oriented perpendicular to 0 degrees at the expense of trabeculae in other orientations.

Animals↗

Short-term delay of puberty causes a transient reduction in bone strength in growing female rats.

Multiple factors affect the structural development of the skeleton; in particular, estrogen levels during growth are an important factor in the pathogenesis of bone fragility. The delay of menarche and infrequent menstrual cycles decrease estrogen levels during adolescence and decrease peak bone mass. The aim of this study was to determine if delayed puberty through administration of a GnRH antagonist initiated prior to the onset of the first estrus cycle would delay the increase in estrogen levels and impede bone strength development in female rats. Twenty-three-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups; 1) short-term control group (C-ST) (n = 12), 2) long-term control (C-LT) (n = 12), 3) short-term GnRH antagonist group (G-ST) (n = 12) and 4) long-term GnRH antagonist group (G-LT) (n = 12). Injections (0.2 ml) of either saline or GnRH antagonist (100 microg/day) (Cetrotide, Serono, Inc) were given intraperitoneally for a duration of 18 days. Pubertal and gonadal development was retarded as indicated by a delay in vaginal opening (an indicator of pubertal onset), lower ovarian and uterine weights and lower estradiol levels in the short-term experimental animals (G-ST). However, at maturity (G-LT), there were no significant differences found in these measures. A delay in the timing of puberty significantly attenuated the development of femoral bone strength at 6 weeks of age. Peak moment, yield moment and stiffness in the G-ST group were all significantly less than the C-ST group. Cortical width was significantly attenuated due to the increased percentage of marrow area per total bone area in the G-ST group. However, femoral bone strength was recovered at maturity (G-LT). In summary, a transient delay in pubertal timing has short-term effects on bone strength development. In the current animal model of delaying puberty through GnRH antagonist injections, there appears to be no long-term effects on bone strength.

Animals↗

Dynamic loading affects the mechanical properties and failure site of porcine spines.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of load rate on the mechanical characteristics of spinal motion segments under compressive loading. DESIGN: An in vitro experiment using a porcine model which ensured a homogeneous population for age, weight, genetic background and physical activity. BACKGROUND: Spinal motion segments comprise of viscoelastic materials, and as a result the rate of loading will modulate mechanical characteristics and fracture patterns of the segments. METHODS: Twenty-six cervical porcine spines were excised immediately post-mortem with all soft tissue intact. Spines were then separated into two specimens each consisting of three vertebral bodies and the two intervening intervertebral discs (C2-C4 and C5-C7) and loaded to failure under five loading rates (100, 1000, 3000, 10 000 and 16 000 N s(-1)). After the specimens failed, they were dissected to determine the mode of failure. RESULTS: Dynamic loading increases the ultimate load compared with quasi-static loading (100 N s(-1)), whereas the magnitude of dynamic loading (1000-16 000 N s(-1)) appears not to have a significant affect. Stiffness behaved in a similar manner. The displacement to failure of specimens decreased as load rate increased, although there was a diminishing effect at high load rates. Furthermore, failure at low load rates occurred exclusively in the endplate, whereas failure of the vertebral body appeared with greater frequency at higher load rates. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical characteristics and resulting injuries of porcine spinal motion segments were affected as the loading rates changed from quasi-static to dynamic. The modulating factors of the mechanical characteristics of the spine need to be understood if valid models are to be designed which will increase the understanding of spinal function, and are important for choosing better injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes.

Journal Article↗