Effects of genotype and sex on carcass composition, meat quality, digestive tract morphometries and leg bone dimensions of spent parent Pekin ducks

The purpose of the present study was to analyze carcass composition, physicochemical properties, muscle texture, and structure, as well as morphometry of the digestive tract and leg bone dimensions of Cherry Valley ducks (SM3 Heavy hybrid) and Orvia ducks (ST5 Heavy hybrid) after laying. A total of 32 ducks were dissected, 8 females and 8 males from each breeding set. Analysis of meat quality (breast muscle, leg muscle) in terms of color (L*, a*, b*), acidity (pH24), electrical conductivity (EC24), and basic chemical composition (protein, water, fat, collagen) was performed. Analysis of the texture and structure of the pectoral muscle was also performed. The dimensions of the various lengths of the digestive tract and the dimensions of the tibia and femur were analyzed. Cherry Valley ducks after laying have better slaughter performance and a higher proportion of breast muscle in the carcass (P < 0.001). Also more favorable chemical composition (protein, fat, water) and physical properties (acidity, electrical conductivity, thermal loss) of muscle. In terms of texture characteristics, the pectoral muscle of Cherry Valley ducks was more elastic and cohesive, but also more flexible with higher viscosity, while the pectoral muscles of Orvia ducks in terms of structure were characterized by smaller values of the analyzed characteristics (cross-sectional area of fibers and smaller vertical and horizontal diameter). Analyzing the morphometry of the digestive system, Orvia ducks were characterized by longer sections of the digestive tract, which certainly has a beneficial effect on the absorption of nutrients. In terms of tibia and femur measurements taken, there were no differences between genotypes, while males were characterized by higher values of the analyzed traits compared to females.

Evaluation of Potential Roles of Zinc Finger Homeobox 3 (Zfhx3) Expressed in Chondrocytes and Osteoblasts on Skeletal Growth in Mice

Bone formation is tightly modulated by genetically encoded molecular proteins that interact to regulate cellular differentiation and secretion of bony matrix. Many transcription factors are known to coordinate these events by controlling gene transcription within networks. However, not all factors involved are known. Here, we identified a novel function for Zinc Finger Homeobox 3 (Zfhx3), a gene encoding a transcription factor, as a regulator of bone metabolism. We knocked out Zfhx3 conditionally in mice in either chondrocytes or osteoblasts and characterized their bones by micro-CT in 12-week-old mice. We observed a negative effect in linear bone growth in both knockout mice but reduced bone mass only in mice with Zfhx3 deleted in osteoblasts. Loss of Zfhx3 expression in osteoblasts affected trabecular bone mass in femurs and vertebrae in both sexes but influenced cortical bone volume fraction only in females. Moreover, transcriptional analysis of femoral bones in osteoblast Zfhx3 conditional knockout mice revealed a reduced expression of osteoblast genes, and histological evaluation of trabecular bones suggests that Zfhx3 causes changes in bone formation and not resorption. The loss of Zfhx3 causes reductions in trabecular bone area and osteoid volume, but no changes in the expression of osteoclast differentiation markers or number of TRAP stained osteoclasts. These studies introduce Zfhx3 as a relevant factor toward understanding gene regulatory networks that control bone formation and development of peak bone mass.

Animal board invited review: Dietary transition from animal to plant-derived foods: Are there risks to health?

Animal-derived foods (ADFs) are a very varied group of foods, but many are nutrient rich and contain higher quality protein than provided by plant-derived foods such that a simple replacement of ADF protein is likely to lead to a reduction in overall protein quality. In addition, many ADFs are richer in some nutrients than plant-based foods (e.g. Fe, Ca) and these often have a higher bioavailability. ADFs also provide nutrients that plants cannot supply (e.g. vitamin B12) and some provide beneficial health functionality (e.g. hypotensive) which is not explained by traditional nutrition. However, there remains a good health reason to increase the proportion of plant-derived food in many diets to increase the intake of dietary fibre which is often consumed at very sub-optimal levels. It seems logical that the increased plant-derived foods should replace the ADFs that have the least benefit, the greatest risk to health and the highest environmental impact. Processed meat fits these characteristics and should be an initial target for replacement with plant-based based protein-rich foods that additionally provide the necessary nutrients and have high-quality dietary fibre. Processed meat covers a wide range of products including several traditional foods (e.g. sausages) which will make decisions on food replacement challenging. There is therefore an urgent need for research to better define the relative health risks associated with the range of processed meat-based foods. The aim of this review is to examine the evidence on the benefits and risks of this dietary transition including the absolute necessity to consider initial nutrient status before the replacement of ADFs is considered.

Manners of terminology and description in Galen's anatomy in the ancient Rome and their historical consequences up to the modern time

The oldest extant anatomy textbooks compiled in ancient Rome were by Galen who described in writing most of the various parts and organs of the body. History tells us that ever since the time of Galen, anatomical terminology would be a necessary and beneficial feature, but it also brought unexpected and annoying consequences into the field. The benefits are readily apparent in the case of muscle terminology. Galen identified more than 150 different kinds of skeletal muscles, most of which were unnamed, hence difficult to identify without professional knowledge of anatomy. Vesalius introduced detailed anatomical illustrations in Fabrica (1543), which made the identification of the muscles easier. Bauhin then introduced proper descriptive names for the muscles in Theatrum anatomicum (1605), which enabled the identification of the muscles without illustrations. After the terminology became complex and diverse, a logically consistent standard nomenclature was established by Nomina anatomica (1895). The unexpected consequences may be found in the terminology of bones and joints. Galen gave 39 proper names for individual bones, and classified and termed the types of bony joints. Many of these terms have survived in modern anatomy as literal translations of the bone terms, as well as the joint terms. The annoying consequences may be found in the terminology of intestines. Galen divided the small and large intestines into three portions, such that the major part of the small intestine suspended by the mesentery was divided into two without sufficient reason. The Latin translations of jejunum and ileum were, respectively assigned to them by Mondino in his Anatomia written in 1316.

Lithium and the risk of fractures in patients with bipolar disorder: A population-based cohort study

Lithium is considered to be the most effective mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. Evolving evidence suggested lithium can also regulate bone metabolism which may reduce the risk of fractures. While there are concerns about fractures for antipsychotics and mood stabilizing antiepileptics, very little is known about the overall risk of fractures associated with specific treatments. This study aimed to compare the risk of fractures in patients with bipolar disorder prescribed lithium, antipsychotics or mood stabilizing antiepileptics (valproate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine). Among 40,697 patients with bipolar disorder from 1993 to 2019 identified from a primary care electronic health record database in the UK, 13,385 were new users of mood stabilizing agents (lithium:2339; non-lithium: 11,046). Lithium was associated with a lower risk of fractures compared with non-lithium treatments (HR 0.66, 95 % CI 0.44-0.98). The results were similar when comparing lithium with prolactin raising and sparing antipsychotics, and individual antiepileptics. Lithium use may lower fracture risk, a benefit that is particularly relevant for patients with serious mental illness who are more prone to falls due to their behaviors. Our findings could help inform better treatment decisions for bipolar disorder, and lithium's potential to prevent fractures should be considered for patients at high risk of fractures.

A comparison of maceration methods for the preparation of infant skeletal remains for forensic anthropological analysis

Very little literature currently exists prescribing which maceration method to use when preparing infant human remains, resulting in bone quality that is suitable for forensic anthropological analysis. The aim of the study was to test five maceration methods to determine which is most suitable for infant remains for forensic anthropological analysis. The sample included five neonate pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus), ranging between one to three days old. Five maceration methods were tested on the pig carcasses (one pig per maceration method) to determine their effectiveness. The methods included invertebrate maceration by meal worms, chemical maceration by bleach, chemical maceration by borax solution, enzymatic maceration by laundry detergent and sodium carbonate solution, and chemical maceration by sodium hypochlorite. A scoring method was created to assess the effectiveness of each maceration method. Invertebrate maceration and chemical maceration using bleach were the least successful methods of maceration (total maceration score = 8 respectively). Chemical maceration using borax and chemical maceration using sodium hypochlorite achieved complete maceration of the skeletal remains; however, they both resulted in artifacts that are unsuitable for forensic analysis (total maceration score = 14 respectively). Enzymatic maceration using laundry detergent and sodium carbonate was the most successful method (total maceration score = 17). The detergent technique subsequently successfully macerated all five sets of infant human remains. This study has validated that the enzymatic maceration technique using laundry detergent and sodium carbonate can be used to effectively macerate the remains of infant skeletal remains for forensic anthropological analysis.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of three MSCT for high resolution bone imaging

INTRODUCTION

Strategies for achieving high resolution varies between manufacturers. In CT, the helical mode with narrow collimation has long been considered as the gold standard for high-resolution imaging. More recently, incremental modes with small dexels and focal spot, have been developed but have not been compared with helical acquisitions under optimal conditions. The aim of this work is to compare the high-resolution acquisition strategies currently proposed by recent MSCT.

METHODS

Three CT systems were compared. A phantom was used to evaluate geometric accuracy, uniformity, scan slice geometry, and spatial resolution. Human dry bones were used to test different protocols on real bone architecture. A blind visual analysis was conducted by trained CT users for classifying the different acquisitions (p-values).

RESULTS

All systems give satisfactory results in terms of geometric accuracy and uniformity. The in-plane MTF at 5% were respectively 13.4, 15.9 and 18.1 lp/cm. Dry-bones evaluation confirms that acquisition#3 is considered as the best.

CONCLUSIONS

The incremental acquisition coupled with à small focal spot, and a high-sampling detector, overpasses the reference of low-pitch helical acquisitions for high-resolution imaging. Cortical bone, bony vessels, and tumoral matrix analysis are the very next challenges that will have to be managed to improve normal and pathologic bone imaging thanks to the availability UHR-CT systems.

Environmental sustainability assessment of a new food waste anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis hybridization system

This research conducted an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate an anaerobic digestion-co-pyrolysis (ADCo-Py) system in which pyrolysis was added to traditional food waste (FW) anaerobic digestion (AD) systems to treat the solid fraction and impurities separated from FW. The solid fraction, including impurities such as wooden chopsticks, plastics, eggshells, and bones, is usually incinerated, while pyrolysis can be a viable alternative to optimize FW treatment. The environmental impact of ADCo-Py was compared with stand-alone AD, pyrolysis, and ADCo-INC (AD with incineration of separated solids). The results indicated that both ADCo-Py (-1.726 kg CO2-Eq/kgFW) and ADCo-INC (-1.535 kg CO2-Eq/kgFW) outperform stand-alone AD (-0.855 kg CO2-Eq/kgFW) and pyrolysis (-0.181 kg CO2-Eq/kgFW) in mitigating global warming potential (GWP). Additionally, pretreatments were found to have the most significant influence on GWP, ecotoxicity potential (ETP), and acidification potential (AP). The two-step pretreatment in ADCo-Py, including the separation of solids and drying, significantly improved the environmental sustainability of the system when compared with standalone pyrolysis.

Effect of Excess Fluoride Exposure on Radiographic and Histopathological Changes in Long Bones of Rabbit

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of excess fluoride exposure on long bones in young rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). New Zealand White rabbits (n = 30) were randomly divided into five equal groups and were provided drinking water containing 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg added fluoride per ml ad lib for a period of 90 days. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 45, and 90 of the experiment, and femur samples were collected for fluoride estimation on day 90 after radiography of long bone before sacrifice. Study revealed significant increase in serum fluoride concentration following oral intake of excess fluoride. Alterations in activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and concentrations of creatinine and urea nitrogen in blood plasma were also recorded in animals receiving excess fluoride, though changes revealed inconsistent pattern. Radiographic changes in long bones in fluoride exposed rabbits included widening of metaphysis, thinning of cortical region, and a variety of osteopenic changes like osteoporosis and osteomalacia that were more prominent in animals receiving 200 ppm or more than 200 ppm fluoride in drinking water. Important changes in histomorphology of growth plate in long bones recorded in excess fluoride (> 100 ppm) exposed rabbits included irregular thickening of epiphyseal growth plate with haphazard orientation of chondrocytes forming nodular protrusion into metaphysis. Fluoride exposure induced both osteogenesis and osteoporosis to a degree varying with dose of fluoride exposure.

The effect of caponization on tibia bone histomorphometric properties of crossbred roosters

The negative effect of caponization on the structural, geometric and mechanical parameters of femur and tibia has been shown in a few studies. Nevertheless, its influence on tibia bone microarchitecture is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of castration on the microstructural parameters of the trabecular and compact bone of tibia bone in crossbred chickens. The experiment involved 96 roosters derived from crossing Yellowleg Partridge hens ([Formula: see text]-33) and Rhode Island Red cockerels (R-11) fattened until the 16th, 20th and 24th week of life. Animals were randomly divided into 2 groups of 48 each. Group I (control) consisted of intact roosters and group II (experimental) consisted of birds subjected to caponization at the 8th week of age. The castration surgery had no influence on some properties within compact bone such as osteon diameter On.Dm, osteon perimeter On.Pm, osteon area On.Ar, osteocyte lacunar number Ot.Lc.N, osteon bone area On.B.Ar, osteon wall thickness On.W.Th as well as thick-mature collagen content in all analyzed age groups of animals. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate that castration caused a decrease of Haversian canal area Hc.Ar, osteocyte lacunar area Ot.Lc.Ar and osteocyte lacunar porosity Ot.Lc.Po among the 16-week-old birds, decrease of Haversian canal perimeter Hc.Pm and increase of fraction of bone area On.B.Ar/On.Ar among 16- and 24-week-old individuals and also an increase of osteocyte lacunar density Ot.Lc.Dn in the osteons of the oldest roosters. Additionally, some microstructural parameters of trabecular bone show the negative effect of caponization. The youngest 16-week-old capons were characterized by thinnin the trabecular in the epiphysis part of tibia. Moreover, in the case of 24-week-old, there is an increase in the trabecular separation Tb.Sp with simultaneous decrease of trabecular number Tb.N compared to roosters, which may suggest the increase of the bone resorption among the oldest individuals. The increased bone turnover in the epiphysis part of the tibia bone also indicates changes in the collagen fibers distribution, where among 20-week-old animals there is a decrease in the content of immature thin collagen fibers with simultaneous increase in the content of mature thick collagen fibers. Furthermore, among the oldest 24-week-old individuals we can observe the increased thick-to-thin collagen ratio, which may be a sign of slowing down in bone formation.

Osteometric data of Avian Fauna of Armenia: A baseline for zoologists and archaeozoologists

Modern bird skeletons stored in the faunal collections of the Institute of Zoology of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology NAS Armenia constitute a source material for this dataset. The osteological material in the scientific collections has been accumulated in the course of faunal studies in Armenia over the span of 60 years. The osteometric dataset sheds light on the country's species diversity and includes cranial and postcranial measurements (carpometacarpus, humerus, tibia, femur, tarsometatarsus, radius and ulna) of 141 bird skeletons which belong to 81 bird species, 34 families and 17 orders. Bird skeletons have been collected by means of specimen collection from the wild for scientific study prior to 1990s when the practice was common and recovered opportunistically after 1990s from birds found dead through natural causes and incidents. Recent bird skeletons (bones) serve as a unique comparative resource for zoological research and for identifying bird bones recovered from archaeological and natural deposits.

Complete fatty replacement of lytic bone metastases following treatment. A case report, assessing response to treatment of bone metastases on CT imaging

Bone is the most common site for breast cancer metastases, occurring in up to 70% of patients, who have metastatic disease. The treatment of advanced breast cancer with bony metastases has significant health and economic implications including the costs of imaging, systemic therapy, and hospital admission. Therefore, accurate interpretation of response to therapy in bone metastases on post-treatment computed tomography (CT) imaging is an essential role of the radiologist in daily practice. It is well recognized that lytic metastases become sclerotic in response to treatment, but it is less appreciated that lytic metastases can become fatty in response to treatment as in this index case. We present a case of post-treatment lytic bone metastases demonstrating an unusual finding of complete fatty replacement within the lesions indicating a response to treatment.

Assessing the usefulness of Raman spectroscopy and lipid analysis of decomposed human bones in forensic genetics and molecular taphonomy

Bones are among the structures most likely to be recovered after death. However, the low quantity of preserved DNA and complex processing from sample to DNA profile make forensic DNA analysis of bones a challenging task. Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), have the potential to be useful as screening tools for DNA analysis and in decomposition studies. The objective of this research was to assess the usefulness of such molecular investigations. Femur samples collected from 50 decomposing human bodies were subjected to Raman spectroscopy and GC/MS. Assessment of nuclear DNA quantity and short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping efficiency were also performed. Raman parameters (crystallinity, carbonate-to-phosphate ratio, mineral-to-matrix ratio) and detected lipids were recorded. Background fluorescence proved problematic for Raman analysis of forensic bones. Regardless, it was not associated with less preserved DNA or less detected STR alleles. Fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and five types of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were detected. The main phosphate peak position in Raman spectra was significantly correlated with preserved DNA (p = 0.03713), while significantly more STR alleles were detected in bones containing methyl hexadecenoate (p = 0.04236). Detection of FAMEs in the bone matrix suggests a reaction between methanol produced by bacteria and free fatty acids, which are not associated with the level of preservation of endogenous DNA. The techniques assessed have shown to be useful in molecular taphonomy studies and forensic genetics.

Genetic determinants of periosteum-mediated craniofacial bone regeneration: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Periosteum-mediated bone regeneration (PMBR) is a recognized method for mandibular reconstruction. Despite its unpredictable nature and the limited degree to which it is understood, it does not share the concerns of developmental changes to donor and recipient tissues that other treatment options do. The definitive role of the periosteum in bone regeneration in any mammal remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic determinants of PMBR in mammals through a systematic review.

METHODS

Our search methodology was designed in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. We conducted a quality assessment of each publication, and evaluated the differences in gene expression between days 7 and 15.

RESULTS

A total of four studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The subjects and tissues examined in these studies were Wistar rat calvaria in two studies, mini-pigs in one study, and calves and mice in one study. Three out of the four studies achieved the necessary quality score of ≥ 3. Gene expression analysis showed increased activity of genes responsible for angiogenesis, cytokine activities, and immune-inflammatory responses on day 7. Additionally, genes related to skeletal development and signaling pathways were upregulated on day 15. Conclusions: The results suggest that skeletal morphogenesis is regulated by genes associated with skeletal development, and the gene expression patterns of PMBR may be characterized by specific pathways.

The effects of PPARγ inhibitor on bones and bone marrow fat in aged glucocorticoid-treated female rats

Progressive bone marrow (BM) fat accumulation is a common bone loss characteristic in older populations and glucocorticoid (GC)-induced skeletal destruction that is inversely associated with bone synthesis and directly associated with increased peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression. PPARγ inhibition is an efficient therapeutic strategy for aged- and GC-related skeletal disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PPARγ inhibition on aged GC-treated female rats. It was hypothesised that bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) could inhibit marrow adiposity and improve osteogenesis by inhibiting PPARγ, thereby preventing GC-induced osteoporosis (GIO). Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32, age = 18 months) were randomly allocated to one of the following groups: (1) control, (2) BADGE (30 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal), (3) methylprednisolone (MP; 30 mg/kg/day, subcutaneous), and (4) MP + BADGE. After eight weeks of treatment, bone density (BD) and trabecular bone microarchitectures were quantified by micro-computed tomography (CT), and BM adipocytes were quantified by histopathology. Additionally, mRNA and protein expression of adipogenic and osteogenic markers were quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, serum bone turnover biomarker levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MP treatment led to marrow adipogenesis and bone deterioration. However, rats treated with MP + BADGE showed lower marrow adipogenesis, as indicated by smaller marrow adipocyte diameter, decreased density and area percentages, reduced expression of marrow adipogenic genes and proteins, improved BD and trabecular microarchitectures, increased expression of osteogenic genes and proteins, and higher levels of serum bone formation markers. These results were consistent with the differences observed between control and BADGE mono-treated rats. In conclusion, BADGE treatment attenuates BM adiposity and improves bone formation in aged GC-treated female rats by inhibiting PPARγ. Therefore, PPARγ might be a potential target for treating GIO in older populations.

Macromorphometric Analysis of Metastatic Lesions in Bones due to Breast Cancer: Contribution to Human Identification

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to report the metastatic lesions observed in identified skeletons whose deaths were caused by breast cancer complications to provide information and evidence that can be used in cases of human identification forensics.

METHODS

The research was conducted at the Centre for Forensic Anthropology Studies of the Faculty of Odontology of the University of Pernambuco (CEAF/FOP/UPE), Recife, Brazil. The data bank of the CEAF/FOP/UPE was searched for skeletons with the cause of death reported as due to breast cancer, resulting in five cases. The skeletons were arranged in anatomical positions and macroscopically inspected to register, describe and measure the lesions present to establish the macroscopic patterns of bone destruction caused by breast cancer.

RESULT

Of the five skeletons, two presented metastatic lesions. In the first, lesions were observed in a disseminated form, affecting almost all bones. The lesions were predominantly osteolytic and ellipsoid-shaped; however, mixed and circular lesions were also found. The second skeleton presented four lesions of mixed characteristics. The finding of bone lesions in the macroscopic analysis of skeletons may reveal a more advanced stage of the neoplasm, as well as its dissemination in areas little rich in hematopoietic tissue, such as the diaphyses of long bones, a situation widely observed in the first reported case.

CONCLUSION

Besides providing more excellent knowledge of their macroscopic presentation, bone metastatic lesions may act as an individualizing factor in human identification cases, narrowing the sample of possible victims.

[Reconstruction of posttraumatic deformities and defects]

The reconstruction of posttraumatic defects of bone and soft tissue, as well as residual deformities of the bone is often a lengthy and complicated procedure. Multiple surgical interventions are necessary to reconstruct the affected extremity and restore its functionality. To achieve an optimal result it often takes months or years and requires great patience and compliance of the patient. This treatment should be carried out in centers with the appropriate instrumental and human resources. Since the pathologies are often complex with bony deformities or loss of bone, as well as infections and soft tissue defects, the treatment should be carried out by very experienced surgeons to successfully manage these complex reconstructions. This often requires interdisciplinary cooperation, especially with experienced plastic surgeons. A soft tissue reconstruction for better blood circulation in the exposed bony structures, as well as the bony defects themselves, can be reconstructed at the same time.

Severe hypocalcemia after denosumab administration in a patient with chronic kidney disease: a case report

Patients with altered kidney function are at increased risk of hypocalcemia after denosumab administration. There is however a small number of studies and case reports describing hypocalcemia refractory to treatment. We describe a case of severe hypocalcemia, after the administration of three doses of denosumab, in a young patient with lupus nephritis under corticosteroid coverage and osteopenia. However, more studies are needed in order to extract a safe conclusion about the factors that contribute to the development of severe hypocalcemia in this group of patients.

Fauna of flies (Diptera) on bones and emergence succession: Forensic implications in skeletal remains

Fauna of flies on pig carcasses and bones and their emergence succession were investigated in Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 55,937 flies consisting 23 identified species in 16 families was collected from emergence traps after removal of carcasses and emergence containers containing bones. In emergence traps, Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus) emerged earliest, followed by Hydrotaea ignava (Harris). Piophilid flies emerged 22-25 days later than L. caesar, and their emergence periods were prolonged. In emergent flies from bones, Piophilidae was the dominant family, comprising five species; Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen) was the most abundant, followed by Liopiophila varipes (Meigen) and Protopiophila latipes (Meigen). Stearibia nigriceps and L. varipes remarkably dominated in summer bones and overwintering spring bones, respectively. Piophilids emerged from all 11 types of bones; the thoracic spine significantly yielded the most numerous individuals in S. nigriceps. The developmental duration of larvae of S. nigriceps in bones was estimated to be 12-34 days after placement of carcasses in summer. Observations of overwintering bones showed that L. varipes and Centrophlebomyia grunini (Ozerov) overwintered in larvae inside of bones. The importance of examining piophilid larvae in bones and their potential forensic usefulness are discussed.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose CT compared to standard-dose CT for identification of non-displaced fractures of the shoulder, knee, ankle, and wrist

OBJECTIVES

To compare the performance of ultra-low-dose computed tomography (ULD-CT) with standard-dose computed tomography (SD-CT) for the diagnosis of non-displaced fractures of the shoulder, knee, ankle, and wrist.

METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 92 patients receiving conservative treatment for limb joint fractures who underwent SD-CT followed by ULD-CT at a mean interval of 8.85 ± 1.98 days. Fractures were characterized as displaced or non-displaced. Objective (signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio) and subjective CT image quality were evaluated. Observer performance for ULD-CT and SD-CT detecting non-displaced fractures was estimated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (A_z).

RESULTS

The effective dose (ED) for the ULD-CT protocol was significantly lower than the ED for the SD-CT protocol (F = 422.21~2112.25, p < 0.0001); 56 patients (65 fractured bones) had displaced fractures, and 36 patients (43 fractured bones) had non-displaced fractures. Two non-displaced fractures were missed by SD-CT. Four non-displaced fractures were missed by ULD-CT. Objective and subjective CT image quality was significantly improved for SD-CT compared to ULD-CT. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy of SD-CT and ULD-CT for non-displaced fractures of the shoulder, knee, ankle and wrist were similar: 95.35% and 90.70%; 100% and 100%; 100% and 100%; 99.72% and 99.44%; and 99.74% and 99.47%, respectively. The A_z was 0.98 for SD-CT and 0.95 for ULD-CT (p = 0.32).

CONCLUSION

ULD-CT has utility for the diagnosis of non-displaced fractures of the shoulder, knee, ankle, and wrist and can support clinical decision-making.

Fetal facial bone growth: Post-mortem CT analysis

OBJECTIVE

To describe and model the normal growth of fetal facial bones and angles.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 118 fetal CT scans obtained at 19 to 41 weeks gestation after in utero fetal death or late miscarriage were analyzed. CT scan was followed by autopsy and pathological examination and only fetuses free from brain disease or abnormal craniofacial development were included. The measurements were taken using software for frontal, sagittal and 3D reconstruction from native axial sections. The optimal plane for bone analysis was chosen and the measurements made by multiplanar reconstruction.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant increase (P<0.001) in all measurements regardless of gestational age (GA) except those of the mandibulo-fronto-maxillary angle (P=0.412), the naso-mandibulo-maxillary angle (P=0.828) and mandibular width (P=0.86). There was no significant difference according to fetal sex. Based on these results, the corresponding growth curves were created. The anteroposterior mandibular diameter (APD) was very strongly correlated with GA (R=0.926, P<0.001). The following equation: GA=(8.187×APD)+4.257 can be used to estimate GA with a confidence interval (CI) of±2.42. The same applies to maxillary width (MW) (R=0.922; P<0.001). The equation GA=(11.059×MW)+7.571 can be used to estimate GA with a CI of 2.17.

CONCLUSION

The growth of the mandible, maxilla, zygomatic bone and orbits was measured and the corresponding growth curves were established. Several measurements were strongly correlated with gestational age.

A casework study: The effect of the porcine digestive process on animal carcasses and human teeth

What happens if a human body is fed to pigs? Although a popular notion in the entertainment industry, no scientific published literature exists that documents this porcine feeding behaviour, nor, more importantly, what elements of the cadaver may survive such a process. A study conducted in 2020, born out of a casework enquiry, aimed to investigate the following two questions; Would pigs feed on a human body? And, if so, what could be recovered post feeding event? Kangaroo carcasses, porcine carcasses (as human analogues) and 90 human teeth were prepared, and fed, to two domestic pigs, in a variety of feed scenarios. Biological traces including bones, bone fragments, teeth and tooth fragments were recovered both post-digestion from the faeces of the pigs, as well as uneaten from the porcine enclosure. 29% of all human teeth were recovered from the study; 35% of which were recovered post-digestion from the faeces and 65% were recovered uneaten from the porcine enclosure, Of the recovered human teeth, 81% were deemed suitable for identification by a forensic odontologist. From the 447 bones recovered from the enclosure, 94% could be identified to a bone type and species. From all 3338 bone fragments recovered from the faeces of the pigs, none retained any morphological traits that would allow further intelligence to be generated. Overall, it was found that pigs will feed on human analogues and will consume soft tissue, bones, and human teeth. Biological traces in the form of bones, bone fragments, teeth and tooth fragments may be recovered both post-digestion from the faeces, or from the porcine enclosure. The biological traces can be used for identification of an individual via forensic odontology, identification of a species via forensic anthropology and may be suitable for DNA analysis. The outcomes of this study generated new avenues for investigation in the case and may be used to inform future operational resources.

Comparing preservation substrates under field conditions for efficient DNA recovery in bone

Often bones are the only biological material left for the identification of human remains. As situations may occur where samples need to be stored for an extended period without access to cooling, appropriate storage of the bone samples is necessary for maintaining the integrity of DNA for profiling. To simulate DNA preservation under field conditions, pig rib bones were used to evaluate the effects of bone cleaning, buffer composition, storage temperature, and time on DNA recovery from bone samples. Bones were stored in three different buffers: TENT, solid sodium chloride, and ethanol-EDTA, at 20 °C and 35 °C for 10, 20, and 30 days. Bones were subsequently dried and ground to powder. DNA was extracted and quantified. Results show that temperature and storage time have no significant influence on DNA yield. DNA recovery from bones stored in solid sodium chloride or ethanol-EDTA was significantly higher compared to bones stored in TENT, and grinding of bones was facilitated by the extent of dehydration in solid sodium chloride and ethanol-EDTA compared to TENT. Overall, solid sodium chloride was found to be superior over ethanol-EDTA; when it comes to transportation, dry material such as salt eliminates the risk of leaking; it is non-toxic and in contrast to ethanol not classified as dangerous goods. Based on this study's results, we recommend NaCl as a storage substrate for forensic samples in cases where no cooling/freezing conditions are available.

Artificial intelligence vs. radiologist: accuracy of wrist fracture detection on radiographs

OBJECTIVE

To compare the performances of artificial intelligence (AI) to those of radiologists in wrist fracture detection on radiographs.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 637 patients (1917 radiographs) with wrist trauma between January 2017 and December 2019. The AI software used was a deep neuronal network algorithm. Ground truth was established by three senior musculoskeletal radiologists who compared the initial radiology reports (IRR) made by non-specialized radiologists, the results of AI, and the combination of AI and IRR (IR+AI) RESULTS: A total of 318 fractures were reported by the senior radiologists in 247 patients. Sensitivity of AI (83%; 95% CI: 78-87%) was significantly greater than that of IRR (76%; 95% CI: 70-81%) (p < 0.001). Specificities were similar for AI (96%; 95% CI: 93-97%) and for IRR (96%; 95% CI: 94-98%) (p = 0.80). The combination of AI+IRR had a significantly greater sensitivity (88%; 95% CI: 84-92%) compared to AI and IRR (p < 0.001) and a lower specificity (92%; 95% CI: 89-95%) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity for scaphoid fracture detection was acceptable for AI (84%) and IRR (80%) but poor for the detection of other carpal bones fracture (41% for AI and 26% for IRR).

CONCLUSIONS

Performance of AI in wrist fracture detection on radiographs is better than that of non-specialized radiologists. The combination of AI and radiologist's analysis yields best performances.

KEY POINTS

• Artificial intelligence has better performances for wrist fracture detection compared to non-expert radiologists in daily practice. • Performance of artificial intelligence greatly differs depending on the anatomical area. • Sensitivity of artificial intelligence for the detection of carpal bones fractures is 56%.

Organic Matrix and Secondary Metabolites in Nacre

Nacre, also called mother-of-pearl, is a naturally occurring biomineral, largely studied by chemists, structural biologists, and physicists to understand its outstanding and diverse properties. Nacre is constituted of aragonite nanograins surrounded by organic matrix, and it has been established that the organic matrix is responsible for initiating and guiding the biomineralization process. The first challenge to study the organic matrix of nacre lays in its separation from the biomineral. Several extraction methods have been developed so far. They are categorized as either strong (e.g., decalcification) or soft (e.g., water, ethanol) and they allow specific extractions of targeted compounds. The structure of the nacreous organic matrix is complex, and it provides interesting clues to describe the mineralization process. Proteins, sugars, lipids, peptides, and other molecules have been identified and their role in mineralization investigated. Moreover, the organic matrix of nacre has shown interesting properties for human health. Several studies are investigating its activity on bone mineralization and its properties for skin care. In this review, we focus on the organic constituents, as lipids, sugars, and small metabolites which are less studied since present in small quantities.