Le taxon du Pléistocène inférieur Paranthropus robustus, dont l'holotype est le spécimen TM 1517, a été défini en 1938 par le paléontologue R. Broom suite à la découverte d'éléments crâniens et postcrâniens sur le site de Kromdraai, Gauteng, en Afrique du Sud. Depuis, d'autres sites sud-africains ont contribué à l'extension de son hypodigme et fourni la preuve de sa contemporanéité à l'échelle macro-régionale avec des représentants des taxons Australopithecus et Homo. L'identification des hominines étant principalement basée sur l'analyse de la variation morphologique des éléments cranio-dentaires, un enjeu majeur dans l'étude des assemblages fossiles des sites sud-africains concerne donc l'identification et l'attribution taxinomique de restes isolés et/ou fragmentaires du squelette axial et appendiculaire non associés à des éléments cranio-dentaires. Il en résulte que plusieurs aspects fonctionnels et paléobiologiques du squelette postcrânien de P. robustus restent à préciser. Au moyen de la microtomographie à rayons X, de l'imagerie virtuelle et d'analyses quantitatives en deux-trois dimensions, nous avons entrepris un projet de recherche visant à explorer, extraire et les patrons d'organisation endostructurale de spécimens fossiles communément, ou préliminairement, attribués à P. robustus. Sur une base comparative, nous visons à (i) identifier quelques caractéristiques osseuses endostructurales propres à ce taxon, qui pourraient fournir un cadre de référence pour l'attribution de spécimens fossiles isolés; (ii) déconstruire l'environnement biomécanique ayant façonné l'arrangement de l'os cortical et trabéculaire au niveau des articulations du coude, de la hanche et du genou; (iii) évaluer le degré de variation et, dans la mesure du possible, les différences liées au sexe et à l'âge. L'échantillon étudié comprend quatre huméri distaux (TM 1517g, SK 24600, SKX 10924, SKX 34805), cinq fémurs proximaux (SK 82, SK 97, SK 3121, SKW 19, SWT1/LB-2), une patella (SKX 1084), des éléments additionnels échantillonnant l'assemblage TM 1517 (l'ulna proximale TM 1517e, la phalange distale d'hallux TM 1517k) et deux ilia (TM 1605, SK 50) provenant des sites de Kromdraai et Swartkrans. [...] / The Early Pleistocene taxon Paranthropus robustus, represented by the holotype TM 1517, was established in 1938 by the paleontologist R. Broom following the discovery of craniodental and postcranial remains at the cave site of Kromdraai, in Gauteng, South Africa. Since, other Southern African sites have contributed to the extension of its hypodigm, providing evidence for its chronological overlap in the macro-region with representatives of the taxa Australopithecus and Homo. As species identification in the hominin fossil record is commonly based on the comparative assessment of craniodental anatomy and morphological variation, the rarity in the hominin-bearing South African cave assemblages of unambiguously associated craniodental and postcranial remains usually complicates the task of identifying isolated and fragmentary elements from the axial and the appendicular skeleton. Consequently, different functionally- and paleobiologically-related aspects of the P. robustus postcranial skeleton remain poorly known. By means of techniques of high resolution X-ray micro-tomography and virtual imaging coupled with two-three-dimensional quantitative analyses, in this research project we explored, extracted and assessed the patterns of endostructural organisation in some fossil specimens commonly, or tentatively, attributed to P. robustus. On comparative ground, we aim at (i) identifying some endostructural bony features characteristic of this taxon, if any, thus tentatively providing a reference framework for the attribution of isolated fossil specimens; (ii) deconstructing the biomechanical (loading) environment having shaped the cortical and cancellous bone arrangement at the elbow, the hip, and the knee joints; (iii) assessing variation and, whenever possible, sex- and age-related differences. The investigated sample consists of four distal humeri (TM 1517g, SK 24600, SKX 10924, SKX 34805), five proximal femora (SK 82, SK 97, SK 3121, SKW 19, SWT1/LB-2), a patella (SKX 1084), some additional elements from the assemblage labelled TM 1517 (the proximal ulna TM 1517e, the distal hallucial phalanx TM 1517k), and two ilia (TM 1605, SK 50) from the sites of Kromdraai and Swartkrans. [...]

Bone is a composite material consisting of hydroxyapatite crystals deposited in an oriented manner on a collagen backbone. The arrangement of the mineral and organic phases provides bone tissue with the appropriate strength, stiffness, and fracture resistance properties required to protect vital internal organs and maintain the shape of the body. A remarkable feature of bone is the ability to alter its properties and geometry in response to changes in the mechanical environment. However, in cases of metabolic bone diseases or aging, bone can no longer successfully adapt to its environment, increasing its fragility. To elucidate the mechanisms of bone microdamage, this research project developed a specimen-specific approach that integrated 3D imaging, histological damage labeling, image registration, and image-based finite element analysis to correlate microdamage events with microstructural stresses and strains under compressive loading conditions. By applying this novel method to different ages of bovine and human bone, we have shown that the local mechanical environment at microdamage initiation is altered with age. We have also shown that formation of microdamage is time-dependent and may have implications in age-related microdamage progression with cyclic and/or sustained static loading. The work presented in this dissertation is significant because it improved our understanding of trabecular bone microdamage initiation and unlocked exciting future research directions that may contribute to the development of therapies for fragility diseases such as osteoporosis.

Skeletal fragility is characterized by low bone mass, negative changes in bone microarchitecture, and compromised tissue matrix properties, including accumulation of microdamage. Microdamage accumulates in vivo from daily physiological loading and is targeted for repair through a normal remodeling process, thus preventing microcrack growth and potential fracture. However, impaired remodeling is associated with aging and osteoporosis, resulting in an increased accumulation of microdamage which contributes to reduced bone mechanical properties. The current clinical method for assessing increased risk of fracture involves measuring bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip and spine, locations of trabecular bone where high rates of remodeling occur. The bisphosphonate alendronate (ALN) reduces clinical risk for fracture by significantly increasing BMD, but studies have shown a concomitant reduction in intrinsic properties that may be the underlying cause for recent reports of spontaneous fractures with long-term alendronate use. Another anti-resorptive agent called raloxifene (RAL) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and has been shown to modestly improve BMD while decreasing fracture risk to a similar degree as alendronate. The combination of RAL and ALN as a treatment for osteoporosis may provide the benefits of each drug without the negative effects of ALN. Therefore, the overall goal of this thesis was to address the effects of aging and anti-resorptive agents on the properties of bone through the formation of microdamage. Assessment of age-related effects on bone was conducted through quantification of microdamage progression. It was found that old bone results in greater incidences of microdamage progression, reflecting a compromised tissue matrix with reduced resistance to crack growth. Effects of combination treatment with RAL and ALN were evaluated through biomechanical testing, micro-CT imaging, and microdamage quantification. Results showed improved trabecular bone volume and ultimate load with positive effects on trabecular architecture. Combination treatment reduced the proportion of microdamage that may lead to catastrophic fracture, indicating an improvement in the local tissue matrix properties.

The aim of this thesis was to investigate some methods for quantitative analysis of bone structure, particularly techniques which might ultimately be applied post-operatively following orthopaedic reconstruction operations. Initially it was decided to explore the efficacy of MRI in quantifying the bone structure at high resolution by comparing high resolution MRI against 'gold standards' such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and optical histology. This basic study provided a measure of the distortions in the morphological bone parameters derived from MR images due to susceptibility artefacts and partial volume effects. The study of bone architecture was then extended to a model of advanced renal osteodystrophy in a growing rat. For this study, high-resolution micro computed tomography (microCT) was used and as a result of the high resolution images obtained, three new bone morphological parameters were introduced to characterise the bone structure. The desire to study bone architecture post-operatively in hip replacements led to a preliminary study on ex-vivo sheep acetabulae following total hip replacement, to determine the extent that the bone architecture could be investigated around the acetabulum. The motivation for studying the acetabulum was based on the high occurrence of debonding at the bone / prosthesis interface. This study demonstrated the superior nature of 3D MRI over conventional x-ray radiographs in early quantitation of fibrous membranes located between the host bone and the non-metallic implant and/or the bone cement. The presence of such fibrous membranes is strongly indicative of failure of the prosthesis. When using clinical MRI to image post-operative hip replacement, the image quality is severely affected by the presence of the metallic implant. The head of the prosthesis is shaped like a metal sphere and is located in the acetabular cup. This problem was investigated by performing simulations of MR images in the presence of the field perturbation induced by the presence of a metal sphere, with the effects of slice excitation and frequency encoding incorporated into the simulations. The simulations were compared with experimental data obtained by imaging a phantom comprising a stainless steel ball bearing immersed in agarose gel. The simulations were used to predict the effects of changing imaging parameters that influence artefact size and also to show how current metal artefact reduction techniques such as view angle tilting (VAT) work and to identify their limitations. It was shown that 2D SE and VAT imaging techniques should not be used when metallic prosthesis are present due to extreme slice distortion, whereas 3D MRI provided a method that has no slice distortion, although the effects of using a frequency encoding gradient still remain.

Top screw pullout is a significant problem in anterior scoliosis correction, with rates of 5-15% reported in the literature. The Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Brisbane currently has a series of 125 patients with scoliosis treated by thoracoscopic anterior fusion, instrumentation and correction between April 2000 and August 2007. In this series 11 top screws are known to have pulled out (a rate of 8.8%), with six occurring in the first week, and all within 6 weeks, suggesting that the problem is one of excessive static force rather than fatigue. This thesis describes a biomechanical investigation into the mechanics of vertebral body screw pullout in anterior scoliosis surgical constructs. Previous biomechanical studies of vertebral body screws have evaluated their resistance to either straight pullout or cephalo-caudad compression forces, however the aim of this study was to assess screw resistance to more realistic loading conditions, namely pullout of initially angled screws, and pullout where the motion path is an arc rather than a straight axial pullout, as would be expected in a single rod anterior construct. The first series of experiments involved straight and angled pullout tests using synthetic bone. In the angled tests, both locked and free-to-pivot configurations were tested. The second series of experiments tested the effect of cephalo-caudad pre-compression (the actual deformity correction step performed during surgery) on subsequent axial pullout strength. A third series of experiments performed arc pullouts using synthetic bone, and the final series of experiments tested the pullout resistance of a newly proposed screw position configuration against the standard screw positioning using ovine lumbar vertebrae. Synthetic bone testing revealed that for initially angled pullout, resistance is greatest as the screw angle approaches 0 (ie a direct axial pullout). Cephalo-caudad pre-compression reduced subsequent pullout strength for cases where a staple was not used under the screw head, but if a staple was used the pre-compression did not decrease pullout force significantly. Arc pullout resistance was greatest when the screw was angled at 10 cephalad, and the mean pullout strength for the proposed screw configuration using ovine lumbar vertebrae (1864N) was almost double that of the standard screw positioning (993N). The clinical implication of this study is that top screw pullout resistance can be maximised by placing the top screw as close as possible to the top endplate and the bottom screw as close as possible to the bottom endplate, although this will have detrimental effects on the pullout of the second screw should the top screw pull out. Screw angulation is a less important factor but any angulation should be in a cephalad direction and around 10º in magnitude. The experimental results also suggest that the use of a staple may play a role in preventing cephalo-caudad pre-compression forces from reducing screw resistance to subsequent pullout forces.

Trabecular bone forms the internal scaffolding of most bones, and consists of a microscopic lattice-like structure of interconnected bony struts. Experimental work has demonstrated that trabecular bone adapts its structural rigidity and orientation in response to the strains placed upon the skeleton during life, a concept popularly known as “Wolff’s Law” or “bone functional adaptation”. Anthropological work has focused on correlating variation in primate trabecular bone to locomotor and masticatory function, to provide a context for the interpretation of fossil morphology. However, intraspecies variation and its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this thesis, variation in trabecular bone structure is examined in the human foot in four archaeological populations. The aim is to tease apart the factors underlying variation in human trabecular microstructure to determine whether it may be a suitable proxy for inferring terrestrial mobility in past populations. μCT scanning is used to image the three-dimensional trabecular structure of the talus, calcaneus, and first metatarsal in samples from four archaeological populations. Trabecular structure is quantified in seventeen volumes of interest placed throughout the foot. Trabecular bone is influenced by a variety of factors including body mass, age, diet, temperature, genetics, sex, and mechanical loading. Before trabecular structure can be used to infer habitual behaviour, the effects of these factors need to be understood and ideally statistically accounted for. Therefore, the effects of variation in bone size and shape, body mass, age, and sex on human trabecular structure are examined in four populations. Significant effects of body mass and age are reported, but little sexual dimorphism was found within populations. Taking these results into account, variation in trabecular structure is compared between archaeological populations that were divided into high and low mobility categories. Results demonstrate that the four populations show similar patterns of trabecular variation throughout the foot, with a signal of terrestrial mobility level superimposed upon it. Terrestrial mobility is associated with greater bone volume fraction and thicker, more widely spaced, and less interconnected trabeculae. Ontogeny of trabecular bone in the human calcaneus is investigated in two archaeological populations in the final chapter of the thesis. Results indicate that calcaneal trabecular bone adapts predictably to changes in loading associated with phases of gait maturation and increases in body mass. This opens the possibility of using trabecular structure to serve as a proxy of neuromuscular development in juvenile hominins. This work demonstrates that trabecular bone may serve as a useful proxy of habitual behaviour in hominin fossils and past populations when all contributing factors are carefully considered and ideally statistically controlled for.

No description available.

Submitted by Claudinei Pracidelli (cpracide@ipen.br) on 2016-11-11T17:46:50Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-11T17:46:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / A movimentação dentária induzida é um processo biológico complexo mediado por estímulos mecânicos, levando a um subsequente processo de remodelação óssea, podendo haver reabsorção indesejada da raiz dentária provocada pelo excesso de força. Uma vez que a movimentação ortodôntica se baseia em um processo inflamatório localizado, o propósito deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do laser de baixa potência no processo de remodelação óssea e reabsorção radicular, buscando correlacionar as mudanças metabólicas observadas a nível celular ocorridas nos dias iniciais da movimentação dentária às alterações teciduais observadas microscopicamente e à arquitetura e morfologia do trabeculado e cortical ósseo. Primeiros molares de sessenta e oito ratos machos Wistar foram submetidos à movimentação induzida, divididos em 3 grupos: controle negativo (nenhuma movimentação), não irradiado (movimentação sem irradiação) e laser (movimentação e irradiação com laser de baixa potência de comprimento de onda de 810 nm, potência de 100 mW, área de 0,02cm2 e energia de 1,5 J/ponto) e eutanasiados nos dias 3, 6, 9, 14 e 21. Mensurações da movimentação dentária e análises histomorfométricas foram realizadas em todos os dias estudados. Análise imunoistoquímica dos marcadores RANKL, OPG e TRAP e avaliações por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) foram feitas nos dias 3, 6 e 9 e o ensaio Western Blotting para proteínas RANKL e SOFAT e imagens de microtomografia computadorizada (MicroCT) nos dias 14 e 21. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que a movimentação dentária foi significantemente maior no grupo Laser (aumento em média de 40%) em todos os dias avaliados. O lado de compressão mostrou maior expressão de RANKL e osteoclastos TRAP-positivos nos dias 3, 6 e 9 (p<0,05), promovendo significativa redução na área de osso alveolar presente no lado de compressão nos dias 6, 9 e 14 (p<0,05), e alterações microestruturais, como menor fração de volume ósseo/volume total, menor densidade óssea mineral aos 14 dias. A irradiação com laser também aumentou a expressão de RANKL e a citocina SOFAT no dia 14. No lado de tensão, houve maior expressão de OPG especialmente aos 9 dias (p<0,001) e significativo aumento na área de osso alveolar presente nos dias 14 (p<0,01) e 21 (p<0,05) histomorfometricamente e maior densidade óssea mineral e espessura das trabéculas aos 21 dias (p<0,01). Com relação às áreas de hialinização presentes, os resultados mostraram áreas significantemente reduzidas nos dias 3, 6 e 9 nos grupos irradiados, o que explica o menor número de odontoclastos na superfície radicular nestes dias e a redução significante das áreas de reabsorção radicular observadas nas lâminas histológicas nos dias 9, 14 e 21 e nas imagens de MEV nos dias 3 e 9. Os grupos irradiados também mostraram menor volume das lacunas de reabsorção radicular medidas no MicroCT nos dias 14 e 21, especialmente nos lados de compressão. O estudo concluiu que o laser de baixa potência influenciou a remodelação óssea, aumentou a atividade dos osteoclastos no lado da compressão, e estimulou a formação óssea no de tensão, acelerando significativamente o movimento dentário e potencialmente reduzindo as áreas de necrose no ligamento periodontal e, consequentemente, a reabsorção radicular. / Tese (Doutorado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Un os long est composé de tissus osseux cortical et spongieux. Ces tissus ont des structures et des caractéristiques physiques différentes mais ont tous deux la capacité de se régénérer de façon naturelle suite à une lésion. Cette régénération ou réparation implique une séquence bien caractérisée d’événements contrôlés par l’interaction étroite entre des facteurs de croissance, des cellules, l’environnement chimique et dynamique, ainsi que par la matrice extracellulaire. L’ostéopontine (OPN) et la sialoprotéine osseuse (BSP) sont des protéines de la matrice extracellulaire exerçant des fonctions importantes dans le tissu osseux. Le but de ce travail a été d’étudier le rôle de l’OPN et de la BSP dans la réparation osseuse par génétique expérimentale. Les modèles utilisés dans cette études consistent en des lésions, l’un diaphysaire et purement cortical, l’autre région épi-métaphysaire mêlant destruction de l’os cortical, trabéculaire et de la plaque de croissance. La réparation de ces lésions a été analysée par microtomographie haute résolution aux rayons X et par histomorphométrie. Dans un premier temps, la réparation d’une perforation épi-métaphysaire dans le fémur chez la souris, a été caractérisée et comparée à celle de même diamètre réalisée dans la diaphyse. Dans cette étude comparative, des profils distincts de réparation ont été mis en évidence bien que tous deux mettent en place un mécanisme d’ossification intramembranaire. Ainsi, le défect cortical diaphysaire est comblé par une formation osseuse centripète restreinte à la zone corticale. Dans le modèle épi-métaphysaire, la formation osseuse est initiée au fond du défect et se propager vers le cortex. Ce processus aboutit à une restauration des travées mais à une réparation incompléte du cortex. Ainsi, le premier modèle apparaît comme pertinent pour l’étude de la réparation corticale alors que le modèle épi-métaphysaire se présente plus adapté à l’étude de la réparation de l’os trabéculaire. L’OPN et la BSP n’ont pas de fonctions redondantes dans la réparation de ces lésions. En effet, l’OPN intervient principalement dans la réparation de l’os trabéculaire, son absence entraîne un retard lié à un défaut de progression de l’os au sein de la cavité. L’absence de BSP quant à elle, semble intervenir uniquement dans le processus de réparation de l’os cortical diaphysaire, provoquant un retard de réparation dû à un défaut de minéralisation de l’ostéoïde. Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse ont permis de caractériser des modèles de lésions osseuses pertinents pour l’étude de la réparation de l’os cortical et spongieux. L’utilisation de ces modèles a permis d’améliorer la compréhension du rôle de deux protéines de la matrice extracellulaire osseuse dans la réparation de cortical et trabéculaire grâce aux modèles de génétique expérimentale. / Long bones consist of cortical and spongious bone tissue, which have different structures and physiological characteristics. Both can heal spontaneously. Bone healing is a complex multi-step process which depends on cells, soluble factors, mechanical environment and bone matrix. Osteopontin (OPN) and Bone Sialoportein (BSP) are extracellular matrix proteins, which have been shown to exert important functions in bone. The aim of this study is to address the role of OPN and BSP in bone repair using experimental genetic strategies. Injured bone models are drilled-hole defects performed in diaphyseal cortical bone or in the epi-metaphyseal region. Bone healing was analyzed by micro-tomography and histomorphometry. Epi-metaphyseal defect healing was characterized and compared to cortical bone repair. In this comparative study, distinct patterns of bone repair have been shown while in both models repair occurs through intramembranous ossification. Diaphyseal defect was rapidly filled with newly bone formed in a centripetal manner within the cortical gap. In contrast, bone formation within the epi-metaphyseal defect was initiated from the depth of the cavity and spread towards the cortical edges, regenerating cancellous bone and albeit not completely cortical wall. Therefore, diaphyseal drill defects appear pertinent for the study of spontaneous cortical healing whereas epi-metaphyseal drill defects appear as appropriate models to investigate spongy bone regeneration. OPN and BSP do not show redundancy in the bone repair process of these two models. Indeed, OPN is mainly involved in trabecular bone repair; its deficiency induced a delay due to impaired bone progression within the epi-metaphyseal cavity. The lack of BSP only delayed cortical bone repair due to an impaired mineralization of the bone matrix. This study permits to characterize pertinent models of cortical and trabecular bone repair. Application of these models added new insights on the involvement of matrix proteins in cortical defect healing and trabecular bone repair using experimental genetic models.

Ossos trabeculares possuem uma microestrutura porosa e podem ser modelados como um sólido elástico linear, heterogêneo e anisotrópico. A microtomografia tridimensional por raios-x (uCT) tem sido mundialmente utilizada para a caracterização de osso trabecular em pesquisas relacionadas à qualidade óssea e à doenças do metabolismo ósseo como a osteoporose. Na literatura há poucas investigações comparando as análises morfométricas 2D e 3D de osso trabecular. Nesta investigação amostras de osso trabeculares cilíndricas extraídas da cabeça femoral bovina foram utilizadas para a comparação dessas análises por \'mü\'CT. O software CT-Analyser foi utilizado para medidas em três direções (crânio-caudal, lateral-medial e anterior-posterior) de diversos parâmetros da microestrutura trabecular tais como espessura trabecular, separação trabecular, número trabecular e os autovalores do tensor de anisotropia (M). A comparação entre os valores dos parâmetros medidos por análises morfométricas 2D e 3D foi realizada pelo teste-t pareado com nível de significância p < 0,05 e por correlação linear de Pearson. Os autovalores da matriz M mostram que a microestrutura trabecular bovina tem uma tendência para a simetria transversalmente isotrópica. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a microtomografia tridimensional por raios-X é uma técnica de grande potencial para caracterização da qualidade óssea gerando bons parâmetros para o diagnóstico de doenças do metabolismo ósseo. / Trebecular bones have a porous microstructure and can be modeled as a linear elastic solid, heterogenous and anisotropic. The x-ray tridimensional microtomography (\'mü\'CT) has been worldwide used for the assessment of trabecular bone in investigations related to bone quality and aimed to the diagnostic of bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis. In the literature few investigations have compared the 2D and 3D morphometric analysis of trabecular bone. In this investigation cylindrical trabecular bone samples were harvested from bovine head femur to carry out that comparison by \'mü\'CT. The CT-Analyser software was used to measure in three directions (superior-inferior, lateral-medial and anterior-posterior) several microstructural trabecular parameters such as trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, trabecular number and the eigenvalues of the fabric tensor (M). The comparison between the parameters values measured by 2D and 3D morphometric analysis was performed by the paired-sample t test with a level of significance p < 0,05 and the Pearson\'s linear correlation. The eigenvalues show that the bovine trabecular microstructure has a tendence to transverse isotropy symmetry. The results show that x-ray tridimensional microtomography (\'mü\'CT) is a technique of great potential for characterization of generating good bone quality parameters for the diagnosis of diseases of bone metabolism.