PubMed · 15553277
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Bernadine Healy. 2004-11-01. Bones, beautiful bones.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15553277/
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There is increasing evidence for a contribution of the neural system to the regulation of bone metabolism. The skeleton is richly innervated by both sympathetic and sensory neurons. While these nerves serve sensory and vascular functions, they are also being found to influence bone cell activities. The most convincing evidence for this has been provided by studies into the skeletal effects of the hormone leptin, which has been shown to centrally regulate bone mass, and through studies into the skeletal effects of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y2 and Y4 receptors. This paper discusses recent evidence for the neural regulation of bone metabolism and, in particular, the potential role of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of functional pathways in bone for both responding to and regulating the uptake of 5-HT. This is of high clinical relevance given the role of the serotonergic system in affective disorders, and the wide use of pharmacological agents that target the 5-HT system to manage these disorders. Initial data suggest that exposure to these agents at different stages during the lifespan may have significant effects on the skeleton.
Automated procedures for forensic DNA analyses are essential not only for large-throughput sample preparation, but are also needed to avoid errors during routine sample preparation. The most critical stage in PCR-based forensic analysis is DNA isolation, which should yield as much highly purified DNA as possible. The extraction method used consists of pre-treatment of stains and samples, cell lysis using chaotropic reagents, binding of the DNA to silica-coated magnetic particles, followed by elution of the DNA. Our work focuses mainly on sample preparation, obtaining the maximum possible amount of biological material from forensic samples, and the following cell lysis, to create a simple standardized lysis protocol suitable for nearly all forensic material. After optimization and validation, the M-48 BioRobot((R)) workstation has been used for more than 20,000 routine lab samples. There has been no evidence of cross contamination. Resulting DNA from as small as three nuclear cells yield reliable complete STR amplification profiles. The DNA remains stable after 2 years of storage.
An innovative computer-aided method to plan and execute long bone fracture reduction using Dynafix unilateral external fixator (EF) is presented and validated. A matrix equation, which represents a sequential transformation from proximal to distal ends, was derived and solved for the amount of rotation and translation required at each EF joint to correct for a displaced fracture using a non-linear least square optimization method. Six polyurethane-foam models of displaced fracture tibiae were used to validate the method. The reduction accuracy was quantified by calculating the residual translations (xr, yr, zr), the residual displacement (dr), and the residual angulations (alphar, betar, gammar) based on the X-Y-Z Euler angle convention. The experiment showed that the mean+/-S.D. of alphar, betar, gammar, xr, yr, zr and dr were 1.57+/-1.14 degrees, 1.33+/-0.90 degrees, 0.71+/-0.70 degrees, 0.98+/-1.85, 0.80+/-0.67, 0.30+/-0.27, and 0.50+/-0.77 mm, respectively, which demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of the method. Instead of adjusting the fixator joints in-situ, our method allows for off-site adjustment of the fixator joints and employs the adjusted EF as a template to guide the surgeons to manipulate the fracture fragments to complete the reduction process. Success of this method would allow surgeons to perform fracture reduction more objectively, efficiently and accurately yet reduce the radiation exposure to both the involved clinicians and patients and lessen the extent of periosteum and soft tissue disruption around the fracture site.