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      Digital image analysis of ossification centers in the axial dens and body in the human fetus

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          Abstract

          Purposes

          The detailed understanding of the anatomy and timing of ossification centers is indispensable in both determining the fetal stage and maturity and for detecting congenital disorders. This study was performed to quantitatively examine the odontoid and body ossification centers in the axis with respect to their linear, planar and volumetric parameters.

          Methods

          Using the methods of CT, digital image analysis and statistics, the size of the odontoid and body ossification centers in the axis in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17–30 weeks was studied.

          Results

          With no sex difference, the best fit growth dynamics for odontoid and body ossification centers of the axis were, respectively, as follows: for transverse diameter y = −10.752 + 4.276 × ln(age) ± 0.335 and y = −10.578 + 4.265 × ln(age) ± 0.338, for sagittal diameter y = −4.329 + 2.010 × ln(age) ± 0.182 and y = −3.934 + 1.930 × ln(age) ± 0.182, for cross-sectional area y = −7.102 + 0.520 × age ± 0.724 and y = −7.002 + 0.521 × age ± 0.726, and for volume y = −37.021 + 14.014 × ln(age) ± 1.091 and y = −37.425 + 14.197 × ln(age) ± 1.109.

          Conclusions

          With no sex differences, the odontoid and body ossification centers of the axis grow logarithmically in transverse and sagittal diameters, and in volume, while proportionately in cross-sectional area. Our specific-age reference data for the odontoid and body ossification centers of the axis may be relevant for determining the fetal stage and maturity and for in utero three-dimensional sonographic detecting segmentation anomalies of the axis.

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          Most cited references26

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          Congenital defects of the posterior arch of the atlas: a report of seven cases including an affected mother and son.

          To describe our experience with congenital anomalies of the posterior arch of the atlas, with a review and classification of these defects and a note on their clinical significance. We report six children and one adult, the mother of one of the children, with an anomalous posterior arch of the atlas. The diagnosis was made on lateral films of the neck. Three patients also had axial CT of the cervical spine. The anomalies encountered in the seven patients were absence of the posterior arch of the atlas (four patients), bilateral clefts (two patients), and unilateral cleft (one patient). In three patients the anomaly was discovered as an incidental asymptomatic finding; three other patients presented with transient neck pain or transient neurologic symptoms after head and neck trauma, and one patient (an adult woman) described neck symptoms of 1-year duration. On the basis of these seven cases we conclude that congenital defects of the posterior arch of the atlas may be discovered as incidental asymptomatic findings, but symptoms occurring after trauma to the head and neck or spontaneously also may be encountered.
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            Pediatric cervical spine: normal anatomy, variants, and trauma.

            Emergency radiologic evaluation of the pediatric cervical spine can be challenging because of the confusing appearance of synchondroses, normal anatomic variants, and injuries that are unique to children. Cervical spine injuries in children are usually seen in the upper cervical region owing to the unique biomechanics and anatomy of the pediatric cervical spine. Knowledge of the normal embryologic development and anatomy of the cervical spine is important to avoid mistaking synchondroses for fractures in the setting of trauma. Familiarity with anatomic variants is also important for correct image interpretation. These variants include pseudosubluxation, absence of cervical lordosis, wedging of the C3 vertebra, widening of the predental space, prevertebral soft-tissue widening, intervertebral widening, and "pseudo-Jefferson fracture." In addition, familiarity with mechanisms of injury and appropriate imaging modalities will aid in the correct interpretation of radiologic images of the pediatric cervical spine.
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              S100A4: a novel negative regulator of mineralization and osteoblast differentiation.

              S100A4 is an intracellular calcium-binding protein expressed by osteoblastic cells. However, its roles in bone physiology are unknown. Because before matrix mineralization, its expression is markedly diminished, we hypothesized that S100A4 negatively regulates the mineralization process. In this study, we investigated the effects of the inhibition of S100A4 synthesis on osteoblast differentiation and in vitro mineralized nodule formation. Inhibition of S100A4 synthesis was achieved by an antisense approach in the mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. Cell clones that synthesized low levels of S100A4 (AS clones) produced markedly increased number of mineralized nodules at much earlier stages in comparison with controls as demonstrated by Alizarin red S and von Kossa staining. The expression of type I collagen (COLI) and osteopontin (OPN) increased in AS clones compared with controls. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OCN), molecules associated with mineralization and markers for mature osteoblastic phenotype, were expressed in AS clones before their detection in controls. Because S100A4 was not localized in the nucleus of MC3T3-E1 cells and AS clones, it is unlikely that S100A4 directly regulates the expression of these genes. Moreover, the expression of Cbfal/Osf-2 and Osx, transcription factors necessary for the expression of osteoblast-associated genes, remained unchanged in AS clones, indicating that S100A4 may be downstream to these transcription factors. These findings indicate that S100A4 is a novel negative regulator of matrix mineralization likely by modulating the process of osteoblast differentiation.
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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                + 48 (052 5853705) , kizanat@cm.umk.pl
                Journal
                Surg Radiol Anat
                Surg Radiol Anat
                Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
                Springer Paris (Paris )
                0930-1038
                1279-8517
                29 April 2016
                29 April 2016
                2016
                : 38
                : 10
                : 1195-1203
                Affiliations
                [1 ]Department of Normal Anatomy, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, The Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Łukasiewicza 1 Street, 85-821 Bydgoszcz, Poland
                [2 ]Department of Positron Emission Tomography and Molecular Imaging, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, The Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Łukasiewicza 1 Street, 85-821 Bydgoszcz, Poland
                Article
                1679
                10.1007/s00276-016-1679-9
                5104797
                27130209
                295cd541-9e3b-40d7-a9fd-db7d6e63431d
                © The Author(s) 2016

                Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

                History
                : 15 January 2016
                : 22 April 2016
                Categories
                Original Article
                Custom metadata
                © Springer-Verlag France 2016

                Surgery
                axis vertebra,odontoid process,ossification center,size,growth dynamics,human fetus
                Surgery
                axis vertebra, odontoid process, ossification center, size, growth dynamics, human fetus

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