• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was performed to introduce an in vivo hybrid multimodality technique involving the coregistration of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) to concomitantly visualize and quantify mineralization and vascularization at follow-up in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Three adult female rats were randomly assigned as test subjects, with 1 rat serving as a control subject. For 20 weeks, the test rats received a weekly intravenous injection of 30 ㎍/kg zoledronic acid, and the control rat was administered a similar dose of normal saline. Bilateral extraction of the lower first and second molars was performed after 10 weeks. All rats were scanned once every 4 weeks with both micro-CT and HR-MRI. Micro-CT and HR-MRI images were registered and fused in the same 3-dimensional region to quantify blood flow velocity and trabecular bone thickness at T0 (baseline), T4 (4 weeks), T8 (8 weeks), T12 (12 weeks), T16 (16 weeks), and T20 (20 weeks). Histological assessment was the gold standard with which the findings were compared. Results: The histomorphometric images at T20 aligned with the HR-MRI findings, with both test and control rats demonstrating reduced trabecular bone vasculature and blood vessel density. The micro-CT findings were also consistent with the histomorphometric changes, which revealed that the test rats had thicker trabecular bone and smaller marrow spaces than the control rat. Conclusion: The combination of micro-CT and HR-MRI may be considered a powerful non-invasive novel technique for the longitudinal quantification of localized mineralization and vascularization.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.357-365
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• 2012

We have examined the effect of circadian disturbances induced by night shifts (NSs) on the phenotypes of the tibiae and abdominal adipose tissues (ADTs) in a mouse model by using in vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). We found that the volumes of total and visceral ADTs in the night-shifted group of mice were significantly larger (69 and 92%, respectively) than those in the control. The mean polar moment of inertia, cross-sectional thickness, and bone mineral density of the cortical bone in the night-shifted group of mice were less (13, 5, and 3%, respectively) than those in the control. Moreover, the volume and the thickness of growth plates (GPs) of the tibiae in the night-shifted mice were significantly smaller (22 and 20%, respectively) than those in the control. Taken together, our results indicate that disturbances in the mouse circadian rhythms induced by NSs affect the morphological characteristics of cortical bone, the volume and the thickness of GPs, and the volume of ADTs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2006

Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) has been used for in vivo animal study owing to its noninvasive and high spatial resolution capability. However, the sizes of existing detectors for micro-CT systems are too small to obtain whole-body images of a small animal object with $\sim$10 micron resolution and a part of its bones or other organs should be extracted. So, we have introduced the zoom-in micro-tomography technique which can obtain high-resolution images of a local region of an live animal object without extracting samples. In order to verify our zoom-in technique, we performed in vivo animal bone study. We prepared some SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats for making osteoporosis models. They were divided into control and ovariectomized groups. Again, the ovariectomized group is divided into two groups fed with normal food and with calcium-free food. And we took 3D tomographic images of their femurs with 20 micron resolution using our zoom-in tomography technique and observed the bone changes for 12 weeks. We selected ROI (region of interest) of a femur image and applied 2D FDT (fuzzy distance transform) to measure the trabecular bone thickness. The measured results showed obvious bone changes and big differences between control and ovariectomized groups. However, we found that the reliability of the measurement depended on the selection of ROI in a bone image for thickness calculation. So, we extended the method to 3D FDT technique. We selected 3D VOI (volume of interest) in the obtained 3D tomographic images and applied 3D FDT algorithm. The results showed that the 3D technique could give more accurate and reliable measurement.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.467-477
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• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the affected period and the amount of bone formation during osteogenesis of intramembranous bone using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LPUS) $in$ $vivo$. Methods: Xeno-bone (Bio-oss) and autogenous bone were grafted bilaterally into mini-pig mandibles. The left mandible served as the control and the other mandible was treated with 3 MHz, 160 mW (output, 0.8 mW) ultrasound stimulation for 7 days 15 minutes per day. The mini-pigs were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks, and micro computed tomography (${\mu}CT$), a microscopic examination, and a statistical analysis were performed on the specimens. Results: Based on a computerized image analysis of the ${\mu}CT$ scans, the experimental group had an average 150% more new bone formation than that in the control group. The effect of LPUS continued during the post operative 2 weeks. The histomorphological microscopic examination showed similar results. Conclusion: Our results suggest the LPUS had an effect on early intramembranous bone formation in vivo.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.43.2-43.2
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• 2008

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2012

Micro-computed tomography (microCT) is an important tool for preclinical vascular imaging, with micron-level resolution. This non-destructive means of imaging allows for rapid collection of 2D and 3D reconstructions to visualize specimens prior to destructive analysis such as pathological analysis. Objectives. The aim of this study was to suggest a method for ex vivo, postmortem examination of stented arterial segments with microCT. And ex vivo evaluation of stents such as bare metal or drug eluting stents on in-stent restenosis (ISR) in rabbit model was performed. The bare metal stent (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES, paclitaxel) were implanted in the left or right iliac arteries alternatively in eight New Zealand white rabbits. After 4 weeks of post-implantation, the part of iliac arteries surrounding the stent were removed carefully and processed for microCT. Prior to microCT analysis, a contrast medium was loaded to lumen of stents. All samples were subjected to an X-ray source operating at 50 kV and 200 ${\mu}A$ by using a 3D isotropic resolution. The region of interest was traced and measured by CTAN analytical software. Objects being exposed to radiation had different Hounsfield unit each other with values of approximately 1.2 at stent area, 0.12 ~ 0.17 at a contrast medium and 0 ~ 0.06 at outer area of stent. Based on above, further analyses were performed. As a result, the difference of lengths and volumes between expanded stents, which may relate to injury score in pathological analysis, was not different significantly. Moreover, ISR area of BMS was 1.6 times higher than that of DES, indicating that paclitaxel has inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and prevent infiltration of restenosis into lumen of stent. And ISR area of BMS was higher ($1.52{\pm}0.48mm^2$) than that of DES ($0.94{\pm}0.42mm^2$), indicating that paclitaxel has inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and prevent infiltration of restenosis into lumen of stent. Though it was not statistically significant, it showed that the extent of neointema of mid-region of stents was relatively higher than that of anterior and posterior region in parts of BMS as showing cross-sectional 2-D image. suggest that microCT can be utilized as an accessorial tool for pathological analysis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1890-1894
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• 2012

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, which is angiogenesis dependent. Antibody-based molecular imaging improves targeting, and antibody radiolabeling is useful for monitoring biological events $in$ $vivo$ $via$ PET or SPECT. We investigated the potential of molecular imaging to diagnose arthritis with VEGFR-2 $in$ $vivo$. The $^{123}I$-VEGFR-2 antibody was prepared by the iodogen tube method. The radioligand was injected into arthritic mice, and micro SPECT/CT was performed. The arthritic mice were examined by 4.7-T MRI and immunohistochemistry. The $^{123}I$-VEGFR-2 antibody showed high uptake in the arthritic region at 1 h postinjection on SPECT/CT but no uptake in the control animals after radioligand injection. In MR images, the arthritic tissue of the mice was correlated with regions labeled by the $^{123}I$-VEGFR-2 antibody. Immunohistochemical localization showed markedly increased expression of VEGFR-2 in the endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages of the arthritic mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.122-128
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate, through a longitudinal tracking, whether gender influences morphological characteristics on trabeucular bone of tibia during unloading. 12 male and 15 female ICR mice at 6 week of age were used and randomly allocated into two groups in each gender; unloading and normal group, respectively Mice in unloading group were operated on denervation (sciatic neurectomy). The tibiae were scanned by using in vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) at 0 day (before denervation) and after 14 days. Structural parameters and BMD on tibia were measured. In female, BV/TV (65%), Tb. Th (5%), Tb.N (61%) and BMD (62%) were significantly decreased and BS/BV (17%), Tb.Sp (54%), SMI (19%) and Tb.Pf (75%) were significantly increased after unloading (p<0.05). In male, BV/TV (1%) and Tb.N (10%) were significantly decreased and SMI (5%) was significantly increased after unloading (p<0.05). In addition, trabeuclar bone loss of female was significantly bigger than that of male (p<0.05). These results indicated that effects of unloading on trabecular bone in growing mice might have difference between female and male, although unloading result in loss of quantity and quality on trabecular bone both female and male.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of present study is to evaluate a possibility of clinical application for the effect of low intensity ultrasound stimulation (LIUS) in mechanical characteristics of bone on osteoporotic fractures prevention. Materials and Methods: Eight virgin ICR mice (14 weeks old, approximate weight 25g) were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteoporosis. The right hind limbs were then stimulated with LIDS (US Group), whereas left hind limbs were not stimulated (CON Group). Both hind limbs of all mice were scanned by in-vivo micro-CT to acquire two-dimensional (2D) images at 0 week before stimulation and 3 weeks and 6 weeks after stimulation. Three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models generated by scanned 2D images were used to determine quantitatively the effect of LIUS on strength related to bone structure. Additionally, distributions of Hounsfield units and elastic moduli, which are related to the bone quality, for the bones in the US and CON groups were determined to analyze quantitatively a degree of improvement of bone qualities achieved by LIUS. Results: The result of FE analysis showed that the structural strength in US Group was significantly increased over time (p<0.05), while that in CON Group was statistically constant over time (p>0.05). High values of Hounsfield units obtained from voxels on micro-CT images and high values of elastic moduli converted from the Hounsfield units were dominantly appeared in US Group compared with those in CON Group. Conclusion: These finding indicated that LIUS would improve the mechanical characteristics of osteoporotic bone via the effects of bone structure (bone strength) and quality (Hounsfield unit and elastic modulus). Therefore, the LIUS may decrease effectively the risk of osteoporotic fracture in clinics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.683-684
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• 2007