Calcium phosphate ceramics combined with rhBMP6 within autologous blood coagulum promote posterolateral lumbar fusion in sheep.

Posterolateral spinal fusion (PLF) is a procedure used for the treatment of degenerative spine disease. In this study we evaluated Osteogrow-C, a novel osteoinductive device comprised of recombinant human Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (rhBMP6) dispersed in autologous blood coagulum with synthetic ceramic particles, in the sheep PLF model. Osteogrow-C implants containing 74-420 or 1000-1700 µm ceramic particles (TCP/HA 80/20) were implanted between L4-L5 transverse processes in sheep (Ovis Aries, Merinolaandschaf breed). In the first experiment (n = 9 sheep; rhBMP6 dose 800 µg) the follow-up period was 27 weeks while in the second experiment (n = 12 sheep; rhBMP6 dose 500 µg) spinal fusion was assessed by in vivo CT after 9 weeks and at the end of the experiment after 14 (n = 6 sheep) and 40 (n = 6 sheep) weeks. Methods of evaluation included microCT, histological analyses and biomechanical testing. Osteogrow-C implants containing both 74-420 and 1000-1700 µm ceramic particles induced radiographic solid fusion 9 weeks following implantation. Ex-vivo microCT and histological analyses revealed complete osseointegration of newly formed bone with adjacent transverse processes. Biomechanical testing confirmed that fusion between transverse processes was complete and successful. Osteogrow-C implants induced spinal fusion in sheep PLF model and therefore represent a novel therapeutic solution for patients with degenerative disc disease.

Paleopathological Changes in Animal Bones from Croatian Archaeological Sites from Prehistory to New Modern Period.

A special part of archaeology, so-called archaeozoopathology or veterinary paleopathology is dedicated to studies of paleopathological changes in animal remains and contributes to the knowledge of ancient veterinary medicine and the history of diseases. In our study, we analyze paleopathological changes determined by gross observation and diagnostic imaging in the animal material originating from eight archaeological sites in Croatia. A standard archaeozoological analysis was carried out and specimens with visually detected macrostructural changes were radiographed. In total, 50 animal remains with altered macrostructure were identified in the archaeozoological material excavated from 2010 to 2022 at eight archaeological sites in Croatia. According to the taxonomic analysis, most of the bones with macrostructural changes originated from cattle (N = 27, 54% of the total number of bones with macrostructural changes), followed by the bones of small ruminants (N = 12, 24%) and pigs (N = 8, 16%). The horse, carnivore and chicken were represented with one bone each (2%). Radiological examination showed that three samples (6%) had a regular bone macrostructure, i.e., no pathological changes were visible upon radiological examination. The majority (64%) of pathologically altered bones are a consequence of keeping/working, followed by traumatic causes (20%). Changes in the oral cavity were found in 10% of specimens. Our study showed that gross examination will continue to be the primary method for the identification of pathologically altered remains in archaeozoological material. However, diagnostic imaging techniques such as radiography should be implemented to confirm or exclude suspected alterations and to help the classification of the specimen by etiology.