Histologic, physical and chemical investigation of myositis ossificans traumatica.

Histologic, physical and chemical analyses of the excised bony mass from a case of myositis ossificans traumatica were carried out. X-ray diffraction showed that the newly formed bone was an intermediate fluor-hydroxylapatite. Infrared spectroscopy and chemical analysis supported this finding. Contrary to articular free bodies the mineral part of the bony mass from the myositis ossificans investigated was formed most probably in a basic environment.

Physical and chemical investigation of free bodies in articular osteochondromatosis.

Physical and chemical analysis of the newly formed calcified bodies in articular osteochondromatosis was carried out. X-ray diffraction showed that these bodies consisted of carbonate apatite from the group Francolite-Dahllite. Infrared spectroscopy, and chemical and differential thermal investigations supported the data gained from the X-ray diffraction analysis.

Examination with x-ray diffraction of cartilaginous tissues of rats of different ages with and without vitamin D treatment.

X-ray diffraction examinations were performed on different cartilages (epiphysis, joint, rib, nose-cartilage and discus intervertebralis) of 10 young and 10 old rats. Half of the animals served as untreated control, the other half was treated daily with 40,000 U of vitamin D3 through a gastric tube for 14 days. The examinations were performed partly with a Philips diffractometer and partly in a Guinier chamber, in order to determine the quantitative and qualitative crystallite size. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Cartilage crystallites, except those of the epiphysis, are more rough-grained in the old than in the young animals. 2. A difference was found between cartilages of the same age but of different types. In epiphysial cartilage thin crystals of medium length are formed while thick ones can be seen in discus intervertebralis, joint and rib cartilage. 3. According to the data obtained with the method of X-ray diffraction the crystals in epiphysial cartilage and discus intervertebralis will be lengthened upon the effect of vitamin D, while those in the rib and nose-cartilage shortened and bulkier. It can be imagined that cartilage and bone cells as well as basal substance have an influence on the morphological picture of calcium phosphate. Thus different forms of crystal are formed in cartilages of different functional activity.

Ultrastructure of a mixed form of calcinosis.

An unusual form of calcinosis is described presenting a joint occurrence of calcinosis circumscripta and calcinosis universalis. Ultrastructurally, the mineral constituent is of much higher crystallinity than that of normal bone, and includes a rare kind of carbonate apatite. The crystals of the specimen were needle-like and hexagonal, in juxtaposition to normal collagen fibrils. Supposedly, the development of the calcifiable matrix is different in calcinosis and bone tissue.