Effect of different combination of maternal and postnatal diet on adipose tissue morphology in male rat offspring.

PURPOSE: Adipose tissue expansion can occur through several different ways and, under certain conditions, can be connected with chronic inflammation. TNF-α is one of the important cytokines involved in this process. Prolonged inflammation in obesity can lead to obesity-related insulin resistance and tissue dysfunction. The aim of our study was to investigate how different combination of maternal and postnatal diet affects offspring adipose tissue morphology and adipose tissue TNF-α expression. METHODS: Ten female Sprague Dawley rats, 9 weeks old, were randomly divided into two groups and fed either standard laboratory chow or food rich in saturated fatty acids during 6 weeks and then mated with the same male rat. After birth and lactation male rat offspring from both groups were divided into four subgroups depending on the diet they were fed until 22 weeks old. Samples of white adipose tissue were taken from the subcutaneous, epididymal, and perirenal fat pad. On tissue sections, histomorphometric analysis was conducted using CellProfiler program v 2.1.1, and immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α was performed. RESULTS: Greater mean surface area of subcutaneous and epididymal adipocytes was found in groups of male rat offspring with altered diet. In perirenal adipose tissue, the highest number of adipocytes was measured in the group where both mother and offspring were fed a high-fat diet. Adipocyte staining intensity for TNF-α did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Together with our previously published data, our results lead to the conclusion that alteration of postnatal diet can lead to TNF-α and adipocyte morphology changes.

Different combinations of maternal and postnatal diet are reflected in changes of hepatic parenchyma and hepatic TNF-alpha expression in male rat offspring.

Obesity is related to increased TNF-alpha production in different tissues. TNF-alpha is connected to mitochondrial dysfunction in the liver and also development of fatty infiltration of the liver. Also, postnatal change from normal to high-fat diet causes a significant increase in TNF-alpha serum levels. The aim of this research was to determine how maternal diet and switching male offspring to a different dietary regime after lactation influences rat liver. Ten female Sprague Dawley rats at nine weeks of age were randomly divided in two groups and fed either standard laboratory chow or high-fat diet during six weeks, and then mated with the same male subject. After birth and lactation male offspring from both groups were further divided into four subgroups depending on their subsequent diet. At 22 weeks of age, the animals were weighted, sacrificed and major organs were collected and weighted. Immunohistochemistry for TNF-alpha was performed on liver, and liver samples were analyzed for pathohistological changes. The group in which mothers were fed standard chow and offspring high-fat diet had the most pronounced changes: heaviest liver, poorest histopathological findings and strongest TNF-alpha immunohistochemical staining of liver parenchyma. High-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation and switching to high-fat diet postnatally affects liver weight, histological structure and TNF-alpha expression in male offspring.

Chemerin Blood Levels are Associated with MRI Measured Volumes of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Compartments and Lifestyle Choices.

Obesity is a low-grade chronic inflammatory state, in which a cytokine chemerin with its immunometabolic modulation has an important role. We aimed to study in a healthy population relationships between serum chemerin levels, lifestyle choices and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessed volumes of abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues, which have different cytokine expression profiles. Overall, 73 healthy participants undertook lifestyle questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements along with MRI scanning of abdominal SAT and VAT. Furthermore, complete blood count was determined along with chemerin and fibrinogen serum levels. Regression model for prediction of chemerin serum levels was built after controlling for sex, age and anthropometric measures. Median serum chemerin was 141 (125-195) ng/mL. Serum chemerin had a moderate positive correlation with SAT and VAT volumes. The two most important predictors of chemerin levels were MRI detected SAT and thigh circumference. Independently, chemerin levels were associated with smoking, preference of salty food, and favoring flavor/simplicity of preparation over nutritional value of the food. Serum chemerin seems to be more strongly correlated with the volume of abdominal SAT than VAT, with certain lifestyle choices influencing chemerin levels independently of abdominal fat.

High-fat diet induced changes in lumbar vertebra of the male rat offsprings.

In obesity, bone marrow adiposity increases and proinflammatory cytokines excretion activates RANK/RANKL/OPG system, which leads to increased bone resorption. The aim of this study was to analyze trabecular and cortical bone parameters in animals exposed to the high-fat diet in utero and after lactation. Skeletal organ of interest was the fifth lumbar vertebra, which is not exposed to biomechanical loading in rats. Further aims were to determine TNF-α and IL-6 serum concentrations, and the intensity of the TNF-α immunohistochemical staining in the bone marrow. Ten female Sprague Dawley rats, nine weeks old, were randomly divided in two groups and fed either standard laboratory chow or food rich in saturated fatty acids during five weeks, and then mated with genetically similar male subjects. After birth and lactation male offsprings from both groups were divided in four subgroups depending on the diet they were fed until twenty-two weeks of age. The highest cholesterol and triglyceride concentration were found in both groups of offsprings fed with high-fat diet. The lowest trabecular bone volume, lowest trabecular number and highest trabecular separation were found in offsprings fed with high-fat diet of mothers on standard laboratory chow. The same group of offsprings was also characterized by the highest intensity of TNF-α immunostaining in the bone marrow and the highest TNF-α serum concentration, which suggest that this proinflammatory cytokine has interfered with bone metabolism, possibly by stimulation of bone resorption, which led to inadequate trabecular bone development and bone modeling of the fifth lumbar vertebra.

NO system dependence of atropine-induced mydriasis and L-NAME- and L-arginine-induced miosis: Reversal by the pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in rats and guinea pigs.

We revealed an immediate and hours-lasting particular NO-specific parallel miotic effect of L-NAME and L-arginine in rats and guinea pigs and a stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 157-particular effect vs. that of atropine-induced mydriasis while examining the NO system role in the normal pupils responses and pupils with atropine-induced mydriasis. We also assessed the responses to BPC 157 and its possible modulation of the changes caused by L-NAME/L-arginine and atropine. We administered locally (two drops/eye) or systemically (intraperitoneally/kg) [BPC 157 (0.4µg/eye; 10µg, 10ng, 10pg/kg), L-NAME (0.1mg/eye; 5mg/kg), and L-arginine (2mg/eye; 100mg/kg) alone and combined] at 3min prior to assessment (normal pupils) or alternatively at maximal 1% atropine-induced mydriasis (30min after two drops were administered to each eye). L-NAME/L-arginine. Normal pupil. L-NAME-miosis and L-arginine-miosis shortened and attenuated each other's responses when combined (L-NAME+L-arginine) (except with guinea pigs treated locally) and were thereby NO-specific. Atropine-pupil. Both L-NAME and L-arginine counteracted atropine-induced mydriasis. With few exceptions, the atropine+L-NAME+L-arginine-animals showed a consistent shift toward the left. BPC 157. Normal pupil. Always, BPC 157 alone (both species; locally; systemically; all regimens) did not affect normal pupils. Despite specific exceptions, BPC 157 distinctively affects L-arginine-miosis (prolongation) and L-NAME-miosis (shortening). When L-arginine and L-NAME were combined (L-NAME+L-arginine+BPC 157), the effect was less pronounced. Atropine-pupil. BPC 157 alone counteracted atropine-induced mydriasis. With few exceptions (when administered with L-NAME or L-arginine or L-NAME+L-arginine), BPC 157 augments their counteracting effects. Thus, along with its l-NAME/L-arginine effects, BPC 157 participates in ocular control, potentially via NO-mediated and cholinergic mechanisms.

Effects of between generations changes in nutrition type on vaginal smear and serum lipids in Sprague-Dawley rats.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies established that between generations changes in feeding protocol can have significant impact on reproductive physiology. The aim of the study was to determinate effects of mothers' nutrition and nutrition of the offspring on the characteristics of vaginal smear and serum lipid content. METHODS: Ten female rats were randomly divided in two groups; first group fed with food containing high content of saturated fatty acids (HFD) and the second with standard laboratory chow (CD). After coupling and lactation period their offspring were further randomly divided into two subgroups fed HFD or CD forming four study groups: (a) CD-CD, (b) CD-HFD, (c) HFD-CD and (d) HFD-HFD. The dams and offspring at the age of 37 and 18 weeks, respectively, were subjected to biochemical analysis of the blood and cytological analysis of the vaginal smears. Additionally body weight was recorded and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. RESULTS: The HFD-HFD group presented with highest levels of triglycerides and the CD-HFD with the highest levels of cholesterol. Therefore, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly different among the groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Vaginal cytological smears analysis showed features of irregular phase interchanges or extended estrous phase in offspring of high-fat fed dams. CONCLUSION: Maternal HFD consumption predisposes offspring to increased risk of developing metabolic abnormalities and estrous disorders.

Histological analysis of cross-sectional area of quadruple hamstring tendons and patellar ligament samples in relation to age and gender.

AIMS: The middle of the patellar ligament and the quadruple hamstring tendons (gracilis and semitendinosus) are two types of graft predominantly used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The aim of this study was to determine the morphometric characteristics of patellar ligament grafts and hamstring tendon grafts and to compare the results according to subject age and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on a total of 120 samples: 40 of gracilis tendon, 40 of semitendinosus tendon and 40 of patellar ligament, distributed equally according to gender, age (50-75 years) and the side of the body from which the sample was harvested. RESULTS: Morphometric and histological analyses showed that patellar ligament samples had less cross-sectional area than quadruple tendon samples (49.29 mm(2) compared with 51.46 mm(2), respectively). Sexual dimorphism was noticed in distal cross-sections of gracilis tendons (p=0.09), cross-sections of quadruple tendons (p=0.07) and patellar ligament samples (p=0.01) because of different muscular build. CONCLUSIONS: All samples obtained from male subjects had larger cross-sectional areas compared with the samples taken from females. Furthermore, samples obtained from subjects aged 60 years or under had larger cross-sectional areas than samples obtained from subjects aged at least 61 years for all types of graft.

Analysis of biomechanical properties of patellar ligament graft and quadruple hamstring tendon graft.

INTRODUCTION: Two types of transplant are commonly used in the surgical management of anterior cruciate ligament lesions: the central part of the patellar ligament and quadruple tendons of the gracilis muscle and semitendinosus muscle. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical characteristics of patellar ligament transplants and transplants of the quadruple tendons of the hamstring muscles under tensile force in the laboratory, and to compare the results in each group of samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 160 specimens: 40 specimens of gracilis muscle tendons, 40 of semitendinosus muscle tendons, 40 of quadruple tendons and 40 of the patellar ligament, approximately equally distributed according to sex, age (50-70 years) and the side of the body from which the specimen had been taken. RESULTS: The working curve analysis of the specimens under tensile load of a maximum force of 30N showed the least elongation (0.31%) in the quadruple tendon, followed by the gracilis muscle tendon (1.48%) and patellar ligament tendon (3.91%). CONCLUSIONS: The quadruple tendon specimen showed greater strength and higher elasticity compared with the patellar ligament specimen, which proved the starting hypothesis.

Transcardial gradient of adiponectin, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in overweight coronary artery disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), where epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) express proatherogenic cytokines (i.e., interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) and decreases production of beneficial adiponectin. Studies on endocrine role of EAT are mostly based on assessing cytokines' mRNAs, whereas cytokine blood levels might not readily correlate. In order to get better insight into the endocrine role of thickened EAT in CAD, we assessed transcardial gradient of adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α. METHODS: We assessed anthropometric and ultrasound measures in cohort of fifty nondiabetic subjects (21 CAD and 29 non-CAD). Blood sampled from aortic root and coronary sinus was assayed for adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α, using ELISA. RESULTS: Except thicker EAT in CAD subjects, anthropometric measures were similar (overweight), with higher adiponectin in coronary sinus than in aortic root (p<0.001) in both groups. CAD subjects had lower adiponectin in aortic root (p<0.001) and higher levels of TNF-α in coronary sinus than in aortic root (p=0.05). EAT thickness positively correlated with hip circumference (p=0.038) and negatively correlated with adiponectin levels (for both p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transcardial gradient of adiponectin in non-CAD and CAD overweight subjects was similar, while latter had lower systemic adiponectin level and thicker EAT. EAT with thickening reaches the threshold level of near-maximal down-regulation of adiponectin and its further thickening is not associated with continued decrease of adiponectin production. In CAD patients levels of TNF-α were higher, but IL-6 were not, and these cytokines might be flush out by lymphatic route.

Extended Eversion Carotid Endarterectomy: Computation of Hemodynamics.

BACKGROUND: Stroke prevention includes surgery for significant stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA). Consensus on a standard approach lacks and one alternative approach is eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA). To overcome disadvantages of eCEA, we developed extended-eversion carotid endarterectomy (exeCEA). Aiming to investigate hemodynamics after different surgical approaches, we created computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of exeCEA and eCEA with included progressing lumen narrowing, representation of artery restenosis at the incision line. METHODS: Blood flow velocities, volume flow rates, and wall shear stress (WSS) were established in carotid arteries from models of eCEA and exeCEA with included increasing groove (1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 mm) at the "incision line", under input pressure of 120 and 150 mm Hg. RESULTS: For the corresponding restenosis grade, models of exeCEA had a larger orifice toward ICA, lower blood flow velocities and higher volume flow rates in ICA, with lower volume flow rates in external carotid artery. WSS values in ICA of exeCEA models were lower than in eCEA models, later reaching the thrombotic range. CONCLUSIONS: CFD showed better hemodynamic properties in exeCEA models, indicating presented approach might be better at preserving brain perfusion.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Is Nonlinearly Related to Anthropometric Measures and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue.

Introduction. Adipose tissue is the largest endocrine organ, composed of subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), the latter being highly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Expansion of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is linked to CAD. One way of assessing the CAD risk is with low-cost anthropometric measures, although they are inaccurate and cannot discriminate between VAT and SAT. The aim of this study is to evaluate (1) the relationship between EAT thickness, SAT thickness and anthropometric measures in a cohort of patients assessed at the cardiology unit and (2) determine predictive power of anthropometric measures and EAT and SAT thickness in establishment of CAD. Methods. Anthropometric measures were obtained from 53 CAD and 42 non-CAD patients. Vascular and structural statuses were obtained with coronarography and echocardiography, as well as measurements of the EAT and SAT thickness. Results. Anthropometric measures showed moderate positive correlation with EAT and SAT thickness. Anthropometric measures and SAT follow nonlinear S curve relationship with EAT. Strong nonlinear power curve relationship was observed between EAT and SAT thinner than 10 mm. Anthropometric measures and EAT and SAT were poor predictors of CAD. Conclusion. Anthropometric measures and SAT have nonlinear relationship with EAT. EAT thickness and anthropometric measures have similar CAD predictive value.

Proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) expression in human larynx.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to investigate and to identify the existence of proton pump in different parts of larynx. The presence of acidic content in this area is known to be connected to several laryngeal diseases. It is mostly developed by upward recurrence of acidic gastric content, but there are some signs that the acid can be produced in the larynx as well, because of the proton pump activity in laryngeal mucosa. METHODS: The study was performed on two types of specimens: (1) 50 cadaver larynges and (2) 11 surgical larynges obtained after laryngectomy. Samples were taken from supraglottis, glottis and subglottic areas and immunohistochemistry for the beta subunit of the proton pump was done. RESULTS: The presence of proton pump was proved in seromucous glands in laryngeal supraglottic area, but it was also, for the first time, found in human chondrocytes in the thyroid and epiglottic cartilage. CONCLUSION: These new findings could encourage further research that would illuminate better the etiopathogenesis not only of laryngopharyngeal reflux, but also the pathophysiology of cartilaginous disorders.

Perforating corneal injury in rat and pentadecapeptide BPC 157.

Based on its healing effects in various tissues, we hypothesized that the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals corneal ulcerations in rats and effects corneal transparency. We made a penetrant linear 2-mm incision in the paralimbal region of the left cornea at the 5 o'clock position with a 20-gauge MVR incision knife at 45° under an operating microscope. Medication was BPC 157 (2 pg/mL, 2 ng/mL, and 2 µg/mL distilled water, two eye drops/left rat eye) immediately after injury induction and then every 8 h up to 120 h; controls received an equal volume of distilled water. In contrast to the poor healing response in controls, BPC 157 significantly accelerated the healing process in 2 µg and 2 ng BPC 157-treated eyes, starting 24 h after the injury, and the fluorescein and Seidel tests became negative. The epithelial defects were completely healed at 72 h (2 µg BPC 157-treated group) and at 96 h (2 ng BPC 157-treated group) after injury. Aqueous cells were absent at 96 h and 120 h after injury in the 2 µg and 2 ng BPC 157-treated groups, respectively. In conclusion, BPC 157 effects the rapid regaining of corneal transparency. Whereas controls developed new vessels that grew from the limbus to the penetrated area, BPC 157-treated rats generally had no new vessels, and those that did form in the limbus did not make contact with the penetrated area. Thus, BPC 157 eye drops successfully close perforating corneal incisions in rats.

Specificities and differences in nursing students' perceptions of nursing clinical faculties' competences.

The impact that clinical faculty have on students is often misunderstood and this research gives us information about how the students' needs and perceptions change over the course of time. The aim of this study is to examine the specificities and differences between expectations and evaluations of clinical faculty's competences done by the first, second and third year undergraduate nursing students (N = 135). The instrument was a modified version of a questionnaire taken from The Nursing Clinical Teacher Effectiveness Inventory (NCTEI). Prior to clinical practice, the students evaluated the desirability of each competency expected from a clinical faculty (Questionnaire 0); after the clinical practice, the students estimated how often their clinical faculty possessed and applied those competencies according to the same items (Questionnaire 1). The first-year students had significantly higher expectations of their clinical faculty, particularly in terms of Teaching Ability (P = .001), while the second-year students had significantly lower expectations, particularly for clinical faculty Personality (P = .001). After the clinical practice, the overall clinical faculty competence evaluations were significantly lower among first-year students (P = .006), while the third- and second-year students' evaluations of the clinical faculty more closely matched their expectations. The quality of clinical practice largely depends on the clinical faculties' competencies.

Function of circle of Willis.

Nearly 400 years ago, Thomas Willis described the arterial ring at the base of the brain (the circle of Willis, CW) and recognized it as a compensatory system in the case of arterial occlusion. This theory is still accepted. We present several arguments that via negativa should discard the compensatory theory. (1) Current theory is anthropocentric; it ignores other species and their analog structures. (2) Arterial pathologies are diseases of old age, appearing after gene propagation. (3) According to the current theory, evolution has foresight. (4) Its commonness among animals indicates that it is probably a convergent evolutionary structure. (5) It was observed that communicating arteries are too small for effective blood flow, and (6) missing or hypoplastic in the majority of the population. We infer that CW, under physiologic conditions, serves as a passive pressure dissipating system; without considerable blood flow, pressure is transferred from the high to low pressure end, the latter being another arterial component of CW. Pressure gradient exists because pulse wave and blood flow arrive into the skull through different cerebral arteries asynchronously, due to arterial tree asymmetry. Therefore, CW and its communicating arteries protect cerebral artery and blood-brain barrier from hemodynamic stress.

Overweight - early stage of "adipokines related cardiovascular diseases": leptin and adiponectin relation to anthropometric parametars.

AIM: Adipose tissue possess endocrine functions that include synthesis of various adipocytokines, which affect the metabolism of lipids and glucoses, development of atherosclerotic processes, and are involved in the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Body fat distribution is a significant risk factor for the development of obesity related diseases. Leptin and adiponectin are adipokines whose concentrations vary with the level of obesity. The aim of this research is to determine the relation of the changes in leptin and adiponectin concentrations in overweight persons with anthropometric parameters of the subjects. METHODS: The study included 40 adult, hypertensive subjects - divided into two groups according to sex, with the body mass index 25-30 kg/m², with regular glycemia and renal function. All subjects underwent biochemical (serum lipid, glucose and creatinine level) and anthropometric measurements. Leptin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay, while adiponectin concentration was determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Both leptin and adiponectin concentrations significantly correlated with the waist circumference in both groups of subjects. In male subjects, leptin concentration correlated positively with the body mass index and the hip circumference, while adiponectin concentration correlated negatively with the hip circumference. CONCLUSION: Being overweight is a condition marked by pathologically altered values of leptin concentration (increased level) and adiponectin (decreased level), that are changing as the obesity level and the waist circumference increase. It can be concluded that abdominal obesity and higher body mass index increase the risk for the development of overweight-obesity-related diseases.

Low adiponectin serum level--reduced protective effect on the left ventricular wall thickness.

Adiponectin, secreted by fat tissue, is down - regulated in obesity and may be involved in obesity-related disorders. It has anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic and antidiabetic effect. Obesity is a strong predictor for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies showed that adiponectin level has important role in metabolic disorders, arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease but its effect on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has not been fully clarified. The aim of this research is to determine whether the protective effect of adiponectin against development of left ventricular hypertrophy is decreased in hypertensive overweight patients. The study included 61 adult, overweight hypertensive patients, with body mass index in range 25-30 kg/m2. Patients had regular morning glucose serum values and regular creatinine level. They were divided into four groups, according to sex and the presence of LVH. There were 16 female and 15 male hypertensive patients with LVH and 15 female and 15 male hypertensive patients without LVH, who were a control group. Glucose profile, lipidogram, creatinine clearance and anthropometric measures were determined in all patients. Cardiovascular measurements were taken applying two-dimensional ultrasound. Adiponectin serum level was measured using enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Results showed that adiponectin serum level was significantly lower in hypertensive, overweight females and males with LVH than in the control groups without LVH. Adiponectin serum level did not correlate significant with intraventricular or with posterior wall thickness of left ventricle. Hypoadiponectinemia presents part of neurohumoral, non-haemodynamic system who contributes to obesity-related hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy development. Low adiponectin level together with others adipokines, cytokines and chemokines secreted by fat tissue could contribute to pathophysiologic changes of the myocardium via unknown molecular mechanisms yet.

Prevalence of the palmaris longus in relation to the hand dominance.

PURPOSE: The incidence of left-handedness in the general population is between 8 and 15%. There is a presumption that the prevalence of palmaris longus muscle differ between right-handed and left-handed people. This prospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of the palmaris longus in relation to the hand dominance. METHODS: The study included 542 subjects (216 male and 326 female). They were initially tested to hand dominance and after that they were asked to do the standard test (Schaeffer's test) for the assessment of the palmaris longus tendon. If the tendon was not visualized or palpable, four additional tests (Thompson's test, Mishra's tests I and II, Pushpakumar's "two-finger sign" method) were done to confirm its absence. RESULTS: Right hand dominance was recorded in 452 (83.4%) subjects while the left hand dominance was recorded in 90 (16.6%) subjects. In right-handed subjects, palmaris longus tendon was absent on the right side in 24 (5.3%) and on the left side in 50 (11.1%) cases. In left-handed subjects, it was absent on the right side in 18 (20%) and on the left side in 2 (2.2%) cases. These differences were statistically significant. Bilateral absence of palmaris longus tendon was similar in both examined groups (25.1% in the overall series, 24.3% in right-handed subjects, 28.9% in left-handed subjects). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that a right-sided absence was more common in left-handed persons while the left-sided absence was more common in right-handed persons. Unilateral tendon absence was more common on the non-dominant hand.

Real mineral density of the sternum.

Mineral density of the sternum is insufficiently known. The aim of this research was to investigate mineralisation of the sternum and collect normative data on mineral density of the standard male and female sternum in elderly people (average age of female samples was 64 and male's was 62 years). The research was conducted on 93 cadaveric sternums, 56 male and 37 female samples. To determine regional mineral density of the sternum each sample was cut into six bony segments (Figure 1). Mineral density of every segment was determined using the method of ashing. Male sternums were on average denser than female ones in all segments. Average mineral density of the manubrium in women was 0.169 g/cm3 and 0.220 g/cm3 in men. Average mineral density of the body of the sternum also showed existence of sex difference; it was 0.160 g/cm3 in women and 0.227 g/cm3 in men. Both male and female sternums showed identical mineral density distribution. Mineral density of the manubrium and the body was roughly equal, while the analysis of longitudinal segments showed that the central part of both the manubrium and the body of the sternum was denser than lateral parts. Complex determination of the real mineral density for defined segments of the sternum and analysis of the obtained results were used to create the map of mineral density of the sternum in men and women (Figure 2). Maximum density values were four times greater than minimum density values for analysed samples. These data showed that osteoporosis also occurs on the sternum. Loss of structure and lower mineral density decrease the sternum quality and increase the risk of sternal dehiscence after median sternotomy.