Novel ultrasonic bone densitometry based on two longitudinal waves: significant correlation with pQCT measurement values and age-related changes in trabecular bone density, cortical thickness, and elastic modulus of trabecular bone in a normal Japanese population.
A reference database for trabecular bone density, cortical thickness, and elastic modulus of trabecular bone for a novel ultrasonic bone densitometry system (LD-100) based on two longitudinal waves (fast and slow) was determined over a wide age range in a normal Japanese population.


BACKGROUND
A novel ultrasonic bone densitometry system (LD-100 system) was applied to create a reference database for trabecular bone density (TBD), cortical thickness (CoTh), and elastic modulus of trabecular bone (EMTb) for this device over a wide age range in a normal Japanese population.


METHODS
In a comparative study between LD-100 and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) systems, 52 individuals were examined by both systems at the same radius simultaneously. To create a reference database, a total of 2,380 healthy subjects (1,179 men, 1,201 women), ages 18-99 years, were examined using the LD-100 system.


RESULTS
Highly significant correlations between the LD-100 and pQCT systems were found in TBD (r = 0.877, p < 0.001) and CoTh (r = 0.723, p < 0.001). For the reference database, peak values of TBD, CoTh, and EMTb were observed at 30-34 years (255.09 mg/cm(3)), 20-24 years (5.23 mm), and 20-24 years (4.09 GPa) in men, and at 25-29 years (209.24 mg/cm(3)), 25-29 years (3.98 mm), and 20-24 years (3.33 GPa) in women, respectively. The TBD fell significantly (p < 0.05) beginning at 55-59 years in both sexes, with a relatively rapid decrease in women. The CoTh showed a significant decrease beginning at 40-44 years in men and 50-54 years in women. The EMTb showed a significant decrease beginning at 40-44 years in men and 55-59 years in women.


CONCLUSIONS
The LD-100 system is a useful bone densitometry device and the database of age-related changes in TBD, CoTh, and EMTb established in this study will provide fundamental data for future studies related to bone status.
Department of Biosignal Pathophysiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
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H
Sai
G
G
Iguchi
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T
Tobimatsu
K
K
Takahashi
T
T
Otani
K
K
Horii
I
I
Mano
I
I
Nagai
H
H
Iio
T
T
Fujita
K
K
Yoh
H
H
Baba
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult