title: A network modeling approach for the spatial distribution and structure of bone mineral content.
abstract: This study aims to develop a spatial model of bone for quantitative assessments of bone mineral density and microarchitecture. A spatially structured network model for bone microarchitecture was systematically investigated. Bone mineral-forming foci were distributed radially according to the cumulative normal distribution, and Voronoi tessellation was used to obtain edges representing bone mineral lattice. Methods to simulate X-ray images were developed. The network model recapitulated key features of real bone and contained spongy interior regions resembling trabecular bone that transitioned seamlessly to densely mineralized, compact cortical bone-like microarchitecture. Model-simulated imaging profiles were similar to patients' X-ray images. The morphometric metrics were concordant with microcomputed tomography results for real bone. Simulations comparing normal and diseased bone of 20-30 to 70-80 year-olds demonstrated the method's effectiveness for modeling osteoporosis. The novel spatial model may be useful for pharmacodynamic simulations of bone drugs and for modeling imaging data in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Aidong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bone
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buyea
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography; D055815:Young Adult