Ultrasonic backscatter techniques may offer a useful approach for detecting changes in bone caused by osteoporosis. The goal of this study was to investigate how bone mineral density (BMD) and the microstructure of human cancellous bone affect three ultrasonic backscatter parameters that have been identified as potentially useful for ultrasonic bone assessment purposes: the apparent integrated backscatter (AIB), the frequency slope of apparent backscatter (FSAB), and the frequency intercept of apparent backscatter (FIAB). Ultrasonic measurements were performed with a 3.5-MHz broadband transducer on 54 specimens of human cancellous bone prepared from the proximal femur. Microstructural parameters and BMD were measured using X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Relationships between AIB, FSAB, FIAB, and the micro-CT parameters were investigated using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Moderate-to-strong univariate correlations were observed between the backscatter parameters and microstructure and BMD in many cases. The partial correlation analysis indicated that the backscatter parameters are dependent on microstructure independently of BMD in some cases. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis used to generate multivariate models found that microstructure was a significant predictor of the backscatter parameters in most cases.

中文翻译：

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超声波骨评估：表观反向散射技术检测人类松质骨显微结构变化的能力。

超声波反向散射技术可以提供一种有用的方法来检测骨质疏松症引起的骨骼变化。本研究的目的是调查骨矿物质密度 (BMD) 和人类松质骨的微观结构如何影响三个超声反向散射参数，这些参数已被确定为可能对超声骨骼评估有用：表观积分反向散射 (AIB)、频率表观反向散射的斜率 (FSAB) 和表观反向散射的频率截距 (FIAB)。使用 3.5-MHz 宽带换能器对从股骨近端制备的 54 个人类松质骨样本进行超声测量。使用 X 射线显微计算机断层扫描 (micro-CT) 测量微结构参数和 BMD。AIB、FSAB、FIAB、并使用单变量和多变量统计分析技术研究显微 CT 参数。在许多情况下，在反向散射参数与微观结构和 BMD 之间观察到中到强的单变量相关性。偏相关分析表明，在某些情况下，反向散射参数依赖于微观结构，而与 BMD 无关。用于生成多元模型的多元逐步线性回归分析发现，在大多数情况下，微观结构是反向散射参数的重要预测指标。偏相关分析表明，在某些情况下，反向散射参数依赖于微观结构，而与 BMD 无关。用于生成多元模型的多元逐步线性回归分析发现，在大多数情况下，微观结构是反向散射参数的重要预测指标。偏相关分析表明，在某些情况下，反向散射参数依赖于微观结构，而与 BMD 无关。用于生成多元模型的多元逐步线性回归分析发现，在大多数情况下，微观结构是反向散射参数的重要预测指标。