Bone Abstracts

Introduction: Currently, osteoporosis is mainly diagnosed through dual-enargy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, DXA cannot be used for early diagnoses through population mass screenings because of issues related to ionizing radiation employment. Aim of this study is to perform a preliminary clinical validation of a new ultrasound (US)-based method for vertebral densitometry.Methods: A total of 270 women were included in this study according to the fol...

Introduction: Recently reported high incidences of hip fractures emphasize the need of more effective methods for osteoporosis diagnosis, currently performed essentially by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations of the proximal femur. However, high costs and radiation-related issues do not allow DXA employment for population mass screenings. Aim of this study is to carry out a preliminary clinical validation of a new ultrasound (US)-based method to perform femoral...

Introduction: Currently, the only available method to reliably predict osteoporotic fractures is represented by bone mineral density (BMD) measurements on proximal femur or spine, which require the use of X-rays. Aim of this study is to illustrate working principles and feasibility of a new ultrasound (US) method for bone densitometry and osteoporosis diagnosis applicable on both proximal femur and spine.Methods: A new fully automatic algorithm was devel...

Objective: To determine if milk is always good for preventing osteoporosis in children anyway.Materials and methods: Worldwide bibliography review on the problem and our experience.Results: Studies performed in children and adolescents relate to the subject of the long-term relative effects on bone health of the protein content of the diet compared with that of the diet’s net load of acid in the body. Long-term acid loading in...

Aim: Determining level of vitamin D and other conditions in children with osteoporosis.Methodology: Bibliography review in a worldwide basis about the issue and what we have observed.Outcome: We studied the level of 25OHD3 in all patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia. 25OHD3 95% deficit was found in these patients when reduced bone mass occurs. There are several disorders for hypocalcemia. Intestinal malabsorption syndromes, re...

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous, rare disorder most commonly affecting type I collagen. The OI Adult Natural History Initiative (OI ANHI) was established following a 2010 Ostegenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF) national meeting at which patient participants noted that i) there is little information about the natural history and progression of OI beyond childhood, and ii) most of the data available are focused on musculoskeletal issues. Adults with O...

Polyphosphates (polyPs) are inorganic phosphate chains found in many cell types with higher concentrations in bone cells. As a source of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and an effective calcium reservoir due to chelation, PolyPs enable total Ca2+ and PO42− concentrations above those required for apatite saturation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) cleaves Pi from polyP, thus polyPs may be involved in apatite mineralization.Aim: ...

Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2) is a rare genetic disease due to reduced osteoclast function. Clinical manifestations are variable, and in some cases the symptoms, including frequent fractures, osteomyelitis, hematologic and neural failures, are already evident during childhood and worsen with age. In 70% of cases, ADO2 is caused by heterozygous dominant negative mutations of the CLCN7 gene, encoding the Cl−/H+ antiporter type 7. We hypothesized that silen...

Breast to bone metastasis is a common incurable event during breast cancer progression. Identifying the molecular mechanisms at play is vital for the development of new therapies. Matrix metalloproteinases, such as MMP-2, are overexpressed in the bone metastatic microenvironment. Genetic ablation of MMP-2 demonstrated its importance of in driving osteolytic bone metastatic breast cancer and support the rationale for the development of a highly specific MMP-2 inhibitor for the ...

Objectives: ADO2 is a genetic bone disease induced by dominant negative mutations of the proton/chloride antiporter ClC7 encoded by the CLCN7 gene. In osteoclasts, ClC7 is crucial for lysosome function and resorption lacuna acidification. However, Clcn7 is expressed in several cell types in various organs, including brain, lungs, kidneys and spleen. Therefore, we asked whether Clcn7 mutations could affect other tissues beyond the bone.<p class="a...