Bone Abstracts

Abnormal tissue levels of certain trace elements such as Zinc (Zn) were reported in various types of cancer. Little is known about the role of Zn in osteosarcoma.Using confocal synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence analysis, we characterized the spatial distribution of Zn in high-grade (G3) sclerosing osteosarcoma of nine patients (4 f/5 m; 7 knee/1 humerus/1 femur) following chemotherapy and wide surgical resection. The study was done in accord...

Contemporary elemental imaging techniques are greatly contributing into the bone research. Synchrotron radiation induced confocal micro x-ray fluorescence technique (SR-μXRF) was employed for the analysis, being the most powerful and sufficient tool in detection and characterization of trace element distributions in bone tissue. Manganese (Mn), as a potential contributor into the mechanisms of calcium incorporation into bone tissue is in the spotlight of research. Further...

Introduction: Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare disease leading to immobility by recurrent fractures, immobilization, short stature and muscular weakness. Beside drug treatment and surgical procedures physiotherapy is the most important treatment approaches to increase mobility. The objective of our analysis was to evaluate the effect of a new standardized 12 months physiotherapy concept including whole body vibration over 6 months on motor function and bone mineral density in...

Background: Skull development is a tightly regulated process that occurs along the osteogenic interfaces of the cranial sutures that allow rapid bone formation at the edges of the bone fronts. Premature closure of cranial sutures can result in pathological conditions such as Craniosynostosis. The mechanosensory proteins Polycystin 1 (PC1) and 2 (PC2) have been shown to regulate skeletal development and potentially suture formation.Aim: The aim of study w...

Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) consists of two isoforms TRAP 5a and TRAP 5b suggested to exert different functions and clinical relevance. TRAP 5a is a 35 kDa monomer and a potential marker of inflammatory conditions e.g. atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. TRAP 5b, a heterodimer of 16 and 23 kDa generated by proteolytic cleavage of a repressive loop in TRAP 5a, is used as marker for osteoclast numbers/bone resorption and osteoclast-related pathological condi...

Background: Metaphyseal chondrodysplasias with cone-shaped epiphyses and cup-shaped metaphyses are very rare. We present a case with this particular skeletal phenotype, along with its differentials.Presenting Problem: Our female patient, aged 3.8 years, was the 2nd child of healthy, unrelated Greek parents, who were worried about her bilateral knee stiffness, which resulted in a limp and also in walking with her knees bent. At presentation, she was noted...

Background: Current extension in the usage of growth hormone therapy (GHT) has increased the prevalence of bone complications. Legg Calvé Perthes disease (LCPD) is characterized by idiopathic avascular necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis. More frequently in boys between 4 and 8 years, LCPD is of unknown ethology. An increased incidence has been stated in case of GH deficiency. There is increasing data that children with LCPD may have a more widespread skeletal diso...

Objectives: To evaluate the skeletal profile of paediatric patients with cancer at diagnosis.Methods: Children diagnosed with cancer in our Oncology Centre were recruited during a fifteen-month period and underwent metabolic bone profile and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the time of diagnosis. Subsequently, they were divided in two subgroups, according to diagnosis; haematological malignancy vs solid tumour. For comparison, a group of 38 sex ...

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is used to stimulate bone formation in osteoporotic patients, however concerns have been raised about the quality of the matrix produced since lower levels of total matrix mineral have been reported in osteoporotic and fracture patients treated with PTH. High resolution synchrotron-based Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy (sFTIRM) was used to determine mineral content in age-matched bone during anabolic PTH treatment, using the simplified lamellar ...

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone-derived tumor. However, the pathogenic molecular mechanism(s) underpinning osteosarcoma development and metastasis remain elusive. The polycystins PC1 (polycystin-1; encoded by PKD1) and PC2 (polycystin-2) are central players in mechanotransduction, a process that can influence all steps of the invasion/metastasis cascade. Recent studies from our laboratory provided, for the first time, a direct link between mechanosensing polycysti...