Bone Abstracts

The re-initiation of developmental processes in osteoarthritis (OA) has emerged with similarities to endochondral ossification; responsible for long bone development. We aimed to establish the role of the Wnt inhibitor, sclerostin in endochondral ossification, and its relationship with MEPE, a calcification inhibitor with potential downstream functions. Knee joints from male Str/ort (spontaneous OA) and age-matched CBA control mice were analysed at 8, 18, and 40+ weeks of age ...

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine–threonine kinase that plays a central role in a number of key cellular pathways that have been previously implicated in bone formation. mTOR mediates these diverse roles by forming two multi-protein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, each of which is defined by unique proteins raptor and rictor respectively.Studies from our laboratory have previously demonstrated that inhibition of mTORC1 increases the ost...

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intravenous bisphosphonate treatment in children with mild-moderate osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) who had progressed from active bisphosphonate treatment to maintenance therapy for >2 years.Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 17 patients with mild-moderate OI. Clinical data, fracture history, biochemistry, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) parameters, vertebral measurements, bone age a...

Objectives: Bisphosphonate infusions are associated with numerous adverse effects including acute systemic inflammatory reactions and electrolyte abnormalities. The aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 3-day course of prednisone on children receiving their first dose of pamidronate or zoledronic acid.Methods: A retrospective cohort of 166 patients (85 males) were commenced on pamidronate (16%) or zoledronic acid (84%) for trea...

Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis (GIO) occurs in patients undergoing therapeutic intervention for inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The effect of long-term GC administration on bone turnover was investigated in two frequently used mouse strains; C57BL/6 and CD1 in order to assess the influence of genetic background.GIO was induced in 12 weeks old female C57BL/6 and CD1 mice by s.c. insertion of long-term (60 days) rel...

Background: Parathyroid hormone-like hormone (PTHLH) is an important regulator of endochondral bone development. Mutations of the PTHLH gene can cause a variety of different skeletal dysplasias, with duplications of the PTHLH gene resulting in a phenotype characterized by endochrondomatosis, metaphyseal dysplasia and osteolysis.Presenting problem: Our patient presented at the age of 4 months, given concerns regarding lower limb deformit...

Background: Families of children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) make costly modifications to their home, lifestyle and employment and incur costs of rehabilitative, preventative and adaptive care for their child. While parents have readily identified that these costs are financially burdensome, the degree of financial burden has not yet been described in families of children with OI.Objectives: To evaluate the out of pocket, OI related expenses (ExpOI...

Objectives: Childhood osteoporosis can be treated with i.v. bisphosphonates in order to improve bone mass and density. The aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 6-monthly zoledronic acid (ZA) in children with osteoporosis.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 27 patients (16 males and 11 females) were treated with 6-monthly ZA (0.05 mg/kg per dose) for a minimum of 1 year. Seventeen patients were immobile, 4 had steroid-induce...

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a bone derived phosphate-regulating hormone which is elevated in hypophosphataemic rickets. Recent findings demonstrate iron deficiency as a potential mediator of FGF23 expression and murine studies have shown in utero effects of maternal iron deficiency leading to increased FGF23 concentration and disordered bone development (Clinkenbeard. JBMR 2013). Children with rickets in rural Gambia, West Africa, have high prevalences of i...

Multiple myeloma is usually incurable, the bone marrow niche providing a protective microenvironment for quiescent tumour cells. We hypothesised that manipulation of BMP activity, a regulator of cell differentiation in the bone marrow, might affect control of tumour growth by its niche and in addition alter the lytic bone disease of myeloma. Moreover BMP signalling contributes to the hepcidin upregulation and resultant inflammatory anaemia that is characteristic of myeloma. Re...