Bone Abstracts

The effects of prolactin on bone metabolism have been the subjects of several studies. It is believed that prolactin acts directly influencing the synthesis of bone matrix by stimulating the osteoblastic activity, since receptors for this hormone have been identified in osteoblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, no study on the effects of prolactin on the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was found in the literature. The objective of this study was to verif...

Numerous studies have reported beneficial effects of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in tissue repair and regeneration. These multipotent cells can be isolated from many different adult tissues and give rise to different cell lineages. The most well-characterized source for adult stem cells is still adult bone marrow, however in the past decade, subpopulations of stem cells have been isolated from dental tissues. Dental pulp has been identified as a promising source ...

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...

Purpose: To evaluate whether calcium and vitamin D intake is associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) serum concentrations or is associated with either the phalangeal dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (pDXA) or the quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) at the phalanges and the calcaneus in independent elderly men from southwestern Spain.Methods: Serum PTH and 25(OH)D were measured in 199 healthy elderly men (mean age: 73.31...

Objective(s): We aimed to determine the impact of microgravity-induced osteoporosis on the future of space programs.Material and methods: We performed a metanalysis of the available literature, finding out different studies about i) muscle atrophy due to the absence of workload, which can consequently induce bone loss; ii) the effect of long term inactivity on bone mass; iii) the effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in women and men in order t...

Ancient Egyptians were well known for the art of embalming, performed in the belief that preservation of the body was essential for survival in the afterlife. During the mummification process, internal organs were removed and some of them (lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines) washed, dehydrated with natron, perfumed, and stored in so-called canopic jars, buried with the mummy. Each jar had established contents and its own protective deity. To date, a limited number of studie...

Objectives: Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare disease with cutaneous photosensitivity, in which patients avoid sun exposure and use sunscreen. Our purpose was to study bone mineral density (BMD), serum 25-OHD levels and other mineral parameters, to evaluate the impact of these measures in the follow-up of EPP patients.Patients and methods: A ten EPP patients (median age 25; range 22–55, four males and six females), were study for clinica...

Objectives: Impairment of bone mass accrual and alterations of bone metabolism is a common finding in HIV-infected youths. In particular, previous studies demonstrated higher bone formation and bone resorption rates in HIV-infected children and adolescents. Wnt ligands promote bone formation by stimulating osteoblast differentiation and their survival. Recent studies demonstrated that sclerostin (Scl) and dickkopf factor 1 (DKK-1), Wnt antagonists, are important negative regul...

Background: Glucocorticoid immune suppression in kidney transplanted children jeopardizes optimal bone health recovery. So far, there are no studies that evaluate the effect of transplant and corticoid in bone parameters separately.Objective: To determine the effect of early corticosteroid withdrawal in bone parameters.Methods: Randomized, controlled study; two groups: corticosteroid withdrawal (at the 6th day post-transplant, then...

Objective: Sclerostin, product of the SOST gene, is an important determinant of bone formation and resorption. Rett patients, frequently present marked decreases in bone mineral density (BMD) beyond that expected from disuse atrophy. However, sclerostin has not been yet examined in Rett subjects as a potential mediator of impaired bone metabolism.Methods: This study aimed to investigate whether there is any associations between sclerostin levels, body co...