Bone Abstracts

NICE guidelines (UK) recommend that bone mineral density (BMD) scans, corrected for bone size (bone mineral apparent density [BMAD]) should be performed for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) when underweight for a year or more. The number of patients identified with low bone mineral density or vertebral fractures remains low in this population. However, referrals for dual- energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) and peripheral quantitative comp...

Osteocytes make up >90% of bone cells, are embedded in mineralised matrix where they form a communication network. Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, and are mechano-sensitive. They are very difficult to isolate with a dependence on cell lines for in vitro studies of osteocyte biology. Therefore new methods to study these cells are essential. Recent publications indicate that osteoblasts maintained in in vitro 3D collagen gels may differentiate to...

Glycosphingolipids (GSL) are essential structural components of mammalian cell membranes and lipid rafts that exert pleiotropic effects on cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Cancer associated GSL have been shown to promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis; however their role in osteoclast (OC) activation and the development of osteolytic bone diseases such as multiple myeloma are not known. We investigated the hypothesis that GSL contribute to OC acti...

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: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders of bone formation, resulting in low bone mass and an increased propensity to fracture. It is a variable condition with a range of clinical severity. About 90% of patients with a clinical diagnosis of OI have a mutation in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes, which shows an autosomal dominant pattern (AD) of inheritance. Other genes are associated with the autosomal recessive (AR) ...

The objective of this investigation was to compare bone mineral density (BMD) attained from dual-energy X-ray DXA with speed of sound (SOS) data attained from a Beam-Med Omnisense multisite quantitative ultrasound (mQUS) in a large sample of randomly-selected community-based individuals from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMOS). A total of 1177 men and 2949 women were assessed with mQUS at the distal radius, tibia, and phalanx sites as part of the Canadian Multi...

This investigation sought to assess the relationship between physical activity (PA) and estimated bone stiffness as assessed by multisite quantitative ultrasound (mQUS) in a large cohort. A total of 1177 men and 2949 women were assessed with mQUS (Beam-Med Omnisense quantitative ultrasound; Isreal) at the distal radius, tibia, and phalanx sites as part of the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (clinical sites included Saskatoon, Calgary, Hamilton, Quebec City, Halifax and...

This investigation sought to assess the relationship between vitamin D and calcium intake and estimated bone stiffness as assessed by multisite quantitative ultrasound (mQUS) in a large cohort. A total of 1177 men and 2949 women were assessed with mQUS (Beam-Med Omnisense quantitative ultrasound; Isreal) at the distal radius, tibia, and phalanx sites as part of the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (clinical sites included Saskatoon, Calgary, Hamilton, Quebec City, Halif...

Background: Breast cancer clinical trials have shown an enhanced anti-tumour activity of bone-targeted agents in postmenopausal patients. We have reported that zoledronic acid (ZOL) decreases serum levels of the tumour promoter follistatin in postmenopausal women and also inhibits expression of follistatin by breast tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesised that inhibin-A (InA) and ZOL may be altering bone levels of follistatin and its bound tum...

Background: X linked hypophosphataemic rickets is the commonest cause of renal phosphate wasting, however sporadic cases may warrant additional investigations to exclude less common causes, as exemplified by our case.Presenting problem: A 3 year 7 month boy was referred for assessment and ongoing management of rickets and short stature (height less than 1st %.) He originally presented with leg bowing and waddling gait from the age of 12 months...