Bone Abstracts

In children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fractures can be observed at diagnosis and/or during treatment.This prospective study was aimed to evaluate BMD and bone turnover in patients with a new diagnosis of ALL, treated with an international protocol (AIEOP BFM ALL 2009) (*), based on high-dose steroids and chemotherapeutic drugs.Inclusion criteria wer...

Low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased rate of both peripheral and vertebral fractures have been observed in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, studies specifically addressing bone metabolism, BMD and fractures in this disease are still very few.Our ongoing multicenter, prospective study is aimed to identify the characteristics of the DMD boys with a higher risk of bone loss and fractures, through the evaluation of bone tu...

Tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) plays a key role in osteoclastogenesis through the regulation of RANK/CD40 TRAF6-mediated signaling. Mice deficient in TRAF6 exhibit high bone mass and were protected against inflammation-induced bone loss. Here we describe the effects of a small-molecule 6877002 that has been shown to prevent the binding of TRAF6 to its domain on RANK/CD40 receptor on osteoclast formation in vitro and in vivo and on...

Low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased rate of both peripheral and vertebral fractures have been observed in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but studies on bone metabolic alterations in this disease are still very few.We are now presenting the preliminary findings of an ongoing multicenter, prospective study aimed to identify the characteristics of DMD boys carrying a higher risk of bone loss and fractures, through the evaluatio...

The microenvironment of osteolytic metastases includes carcinoma cells derived from the primary lesion as well as bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells, namely osteoblasts (OB) and osteoclasts (OC). At this site, both the high glycolysis of cancer cells, and the bone resorption process result in a very acidic milieu. This, in turn, induces the surrounding stroma and OB to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors that promote tumorigenesis and cancer-associated ost...

Low bone formation is considered to be the main feature in osteoporosis associated with cholestatic and end-stage liver diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the deleterious consequences of retained substances such as lithocholic acid (LCA) and bilirubin (Bil) on osteoblastic cells. These effects are neutralized by ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). To gain new insights into cholestatic-induced osteoporosis, we have assessed the differential gene expression of osteoblastic ce...

We analyzed body composition (DXA, Hologic) in 334 young patients (aged 3–24 years) with chronic diseases, most of them on long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment, and monitored its changes over 3–14 years (6.9±6.2 years).Bone mineral content (BMC), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured on total body (TB), trunk, upper limbs, lower limbs. BMC, FM, FFM were expressed as percentages and compared with age- and sex-matched health...

Degradable bone implants may provide improved long-term healing, tissue remodeling and quality of life. In order to optimize alloy composition and degradation properties, in-vivo monitoring of the degradation process and its impact on bone formation is essential because degradation progresses differently in-vivo versus in-vitro. We aim to understand how degradation of magnesium alloy implants influences bone remodeling and bone structure using Micro-...

Bone tissue homeostasis requires the coordinated activity of osteoblasts, the bone forming cells, of osteoclasts, the bone resorbing cells, and of osteocytes, generally referred as the bone mechano-sensors. In this contest, osteoblasts are the mesenchymal cells secreting the extracellular matrix components on which hydroxyapatite crystals are then deposited. The most abundant protein of this organic matrix is type I collagen, a heterotrimeric secretory protein, synthesized as ...

Introduction: The clinical diagnosis of mild forms of hypophosphatasia [HPP], a rare genetic bone disease, is often made in adulthood, on the basis of persistently low serum levels of alkaline phosphatase [ALP], often coupled with signs of poor bone/teeth mineralization.Case report: A 50-year-old male on treatment with vitamin D supplementation because of osteoporosis of lumbar spine (T-score –3.2) and femoral neck (T-score –2.4), was referred ...