Bone Abstracts

Heritability of bone mineral density (BMD) varies at skeletal sites, possibly reflecting different relative contributions of environmental and genetic influences. To quantify shared genetic influences across different sites, we estimated the genetic correlation of BMD at the upper limb (UL), lower limb (LL), and skull (S) obtained from whole body DXA scans, using bivariate genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA). The study (n=9395) combined data from the Avon Longit...

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Bone strength is influenced by cortical thickness, area, mass and porosity, all of which contribute to nonvertebral fracture risk. Cortical porosity is one parameter of structural decay associated with bone fragility. This is caused by unbalanced and accelerated remodelling of Haversian units which enlarge, coalesce and fragment the cortex. Antiresorptive therapies will limit progression of cortical porosity; reducing existing porosity would be a goal for those already at incr...

Objectives: Glucagon-like peptide 1 is secreted by intestinal L-cells into the blood supply in response to nutrients in the intestine. Although osteoblasts express the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), the main action of the GLP-1/GLP-1R pathway in bone physiology and bone quality is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate bone strength and quality in a mouse model of GLP-1R deficiency.Materials/methods: Eight 16 weeks-old GLP-1R knock-out male m...

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Objectives: Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is secreted by intestinal K-cells into the blood supply in response to nutrient ingestion and absorption. Although osteoblasts and osteoclasts express the GIP receptor (GIPR), the main action of the GIP/GIPR pathway in bone physiology and bone quality is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate bone quality in a mouse model of GIPR deficiency.Materials/methods: Eleven 16 weeks...

Introduction: Osteocalcin (OC) is a marker of bone formation but also seems to play a hormonal role in the regulation of glucose and energy metabolism. Recently, an association of BMI with a haplotype composed of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene for OC, located on chromosome 1q22, was observed in ethnically homogeneous European pedigrees.Aim: The aim of the study was to test the association of these three polymorphisms in the gene...

Denosumab (DMAb) significantly improves bone strength at the hip, estimated by FEA from QCT scans, from baseline (B/L) and vs placebo (Pbo) (Keaveny ASBMR 2010). We determined the extent and distribution of mass and thickness changes at the proximal femur, a key skeletal site for fracture risk, using a novel cortical bone mapping technique on the same serial QCT scans. A FREEDOM substudy included 80 women who underwent hip QCT scanning at B/L and months 12, 24 and 36 during DM...

Objectives: To assess the vitamin D nutrition status of healthy children in the age group 2–5 years and to assess the daily dietary calcium intake of these children.Methods: A total of 100 healthy children (age group 2–5 years) were studied in this cross sectional study. Dietary calcium and energy intake was estimated using 24 h dietary recall method. Average sun exposure over last 3 days was assessed by calculating u.v. score. Biochemical para...

It is well known that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), its ligands, and the structurally related receptor ERBB2/neu are expressed in skeletal cells. However, the functions of EGFR ligands in bone cells remain poorly defined. In this study, we employed a transgenic mouse line overexpressing the EGFR ligand amphiregulin (AREG) specifically in osteoblasts under the α1(I)-collagen promoter. AREG-tg mice did not show changes in body weight or gross phenotype. Compa...