Bone Abstracts

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are currently being investigated as novel biomarkers for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential expression of specific circulating micro RNAs known to regulate bone metabolism and homeostasis in postmenopausal osteoporotic women with and without vertebral fractures. For the analysis, miRNAs were isolated from the serum of 24 osteoporotic patients with at least one moderate vertebr...

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are currently being investigated as novel biomarkers for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential expression of specific circulating micro RNAs known to regulate bone metabolism and homeostasis in postmenopausal osteoporotic women with and without vertebral fractures. For the analysis, miRNAs were isolated from the serum of 24 osteoporotic patients with at least one moderate vertebr...

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 ...

Background: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a heterogeneous rare, inherited disorder of bone and mineral metabolism caused by different mutations in the ALPL gene encoding the isoenzyme, tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). Prognosis is very poor in severe perinatal forms with most patients dying from pulmonary complications of their skeletal disease. TNAP, a ubiquitous enzyme, is mostly known for its role in bone mineralization. TNAP deficiency, however, may als...

Type 2 diabetes mellitus impairs bone quality and increases fracture risk. We showed that diabetic ZDF rats have low bone mass due to impaired osteoblastogenesis, which can be partially reversed with an intermittent parathyroid hormone 1–84 (PTH) therapy. It remains unclear, why PTH treatment does not fully restore osteoblast (OB) function in diabetic conditions. Here, we tested if high glucose (HG) conditions lead to a partial PTH resistance in osteoblasts. Pre-osteoblas...

Mutations of the ALPL-gene are closely related to hypophosphatasia (HPP), an inherited disorder of bone and mineral metabolism with clinically heterogeneous symptoms. To date 278 different mutations have been described, leading to reduction or completely loss of enzymatic activity of the tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP).We present the case of a 6-year-old boy with clinical features and laboratory results consistent with infantile H...

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare disease characterized by low enzymatic activity of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) resulting in an accumulation of its endogenous substrates like pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). The ectoenzyme plays an important role during bone mineralization and might contribute to proper function of kidney and muscle. Neurological symptoms of HPP like seizures, anxiety disorders and depression provide ...

Objectives: We recently identified a heterozygous missense mutation c.652T→G (p. C218G) in WNT1 as the cause of severe primary osteoporosis (Laine et al. New Engl J Med 2013). The mutated WNT1 reduces activation of the canonical WNT1/β-catenin-signaling, resulting in decreased osteoblastic function. The mutation was originally identified in a large Finnish family presenting with dominantly inherited, early-onset osteoporosis, with affected...

Objective: To determine differences between osteoarthritic (OA) knees with normal knees for subchondral trabecular bone structure according to depth and location in the tibial plateau.Methods: In a population of 30 cadaveric left knees (18 women and 12 men, mean age: 79.1 years±8.2, range: 63–90) the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) score was determined from post mortem radiographs: OA=KL≧2 (n=6 women, n=5 men) and controls=KL &#8804...

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...