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...

We have shown that genetic ablation of Cdh2 (N−cadherin gene) in osteolineage cells results in osteopenia and decreased osteoprogenitor number. Paradoxically, others have shown that mice overexpressing Cdh2 in osteoblasts are also osteopenic; an action linked to a negative effect of N−cadherin (Ncad) on Wnt signaling, via sequestration of low density lipoprotein receptor−related protein−...

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...

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by T cells activation and bone erosions that severely reduces patients quality of life; however a clear role for different T helper (Th) cells has not been established yet.This work aims to evaluate Th phenotypes, osteoclast (OCs) precursors cells and cytokines in peripheral blood of women affected by early RA (eRA) compared to healthy women matched for age. The study was approved by o...

Background: Higher BMI values are associated with greater bone mineral density (BMD) resulting in a site-specific protective effect for fragility fractures. However, pathophysiologic influence of central adiposity on bone quality may oppose the seemingly positive influence of a greater mechanical loading with higher body masses. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of visceral fat on trabecular bone microarchitecture in postmenopausal obese women.<p class=...

Background: An inadequate intake of nutrients, low levels of physical activity, and chronic diseases contribute to reduce muscle mass and physical performance in elderly. WHO reported that number of individuals aged ≥60 years will triple in 2050, with the sub-population aged >85 years that will grow faster than the others. Market of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements is growing in Italy, in particular aimed to improve health in elderly. Objective of this scoping ...

Background: Post-menopausal women generally present reduced serum levels of vitamin D, reduced VDR expression in skeletal muscle cells, and a gradual loss of muscle mass and muscle function. The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3] levels and muscle strength has been extensively investigated, even though there is no agreement in literature. Therefore, aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin D on 25(OH)D3 levels, muscle strength, and physica...

Dominant osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a bone disease mainly caused by collagen type I mutations and characterized by bone fragility and growth delay. Nowadays no definitive cure is available. A zebrafish OI model (Chihuahua) carrying an heterozygous G574D substitution in the α1 chain of collagen type I was generated by ENU mutagenesis and is available in our laboratory. Control (WT) and mutant (Chi+/−) fish growth was followed up from day 1 post fertilization to ...