Bone Abstracts

Objectives: To assess lumbar spine (LS) BMD Z-scores and the prevalence of vertebral fractures using DXA lateral vertebral (VFA) assessment in children and adolescents with chronic illnesses on GCs.Methods: All children between the ages of 5 and 17 years with chronic non-malignant illnesses who were on GCs (intravenous or oral) for greater than 3 months duration were evaluated. Study participants were children attending the paediatric sub-specia...

Background: Pathophysiological calcification in the vasculature is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD are among the most common causes of death in patients with chronic kidney disease and crucial for kidney transplantation (RTX) outcomes.Aim: The aim of this study is to identify differences in the pattern and the onset of expression of regulators of calcification (RC) in atherosclerosis (AS) and media sclerosis (MS).<p class="abstext...

Chondrosarcomas are cartilage-forming, poorly vascularized tumors. With an estimated annual incidence of 1 in 200 000, they represent the second malignant primary bone tumor of adults after osteosarcoma. These tumors are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgical excision remaining the only therapeutic option. However, very few cell lines and animal models are available, and the mechanisms behind their chemoresistance remain largely unknown. Our goal was to establish...

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Osteoporotic fractures are very common and represent an enormous unmet medical need. Our group has previously reported that addition of rTNF to the fracture site promotes fracture healing in C57/BL6 mice (Glass et al. PNAS 2011). Using a murine fracture model of endochondral healing, we observed that local addition of rTNF only accelerates fracture repair if administered within the first 24 h following injury. The optimal therapeutic dose is 1 ng. TNF is firs...

Despite its importance, the resorptive surface of osteoclasts has not been directly visualised. We exploited a novel approach that enables us to inspect the substrate-apposed surface of cells. To achieve this, we incubated osteoclasts on vitronectin-coated nail varnish and, afterwards, we dissolved the substrate and visualised the cells resorbing-side up in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). We then employed confocal microscopy to correlate the SEM appearances with the di...

Objective: Bone metabolism was studied in patients with phosphate diabetes before and after medication.Methods: 39 patients with phosphate diabetes age 2–18 years (7.8±4 years, 64% male) and multiplanar deformities of the lower extremities were treated with monthly vitamin D (2000 IU/day), alfacalcidol (0.25 mg/every other day) and calcium glycerophosphate (600 mg/day) for 6 months.Biochemical indices were evaluated befor...

Background: 3M syndrome is a primordial growth disorder caused by mutations in CUL7, OBSL1 or CCDC8. Affected individuals have severe short stature for which growth hormone (GH) therapy may have a role1. We present a 10-year-old girl from Sri Lanka with 3M syndrome-2 due to a mutation in OBSL1 gene, with good short-term response to growth hormone therapy.Presenting Problem: The only child of second-degree consanguineous parents, both themselve...

Background: JDM is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory myopathy consisting of symmetric proximal muscle weakness, heliotrope and/or malar rash, Gottron’s papules, nailfold capillary changes, myalgias, arthralgias, dysphonia, dysphagia, fever, anorexia, and calcinosis. Hypoparathyroidism can present with signs of hypocalcemia (numbness, tingling, bronchospasm, seizure, or tetany). Causes of HP include postoperative, autoimmune (isolated or in autoimmune polyglandular syndro...

Vertebral fractures (VF) defined by morphometric analysis of spine radiographs are the most common complication of osteoporosis. Those that come to medical attention, with symptoms such as back pain and kyphosis are termed clinical vertebral fractures (CVF) and account for significant morbidity and mortality. Although much progress was made in identifying loci for bone mineral density, the genetic determinants of CVF remain unclear. Here we present the initial results from a g...