Bone Abstracts

Objectives: Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (OP) is a rare metabolic bone disease characterized by impaired osteoclast function resulting in defective bone resorption and generalized high bone mineral density (BMD). Excessive bone compromises bone marrow space, leading to marrow failure. The infantile malignant form is typically fatal within the first decade of life. The intermediate form presents later during childhood. Currently, the only potential curative therapy for OP ...

In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, an increased fracture risk is observed, although the bone mineral density is even higher than in non-diabetic patients, which raises the question of the quality of the organic and inorganic matrix in bone1,2. T2DM is also known to favor inflammation of the gingiva and paradontosis in general. However, little is known about the mineral nano-architecture in the mandible and about the possible influence of diabetes. Using sy...

Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine and Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, PortugalIn the last decade there has been a growing interest towards the use of fish as models to understand the basic mechanisms of cartilage and bone formation, maintenance and regeneration. In particular, zebrafish and medaka have become accepted models for human skeletal development and associated pathologies such as craniofacial dysplasia, oste...

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent form of childhood malignancy, with a cure rate that now exceeds 80%. As survival improves, the clinical consequences of ALL and its treatment are increasingly recognized, with skeletal health emerging as an important care issue. The skeletal morbidity that arises in this setting falls into two main categories: osteoporosis (low trauma fractures) and osteonecrosis (in situ bone death). Osteoporosis and necrosis ha...

Additionally to the standard histomorphometric and pathohistologic evaluation, the transiliac bone biopsy sample from a patient can be further analyzed for additional information on structural and material characteristics. Under the term ‘new histology’, several non-destructive techniques and combinations thereof providing high spatial resolution have been introduced. In contrast to conventional histology, these techniques allow the characterization of structural, co...

Osteoporosis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is arguably one of the most severe bone fragility conditions among children with chronic illnesses. This is hardly surprising, given the deleterious effects of the myopathy and glucocorticoid (GC) therapy on bone strength. The severity of the osteoporotic phenotype is highlighted by observations that 60% of boys will sustain long bone fractures during childhood and a third will present with back pain due to vertebral fractures ...

Biographical DetailsLeanne WardDr Leanne Ward is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa where she has held a Research Chair in Pediatric Bone Health since 2010. She is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Bone Health Clinical and Research Programs at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Dr Ward’s research ...

Intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates (pamidronate, zoledronic acid and neridronate) are the mainstays of medical therapy for numerous pediatric bone diseases. While most frequently prescribed for hypercalcemic disorders and osteoporosis, their potent analgesic effects have also led to their use in fibrous dysplasia, osteonecrosis, sickle cell disease, chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis, and complex regional pain syndrome. Bisphosphonates given IV are highly effective in preventin...

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic condition which alters collagen biosynthesis(1). Prevalence is estimated at 1 in every 15, 000 births. It is a disorder with a wide spectrum of severity, with cases ranging from the extremely mild to those of perinatal mortality. Typical features include bone fragility; short stature; long bone deformity and persistent blue sclera(2). Although currently there is no cure for OI, with the input of a multidisciplinar...

Background: It is known that one of the features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a generalized bone loss, therefore important tasks for the physician are timely evaluating of the risk of fractures and approving osteoporosis treatment in patients with RA.Objectives: Through the Programme of the Russian Association of Rheumatology for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment osteoporosis (OP) in patients with RA we evaluated the 10 year probability of major...