Bone Abstracts

Osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1). The bone remodeling process in zebrafish is incompletely understood. Here we describe several methods to quantify bone formation and resorption using a zebrafish mutant that lacks functional colony stimulating factor 1a receptor (csf1ramh5/mh5). Mice deficient in...

Background: Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders (PBD) is a group of rare metabolic diseases in which peroxisomal function is disrupted. PBD encompasses Zellweger Syndrome Spectrum (ZSS) disorders, which range in severity from classical ZS with severe neurological impairment and markedly reduced life expectancy to Refsum Disease presenting later in childhood. Recent fragility fractures in our ZSS patients in very early childhood prompted case series review.P...

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease of the liver of unknown origin, that suddenly appears in previously healthy, normally growing children. Standard therapy is long-term prednisone, aimed at avoiding progression to cirrhosis. Considering the inflammatory origin of the disease and the long-term steroid therapy, negative consequences for bone health can be expected, but no data on this complication have been published until now.<p cl...

We have shown previously that TSG–6 acts as an autocrine regulator of osteoclast activity in vitro, capable of inhibiting RANKL-mediated osteoclastic bone resorption with a similar potency to OPG1,2. Thus, the TSG–6 protein has the potential to be developed as a novel treatment for osteoporosis, which is associated with excessive bone loss3.The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic potential of the is...

Background: Despite the large amount of studies published on the association of vitamin D deficiency with higher incidence of falls and fractures, the threshold for a sufficient serum 25(OH)D concentration remains subject to a considerable debate. There has also been no clear consensus on the assessment and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.Objective: To examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency and its impact on calcium/phospha...

Study design: Prospective study.Objectives: The risk factors correlated with actual falls were assessed in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.Materials and methods: In 201 patients (M:F 65:136) with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, falls history within recent one year was investigated. The factors which were expected correlation with actual falls were evaluated together. Blood chemistry was performed to evaluate serum Vitamin ...

Background: Despite the large amount of studies published on the association of vitamin D deficiency with higher incidence of falls and fractures, the threshold for a sufficient serum 25(OH)D concentration remains subject to a considerable debate. There has also been no clear consensus on the assessment and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.Objective: To examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency and its impact on calcium/phospha...

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of ambulation. While glucocorticoid (GC) therapy improves motor function, many boys sustain fractures due to osteoporosis. Recently, i.v. bisphosphonate (i.v.BP) therapy has shown promise in the treatment of DMD-related osteoporosis. At the same time, bone histomorphometry revealed lowered bone volume and significant reductions in bone formation pre-i.v.BP treatment, and a further drop after 2 years&...

Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare disease caused by excess growth hormone (GH) production by an adenoma of the anterior pituitary gland. The skeletal complications of GH and IGF-1 excess include increased bone turnover, increased cortical bone mass and deteriorated microarchitecture of trabecular bone, associated with a high risk of vertebral fractures in the presence of a relatively normal Bone Mineral Density (BMD). There are no data on bone material properties in patients ...

Skeletogenesis is an intricate process controlled by numerous transcriptional factors, hormones and signalling pathways. Recently, microRNAs emerged as important players in skeletogenesis but, only few were identified and most of their targets remain unknown. Previous works showed that miR-199a-2/214 cluster is essential for skeletal development and that miR-214 inhibits bone formation in mammals. However, data regarding its skeletal role in other vertebrates is scarce and its...