ScienceDaily: Osteoporosis News

Treatment with two osteoporosis drugs better at increasing bone density than single-drug therapy

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

A combination of two FDA-approved osteoporosis drugs with different mechanisms of action was found to increase bone density better than treatment with either drug alone in a small clinical trial.

Discovery may help prevent chemotherapy-induced anemia

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:58:58 EDT

Researchers have discovered that chemo induces a type of nerve damage inside bone marrow that can cause delays in recovery after bone marrow transplantation. The findings suggest that combining chemotherapy with nerve-protecting agents may prevent long-term bone marrow injury.

Magnesium may be as important to kids' bone health as calcium

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Parents are advised to make sure their children drink milk and eat other calcium-rich foods to build strong bones. Soon, they also may be urged to make sure their kids eat salmon, almonds and other foods high in magnesium -- another nutrient that may play an important role in bone health, according to a new study.

Common osteoporosis drug slows formation of new bone

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

Although the drug zoledronic acid slows bone loss in osteoporosis patients, it also boosts levels of a biomarker that stops bone formation, according to a recent study.

Manipulating calcium accumulation in blood vessels may provide a new way to treat heart disease

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:35:35 EDT

Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is the primary cause of heart disease. It's caused by calcium accumulation in the blood vessels, which leads to obstruction of blood flow and heart complications. Although many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, the cause isn't known and there's currently no way to reverse it once it sets in. In a new study, researchers have characterized the cells responsible for driving this calcium build-up in vessel walls.

Smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls are 'red flag' for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:26:26 EDT

Depression, anxiety, and smoking are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, but these factors have not previously been studied during adolescence, when more than 50% of bone accrual occurs. This longitudinal preliminary study is the first to demonstrate that smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls have a negative impact on adolescent bone accrual and may become a red flag for a future constrained by low bone mass or osteoporosis and higher fracture rates in postmenopausal years.

Fat and bone mass are genetically linked

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:41:41 EDT

Scientists have uncovered a clear genetic link between fat and bone mass. The surprising finding is a step towards understanding how these issues are related on a biological level, and will help doctors develop better treatment plans for patients dealing with fat or bone related pathologies.

Grandad's hip fracture a risk factor for Osteoporosis

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Has your paternal or maternal grandfather broken their hip on any occasion? In that case there is a greater risk that your own bones are more fragile as an adult. This has been demonstrated in a study of over 1,000 young adults, which identified those factors increasing the risk of bone fragility in men.

Endocrine disorder is most common cause of elevated calcium levels

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:10:10 EST

Researchers have found that unusually high calcium levels in the blood can almost always be traced to primary hyperparathyroidism, an undertreated, underreported condition that affects mainly women and the elderly. The condition, which results from overactive parathyroid glands and includes symptoms of bone loss, depression and fatigue that may go undetected for years, is most often seen in African American women over the age of 50, the researchers discovered.

Balsam for the Bones: Chemists develop a nanopaste for the repair of bone defects

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:05:05 EST

Following accidents or cancer surgery surgeons often have to transplant healthy bone tissue or synthetic material to repair the resulting bone defects. Unfortunately, these procedures do not always have the desired effect.

Researchers coat spinal polymer implants with bioactive film to improve bonding with bone

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:25:25 EST

Researchers have for the first time successfully coated polymer implants with a bioactive film. The discovery should improve the success rate of such implants -- which are often used in spinal surgeries.

Natural probiotic for osteoporosis? Building healthy bones takes guts

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:41:41 EST

In what could be an early step toward new treatments for people with osteoporosis, scientists report that a natural probiotic supplement can help male mice produce healthier bones.

Emerging cancer drugs may drive bone tumors

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:22:22 EST

Cancer drugs should kill tumors, not encourage their spread. But new evidence suggests that an otherwise promising class of drugs may actually increase the risk of tumors spreading to bone, according to researchers.

Risk of cardiovascular death doubled in women with high calcium intake: High risk only in those taking supplements as well

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:20:20 EST

High intakes of calcium (corresponding to diet and supplements) in women are associated with a higher risk of death from all causes, but cardiovascular disease in particular, compared with women with lower calcium intake, a new study suggests.

Implants make light work of fixing broken bones

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:58:58 EST

Artificial bone, created using stem cells and a new lightweight plastic, could soon be used to heal shattered limbs. The use of bone stem cells combined with a degradable rigid material that inserts into broken bones encourages real bone to re-grow. Researchers have developed the material with a honeycomb scaffold structure that allows blood to flow through it, enabling stem cells from the patient's bone marrow to attach to the material and grow new bone. Over time, the plastic slowly degrades as the implant is replaced by newly grown bone.

High supplemental calcium intake may increase risk of CVD death in men

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:43:43 EST

A high intake of supplemental calcium appears to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) death in men but not in women in a study of more 388,000 participants between the ages of 50 and 71 years, according to a new report.

New study sheds light on link between dairy intake and bone health: Not all dairy products are equal

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:23:23 EST

A new study has found that dairy intake -- specifically milk and yogurt -- is associated with higher bone mineral density in the hip, but not the spine.

Internal bone structure reveals loading and walking behavior

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:03:03 EST

The form and structure of bones change as a result of the forces to which they are subjected. Researchers have used this fact to determine the load using the bone structure. This knowledge can be important in predicting the progress and treatment of bone diseases, as well as for understanding the walking behavior of extinct species.

New protein to treat damaged bones uncovered

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:53:53 EST

Researchers believe that the 'DJ-1 protein' can be used to promote the formation of new bone tissue in patients suffering from osteoporosis by improving communication between bone making cells (osteoblasts) and blood vessel (endothelial) cells.

Wooden hip be lovely? Replacing damaged bones with implants based on wood

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:13:13 EST

Could aging and damaged bones be replaced with implants based on wood? That's the question Italian researchers hope to answer.

Battling brittle bones with … broccoli and spinach?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:02:02 EST

A new study from engineering researchers shows, for the first time, how the little-understood protein osteocalcin plays a significant role in the strength of our bones. The findings could lead to new strategies and therapeutics for fighting osteoporosis and lowering the risk of bone fracture.

Gene therapy as a new option for bone defects

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:04:04 EST

Gene therapy involving modified stem cells obtained from fatty tissue and bone marrow could represent a new option for the treatment of severe orthopaedic injuries to the extremities. The treatment could in future prevent threatened amputations or massive shortenings of bones.

Teen smoking decreases bone accumulation in girls, may increase osteoporosis risk

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:13:13 EST

Teenage girls who smoke accumulate less bone during a critical growth period and carry a higher risk of developing osteoporosis later in life, according to new research. In the study, researchers report the data can be useful for developing strategies to help prevent osteoporosis (a disease where bones lose mineral density and become brittle) and bone fractures.

Stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons rescue motor defects in Parkinsonian monkeys

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:16:16 EST

Researchers have derived dopaminergic neurons from bone marrow stem cells in monkeys.

Steroid injection linked with significant bone loss in postmenopausal women treated for back pain

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:59:59 EST

Postmenopausal women suffered significant bone density loss in their hip after they were treated with an epidural steroid injection for back pain relief, according to a new study. Bone density loss after six months was six times greater when compared to the typical bone density loss seen in a year in a postmenopausal woman who doesn't receive steroid injection, researchers say.

Men with belly fat at risk for osteoporosis

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:38:38 EST

Visceral, or deep belly, obesity is a risk factor for bone loss and decreased bone strength in men, according to a new study.

Knowing a patient's history of falls will help doctors predict future fractures

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:10:10 EST

Clinicians are being urged to ask about a patient's history of falls as new research shows that the information is valuable in determining their future risk of fracture.

Groundbreaking study may change transplant practices

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:04:04 EST

New research may change the current blood and marrow transplantation practices. The phase III, multicenter study compared harvesting stem cells from bone marrow rather than blood and suggests there are benefits to both approaches, but no survival differences between the two methods.

Method for assessing hand bone density may identify those at high risk of hip fractures

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:44:44 EST

A new study shows that a technique for measuring bone density called digital X-ray radiogrammetry (or DXR) used on standard hand radiographs can help to identify patients with a higher risk of hip fracture. The researchers believe that DXR, which is fully comparable with other, more costly methods, can be used preventively to identify people in the risk zone for osteoporosis – a disease estimated to effect some 200 million women worldwide.

Bone metastases treatment can improve overall survival

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:16:16 EST

One of the most frequent sites of metastases is the bone, with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer developing bone loss. A study shows that the bone metastases drug denosumab was associated with improved overall survival compared with zoledonic acid.

New health-economic model shows benefits of boosting dietary calcium intake

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:36:36 EST

European researchers have published a study which analyses the health economics of increased dairy foods and related reduction in risk of osteoporotic fractures in the population aged over 50. The study was based on a new analytical model that links nutrition and fracture risk, and health economics. It was based on data from the Netherlands, France and Sweden, countries which have varying levels of dairy product intake in the population.

Osteoporosis risk factors after the menopause

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:35:35 EST

A preliminary study of 127 post-menopausal women on hormone replacement therapy in Portugal suggests that there are several risk factors associated with osteoporosis and bone fracture these include age, low bone mineral density, a sedentary lifestyle, coffee consumption and ovariectomy.

No link found between calcium intake and coronary artery calcification

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:59:59 EST

Researchers have published a study that shows no evidence of a link between calcium intake and coronary artery calcification, reassuring adults who take calcium supplements for bone health that the supplements do not appear to result in the development of calcification of blood vessels.

When considering bariatric surgery, think about bones

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:53:53 EDT

Bariatric surgery, which significantly curtails the amount of food a person can eat, is the most effective treatment against obesity and is being recognized as a potentially valuable tool in the fight against diabetes related to obesity. It is being performed on increasing numbers of people worldwide, including teenagers. Unfortunately, some types of bariatric surgery may also cause bone loss, a cause for concern, particularly when carried out on young people who have not yet reached their peak bone mass, say endocrinologists who have just published a new review.

Steroid injection linked to increased risk of bone fractures

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:50:50 EDT

Patients treated with an epidural steroid injection for back pain relief are at increased risk of bone fractures in the spine, according to a new study. Researchers say the risk of fracture increased 29 percent with each steroid injection, a finding they believe raises patient safety concerns.

Measuring women's risk of osteoporosis

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:29:29 EDT

For women of mixed racial or ethnic backgrounds, a new method for measuring bone health may improve the odds of correctly diagnosing their risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

No survival advantage with peripheral blood stem cells versus bone marrow, study suggests

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:15:15 EDT

Medical researchers conducted a two-year clinical trial comparing two-year survival probabilities for patients transplanted with peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow stem cells from unrelated donors.

Protein could be key for drugs that promote bone growth

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:28:28 EDT

Researchers have developed a mouse that errs on the side of making bone rather than fat, which could eventually lead to better drugs to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin C prevents bone loss in animal models

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:12:12 EDT

Researchers have shown for the first time in an animal model that vitamin C actively protects against osteoporosis, a disease affecting large numbers of elderly women and men in which bones become brittle and can fracture.

Secondary osteoporosis: More than what meets the eye!

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:16:16 EDT

A new study has revealed that considering all osteoporotic patients as having simple osteoporosis and treating all of them alike by putting them on potent long term medication without finding out the cause of their osteoporosis may be ineffective and in most cases downright harmful.

Computerized osteoporosis detection

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:24:24 EDT

A computerized approach to examining patient bone X-rays for diagnosis of osteoporosis could side-step the subjectivity associated with visual examination, according to a new research.

Bone marrow holds secrets for treating colitis and Crohn's

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:25:25 EDT

Researchers have unlocked secrets in bone marrow that could lead to improved treatments for colitis and Crohn's disease. The results show that the havoc inflammatory bowel diseases wreaks on the digestive tract is mirrored in bone marrow. Early indications also show that the disorders of the gut could potentially be treated through the bone marrow.

Toward a better material for hip replacement and other joint implants

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:56:56 EDT

In an advance toward a new generation of improved hip and other joint replacements, scientists are describing development of a potential implant material that flexes more like natural bone, fosters the growth of bone that keeps implants firmly in place and is less likely to fail and require repeat surgery.

Lack of sleep affects bone health and bone marrow activity

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:15:15 EDT

Scientists specializing in neurology, cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy have discovered abnormalities in bone and bone marrow in rats undergoing chronic lack of sleep. They discovered abnormalities in serum markers of bone metabolism in sleep-deprived rats, which led them to conduct direct measurements of bone parameters; this time in rats experiencing recurrent sleep restriction during a large portion of their young adulthood.

New gene offers hope for preventive medicine against fractures

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:34:34 EDT

An international study has identified a special gene that regulates bone density and bone strength. The gene can be used as a risk marker for fractures and opens up opportunities for preventive medicine against fractures.

Can gene therapy cure fatal diseases in children?

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:39:39 EDT

That low bone density causes osteoporosis and a risk of fracture is common knowledge. But an excessively high bone density is also harmful. The most serious form of excessively high bone density is a rare, hereditary disease which can lead to the patient’s death by the age of only five. Researchers in Sweden are now trying to develop gene therapy against this disease.

New neural brain-to-bone pathway controls skeletal development

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:31:31 EDT

Researchers have discovered that a neuronal pathway -- part of the autonomic nervous system -- reaches the bones and participates in the control of bone development.

Good diet, proper exercise help protect astronauts’ bones

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:19:19 EDT

Eating right and exercising hard in space helps protect International Space Station astronauts' bones, a finding that may help solve one of the key problems facing future explorers heading beyond low Earth orbit.

Dual action polyclonal antibody may offer more effective, safer protection against osteoporosis

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:20:20 EDT

A new study suggests that a polyclonal antibody that blocks follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in mice without ovaries might offer a more effective way to prevent or arrest osteoporosis than currently available treatments.

Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil may protect bone

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:26:26 EDT

Consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations, suggesting a protective effect on bone.

Even minor physical activity may benefit bone health in premenopausal women

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:26:26 EDT

A study to be published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) suggests that physical activity for premenopausal women is very effective in reducing sclerostin—a known inhibitor of bone formation. In addition, physical training enhances IGF-1levels, which have a very positive effect on bone formation.

Close to the bone: 100 gene deletions in mice identifies nine new genes that determine bone strength

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:38:38 EDT

Researchers have uncovered nine new genes associated with bone health. This study found clues to the cause of bone disorders such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and high bone density syndromes by investigating the bone mineral content, strength and flexibility.

Stem cell therapy could offer new hope for defects and injuries to head, mouth

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:01:01 EDT

In the first human study of its kind, researchers found that using stem cells to re-grow craniofacial tissues—mainly bone—proved quicker, more effective and less invasive than traditional bone regeneration treatments.

Solving the mystery of how cigarette smoking weakens bones

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:39:39 EDT

Almost 20 years after scientists first identified cigarette smoking as a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures, a new study is shedding light on exactly how cigarette smoke weakens bones. The report concludes that cigarette smoke makes people produce excessive amounts of two proteins that trigger a natural body process that breaks down bone.

Diets high in salt could deplete calcium in the body

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:16:16 EDT

The scientific community has always wanted to know why people who eat high-salt diets are prone to developing medical problems such as kidney stones and osteoporosis. Medical researchers may have solved this puzzle through their work with animal lab models.

Microwave heating improves artificial bone

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EDT

An artificial bone scaffold could enhance the treatment of bone damage and defects through bone grafts.

Stress fuels breast cancer metastasis to bone

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:33:33 EDT

Stress can promote breast cancer cell colonization of bone, investigators have discovered. The studies demonstrate in mice that activation of the sympathetic nervous system -- the "fight-or-flight" response to stress – primes the bone environment for breast cancer cell metastasis. The researchers were able to prevent breast cancer cell lesions in bone using propranolol, a cardiovascular medicine that inhibits sympathetic nervous system signals.

Ultrasound triggers bone cell mobility

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:29:29 EDT

Scientists have demonstrated that the use of medium-intensity focused ultrasound on osteoblasts, known as bone-forming cells, stimulates the mobility of the cells and triggers calcium release, a process that promotes growth. The technique could provide a foundation for a method to develop non-pharmacologic treatments of osteoporosis, fractures, and other conditions involving bone loss.

Moderate alcohol consumption may help prevent bone loss, study suggests

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:07:07 EDT

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle may benefit women’s bone health, lowering their risk of developing osteoporosis. A new study assessed the effects of alcohol withdrawal on bone turnover in postmenopausal women who drank one or two drinks per day several times a week. Researchers measured a significant increase in blood markers of bone turnover in women after they stopped drinking for just two weeks.

Discovery of epigenetic links in cell-fate decisions of adult stem cells paves way for new osteoporosis treatments

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:32:32 EDT

The ability to control whether certain stem cells ultimately become bone cells holds great promise for regenerative medicine and potential therapies aimed at treating metabolic bone diseases, especially osteoporosis. Now, scientists have made a significant breakthrough in that direction. The scientists have discovered two key epigenetic regulating genes that govern the cell-fate determination of human bone marrow stem cells.