Bone Degeneration News and Research

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$Bone building drugs bisphosphonates lead to only a marginally higher risk of fractures: Study$

Bone building drugs bisphosphonates lead to only a marginally higher risk of fractures: Study

According to a new study, nearly 78% of all Swedish women aged 55 years and older who sustained a thigh bone or femur fracture in 2008 had taken bisphosphonates for their osteoporosis. However the authors of the study published in the May 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) write that the absolute risk for such breaks is small enough to justify prescribing the drugs.

5 May 2011

Study: Surgeon enthusiasm linked to high spinal procedure rates

Surgeons in some areas are more likely to recommend surgery for low back problems—and those differences in "surgeon enthusiasm" are a major factor driving regional variations in spinal surgery rates, suggests a study in the March 14 issue of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

25 Mar 2011

$HIV infection and increased fracture risk: Study$

HIV infection and increased fracture risk: Study

According to a latest study, adults between ages 25 and 54 infected with HIV, are at increased risk for bone fractures compared to the general population. Until now it was known that low bone mineral density was common in people with HIV, but no concrete proof existed.

14 Mar 2011

$Beta blockers for high blood pressure also reduce fracture risk: Study$

Beta blockers for high blood pressure also reduce fracture risk: Study

Beta blockers, one of the most commonly used types of cardiovascular drugs, taken by about 20 per cent of the population, have been found to cut a person's incidence of bone fracture by half. This new and welcome side effect was reported by Professor Tuan Nguyen from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research and his Australian-based colleagues. “Indeed, we found that men and women who used beta-blockers had a 50 per cent lower risk of fracture than those not using beta blockers… We were very excited about the finding because, as you know, a lot of elderly people use beta blockers ... it’s a very significant public health issue,” he said.

8 Nov 2010

Bismuth for bone cement

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials, uniting the advantages of their organic and inorganic parts, are used for a wide variety of applications. However, making a homogeneous composite material is only possible if a solvent can be found in which both components are soluble.

28 Oct 2010

Osteoporosis common but underestimated in old men: Study

According to the latest research osteoporosis a diseases common in women that makes bones brittle and easily breakable with age also affects men. The study suggests that this debilitating condition is often overlooked in elderly Australian men.

3 Oct 2010

New book offers practical knowledge on celiac disease, gluten-related disorders

A new book from the American Gastroenterological Association offers broad and practical knowledge on celiac disease and gluten-related disorders, empowering those who are undiagnosed and those living with the disease to achieve the best possible health and well-being.

18 May 2010

McGill researchers receive $1.7M for 10 cutting-edge research projects

Ten McGill University researchers received an important boost today, by way of the announcement of $1.7 million in new funding awarded through the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Leaders Opportunity Fund. "CFI investments are critical for our research leaders, to ensure that their research remains innovative and second to none," said Dr. Rima Rozen, Interim Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations) at McGill.

24 Apr 2010

Kidney disease genes discovered

Chronic kidney disease affects one in 10 adults and can severely damage a patient’s quality of life over years. This disease is linked to advanced age with one in five men and one in four women aged between 65 and 74 developing some degree of kidney damage.

12 Apr 2010

$Women unaware of risk of dangerous osteoporosis fractures$

Women unaware of risk of dangerous osteoporosis fractures

Only one in three Australian women diagnosed with osteoporosis are aware they are at higher risk of sustaining debilitating bone fractures, according to a landmark international study published with input from University of Sydney researchers.

7 Apr 2010

$Osteoporosis drugs falsely implicated in rare thigh bone fractures, say new reports$

Osteoporosis drugs falsely implicated in rare thigh bone fractures, say new reports

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones usually affecting elderly women and causes the bones to become brittle and easily breakable. Since last two years some alarming reports of women on drugs for therapy of this disease have come to notice. These reports show that these drugs intended for therapy may result in rare and serious fractures of their thigh bones where the bones break clean or may splinter. Often these fractures were not associated with any fall or impact. Moreover some of the sufferers are middle aged women in their 50’s who do not have full blown osteoporosis, a condition known as pre-osteoporosis or osteopenia.

25 Mar 2010

You and your baby may need vitamin D supplementation says research

This report appeared in the respected Journal Pediatrics this week. There has been growing awareness regarding deficiency of Vitamin D in children and adults. This vitamin is important for healthy bones, immunity and other bodily processes. In children inadequacy of this vitamin in diet may lead to bone damage, rickets, repeated infections and heart disease in later life.

23 Mar 2010

Improved bone healing with osteoporosis drug teriparatide

Bone fractures might heal faster if the patient is injected with medications. This is the outcome of a unique study of 102 women with wrist fractures.

16 Jul 2009

$Weight loss surgery increases risk of fractures$

Weight loss surgery increases risk of fractures

After weight loss surgery, people have nearly twice the expected risk of breaking a bone and an even higher risk of a foot or hand fracture, a new study has found. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

12 Jun 2009

Research looks at relationship between bone density and erosion in arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, affects almost three percent of people over age 65. RA patients experience pain, functional limitations and two forms of disabling bone disease: focal erosions and osteoporosis.

1 Jun 2009

Recognition for pioneering stem cell research to mend broken bones

Funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) could lead to the development of new and better treatments for broken bones and other orthopaedic problems associated with ageing.

24 May 2009

Chemical mediator in blood found to also control breakdown of bone

A new study demonstrates that a chemical mediator in the blood that influences immune cell migration also plays a key role in maintaining the balance between the build-up and breakdown of bones in the body.

8 Feb 2009

$Bone quality regulator identified - possible target for preventing and treating bone fractures$

Bone quality regulator identified - possible target for preventing and treating bone fractures

University of California - San Francisco (UCSF) scientists have determined that the quality of bone matrix, a key component of bone, is regulated by a molecule known as transforming growth factor beta.

13 Dec 2005

Cell replacement therapy offers a novel and powerful medical technology

Cell replacement therapy offers a novel and powerful medical technology. A type of embryonic stem cell, called a neural crest stem cell, that persists into adulthood in hair follicles was recently discovered by Maya Sieber-Blum, Ph.D., of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milos Grim, MD Ph.D., of Charles University Prague, and their collaborators.

13 Dec 2004

Hormone replacement therapy in women increases risk of dementia

These "surprising and significant findings" are reported in two studies from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, in which UC Medical Center participates, in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

28 Jun 2004