Publications by authors named "Heini Hartikka"

Background: Primary osteoporosis is a rare childhood-onset skeletal condition whose pathogenesis has been largely unknown. We have previously shown that primary osteoporosis can be caused by heterozygous missense mutations in the Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene, and the role of LRP5 is further investigated here.

Methods: LRP5 was analyzed in 18 otherwise healthy children and adolescents who had evidence of osteoporosis (manifested as reduced bone mineral density i.

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Background: Stress fractures are a significant problem among athletes and soldiers and may result in devastating complications or even permanent handicap. Genetic factors may increase the risk, but no major susceptibility genes have been identified. The purpose of this study was to search for possible genetic factors predisposing military conscripts to femoral neck stress fractures.

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Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a generalized disorder of connective tissue characterized by fragile bones and easy susceptibility to fracture. Most cases of OI are caused by mutations in type I collagen. We have identified and assembled structural mutations in type I collagen genes (COL1A1 and COL1A2, encoding the proalpha1(I) and proalpha2(I) chains, respectively) that result in OI.

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Unlabelled: Three of 20 patients with juvenile osteoporosis were found to have a heterozygous mutation in the LRP5 gene. No mutations were found in the type I collagen genes. Mutations in the other family members with similar bone phenotype confirmed that LRP5 has a role in both juvenile and adult osteoporosis.

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Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is caused by mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2 that code for the alpha1 and alpha2 chains of type I collagen. Phenotypes correlate with the mutation types in that COL1A1 null mutations lead to OI type I, and structural mutations in alpha1(I) or alpha2(I) lead to more severe OI types (II-IV). However, correlative analysis between mutation types and OI associated hearing loss has not been previously performed.

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