Hormone replacement therapy dissociates fat mass and bone mass, and tends to reduce weight gain in early postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled 5-year clinical trial of the Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study.

The aim of this study was to study the influence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on weight changes, body composition, and bone mass in early postmenopausal women in a partly randomized comprehensive cohort study design. A total of 2016 women ages 45-58 years from 3 months to 2 years past last menstrual bleeding were included. One thousand were randomly assigned to HRT or no HRT in an open trial, whereas the others were allocated according to their preferences.

The structural and hormonal basis of sex differences in peak appendicular bone strength in rats.

To identify the structural and hormonal basis for the lower incidence of fractures in males than females, sex differences in femoral mid-shaft geometry and breaking strength were studied in growth hormone (GH)-replete and -deficient male and female rats. Sexual dimorphism appeared during growth. Cortical thickening occurred almost entirely by acquisition of bone on the outer (periosteal) surface in males and mainly on the inner (endocortical) surface in females.

Dose-effect relations of loop- and thiazide-diuretics on calcium homeostasis: a randomized, double-blinded Latin-square multiple cross-over study in postmenopausal osteopenic women.

Background: Thiazide diuretics (TDs) reduce whereas loop diuretics (LDs) increase urinary calcium. We studied the effects of different doses of a TD and LD on electrolytes, calcitropic hormones and biochemical bone markers.

Subjects And Methods: In a five-period crossover study, comparing four active doses with placebo, 40 postmenopausal women with osteopenia were treated with different doses of LD bumetanide (n = 20, 0.

Improved physical performance and increased lean tissue and fat mass in patients with ulcerative colitis four to six years after ileoanal anastomosis with a J-pouch.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the long-term changes in physical performance, body composition, and bone mineral density in patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing ileoanal anastomosis with J-pouch. Patients were also screened for abnormalities in blood biochemistry.

Methods: Maximal isometric strength (sum of pinching, hand grip, arm flexion, and knee extension), work capacity (ergometer test at 1.

Polarized light microscopic analyses of collagen fibers in the rat incisor periodontal ligament in relation to areas, regions, and ages.

We prepared decalcified sagittal sections (20 microm thick) from the incisal, middle, and basal regions of the mandibular incisor of male Wistar rats aged 2, 6, 12, and 24 months, and examined the sections using polarized light microscopy. Most of the birefringent fibers appeared to run obliquely across the periodontal ligament. Birefringent fibers running parallel to the long axis of the incisor were also found in the intermediate area of the ligament.

Short-term growth hormone treatment in girls with Turner syndrome decreases fat mass and insulin sensitivity: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Background: Most girls with Turner syndrome (TS) receive growth hormone (GH) treatment during childhood and adolescence, but controlled data on the effects on body composition and glucose metabolism are lacking.

Objective: To study the effects of GH treatment on insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, bone turnover, and body composition.

Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted with girls with TS.

Risk of renal stone events in primary hyperparathyroidism before and after parathyroid surgery: controlled retrospective follow up study.

Aim: To study the risk of renal stone episodes and risk factors for renal stones in primary hyperparathyroidism before and after surgery.

Design: Register based, controlled retrospective follow up study.

Setting: Tertiary hospitals in Denmark.

Fractures in patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders--a nationwide register study.

Objective: To study fracture risk in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), or eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS).

Method: Cohort study including all Danes diagnosed with AN (n = 2,149), BN (n = 1,294), or EDNOS (n = 942) between 1977 and 1998. Each patient was compared with three randomly drawn age- and gender-matched control subjects.

Statins decrease bone turnover in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Statins have been suggested as potential agents in the management of osteoporosis. Reviews of medical records have shown an increased bone mass and some studies have shown a reduced occurrence of fractures in subjects on long-term treatment with statins. We studied the effects of treatment with statins on calcium homeostasis, bone turnover and bone mineral density.

Prevention of bone loss in ovariectomized rats by combined treatment with risedronate and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Bisphosphonates inhibit bone loss through inhibition of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. At low doses, vitamin D metabolites can prevent bone loss in models of osteopenia in rats by an antiresorptive effect, while at high doses they also stimulate osteoblast activity and show an anabolic effect. Therefore, combined therapy with bisphosphonates and vitamin D analogs might be expected to be more effective than either treatment alone.

Combination of topological parameters and bone volume fraction better predicts the mechanical properties of trabecular bone.

Trabecular bone structure may complement bone volume/total volume fraction (BV/TV) in the prediction of the mechanical properties. Nonetheless, the direct in vivo use of information pertaining to trabecular bone structure necessitates some predictive analytical model linking structure measures to mechanical properties. In this context, the purpose of this study was to combine BV/TV and topological parameters so as to better estimate the mechanical properties of trabecular bone.

[Osteoclast function is regulated by neighbouring osteoblasts. Osteoprotegerin, RAND and RANK ligand constitute a unique regulatory system for bone resorption with important pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects].

Maturation of macrophages to osteoclasts requires the presence of marrow stromal cells or osteoblasts. Most calcitropic hormones act indirectly on osteoclasts through receptors on neighbouring osteoblasts. The discovery of osteoprotegerin (OPG), the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa b ligand (RANKL), and its receptor (RANK) has elucidated these phenomena.

Age-related differences between thinning of horizontal and vertical trabeculae in human lumbar bone as assessed by a new computerized method.

To investigate whether vertical trabeculae undergo compensatory thickening with age in the human vertebral body, a new computerized method was developed that is able to distinguish between horizontal and vertical trabeculae on normal histological sections. Study subjects included 48 individuals (24 women aged 19-97 years, and 24 men aged 23-95 years). From each L-2, thick frontal sections of half of the vertebra were embedded undecalcified in methylmetacrylate and cut into 10-microm-thick sections.

Fractures in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism: a nationwide follow-up study in 16,249 patients.

Aim: To study fracture risk in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Subjects And Methods: All patients with hyperthyroidism or autoimmune hypothyroidism diagnosed for the first time between 1983 and 1996 in Denmark were identified through the National Patient Discharge Register. Each patient was compared with three age- and gender-matched controls randomly selected from the general population.

Fracture risk in patients with celiac Disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis: a nationwide follow-up study of 16,416 patients in Denmark.

The authors studied fracture risk among 16,416 Danish patients with bowel disease. All patients diagnosed with celiac disease (n = 1,021), Crohn's disease (n = 7,072), or ulcerative colitis (n = 8,323) in Denmark between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 1996, were included. Each patient was compared with three age- and gender-matched controls randomly drawn from the background population.

Sequential treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor and PTH is more efficacious than treatment with PTH alone for increasing vertebral bone mass and strength in osteopenic ovariectomized rats.

The study was designed 1) to determine whether treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and PTH is more efficacious than treatment with PTH alone for increasing bone mass and strength and improving trabecular microarchitecture in osteopenic ovariectomized rats, and 2) to assess whether prior and concurrent administration of the antiresorptive agents estrogen and risedronate suppresses the bone anabolic response to treatment with bFGF alone and sequential treatment with bFGF and PTH. Three-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated (sham) and maintained untreated for 1 yr. Baseline sham and OVX rats were killed at this time (15 months of age).

Marked disproportionality in bone size and mineral, and distinct abnormalities in bone markers and calcitropic hormones in adult turner syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

Most women with Turner syndrome (TS) have no gonadal activity and thus lack estrogen. Bone mineral density (BMD) is often reduced, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. However, growth retardation with reduced final height and other endocrine disturbances may compromise interpretation of skeletal measurements.

Effects of 12 months of GH treatment on cortical and trabecular bone content of IGFs and OPG in adults with acquired GH deficiency: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

To investigate the effects of 12 months of GH treatment on cortical and trabecular bone content of IGFs, iliac crest bone biopsies were obtained from 25 patients with GH deficiency (9 women and 16 men; ages, 21-61 yr; mean, 46 yr) who were randomized to sc injections with GH (2 IU/m(2).d) or placebo for 12 months. Levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3, IGFBP-5, osteocalcin, OPG, RANKL, and total protein were determined in extracts obtained after EDTA and guanidine hydrochloride extraction.

Zone-dependent changes in human vertebral trabecular bone: clinical implications.

We have previously shown that there are pronounced age-related changes in human vertebral cancellous bone density and microarchitecture. However, the magnitude of these changes seemed to be dependent on zone location in the vertebral body-the central third vs. the areas adjacent to the endplates.

Diurnal rhythm of plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein in postmenopausal women: relationship to plasma parathyroid hormone and calcium and phosphate metabolism.

Objective: Diurnal variations in plasma levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D) have previously only been investigated in young individuals, and these studies have failed to demonstrate a diurnal rhythm. We have studied whether plasma levels of 1,25(OH)(2)D and vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) vary in a diurnal rhythm in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Blood and urine were sampled with 2- and 4-h intervals in order to assess diurnal variations in plasma levels of 1,25(OH)(2)D, DBP and parathyroid hormone (PTH), as well as in plasma levels and urinary excretion rates of calcium and phosphate.

Decreased trabecular bone biomechanical competence, apparent density, IGF-II and IGFBP-5 content in acromegaly.

Background: Earlier studies on the effect of excess growth hormone (GH) on trabecular bone have been conflicting. Since insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) in part mediate the effects of GH, the present study aimed to investigate trabecular bone composition of these growth factors in relation to biomechanical properties in acromegaly.

Materials And Methods: Trabecular bone biomechanical competence (compression test), apparent density (peripheral quantitative computed tomography, pQCT), and bone matrix contents of calcium (HCl hydrolysis) and IGFs (guanidinium-HCl extraction) were measured in iliac crest biopsies from 13 patients with active acromegaly (two women and 11 men, aged 21-61 years) and 21 age- and sex-matched controls (four women and 17 men, aged 23-64 years).

Predicting human vertebral bone strength by vertebral static histomorphometry.

The study investigates the relationship between static histomorphometry and bone strength of human lumbar vertebral bone. The ability of vertebral histomorphometry to predict vertebral bone strength was compared with that of vertebral densitometry, and also with histomorphometry and bone strength of iliac crest bone biopsies. The material comprised matched sets of second lumbar vertebrae, third lumbar vertebrae, and two iliac crest bone biopsies from each of 21 women (19--96 years) and 24 men (23--95 years).

Fracture risk is increased in patients with GH deficiency or untreated prolactinomas--a case-control study.

Objective: The pituitary secretes many hormones of significance to bone turnover and thus skeletal integrity. The aim of this study was to examine fracture risk in patients with pituitary disorders with special reference to GH deficiency and hyperprolactinaemia.

Design: Case-control study.

Smoking as a risk factor for Graves' disease, toxic nodular goiter, and autoimmune hypothyroidism.

To study the association between smoking and thyroid disease (Graves' disease [E05.0], nodular toxic goiter [E05.2], and autoimmune hypothyroidism [E03.