Abaloparatide is an Effective Treatment Option for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Review of the Number Needed to Treat Compared with Teriparatide.

Abaloparatide (ABL) is a 34-amino acid peptide designed to be a selective activator of the parathyroid hormone receptor type 1 signaling pathway. In the Abaloparatide Comparator Trial In Vertebral Endpoints (ACTIVE), subcutaneous ABL reduced the risk of new vertebral, nonvertebral, clinical, and major osteoporotic fracture compared with placebo and of major osteoporotic fracture compared with teriparatide. To further evaluate the effectiveness of ABL, we calculated the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one fracture using ACTIVE data.

Review of the guideline of the American College of Physicians on the treatment of osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: This review, endorsed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, summarizes several failings of the recent guidelines of the American College of Physicians (ACP) on the treatment of low bone density or osteoporosis to prevent fractures.

Introduction: The ACP recently issued guidelines for the treatment of low bone density or osteoporosis to prevent fractures.

Methods: Literature review and critical review of the ACP guidelines.

Novel Approach to Estimate Osteoarthritis Progression: Use of the Reliable Change Index in the Evaluation of Joint Space Loss.

Objective: Osteoarthritis-related changes in joint space measurements over time are small and sensitive to measurement error. The Reliable Change Index (RCI) determines whether the magnitude of change observed in an individual can be attributed to true change. This study aimed to examine the RCI as a novel approach to estimating osteoarthritis progression.

Benefits and safety of dietary protein for bone health-an expert consensus paper endorsed by the European Society for Clinical and Economical Aspects of Osteopororosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases and by the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

A summary of systematic reviews and meta-analyses addressing the benefits and risks of dietary protein intakes for bone health in adults suggests that dietary protein levels even above the current RDA may be beneficial in reducing bone loss and hip fracture risk, provided calcium intakes are adequate. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have addressed the benefits and risks of dietary protein intakes for bone health in adults. This narrative review of the literature summarizes and synthesizes recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses and highlights key messages.

Nutritional Status and Nutritional Treatment Are Related to Outcomes and Mortality in Older Adults with Hip Fracture.

Malnutrition is very prevalent in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Nevertheless, its importance is not fully recognized. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of malnutrition and of nutritional treatment upon outcomes and mortality in older people with hip fracture.

Understanding osteoporotic pain and its pharmacological treatment.

Osteoporosis, a disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, is characterized by decreased bone mass and microstructural alterations giving rise to an increased risk of fractures. Osteoporotic fractures can cause acute and chronic pain that mainly affects elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and commonly on different drug regimens. The aim of this paper is to summarize the pathogenesis and systemic treatment of osteoporotic pain.

Sarcopenic osteoarthritis: a new entity in geriatric medicine?

Purpose: Osteoarthritis, a disease characterized by cartilage degradation, abnormal subchondral bone remodeling and some grade of inflammation, and sarcopenia, a condition of low muscle mass associated with reduced strength and function, are prevalent disorders in older adults. In this review, we examine what is known about the relationship between osteoarthritis and sarcopenia, with particular focus on the older population. We also discuss how osteoarthritis and sarcopenia may interact and affect each other in clinical progression and the potential benefits from developing treatments that address such muscular-skeletal interaction.

Osteoarthristis Increases the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objectives: Although osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in older adults, the role of OA in increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence is still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between OA and the onset of CVD in a large database of American adults.

Design: Longitudinal.

Bone health assessment in older people with or without muscle health impairment.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the relationship between muscle and bone status in elderly individuals. Our results suggested links between sarcopenia and osteoporosis; impairment in muscle status (i.e.

Implications of ICD-10 for Sarcopenia Clinical Practice and Clinical Trials: Report by the International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Task Force.

Establishment of an ICD-10-CM code for sarcopenia in 2016 was an important step towards reaching international consensus on the need for a nosological framework of age-related skeletal muscle decline. The International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Task Force met in April 2017 to discuss the meaning, significance, and barriers to the implementation of the new code as well as strategies to accelerate development of new therapies. Analyses by the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium are underway to develop quantitative definitions of sarcopenia.

Evidence for the Domains Supporting the Construct of Intrinsic Capacity.

Healthy ageing can be defined as "the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age". Functional ability (i.e.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the SARC-F to assess sarcopenia: methodological report from European Union Geriatric Medicine Society Sarcopenia Special Interest Group.

Sarcopenia is a well-identified process of aging known to cause functional deterioration, falls, fractures, frailty and mortality. Considering the global aging population, sarcopenia assessment has become a public health priority because its early detection is expected to prevent or decrease adverse outcomes through commencement of therapeutic measures. Therefore, the diagnosis of sarcopenia mediated by effective screening is expected to become particularly important.

French translation and validation of the sarcopenia screening tool SARC-F.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study is to translate and validate into French the SARC-F questionnaire, a simple and easy screening tool for sarcopenia.

Materials And Methods: The translation process has been divided into two consecutive parts: (1) the translation of the questionnaire from English to French and its language validation (inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability); (2) the clinical validation of the French SARC-F to assess its performance (sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive value and predictive negative value) in a cohort of elderly Belgian subjects against 7 existing definitions of sarcopenia.

Results: The translated French version of the SARC-F demonstrated an excellent inter-rater reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.

Pitfalls in the measurement of muscle mass: a need for a reference standard.

Background: All proposed definitions of sarcopenia include the measurement of muscle mass, but the techniques and threshold values used vary. Indeed, the literature does not establish consensus on the best technique for measuring lean body mass. Thus, the objective measurement of sarcopenia is hampered by limitations intrinsic to assessment tools.

Comparison of the performance of five screening methods for sarcopenia.

Background: Sarcopenia leads to serious adverse health consequences. There is a dearth of screening tools for this condition, and performances of these instruments have rarely been evaluated. Our aim was to compare the performance of five screening tools for identifying elders at risk of sarcopenia against five diagnostic definitions.

Effects of Protein, Essential Amino Acids, B-Hydroxy B-Methylbutyrate, Creatine, Dehydroepiandrosterone and Fatty Acid Supplementation on Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength and Physical Performance in Older People Aged 60 Years and Over. A Systematic Review on the Literature.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review to investigate the effects protein, essential amino acids (EAA), β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB), creatine, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and fatty acid supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance of elderly subjects.

Methods: Using the electronic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE we identified RCTs published until February 2016 which assessed the effects of these nutrient supplementation on muscle strength, muscle mass or physical performance. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers.

Guidelines for the conduct of pharmacological clinical trials in hand osteoarthritis: Consensus of a Working Group of the European Society on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO).

Objectives: To gather expert opinion on the conduct of clinical trials that will facilitate regulatory review and approval of appropriate efficacious pharmacological treatments for hand osteoarthritis (OA), an area of high unmet clinical need.

Methods: The European Society on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal diseases (ESCEO) organized a working group under the auspices of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Results: This consensus guideline is intended to provide a reference tool for practice, and should allow for better standardization of the conduct of clinical trials in hand OA.

French translation and validation of the "Anterior Knee Pain Scale" (AKPS).

Purpose: To linguistically and cross-culturally translate the Anterior Knee Pain Scale into French and to evaluate the reliability and validity of this translated version of the questionnaire.

Methods: The translation part was performed in six stages, according to international guidelines: (i) two initial translations from English to French; (ii) synthesis of the two translations; (iii) backward translations into the original language; (iv) expert committee to compare the backward translations with the original questionnaire; (v) pre-final version testing and (VI) expert committee appraisal. To validate the French version of the Anterior Knee Pain Scale, we assessed its validity, reliability and floor/ceiling effects.

Early Clinically Relevant Improvement in Quality of Life and Clinical Outcomes 1 Year Postsurgery in Patients with Knee and Hip Joint Arthroplasties.

Objective To measure and identify the determinants of the outcomes after hip/knee arthroplasty (HA/KA) in patients with osteoarthritis during the first postsurgical year. Design In this prospective observational study, we evaluated the preoperative and postoperative (3, 6, and 12 months) outcomes of 626 patients who underwent HA (346 with median age 65 years, 59% female) or KA (280 with median age 66.5 years, 54% female) between 2008 and 2013.

Effect of a sequential treatment combining abaloparatide and alendronate for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The recently published results of the sequential treatment of postmenopausal osteoporotic women with subcutaneous abaloparatide (80 µg/day) (ABL) for 18 months followed by 6 months of oral alendronate (70 mg/week) (ALN) support the administration of an anti-resorptive agent after completion of a treatment course with an osteoanabolic agent. The ABL/ALN sequence resulted in greater bone mineral density gains at all skeletal sites and in a reduction of vertebral, non-vertebral, major and clinical fractures compared to what is observed after 18 months of placebo followed by 6 months of ALN. Whereas questions remained unanswered about the ideal anti-resorptive agent to be used after ABL, the optimal duration of the administration of the anti-resorptive drug or the potential interest of re-initiating a course of ABL after a limited administration of ALN, these results support the use of the ABL/ALN sequence in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Critical analysis of valuation and strategical orientation of merger and acquisition deals in the pharmaceutical industry.

Introduction: The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing major shifts due to changing macro and micro factors. As the industry is highly capital intensive and patents are expiring, the outlook is on generating inorganic growth, mainly through M&A. Using the income valuation approach, one analyses two completed deals in 2016 above 1bn USD.

The relationship between the dietary inflammatory index and prevalence of radiographic symptomatic osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Purpose: To investigate whether higher dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores were associated with higher prevalence of radiographic symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in a large cohort of North American people from the Osteoarthritis Initiative database.

Methods: A total of 4358 community-dwelling participants (2527 females; mean age 61.2 years) from the Osteoarthritis Initiative were identified.

Quality of life in sarcopenia measured with the SarQoL®: impact of the use of different diagnosis definitions.

Background: The SarQoL® is a recently developed quality of life questionnaire specific to sarcopenia.

Aim: To compare the quality of life (QoL) of subjects identified as sarcopenic with that of non-sarcopenic subjects when using six different operational definitions of sarcopenia.

Methods: Participants of the SarcoPhAge study (Belgium) completed the SarQoL®.