Use of thiazolidinediones and fracture risk
Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that thiazolidinediones may exert unfavorable effects on bone, resulting in reduced osteoblastic bone formation and accelerated bone loss. An increased fracture risk seems to be related to the use of both rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, indicating a possible class effect of thiazolidinediones. However, it remains unclear whether thiazolidinedione use is associated with peripheral fracture sites only and whether this effect is sex-specific. In this large population-based study [1], the authors explored the association between thiazolidinedione use or use of other oral antidiabetic drugs and the risk of fractures in women and men aged 30 to 89 years. Case patients with fracture aged 30 to 89 years with an incident fracture diagnosis between January 1994 and December 2005 and control subjects who were matched to case patients on age, sex, calendar time, and general practice were studied. The odds ratios (ORs) of having a fracture associated with the use of rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, other oral antidiabetic agents, or insulin were assessed.
A composite predictive index of hip fracture in elderly women
A recent study [1] aimed to develop a hip screening tool combining relevant clinical risk factors (CRFs) and quantitative ultrasound at the heel in order to determine the 10-y probability of hip fractures in elderly women. This study used the EPISEM database, totaling 13 000 women aged 70 or more. All women had baseline data on CRFs and a baseline measurement of the stiffness index derived from quantitative ultrasound at the heel. Women were followed prospectively to identify incident fractures. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the CRFs that contributed significantly to hip fracture risk, and these were used to generate a CRF score.
Effect of seasonality and weather on fracture risk in individuals 65 years and older
Excess winter morbidity and mortality continue to be important public health problems, especially among older persons. In addition to clear seasonal variations in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, fractures of the hip and distal forearm contribute to high winter morbidity rates in older persons. The objective of this large population-based study [1] was to investigate seasonal variation in the incidence of four common fractures (hips, distal forearms, proximal humeri, and ankles), and explore the association of weather with risk.
Aromatase deficiency induces urinary calcium loss
Premenopausal women have one half the prevalence of calcium stone disease than men of comparable age. However, this sex difference disappears rapidly after the onset of menopause. Several studies have provided evidence that urinary calcium excretion increases at menopause, implicating a possible role for estrogen deficiency, and thereby increasing the risk for calcium-containing stones. In a recent study [1], the authors used the aromatase deficient (ArKO) mouse, a model of estrogen deficiency due to the lack of conversion of androgens into estrogens in peripheral tissues, to test the hypothesis that estrogen deficiency would increase urinary calcium excretion and alter the expression of molecular regulators of renal calcium reabsorption.
 Download here the slide set presented by Prof. Friedlander, on Thursday, November 10th. |
Latest news
