Bone Abstracts

Background: Case series show improved vertebral size and shape with intravenous bisphosphonate use in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI); however, two studies of risedronate showed no such improvement. We have re-examined the data from a dose-ranging risedronate study to determine whether other factors, in particular relating to body composition, contribute to vertebral shape in OI.Methods: We randomly assigned 53 children with moderate to severe...

Introduction: Children and adolescents with eating disorders are at risk of reduced bone mass and bone mineral density. Indeed, 60% higher risk of fracture has been reported in childhood/adolescent eating disorders compared to healthy controls. However, few longitudinal studies have been carried out to examine size adjusted changes in bone health over time, and the relationship with anthropometry and growth.Methods: A retrospective audit of 25 female eat...

Bone has recently emerged as a novel endocrine organ regulating glucose metabolism. Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) controls bone mineralisation by generating the mineralisation inhibitor pyrophosphate. In clinical studies increased activity of NPP1 has been found in patients with insulin resistance, and it has been shown to directly inhibit the insulin receptor. We hypothesised that mice lacking NPP1 (Enpp1−/−) would exhibit im...

Understanding normal patterns of bone growth is important for optimising bone health in children and reducing osteoporotic fractures in later life. Recently published guidelines for bone assessment in children state that to predict fractures a technique should identify children at risk of clinically significant fractures and that dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) is the preferred method of assessment. Despite these guidelines there is still inconsistency and lack of consensus r...