Osteoporosis News and Research

Latest Osteoporosis News and Research

Merck announces update on odanacatib Phase III trial for osteoporosis

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today an update on the Phase III trial assessing fracture risk reduction with odanacatib, Merck's investigational cathepsin K (cat-K) inhibitor.

12 Jul 2012

Mechanical treatment shows promise in thalassemia

Vibration therapy may be an effective nonpharmacologic intervention to increase bone mass in patients with thalassemia, US researchers report

10 Jul 2012

High ferritin warns of bone loss

Individuals with high levels of ferritin, an indicator of iron stores within the body, have accelerated bone loss at the proximal femur, Korean researchers report.

10 Jul 2012

$Vertebral fracture more common among Chinese women than men$

Vertebral fracture more common among Chinese women than men

Vertebral deformities occur at a similar rate among Chinese men and women aged 65 years or older, research findings show.

10 Jul 2012

Scientists discover two key epigenetic regulating genes that govern stem cell differentiation

The ability to control whether certain stem cells ultimately become bone cells holds great promise for regenerative medicine and potential therapies aimed at treating metabolic bone diseases. Now, UCLA School of Dentistry professor and leading cancer scientist Dr. Cun-Yu Wang and his research team have made a significant breakthrough in that direction. The scientists have discovered two key epigenetic regulating genes that govern the cell-fate determination of human bone marrow stem cells.

10 Jul 2012

Hormone therapy still an acceptable treatment for menopausal symptoms: New joint statement

After 10 years of debate regarding the risks and benefits of hormone therapy, 15 top medical organizations have come together to issue a statement of agreement regarding the benefits of hormone therapy for symptomatic menopausal women. It was July 9, 2002, when the controversial, highly publicized Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published its assessment of hormone therapy for the prevention of chronic disease and concluded that risks exceeded benefits.

10 Jul 2012

New class of injectable materials can stimulate tissue regeneration

The University of Nottingham has begun the search for a new class of injectable materials that will stimulate stem cells to regenerate damaged tissue in degenerative and age related disorders of the bone, muscle and heart.

6 Jul 2012

Exercise has clear benefits for physical and mental health according to current evidence

In the first Series paper, Sport and exercise as contributors to the health of nations, an international team of researchers set out to examine whether sport and exercise contribute to the health of nations. They argue that although country-wide data on participation in sports are too scarce to draw any firm conclusions in this respect, the existing evidence suggests that regular participation in sports and / or exercise has clear benefits for physical and mental health, and that health professionals need to pay more attention to their patients’ fitness.

6 Jul 2012

$Higher doses of Vitamin D may be most beneficial in reducing bone fractures in older adults$

Higher doses of Vitamin D may be most beneficial in reducing bone fractures in older adults

Based on the results of a pooled analysis of 11 unrelated randomized clinical trials investigating vitamin D supplementation and fracture risk in more than 31,000 older adults, Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD, director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University, says higher doses of Vitamin D may be the most beneficial in reducing bone fractures in this age group.

6 Jul 2012

Extensive health benefits associated with milk consumption

Milk is designed by nature as a complete food. Its composition has evolved with each mammalian species to reflect the particular environmental conditions and evolutionary demands of the young of that species. Humans have exploited this valuable resource since the dawn of the agricultural revolution through domestication of animals, in particular the cow. We have developed the technology to preserve milk during times of abundance and this has resulted in an array of foods now common in the diets of most human cultures.

4 Jul 2012

Platelet activation linked to osteoporosis

Elderly, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis have elevated platelet volumes, report researchers.

2 Jul 2012

Current diagnosis and treatment approaches for rheumatoid arthritis

In the realm of deadly and disabling diseases, conditions such as cancer and Alzheimer's seem to attract the most media attention. But there are others that take a similarly high toll, and rheumatoid arthritis is one of them, Mayo Clinic researchers say. It is a common cause of disability: 1 of every 5 rheumatoid arthritis patients is unable to work two years after diagnosis, and within five years, that rises to one-third. Life expectancy drops by up to five years.

2 Jul 2012

$Epilepsy patients unaware of fracture risk$

Epilepsy patients unaware of fracture risk

Few patients with epilepsy are aware that taking anti-epileptic drugs puts them at increased risk for falls and fractures, report researchers.

29 Jun 2012

$Study sheds light on increased risk of fractures and falls among epilepsy patients using AEDs$

Study sheds light on increased risk of fractures and falls among epilepsy patients using AEDs

New research has shed light on the high risk of fractures, falls, and osteoporosis among epilepsy patients using antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with most patients unaware of the risks associated with taking the drugs.

29 Jun 2012

$Chinese herbal preparation reduces fragility fractures$

Chinese herbal preparation reduces fragility fractures

Herbal Fufang – a multi-herbal preparation used in traditional Chinese medicine –increases bone mineral density and reduces fragility fractures in postmenopausal women, Chinese researchers report.

27 Jun 2012

Safe vitamin D treatment without raising calcium levels

Patients with a gland disorder that causes excessive calcium in their blood who also have vitamin D deficiency can safely receive vitamin D treatment without it raising their calcium levels, a new study has determined. The results with one-year follow-up will be presented Tuesday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

27 Jun 2012

DHA and curcumin help maintain neurological function after degenerative damage

UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

27 Jun 2012

DHA and curcumin preserve walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury

UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient of curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

27 Jun 2012

Biological filter to remove estrogens from waste water and drinking water

A biological filter to remove estrogens from waste water and drinking water. The 15 Bielefeld students submitting this project to the 'international Genetically Engineered Machine competition' (iGEM) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA are setting their sights high.

26 Jun 2012

Two new tests tend to overestimate vitamin D deficiency

Blood tests to measure vitamin D deficiency are among the most frequently ordered tests in medicine. But a Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine study of two new vitamin D tests found the kits are inaccurate in many cases. Earle W. Holmes, PhD, presented findings at ENDO 2012, the 94th Annual Meeting and Expo in Houston.

26 Jun 2012