Unknown osteoporosis in older patients admitted to post-acute rehabilitation

Effects of Teriparatide on Bone Mineral Density and Prevention of Fragility Fractures in Saudi Arabian Subjects with Osteoporosis: A Two-Year Clinical Study from a Single Center

DESIGN

A prospective study was conducted. Setting. This study took place at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam AbdulRahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Primary and Secondary Outcomes. The study aimed to evaluate changes in BMD and prevention of fragility fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed up 439 patients who were prescribed teriparatide at the King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, and 415 (94.5%) patients completed a 24-month teriparatide course. The data gathered before starting medication were age, sex, previous therapy, history of fractures, and other diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiac disease. At the time of the final assessment after 24 months, a history of fractures if any during the treatment was collected and a DXA scan was done.

RESULTS

A total of 415 patients were followed up for 2 years. Three hundred and sixty-five patients (87.9%) were females, and the rest were males. The average age was 68.21 ± 17.6 years. Two hundred and forty-eight patients (59.8%) were treatment naïve, and 167 (40.2%) were on treatment for osteoporosis. Twenty patients (4.8%) sustained fracture on treatment. The pretreatment DXA showed that the mean hip T-score was -3.1 ± 0.79, and after completion of the treatment, it was -1.5 ± 0.62 (P < 0.001), while the T-score of the lumbar spine was 4.4 ± 0.86 versus -3.2 ± 0.87 (P < 0.001). Seventeen (4.09%) had fractures while on teriparatide treatment. The mean significant gain (MSG) for BMD for the hip was 0.095 g/cm², and for the lumbar spine, it was was 0.109 g/cm² with P < 0.001 at 95% CI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that 94.5% completed the treatment duration, and there was an increase in the BMD. The decrease in T-scores of the lumbar spine and hip was significant so was the reduction in the number of fractures.

MicroRNA-142 protects MC3T3-E1 cells against high glucose-induced apoptosis by targeting β-catenin

Osteoporosis, characterized by decreased mineral density and bone mass, is triggered by various detrimental factors and often causes further complications, including fractures. Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRs) has been associated with the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Recently, miR-142 was reported to be downregulated in osteoblasts; however, the underlying mechanism of miR-142 in mediating the development of osteoporosis remains unclear. In the present study, high glucose induced the downregulation of miR-142 mRNA expression and promoted the apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells. miR-142-mimics significantly protected against high glucose-induced apoptosis, upregulated the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and downregulated the protein expression levels of β-catenin, Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) and caspase-3. Furthermore, β-catenin was identified as a direct target of miR-142 using luciferase reporter assays. Similar to the effects of miR-142 inhibitors, overexpression of β-catenin aggravated the apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells, as demonstrated by the upregulation of Bax and caspase-3, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression levels. In conclusion, miR-142 protects MC3T3-E1 cells against high glucose-induced apoptosis by targeting β-catenin.

High rates of undiagnosed and untreated osteoporosis in postmenopausal women receiving medical services in the area of Upper Silesia

Introduction

High social cost and high risk of disability make postmenopausal osteoporosis one of major public health problem in the 21^st century. The aim of this study was to assess frequency of undiagnosed and untreated osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in the Upper Silesia Region of Poland. Additionally, we compare estimation of the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fractures (MOF) and hip fractures (HF) based on fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) with and without bone mineral density (BMD).

Material and methods

The survey included 450 postmenopausal women (age 65 ±11 years). A detailed questionnaire included demographic and anthropometric data, comorbidity, history of previous low-energy fractures, family medical history, and treatment for osteoporosis. The FRAX calculator was used to estimate the risk of MOF and HF.

Results

Osteoporosis was previously diagnosed in 23.7% women. Of those 70.2% were receiving vitamin D, 27% calcium preparations, 33% bisphosphonates, and 22% were untreated. Only 42.2% women with previous fractures had been diagnosed with osteoporosis and 42.8% received any treatment. 12.5% women with FRAX-BMD ≥ 10% had no risk factors of osteoporosis and < 10% risk of MOF and HF in FRAX without BMD.

Conclusions

Osteoporosis often remains undiagnosed and untreated in postmenopausal women. There is a great need to popularize FRAX without BMD calculator among physicians, especially GPs, as the risk calculation justify the implementation of antiosteoporotic therapy. Women with burden of risk factors of fractures and borderline FRAX without BMD values, should be referred to a densitometry examination, as having greater risk of fracture than shown by FRAX without BMD.

Comparison of general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, and general anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway and nerve block for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries in elderly patients: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on the optimal anesthesia method for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries in elderly patients. Our study aimed to compare the hemodynamics and perioperative outcomes of general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, and general anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and nerve block for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries in elderly patients.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of 75 patients aged > 60 years scheduled for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries with general anesthesia with intubation (n = 25), combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (n = 25), and general anesthesia with LMA and nerve block (n = 25). The intraoperative hemodynamics were recorded, and the maximum variation rate was calculated. Postoperative analgesic effect was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Postoperative cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE).

RESULTS

The maximum variation rate of intraoperative heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure differed significantly between the three groups (general anesthesia with intubation > combined spinal-epidural anesthesia > general anesthesia with LMA and nerve block). The VAS scores postoperative 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 8 h also differed significantly between the three groups (general anesthesia with intubation > combined spinal-epidural anesthesia > general anesthesia with LMA and nerve block). The VAS scores postoperative 24 h were significantly lower in the general anesthesia with LMA/nerve block group than the general anesthesia with intubation group and the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia group. The MMSE scores postoperative 15 min and 45 min differed significantly between the three groups (general anesthesia with intubation < combined spinal-epidural anesthesia < general anesthesia with LMA and nerve block). The MMSE scores postoperative 120 min in the general anesthesia with intubation group were the lowest among the three groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of respiratory infection postoperative 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h between the three groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared to general anesthesia with intubation and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, general anesthesia with LMA and nerve block had better postoperative analgesic effect and less disturbances on intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative cognition for elderly patients undergoing intertrochanteric fracture surgeries.