The effectiveness of teriparatide in the clinical practice--attenuation of the bone mineral density outcome by increasing age and bisphosphonate pretreatment

New insights into the role of long non-coding RNAs in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common disease in elderly individuals, and osteoporosis can easily lead to bone and hip fractures that seriously endanger the health of elderly individuals. At present, the treatment of osteoporosis is mainly anti-osteoporosis drugs, but there are side effects associated with anti-osteoporosis drugs. Therefore, it is very important to develop early diagnostic indicators and new therapeutic drugs for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), noncoding RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides, can be used as diagnostic markers for osteoporosis, and lncRNAs play an important role in the progression of osteoporosis. Many studies have shown that lncRNAs can be the target of osteoporosis. Therefore, herein, the role of lncRNAs in osteoporosis is summarized, aiming to provide some information for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Treatment of osteoporosis with teriparatide: The Slovenian experience

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of postmenopausal women prescribed with teriparatide in Slovenia, during the first decade after its approval, and the predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) improvement with treatment. We retrospectively studied postmenopausal osteoporotic patients prescribed with teriparatide at tertiary center from 2006 to 2015. BMD was measured at standard sites by DXA at baseline, after 12 and 24 months. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) were measured at the same time-points. The inclusion criteria were met by 188 women (aged 71 years on average), 151 (80.3%) with postmenopausal and 37 (19.7%) with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Everyone had at least one fracture, 159 (84.6%) had ≥2 fractures, with vertebral fractures in 172 patients (91.5%). All patients had been previously on antiresorptives for 8.6 years on average. The average BMD change at lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck was +5.0%, −1.1%, and +0.3% after 24 months of treatment, respectively. Higher baseline PINP was associated with higher BMD increase at all sites after the first 12 months. Teriparatide was prescribed mostly to elderly women with severe osteoporosis who had sustained two or more fractures despite long-term antiresorptive therapy. Baseline PINP might predict initial BMD increase with teriparatide.

An effect comparison of teriparatide and bisphosphonate on posterior lumbar interbody fusion in patients with osteoporosis: a prospective cohort study and preliminary data

PURPOSE

Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of teriparatide for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in osteoporotic women.

METHODS

Forty-seven osteoporotic patients underwent PLIF with pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar stenosis and instability. Patients were divided into two groups. The teriparatide group (n = 23) was injected subcutaneously with teriparatide (20 μg daily) for 3-month cycles alternating with 3-month periods of oral sodium alendronate for 12 months. The bisphosphonate group (n = 24) was administered oral sodium alendronate (91.37 mg/week) for ≥1 year. Serial plain radiography, computed tomography, and bone mineral densitometry (BMD) evaluations were performed. Fusion rate, bony fusion duration, and T score changes were evaluated. Clinical data [pain scores, Prolo's functional scale, and Oswestry disability index (ODI)] were also serially evaluated.

RESULTS

The teriparatide group showed earlier fusion than the bisphosphonate group. The average period of bone fusion was 6.0 ± 4.8 months in the teriparatide group but 10.4 ± 7.2 months in the bisphosphonate group. The bone fusion rate in the teriparatide group was higher than that in the bisphosphonate group at 6 months; however, there was no difference 12 and 24 months after surgery. Pain scores and ODI were not significantly different between groups. BMD scores in the teriparatide group were significantly improved compared with the bisphosphonate group 2 years after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant improvement in overall fusion rate and clinical outcome in our patients after injection of teriparatide, but the teriparatide group showed faster bony union and highly improved BMD scores.

Predictors of teriparatide treatment failure in patients with low bone mass

Introduction

While teriparatide is the only skeletal anabolic agent approved in the United States, treatment failure is a major concern which complicates its clinical utility. We sought to identify factors that predict response failure in patients with low bone mass.

Method

We performed a retrospective study of adults with osteopenia or osteoporosis (T-scores < − 1.0 and − 2.5 SD below normal, respectively, at the total hip or lumbar spine) treated with teriparatide at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) between November 2002–December 2012. Trained study investigators blinded to patient outcomes collected electronic medical record data. Potential response failure predictors were identified using univariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify independent predictors of treatment failure based on either osteoporotic fragility fracture or BMD response.

Results

During the 10-year period, 494 patients received teriparatide treatment and met eligibility criteria. Thirty-five patients had osteoporotic fractures, while 172 did not achieve a ≥ 3% BMD increase. Among predictors as defined by BMD change, both prior bisphosphonate treatment [odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.50 (1.01–2.24)] and vitamin D therapy [1.50 (1.01–2.22)] were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with teriparatide treatment failure. By contrast, no predictors were associated with treatment failure when fracture was the endpoint.

Conclusion

These data suggest that prior bisphosphonate or vitamin D exposure may predict response failure to teriparatide therapy. Although these findings may, in part, reflect increased severity or longer duration of disease, this knowledge should help guide clinicians and patients when therapy choices are made.

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A retrospective study of 494 patients was performed to assess the predictors of teriparatide therapy failure.

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Prior treatment with bisphosphonate and vitamin D was found to be independent predictors.

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Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate other factors that are difficult to be assessed retrospectively.

Dance Class Structure Affects Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: A Study of Seven Dance Types

PURPOSE

The study aims were to determine: (a) how class structure varies by dance type, (b) how moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior vary by dance class segments, and (c) how class structure relates to total MVPA in dance classes.

METHOD

Participants were 291 boys and girls ages 5 to 18 years old enrolled in 58 dance classes at 21 dance studios in Southern California. MVPA and sedentary behavior were assessed with accelerometry, with data aggregated to 15-s epochs. Percent and minutes of MVPA and sedentary behavior during dance class segments and percent of class time and minutes spent in each segment were calculated using Freedson age-specific cut points. Differences in MVPA (Freedson 3 Metabolic Equivalents of Tasks age-specific cut points) and sedentary behavior ( < 100 counts/min) were examined using mixed-effects linear regression.

RESULTS

The length of each class segment was fairly consistent across dance types, with the exception that in ballet, more time was spent in technique as compared with private jazz/hip-hop classes and Latin-flamenco and less time was spent in routine/practice as compared with Latin-salsa/ballet folklorico. Segment type accounted for 17% of the variance in the proportion of the segment spent in MVPA. The proportion of the segment in MVPA was higher for routine/practice (44.2%) than for technique (34.7%). The proportion of the segment in sedentary behavior was lowest for routine/practice (22.8%).

CONCLUSION

The structure of dance lessons can impact youths' physical activity. Working with instructors to increase time in routine/practice during dance classes could contribute to physical activity promotion in youth.

Literature review: The effects of teriparatide therapy at the hip in patients with osteoporosis

Teriparatide is a skeletal anabolic treatment for patients with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture. Because adequate clinical trials have not yet been conducted to assess the efficacy of teriparatide for reducing the risk of hip fracture, we review here the literature regarding how treatment with teriparatide affects the hip in patients with osteoporosis. Teriparatide increases cancellous bone volume, improves bone architecture, and - uniquely among osteoporosis treatments - increases cortical thickness and cortical porosity. By bone scan and positron emission tomography, teriparatide increases bone formation throughout the skeleton, including the hip. Consistent with these findings, studies using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography for longitudinal assessment of changes at the hip have consistently shown increases in areal and volumetric bone mineral density, cortical thickness, and finite element-estimated hip strength in patients treated with teriparatide. Finally, in clinical fracture-outcome trials, treatment with teriparatide has been shown to reduce the risk of nonvertebral fracture, a composite endpoint that includes hip fracture. Taken together, this body of evidence suggests that teriparatide positively affects the hip in patients with osteoporosis.