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B L Riggs

Publications and source records attributed to B L Riggs.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The contribution of vitamin D receptor gene alleles to the determination of bone mineral density in normal and osteoporotic women.

Bone mass and its mineral content are under genetic control. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been shown to be a major locus for genetic effects on bone mineral density (BMD), and polymorphisms in this gene accounted for a large proportion of genetic variance in BMD in an Australian population. In this study, we investigated whether similar associations are present in a North American population. We studied 139 normal healthy women (age 53.2 +/- 14.5, mean +/- SD) and 43 severely osteoporotic postmenopausal women (age 65.8 +/- 5.9). In the 127 of them with complete genetic studies, the distribution of genotypes, determined by polymerase chain reaction on leukocyte DNA samples, agreed closely with that in the Australian population. BMD was strongly related to age and weight, and, thus was adjusted for these parameters prior to genetic analysis. We found that age modulated the effect of VDR genotypes on femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD) (TaqI, p = 0.036; BsmI, p = 0.118; ApaI, p = 0.041) such that the effect of genotype was greatest among younger (premenopausal) women and declined with age so that there was no discernible difference by age 70. Among the younger women, a high FN-BMD was associated with the TT (or aa or bb) genotype while low FN-BMD was associated with the tt (or AA or BB) genotype.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

TGF-beta regulation of nuclear proto-oncogenes and TGF-beta gene expression in normal human osteoblast-like cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is present in high levels in bone and plays an important role in osteoblast growth and differentiation. In order to dissect the molecular mechanisms of action of TGF-beta on osteoblasts, the effects of TGF-beta on the steady state mRNA levels of c-fos, c-jun, and jun-B proto-oncogenes on normal human osteoblast-like cells (hOB) and a transformed human osteoblast cell line (MG-63) were measured. Treatment of hOBs with 2 ng/ml of TGF-beta 1 resulted in a rapid increase in c-fos mRNA levels as early as 15 min post-treatment. A maximum (10-fold) increase was observed at 30 min after TGF-beta treatment followed by a decrease to control values. Similar responses were measured whether the cells were rapidly proliferating or quiescent. TGF-beta 1 induced jun-B mRNA levels more gradually with steady increase initially observed at 30 min and a maximum induction measured at 2 h post-TGF-beta treatment. In contrast, TGF-beta treatment caused a time dependent decrease in the c-jun mRNA levels, an opposite pattern to that of jun-B mRNA. Treatment of hOBs with TGF-beta 1 in the presence of actinomycin-D abolished TGF-beta 1 induction of c-fos mRNA, suggesting that TGF-beta action is mediated via transcription. In the presence of cycloheximide, TGF-beta causes super-induction of c-fos mRNA at 30 min, indicating that the c-fos expression by TGF-beta is independent of new protein synthesis. Further, transfection of 3 kb upstream region of jun-B promoter linked to a CAT reporter gene into ROS 17/2.8 cells was sufficient to be regulated by TGF-beta 1. Interestingly, TGF-beta treatment also increased the mRNA levels of TGF-beta 1 itself at 4 h post TGF-beta treatment, with a maximum increase observed at 14 h of treatment. TGF-beta 1 treatment for 30 min were sufficient to cause a delayed increase in TGF-beta protein secretion within 24 h. These data support that TGF-beta has major effects on hOB cell proto-oncogene expression and that the nuclear proto-oncogenes respond as rapid, early genes in a cascade model of hormone action.

Animals↗

Zeolite A inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption in vitro.

The effects of Zeolite A on bone resorbing activity of highly purified avian osteoclasts were analyzed. The present study demonstrates that when 100 micrograms/ml of acid-treated Zeolite A is added to the media the number of pits per osteoclast is reduced 3-fold at 24 h after treatment. Secreted cathepsin B enzyme activity was also reduced 3-fold. A similar reduction in pit number per osteoclast was measured following 48 h of treatment with Zeolite A but there appeared to be less reduction of cathepsin B enzyme activity. The effects on pit number and cathepsin B protein activity were Zeolite dose dependent. The structure of the compound seemed to be responsible for the effects measured since compounds used to represent constituents of Zeolite A (silicon dioxide and aluminum chloride) failed to inhibit bone resorption or reduce the level of secreted cathepsin B enzyme activity. Thus the molecular architecture of Zeolite A or a derivative thereof appears to be important. In conclusion, the data indicate that Zeolite A can inhibit bone resorption. Together with previous data on osteoblasts, this might suggest a potential positive activity of intact Zeolite A or a partial substructure of Zeolite A on bone turnover.

Aluminum Chloride↗

Estrogen response in the hFOB 1.19 human fetal osteoblastic cell line stably transfected with the human estrogen receptor gene.

The gene coding for the human wild-type estrogen receptor (ER) was stably transfected into the human fetal osteoblastic cell line hFOB 1.19, a clonal cell line which is conditionally immortilized with a temperature sensitive mutant of SV40 large T antigen (tsA58). Five subclones were obtained which express various levels of ER mRNA and protein. The subclone with the highest level of functional (nuclear bound) ER, hFOB/ER9, contained 3,931 (+/- 1,341) 17beta-estradiol molecules bound/nucleus as determined by the nuclear binding (NB) assay. Using the dextran coated charcoal (DCC) method, the level of total cytosolic ER measured was 204 (+/- 2) fmol/mg protein. This subclone was examined further for estradiol (E2) responsiveness. The ER expressed in hFOB/ER9 cells was shown to be functional using a transiently transfected ERE-TK-luciferase construct. Expression of luciferase from this construct increased approximately 25-fold in hFOB/ER9 cells following 10(-9)M E2 treatment. This effect on ERE-TK-luciferase expression was both dose and steroid dependant. Further, treatment of hFOB/ER9 cells with 10(-9)M E2 resulted in a 2.5-4.0-fold increase in endogenous progesterone receptor (PR) levels detected by steroid binding assays, and a noticeable increase in both the A and B forms of PR by western blot assay. The establishment of this estrogen responsive human osteoblastic cell line should provide an excellent model system for the study of estrogen action on osteoblast function.

Base Sequence↗

Histomorphometric analysis of iliac crest bone biopsies in placebo-treated versus fluoride-treated subjects.

In a 4-year controlled, prospective trial, histomorphometric analysis was used to compare the tissue-level skeletal effects of fluoride therapy in 43 postmenopausal women (75 mg NaF/day) with those of 35 matching placebo subjects; all subjects received 1500 mg/day elemental calcium supplement. In addition to an initial, baseline biopsy, a second biopsy was obtained after 6, 18, 30 or 48 months. Measurements were made on a third biopsy obtained from 8 subjects following at least 72 months of fluoride therapy. The change in cancellous bone volume or trabecular thickness in fluoride-treated subjects was not different from a change in placebo-treated subjects. However, paired analysis in the fluoride-treated subjects indicated that bone volume was increased between the first and second biopsies (p < 0.005). Both osteoid length and width were significantly increased in fluoride compared with placebo subjects; however, only the osteoid surface increased linearly (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). The mineral apposition rate and relative tetracycline-covered bone surface were not different between fluoride and placebo treatment, although they were decreased in both groups in the second biopsy. The tetracycline-covered bone surface returned to normal in the third biopsy. Definitive evidence for osteomalacia is a prolonged mineralization lag time, which following fluoride treatment was found to be increased 9-fold in the second biopsy and 4-fold in the third biopsy. Further evidence for osteomalacia was increased osteoid thickness by 6 months, evidence of focal areas of interstitial mineralization defects, and broad tetracycline labels of low fluorescence intensity. In the third biopsies, osteoclastic resorption was observed beneath osteoid seams. Fluoride therapy increased the cortical width compared with placebo treatment (p < 0.02), and increased the osteoid surface in Haversian canals, but did not change the osteoid width, resorption surface or cortical porosity. After an initial rise, serum fluoride levels remained constant, and the urine values fell slightly. The bone fluoride concentration rose throughout the treatment period, and was correlated with the change in osteoid-covered bone surface (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Although we found definitive evidence for osteomalacia, the cause of the osteomalacia was not determined in this study. On the other hand, the presence of bone resorption beneath unmineralized osteoid and of osteocyte halos is suggestive of hyperparathyroidism. Thus, it is possible that the strong stimulus for bone formation brought about by fluoride therapy resulted in relative calcium deficiency.

Aged↗

Regulation of c-fos expression and TGF-beta production by gonadal and adrenal androgens in normal human osteoblastic cells.

Although the role of estrogens in bone formation is becoming clarified, the function of androgens in this process remains to be defined. Consequently, we have explored the mechanism of action for both gonadal and adrenal androgens in normal human osteoblastic (hOB) cells, which are responsible for the synthesis and mineralization of bone. Changes in the steady-state mRNA levels for two nuclear proto-oncogenes (c-fos and c-jun) and one cytokine (TGF-beta 1) were quantified in response to short (30 min) and long (24-48 h) treatments of these cells with physiologic concentrations of steroids. In addition, the levels of TGF-beta protein in the hOB cells conditioned-media were measured using a bioassay. The results indicated that neither 10 nM dihydrotestosterone, 10-20 nM testosterone, nor 10-100 nM androstenedione had a significant effect on the steady-state levels of c-fos, c-jun, or TGF-beta 1 mRNAs. Interestingly, 10-1000 nM dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 1-10 microM DHEA-sulfate rapidly reduced the steady-state level of c-fos mRNA by 60-80% in a dose-dependent manner within 30 min. In contrast, neither of these adrenal steroids had a significant effect on the message levels for c-jun or TGF-beta 1. Surprisingly, although TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels remained unchanged, the total amount of TGF-beta activity in the hOB cell conditioned-media increased 2-5-fold in response to 24-48 h treatments of the cells with gonadal or adrenal androgens. This increase in TGF-beta activity by DHEA-sulfate was both time- and dose-dependent, and was not blocked by cotreatment with the specific aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (1 microM). Immunoprecipitations of the hOB cell conditioned-media with isoform-specific TGF-beta neutralizing-antibodies indicated that TGF-beta 2 was predominantly produced by the cells in response to DHEA-sulfate treatment. These results demonstrate that differences exist between the actions of estrogens and androgens on normal human osteoblasts with regard to the regulation of c-fos expression and TGF-beta production. Moreover, these data suggest that DHEA and DHEA-sulfate may play a distinct role in the regulation of human osteoblast function via the rapid repression of c-fos message levels and the slower increase in TGF-beta 2 protein levels.

Androgens↗

The worldwide problem of osteoporosis: insights afforded by epidemiology.

Osteoporosis is one of the major problems facing women and older people of both sexes. The morbid event in osteoporosis is fracture. However, the definition of osteoporosis should not require the presence of fractures but only a decrease in bone mass that is associated with an unacceptably high risk of fracture. In the USA, approximately 1.5 million fractures annually are attributable to osteoporosis: these include 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 distal forearm (Colles') fractures, 250,000 hip fractures, and 300,000 fractures of other limb sites. The lifetime risk of fractures of the spine (symptomatic), hip, and distal radius is 40% for white women and 13% for white men from 50 years of age onwards. Following a hip fracture, there is a 10%-20% mortality over the subsequent 6 months, 50% of sufferers will be unable to walk without assistance, and 25% will require long-term domiciliary care. Contrary to prevailing opinion, the morbidity and suffering associated with wrist and spine fractures are also considerable. The annual cost of osteoporosis to the US healthcare system is at least $5-$10 billion with similar incidence and cost in other developed countries. These already high costs will increase further with continued aging of the population. In addition, the population explosion in underdeveloped countries will change the demography of osteoporosis; for example, the incidence of hip fracture, and, presumably, other osteoporotic fractures will increase four-fold worldwide during the next 50 years and the attendant costs will threaten the viability of the healthcare systems of many countries. Unless decisive steps for preventive intervention are taken now, a catastrophic global epidemic of osteoporosis seems inevitable.

Aged↗

Role of hyperbilirubinemia in the impairment of osteoblast proliferation associated with cholestatic jaundice.

Because the osteoporosis occurring in chronic cholestatic liver disease (CCLD) is associated with decreased bone formation and is reversible by liver transplantation, substances retained in plasma during cholestasis may impair osteoblast function. This hypothesis was tested using a new bioassay that measures plasma mitogenic activity (PMA) for normal human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells. In 29 jaundiced patients, mean PMA was 56.4% (P < 0.001) of that in 29 age- and sex-matched normal subjects, and the decrease in PMA was similar in the 14 with CCLD and the 15 with other causes of jaundice. Bile acids and bilirubin are the two major groups of products retained during cholestasis. The common conjugated bile acids and bilirubin were added to normal human plasma in concentrations simulating those found in patients with CCLD. Various bile salts had no effect on PMA whereas unconjugated bilirubin decreased PMA in a dose-dependent fashion (r = -0.98, P < 0.0001) without affecting cell viability. Relatively selective removal of bilirubin from the plasma by photobleaching normalized the decreased PMA in five jaundiced patients but produced no apparent change in five normal subjects. These data support the hypothesis that hyperbilirubinemia or possibly other photolabile substances impair osteoblast proliferative capacity and thus may play a major role in the pathogenesis of the osteoporosis associated with CCLD.

Bilirubin↗

Alterations in insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-dependent IGF-binding protein-4 proteolysis in transformed osteoblastic cells.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is secreted by a variety of osteoblastic cells and appears to be an integral component of bone cell physiology. We have previously reported that normal human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells secrete IGFBP-4 as well as a novel IGFBP-4 protease, which requires IGF for functional activity. In this study we assessed the IGFBP-4/IGFBP-4 protease system in transformed osteoblastic cells by Western ligand blotting and cell-free IGFBP-4 protease assays. Simian virus-40-immortalized hOB cells (HOBIT), human osteosarcoma cells (TE-85), and rat osteosarcoma cells (UMR 106-01, ROS 17/2.8) secrete IGFBP-4. In contrast to the rapid and dramatic proteolysis in hOB medium, medium conditioned by these cells had no apparent IGFBP-4 protease activity when assayed with exogenous IGF-II in culture or under cell-free conditions. Assayed in the presence of exogenous protease. HOBIT cells, but not the osteosarcoma cell lines, appeared to produce a cycloheximide-sensitive inhibitor of the IGFBP-4 proteolytic reaction. Transient cell transformation induced by incubating human osteoblasts transfected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus-40 T-antigen at the permissive temperature or by treating hOB cells with phorbol ester tumor promoters also resulted in inhibition of IGF-dependent IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Inhibition was observed if phorbol ester was added to the cultures at the time of medium change or after the protease had been expressed and secreted. Differences in IGFBP-4 proteolysis could not be accounted for by changes in IGFBP-4 messenger RNA expression or substrate levels. These data suggest that transformation is associated with alterations in the IGFBP-4/IGFBP-4 protease system in osteoblastic cells. Normal human osteoblasts secrete an IGF-dependent IGFBP-4 protease. The induction of an inhibitor of the IGF-dependent IGFBP-4 proteolytic reaction may be associated with early transformation processes. Fully tumorigenic bone cells expressed neither IGFBP-4 protease nor protease inhibitor activity.

Animals↗

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-4 availability in normal human osteoblast-like cells: role of endogenous IGFs.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is an important regulator of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) anabolic activity in bone. Although cultured human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells have been reported to secrete IGFBP-4, we could not detect IGFBP-4 protein in 8 of 27 individual donor-derived hOB-cell conditioned medium (hOB-CM) samples examined by Western ligand blotting. Nonetheless, this subset of hOB cells had normal IGFBP-4 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and protein secretion. Regulation of IGFBP-4 levels in hOB cultures appeared to occur extracellularly. hOB cells produce an IGFBP-4 proteinase that requires the presence of IGF for cleavage of the IGFBP-4 molecule into 2 fragments of approximately 18 and 14 kilodaltons. These fragments are not detected by Western ligand blotting. Our data indicate that elevated endogenous levels of IGF can activate IGFBP-4 proteolysis, because in hOB cultures lacking detectable IGFBP-4 protein 1) basal IGF messenger ribonucleic acid expression was increased; 2) IGF-II peptide levels were elevated; 3) IGF-neutralizing antibodies added to hOB-CM attenuated the proteolysis of exogenous IGFBP-4; and 4) recombinant human IGFBP-4 was proteolyzed into 2 immunoreactive fragments of approximately 18 and 14 kilodaltons during cell-free incubations in these hOB-CM without the addition of exogenous IGF. In conclusion, elevated IGF expression and secretion can contribute to enhanced proteolysis of endogenous and exogenous IGFBP-4 via a proteinase secreted by cultured hOB cells. Levels of endogenous IGF peptide may determine IGFBP-4 availability in the bone microenvironment and, thus, modulate the local cell response to IGF-I.

Adult↗

Role of parathyroid hormone in mediating nocturnal and age-related increases in bone resorption.

PTH has been postulated to play a role in both nocturnal and age-related increases in bone resorption. We tested this hypothesis directly in 10 young (ages 24-35 yr) and 10 elderly (ages 71-78 yr) normal women by measuring the cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), a marker for bone collagen breakdown, in 4-h urine collections before and during suppression of PTH secretion by a 24-h iv infusion of calcium. Serum ionized calcium and PTH levels were also measured every 2 h before and during the infusion. In both groups of women, serum PTH levels and urinary NTx excretion followed a circadian pattern before calcium infusion (analysis of variance, P = 0.0001) with peaks in the afternoon and at night for PTH and at night for urinary NTx. During the calcium infusion, the nocturnal urinary NTx excretion peak persisted (P = 0.0001), despite elimination of both PTH peaks. Urinary 24-h NTx excretion (nanomoles per millimoles of creatinine) at baseline was higher in the elderly women (mean +/- SEM, 25.7 +/- 2.1) than in the young women (19.3 +/- 1.7) (P < 0.01), and the decrease during calcium infusion was greater (7.5 +/- 1.9 vs. 4.1 +/- 1.5, P < 0.05). Therefore, the increase in serum PTH levels with age is one of the major factors responsible for the age-related increase in bone resorption. PTH does not mediate the circadian pattern of bone resorption but does play a role in setting the absolute level of bone resorption at which this pattern occurs.

Adult↗

Mechanism of renal calcium conservation with estrogen replacement therapy in women in early postmenopause--a clinical research center study.

To assess the mechanism by which estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) enhances renal calcium conservation in perimenopausal women, we studied 18 normal women in early postmenopause before and after 6 months of ERT (cyclic treatment with transdermal estradiol at 100 micrograms/day and medroxyprogesterone acetate at 10 mg/day for the first 12 days of each cycle). The changes after ERT were: serum ionized calcium and ultrafiltrable calcium, no change; serum intact PTH, 38.2% increase (P < 0.0001); serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 23.8% increase (P < 0.0001); urinary calcium excretion, 33.3% decrease (P < 0.001); and deoxypyridinoline (a marker for bone resorption), 19.5% decrease (P < 0.0001). Also, ERT increased tubular reabsorption of calcium (TRCa; 97.6% +/- 0.2% to 98.7% +/- 0.1%; P < 0.0001), and this increase correlated with that in serum PTH (r = 0.49; P < 0.05). After the infusion of human PTH-(1-34), the TRCa maximum was greater after ERT than at baseline (99.4% +/- 0.1% vs. 99.0% +/- 0.1%; P < 0.0001), resulting in decreased calcium excretion (0.9 +/- 0.20 vs. 1.43 +/- 0.20 mumol/dL glomerular filtrate; P < 0.001). Thus, in early postmenopause, the major mechanism of increased renal calcium conservation after ERT is an increase in TRCa due to an increase in serum PTH because of estrogen-induced inhibition of bone resorption. However, ERT also may directly increase the TRCa maximum in response to PTH.

Adult↗

Treatment options for osteoporosis.

The number of women affected by postmenopausal osteoporosis is likely to continue to increase substantially as the population ages. Furthermore, the therapeutic options for such patients are likely to increase. In this brief review, we outline the use of the currently available medications for the management of osteoporosis--namely, estrogen, calcitonin, calcium, and vitamin D. In addition, we discuss the next generation of drugs that are likely to become available in the future--the bisphosphonates and estrogen analogues. As these options become available, the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis will become similar to the management of other common disorders such as hypertension or hyperlipidemia, in which the most appropriate medication may differ for individual patients. Thus, the treatment of osteoporosis is likely to evolve from a decision of whether to initiate estrogen replacement therapy to a more complex decision of the best agent to use for an individual patient.

Female↗

Human giant cell tumors of the bone (osteoclastomas) are estrogen target cells.

The decrease in estrogen levels that follows the onset of menopause results in rapid bone loss and osteoporosis. The major effect of estrogen deficiency on bone metabolism is an increase in the rate of bone resorption, but the precise mechanism by which this occurs remains unresolved. A recently developed technique for the isolation of avian osteoclasts has been modified to obtain highly purified multinucleated cells from human giant cell tumors. These osteoclast-like cells have been examined for evidence of estrogen receptors (ERs) and responses to 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta-E2). Analysis of giant-cell RNA demonstrated expression of ER mRNA. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis revealed that the giant cells contained a 66-kDa protein that was recognized by a monoclonal antibody specific for the human ER. When isolated multinucleated cells were cultured on slices of bone, there was a dose-dependent decrease in resorption in response to treatment detectable at 10 pM 17 beta-E2. Treatment with 10 nM 17 alpha-estradiol or vehicle (control) did not inhibit resorption. Moreover, the multinucleated cells isolated from these tumors had decreased mRNA levels for cathepsin B, cathepsin D, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) as well as secreted cathepsin B and TRAP enzyme activity in response to treatment with 10 nM 17 beta-E2. In contrast to these data, no change in gene expression was detected in mononuclear cells from these tumors in response to 17 beta-E2 treatment. These data support the proposition that human osteoclasts are target cells for estrogen and that estrogen can inhibit bone resorption by human osteoclasts.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 by a specific insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 proteinase in normal human osteoblast-like cells: implications in bone cell physiology.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) is secreted by normal human osteoblast-like cells (hOB) and is a potent inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) action in vitro. In previous studies, IGF treatment of hOB in culture led to markedly reduced medium levels of IGFBP-4 as detected by western ligand blotting. In the present study, incubation of hOB-conditioned medium (hOB-CM) with IGF under cell-free conditions resulted in a similar loss of IGFBP-4. Both IGF-I and IGF-II were capable of inducing a decrease in IGFBP-4; however, IGF-II was more effective. When the six characterized IGFBP were added to hOB-CM, only IGFBP-4 disappeared in response to IGF-II addition. This IGF-regulated loss of IGFBP-4 was inhibited by metalloproteinase inhibitors and appeared to be due to a proteinase that cleaved IGFBP-4 in 18 and 14 kD fragments identified by western immunoblotting. Conditioned media from eight of eight different donor hOB lines tested exhibited IGFBP-4 proteinase activity. To assess the biologic consequences of IGF-II-induced IGFBP-4 proteolysis, we treated hOB with IGF-II for 5 h, which decreased medium IGF-BP-4 by 70%, and then measured IGF-I and insulin stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation. IGF-II itself was not mitogenic and had no effect on insulin-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation. However, pretreatment of cultured hOB with IGF-II enhanced IGF-I-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation threefold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Clinical trial of fluoride therapy in postmenopausal osteoporotic women: extended observations and additional analysis.

In a 4 year clinical trial in 202 postmenopausal osteoporotic women receiving NaF at 75 mg/day or placebo (both groups received supplementary calcium at 1500 mg/day), we found (N Engl J Med 322:801, 1990) that NaF increased bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (LS-BMD) substantially but did not decrease vertebral fracture rate (VFR), and it increased the nonvertebral fracture rate. Additional analyses and extended observations are now available on 50 women from the NaF group followed for up to 6 years of treatment. In these women, LS-BMD increased linearly over the 6 years (median rate, 8.7%/year or 0.063 g/cm2/year). Because during the 4 year trial the NaF dosage was decreased (because of side effects) in 54 of the 101 women randomized to NaF, dose-response relationships could be evaluated. For the entire study population, serum F level correlated directly with increase in LS-BMD (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). When individual person-years of observation were grouped by deciles of LS-BMD, VFR (per 100 person-years) decreased to a nadir of 24 as mean LS-BMD for the group increased from 0.6 to 1.2 g/cm2 and then doubled to 52 in the group with mean LS-BMD of 1.6 g/cm2. Multivariate analyses and inspection of three-dimensional plots revealed a complex pattern in which VFR was influenced by interaction of several variables. When the effects of LS-BMD, changes in LS-BMD, and serum F were assessed simultaneously, VFR was seen to decrease with increasing LS-BMD except when the higher LS-BMD was associated with rapid rate of increase in LS-BMD or a large increase from baseline serum F. For some patients (noncompliers or nonresponders), serum F or LS-BMD failed to increase. Thus, it is possible that lower dosages of NaF produce moderate decreases in VFR.

Aged↗

Risk of hip fracture in women with vertebral fracture.

In a population-based retrospective cohort study, Rochester women aged 35-69 years who were first diagnosed with one or more vertebral fractures in 1950-1979 were followed for the development of a subsequent hip fracture. The 336 women with no history of hip fracture at the time of their vertebral fracture experienced 52 proximal femur fractures in 4788 person-years of follow-up. The standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) of observed to expected hip fractures was 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3-2.4) and was higher for intertrochanteric than cervical femoral fractures (SMR, 2.3 versus 1.3; P = 0.07). Hip fracture risk among women with symptomatic vertebral fractures was slightly less than in those with asymptomatic vertebral fractures (SMR, 1.8 versus 2.3; not significant), and younger women had no higher risk of a subsequent hip fracture than women who were > or = 60 years of age at the time of their vertebral fracture (SMR, 1.4 versus 1.8; not significant). Alternative explanations are possible, but these data are consistent with heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of different osteoporotic fractures.

Adult↗