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From Wolff's law to the Utah paradigm: insights about bone physiology and its clinical applications.

Efforts to understand our anatomy and physiology can involve four often overlapping phases. We study what occurs, then how, then ask why, and then seek clinical applications. In that regard, in 1960 views, bone's effector cells (osteoblasts and osteoclasts) worked chiefly to maintain homeostasis under the control of nonmechanical agents, and that physiology had little to do with anatomy, biomechanics, tissue-level things, muscle, and other clinical applications. But it seems later-discovered tissue-level mechanisms and functions (including biomechanical ones, plus muscle) are the true key players in bone physiology, and homeostasis ranks below the mechanical functions. Adding that information to earlier views led to the Utah paradigm of skeletal physiology that combines varied anatomical, clinical, pathological, and basic science evidence and ideas. While it explains in a general way how strong muscles make strong bones and chronically weak muscles make weak ones, and while many anatomists know about the physiology that fact depends on, poor interdisciplinary communication left people in many other specialties unaware of it and its applications. Those applications concern 1.) healing of fractures, osteotomies, and arthrodeses; 2.) criteria that distinguish mechanically competent from incompetent bones; 3.) design criteria that should let load-bearing implants endure; 4.) how to increase bone strength during growth, and how to maintain it afterwards on earth and in microgravity situations in space; 5.) how and why healthy women only lose bone next to marrow during menopause; 6.) why normal bone functions can cause osteopenias; 7.) why whole-bone strength and bone health are different matters; 8.) why falls can cause metaphyseal and diaphyseal fractures of the radius in children, but mainly metaphyseal fractures of that bone in aged adults; 9.) which methods could best evaluate whole-bone strength, "osteopenias" and "osteoporoses"; 10.) and why most "osteoporoses" should not have bone-genetic causes and some could have extraosseous genetic causes. Clinical specialties that currently require this information include orthopaedics, endocrinology, radiology, rheumatology, pediatrics, neurology, nutrition, dentistry, and physical, space and sports medicine. Basic science specialties include absorptiometry, anatomy, anthropology, biochemistry, biomechanics, biophysics, genetics, histology, pathology, pharmacology, and cell and molecular biology. This article reviews our present general understanding of this new bone physiology and some of its clinical applications and implications. It must leave to other times, places, and people the resolution of questions about that new physiology, and to understand the many devils that should lie in its details. (Thompson D'Arcy, 1917).

Adult↗

Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency.

This report concerns two unrelated males; one had sarcoidosis, sarcoid myopathy and muscle weakness, and the other had exercise-induced weakness and myalgia. Both patients had a lack of ammonia rise in their serum after an ischemic work test, minimal histochemical activity of myoadenylate deaminase in repeated muscle biopsies, and less than 5% of normal biochemical activity of myoadenylate deaminase in their skeletal muscles. These three criteria establish primary myoadenylate deaminase deficiency as a separate primary metabolic muscle disease which merits differential diagnostic consideration when patients complain of muscle weakness and cramps.

AMP Deaminase↗

Dystrophinopathy in a boy with Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a hereditary, biphasic immunodeficiency syndrome which usually leads to early death, during the first decade. The second phase is characterized by a lymphoproliferative syndrome with histiocytic infiltrations in various tissues. Recently the gene has been identified on chromosome 1q43. In the patient presented here, a mutation within codon 3197 was found, resulting in a frame-shift. Additionally, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was diagnosed by immunostaining of the muscle. Unusual for both CHS and DMD muscle weakness and hypotonia became evident during the first months of life. Compared to typical DMD cases we found an increased histiocytic infiltration in the muscle. The underlying muscular dystrophy probably predisposes to the affection of muscle in the second phase of CHS. This patient is presented as an example of modification of the phenotype by a second genetic disease.

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome↗

Retrospective analysis of the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer showing poor performance status.

To assess the feasibility of treatments for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) showing a poor performance status (PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; ECOG 3 or 4), we retrospectively reviewed the outcome for 13 SCLC patients showing poor PS treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital between January 1984 and May 1994. The main factors which contributed to poor prognosis were superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, massive pleural effusion, tracheal stenosis due to lymph node swelling, pericardial effusion and pulmonary fibrosis (causing dyspnea in combination), brain metastasis resulting in neurological disturbance, cachexia, Eaton-Lambert syndrome causing muscle weakness, retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis causing abdominal pain, peritoneal effusion due to abdominal lymph node swelling, vertebral metastasis causing paraplegia, and dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) causing muscle weakness. All of the patients received chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. The PS of 8 patients improved with treatment, but no improvement was seen in 5. We analyzed these 13 patients and considered the treatments for those with poor PS. Chemo-radiotherapy was tolerable in SCLC patients showing PS 3, and improved their PS if severe conditions or combined disease did not arise concurrently. It was further suggested that PS 4 patients with severe conditions or combined disease should not be given the treatments.

Adult↗

Diagnosis of aluminum-related bone disease and treatment of aluminum toxicity with deferoxamine.

Bone disease related to aluminum toxicity (aluminum-related bone disease) presents with variable clinical and biochemical findings in patients with renal failure. Bone pain and muscle weakness are common, although afflicted patients can be asymptomatic. Bone pain can be generalized or localized to the hips, back, feet, or ankles; proximal muscle weakness is common. Most cases in the United States arise from the ingestion of aluminum-containing gels by patients on long-term dialysis treatment. Patients at increased risk for developing aluminum-related bone disease include those with earlier parathyroidectomy, failed renal transplant, previous bilateral nephrectomy, and diabetes mellitus. Biochemical features that are common with aluminum-related bone disease include plasma aluminum levels greater than 100 to 150 micrograms/L, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels equal to or lower than those in dialysis patients without bone disease, and normal or slightly elevated serum calcium levels. Plasma alkaline phosphatase levels are often elevated. In our experience, microcytic anemia has been uncommon. An increase in plasma aluminum levels greater than 200 micrograms/L 24 to 48 hours after the infusion of the chelating agent deferoxamine (DFO) correlates with an increased bone aluminum content, and an increment greater than 400 micrograms/L suggests marked aluminum accumulation. Radiographs are usually nonspecific. When results from indirect diagnostic procedures are equivocal, a bone biopsy is necessary. After a diagnosis of aluminum-related bone disease is established, therapy with DFO may be useful. DFO increases both the total plasma aluminum level and its ultrafilterable fraction. After an infusion of DFO, the removal of aluminum increases from 50 to 300 micrograms to 4 to 8 mg per dialysis session. Aluminum removal is similar during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis after either intravenous (IV) or intraperitoneal (IP) administration of DFO. Usually, 2 to 4 g of DFO is administered once weekly, but the optimal dose and duration of therapy have not been determined. Symptoms usually improve after 4 to 12 weeks, and bone biopsies show improvement after treatment for 6 to 12 months. Further experience with DFO is needed, both to identify the optimal dosage and to clarify the risks of long-term therapy in patients with renal failure.

Aluminum↗

[A case of allergic granulomatous angitis with beneficial effects of plasma exchange].

A 54-year-old man had suffered from bronchial asthma, followed by numbness and muscle weakness of the extremities. He was admitted to our department in July, 1994, because of progression of the symptoms. On admission, neurological examination revealed muscle weakness with atrophy and sensory disturbance of multiple mononeuritic type. Blood tests revealed eosinophilia and an increase in rheumatoid factor, IgE levels and P-ANCA. A sural nerve biopsy showed necrotizing vasculitis and inflammation with eosinophil infiltration. The patient was diagnosed as having allergic granulomatous angitis,and treated with steroid pulse therapy without beneficial effect. Plasma exchange was performed twice, which resulted in remarkable improvement in motor and sensory disturbance. The present case suggests that plasma exchange has beneficial effects on severe cases with allergic granulomatous angitis.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome↗

[Four family members with proximal myotonic myopathy].

A 41-year-old woman had a 15-year history of pain in her thighs and arms, which also became weaker, and a decrease in visual acuity. Her 35-year-old brother, their 38-year-old sister and their 64-year-old mother also had myalgia, myotonia and proximal muscle weakness, and the women also had cataracts. Additional examinations and tests led to a diagnosis of proximal myotonic myopathy (PROMM) in all four cases. Neurological and ophthalmological follow-up was provided on a yearly basis, including ECG. The clinical features of PROMM display similarities to the adult form of myotonic dystrophy (MD) but differ in the proximal localisation of the muscle weakness and the frequent occurrence of pain in the affected muscles. PROMM is an autosomal dominant hereditary multisystemic disorder with a less serious course than MD and is rarely accompanied by cognitive disorders. In most cases, a genetic defect on chromosome 3q21 is the cause of the disease. A probable diagnosis can be made on the basis of the clinical symptoms and the results of simple laboratory tests, and can be confirmed via DNA analysis. As yet, the disorder can only be treated symptomatically, preferably via a multidisciplinary approach by a neurologist, an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist and a rehabilitation specialist.

Adult↗

[A case of recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome with myocarditis].

We report a 35-year-old man who recovered from an initial episode of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and had acute relapse after two years of asymptomatic interval. He had an acute muscle weakness with areflexia in his extremities following an upper respiratory tract infection in 1993. He was treated with plasma exchange and recovered completely within two months. Two years later he had a relapse of muscle weakness in the same distribution as the initial episode following the symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure. Biopsy of the heart muscle disclosed mild infiltration of lymphocytes with edema and fibrosis: the diagnosis of healing myocarditis was made. He underwent plasma exchange after the heart failure resolved and fully recovered neurologically within three months. The association of GBS and myocarditis is extremely rare. Moreover, there have been no reports describing recurrent GBS with myocarditis. Since GBS with myocarditis sometimes takes a fatal outcome, careful observation and treatment are mandatory.

Adult↗

[Successful treatment with lobenzarit disodium in case of Churg-Strauss syndrome].

In this case the patient was a 62-year-old male with a chief complain of sensory disturbance of the extremities. In January 1987 he was diagnosed as having bronchial asthma by a neighboring doctor and began to receive prednisolone (PSL) therapy at his hospital on an ambulatory basis. Later on, in January 1990, he developed dyspnea, epigastralgia, ecchymoses and muscle weakness of the lower extremities, with which he was admitted to the neighboring hospital, where he was started on treatment of asthmatic attacks with 30 mg/day of PSL. However, because muscle weakness of his extremities became gradually worse, he was transferred to our hospital. Physical examination on admission revealed an absence of knee and ankle jerk, sensory loss in the bilateral hands, legs and feet and diminished muscle strength of the extremities. Significant laboratory findings included leukocytosis, eosinophilia (4743/mm) and elevated serum IgE concentration (4900 IU/ml). Histologic evidence of vasculitis with an associated infiltration by eosinophils was noted on skin biopsy. These findings led to a diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome. Treatment was started with PSL at 40 mg/day. However, as asthmatic attacks and eosinophilia were refractory to the conventional therapies, concomitant lobenzarit disodium (CCA), 240 mg/day was initiated. On increasing the dosage of CCA to 320 mg/day because of unsatisfactory symptomatic responses elicited at the initial dose level, the patient became free from an asthmatic attack with a return to normal of his eosinophilic count. He was discharged virtually asymptomatic while being placed on a regimen of PSL at 5 mg/day.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome↗

Autosomal dominant nemaline myopathy with intranuclear rods due to mutation of the skeletal muscle ACTA1 gene: clinical and pathological variability within a kindred.

Nemaline Myopathy with Intranuclear Rods is a rare variant of nemaline myopathy, due in almost all instances to mutation of ACTA1, the gene encoding skeletal muscle alpha-actin. We describe the novel autosomal dominant occurrence in a three-generation kindred, and review previously reported cases. Onset of myopathic symptoms in our kindred was in infancy or early childhood. Beyond infancy, limb muscle weakness was non-disabling and minimally progressive. A tall thin face and facial myopathy were prominent features in the affected adults. By light microscopy, muscle biopsies ranged from almost normal, to chronic myopathy with sarcoplasmic and intranuclear rods. A heterozygous GTG-ATG mutation (Val163Met) was found in exon 4 of ACTA1 in affected individuals. Actin is normally present within the nucleus in only trace amounts. Mutation at postion 163 may result in intranuclear rods by virtue of its close proximity to a nuclear export signal within the actin molecule.

Actins↗

Chloroquine-induced lipidosis mimicking Fabry disease.

Intracellular accumulation of phospholipids may be a consequence of inherited or acquired metabolic disorders. In Fabry disease, deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A results in storage of globotriasylceramide in numerous cells including endothelium, striated muscle (skeletal, cardiac), smooth muscle, and renal epithelium among others; the ultrastructural appearance of the inclusions is of whorled layers of alternating dense and pale material ('zebra bodies' or myeline figures). Chloroquine therapy may result in storage of biochemically and ultrastructurally similar inclusions in many of the same cells as Fabry disease and often results in similar clinical manifestations. We report a 56-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with chloroquine, who developed muscle weakness and renal insufficiency; information regarding therapy was not emphasized at the time of renal biopsy, leading to initial erroneous interpretation of Fabry disease. Following muscle biopsy, genetic and enzyme evaluation, and additional studies on the kidney biopsy, a diagnosis of chloroquine toxicity was established. One year following cessation of chloroquine, renal and muscle dysfunction greatly improved. In chloroquine toxicity, inclusions in glomeruli are not only in visceral epithelial, endothelial and mesangial cells but are in infiltrating monocytes/macrophages, which are most commonly present in the mesangium. Curvilinear bodies, the ultrastructural features of chloroquine toxicity in striated muscle, are not present in renal cells. This report documents differences in appearance, cells affected and morphological differential diagnostic features to distinguish these two entities.

Antirheumatic Agents↗

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) in three European kinships due to a novel splice mutation (IVS7 - 2 A/G) in the epsilon acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunit gene.

Mutations in the epsilon-acetylcholine receptor (AChR epsilon) subunit gene cause congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) with postsynaptic neural transmission defects. We present 3 male and 2 female patients from three unrelated Croatian, Hungarian, and Russian families with autosomal recessive CMS. All patients manifested with variable degrees of ophthalmoparesis and generalized, fatiguable muscle weakness since birth or early infancy. Electrophysiological studies showed a decremental response in all patients indicating a neuromuscular transmission defect. Pyridostigmine treatment improved the proximal muscle weakness whereas the ophthalmoparesis remained unchanged in all patients. Analysis of the AChR epsilon subunit gene showed homozygosity for a novel splice site mutation of intron 7 epsilon(IVS7-2A/G) in the two Croatian siblings. epsilon-mRNA analysis by RT-PCR and direct sequencing revealed that exon 7 was spliced directly to exon 9 with skipping of exon 8. The Hungarian and Russian patients were heteroallelic carriers of the same mutation epsilon(IVS7-2A/G) and of a frameshifting mutation epsilon 70insG and epsilon 1293insG, respectively. We hypothesize that altered splice products may not be expressed as functional receptors at the cell surface. A haplotype analysis with polymorphic markers revealed a high degree of similarity for the epsilon(IVS7-2A/G) carrying allele in all families and may therefore indicate a common origin of the mutation.

Adolescent↗

[Macrophagic myofasciitis. Study and Research Group on Acquired and Dysimmunity-related muscular diseases (GERMMAD)].

UNLABELLED: MACROPHAGIC MYOFASCIITIS: A most unusual inflammatory myopathy, first described by Germmad had been reported with increasing frequency since 1993 in the leading French myopathology centers. We present our experience with this new disease: macrophagic myofasciitis. CLINICAL FEATURES: By November 1999, 70 cases of macrophagic myofasciitis had been recorded since our first description. The first 22 patients (sex ratio M/F = 1:3) referred with the presumptive diagnosis of polymyositis (n = 11), polymyalgia rheumatica (n = 5), mitochondrial cytopathy (n = 4), and congenital myopathy or muscle dystrophy (n = 1 each). Symptoms included myalgia (91%), anthralgia (68%), marked asthenia (55%), muscle weakness (45%), and fever (32%). LABORATORY FINDINGS: Abnormal laboratory findings included elevated CK levels (50%), markedly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (37%), and myopathic EMG (35%). Muscle biopsy showed a unique myopathological pattern characterized by: i) centripetal infiltration of epimysium, perimysium and perifascicular endomysium by sheets of large cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage (CD68+, CD1a-, S100-, with a PAS-positive content; ii) absence of necrosis, of both epithelioid and giant cells, and of mitotic figures; iii) presence of occasional CD8+ T-cells; iv) inconspicuous muscle fiber damage. The picture was easily distinguishable from sarcoid myopathy and fasciitis-panniculitis syndromes. The infectious diseases know to be associated with reactive histiocytes, including Whippleís disease, Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection and malakoplakia, could not be documented. Patients improved under corticosteroid therapy and/or immunomodulatory therapeutic CONCLUSION: A new inflammatory muscle disorder, characterized by a distinctive pathological pattern of macrophagic myofasciitis is emerging in France.

Adult↗

[A case of acute autonomic, sensory and motor neuropathy (AASMN)--less favorable response of the autonomic dysfunctions to IVIg treatment].

We report a rare case of acute autonomic, sensory and motor neuropathy (AASMN). The patient, a 26-year-old woman, developed fever and common cold around January 20, 2001 and was admitted because of abdominal pain due to ileus on January 30. After admission, the patient complained of muscle weakness and numbness in the extremities, difficulty in seeing with the right eye, and dysuria. Neurologically, marked orthostatic hypotension, right tonic pupil, distal dominant moderate muscle weakness in extremities, areflexia in both lower limbs, glove and stocking type of paresthesia, and neurogenic atonic bladder were noted. Sensation to pin prick, light touch, temperature, and vibration were markedly impaired in upper limbs and below the level of the 5th thoracic cord. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed albumino-cytologic dissociation. Peripheral nerve conduction study revealed lower limb dominant axonal type impairment of sensory conduction and slight impairment of motor conduction velocity. Clinical autonomic testings revealed dysfunction of both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. As having AASMN, she was given the intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy twice. After IVIg, the sensory and motor symptoms improved remarkably, but pandysautonomia did not. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AASMN treated by IVIg, and the notable clinical feature in this case was the favorable motor and sensory recovery to IVIg, as opposed to poor autonomic outcome.

Acute Disease↗

[Guillain-Barré syndrome and disturbance in multiple organs associated with cytomegalovirus infection].

We presented a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with pneumonitis, liver, pancreatic and renal dysfunction, and encephalopathy, who showed an increase in anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody titer of the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A 41-year-old male admitted to our hospital with complaints of gait disturbance and muscle weakness in the extremities. The symptoms appeared following common cold, and developed gradually. Neurological examination showed mild mental symptoms, bilateral abducens, facial and bulbar palsy. Muscle weakness was shown on the neck and four extremities. Bilateral hand tremor, glove and stocking type sensory disturbance, and dysautonomia were also presented. Examination of the CSF revealed albumin-cytologic dissociation, and the anti-CMV antibody titer of the serum and CSF increased significantly. The titer of anti-CMV IgG antibody was 1:6400 in the serum, and was 1:80 in the CSF. Immunological examination showed no immunodeficiency. The conduction velocity of the peripheral motor and sensory nerves was decreased. The coefficient variation (CV%) of the R-R interval was also decreased. P1 and P2 latency and central conduction time for a somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) were also elongated, and paroxysmal abnormality was present on electroencephalogram (EEG). Two days after admission, pneumonitis appeared, leading to respiratory insufficiency. He needed respirator because of bulbar and respiratory disturbance. The chest roentgenogram revealed a consolidation-like shadow in the right upper lung filed. Two weeks after admission, liver, pancreatic and renal dysfunction was noted by biochemical examination of the blood, urinalysis, and abdominal echography. Since 10 days after the onset of GBS, 70 mg/day prednisolone was administered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[A case of alcoholism presenting pellagra and hypokalemic myopathy].

A 32-year-old man with chronic alcoholism over 10 years developed skin eruptions, dark-red tongue and severe watery diarrhea, followed by weakness of bilateral lower extremities. Physical examination revealed hyperpigmented skin eruptions with scales on the dorsa of his hands and extensor aspects of his forearms. Neurological examination showed proximal muscle weakness of both lower extremities, hyperactive knee and ankle jerks, positive Chaddock reflexes and stocking type sensory disturbances. Laboratory data revealed elevation of myolytic enzyme, hypokalemia and decrease of niacin level in the blood. Diagnosis of hypokalemic myopathy and pellagra was made. With the correction of serum potassium level, muscle weakness improved rapidly and with the supplement of niacin, other physical signs and symptoms improved. In this case hypokalemic myopathy could be attributed to the alcoholic malnutritional state such as pellagrous diarrhea, malnutrition, malabsorption and others.

Adult↗

Amyloid myopathy: an underdiagnosed entity.

Amyloidosis can involve multiple organs, including kidney, heart, peripheral nerve, skin, joints, and skeletal muscle, but rarely presents as a myopathy. We studied 13 adults with muscle weakness for between 3 months and 4 years in whom the diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis was unsuspected before or until just before the time of the muscle biopsy. All muscle specimens demonstrated congophilic deposits around blood vessels and muscle fibers, some necrotic and regenerating fibers, and signs of mild denervation. Immunostains in 10 patients revealed immunoglobulin amyloidosis in 7 and gelsolin amyloidosis in 1. Apolipoprotein E co-localized with the congophilic deposits in all 10, and a C-terminal epitope of the beta-amyloid precursor protein was detected in 6. The frequency of the diagnosis of amyloid myopathy increased 10-fold when we adopted the fluorescent Congo red stain as a routine procedure in assessing muscle biopsy specimens.

Adult↗

[A woman complicated with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, subclinical Graves disease and peripheral neuropathy 5 years after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

A 21-year-old woman developed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), subclinical Graves disease and peripheral neuropathy without typical chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) 5 years following an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling. She received high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and prednisolone (PSL), which resulted in transient recovery of platelet numbers and muscle weakness. A combination of cyclosporine and PSL induced a durable response against not only the thrombocytopenia but also her high levels of thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb), muscle weakness and sensory abnormality. The level of thyroglobulin in the donor, who had not developed Graves disease, was also elevated, indicating that late onset-subclinical Graves disease was caused by donor lymphocytes that were autoreactive to the thyroid glands.

Adult↗