Osteoporosis is a major health care problem, by reason of its devastating consequences, in particular hip fractures. Worldwide it has been estimated that the incidence of hip fracture will increase to more than 6 million per year by 2050 compared to 1.7 million per year in 1990. Osteoporosis can be caused by various factors namely, genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors, and since the rising incidence of its consequences is not fully explained by the growing age of the population, there is an urgent need to identify individual causal factors of this condition. The present research has focused on aluminium, one potential environmental factor of importance for bone disease, and its possible relation to osteoporosis, since it is known to cause osteoporosis-like bone disease and has been associated with induction of progressive central nervous system diseases. Aluminium is the third most common element in the earth’s crust and the most abundant metal (8%). It is widely utilized industrially and it is also naturally present in many foods. Although aluminium is ubiquitous in the human environment, evolution has not given it an essential biological function. The aluminium content of bone was measured by inductively coupled mass spectrometry in a large group of patients suffering from hip fractures, high energy fractures and osteoarthrosis. An exponential increase in aluminium content of bone with age was found (p=0.0004). However, no significant association of aluminium in bone with occurrence of hip fracture or dementia could be found, and no indirect evidence was obtained, e.g. through bone mineral density or biomechanical properties, that aluminium is involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Although we accumulate aluminium in bone throughout our lives, and there are experimental suggestions that aluminium induces premature cell death, the body content of this metal does not seem to influence the overall mortality risk.

A osteoporose é uma doença de alta prevalência na população geral, e a ocorrência de fraturas se associa a grande morbi-mortalidade e impacto econômico. Na maioria dos indivíduos afetados, a osteoporose tem etiologia multifatorial, com herdabilidade estimada entre 50 e 85%, atribuível a um conjunto de variantes genéticas de pequeno efeito individual. Raramente, há casos de osteoporose associada a síndromes monogênicas, decorrentes de defeitos genéticos de grande impacto. Postula-se que indivíduos com quadros extremos de osteoporose não sindrômica possam ter causa genética mono- ou oligogênica, atribuível a variantes de impacto intermediário sobre o fenótipo, ainda pouco reconhecidas. Nos últimos anos, o avanço das tecnologias de sequenciamento permitiu o reconhecimento de novos genes associados à fragilidade óssea e atualmente possibilita a análise simultânea de múltiplos genes. Neste contexto, os objetivos deste projeto de pesquisa foram: 1) buscar genes candidatos para fragilidade óssea previamente associados a doenças Mendelianas com alto impacto na resistência óssea, fenótipos extremos de osteoporose e estudos de associação genética em escala genômica (GWAS) para osteoporose; e 2) pesquisar a presença de variantes alélicas patogênicas nestes genes candidatos em indivíduos com osteoporose grave, familiar ou idiopática. A partir de revisão sistemática, 128 genes candidatos foram selecionados para compor um painel de sequenciamento paralelo em larga escala. O sequenciamento incluiu todos os éxons e 25 pares de bases das junções íntron-éxon. Foram consideradas variantes genéticas de interesse aquelas raras (frequência alélica < 1%) e com predição de alto impacto sobre a proteína codificada. Trinta e sete indivíduos (7 famílias e 21 casos isolados) foram selecionados seguindo critérios clínicos, laboratoriais e densitométricos restritivos, excluindo-se pacientes com causas secundárias de osteoporose. A coorte foi composta por homens em 54%, a mediana de idade ao diagnóstico foi 44 anos e 86% tinham histórico de fratura. Dentre os 28 casos índices, foram identificadas 33 variantes de interesse. Após análise de segregação familiar, foi possível excluir patogenicidade de cinco destas variantes, restando 28 variantes potencialmente patogênicas, presentes em 71% da coorte. Todas as variantes foram encontradas em heterozigose, sendo 26 variantes de ponto não-sinônimas, uma deleção de 9 pares de bases, e uma grande deleção envolvendo o único éxon codificador do gene candidato GPR68. Foi encontrada uma associação de variantes em genes diferentes em 21% da coorte, incluindo uma mulher jovem com osteoporose grave e variantes em WNT1, PLS3 e NOTCH2. A análise de segregação familiar neste caso sugeriu um efeito patogênico aditivo das variantes. Vinte e cinco porcento das variantes potencialmente patogênicas foram identificadas em genes candidatos bem estabelecidos (WNT1, PLS3, COL1A1, COL1A2), e 57% se localizam em novos genes candidatos identificados inicialmente por GWAS, como NBR1 e GPR68, também associados à alteração da remodelação óssea em modelos animais. Os resultados deste trabalho dão relevância a novos genes na fisiologia da resistência óssea e indicam um papel proeminente de interações digênicas/oligogênicas em casos de osteoporose grave, familiar ou idiopática. O reconhecimento de novas vias associadas à fragilidade óssea pode levar ao desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos, e a identificação de variantes patogênicas associadas à osteoporose pode, futuramente, permitir um manejo clínico personalizado de pacientes e seus familiares / Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent disorder resulting in fragility fractures and incurring in great morbi-mortality and economic burden. In most cases, osteoporosis has a multifactorial etiology, with an estimated heritability of 50-85% attributable to a combination of several low-impact genetic variants. Rarely, cases of syndromic osteoporosis due to high-impact genetic defects are seen. It is therefore hypothesized that severe/idiopathic cases of otherwise inconspicuous osteoporosis may have a monoor oligogenic etiology due to genetic variants with an intermediate effect. During the past years, advances in molecular sequencing have revealed novel candidate genes for bone fragility, and have enabled simultaneous sequencing of multiple genes. In this context, the objectives of this research project were: 1) to identify candidate genes for bone fragility, as previously reported in association to Mendelian disorders with high impact on bone resistance, idiopathic or familial osteoporosis, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for bone mineral density and fragility fractures; and 2) to perform molecular analysis of these candidate genes in patients with severe, familial or idiopathic osteoporosis. Through a systematic review, 128 candidate genes were identified and included in a panel for massively parallel sequencing. Coding regions and 25-bp boundaries were captured and sequenced. Rare variants (allele frequency < 1%), with a predicted high impact on protein function were initially selected as variants of interest. Thirty-seven subjects (21 sporadic cases and 7 families) were included according to stringent criteria based on clinical and densitometric evaluation, excluding individuals with secondary osteoporosis. Males represented 54% of the cohort, median age at diagnosis was 44 years, and 84% of subjects had a history of fractures. Thirtythree variants of interest were identified initially. After familial segregation analysis, 5 variants were considered as benign in regard to bone fragility, resulting in 28 potentially pathogenic variants, all heterozygous, present in 71% of the cohort. Of these variants, 26 were nonsynonymous, there was one 9-bp deletion and one large deletion involving the only coding exon of candidate gene GPR68. An association of two or more variants in different genes was present in 21% of the cohort, including a young woman with severe osteoporosis and variants in WNT1, PLS3 and NOTCH2. Familial segregation in this case suggested an additive pathogenic effect of these variants. Twenty-five percent of potentially pathogenic variants were identified in well-established candidate genes (WNT1, PLS3, COL1A1, COL1A2), and 57% located to novel candidate genes initially identified by GWAS, such as NBR1 and GPR68, which have been previously associated to changes in bone remodeling in mouse models. These results support the involvement of GWAS genes in the pathophysyiology of osteoporosis, and indicate a prominent role for digenic/oligogenic interactions in cases of severe, familial or idiopathic osteoporosis. Recognition of new molecular pathways in the determination of bone fragility may lead to the development of new drugs, and the identification of pathogenic variants associated to osteoporosis may allow individualized clinical management of patients and their relatives

Introdução: O papel protetor da obesidade sobre a saúde óssea tem sido questionado, uma vez que a gordura visceral apresenta um efeito deletério sobre o osso. No entanto, até o momento, não existem estudos que avaliaram a associação entre a gordura visceral medida por absorciometria por dupla energia de raios X (DXA) com o risco de fraturas. Objetivo: Investigar a associação entre gordura visceral medida por DXA e incidência de fraturas não vertebrais em mulheres idosas da comunidade. Métodos: Este estudo de coorte longitudinal prospectivo de base populacional avaliou 433 mulheres com 65 anos ou mais. Um questionário clínico, incluindo história pessoal de fratura não vertebral por fragilidade foi realizado na avaliação inicial e após um tempo médio de seguimento de 4,3 anos. Todas as fraturas incidentes durante este período foram confirmadas por radiografia da região afetada. O tecido adiposo visceral (VAT) foi medido na região androide por DXA de corpo total através de um software específico. Modelos de regressão logística foram utilizados para avaliar a associação entre gordura visceral e fraturas não vertebrais. Resultados: A média de idade era de 72,8 ± 4,7 anos e 28 fraturas não vertebrais osteoporóticas foram identificadas após um período médio de seguimento de 4,3 ± 0,8 anos. De acordo com a classificação de Lipschitz para o estado nutricional de idosos, 38,6% das mulheres eram não obesas (IMC <= 27 kg/m²) e 61,4% foram consideradas como sobrepeso/obesas (IMC > 27 kg/m²). Após o ajuste para idade, raça, fratura prévia e densidade mineral óssea (DMO), o VAT (massa, área e volume) teve uma associação significativa com a incidência de fraturas não vertebrais apenas em mulheres idosas não obesas (VAT massa: OR 1,42, IC 95% 1,09-1,85, p = 0,010; VAT área: OR 1,19, IC 95% 1,05-1,36, p = 0,008; VAT volume: OR 1,40, IC 95% 1,09-1,80, p = 0,009). Conclusão: Este estudo sugere um efeito negativo da adiposidade visceral sobre a saúde óssea em mulheres não obesas. / Introduction: The protective effect of obesity on bone health has been questioned because visceral fat has been demonstrated to have a deleterious effect on bone. However, to date, there have been no studies evaluating the association between visceral fat measured by dual-energy Xray absorptiometry (DXA) with fracture risk. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of visceral fat measured by DXA with the incidence of non-spine fractures in community-dwelling elderly women. Methods: This longitudinal prospective population-based cohort study evaluated 433 community-dwelling women aged 65 years or older. A clinical questionnaire, including personal history of a fragility fracture in non-spine osteoporotic sites, was administered at baseline and after an average of 4.3 years. All incidences of fragility fractures during the study period were confirmed by affected-site radiography. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured in the android region of a whole-body DXA scan through a specific software. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between visceral fat and non-spine fractures. Results: The mean age was 72.8 ± 4.7 years, and 28 incident non-spine osteoporotic fractures were identified after a mean follow-up time of 4.3 ± 0.8 years. According to the Lipschitz classification for nutritional status in the elderly, 38.6% of women were nonobese (BMI <= 27 kg/m²) and 61.4 % were obese/overweight (BMI > 27 kg/m²). After adjusting for age, race, previous fractures, and bone mineral density (BMD), VAT (mass, area, volume) had a significant association with the incidence of non-spine fractures only in nonobese elderly women (VAT mass: OR 1.42, 95 % CI 1.09-1.85, p = 0.010; VAT area: OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.05-1.36, p = 0.008; VAT volume: OR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.09-1.80, p = 0.009). Conclusion: This study suggests a potential negative effect of visceral adiposity on bone health in nonobese women

Background: We performed a biomechanical comparison of 2 methods for operative stabilization of pronation-abduction stage III ankle fractures; group 1: Anterior-posterior lag screws fixing the posterior tibial fragment and lateral fibula plating (LSLFP) versus group 2: locked plate fixation of the posterior tibial fragment and posterior antiglide plate fixation of the fibula (LPFP). Methods: Seven pairs of fresh-frozen osteoligamentous lower leg specimens (2 male, and 5 female donors) were used for the biomechanical testing. Bone mineral density (BMD) of each specimen was assessed by means of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. After open transection of the deltoid ligament, an osteotomy model of pronation abduction stage III ankle fracture was created. Specimens were systematically assigned to LSLFP (group 1, left ankles) or LPPFP (group 2, right ankles). After surgery, all specimens were evaluated via CT to verify reduction and fixation. Axial load was then applied onto each specimen using a servohydraulic testing machine starting from 0 N (Zwick/Roell, Ulm, Germany) at a speed of 10 N/s with the foot fixed in a 10 degrees pronation and 15 degrees dorsiflexion position. Construct stiffness, yield, and ultimate strength were measured and dislocation patterns were documented with a high-speed camera. The normal distribution of all data was analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk test. The group comparison was performed using paired Student t test. Statistical significance was assumed at a P value of .05. Results: All specimens had BMD values consistent with osteoporosis. BMD values did not differ between the left and right ankles of the same pair (P = .762). The mean BMD values between feet of men (0.603 g/cm²) and women (0.329 g/cm²) were statistically different (P = .005). The ultimate strength for LSLFP (group 1) with 1139 ± 669 N and LPPFP (group 2) with 2008 ± 943 N was statistically different (P = .036) as well as the yield in LSLFP (group 1) 812 ± 452 N and LPPFD (group 2) 1292 ± 625 N (P = .016). Construct stiffness trended to be higher in group 2 (179 ± 100 kNn) compared to group 1 (127 ± 73 kN/m) but this difference was not statistically significant (P = .120). BMD correlated with bone-construct failure. Conclusion: Fixation of the posterior tibial edge with a posterolateral locking plate resulted in higher biomechanical stability than anterior-posterior lag screw fixation in an osteoporotic pronation-abduction fracture model. Clinical Relevance: The clinical implication of this biomechanical study is that the posterior antiglide plating might be advantageous in patients with osteoporotic pronation abduction stage III ankle fracture.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se a variação genética no gene do receptor P2X7 está associada com a diminuição da densidade mineral óssea e o risco de osteoporose em pacientes acima de 50 anos de idade com fratura de tornozelo. Foi realizado um estudo diagnóstico Nível I. Os pacientes acima de 50 anos com fratura de tornozelo submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico foram divididos em dois grupos após o resultado da densitometria óssea: o grupo de estudo com osteopenia (T score entre -1 e -2,5) ou osteoporose (T score <= -2,5) e o grupo controle com valores de normalidade (com T score >= -1). Os critérios de exclusão foram alterações que levam à osteoporose secundária. Os pacientes foram genotipados para 15 polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs) não sinônimos dentro do receptor P2X7 (numerados de 1 à 15) obtidos a partir da saliva. Avaliamos 121 pacientes com fratura de tornozelo, sendo 56 do grupo controle e 65 do grupo de estudo. Todos os pacientes eram sedentários, não utilizavam nenhum medicamento para tratamento de osteoporose, não eram tabagistas e sofreram trauma de baixa energia. A análise agrupada das alterações dos SNPs demonstrou que se o gene tem 3 ou mais variantes de SNPs (36,4% dos 121 pacientes), dos 15 possíveis, ele está alterado com repercussão clínica relacionada à perda ou ganho de função do gene. E ao analisar as alterações dos SNPs, individualmente, os resultados sugerem que: os SNPs 1,4,14 e 15 são variantes de perda de função; SNPs 5 e 10 são descritos como variantes de perda de função; entretanto, não têm influência na nossa população; SNPs 11 e 13 são variantes de perda de função e não ganho de função, como descrito na literatura; e SNP 12 foi associado à perda de função em nossa população. Podemos ressaltar como limitações do nosso estudo o fato de nos concentramos principalmente em polimorfismos não sinônimos que não cobrem toda a variação genética em P2X7 e no número pequeno de participantes quando comparados com a literatura mundial. Em contrapartida, um dos pontos fortes do nosso estudo é ser o primeiro a avaliar o P2X7 na população brasileira, que é bastante heterogênea do ponto de vista genético devido à nossa miscigenação, quando comparado com os outros estudos que avaliaram a população do norte da Europa, que é mais homogênea geneticamente. Em conclusão, o polimorfismo do SNP 12 em P2X7 está associado à densidade mineral óssea e risco de fraturas de tornozelo / The purpose of this study was to determine whether a genetic variation in the P2X7 receptor gene is associated with reduced bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis in patients over 50 years of age with ankle fractures. A Level-1 diagnostic study was conducted. Patients over 50 years of age with ankle fractures who had undergone surgical treatment were divided into two groups following the result of a bone densitometry: a study group with osteopenia (bone mineral density T score between -1 and -2.5) or osteoporosis (bone mineral density T score <= -2.5) and the control group with normal values (bone mineral density T score >= -1). Exclusion criteria were alterations that led to secondary osteoporosis. Patients were genotyped for 15 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the P2X7 receptor (numbered from 1 to 15) obtained from saliva. We evaluated 121 patients with ankle fractures, 56 being from the control group, and 65 from the study group. All patients were sedentary, did not take any medication for the treatment of osteoporosis, did not smoke, and had suffered a low-impact trauma. The grouped assessment of the SNP alterations showed that if a gene has three or more SNP variants (36.4% of the 121 patients), out of the 15 possibilities, it is altered with clinical repercussions related to the loss or gain of the function of the gene. In evaluating the SNP alterations individually, the results suggest that: SNPs 1,4,14, and 15 are loss of function variants; SNPs 5 and 10 are described as loss of function variants; however, they have no influence on our study population; SNPs 11 and 13 are loss of function variants and not gain of function function as is described in the literature; and SNP 12 was associated with a loss of function in our population. In conclusion, we showed that the functional polymorphisms in P2X7 are associated with Bone Mineral Density and the risk of ankle fractures. As limitations to our study, we can point out the fact that we focused mainly on nonsynonymous polymorphisms, which do not cover all the genetic variations in P2X7, and the small number of participants when compared to the world literature. On the other hand, a strength of our study is that it was the first to assess P2X7 in the Brazilian population, which is quite heterogeneous from the genetic point of view due to our miscegenation, as compared to other studies that evaluated the population of northern Europe, which is genetically more homogeneous. In conclusion, the SNP12 polymorphism in P2X7 is associated with Bone Mineral Density and the risk of ankle fractures

No description available.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se a variação genética no gene do receptor P2X7 está associada com a diminuição da densidade mineral óssea e o risco de osteoporose em pacientes acima de 50 anos de idade com fratura de tornozelo. Foi realizado um estudo diagnóstico Nível I. Os pacientes acima de 50 anos com fratura de tornozelo submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico foram divididos em dois grupos após o resultado da densitometria óssea: o grupo de estudo com osteopenia (T score entre -1 e -2,5) ou osteoporose (T score <= -2,5) e o grupo controle com valores de normalidade (com T score >= -1). Os critérios de exclusão foram alterações que levam à osteoporose secundária. Os pacientes foram genotipados para 15 polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs) não sinônimos dentro do receptor P2X7 (numerados de 1 à 15) obtidos a partir da saliva. Avaliamos 121 pacientes com fratura de tornozelo, sendo 56 do grupo controle e 65 do grupo de estudo. Todos os pacientes eram sedentários, não utilizavam nenhum medicamento para tratamento de osteoporose, não eram tabagistas e sofreram trauma de baixa energia. A análise agrupada das alterações dos SNPs demonstrou que se o gene tem 3 ou mais variantes de SNPs (36,4% dos 121 pacientes), dos 15 possíveis, ele está alterado com repercussão clínica relacionada à perda ou ganho de função do gene. E ao analisar as alterações dos SNPs, individualmente, os resultados sugerem que: os SNPs 1,4,14 e 15 são variantes de perda de função; SNPs 5 e 10 são descritos como variantes de perda de função; entretanto, não têm influência na nossa população; SNPs 11 e 13 são variantes de perda de função e não ganho de função, como descrito na literatura; e SNP 12 foi associado à perda de função em nossa população. Podemos ressaltar como limitações do nosso estudo o fato de nos concentramos principalmente em polimorfismos não sinônimos que não cobrem toda a variação genética em P2X7 e no número pequeno de participantes quando comparados com a literatura mundial. Em contrapartida, um dos pontos fortes do nosso estudo é ser o primeiro a avaliar o P2X7 na população brasileira, que é bastante heterogênea do ponto de vista genético devido à nossa miscigenação, quando comparado com os outros estudos que avaliaram a população do norte da Europa, que é mais homogênea geneticamente. Em conclusão, o polimorfismo do SNP 12 em P2X7 está associado à densidade mineral óssea e risco de fraturas de tornozelo / The purpose of this study was to determine whether a genetic variation in the P2X7 receptor gene is associated with reduced bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis in patients over 50 years of age with ankle fractures. A Level-1 diagnostic study was conducted. Patients over 50 years of age with ankle fractures who had undergone surgical treatment were divided into two groups following the result of a bone densitometry: a study group with osteopenia (bone mineral density T score between -1 and -2.5) or osteoporosis (bone mineral density T score <= -2.5) and the control group with normal values (bone mineral density T score >= -1). Exclusion criteria were alterations that led to secondary osteoporosis. Patients were genotyped for 15 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the P2X7 receptor (numbered from 1 to 15) obtained from saliva. We evaluated 121 patients with ankle fractures, 56 being from the control group, and 65 from the study group. All patients were sedentary, did not take any medication for the treatment of osteoporosis, did not smoke, and had suffered a low-impact trauma. The grouped assessment of the SNP alterations showed that if a gene has three or more SNP variants (36.4% of the 121 patients), out of the 15 possibilities, it is altered with clinical repercussions related to the loss or gain of the function of the gene. In evaluating the SNP alterations individually, the results suggest that: SNPs 1,4,14, and 15 are loss of function variants; SNPs 5 and 10 are described as loss of function variants; however, they have no influence on our study population; SNPs 11 and 13 are loss of function variants and not gain of function function as is described in the literature; and SNP 12 was associated with a loss of function in our population. In conclusion, we showed that the functional polymorphisms in P2X7 are associated with Bone Mineral Density and the risk of ankle fractures. As limitations to our study, we can point out the fact that we focused mainly on nonsynonymous polymorphisms, which do not cover all the genetic variations in P2X7, and the small number of participants when compared to the world literature. On the other hand, a strength of our study is that it was the first to assess P2X7 in the Brazilian population, which is quite heterogeneous from the genetic point of view due to our miscegenation, as compared to other studies that evaluated the population of northern Europe, which is genetically more homogeneous. In conclusion, the SNP12 polymorphism in P2X7 is associated with Bone Mineral Density and the risk of ankle fractures

Osteoporosis is a significant public health problem in the U.S. It not only affects the physical well-being of the older women but also creates a substantial financial burden for the health care system. The mainstay of osteoporosis medications is bisphosphonate treatment of which alendronate and risedronate are the most commonly prescribed in clinical practice. However, there have been no head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of these two bisphosphonates on fracture outcomes. In the absence of RCTs, observational studies are necessary to provide alternative evidence on the comparative effectiveness between alendronate and risedronate on fracture outcomes. However, existing observational studies have provided inconclusive results partially due to residual confounding from unobserved variables such as patients’ health status or behavior. IV analysis may be one method to address unmeasured confounding bias in observational studies. While it has not been applied in bisphosphonate research, it has been used in research on a variety of other prescription medications. In this dissertation, we applied the IV approach with an IV, date of generic alendronate availability, to evaluate the comparative effectiveness between alendronate and risedronate using observational data. This dissertation improved current research in several ways. First, we extended the IV approach to research on bisphosphonates. Second, compared with the current observational studies on bisphosphonates, this dissertation may more accurately estimate the relative effects between alendronate and risedronate because IV analysis is not subject to unmeasured confounding bias. Third, the study results extended the current evidence of the comparative effectiveness between the two most commonly prescribed bisphosphonates. Finally, we proposed and provided empirical evidence of a new IV that might be used for future prescription drug research. The finding of this dissertation can be summarized from three aspects. First, we found that the evidence supported the validity of the date of generic availability as an IV in the study of bisphosphonates. Second, applying IV approach to study the comparative effectiveness of alendronate and risedronate, we found that alendronate and risedronate were comparable to reduce the risk of 12-month non-vertebral fractures in older women. Since generic alendronate is availability on the market while generic risedronate is not, promoting the use of alendronate may help reduce the healthcare cost and not sacrifice the clinical effectiveness. Finally, by comparing the proposed IV with a popular IV-physician preference, we found that both the calendar time IV based on the date of generic availability and the physician preference appeared to be valid. It might be practically easier to use the calendar time IV than the physician preference IV.