Osteomicrobiology - Literature Review Abstract. Abtract: Several in vivo studies show interesting correlations between microbiota and bone remodeling. The microbiota model and stimulate the immune system, which exerts a direct effect on the bone. The first clinical studies confirm these results and open new perspectives for the prevention of osteoporosis.
Zusammenfassung. Mehrere In-vivo-Untersuchungen zeigen interessante Korrelationen zwischen Mikrobiota und Knochenumbau. Das Mikrobiota modelliert und stimuliert das Immunsystem, das eine direkte Wirkung auf den Knochen ausübt. Die ersten klinischen Studien bestätigen diese Resultate und eröffnen neue Perspektiven für die Prävention der Osteoporose.

A Distal Radius Fracture Is Not Simply a Distal Radius Fracture Abstract. We report on a 57-year-old female patient with a distal extra-articular radius fracture. The family doctor\'s suspicion was an osteoporosis-associated fracture, and an interdisciplinary investigation was initiated. In addition to DXA measurement differential diagnoses for secondary osteoporosis were considered. In our case, secondary osteoporosis was diagnosed as part of Graves\' disease and insufficiency of vitamin D leading to a radius fracture.
Zusammenfassung. Wir berichten über eine 57-jährige Patientin mit einer distalen extraartikulären Radiusfraktur. Die Vermutung des Hausarztes war eine Osteoporose-assoziierte Fraktur, und eine interdisziplinäre Abklärung wurde in die Wege geleitet. Neben einer DXA-Messung wurden Differenzialdiagnosen für eine sekundäre Osteoporose in Betracht gezogen. In unserem Fall wurde im Rahmen einer Radiusfraktur eine sekundäre Osteoporose aufgrund eines Morbus Basedow sowie einer Vitamin-D-Insuffizienz diagnostiziert.

Different Perspectives of Drug Holiday and Combination Therapies When Treating Osteoporosis Abstract. Sequential and combined therapy for osteoporosis is challenging because of the many options, and difficult because robust fracture data are not available, especially for combination therapies, mostly because the studies are too small. The principle of sequential and combined therapy for osteoporosis is that osteoanabolic therapy (teriparatide [TPTD]), whether sequential or combined, leads to an increase in bone mineral density (BMD), especially in the lumbar spine. The only exception is the sequence of TPTD after denosumab (Dmab), which leads to a loss (transient) of BMD in both the lumbar spine and the hip; for this reason, this sequence should be avoided at all costs. A second principle is that the stronger and longer the antiresorptive pretreatment was, the more delayed and reduced the effect of osteoanabolic therapy (TPTD). A third principle is the need for antiresorptive retreatment after therapies with TPTD and Dmab or their combination to prevent vertebral fractures (Dmab) and maintain bone density (TPTD). An effect of osteoanabolic therapy with TPTD on BMD of the hip is expected only in combination with antiresorptive therapy (bisphosphonates, Dmab). If the antiresorptive therapy is not continued, there is a transient loss in the first months of osteoanabolic monotherapy, the more so the stronger the antiresorptive pretreatment was.
Zusammenfassung. Die sequenzielle und kombinierte Therapie der Osteoporose ist herausfordernd aufgrund der vielen Möglichkeiten und schwierig, weil insbesondere für Kombinationstherapien keine belastbaren Frakturdaten verfügbar sind, meistens aufgrund zu kleiner Studien. Grundsatz der sequenziellen und kombinierten Therapie der Osteoporose ist, dass die osteoanabole Therapie (Teriparatid, TPTD), ob sequenziell oder kombiniert, zu einer Zunahme der Knochendichte (BMD) vor allem im Bereich der LWS führt. Einzige Ausnahme bildet die Sequenz von TPTD nach Denosumab (Dmab), welche zu einem Verlust (transient) der BMD sowohl der LWS wie der Hüfte führt; aus diesem Grund ist diese Sequenz unbedingt zu vermeiden. Ein zweiter Grundsatz ist, dass die Wirkung der osteoanabolen Therapie (TPTD) umso mehr verzögert und verringert wird, je intensiver und länger die antiresorptive Vorbehandlung war. Ein dritter Grundsatz ist die Notwendigkeit einer antiresorptiven Nachbehandlung nach Therapien mit TPTD und Dmab oder deren Kombination, um vertebrale Frakturen zu verhindern (Dmab) und die Knochendichte zu erhalten (TPTD). Eine Wirkung der osteoanabolen Therapie mit TPTD auf die BMD der Hüfte ist nur in Kombination mit einer antiresorptiven Therapie (Bisphosphonate, Dmab) zu erwarten. Wird die antiresorptive Therapie nicht weitergeführt, kommt es zu einem transienten Verlust in den ersten Monaten der osteoanabolen Monotherapie, und zwar umso stärker, wenn die antiresorptive Vorbehandlung sehr intensiv war.

OsteoLaus: Right to Exist and First Results Abstract. The OsteoLaus cohort included 1475 women aged 50 to 80 years between 2010 and 2012, and since followed every 2.5 years. The main goal is to better define osteoporosis and the prediction of fracture risk. Using the multiple data available in CoLaus/PsycoLaus, many analyses are being conducted to better understand the relationship between bone health and chronic disease.
Résumé. La cohorte OsteoLaus a inclus 1475 femmes de 50 à 80 ans entre 2010 et 2012, et depuis suivies tous les 2,5 ans. Le but principal est de mieux définir l’ostéoporose et la prédiction du risque de fracture. Grâce aux multiples données à disposition dans CoLaus/PsycoLaus, de nombreuses analyses sont faites pour mieux comprendre le lien entre santé osseuse et maladies chroniques.

From Axial Spondyloarthritis to Osteoporosis - Spectrum of Skeletal Involvement in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Abstract. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are frequently accompanied by non-inflammatory joint pain and inflammatory spondyloarthritides. Spondyloarthritides can restrict joint function and typically manifest with inflammatory back pain with nightly pain and morning stiffness that improves upon exercising. In other patients, small or large peripheral joints are predominantly involved. Treatment comprises pain medication including COX-II selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), since non-selective NSAID can aggravate IBD. For axial manifestations, physiotherapy and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors are effective, while for peripheral manifestations steroid injections, sulfasalazine and TNF inhibitors are useful. Osteopenia and osteoporosis may result from inflammation, malabsorption and/or steroids. Long-lasting disease activity or steroid treatment should prompt osteoporosis screening. Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake must be ensured and treatment with bisphosphonates evaluated.
Zusammenfassung. Bei chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, IBD) können nicht-entzündliche Gelenkschmerzen und entzündliche Gelenkmanifestationen auftreten. Letztere gehören zur Gruppe der Spondyloarthritiden. Sie werden am Achsenskelett als entzündlicher Rückenschmerz mit nächtlichen Schmerzen, Morgensteifigkeit und Besserung unter Aktivität manifest. Einschränkungen der Gelenkfunktion sind ebenfalls möglich. Bei anderen Patienten stehen periphere Gelenkbeschwerden im Vordergrund. Als Schmerzmedikamente werden COX-2-selektive, nicht-steroidale Antirheumatika (NSAR) empfohlen, da unselektive NSAR die zugrundeliegende IBD verschlimmern können. Am Achsenskelett werden Physiotherapie und Tumornekrosefaktor(TNF)-Inhibitoren eingesetzt, während bei peripherem Gelenkbefall Steroidinjektionen, Sulfasalazin und TNF-Inhibitoren wirksam sind. Entzündung, Malabsorption und Steroide führen bei IBD-Patienten zu Osteopenie und Osteoporose. Bei langdauernder Krankheitsaktivität bzw. langer Steroidgabe ist ein Screening mit DXA-Scan indiziert. Therapeutisch sollten ausreichend Kalzium und Vitamin D sowie gegebenenfalls Bisphosphonate gegeben werden.

Hormones and Mobility Abstract. Endocrine disorders affect mobility in many and sometimes characteristic ways such as Cushing\'s syndrome or hyperparathyroidism, which have direct, hormone-mediated effects on skeletal and muscular tissues. On the other hand, the endocrine system plays an important role in the development of (osteo)sarcopenia, the meaning of which is increasingly recognized in the prognosis of various diseases. Conversely, lack of physical activity is crucial in the development of metabolic diseases, which are associated with serious individual and socio-economic consequences.
Zusammenfassung. Endokrine Erkrankungen beeinflussen die Mobilität in vielfältiger und zum Teil typischer Weise: Beispielsweise wirken endokrine Erkrankungen, wie das Cushing-Syndrom oder der Hyperparathyreoidismus, über direkte, hormonvermittelte Effekte auf Skelett und Muskulatur und verändern die Mobilität. Andererseits ist das endokrine System ein wichtiger Faktor bei der Entstehung der (Osteo-)Sarkopenie, deren Wichtigkeit in der Prognose verschiedenster Krankheitsbilder zunehmend erkannt wird. Umgekehrt ist die (fehlende) körperliche Aktivität entscheidend in der Genese der metabolischen Erkrankungen, die mit schwerwiegenden individuellen und sozioökonomischen Folgen verknüpft sind.

BACKGROUND: Age-related hearing impairment is the most common sensory dysfunction in older adults. In osteoporosis, the mass of the ossicles will be decreased, affecting the bone density of the cochlea, and interfering with the sound transmission to the cochlea. Age related hearing loss might be closely related to osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between age-related hearing impairment and osteoporosis by investigating the relationship between hearing loss and cortical bone density evaluated from femur neck bone mineral density.
METHODS: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the associations between osteoporosis and age-related hearing impairment from 2009 to 2011. Total number of participants was 4861 including 2273 men and 2588 women aged 50 years or older. Osteoporosis was defined as a bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below according to the World Health Organization diagnostic classification. Age-related hearing impairment was defined as the pure-tone averages of test frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, and 4kHz at a threshold of 40dB or higher on the more impaired hearing side.
RESULTS: Total femur T-score (p<0.001), lumbar-spine T-score (p<0.001) and, femur neck T-score (p<0.001) were significantly lower in the osteoporosis group compared to the normal group. Thresholds of pure-tone averages were significantly different in normal compared to osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. In addition, there were significantly higher pure-tone averages thresholds in the osteoporosis group compared to other groups (p<0.001). After adjusting for all covariates, the odds ratio for hearing loss was significantly increased by 1.7 fold with reduced femur neck bone mineral density (p<0.01). However, lumbar spine bone mineral density was not statistically associated with hearing loss (p=0.22).
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that osteoporosis is significantly associated with a risk of hearing loss. In addition, femur neck bone mineral density was significantly correlated with hearing loss, but lumbar spine bone mineral density was not.

BACKGROUND: Subjective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a form of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in which during the diagnostic positional maneuvers patients only present vertigo symptoms with no nystagmus.
OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of subjects with subjective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
METHODS: Prospective multicenter case-control study. All patients presenting with vertigo in the Dix-Hallpike test that presented to the participating hospitals were included. The patients were separated into two groups depending on whether nystagmus was present or not. An Epley Maneuver of the affected side was performed. In the follow-up visit, patients were checked to see if nystagmus and vertigo were present. Both groups of patients were compared to assess the success rate of the Epley maneuver and also to compare the presence of 19 variables.
RESULTS: 259 patients were recruited, of which 64 belonged to the subjective group. Nystagmus was eliminated in 67.2% of the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. 89.1% of the patients with subjective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo remained unaffected by nystagmus, thus showing a significant difference (p=0.001). Osteoporosis and migraine were the variables which reached the closest to the significance level. In those patients who were taking vestibular suppressors, the percentage of subjective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was not significantly higher.
CONCLUSIONS: Subjective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo should be treated using the Epley maneuver. More studies are needed to establish a relationship between osteoporosis, migraine and subjective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The use of vestibular suppressants does not affect the detection of nystagmus.

Patient- vs Physician-Reported Implementation of and Compliance to Anti-Osteoporotic Medication One Year after Sustained Fragility Fracture Abstract. We were interested why therapy recommendations made by specialists are often not followed by general practitioners (GPs) and patients. We evaluated systematic questionnaires comparing both, patient and GP statements (n = 151 each) with regard to the implementation of and compliance to specific therapy recommended by an osteologic specialist one year after an osteoporotic fracture. In 53 % GPs prescribed antiosteoporotic drugs, more often if the indication for treatment was less aggressive (p <0.001). Once prescribed, in 94 % of cases the GPs\' medication followed the specialists\' recommendations. 74 % of patients followed their GP\'s prescription. Patients most often stated a missing prescription as the reason for not taking drugs (39 %), whereas GPs cited a missing interest of their patients (44 %). The observed discrepancies call for a melioration in the communication between all parties involved.
Zusammenfassung. Im Rahmen eines Qualitätsprojekts zur Behandlung von Osteoporosefrakturen fiel auf, dass fachärztliche Therapie-Empfehlungen oftmals nicht umgesetzt wurden, was genauer untersucht werden sollte. Durchgeführt wurde eine systematisch vergleichende Fragebogen-Evaluation bei Patienten wie Hausärzten (n = 151) ein Jahr nach empfohlener Osteoporosetherapie. In 53 % der Fälle folgten die Hausärzte der vom Spezialisten empfohlenen Osteoporosetherapie-Indikation, häufiger, wenn diese medizinisch enger gestellt wurde (p <0,001). Sofern der Patient eine hausärztliche Verordnung erhalten hatte, entsprach diese meist der Spezialisten-Empfehlung (94 %). 74 % der Patienten folgten der hausärztlichen Verschreibung. Patienten gaben am häufigsten eine fehlende Verordnung als Grund für die Nichteinnahme der vom Spezialisten empfohlenen Medikamente an (39 %), hingegen nannten Hausärzte am häufigsten ein Patienten-Desinteresse (44 %). Die beobachteten Diskrepanzen sprechen für einen Bedarf an verbesserter Information, insbesondere im Fall einer eher aggressiv gestellten Therapieindikation.

The use of bisphosphonates for osteoporosis is effective in reducing the risk of fractures. However, oral formulations are sometimes not well tolerated or are contraindicated. Due to its availability in Brazilian public health system, pamidronate is frequently prescribed for osteoporosis, despite the lack of studies demonstrating its anti-fracture efficacy and the absence of FDA or EMEA approval for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) response to pamidronate in a group of women with osteoporosis in a tertiary care hospital.
The medical records of women with osteoporosis who received pamidronate for up to two years of treatment were reviewed. Patients were stratified at high or intermediate risk of fracture.
A total of 70 women were in treatment with pamidronate. Among them, 74% were at high risk of fracture. A significant gain in spine BMD after 24 months of treatment was observed (p=0.012). There was no difference between the groups of high and not high risk of fracture. At the femur, no significant increase in BMD was present, though, a strong negative correlation with high PTH levels (r=-0.61; p=0.003) was seen. In the multivariate analysis BMI at 12 months had impact in the response to the treatment.
The intravenous pamidronate in a group of postmenopausal women with predominant high risk of fracture promoted an isolated gain in the spine BMD, even though, clinical randomized trials are needed to confirm its anti-fracture efficacy.