Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of suffering for millions of people. Investigating the disease directly on humans may be challenging. The aim of the present study is to investigate the advantages and limitations of the animal models currently used in OA research. The animal models are divided into induced and spontaneous. Induced models are further subdivided into surgical and chemical models, according to the procedure used to induce OA. Surgical induction of OA is the most commonly used procedure, which alters the exerted strain on the joint and/or alter load bearing leading to instability of the joint and induction of OA. Chemical models are generated by intra-articular injection of modifying factors or by systemically administering noxious agents, such as quinolones. Spontaneous models include naturally occurring and genetic models. Naturally occurring OA is described in certain species, while genetic models are developed by gene manipulation. Overall, there is no single animal model that is ideal for studying degenerative OA. However, in the present review, an attempt is made to clarify the most appropriate use of each model.

The present study showed similarly successful clinical and functional results after both open and percutaneous repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures are similar. Cosmetic appearance is superior in the group of patients who had a percutaneous treatment.

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OBJEcTIVE: Pregnancy-and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is an uncommon disease. The majority of cases are seen in the third trimester or early post-partum in primagravid women and the prominent clinical feature of PLO is severe and prolonged back pain and height loss. The prevalence and aetiology of this disorder are as yet unclear and there are no guidelines for its treatment. cAsE rEPOrT: We report the outcomes of teriparatide (TrP) treatment in a woman suffering from severe PLO with 6 vertebral fragility fractures, severe back pain and very low BMD. rEsULTs: Thirteen months after the initiation of therapy, the patient was almost free of back pain. There was no new clinical vertebral fracture. Her laboratory tests were all normal. BMD increased by 24.4% at the lumbar spine, 9.9% and 4.6% at the left and the right total hip and 12.6% and 7.8% at the left and right femur neck, respectively. cONcLUsION: TrP treatment simultaneously with weaning and calcium and vitamin D supplementation seems to considerably increase BMD, improve severe back pain and quality of life and prevent further occurrence of vertebral fractures, making TrP a helpful tool in restoring bone strength in PLO patients. Key words: Lactation, Osteoporosis, Pregnancy, Premenopausal osteoporosis, TeriparatideCase report HORMONES 2012, 11(4):495-500 Address for correspondence: Kalliopi Lampropoulou-Adamidou, MD, MSc, Laboratory for the Research of the Musculoskeletal System "Th. Garofalidis", KAT General Hospital of Athens, 10 Athinas Str., 14561, Kifissia, Athens, Greece, Tel.: +306984229202, +302108018123, Fax: +302108018122, E-mail: kilampropoulou@gmail.com of PLO was made by Nordin et al in 1955. 1 It is characterised by the occurrence of fragility fracture(s), most commonly involving the lower thoracic and/ or lumbar vertebral bodies. The majority of cases are seen in the third trimester or early post-partum in primagravid women and the prominent clinical feature of PLO is severe and prolonged back pain and height loss. The prevalence and the ae tiology of this disorder are unclear. To date, more than 120 cases have been reported, mostly as individual case reports.2 Due to the lack of controlled trials and the rarity of the disease there are no formal guidelines.

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The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term survivorship of total hip replacement in unilaterally and bilaterally operated patients and try to answer the question whether analyses of combined unilateral and bilateral cases could result in erroneous interpretations. The material consisted of 266 Charnley's low-friction arthroplasties performed on 193 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, followed for a minimum of 15 years. The 25-year survivorship of unilaterally operated hips was 69.2% (95% CI 57%-81.4%) and of bilaterally 66.4% (95% CI 57.6%-75.2%), respectively (p = 0.324). Cox regression analysis of unilateral and bilateral cases for confounding factors of gender, age and primary diagnosis confirmed that there was no significant relationship between survival of THR and whether the patient is unilaterally or bilaterally operated. Only age had a significant relationship with the survival of THR. In bilateral cases, Cox analysis for possible predictive factors found that the primary diagnosis, time interval between the two operations and sequence of the operation were not significantly correlated with the survivorship of bilateral THRs. We thus concluded that in analysing a combination of unilateral and bilateral cases, and presenting the long-term THR results, the bilateral character does not change the overall survival.