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The effect of treatment of male osteopomsis is not well documented. We studied prospectively, in an uncontrolled single blind study, the effect of a ?--year treatment with cyclic etidronate (400 mg/d during 2 weeks every 3 months) and calcium (500 moJd during 10 weeks every 3 months) in 64 men with idiopathic (n=29) or secondary (n=35) osteopenia. Vertebral fractures were present in 41 patients. The remaining 23 patients had osteopenia (T-score of the spine <~ Bone density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in the spine and the femoral neck. in serum, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) and osteocalcin (Oc) were measured by competitive immunoassay (Alkphase-BTM; Novocalcin TM, Metra Biosystems Inc.) in a random subgroup of 20 patients. BMD increased by 6% in the lumbar spine (p<0.001), and in the femural neck by 3% (NS). After 2 years of treament, 79% positive responders were found in the lumbar spine (p<0.001) and 68% in the hip (p

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) are endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and play a critical role in the process of endothelial dysfunction, and are considered markers of oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to explore relationships between ADMA and/or SDMA and the occurrence of OSA in obese patients as well as the effect of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism, which may modify the influence of ADMA or SDMA on NO production. A total of 518 unrelated obese subjects were included in this study. Body weight, height and blood pressure were measured and data on self-reported smoking status were collected. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was assessed by the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Blood samples were collected to measure serum concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, HbA1c (%), folic acid, vitamin B12, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (ASP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and IL-6 by routine methods. The NOS3 gene G894T and 4a/4b polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. ADMA, SDMA and arginine concentrations were assessed simultaneously using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between the occurrence of OSA and high serum ADMA levels, BMI above 40, age > 43 years, hypertension and male sex. Heterozygotes for the G894T eNOS polymorphism have the lowest serum concentrations of ADMA and SDMA, while no effect of the 4a/4b variants was observed. The results indicate that OSA in obese individuals can coexist with high ADMA levels, which appear as a potential OSA predictor.

The effects of 1 alpha-vitamin D3 were studied for 6 months in 2-month-old male and female rats on a moderately low calcium diet with or without low-dose prednisolone treatment. Both cortical bone mechanical and biochemical properties were examined. Femoral bone specimens were subjected to torsional loading tests. With age, bone strength and stiffness increased in both sexes, accompanied by an increased degree of mineralization (bone ash and calcium concentrations). During growth, strength and stiffness increased more in male than in female rats. When 1 alpha-vitamin D3 (0.5 micrograms/kg/day) was given alone, bone mechanical competence improved significantly whereas insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and calcium concentrations in the bone matrix were significantly reduced. Treatment with low-dose prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) alone did not influence bone mechanical properties compared with intact control rats (without prednisolone) although a significant reduction in calcium concentration and an increased phosphorus concentration were measured. A combined therapy with prednisolone and 1 alpha-vitamin D3 significantly increased bone strength, toughness, and stiffness compared with control bones. Both mineralization degree (ash and calcium concentration) and IGF-I concentration were decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A b s t r a c tIntroduction: Interaction between obesity and genetic factors involved in the regulatory pathways of glucose homeostasis may play a significant role in diabetes development in the obese. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism, adiponectin levels, age at onset of obesity and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a sample of obese Polish adults. Material and methods: A total of 474 unrelated obese subjects were included in this study. Real-time PCR was used to detect the TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism. Serum level of adiponectin was determined by the ELISA method. Standard assays were used to measure total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and HbA 1c concentrations. We used multiple logistic regression to identify factors associated with type 2 diabetes. Results: We found that the T allele of rs7903146 was significantly associated with T2D risk (odds ratio of 1.59 for T allele, p = 0.005). This association persisted after adjusting for confounders in the recessive model (odds ratio of 3.54 for TT genotype, p = 0.011). Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in diabetic subjects than in nondiabetic individuals (3.6 vs. 5.6 µg/ml, p < 0.001). Participants who were obese at age ≥ 20 years had significantly higher odds of having T2D (OR = 4.94) than those with the onset of obesity before 20 years (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study highlights the significance of the relationship between the TCF7L2 polymorphism, a person's age at onset of obesity and the prevalence of T2D, and confirms lower adiponectin levels in obese diabetics in comparison to obese nondiabetics.

Sixty-two outpatients were assessed and divided into the following groups: 20 patients who had had partial gastrectomy (PG group), 22 patients who had had truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (TV group) or high selective vagotomy (HSV group), and 20 patients who had had cholecystectomy (CH group). The patients' age ranged from 35 to 64 years (mean 45 years), and the average postoperative period was 9 years. None of the patients evidenced clinical or biochemical symptoms of malnutrition or malabsorption or of diseases affecting vitamin D metabolism. The function of the kidneys and the liver was normal. An age-matched group of volunteers served as a control group. The calcium dietary intake was determined using a standardized questionnaire; and the levels of serum calcium (Cas), phosphate (Ps), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and the excretion of Ca in a sample of fasting urine corrected for concurrent creatine excretion (FuCa/cr) were assessed by means of standard laboratory techniques. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck (neck-L) was determined by means of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The daily Ca dietary intake was lower than recommended (RDA) in 80% of the patients, with most of them ingesting less than 300 mg daily. The mean values of Cas, Ps, AP, and FuCa/cr did not differ from those in the controls. Significantly reduced 25(OH)D levels were observed in the PG group (7.0 ng/ml) (p < 0.001) and CH group (12.5 ng/ml) (p < 0.01) compared with the values in the control group (20.0 ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

BackgroundPatients who are slated for bariatric surgery vary in terms of their age at onset of obesity, duration of obesity, and their health complications. Therefore, we aimed to explore a relationship between the age at onset of obesity, metabolic parameters, and health problems in bariatric surgery candidates.MethodsA total of 469 unrelated adults with obesity prior to bariatric surgery were included in this study. The study group consisted of 246 individuals who became obese < 20 years of age, and 223 individuals who became obese ≥ 20 years. Clinical, biochemical, anthropometric assessments, and DXA-derived measures were taken.ResultsPatients with early onset of obesity had a higher total body fat mass, and higher body fat percentage, and a 1.84 times higher risk of BMI above 40 kg/m2 than patients with adult onset of obesity (≥ 20 years). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that, among bariatric surgery candidates with early onset of obesity, the frequency of hypertension and type 2 diabetes was significantly lower than that in cases with an adult onset of obesity, despite a longer duration of obesity and higher BMI.ConclusionsThe age at which an individual reaches obesity has a significant impact on patient characteristics on the day he or she is evaluated for bariatric surgery. A younger age at obesity onset is a predicting factor for a higher BMI in patients, but they are less likely to clinically manifest well-established consequences of obesity, such as diabetes or hypertension, compared to patients with adult onset of obesity.

It is well documented that both bone mass and size of ovariectomized rats can be increased by 1alpha-vitamin D3 therapy. The repercussion of this therapy on bone mechanical competence is far less clear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the mechanical properties of the shaft femur in ovariectomized rats (3 months old) receiving estrogen (0.25 mg/kg-week) and /or 1alpha-vitamin D3 (0.5 microgram/kg-day). The medication was given during 6 months starting immediately after ovariectomy or starting 3 months later. Torsional testing was performed from which the parameters strength, stiffness, maximum angular displacement, and energy-absorbing capacity (toughness) were derived. Multiple regression models were generated to estimate the relative importance of the therapies on bone mechanical properties. Bone stiffness increased with age. Ovariectomy improved bone mechanical parameters until 6 months postovariectomy, whereas estrogen treatment resulted in similar mechanical properties as those in intact age-matched controls. A significant improvement of all mechanical parameters was observed after 1alpha-vitamin D3 therapy. The combined therapy of 1alpha-vitamin D3 and estrogen was less effective than 1alpha-vitamin D3 alone, but better than estrogen therapy alone, suggesting interactive effects between both therapies. We conclude that 1alpha-vitamin D3 treatment of ovariectomized rats improves bone mechanical competence, which might be partially related to alterations in both bone mass and size.