Trabecular bone score (TBS) as a new complementary approach for osteoporosis evaluation in clinical practice.

Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a recently-developed analytical tool that performs novel grey-level texture measurements on lumbar spine dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images, and thereby captures information relating to trabecular microarchitecture. In order for TBS to usefully add to bone mineral density (BMD) and clinical risk factors in osteoporosis risk stratification, it must be independently associated with fracture risk, readily obtainable, and ideally, present a risk which is amenable to osteoporosis treatment. This paper summarizes a review of the scientific literature performed by a Working Group of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. Low TBS is consistently associated with an increase in both prevalent and incident fractures that is partly independent of both clinical risk factors and areal BMD (aBMD) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur. More recently, TBS has been shown to have predictive value for fracture independent of fracture probabilities using the FRAX® algorithm. Although TBS changes with osteoporosis treatment, the magnitude is less than that of aBMD of the spine, and it is not clear how change in TBS relates to fracture risk reduction. TBS may also have a role in the assessment of fracture risk in some causes of secondary osteoporosis (e.g., diabetes, hyperparathyroidism and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis). In conclusion, there is a role for TBS in fracture risk assessment in combination with both aBMD and FRAX

Nutritional Status and Nutritional Treatment Are Related to Outcomes and Mortality in Older Adults with Hip Fracture

Malnutrition is very prevalent in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Nevertheless, its importance is not fully recognized. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of malnutrition and of nutritional treatment upon outcomes and mortality in older people with hip fracture. We searched the PubMed database for studies evaluating nutritional aspects in people aged 70 years and over with hip fracture. The total number of studies included in the review was 44, which analyzed 26,281 subjects (73.5% women, 83.6 +/- 7.2 years old). Older people with hip fracture presented an inadequate nutrient intake for their requirements, which caused deterioration in their already compromised nutritional status. The prevalence of malnutrition was approximately 18.7% using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) (large or short form) as a diagnostic tool, but the prevalence was greater (45.7%) if different criteria were used (such as Body Mass Index (BMI), weight loss, or albumin concentration). Low scores in anthropometric indices were associated with a higher prevalence of complications during hospitalization and with a worse functional recovery. Despite improvements in the treatment of geriatric patients with hip fracture, mortality was still unacceptably high (30% within 1 year and up to 40% within 3 years). Malnutrition was associated with an increase in mortality. Nutritional intervention was cost effective and was associated with an improvement in nutritional status and a greater functional recovery. To conclude, in older people, the prevention of malnutrition and an early nutritional intervention can improve recovery following a hip fracture

Can we identify patients with high risk of osteoarthritis progression who will respond to treatment? A focus on epidemiology and phenotype of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a syndrome affecting a variety of patient profiles. A European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis and the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society working meeting explored the possibility of identifying different patient profiles in osteoarthritis. The risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis include systemic factors (e.g., age, sex, obesity, genetics, race, and bone density) and local biomechanical factors (e.g., obesity, sport, joint injury, and muscle weakness); most also predict disease progression, particularly joint injury, malalignment, and synovitis/effusion. The characterization of patient profiles should help to better orientate research, facilitate trial design, and define which patients are the most likely to benefit from treatment. There are a number of profile candidates. Generalized, polyarticular osteoarthritis and local, monoarticular osteoarthritis appear to be two different profiles; the former is a feature of osteoarthritis co-morbid with inflammation or the metabolic syndrome, while the latter is more typical of post-trauma osteoarthritis, especially in cases with severe malalignment. Other biomechanical factors may also define profiles, such as joint malalignment, loss of meniscal function, and ligament injury. Early- and late-stage osteoarthritis appear as separate profiles, notably in terms of treatment response. Finally, there is evidence that there are two separate profiles related to lesions in the subchondral bone, which may determine benefit from bone-active treatments. Decisions on appropriate therapy should be made considering clinical presentation, underlying pathophysiology, and stage of disease. Identification of patient profiles may lead to more personalized healthcare, with more targeted treatment for osteoarthritis

Osvobodilni tisk za mladino

Osvobodilni tisk za mladino, ki je nastajal na slovenskem ozemlju v času narodnoosvobodilnega boja (1941-1945), je pomembno vplival na razvoj kulturne in narodne zavesti, pa tudi na literarno ustvarjalnost tedanje mladine, vključene v partizanski boj. Prispevek, ki je nastal na podlagi raziskovanja gradiva Arhiva Slovenije, predstavlja pomen, značilnosti, uredniško politiko ter okoliščine nastanka in izhajanja najpomembnejših centralnih mladinskih listov s pokrajinskimi ponatisi, pokrajinskih okrožnih listov in vojaških mladinskih listov, pri čemer se omejuje na tisti del mladinske periodike, ki je poleg politično-informativnih besedil objavljal tudi literarne tekste.The national liberation press for youth, which was established on Slovene territory during the time of the national liberation struggle (1941-1945), had an important influence on the development of culture and national consciousness, as well as on the literary creativity of the youth who were included in the partisan movement at that time. The article, which was written on the basis of research of material in the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, presents the significance, characteristics, editorial policy and circumstances of the emergence of the most important central youth publications with regional reprints, regional district publications and military youth publications, limiting its focus to the part of youth periodicals that, in addition to political-informative texts, also published literary texts

Strontium ranelate: The first agent of a new therapeutic class in osteoporosis.

Strontium ranelate is a new agent developed for the management of post-menopausal osteoporosis. It has a unique mode of action, based on an uncoupling between bone formation (increased) and bone resorption (decreased). To review its effectiveness we searched the MEDLINE database from 1985 to 2008, as well as databases such as the Cochrane controlled register, for citations or relevant articles. After this extensive search of the literature, a critical appraisal of the data was obtained through a consensus meeting (AN, MH, SS, OB, and J-YR). We found that strontium ranelate reduces vertebral, nonvertebral, major nonvertebral, and hip fractures over 1, 3, 4, and 5 years. Its spectrum of activity covers women with osteopenia, osteoporosis, and severe osteoporosis. Elderly subjects also show a reduction in vertebral and nonvertebral fractures. Bone mineral density may be used as a monitoring tool for strontium ranelate, since early changes are predictive of long-term fracture reduction. Biochemical markers of bone turnover reflect the uncoupling between resorption and formation. The safety profile of strontium ranelate compares favorably with the other currently marketed antiosteoporosis medications. Preliminary results suggest that strontium ranelate is able to reduce the progression of spine osteoarthritis. In conclusion, strontium ranelate has the potential to be a candidate for first-line treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis. However, further research is needed before suggesting its widespread use in osteoarthritis

Partial adherence: a new perspective on health economic assessment in osteoporosis

A number of economic models have been developed to evaluate osteoporosis therapies and support decisions regarding efficient allocation of health care resources. Adherence to treatment is seldom incorporated in these models, which may reduce their validity for decision-making since adherence is poor in real-world clinical practice.MethodsAn ad hoc working group of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis met to review key issues concerning the incorporation of partial adherence in health economic models.ResultsObservational data have shown that poor adherence is associated with an increase in the risk for fragility fracture. Health economic modelling indicates that full adherence is associated with more quality-adjusted life years gained than partial adherence, as well as higher treatment costs and lower fracture-related costs. Although adherence appears as an important driver of cost-effectiveness, the effect is dependent on a range of other variables, such as offset time, fraction of benefit, fracture risk, fracture efficacy, fracture-related costs, and drug cost, some of which are poorly defined. Current models used to evaluate cost-effectiveness in osteoporosis may oversimplify the contributions of compliance and persistence.ConclusionPartial adherence has a significant impact on cost-effectiveness. Further research is required to optimise thresholds of compliance and persistence, the impact of gap length, offset times, and fraction of benefit