Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are higher in old compared with young men and women and positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density in older adults.

Bone mineral density declines with increasing older age. We examined the levels of circulating factors known to regulate bone metabolism in healthy young and older adults. The circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin were positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density (WBMD) in older adults, despite the average WBMD being lower and circulating dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin being higher in old than young. INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the relationship between whole-body bone mineral density (WBMD) and levels of circulating factors with known roles in bone remodelling during 'healthy' ageing. METHODS: WBMD and fasting plasma concentrations of dickkopf-1, fibroblast growth factor-23, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin and sclerostin were measured in 272 older subjects (69 to 81 years; 52% female) and 171 younger subjects (18-30 years; 53% female). RESULTS: WBMD was lower in old than young. Circulating osteocalcin was lower in old compared with young, while dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin were higher in old compared with young. These circulating factors were each positively associated with WBMD in the older adults and the relationships remained after adjustment for covariates (r values ranging from 0.174 to 0.254, all p < 0.01). In multivariate regression, the body mass index, circulating sclerostin and whole-body lean mass together accounted for 13.8% of the variation with WBMD in the older adults. In young adults, dickkopf-1 and body mass index together accounted for 7.7% of variation in WBMD. CONCLUSION: Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are positively associated with WBMD in community-dwelling older adults, despite the average WBMD being lower and circulating dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin being higher in old than young.

[Clinical value of hemorrheology in peripheral arterial occlusive diseases]. / Valore clinico dell'emoreologia nelle arteriopatie ostruttive periferiche.

The authors report their study on the red blood cell deformability of 30 patients with isolated and combined obstructive lesions in both aorto-iliac and femoral trunk, performed before and after the exercise test. Such a test does not significantly change the deformability in normal patients while, on the contrary, the exercise test significantly changes the deformability in patients affected by atherosclerotic disease. Furthermore, in the experience of the authors the decrease of the deformability is directly related to the degree of the circulatory impairment.

[Erythrocyte filterability and treatment with pentoxifylline]. / Filtrabilità eritrocitaria e trattamento con pentossifillina.

The purpose of our study was to verify the possibility of obtaining a reduction in the erythrocyte filtration rate and an improvement in the O2 tissue uptake in twenty patients suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and diabetic angiopathy, randomly divided in two groups receiving pentoxifylline (1,200 mg/day for 30 days) or a placebo solution, respectively. The erythrocyte filtration rate decreased in patients treated with pentoxifylline and the difference of erythrocyte filtration rate between the two groups was statistically significant.

[Erythrocyte filterability in Raynaud's disease]. / La filtrabilità eritrocitaria nel fenomeno di Raynaud.

Hemorheological changes were more recently believed to be responsible for the pathogenesis of the Raynaud's phenomenon. In order to verify such changes, the authors report the data on red blood cell deformability obtained from a study performed in 8 patients with cold-induced Raynaud's phenomenon. From the evaluation of these data it seems likely that hemorheological changes observed during the phenomenon are the consequence of the ischemia and not vice versa.