Estudio epidemiológico sobre el tipo de anestesia aplicada en cirugía de hernia inguinal en dos hospitales de nivel I de Castilla y León / Epidemiological study of the type of anesthesia applied in inguinal hernia surgery at two hospitals level I of Castile and Leon

Introducción: La hernia inguinal representa el 20 % de los procedimientos quirúrgicos realizados por el Servicio de Cirugía de los hospitales de Medina del Campo y Santiago Apóstol de Miranda de Ebro. Las técnicas anestésico-analgésicas que se pueden aplicar son variadas, por lo que decidimos realizar un registro de nuestra actividad. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo del tipo de anestesia aplicada a pacientes intervenidos de hernia inguinal abierta, en el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2014. Se recogieron datos demográficos, técnica anestésica, tipo de fármaco anestésico y dosis, tiempo en quirófano y de recuperación postanestésica. Se registraron la analgesia de rescate y los efectos adversos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 215 pacientes en el estudio, 187 hombres y 28 mujeres, con edad media de 65 años (18-92), el régimen de hospitalización ha sido: estancia de 1 día el 66 %, cirugía ambulatoria el 30 % y el resto ingreso superior a 24 horas. Las técnicas anestésicas aplicadas fueron: anestesia subaracnoidea (AS) 83,3 %, bloqueo periférico (BP) 9,3 % y anestesia general (AG) 7,4 %. Los tiempos de recuperación postanestésica variaron en función de la técnica anestésica: AS 94,4 ± 44, BP 63,3 ± 41 y AG 58 ± 12 minutos. La mayoría de los efectos adversos se produjeron en el grupo de AS, fundamentalmente dolor postoperatorio (56) y retención urinaria (54). Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran que AS es la más utilizada, a pesar de asociar un mayor índice de efectos adversos (retención urinaria y peor control del dolor postoperatorio). La recuperación postoperatoria inmediata es más rápida con AG y BP. Las tasas de ambulatorización son bajas y la AS se asocia a ingresos no previstos en pacientes programados para cirugía ambulatoria (AU)

Introduction: The inguinal hernia surgery accounts for 20 % of surgical procedures performed in ours hospitals (Medina del Campo y Santiago Apóstol de Miranda de Ebro). The anesthetic- analgesic techniques that can be applied are varied, so we decided to make a record of our activity. Material and methods: retrospective and observational study of type of anesthesia applied to the patients with inguinal hernia open surgery on the period between 1 january to 31 december in 2014. Demographic data, anesthesia techniques, anesthesic and dose, intraoperative time and the anesthesia recovery time were collected. Also rescue analgesia and adverse effects were registered. Results: Data were collected on 215 patients, 187 males and 28 females, with a mean age of 65 years (18-92). One-day surgery was performed in 66 %, 30 % as day surgery and the rest as impatient surgery. Spinal anesthesia (AS) was the most widely used technique (83,3 %), followed by peripheral nerve block (BP) 9,3 % and general anesthesia (AG) 7,4 %). The postanesthetic recovery time was different depending anesthesia tecnique: AS 94,4 ± 44, BP 63,3 ± 41 y AG 58 ± 12 minutes. Most side effects ocurred on the spinal anesthesia group: pain (56 patient) and urinary retention (54). Conclusions: Spinal anesthesia is the most commonly used technique, however it associates higher index of adverse effects (urinary retention and poorer control of postoperative pain). The inmediate postoperative recovery is faster in general anesthesia and block abdominal wall. All within a small ambulatory surgery system and the spinal anesthesia espinal generates extra admission in patients scheduled for outpatient surgery (AU)

Análisis retrospectivo de las complicaciones asociadas a los dispositivos implantables intravasculares / Retrospective analysis of complications associated with implantable intravascular devices

Objetivos: Presentar nuestra serie de pacientes a los que se ha implantado un reservorio subcutáneo permanente, el sistema elegido, la técnica y las complicaciones. Material y métodos: Entre el 1 de enero de 2005 y el 31 de diciembre de 2006, se colocaron 66 dispositivos. Los pacientes provenían desde los servicios de oncología médica y hematología. La colocación del reservorio se hizo en quirófano, bajo estrictas medidas de asepsia. Se canalizó la vena subclavia por vía infraclavicular, según la técnica de Seldinger. Una vez canalizada la vena, se realizó una incisión a unos 5 cm del punto de punción para permitir a un tunelizador guiar el catéter hasta el lugar donde se colocaría el reservorio de titanio. Posteriormente, se disecó el tejido celular subcutáneo en la zona infraclavicular hasta crear un lecho donde se deposita un pequeño depósito con una membrana de silicona que permite las inyecciones, perfusiones y extracciones sanguíneas. Se fijó el depósito y se cerraron las incisiones por planos anatómicos. Se diseñó un protocolo para la recogida de datos y seguimiento que incluía: datos de filiación, diagnóstico, indicación, tipo de catéter, vía de acceso venoso, profilaxis antibiótica, complicaciones tempranas y tardías, eventual retirada del catéter y motivo, y días de uso sin complicaciones. El seguimiento de los pacientes de realizó de forma retrospectiva hasta cierre del estudio (junio de 2007). El análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa SPSS 11.0. Resultados: La indicación fue la administración de quimioterapia; la patología predominante fue el carcinoma de mama. Los catéteres utilizados fueron del tipo Celsite ST201.La vía de acceso elegida mayoritariamente fue la vena subclavia derecha (60,6%). Aparecieron complicaciones tempranas (menos de un mes de la colocación) en 2 (3%) pacientes, consistentes en funcionamiento anómalo del catéter y un neumotórax, que se resolvió con medidas conservadoras (...) (AU)

Objectives: To present our series of patients with a permanent subcutaneous reservoir and describe the system chosen, the technique used, and complications. Material and methods: Between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006, 66 devices were placed in patients from the Medical Oncology and Hematology Services. There servoir was placed in the operating room, under strict aseptic conditions. The subclavian vein was canalized through the infraclavicular route, following Seldinger’s technique. After the vein was canalized, an incision was made approximately 5 cm from the puncture point to allow a tunneler to guide the catheter to the area where the titanium reservoir would be placed. Subsequently, the subcutaneous cellular tissue of the infraclavicular area was dissected to create a bed where a small deposit was placed with a silicone membrane to allow injections, perfusions and blood extraction. The deposit was fixed and the incisions were closed by anatomical planes. A protocol was designed for data collection and follow-up, which included the following: affiliation, diagnosis, indication, catheter type, route of venous access, antibiotic prophylaxis, early and late complications, eventual catheter withdrawal and reason, days of use without complications. Patient follow-up was performed retrospectively until the end of the study (June 2007). The statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 11.0 statistical package. Results: The indication was chemotherapy administration and the main disease was breast carcinoma. The type of catheter used was Celsite ST201. The most frequently chosen route of access was the right subclavian vein (60.6%). Early complications (less than 1month after placement) occurred in two patients (3%) and consisted of catheter malfunction and pneumothorax, which were resolved with conservative measures. Late complications occurred in 12 patients (18.2%) (…) (AU)

Eficacia del tratamiento con alendronato en una población española de mujeres posmenopáusicas con masa ósea baja. Resultados en España del ensayo multinacional fosit / Efficacy of alendronate in treatment of a Spanish population of postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Spanish results in the international fosit trial

Fundamento. El alendronato es un potente inhibidor de la resorción ósea que normaliza la tasa de recambio óseo a niveles premenopáusicos. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la eficacia sobre la densidad mineral ósea y la tolerabilidad de alendronato en mujeres posmenopáusicas con baja masa ósea en España. Métodos. Ensayo clínico controlado y doble ciego del tratamiento con alendronato (10 mg/ día) frente a placebo durante un año con una fase de extensión de un año de duración en la que todas las pacientes recibieron alendronato. Resultados. En las pacientes tratadas con alendronato se comprobó un aumento significativo y progresivo de la densidad mineral ósea en todas las localizaciones y en todos los tiempos estudiados. A los 12 meses de tratamiento, la diferencia entre los grupos de alendronato y placebo en el porcentaje medio de aumento de la densidad mineral ósea fue de 4,75 por ciento en la columna lumbar, de 1,12 por ciento en el cuello femoral, 3,95 por ciento en el trocánter y 3,09 por ciento en cadera total. En las pacientes que recibieron placebo en el primer año y alendronato en el segundo, la diferencia en el segundo año fue de 4,54 por ciento en la columna lumbar; 1,92 por ciento en cuello femoral; 3,41 por ciento en trocánter y 2,43 por ciento en cadera total, todas ellas significativas. Conclusiones. Este estudio muestra que en una población española de mujeres postmenopáusicas con masa ósea baja, el tratamiento durante dos años con alendronato incrementa la densidad mineral ósea de forma rápida en el primer año y que continúa sin alcanzar una meseta en el segundo. La consistencia del efecto de alendronato se evidencia al comparar los incrementos de masa ósea después de un año de tratamiento con alendronato entre aquellos pacientes asignados al brazo tratado y los que inicialmente recibieron placebo y posteriormente alendronato (AU)

Incidence of limb fracture across Europe: results from the European Prospective Osteoporosis Study (EPOS).

The aim of this population-based prospective study was to determine the incidence of limb fracture by site and gender in different regions of Europe. Men and women aged 50-79 years were recruited from population registers in 31 European centers. Subjects were invited to attend for an interviewer-administered questionnaire and lateral spinal radiographs. Subjects were subsequently followed up using an annual postal questionnaire which included questions concerning the occurrence of new fractures. Self-reported fractures were confirmed where possible by radiograph, attending physician or subject interview. There were 6451 men and 6936 women followed for a median of 3.0 years. During this time there were 140 incident limb fractures in men and 391 in women. The age-adjusted incidence of any limb fracture was 7.3/1000 person-years [pyrs] in men and 19 per 1000 pyrs in women, equivalent to a 2.5 times excess in women. Among women, the incidence of hip, humerus and distal forearm fracture, though not 'other' limb fracture, increased with age, while in men only the incidence of hip and humerus fracture increased with age. Among women, there was evidence of significant variation in the occurrence of hip, distal forearm and humerus fractures across Europe, with incidence rates higher in Scandinavia than in other European regions, though for distal forearm fracture the incidence in east Europe was similar to that observed in Scandinavia. Among men, there was no evidence of significant geographic variation in the occurrence of these fractures. This is the first large population-based study to characterize the incidence of limb fracture in men and women over 50 years of age across Europe. There are substantial differences in the descriptive epidemiology of limb fracture by region and gender.

Is clinical expressiveness of Paget's disease of bone decreasing?

Recent data have suggested secular changes implying a current trend toward decreased clinical severity of Paget's disease of bone (PD). To test this hypothesis, we conducted a study comparing the characteristics of two groups of PD patients, as disclosed from a sample assessed systematically. The investigation was a hospital-based study of all cases followed up at our unit since 1980. Throughout the follow-up period, diagnosis was based on standard X-ray criteria and the same clinical assessment was applied. Group I (n = 124) represented patients born before 1926, whereas group II (n = 109) included those born after that year. A bone scan performed with 99mTc-EHDP was available for all patients. X-rays of the pelvis and spine, and views of any hot spot observed on the scintigraphy scans were reviewed. The skeletal extent of PD, based on bone scan uptake, was determined by using the index proposed by Coutris. Alkaline phosphatase and hydroxyproline excretion levels were determined in blood and urine, respectively. Baseline characteristics were recorded on a purpose-designed computerized database. The proportion of males (47% in group I vs. 65% in group II; p = 0.007) and the mean (+/-SD) age at diagnosis (69.0 +/- 8.15 vs. 54.3 +/-9.14; p < 0.001) differed significantly between groups. The year of birth showed a strong negative correlation with age at diagnosis (r = -0.83, p < 0.0001) and a weak, but significant, negative correlation with extent of bone lesion (r = -0.20; p = 0.002). Likewise, subjects born prior to 1926 showed a greater percentage of affected skeleton cases (9.6 plus minus 8.01 vs. 7.06 +/- 5.79; p = 0.001). Group I individuals who had pelvic and/or femoral bone lesions were more prone to suffer "pagetic coxopathy" (65% vs. 40%; p = 0.003) with "protrusio acetabuli" (32% vs. 17%; p = 0.01), and the percentage of patients showing radiographic Monckeberg-type vascular calcifications (36% vs. 14%; p = 0.0006) was higher than in those born after 1926. No other epidemiologically clinically, or biochemically relevant differences were seen in the crude analysis. Multivariate analysis identified extent of skeletal lesions (OR = 0.76; p = 0.01), age at diagnosis (OR = 0.79; p = 0.008), number of bones involved (OR = 1.53; p = 0.03), and occupation (p < 0.0001) as the predictive variables linked to year of birth. Our data are consistent with a temporal tendency toward a smaller number of bone lesions and a decreased percentage of instances of affected skeleton. An earlier age at recent diagnosis times and absence of any relevant clinical or biochemical differences seems more likely linked to recent changes in referral and sociological patterns.

Falls explain between-center differences in the incidence of limb fracture across Europe.

There is important geographic variation in the occurrence of the major osteoporotic fractures across Europe. The aim of this study was to determine whether between-center variation in limb fracture rates across Europe could be explained by variation in the incidence of falls. Men and women, aged 50-79 years, were recruited from population-based registers in 30 European centers. Subjects were followed by postal questionnaire to ascertain the occurrence of incident fractures, and were also asked about the occurrence and number of recent falls. Self-reported fractures were confirmed, where possible, by review of the radiographs, medical record, or subject interview. The age- and gender-adjusted incidence of falls was calculated by center using Poisson regression. Poisson regression was also used to assess the extent to which between-center differences in the incidence of limb fractures could be explained by differences in the age- and gender-adjusted incidence of falls at those centers. In all, 6302 men (mean age 63.9 years) and 6761 women (mean age 63.1 years) completed at least one questionnaire concerning fractures and falls. During a median follow-up time of 3 years, 3647 falls were reported by men and 4783 by women. After adjusting for age and gender, there was evidence of significant between-center differences in the occurrence of falls. There was also between-center variation in the occurrence of upper limb, lower limb, and distal forearm fractures. Variation in the age- and gender-adjusted center-specific fall rates explained 24%, 14%, and 6% of the between-center variation in incidence of distal forearm and upper and lower limb fractures, respectively. Given the constraints inherent in such an analysis, in men and women aged 50-79 years, variation in fall rates could explain a significant proportion of the between-center variation in the incidence of limb fracture across Europe.

Reversión de calcificaciones extraóseas en la hipercalcemia / Regression of extraosseus calcifications in hyperkascemia

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Dificultades en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la osteoporosis regional por distrofia simpática refleja. a propósito de un caso / Dificulties in the diagnosis and treatment of regional osteoporosis due to reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Una mujer, tras una caída, presenta una fractura de la falange proximal del primer dedo del pie derecho y un esguince de tobillo, que coincidiendo con inmovilidad fue empeorando de su cuadro doloroso con limitación funcional y aparición de una osteoporosis difusa con imágenes líticas, preferentemente en la articulación tibio-peroneo-astragalina, así como en calcáneo.Con este motivo se revisa el diagnóstico de distrofia simpática refleja así como su patogenia y moderna terapéutica (AU)

Prevalent vertebral deformity predicts incident hip though not distal forearm fracture: results from the European Prospective Osteoporosis Study.

The presence of a vertebral deformity increases the risk of subsequent spinal deformities. The aim of this analysis was to determine whether the presence of vertebral deformity predicts incident hip and other limb fractures. Six thousand three hundred and forty-four men and 6788 women aged 50 years and over were recruited from population registers in 31 European centers and followed prospectively for a median of 3 years. All subjects had radiographs performed at baseline and the presence of vertebral deformity was assessed using established morphometric methods. Incident limb fractures which occurred during the follow- up period were ascertained by annual postal questionnaire and confirmed by radiographs, review of medical records and personal interview. During a total of 40348 person-years of follow-up, 138 men and 391 women sustained a limb fracture. Amongst the women, after adjustment for age, prevalent vertebral deformity was a strong predictor of incident hip fracture, (rate ratio (RR) = 4.5; 95% CI 2.1-9.4) and a weak predictor of 'other' limb fractures (RR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.4), though not distal forearm fracture (RR = 1.0; 95% CI 0.6-1.6). The predictive risk increased with increasing number of prevalent deformities, particularly for subsequent hip fracture: for two or more deformities, RR = 7.2 (95% CI 3.0-17.3). Amongst men, vertebral deformity was not associated with an increased risk of incident limb fracture though there was a nonsignificant trend toward an increased risk of hip fracture with increasing number of deformities. In summary, prevalent radiographic vertebral deformities in women are a strong predictor of hip fracture, and to a lesser extent humerus and 'other' limb fractures; however, they do not predict distal forearm fractures.

Hormonal and anthropometric predictors of bone mass in healthy elderly men: major effect of sex hormone binding globulin, parathyroid hormone and body weight.

Osteoporosis in men is a significant health problem, and factors associated with bone mass are being investigated. Although osteoporosis is a typical feature of hypogonadism, the influence of testosterone levels and other hormonal factors on bone mass of eugonadal males is unknown. Our aim was to identify several anthropometric and hormonal predictors that could be responsible for the variability in bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy men. One hundred elderly men (age 68 +/- 7 years) were investigated in this cross-sectional study. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and femoral sites (femoral neck, Ward's triangle, trochanter, intertrochanter and total femur). Anthropometric measures were obtained including: weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio and testicular volume. Hormonal data measures were total, free and bioavailable testosterone, dihidrotestosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). One subject was excluded because primary hypogonadism was found. SHBG levels were increased in 53.5% of men, and 8% showed a mild increase in iPTH levels. Twenty-eight subjects had densitometric criteria of osteoporosis (T-score < or = -2.5). All BMD sites were positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.29-0.48, p < 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.24-0.47, p < 0.001). A negative correlation between SHBG levels and intertrochanter (IT) and total femur (TL) BMD was found (r = -0.24 and r = -0.22, p < 0.05). After adjusting for age and BMI, SHBG and IGF-I levels were negatively correlated (r = -0.33, p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis independent predictors of bone mass were body weight, SHBG and iPTH levels. The best predictive model accounted for 24-40% of the observed variability of BMD. However, most of the BMD variability was explained by body weight. In conclusion, in our study body weight, SHBG and iPTH levels were predictors of BMD in healthy elderly men.

Errores técnicos en la radiología de la enfermedad de paget / Technical errors in the radiology of Paget's disease of the bone

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[Prevalence of osteoporosis assessed by densitometry in the Spanish female population]. / Prevalencia de osteoporosis determinada por densitometría en la población femenina española.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic fractures represent an important clinic and socioeconomic problem. Although it is well known the incidence of fractures in Spain, we do not know how many persons are at risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved a densitometric criteria to define osteopenia (OSPE) and osteoporosis (OSP). The aim of this study has been to evaluate the prevalence of OSP and OSPE in women of the Spanish population. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: With the data of a study of bone mass in the Spanish population, stratified according to age, using dual-energy X-ray absortiometry (DXA) with a QDR/1000 Hologic device and according the WHO criteria, we have calculated the prevalence of OSP and OSPE in normal Spanish women at the lumbar spine (LS) and/or femoral neck (FN). RESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis at LS is: 0.34% in the group aged 20-44 years; 4.31% in the group aged 45-49 years; up to 9.09% in the group aged 50-59 years; 24.29% in the 60-69 years, and 40.0% in the group aged 70-79 years. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis is 11.13%, confidence interval (CI) 95% from 9.4 to 12.8%. The prevalence of osteoporosis at FN is: 0.17% in the group aged 20-44 years, 0% in the 45-49 years, up to 1.3% in the 50-59 years, 5.71% in the 60-69 years and 24.24% in the group aged 70-79 years. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis is 4,29% (CI 95% 3.2-5.4%). The prevalence in female older than 50 years was 22.8% at LS and 9.1% at FN. 12.73% of Spanish women population has osteoporosis at LS or FN, which represent about 1,974,400 women; 2.68% of total population has osteoporosis in both sites. CONCLUSIONS: Even we do not include in this study women with established osteoporosis (with fractures), the number of Spanish women with osteoporosis is very high.

Prevalencia de osteoporosis determinada por densitometría en la población femenina española / Prevalence of osteoporosis assessed by densitometry in the Spanish female population

FUNDAMENTO: La osteoporosis y sus fracturas consecuentes representan un importante problema clínico y socioeconómico. Aunque se conoce la incidencia de fracturas en España, no se dispone de información de cuántas personas tienen riesgo de presentarlas. Recientemente, un comité de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ha aprobado unos criterios densitométricos para definir la osteopenia (OSPE) y la osteoporosis (OSP). La intención de este estudio ha sido valorar la prevalencia de OSP y OSPE en mujeres de la población española. POBLACIÓN Y MÉTODO: Utilizando los datos de un estudio de la normalidad de masa ósea en la población española, estratificado por grupos de edad, utilizando densitometría radiológica de doble haz (DEXA) mediante aparatos Hologic QDR 1000, y aplicando los criterios de la OMS, hemos calculado la prevalencia de OSP y OPSE en las mujeres españolas, en la columna lumbar (CL), cuelllo de fémur (CF), ambas partes o algunas de ellas. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de OSP en CL es del 4,31 por ciento en el grupo de 45 a 49 años; del 9,09 por ciento en el de 50 a 59 años; del 24,29 por ciento en el de 60 a 69 años, y del 40,0 por ciento en el de 70 a 79 años. La prevalencia global fue del 11,12 por ciento, con un intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95 por ciento del 9,4-12,8 por ciento. La prevalencia de OSP en CF es del 0,17 por ciento en el grupo de 20 a 44 años; del 0 por ciento a los 45 a 49 años; del 1,3 por ciento a los 50 a 59 años; 5,71 por ciento a los 60 a 69 años, y del 24,24 por ciento a los 70 a 79 años. La prevalencia global es del 4,29 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 3,2-5,4 por ciento).La prevalencia de OSP en mujeres mayores de 50 años fue del 22,8 por ciento en CL y del 9,1 por ciento en CF. Un 26,07 por ciento de las mujeres mayores de 50 años tiene OSP en CL o CF.Un 12,73 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento de 10,92-14,54 por ciento) de la población femenina española tiene OSP ya en CL o en CF, lo que representa alrededor de 1.974.400 mujeres. Un 2,68 por ciento presenta osteoporosis en ambas zonas. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque en este estudio no están incluidas las personas con osteoporosis ya establecida (con fracturas), la cifra de mujeres españolas que presentan esta enfermedad es muy elevada (AU)

Imágenes en osteología imágenes esclerosantes con aumento del remodelado óseo en una mujer joven / Sclerosing images with increased bone remodeling in a young woman

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Bone mineral density and androgen levels in elderly males.

To clarify the relationship of sex male hormones and bone in men, we studied in 140 healthy elderly men (aged 55-90 years) the relation between serum levels of androgens and related sex hormones, bone mineral density (BMD) at different sites, and other parameters related to bone metabolism. Our results show a slight decrease of serum-free testosterone with age, with an increase of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in a third of the elderly subjects studied. BMD decreased significantly with age in all regions studied, except in the lumbar spine. We found a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (P < 0.001). No relationship was found (uni- and multivariate regression analysis) between serum androgens or sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and BMD. We found a positive correlation of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and osteocalcin with lumbar spine BMD and with BMI, DBP, IGF-1, and PTH with femoral neck BMD. In conclusion, there is a slight decline in free testosterone and BMD in the healthy elderly males. However, sex male hormones are not correlated to the decrease in hip BMD. Other age-related factors must be associated with bone loss in elderly males.

Patterns of diagnosis of Paget's disease in Spain.

To evaluate the incidence of diagnosis of Paget's disease of bone in Spain, a retrospective study was performed from 1991-1997 in four Spanish centers to evaluate the number of diagnosed Paget's disease cases. Information about the age, gender, and year of admission and an estimation of the reference population with the number of discharges at the centers were registered for each calendar year. The relative diagnostic risk of Paget's disease was calculated, using 1991 as the reference by Poisson's regression models. The percentage of males among the diagnosed cases varied from 39% in 1992 to 62% in 1993 without significant difference between the different years (p = 0.31). The great majority of the cases were diagnosed between 50 and 89 years of age, from 89% in 1992 and 94% in 1993. During the first years the main part of the cases corresponded to persons younger than 69 years (57.5% in 1991, 50% in 1992, and 64.7% in 1993), but from 1994 the major percentage was found in individuals over 70 years of age (68.1% in 1994, 53.8% in 1995, 62.3% in 1996, and 58.1% in 1997) (p = 0.045). Once the results were adjusted by the diagnosis center, an increased diagnostic risk of Paget's disease relative to the year of diagnosis was seen. In 1996 the risk was 54% higher than in 1991. This tendency reached statistical significance (p for trend = 0.03). The results of this study demonstrate that there is an increasing diagnostic tendency of Paget's disease along the period of study due to different analyzed variables.

Risk factors for hip fracture in men from southern Europe: the MEDOS study. Mediterranean Osteoporosis Study.

The aims of this study were to identify risk factors for hip fracture in men aged 50 years or more. We identified 730 men with hip fracture from 14 centers from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey during the course of a prospective study of hip fracture incidence and 1132 age-stratified controls selected from the neighborhood or population registers. The questionnaire examined aspects of work, physical activity past and present, diseases and drugs, height, weight, indices of co-morbidity and consumption of tobacco, alcohol, calcium, coffee and tea. Significant risk factors identified by univariate analysis included low body mass index (BMI), low sunlight exposure, a low degree of recreational physical activity, low consumption of milk and cheese, and a poor mental score. Co-morbidity including sleep disturbances, loss of weight, impaired mental status and poor appetite were also significant risk factors. Previous stroke with hemiplegia, prior fragility fractures, senile dementia, alcoholism and gastrectomy were associated with significant risk, whereas osteoarthrosis, nephrolithiasis and myocardial infarction were associated with lower risks. Taking medications was not associated with a difference in risk apart from a protective effect with the use of analgesics independent of co-existing osteoarthrosis and an increased risk with the use of anti-epileptic agents. Of the potentially 'reversible' risk factors, BMI, leisure exercise, exposure to sunlight and consumption of tea and alcohol and tobacco remained independent risk factors after multivariate analysis, accounting for 54% of hip fractures. Excluding BMI, 46% of fractures could be explained on the basis of the risk factors sought. Of the remaining factors low exposure to sunlight and decreased physical activity accounted for the highest attributable risks (14% and 9% respectively). The use of risk factors to predict hip fractures had relatively low sensitivity and specificity (59.6% and 61.0% respectively). We conclude that lifestyle factors are associated with significant differences in the risk of hip fracture. Potentially remediable factors including a low degree of physical exercise and a low BMI account for a large component of the total risk.

Immunoreactive osteocalcin forms in conditioned media from human osteoblast culture and in sera from healthy adult control subjects and patients with bone pathologies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to study the immunoreactive forms of bone Gla protein (BGP) present in conditioned media of human osteoblast cultures (BGP released from osteoblast) and in the sera of healthy adult control subjects and patients with bone pathologies (chronic renal failure on haemodialysis, Paget's disease of bone and post-menopausal osteoporosis). METHODS: The technical procedure used was a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and different BGP assays with several specificities to analyse BGP levels in the different HPLC fractions. Aliquots of conditioned media or sera were purified through a Sephadex G-50m column and by HPLC (C4 reverse-phase column) in a 25-40% acetonitrile gradient. Two-minute fractions were collected and divided into three aliquots in order to determine osteocalcin content using three different assays: (a) ELSA-OST-NAT IRMA, which only detects intact osteocalcin; (b) ELSA-OSTEO IRMA, which detects intact osteocalcin and N-terminal fragments; and (c) OSCA Test RIA, which detects intact osteocalcin, C-terminal and other fragments. RESULTS: We found different immunoreactive forms of osteocalcin in the culture medium of human osteoblasts and in sera from control subjects and patients for the bone pathologies studied. We did not find great qualitative differences between the immunoreactive osteocalcin profile found in the culture medium from human osteoblasts and the sera from healthy control subjects. However, the different bone pathologies show different characteristic patterns of immunoreactive forms of osteocalcin. CONCLUSIONS: An interesting finding has been the detection, both in sera and in osteoblast culture media, of several immunoreactive forms of intact osteocalcin that eluted from HPLC at different acetonitrile percentages, and therefore correspond to different molecular forms.

Study of bone mineral density in lumbar spine and femoral neck in a Spanish population. Multicentre Research Project on Osteoporosis.

The aim of this study was to generate standard curves for bone mineral density (BMD) in a Spanish population using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), at both lumbar spine and femoral neck sites. The total sample size was 2442 subjects of both sexes aged 20-80 years, stratified according to survival rates, demographic distribution by local regions and sex ratio in the Spanish population. Subjects with suspected conditions affecting bone metabolism or receiving any treatment affecting bone mineralization were excluded. The study was carried out in 14 hospitals and bone density measurements were performed, using a QDR/ 1000 Hologic device. In the female population, the highest value for lumbar spine BMD was found within the 30-39 years age group, being significantly lower after the age of 49 years. In the male population, the highest values for lumbar spine BMD are found one decade earlier than in the female population and become significantly lower after the age of 69 years. The highest values for femoral neck BMD in men and women was found in the 20-29 year age group. Values for femoral neck BMD in the female population become statistically lower after the age of 49 years, while in the male population this effect was seen after the age of 69 years. Values for femoral neck BMD were higher in men than women at all ages.

Comparison of the efficacy and bioequivalence of two oral formulations of tiludronate in the treatment of Paget's disease of bone.

Tiludronate, an oral bisphosphonate used to treat Paget's disease of bone, is currently being studied as a treatment for osteoporosis. A multicenter, open-label, parallel-group study was performed to compare the efficacy of two tablet formulations of tiludronate in the treatment of Paget's disease. Eighty-eight patients with active Paget's disease were recruited. The diagnosis was based on radiologic evidence of bone lesions, and all patients included in the study had serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) levels equal to or more than twice the upper normal value of the local laboratory that assayed the sample. Each patient received treatment with oral tiludronate 400 mg/d for 84 +/- 2 days; 39 patients received the previously tested tablet formulation 3C1, and 49 patients received formulation 9O1, which is prepared using an improved manufacturing technique. The objective of this study was to determine whether the two formulations have an equivalent therapeutic effect, the primary end point being SAP levels in both groups after 3 months of treatment. This equivalence is commonly assessed by comparing pharmacokinetic data; however, in previous studies of tiludronate, large intra-individual variability prevented statistically valid comparisons of the data. Therefore, in addition to pharmacokinetic data, biochemical and clinical response data were collected during the trial. The secondary objectives of the trial were to measure the plasma levels and to assess the efficacy and safety of the two tiludronate formulations. The relative pharmacologic activities of the two formulations were assessed by comparison of the confidence intervals of levels of SAP at monthly intervals. After 3 months of treatment, the 90% confidence interval of the difference between the formulations was included in the reference confidence interval. These findings suggest that the 9O1 and 3C1 formulations did not show a significant difference in therapeutic activity. Furthermore, after 3 months of treatment, the frequency of normalization of SAP levels was 30.6% in the 9O1 treatment group and 28.2% in the 3C1 treatment group. The percentage of patients responding to treatment (defined as a decrease in SAP levels of at least 50% from baseline) was 67.3% in the 9O1 treatment group and 69.2% in the 3C1 treatment group. Statistical analyses performed on the maximum and minimum plasma concentrations of tiludronate showed no significant differences between the two formulations. In this trial, the two tablet formulations of tiludronate demonstrated therapeutic and pharmacokinetic equivalence.