Factors that determine patients considering medication for the disease of obesity: an IMI2 SOPHIA study.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity-related problems can now be managed with effective nutritional therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgeries that achieve >10% weight loss. Assessing patient preferences, treatment choices, and factors affecting patients can improve treatment compliance and efficacy. Our aim was to identify factors affecting patient preference and subsequent choice of pharmacotherapy among those seeking treatment for obesity-related disorders. METHODS: A participatory action study using purposeful sampling recruited 33 patients with obesity complications. They were referred to specialist clinics in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Sixteen males and seventeen females aged 18-70 years, with BMI > 35 kg/m2 were recruited. Before the interview, participants watched a 60-minute video explaining nutritional therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgery in equipoise. Data were collected in semi-structured interviews; Reflective thematic analysis was used. This sub study focuses only on patients who expressed specific attitudes (positive or negative) towards pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: Ten (30%) patients expressed a view on pharmacotherapy. Eight (24%) patients chose pharmacotherapy alone, whereas two (6%) patients chose pharmacotherapy combined with nutritional therapy. In this sub study focusing on pharmacotherapy, five themes were identified related to choosing whether or not to take medication: (1) attitudes towards pharmacotherapy, (2) attitudes toward size of obesity and its complications, (3) weighing the benefits and risks of treatment, (4) knowledge and reassurance of health professionals, and (5) costs associated with drug therapy. CONCLUSION: The primary concerns regarding pharmacotherapy for intentional weight loss were efficacy, side effects, lifelong dosing, pharmacokinetics, and cost. Providing access to information about all the pharmacotherapies and the benefits is likely to result in greater penetrance of treatment.

Multiple brown tumors: a bone complication due to long-term untreated pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Bone lytic lesions are a possible complication of pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1B, in undertreated adult patients. Whole body [18F] F-fluorocholine PET/CT is a useful imaging tool to assess brown tumor progression in this context. We describe the case of a 33-year-old woman, referred for the diagnostic evaluation of lytic bone lesions of the lower limbs, in the context of asymptomatic pseudohypoparathyroidism. She had been treated with alfacalcidol and calcium during her childhood. Treatment was discontinued at the age of 18 years old because of the lack of symptoms. A femur biopsy revealed a lesion rich in giant cells, without malignancy, consistent with a brown tumor. Laboratory tests showed a parathyroid level at 1387 pg/ml (14-50). Whole-body Fluorocholine PET/CT revealed hypermetabolism of bone lesions. The final diagnosis was brown tumors related to hyperparathyroidism complicating an untreated pseudohypoparathyroidism. Genetic testing confirmed PHP type 1B. Pseudohypoparathyroidism with radiographic evidence of hyperparathyroid bone disease, is a very rare condition due to parathyroid hormone resistance in target organs, i.e., kidney resistance, but with conserved bone cell sensitivity. It has been reported in only a few cases of pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib. Long-term vitamin D treatment was required to correct bone hyperparathyroidism. With this rationale, the patient was treated with calcium, alfacalcidol, and cholecalciferol. One-year follow-up showed complete resolution of pain, improvement in serum calcium, and regression of bone lesions on [18F]F-fluorocholine PET/CT. This case illustrates the usefulness of [18F]F-fluorocholine PET/CT for the imaging of brown tumors in pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1B, and emphasizes the importance of calcium and vitamin D treatment in adult patients, to avoid the deleterious effects of high parathyroid hormone on skeletal integrity.

The Fracture Phenotypes in Women and Men of 50 Years and Older with a Recent Clinical Fracture.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review the literature about patients 50 years and older with a recent clinical fracture for the presence of skeletal and extra-skeletal risks, their perspectives of imminent subsequent fracture, falls, mortality, and other risks, and on the role of the fracture liaison service (FLS) for timely secondary fracture prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with a recent clinical fracture present with heterogeneous patterns of bone-, fall-, and comorbidity-related risks. Short-term perspectives include bone loss, increased risk of fractures, falls, and mortality, and a decrease in physical performance and quality of life. Combined evaluation of bone, fall risk, and the presence of associated comorbidities contributes to treatment strategies. Since fractures are related to interactions of bone-, fall-, and comorbidity-related risks, there is no one-single-discipline-fits-all approach but a need for a multidisciplinary approach at the FLS to consider all phenotypes for evaluation and treatment in an individual patient.

Chimeras in Merlot grapevine revealed by phased assembly.

Chimerism is the phenomenon when several genotypes coexist in a single individual. Used to understand plant ontogenesis they also have been valorised through new cultivar breeding. Viticulture has been taking economic advantage out of chimeras when the variant induced an important modification of wine type such as berry skin colour. Crucial agronomic characters may also be impacted by chimeras that aren't identified yet. Periclinal chimera where the variant has entirely colonised a cell layer is the most stable and can be propagated through cuttings. In grapevine, leaves are derived from both meristem layers, L1 and L2. However, lateral roots are formed from the L2 cell layer only. Thus, comparing DNA sequences of roots and leaves allows chimera detection. In this study we used new generation Hifi long reads sequencing, recent bioinformatics tools and trio-binning with parental sequences to detect periclinal chimeras on 'Merlot' grapevine cultivar. Sequencing of cv. 'Magdeleine Noire des Charentes' and 'Cabernet Franc', the parents of cv. 'Merlot', allowed haplotype resolved assembly. Pseudomolecules were built with a total of 33 to 47 contigs and in few occasions a unique contig for one chromosome. This high resolution allowed haplotype comparison. Annotation was transferred from PN40024 VCost.v3 to all pseudomolecules. After strong selection of variants, 51 and 53 'Merlot' specific periclinal chimeras were found on the Merlot-haplotype-CF and Merlot-haplotype-MG respectively, 9 and 7 been located in a coding region. A subset of positions was analysed using Molecular Inversion Probes (MIPseq) and 69% were unambiguously validated, 25% are doubtful because of technological noise or weak depth and 6% invalidated. These results open new perspectives on chimera detection as an important resource to improve cultivars through clonal selection or breeding.

[Implementation, of multidisciplinary consultations for patients with inflammatory arthritis and treated with subcutaneous biologic DMARDs: Assessment at one year and outlook]. / Mise en place de consultations pluridisciplinaires pour des patients atteints de rhumatisme inflammatoire chronique et traités par biothérapie sous-cutanée : bilan à un an et perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Biologics (bDMARDs) have revolutionized the prognosis of patients with inflammatory arthritis, but are not without serious side effects. The patient must be able to identify them, acquire self-care abilities or skills and adhere to their treatment. Multidisciplinary consultations, including a pharmaceutical consultation could improve the care of these patients. The pharmaceutical presence make it easier to switch to a biosimilar with etended patient support thanks to the community-hospital network. The return on investment is possible thanks to the more frequent use of biosimilars and the pricing of this type of consultation by the "Forfait de Prestation Intermédiaire". METHODOLOGY: Eligible patients are patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis, treated with subcutaneous bDMARDs. The criteria assessed were patient's knowledge of their biotherapy using the Biosecure score, their medication adherence using the CQR-5, the total of switch to biosimilars perform and the financial statement of the consultations. An assessment of the actions deployed for the community-hospital network. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-five patients (47.4%) benefited multidisciplinary consultation. The mean score of the Biosecure score was 69.6/100 (moderate knowledge) and 261 patients (88.5%) were highly adherent. 57 patients (73%) accepted the switch to biosimilar. 197 pharmacy were contacted, all of witch for patients who receive the switch. Overall patient's satisfaction was 26.9/28. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary consultations with involvement of the pharmacist should optimized patient care and the management of outpatients treated with bDMARDs. Patients have already expressed their satisfaction with this course of care and the return on investment is positive.

Patient preferences for lifestyle behaviours in osteoporotic fracture prevention: a cross-European discrete choice experiment.

Using a discrete choice experiment, we aimed to assess patients' preferences with regard to adopting lifestyle behaviours to prevent osteoporotic fractures. Overall, the 1042 patients recruited from seven European countries were favourable to some lifestyle behaviours (i.e., engaging in moderate physical activity, taking calcium and vitamin D supplements, reducing their alcohol consumption and ensuring a normal body weight). INTRODUCTION: Alongside medical therapy, healthy lifestyle habits are recommended for preventing osteoporotic fractures. In this study, we aimed to assess patients' preferences with regard to adopting lifestyle changes to prevent osteoporotic fractures. METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was conducted in seven European countries. Patients with or at risk of osteoporosis were asked to indicate to what extent they would be motivated to adhere to 16 lifestyle packages that differed in various levels of 6 attributes. The attributes and levels proposed were physical activity (levels: not included, moderate or high), calcium and vitamin D status (levels: not included, taking supplements, improving nutrition and assuring a minimal exposure to sunlight daily), smoking (levels: not included, quit smoking), alcohol (levels: not included, moderate consumption), weight reduction (levels: not included, ensure a healthy body weight) and fall prevention (levels: not included, receiving general advice or following a 1-day fall prevention program). A conditional logit model was used to estimate a patient's relative preferences for the various attributes across all participants and per country. RESULTS: In total, 1042 patients completed the questionnaire. Overall, patients were favourable to lifestyle behaviours for preventing osteoporotic fractures. However, among the lifestyle behaviours proposed, patients were consensually not prone to engage in a high level of physical activity. In addition, in Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, patients were also not inclined to participate in a 1-day fall prevention program and Belgian, Swiss and Dutch patients were not prone to adhere to a well-balanced nutritional program. Nevertheless, we observed globally that patients felt positively about reducing their alcohol consumption, engaging in moderate physical activity, taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and ensuring a normal body weight, all measures aimed at preventing fractures. CONCLUSIONS: In a patient-centred approach, fracture prevention should take these considerations and preferences into account.

Remission and progression of pre-existing micro- and macroalbuminuria over 15 years after bariatric surgery in Swedish Obese Subjects study.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery reduces incidence of albuminuria and end-stage renal disease in patients with obesity. Effects of bariatric surgery on long-term remission and progression of pre-existing obesity-related renal damage are mainly unexplored. Here we investigate the long-term effects of bariatric surgery compared with conventional obesity care on remission and progression of albuminuria. METHODS: 4047 patients were included in the Swedish Obese Subjects study. Inclusion criteria were age 37-60 years, BMI ≥ 34 kg/m2 in men and BMI ≥ 38 kg/m2 in women. Our analysis comprised 803 patients (19.8% of total population, 357 control, 446 surgery) with pre-existing albuminuria including 693 patients (312 control, 381 surgery) with microalbuminuria, and 110 patients (45 control, 65 surgery) with macroalbuminuria. Surgery patients were treated with banding, vertical banded gastroplasty, or gastric bypass. Control patients received conventional obesity care. RESULTS: Total urinary albumin excretion was 36.5% lower in all patients with albuminuria after 15 years, 44.5% lower in patients with microalbuminuria after 15 years, and 27.8% lower in patients with macroalbuminuria after 2 years following bariatric surgery compared with conventional care. In surgery patients with microalbuminuria, remission to normoalbuminuria was higher (OR, 5.9, 2.2, 3.2, p < 0.001) and progression to macroalbuminuria was lower (OR, 0.28, 0.26, 0.25, p ≤ 0.02) at 2, 10, and 15 years, respectively, compared with control patients. In surgery patients with macroalbuminuria remission to normo- or microalbuminuria was higher (OR, 3.67, p = 0.003) after 2 years. No differences between surgery and control patients with macroalbuminuria were observed after 10 and 15 years. Surgery slowed progression of eGFR decline after 2 years in patients with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria (treatment effect: 1.0 ml/min/1.73 m2/year, p = 0.001 and 1.4 ml/min/1.73 m2/year, p = 0.047, respectively). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery had better effects than conventional obesity care on remission of albuminuria and prevention of eGFR decline, indicating that patients with obesity-related renal damage benefit from bariatric surgery.

The French multicentre elevated bone mass study: prevalence and causes.

The purpose of this multicentric study was to evaluate the prevalence and causes of Elevated Bone Mass (EBM) in patients who underwent DXA scanning over a 10-year period. The prevalence of EBM was 1 in 100. The main causes of EBM were degenerative spine disorders and renal osteodystrophy. INTRODUCTION: Reports of elevated bone mass (EBM) on routine dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning are not infrequent. However, epidemiological studies of EBM are few and definition thresholds are variable. The purpose of this French multicentric study was to evaluate the prevalence and causes of EBM in adult patients who underwent DXA scanning over a 10-year period. METHODS: This multicentric, retrospective study was conducted in six French regional bone centres. DXA databases were initially searched for individuals with a bone mineral density (BMD) Z-score ≥ +4 at any site in the lumbar spine or hip from April 1st, 2008 to April 30st, 2018. RESULTS: In all, 72,225 patients with at least one DXA scan were identified. Of these, 909 (322 men and 587 women) had a Z-score ≥ + 4, i.e. a prevalence of 1.26% [1.18-1.34%]. The DXA scan reports and imagery and medical records of the 909 EBM patients were reviewed and 936 causes were found. In 42 patients (4%), no cause could be determined due to unavailability of data. Artefactual causes of EBM were found in 752 patients (80%), in whom the predominant cause was degenerative disease of the spine (613 patients, 65%). Acquired causes of focal EBM-including Paget's disease (n = 7)-were found in 12 patients (1%), and acquired causes of generalized EBM-including renal osteodystrophy (n = 32), haematological disorders (n = 20) and hypoparathyroidism (n = 15)-in 84 patients (9%). Other causes were rare hereditary diseases and unknown EBM in 19 (2%) and 27 (3%) cases respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of EBM was approximately 1 in 100. These findings suggest that degenerative disease of the spine is the main cause of EBM, but that acquired or hereditary diseases are also causal factors.

Exaggerated postprandial GLP-1 secretion following esophagectomy is not associated with gastric emptying and intestinal transit.

Esophagectomy causes postprandial symptoms associated with an exaggerated postprandial gut hormone response. This study aimed to compare the gastrointestinal transit time of patients 1 year after esophagectomy with unoperated controls, including its relation to satiety gut hormone release. In this cross-sectional study, consecutive, disease-free patients after esophagectomy with pyloroplasty were compared with unoperated control subjects to assess gastric emptying (GE) and cecal arrival time (CAT). Serial plasma samples were collected before, and for 300 minutes after, a mixed-meal challenge. Body composition was assessed, and symptom scores were calculated. Eleven patients 1 year post-esophagectomy (age: 62.6 ± 9.8, male: 82%) did not show a significantly different GE pattern compared with 10 control subjects (P = 0.245). Rather, patients could be categorized bimodally as exhibiting either rapid or slow GE relative to controls. Those with rapid GE trended toward a higher postprandial symptom burden (P = 0.084) without higher postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion (P = 0.931). CAT was significantly shorter after esophagectomy (P = 0.043) but was not significantly associated with GE, GLP-1 secretion, or symptom burden. Neither early nutrient delivery to the proximal small intestine nor to the colon explains the exaggerated postprandial GLP-1 response after esophagectomy. GE varies significantly in these patients despite consistent pyloric management.

Absence of relationships between depression and anxiety and bone mineral density in patients hospitalized for severe anorexia nervosa.

INTRODUCTION: Low BMD is frequent in anorexia nervosa (AN), depression, and during SSRI treatment but relation between these elements in AN is not established. The aims of this study were to assess the relationships between depression and anxiety, SSRI prescription, and (1) low BMD during inpatient treatment and (2) BMD change 1 year after hospital discharge. METHODS: From 2009 to 2011, 212 women with severe AN have been included in the EVHAN study (EValuation of Hospitalisation for AN). Depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and comorbidity were evaluated using psychometric scales and CIDI-SF. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: According to the CIDI-SF, 56% of participants (n = 70) had a lifetime major depressive disorder, 27.2% (n = 34) had a lifetime obsessive-compulsive disorder, 32.8% (n = 41) had a lifetime generalized anxiety disorder and 25.6% (n = 32) had a lifetime social phobia disorder. Half of the sample (50.7%; n = 72) had a low BMD (Z score ≤ - 2). In multivariate analysis, lifetime lowest BMI was the only determinant significantly associated with low BMD (OR = 0.56, p = 0.0008) during hospitalization. A long duration of AN (OR = 1.40 (0.003-3.92), p = 0.03), the AN-R subtype (OR = 4.95 (1.11-26.82), p = 0.04), an increase of BMI between the admission and 1 year (OR = 1.69 (1.21-2.60), p = 0.005) and a gain of BMD 1 year after the discharge explained BMD change. CONCLUSION: We did not find any association between depression and anxiety or SSRI treatment and a low BMD or variation of BMD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, cohort study.

Hypophosphatasia in adolescents and adults: overview of diagnosis and treatment.

This article provides an overview of the current knowledge on hypophosphatasia-a rare genetic disease of very variable presentation and severity-with a special focus on adolescents and adults. It summarizes the available information on the many known mutations of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP), the epidemiology and clinical presentation of the disease in adolescents and adults, and the essential diagnostic clues. The last section reviews the therapeutic approaches, including recent reports on enzyme replacement therapy (EnzRT).

Improving understanding of type 2 diabetes remission: research recommendations from Diabetes UK's 2019 remission workshop.

AIM: To describe the process and outputs of a workshop convened to identify key priorities for future research in the area of remission of type 2 diabetes, and provide recommendations to researchers and research funders on how best to address them. With the ultimate aim of enabling the remission of type 2 diabetes to become a possibility for more people. METHODS: A 1-day research workshop was conducted, bringing together 31 researchers, people living with diabetes, healthcare professionals and members of staff from Diabetes UK to identify and prioritize recommendations for future research into remission of type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Workshop attendees identified 10 key themes for further research. Four of these themes were prioritized for further focus: (i) understanding how to personalize lifestyle approaches based on biology, patient choice and subtypes; (ii) understanding the biology of remission; (iii) understanding the most effective approaches to implementation of lifestyle interventions; and (iv) understanding the best approaches to combining therapies (gut hormones, other drugs, lifestyle approaches and bariatric surgery). CONCLUSIONS: This paper outlines recommendations to address the current gaps in knowledge related to remission of type 2 diabetes.

Comparative population genomics in animals uncovers the determinants of genetic diversity.

Genetic diversity is the amount of variation observed between DNA sequences from distinct individuals of a given species. This pivotal concept of population genetics has implications for species health, domestication, management and conservation. Levels of genetic diversity seem to vary greatly in natural populations and species, but the determinants of this variation, and particularly the relative influences of species biology and ecology versus population history, are still largely mysterious. Here we show that the diversity of a species is predictable, and is determined in the first place by its ecological strategy. We investigated the genome-wide diversity of 76 non-model animal species by sequencing the transcriptome of two to ten individuals in each species. The distribution of genetic diversity between species revealed no detectable influence of geographic range or invasive status but was accurately predicted by key species traits related to parental investment: long-lived or low-fecundity species with brooding ability were genetically less diverse than short-lived or highly fecund ones. Our analysis demonstrates the influence of long-term life-history strategies on species response to short-term environmental perturbations, a result with immediate implications for conservation policies.

[Optimization of the "pharmaceutical consultation" practiced by pharmacists - Review, feedback and future proposals for development since the introduction of the initiative in 2013 focusing on the Calvados area]. / Optimisation des entretiens pharmaceutiques à l'officine ­ Bilan et retour de cette mission mise en place en 2013 et perspectives de développement dans le département du Calvados.

In 2012, a National Agreement of Pharmacists was initiated in France and then amended in 2013 to introduce the "Pharmaceutical consultation". These consultations must be conducted by the pharmacist with the patient in a confidential area in pharmacy or patient residence. The objective is to decrease the frequency of negative side effects of the medical treatments (anti-vitamins k, direct oral anticoagulants and inhaled corticoid) and to improve the correct use of medication therefore assure the safety of the patient. This initiative also recognizes the expertise of the pharmacists who are remunerated with 50 euros per year and per patient from Social Security. This publication is based on a survey conducted in the whole Calvados area and it is based on several individual interviews. It gives a clear picture about how effective the practice has been so far. It shows that the "Pharmaceutical consultation" is currently only proposed to patients by 40% of pharmacists in this area, additionally the practice decreased by 85% in the pharmacies since 2013. However, 8 on 10 pharmacists recognized a real benefit for patients who subscribed for consultation. Independently, the number of non-subsidized conversation initiatives carried out by pharmacists (anti-tobacco, pregnancy, diabetes) are increasing. This finding leads to the investigation of the causes for not practicing the "Pharmaceutical consultation". The causes for not carrying out the consultations were identified, quantified, analysed and classified with a view to proposing short, medium and long time actions to optimize the "Pharmaceutical consultation" in a financially feasible manner. Nine practical proposals were identified and groups in three areas of improvement: communication, remuneration and organization.

Changes in gut hormones, glycaemic response and symptoms after oesophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Oesophagectomy is associated with reduced appetite, weight loss and postprandial hypoglycaemia, the pathophysiological basis of which remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate changes in enteroendocrine function after oesophagectomy. METHODS: In this prospective study, 12 consecutive patients undergoing oesophagectomy were studied before and 10 days, 6, 12 and 52 weeks after surgery. Serial plasma total fasting ghrelin, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), insulin and glucose release following a standard 400-kcal mixed-meal stimulus were determined. CT body composition and anthropometry were assessed, and symptom scores calculated using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires. RESULTS: At 1 year, two of the 12 patients exhibited postprandial hypoglycaemia, with reductions in bodyweight (mean(s.e.m.) 17·1(3·2) per cent, P < 0·001), fat mass (21.5(2.5) kg versus 25.5(2.4) kg before surgery; P = 0·014), lean body mass (51.5(2.2) versus 54.0(1.8) kg respectively; P = 0·003) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR: 0.84(0.17) versus 1.16(0.20); P = 0·022). Mean(s.e.m.) fasting ghrelin levels decreased from postoperative day 10, but had recovered by 1 year (preoperative: 621·5(71·7) pg/ml; 10 days: 415·1(59·80) pg/ml; 6 weeks: 309·0(42·0) pg/ml; 12 weeks: 415·8(52·1) pg/ml; 52 weeks: 547·4(83·2) pg/ml; P < 0·001) and did not predict weight loss (P = 0·198). Postprandial insulin increased progressively at 10 days, 6, 12 and 52 weeks (mean(s.e.m.) insulin AUC0-30 min : fold change 1·7(0·4), 2·0(0·4), 3·5(0·7) and 4·0(0·8) respectively; P = 0·001). Postprandial GLP-1 concentration increased from day 10 after surgery (P < 0·001), with a 3·3(1·8)-fold increase at 1 year (P < 0·001). Peak GLP-1 level was inversely associated with the postprandial glucose nadir (P = 0·041) and symptomatic neuroglycopenia (Sigstad score, P = 0·017, R2 = 0·45). GLP-1 AUC predicted loss of weight (P = 0·008, R2 = 0·52) and fat mass (P = 0·010, R2 = 0·64) at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Altered enteroendocrine physiology is associated with early satiety, weight loss and postprandial hypoglycaemia after oesophagectomy.

Vertebral fractures cascade: potential causes and risk factors.

We performed a study to identify potential causes and risk factors of vertebral fracture cascade. Vertebral fracture cascade is a severe clinical event in patients with bone fragility. Only half of patients have an identified cause of secondary osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: Vertebral fracture (VF) is the most common osteoporotic fracture, and a strong risk factor of subsequent VFs leading to VF cascade (VFC). We prompted a study to identify potential causes and risk factors of VFC. METHODS: VFC observations were collected retrospectively between January 2016 and April 2017. VFC was defined as an occurrence of at least three VFs within 1 year. RESULTS: We included in 10 centers a total of 113 patients with VFC (79.6% of women, median age 73, median number of VFs in the cascade, 5). We observed 40.5% and 30.9% of patients with previous major fractures and a previous VF, respectively, and 68.6% with densitometric osteoporosis; 18.9% of patients were currently receiving oral glucocorticoids and 37.1% in the past. VFC was attributed by the physician to postmenopausal osteoporosis in 54% of patients. A secondary osteoporosis associated with the VFC was diagnosed in 52 patients: glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (25.7%), non-malignant hemopathies (6.2%), alcoholism (4.4%), use of aromatase inhibitors (3.6%), primary hyperparathyroidism (2.7%), hypercorticism (2.7%), anorexia nervosa (2.7%), and pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (1.8%). A total of 11.8% of cases were reported following a vertebroplasty procedure. A total of 31.5% patients previously received an anti-osteoporotic treatment. In six patients, VFC occurred early after discontinuation of an anti-osteoporotic treatment, in the year after the last dose effect was depleted: five after denosumab and one after odanacatib. CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective study showed that only half of VFC occurred in patients with a secondary cause of osteoporosis. Prospective studies are needed to further explore the determinants of this severe complication of osteoporosis.

Measurement of Trabecular Bone Score of the Spine by Low-Dose Imaging System (EOS®): A Feasibility Study.

Purpose/Introduction: Measurement of trabecular bone score (TBS®) of the lumbar spine on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) devices improves fracture risk prediction. We conducted a proof of concept study to assess the feasibility of TBS® measured on the low-dose imaging system EOS®. METHODS: TBS was assessed on both DXA and EOS® in 122 patients aged ≥ 50 yr, receiving no anti-osteoporotic treatment. The TBS® was computed on full-body EOS® images, focusing on the lumbar spine region. The patients were also scanned with a DXA bone densitometer (Hologic) and the spine and hip bone mineral density (g/cm²) were computed. RESULTS: TBS® measurement on EOS® was not possible in 34 patients due to technical problems. It could be measured on both DXA and EOS® in 88 patients (28 with severe low-trauma fracture and 60 without fracture). TBS-EOS values were significantly lower in fractured patients compared to nonfractured patients. TBS-EOS was associated with the presence of fractures as reported by an AUC of 0.70. Odds ratio of TBS-EOS for the presence of severe low-trauma fracture was 2.00 [1.24-3.25], p = 0.005. CONCLUSIONS: This proof of concept study, based on a prototype version of the TBS-EOS, demonstrated the feasibility of the measurement of TBS® on low-dose EOS® imaging devices. Results show that the TBS-EOS was lower in patients with severe low-trauma fractures compared to nonfractured patients independently from bone mineral density. Some technical issues need to be solved before its eventual use in routine clinical settings. Additional prospective studies are still needed to define the actual contribution of this new technique.

Incidence of end-stage renal disease following bariatric surgery in the Swedish Obese Subjects Study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health problem leading to co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure. Bariatric surgery results in pronounced and maintained weight loss and prevention of obesity-related diseases and their complications. Most studies of bariatric surgery on kidney disease show improvements after surgery. However, long-term studies analyzing hard end-points are lacking. Here we report on the long-term effects of bariatric surgery compared to usual obesity care on incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) alone and in combination with chronic kidney disease stage 4 (CKD4/ESRD). METHODS: 4047 patients were included in the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study. Inclusion criteria were age 37-60 years and BMI ≥ 34 in men and BMI ≥ 38 in women. Patients in the bariatric surgery group (N = 2010) underwent banding (18%), vertical banded gastroplasty (69%), or gastric bypass (13%); controls (N = 2037) received usual obesity care. In this analysis, patients were followed up for a median time of 18 years. The incidence of ESRD and CKD4 was obtained by crosschecking the SOS database with the Swedish National Patient Register. RESULTS: During follow-up, ESRD occurred in 13 patients in the surgery group and in 26 patients in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.27; 95% CI 0.12-0.60; p = 0.001). The number of CKD4/ESRD events was 23 in the surgery group and 39 in the control group (adjusted HR = 0.33; 95% CI 0.18-0.62; p < 0.001). In both analyses, bariatric surgery had a more favorable effect in patients with baseline serum insulin levels above median compared to those with lower insulin levels (interaction p = 0.010). Treatment benefit of bariatric surgery was also greater in patients with macroalbuminuria at baseline compared to those without macroalbuminuria (interaction p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed for the first time that bariatric surgery is associated with a long-term protection against ESRD and CKD4/ESRD.

The divergence history of the perennial plant Linaria cavanillesii confirms a recent loss of self-incompatibility.

Many angiosperms prevent inbreeding through a self-incompatibility (SI) system, but the loss of SI has been frequent in their evolutionary history. The loss of SI may often lead to an increase in the selfing rate, with the purging of inbreeding depression and the ultimate evolution of a selfing syndrome, where plants have smaller flowers with reduced pollen and nectar production. In this study, we used approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) to estimate the timing of divergence between populations of the plant Linaria cavanillesii that differ in SI status and in which SI is associated with low inbreeding depression but not with a transition to full selfing or a selfing syndrome. Our analysis suggests that the mixed-mating self-compatible (SC) population may have begun to diverge from the SI populations around 2810 generation ago, a period perhaps too short for the evolution of a selfing syndrome. We conjecture that the SC population of L. cavanillesii is at an intermediate stage of transition between outcrossing and selfing.

Weight loss after laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and resolution of the metabolic syndrome and its components.

BACKGROUND: Substantial weight loss in the setting of obesity has considerable metabolic benefits. Yet some studies have shown improvements in obesity-related metabolic comorbidities with more modest weight loss. By closely monitoring patients undergoing bariatric surgery, we aimed to determine the effects of weight loss on the metabolic syndrome and its components and determine the weight loss required for their resolution. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of obese participants with metabolic syndrome (Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Participants were assessed for all criteria of the metabolic syndrome monthly for the first 9 months, then 3-monthly until 24 months. RESULTS: There were 89 participants with adequate longitudinal data. Baseline body mass index was 42.4±6.2 kg m-2 with an average age was 48.2±10.7 years. There were 56 (63%) women. Resolution of the metabolic syndrome occurred in 60 of the 89 participants (67%) at 12 months and 60 of the 75 participants (80%) at 24 months. The mean weight loss when metabolic syndrome resolved was 10.9±7.7% total body weight loss (TBWL). The median weight loss at which prevalence of disease halved was 7.0% TBWL (17.5% excess weight loss (EWL)) for hypertriglyceridaemia; 11% TBWL (26.1-28% EWL) for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hyperglycaemia; 20% TBWL (59.5% EWL) for hypertension and 29% TBWL (73.3% EWL) for waist circumference. The odds ratio for resolution of the metabolic syndrome with 10-12.5% TBWL was 2.09 (P=0.025), with increasing probability of resolution with more substantial weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: In obese participants with metabolic syndrome, a weight loss target of 10-12.5% TBWL (25-30% EWL) is a reasonable initial goal associated with significant odds of having metabolic benefits. If minimal improvements are seen with this initial target, additional weight loss substantially increases the probability of resolution.