[Prevalence of osteoporosis in the Czech Republic]. / Prevalence osteoporózy v Ceské republice.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in Czech women and men aged 50 to 75 years. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bone mineral density was assessed in an age-stratified random sample of 713 women and 429 men from two cities (Prague and Litomerice) in the lumbar spine, proximal femur and total body by dual X-ray absorptiometry and in the distal forearm by single X-ray absorptiometry. The proportion of women and men in each age group with bone density below specified levels at any of these skeletal sites was projected to the population structure of the Czech Republic. With advancing age, in women at 55 years and in men at 65 years of age the population with normal bone mineral density becomes smaller, and a greater proportion has osteopenia or osteoporosis. Overall, an estimated 428,000 women and 195,000 men over age 50 have osteoporosis and another 680,000 women and 435,000 men have osteopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this first population-based cross sectional study in the Czech Republic document a high prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia which is comparable with that published for the Netherlands and the United States. The results offer a basis for economical considerations in diagnosis, treatment and consequences of osteoporosis.

[X-ray densitometry and ultrasonography of the heel bone--sensitivity and comparison with densitometry of the axial skeleton]. / Rentgenová denzitometrie a ultrasonometrie patní kosti--presnost a srovnání s denzitometrií osového skeletu.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS) of calcaneus and their correlation with axial bone mineral density. METHODS AND RESULTS: 1284 subjects were tested for BMD (Bone Mineral Density) by DXA at the spine and hip (707 subjects by DPX-L, Lunar, and 577 subjects by QDR-4500 A, Hologic) and calcaneus (by PIXI, Lunar). The calcaneus was also measured using the QUS (Achilles Plus, Lunar), on the same day. The mean age of the patients was 56.5 +/- 11.6 years, mean height 166 cm, mean weight 70 kg. Three subjects were selected for precision error measurement with low, medium and high BMD of calcaneus (T-score of -2.2, -0.77 and 2.02, respectively) and scanned with re-positioning at the right heel (PIXI and Achilles Plus) 21 times on one day for short term precision error and over 21 consecutive days for long term precision error. The in vivo short term precision error of the heel measurement (BMD, SOS, BUA) in subjects with normal BMD was 0.67%, 0.47% and 1.87%, respectively; the long term in vivo precision error was 1.14%, 0.26% and 2.95%, respectively. No significant difference was found between BMD values on the right and left heel. A statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between BUA and BMD (r = 0.71), SOS and BMD (r = 0.73), Stiffness and BMD (r = 0.77). The heel BMD was also significantly correlated to BMD of the femoral neck (r = 0.64) and BMD of total femur (r = 0.70) and BMD of lumbar spine (r = 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: The DXA of the heel underestimates the prevalence of osteoporosis. The results of the heel QUS (Stiffness) appear to be better correlated to femoral BMD than heel BMD. The observed correlation coefficient of 0.77 between QUS and DXA at the heel was statistically significant, but it explains only 60% of variability of the QUS of the heel.

A monitoring of allantoin, uric acid, and malondialdehyde levels in plasma and erythrocytes after ten minutes of running activity.

Uric acid is the final product of human purine metabolism. It was pointed out that this compound acts as an antioxidant and is able to react with reactive oxygen species forming allantoin. Therefore, the measurement of allantoin levels may be used for the determination of oxidative stress in humans. The aim of the study was to clarify the antioxidant effect of uric acid during intense exercise. Whole blood samples were obtained from a group of healthy subjects. Allantoin, uric acid, and malondialdehyde levels in plasma and erythrocytes were measured using a HPLC with UV/Vis detection. Statistical significant differences in allantoin and uric acid levels during short-term intense exercise were found. Immediately after intense exercise, the plasma allantoin levels increased on the average of 200 % in comparison to baseline. Plasma uric acid levels increased slowly, at an average of 20 %. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in plasma malondialdehyde. The results suggest that uric acid, important antioxidant, is probably oxidized by reactive oxygen species to allantoin. Therefore allantoin may be suitable candidate for a marker of acute oxidative stress.