Tumoral calcinosis is a rare disease involving the ectopic calcifications in the major juxtaarticular sites that was first described by Inclan Alberto in 1943. The etiology of tumoral calcinosis is still obscure. A disturbance of the phosphate metabolism in the kidney has been considered a major cause. However, some patients have no laboratory abnormalities. Tumoral calcinosis in the spine has not been reported in Korea. Recently, we encountered a case of tumoral calcinosis in the lumbar region. The clinical and pathological findings are discussed with a review of the relevant literature.
Calcinosis* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Korea ; Lumbosacral Region* ; Metabolism ; Rare Diseases ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: Posterior and posterolateral fusions were performed in rabbit lumbar spines. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the osteoinductive effect of polyphosphates. SUMMARY AND LITERATURE REVIEW: Inorganic polyphosphates are known to be rich in osteoblasts and involved in the mineralization process in bone metabolism. However, no study has been undertaken to investigate the osteoinductive effect of polyphosphates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult New Zealand white rabbits underwent monolevel lumbar fusions, and were divided into two groups according to the fusion beds: twenty each between the laminae (posterior fusion group, PF group) and between the transverse processes (posterolateral fusion group, PLF group). In ten of twenty rabbits in the PF group, 0.8gm of autogenous iliac bone was grafted onto the right sides of the laminae, which were used as a control group (C1), with 0.4gm autogenous bone immersed in polyphosphate solution in the left sides as an experimental group (E1). In the other ten, 0.8gm of autogenous bone was grafted onto the right sides (C2) and 0.8gm of tricalcium phosphate porous blocks containing polyphosphate in the left sides (E2). The other twenty rabbits of the PLF group were similarly divided into C1, E1, C2 and E2 groups by grafting the same amount of materials between the transverse processes. The animals were sacrificed at the 16th postoperative week and the fusions evaluated grossly, radiologically and histologically. Statistical differences between the groups (C1 vs. E1, C2 vs. E2 and E1 vs. E2) in each of the PF and PLF groups were compared by chi-square tests. RESULTS: The fusions were finally determined by the gross finding using manual palpation. In the PF group, bony fusions were obtained in 90, 80, 90 and 70% of the C1, E1, C2 and E2 groups, respectively. In the PLF group, these were 80, 70, 60 and 0% of the C1, E1, C2 and E2 groups, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed differences only between C2 and E2 (p=0.005), and between E1 and E2 (p=0.002) of the PLF group. Histologically, beta-tricalcium phosphate particles containing polyphosphate were transformed into the osteoid in some areas of the PLF-E2 group, although only fibrous unions were obtained grossly. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the polyphosphate may have an osteoinductive effect, even though the osteoinductive potency was very week in this fusion model of the rabbit lumbar spine. Therefore, further explorations, such as the threshold and optimal concentrations of polyphosphate in vivo and the best carrier material of polyphosphate, should be performed to obtain the optimal conditions for fusion.
Adult ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; Palpation ; Polyphosphates ; Rabbits ; Spine* ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Leptin is known to affect bone metabolism both centrally and peripherally. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between leptin and bone mineral density(BMD) in healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: 140 women were recruited for a routine health check-up. Anthro-pometric and biochemical data were checked as usual. BMDs were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry of the spine and femur in 67 premenopausal women and 73 postmenopausal women, in addition to their serum leptin levels. RESULTS: Serum leptin level showed no correlation with BMD in premenopausal women, but there was a positive correlation betwen serum leptin and spinal BMD in postmenopausal women(r=0.468, p<0.001). After the correcting for age, body mass index, and duration of menopause, the serum leptin level and BMD still showed a positive correlation(r=0.217, p=0.088) although weak. The women in the lowest quartile of serum leptin level showed significantly lower lumbar and femoral neck BMD. CONCLUSION: Leptin level seems to have a weak relationship with BMD showing different features in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Menopause ; Metabolism ; Spine

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low energy-ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on bone metabolism and turnover in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five-week old C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into two groups. Control group (n=35) was not exposed to UVB and experimental group (n=35) was exposed to low energy-UVB for 30 min a day during 7 days. Serological and radiological examination was performed at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 week(s) of each group (n=7). RESULTS: Analysis of biochemical bone markers revealed that alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected higher in the UVB group compared to control group. Serum level of osteocalcin was higher in UVB group at 1st week after UVB irradiation (p=0.031). The mean value of Vitamin D was significantly higher in UVB group than control group (p=0.032). Bone mineral density (BMD) from both 5th lumbar spine (p=0.124) and femur (p=0.862) showed higher in UVB group than control group from two weeks after irradiation, but they were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study with radiological bone mineral density and serological tests for biochemical bone turnover markers revealed that ultraviolet irradiation contributed positive effect on bone formation.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Femur ; Metabolism* ; Mice* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Serologic Tests ; Spine ; Vitamin D

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of alendronate in preventing bone loss at the spine and hip in Korean cases of primary osteoporosis, we treated 138 patients with 10 mg of alendronate daily. Of the 138 patients treated, 50 were treated for one complete year, and at their final visit, measurements were taken to assess the completed outcome of the reatment, and the results from this small group were compared with those of the rest. The way this has been written causes ambiguity concerning exactly who was being studied. Check that my rewrite of this section conveys correctly the group that was studied, and how. METHODS: The serum levels of calcium(Ca) and phosphorous(P), total alkaline phosphatase(ALP), the urine calcium creatinine ratio(Uca/cr) and urine deoxypyridinoline(DPD) were measured before, during, and after the 1 year treatment period. The bone mineral densities(BMDs) at the spine and hip were also measured before and after the treatment period. New clinical fractures and side effects, were evaluated during the treatment period. RESULTS: The total serum ALP and urine DPD were decreased significantly, after the treatment period, by 38.3 and 40.5% respectively. The bone mineral density at the spine and hip were significantly increased after 1 year, by 6.7 and 2.0%, respectively. Of the 50 subjects who had completed a full year of treatment, only 4(8%) had developed new clinical fractures. Of the 138 patients who had been treated, 8(5.8%) discontinued the medication due to side effects. Of these, 7 had gastrointestinal symptoms, and 1 had skin eruption. CONCLUSION: Alendronate significantly decreased the total serum ALP and urine DPD and significantly increased spine and hip bone mineral density. Alendronate 10mg was effective in preventing bone loss in Korean cases of primary osteoporosis.
Alendronate* ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Hip ; Humans ; Metabolism* ; Osteoporosis* ; Skin ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density and biochemical marker of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy. METHOD: We have treated two groups of menopausal women for 4 years; Group 1 received Conjugated Equine Estrogen 0.625 mg (Premarin(R)); Group 2 received Cyclic combined therapy, estrogen and progestin, (Premarin(R) 0.625 mg per day, Provera(R) 10mg per day for 12days), Group 1 was hysterectomized women, received Conjugated Equine Estrogen 0.625 mg per day. We compared the change of bone marker, osteocalcin and bone mineral density during therapy. RESULT: The data demonstrated a beneficial effect in bone marker, osteocalcin decreased in two groups from the baseline values. And hormone replacement therapy shows the beneficial effect in bone mineral densities. Spine BMD increased in two groups by 3.67%, 3.04% after 4years. Femur BMD increased in two groups by 5.34%, 5.25% from the initial value after 4 years. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that single estrogen therapy and cyclic combined therapy have benificial effect on increased BMD and decreased bone marker, osteocalcin. Their effects were not signigicantly different between two groups.
Biomarkers* ; Bone Density* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Femur ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Metabolism* ; Osteocalcin ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Increased BMD after treatment means that the treatment regimen was effective to prevent fracture associated with osteoporosis. But changes of BMD reflected at least after 1 year. Now we use markers of bone turnover more easily, and they reflects bone metabolism faster than BMD within 3 4 months. Some data showed that changes of bone markers after 3 months could predict the changes of the BMD after 1 year. METHODS: 126 postmenopausal Korean women with osteoporosis were evaluated who visited Samsung Cheil hospital from Aug. 1997 to July 2000, with respect to markers of bone turnover and BMD at lumbar spine. Subjects were classified into 3 groups, HRT only group, HRT with alendronate group and HRT with calcitonin group. To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment regimen, we compared changes of markers after 3 months and changes of spinal BMD after 1 year treatment among 3 groups. And also evaluate the predictability of the changes of markers of bone turnover after 3 months about the changes of spinal BMD, multiple regression analysis were made. RESULTS: Our results showed those findings 1. Percent changes of markers of bone turnover decreased significantly compared with baseline(osteocalcin 30.4 53.4%, total alkaline phosphtase 26.7 20.0%, deoxypyridinoline 19.0 30.1%, and mean percent changes of markers among three groups showed no significant differences. 2. No significant relationships were noted between percent changes of spinal BMD and percent changes of markers of bone turnover. 3. Percent changes of BMD at lumbar spine were increased significantly after 1 year treatment(HRT only 5.6 3.6%, HRT with calcitonin 7.8 4.5%, HRT with alendronate 9.8% 4.7%). CONCLUSION: These results made conclusion that changes of markers of bone trunover after 3 months couldn't predict the changes of spinal BMD after 1 year treatment. But, HRT with antiresorptive agents may be effective in treating postmenopausal osteoporotic Korean women.
Alendronate ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; Calcitonin ; Female ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis* ; Postmenopause ; Spine

PURPOSE: Abnormalities in calcium(Ca), vitamin D and bone mineral density (BMD) associated with antiepileptic drug(AED) are reported, but the results are inconsistent. In case of intractable epilepsy, poor growth and altered bone mineral metabolism may be prominent, possibly related to previous long-term use of multiple AED and poor activity. The aim of this study was to assess growth status, concentrations of calcium regulating hormones and BMD in children with intractable epilepsy. METHODS: Sixty-six intractable epilepsy patients aged 0.8 to 14.7 years(mean+/-D:4.6+/-.6 years) were included in the study. Height and weight were measured and then height SDS and weight SDS were calculated. Serum Ca, i-Ca, P, Mg, Zinc, osteocalcin, intact-PTH, 25-OHD, 1,25(OH)2D were measured. BMD of the lumbar spine was measured by dual energy X-ray absorption. RESULTS: Most of the patients showed normal height SDS and weight SDS. Percentage of severe short stature(height SDS <-2) was 1.5% and tall stature(height SDS >2) was 4.5%. Percentage of severe thin(weight SDS <-2) was 1.5% and obesity(weight SDS >2) was 6%. Duration of AED was not related to height SDS or weight SDS. Etiology of epilepsy and physical activity were not related to height SDS and weight SDS. Most of them had normal Ca, iCa, P, Mg, Zinc, intact-PTH, osteocalcin, 25-OHD and 1,25(OH)2D concentrations. BMD was not related to the levels of Ca, i-Ca, P, Mg, intact-PTH, osteocalcin, 25-OHD, 1,25(OH)2D. BMD was not related to the duration of AED. BMD positively correlated with age(r=0.75, P>0.01) and body weight(r=0.72, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Most of the children with intractable epilepsy, who regularly visits epilepsy clinic, showed normal growth and normal bone mineral metabolism, but careful monitoring about growth and bone mineral metabolism is needed.
Absorption ; Bone Density* ; Calcium* ; Child* ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Motor Activity ; Osteocalcin ; Spine ; Vitamin D ; Zinc

PURPOSE: While treating 14 phenylketonuria(PKU) patients, we evaluated bone density, changes in bone age, andbony changes such as spiculation or metaphyseal widening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 PKU patients agedbetween 1 month and 14 years(mean, 6.4 years) were under dietary treatment. Eight and eleven patients underwentradiography of the left hand and wrist and bone densitometry(BMD) of the lumbar spine, respectively. The resultswere reviewed with regard to abnormal bony changes, delayed bone age, and osteopenia. Patients were assigned toeither the early or late treatment group, depending on whether or not dietary therapy was started before 3 monthsof age. Those in whom a blood phenylalanine level of under 10 mg/dl was maintained were assigned to the 'goodcontrol' group; others were classified as 'variable control'. The findings of radiographs of the left hand andlumbar BMD were evaluated in relation to the time of dietary therapy, and adequacy of treatment. RESULTS: Onlumbar BMD, four of 11 patients (36%) showed reduced bone density of more than 1 S.D. None of the 11 who underwentradiography of the left hand showed bony abnormalities such as spiculation or metaphyseal widening. In four of the11, bone age was less than chronological age by at least one year. According to Fisher's exact test there was norelation between delayed bone age , osteoporosis and the time and adequacy of dietary therapy (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: None of the 14 PKU patients who underwent dietary therapy had bony abnormalities such as spiculationor metaphyseal widening. In four of the 11, bone age was at least one year less than chronological age, and onlumbar BMD, osteoporosis was seen. For the evaluation of bone change in PKU patients, plain radiography and BMDare thus complementary.
Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Hand ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis ; Phenylalanine ; Phenylketonurias* ; Radiography ; Spine ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of interruption and reinitiation of monthly minodronate therapy on the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. METHODS: Study patients were included if they had been administered monthly minodronate therapy for ≥6 months, interrupted the therapy, and reinitiated the therapy for ≥12 months. The BMD and bone metabolism markers were assessed at 4 time points: initiation, interruption, reinitiation and 1 year after reinitiation of therapy. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients were enrolled. The mean monthly minodronate treatment period was 23.8 ± 12.9 months following a mean interruption period of 11.9 ± 5.4 months. Once increased by monthly minodronate treatment for 2 years on average, the BMD of lumbar spine and radius did not significantly decrease even after an interruption for 1 year on average. However, the BMD of the femoral neck did decrease after interruption. The BMD of the lumbar spine and radius increased further after 1 year of monthly minodronate retreatment. The BMD of the femoral neck did not change. Once decreased after the treatment for an average of 2 years followed by an interruption for 1 year, bone metabolism markers increased gradually but did not recover to baseline levels. A potent suppressive effect on bone resorption was noted. The change rate was greater for the bone formation marker procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly minodronate treatment increases BMD and reduces bone metabolism markers. The effect lessens after treatment interruptions, and can be restored by retreatment.
Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Procollagen ; Radius ; Retreatment ; Spine