MSK 4 Flashcards
list the functions of calcified tissues in the skeleton
- structural support for heart, lungs, and marrow
- endocrine regulation (bone cells release osteocalcin which contributes to the regulation of blood sugar)
- attachment sites for muscles allowing movement of limbs
- mineral reservoir for calcium and phosphorous
- defence against acidosis
- trap for dangerous minerals (i.e lead)
- blood cells production (site of hematopoiesis
what is the function of osteocalcin
helps in the regulation of blood sugar
what is the role of skeletal radiographs in evaluating skeletal health
useful in identifying factures
not very useful in visualizing bone mass–> must have 30% loss of bone mass to see it on an xray
what are some risk factors for poor skeletal health
age sex vertebral compression fracture fragility fracture after age 40 either parent has a hip fracture >3 months of glucocorticoid drugs medical conditions that inhibit absorption of nutrients and other medical conditions contribute to bone loss
what is the role of bone density testing in evaluating skeletal health
can only provide information about bone mineral content–cannot provide information about bone cell activity and bone turnover rate without a biopsy
what is bone density testing
central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (central DXA test)
measures your bone mineral density and compares it to an established norm (T-score)
0 means BMD is equal to the norm for a health young adult
differences between BMD and healthy young adult are measured in standard deviations
what blood test can be helpful in identifying excessive bone turnover
ALP
how can you measure bone turnover
with blood tests
what blood test indicate bone formation
BAP
collagen type I propeptides
osteocalcin
what blood tests indicate bone resorption
calcium TRAcP BSP hydroxyproline hydroxylysine glycosides pyridinium crosslinks collagen type I telopeptides
what is the role of bone biopsy in evaluating skeletal health
used an as invasive diagnostic procedure and a research method
data can be obtained from the bone histology
- rate of bone resorption and remodelling
- degree of bone mineralization
- bone structure
where is the preferred site for bone biopsy
iliac crest
when is bone biopsy indicated
for selected unusual clinical reasons
why is bone biopsy not often performed
due to invasiveness pain cost specialized centre required
to which populations does the T-score system of bone density measurement apply
to men over 50 and post-menopausal women
cannot apply same fracture risk correlation to those that are younger
what system of bone density grading do you use for those younger than 50
the Z-score–> uses an age matched comparative (especially important in pediatrics when peak bone mass has not been achieved)
what is a normal T-score
-1 or higher
what T-score represents low bone mass
between -1 and -2.5
what T score represents osteoporosis
equal to -2.5 or lower
what T score represents severe osteoporosis
equal to -2.5 or lower with presence of fracture
what is the WHO criteria for the densitometric diagnosis of osteoporosis
T-score of -2.5 or lower in populations over 50/postmenopausal women
what is osteoporosis
a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue with a consequence of increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture
hallmark of osteoporosis is histologically normal bone that is decreased in quantity
the entire skeleton is affected in post-menopausal and senile osteoporosis but certain bones can be more severely impacted
what is the hallmark of osteoporosis
histologically normal bone that is decreased in quantity
what does the clinical manifestation of osteoporosis depend on
which bones are involved
what % of bone mass must be lost to detect osteoporosis on plain radiograph
30-40%
are blood levels of calcium, phosphorous and ALP diagnostic of osteoporosis
no
what tools offer the best estimates of bone loss in the setting of osteoporosis
specialized radiographic imaging:
dual energy xray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography (measure bone density)
describe the clinical presentation of osteoporosis
can vary depending on which bones are involved
vertebral fractures that frequently occur in the thoracic and lumbar regions are painful and can cause significant height loss and deformities (i.e lumbar lordosis and kyphoscoliosis)
what is the recommended amount of calcium per day for the maintenance of bone health
1000 mg/day
what is the mineralization of bone dependent upon
vitamin D
what can result from vitamin D deficiency
accumulation of unmineralized bone that in the adult is called osteomalacia
what is the recommended dietary intake of vitamin D for adults over 70 years
800 IU
under what conditions is the physiological regulation of absorption optimal?
when intakes of both calcium and vitamin D are adequate
why is exercise important for bone health and fracture prevention?
- strengthen bones via bone remodelling (wolffs law)–> the body constantly monitors the strain on bones caused by muscle action–> any substantial increase in these forces signals the need to build more bone
- improve balance and coordination which decreases likelihood of falls
- helps to increased BMD in post-menopausal women
- promotes gaining of muscle mass–> “muscle mass and bone are linked”
- -> psoas muscle size correlates with the bone mineral in the nearby vertebrae
- -> lean body mass is the strongest cross sectional predictor of BMD in younger women
- -> low BMI (fat and muscle) is associated with increased fracture risk
what determines osteoblast activation? how is it controlled? why dies this support the idea that exercise is beneficial for bone health?
the amount of Wnt signalling determines osteoblast activation and is controlled by SCLEROTIN
sclerotin is a protein made by osteocytes when the bone is not stressed (sclerotin is inhibited by stress on the bone and by PTH)
therefore, weight bearing exercises that stress the bone reduce sclerotin, and this allows osteoblasts to produce new bone
describe sclerotin expression in states of bed rest/in outer space
in these states, the bone is not stressed and sclerotin is over-expressed causing bone loss
what are the general recommendations to family practitioners regarding the evaluation and management of bone health in the family practice setting
- premenopausal women should consume at least 1000 mg of calcium//postmenopausal women should consume 1200 mg (in total diet plus supplementation)
- should not consume more than 2000 mg calcium per day due to risks of side effects
- recommend that men over age 70 and postmenopausal women consume at least 800 IU of vitamin D per day
- calcium and vitamin D supplements alone are insufficient to prevent age-related bone loss although they may be beneficial for some subgroups
what are primary sources of dietary calcium
milk
dairy products
green veggies
cereals
why do we need vitamin D
decreases bone loss and lowers the risk of fracture especially in older men and women
must be present for body to absorb calcium
what is a fragility fracture
fractures occurring from a fall from standing height or less without major trauma
how many women will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime? men?
1/3 women and 1/5 men
what % of women will due within a year following a hip fracture? men?
women: 28%
men: 37%
how do bone mineral densities and fracture risks correlate?
measurements of BMD can predict fracture risk but cannot identify individuals who will have a fracture
all measuring sites had similar predictive abilities for decreased BMD except for measurement at the spine for predicting vertebral fractures and measurement at the hop for hip fractures
what is the epidemiology of fragility fractures
Fracture risk is ultimately determined by the relation between bone strength and propensity to trauma.
Bone density is a key determinant of bone strength, and depends on the bone gained during growth and consolidation, and the subsequent rate of bone loss.
Many factors (both genetic and environmental) influence the risk of future fracture through effects on these key intermediary mechanisms.
Fracture risk increases greatly with AGE and is generally higher in WOMEN than in men and in WHITES than in other races. Around 30% to 40% of the variance in peak bone mass is GENETICALLY determined, and polymorphisms for several candidate genes are currently being identified. Sex hormone deficiency after the menopause is a key factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in women. In addition, however, there are environmental influences that affect bone density, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and nutrition.
in the absence of a fragility fracture, what is the best predictor of future fracture risk
BMD measurement
biomechanical studies show a strong association between mechanical strength and BMD measured by DXA
list the WHO risk factors for 10 year fracture risk
- age (50-90), sex, clinical risk factors
- BMI/DXA
- prior fragility fracture
- parental history of hip fracture
- current tobacco smoking
- long term use of glucocorticoids
- rheumatoid arthritis or other secondary causes
- alcohol intake 3 or more units per day
what is FRAX
fracture risk assessment tool
developed by the WHO to evaluate fracture risk of patients
used in patients between 50 and 70 years old
gives a 10 year probability of hip fracture and a 10 year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, forearm, shoulder)
algorithm is based on femoral neck BMD
is the same as CAROC plus height, weight, family hx, smoking, alcohol and RA (most people however score the same on both assessments)
in what age group is FRAX used
50-70 years old
what does FRAX indicate
gives a 10 year probability of hip fracture and a 10 year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, forearm, shoulder)
what BMD is used in the FRAX calculation
femoral neck BMD
what is CAROC
developed by osteoporosis Canada
used in patients between 50-85 years old
based on charts and tables
risk is determined based on BMD results in combination with age, sex, hx of fragility fracture and glucocorticoid use
–> if both glucocorticoid use AND hx of fragility fracture are present then the patient is automatically high risk status
in what age group do you use CAROC
50-85 years old
how much of the bodys calcium is stored in bone
99%
continuous osteolysis and osteogenesis
what is the normal range for serum calcium
10mg/dL or 2.5 mmol/L
very tightly controlled
how is calcium transported in the blood
- 45% bound to albumin
- 15% bound to anions (phosphate, citrate)
- 40% free or ionized (metabolically active form)
why must you measure albumin levels with total serum calcium levels?
because 45% of calcium in the blood is bound to albumin
what anions does calcium bind to in the blood
phosphate
citrate
what influences the distribution of calcium in the blood (i.e between protein bound, anion bound and free/ionized)
the pH of the plasma
acidemia increases the percentage of ionized calcium at the expense of calcium bound to proteins
alkalemia decreases the percentage of ionized calcium by increasing the calcium bound to proteins –> alkalemia makes the patient susceptible to tetani (hyperalbuminemia would also do this)
what metabolic condition makes a patient susceptible to tetani (due to disturbances in calcium transport)
alkalosis–> decreases amount of ionized calcium and increases calcium bound to protein
hyperalbuminemia would also have this effect
what effect does acidemia have on calcium transport
increases the percentage of calcium in the ionized versus protein bound form
what organ is responsible for excretion of calcium
kidneys
100-400mg/day
what is the role of calcium in the body
important co-factor for many enzymatic reactions
key second messenger
important role in excitability of nerve and muscle, signal transduction, blood clotting and muscle contraction
critical component of extracellular matrix, cartilage, teeth and bone
what happens in states of low ionized calcium?
(hypocalcaemia)
can lead to hypocalcaemia tetani
occurs because hypocalcaemia causes the threshold potential to shift more to NEGATIVE values (closer to the resting potential, therefore contracts more easily)
what happens in states of high ionized calcium?
(hypercalcaemia)
may decrease neuromuscular excitability or produce cardiac arrhythmias, lethargy, disorientation or death
occurs because shifts threshold potential to less negative values (further from resting potential)
what is the metabolically active form of calcium
ionized
hyper and hypocalcemia should refer to ionized calcium levels not total calcium levels
how do the kidneys help regulate calcium minute-to-minute
by excreting the amount of calcium that is absorbed by the intestinal tract
normal bone remodelling results in no net addition of calcium to the bone or released from bone
if plasma concentrations decline substantially then intestinal absorption, bone resorption, and renal tubular reabsorption increase and return plasma concentrations to normal levels
what are the two factors on which calcium homeostasis is dependent
- the total amount of calcium in the body
2. the distribution of calcium between the bones and ECF
how is total body calcium determined
by the relative amounts of calcium absorbed by the intestinal tract and excreted by the kidneys
how does the intestine absorb calcium
through an active carrier-mediated transport mechanism that is stimulated by CALCITRIOL which is an active metabolite of vitamin D produced in the proximal tubule of the kidneys
where is calcitriol produced
proximal tubule of the kidneys
what role does calcitriol have in the intestine
stimulates the absorption of calcium from the gut via an active, carrier mediated transport mechanism
how does bone contribute to the calcium needs of the body
cancellous/trabelular bone–> honeycomb-like, making up 20-30% of the skeleton with frequent remodelling
bone remodelling compartment is bathed in bone marrow and outer cortical bone
the role is MINERAL supply, response to mechanical forces, and to preserve bone strength and resilience–> it QUICKLY releases calcium when the body needs it
where are osteoblasts located
on the surface of the matrix–> synthesize, transport and assemble matrix and regulate mineralization
synthesis of matrix is tightly regulated by hormonal and local factors
list the osteoblast derived proteins
- type I collagen
- calcium binding protein–> osteonecin
- cell adhesion proteins–> fibronectin
- cytokines–> IL-1, IL-6, RANKL
- enzymes–> alkaline phosphatase, collagenase
- growth factors–> IGF-1, TNF-beta, PDGF
- proteins involved in mineralization (osteocalcin)
what is osteonecin
a calcium binding protein produced by osteoblasts
what is fibronectin
a cell adhesion protein produced by osteoblasts