Summary
This HR-pQCT study was conducted to examine bone properties of the distal tibia post-stroke and to identify clinical outcomes that were associated with these properties at this site. It was ...found that spasticity and gait speed were independently associated with estimated failure load in individuals with chronic stroke.
Purpose
(1) To examine the influence of stroke on distal tibia bone properties and (2) the association between these properties and clinical outcomes in people with chronic stroke.
Methods
Sixty-four people with stroke (age, 60.8 ± 7.7 years; time since stroke, 5.7 ± 3.9 years) and 64 controls (age: 59.4 ± 7.8 years) participated in this study. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) was used to scan the bilateral distal tibia, and estimated failure load was calculated by automated finite element analysis. Echo intensity of the medial gastrocnemius muscle and blood flow of the popliteal artery were assessed with ultrasound. The 10-m walk test (10MWT), Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA), and Composite Spasticity Scale (CSS) were also administered.
Results
The percent side-to-side difference (%SSD) in estimated failure load, cortical area, thickness, and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), and trabecular and total vBMD were significantly greater in the stroke group than their control counterparts (Cohen’s
d
= 0.48–1.51). Isometric peak torque and echo intensity also showed significant within- and between-groups differences (
p
≤ 0.01). Among HR-pQCT variables, the %SSD in estimated failure load was empirically chosen as one example of the strong discriminators between the stroke group and control group, after accounting for other relevant factors. The 10MWT and CSS subscale for ankle clonus remained significantly associated with the %SSD in estimated failure load after adjusting for other relevant factors (
p
≤ 0.05).
Conclusion
The paretic distal tibia showed more compromised vBMD, cortical area, cortical thickness, and estimated failure load than the non-paretic tibia. Gait speed and spasticity were independently associated with estimated failure load. As treatment programs focusing on these potentially modifiable stroke-related impairments are feasible to administer, future studies are needed to determine the efficacy of such intervention strategies for improving bone strength in individuals with chronic stroke.
Bone health is often compromised after stroke and the distal radius is a common site of fragility fractures. The macro- and mircoproperties of bone tissue after stroke and their clinical correlates ...are understudied. The objectives of the study were to use High-Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) to investigate the bone properties at the distal radius, and to identify the correlates of estimated failure load for the distal radius in people with chronic stroke. This was a cross-sectional study of 64 people with stroke (age: 60.8 ± 7.7 years, stroke duration: 5.7 ± 3.9 years) and 64 age- and sex-matched controls. Bilateral bone structural, densitometric, geometric and strength parameters of the distal radius were measured using HR-pQCT. The architecture, stiffness and echo intensity of the bilateral biceps brachii muscle and brachial artery blood flow were evaluated using diagnostic ultrasound. Other outcomes included the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA), Motor Activity Log (MAL), and Composite Spasticity Scale (CSS). The results revealed a significant side (paretic vs non-paretic for the stroke group, non-dominant vs dominant for controls) by group (stroke vs control) interaction effect for estimated failure load, cortical area, cortical thickness, trabecular number and trabecular separation, and all volumetric density parameters. Post-hoc analysis showed percent side-to-side differences in bone outcomes were greater in the stroke group than the control group, with the exception of trabecular thickness and intracortical porosity. Among the HR-pQCT variables, percent side-to-side difference in trabecular volumetric bone mineral density contributed the most to the percent side-to-side difference in estimated failure load in the stroke group (R2 change = 0.334, β = 1.106). Stroke-related impairments (FMA, MAL, CSS) were found to be significant determinants of the percent side-to-side difference in estimated failure load (R2 change = 0.233, β = −0.480). This was the first study to examine bone microstructure post-stroke. We found that the paretic distal radius had compromised bone structural properties and lower estimated failure load compared to the non-paretic side. Motor impairment was a determinant of estimated bone strength at the distal radius and may be a potential intervention target for improving bone health post-stroke.
•Lower estimated failure load and compromised bone structural properties in the paretic radius•Motor impairment was an important correlate of estimated failure load•This may be a potential intervention target to improve bone health post-stroke
Background
This study aimed to adjust and cross‐validate skeletal muscle mass measurements between bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the screening of ...sarcopenia in the community and to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in Hong Kong.
Methods
Screening of sarcopenia was provided to community‐dwelling older adults. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was evaluated by BIA (InBody 120 or 720) and/or DXA. Handgrip strength and/or gait speed were assessed. Diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the 2019 revised Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia cut‐offs. Agreement analysis was performed to cross‐validate ASM measurements by BIA and DXA. Multiple regression was used to explore contribution of measured parameters in predicting DXA ASM from BIA.
Results
A total of 1587 participants (age = 72 ± 12 years) were recruited; 1065 participants were screened by BIA (InBody 120) with 18 followed up by DXA, while the remaining 522 participants were assessed by the BIA (InBody 720) and DXA. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) evaluated by BIA showed a mean difference of 2.89 ± 0.38 kg/m2 (InBody 120) and 2.97 ± 0.45 kg/m2 (InBody 720) against DXA gold standard. A significant overestimation of muscle mass was measured by BIA compared with DXA (P < 0.005). BIA data were adjusted using prediction equation and mean difference reduced to −0.02 ± 0.31 kg/m2 in cross‐validation. Prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults ≥65 ranged from 39.4% (based on ASMI by DXA) to 40.8% (based on predicted DXA ASMI from BIA). Low ASMI by DXA was found in 68.5% of the older adults screened. The percentage of older adults exhibited low handgrip strength ranged from 31.3% to 56%, while 49% showed low gait speed.
Conclusions
Bioimpedance analysis was found to overestimate skeletal muscle mass compared with DXA. With adjustment equations, BIA can be used as a quick and reliable tool for screening sarcopenia in community and clinical settings with limited access to better options.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). The underlying etiology and how it may relate to the development of osteopenia remains unknown. Leptin has ...been postulated as one of the etiologic factors of AIS because of its profound effects on bone metabolism and pubertal growth. Its modulator, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R), may affect leptin bioavailability and signaling. This study aimed to investigate whether serum leptin and sOB-R levels may be associated with bone quality, and whether these relationships may differ between young adolescent girls with and without AIS.
This was a case-control study involving 94 newly diagnosed AIS girls (Cobb angle 12-48°) aged 12 to 14 years old and 87 age and gender-matched normal controls. Subjects with BMI>23.0 Kg/m(2) were excluded. Anthropometric measurements including body weight, height, arm span and sitting height were taken. Serum total leptin and sOB-R were assayed with ELISA. Non-dominant distal radius was scanned with High Resolution pQCT for assessing bone quality in terms of bone morphometry, volumetric BMD (vBMD) and trabecular bone micro-architecture.
Compared with normal controls, AIS girls had numerically higher sOB-R (p = 0.006), lower average vBMD (p = 0.048), lower cortical vBMD (p = 0.029), higher cortical bone perimeter (p = 0.014) and higher trabecular area (p = 0.027), but none remained statistically significant after the Hochberg-Benjamini procedure. Correlation analysis on serum leptin level indicated that distinctive correlations with trabecular bone parameters occurred only in AIS.
This study showed that bone quality in AIS girls was deranged as compared with controls. In addition, the distinct differences in correlation pattern between leptin and trabecular bone parameters indicated possible abnormalities in bone metabolism and dysfunction of the leptin signaling pathway in AIS.
Objective
To compare the bone healing effects of denosumab and alendronate in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.
Methods
This is ...a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Forty patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either subcutaneous denosumab (60 mg) once or oral alendronate (70 mg) weekly for 6 months. The size of individual bone erosions and the presence and extent of erosion‐associated sclerosis (marginal osteosclerosis) were measured in the second metacarpal head of the nondominant hand at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
Results
Forty‐two erosions were identified at baseline. After 6 months, the width, depth, and volume of erosion significantly decreased in the denosumab group (−0.23 mm, −0.16 mm, −0.91 mm3, respectively; all P < 0.01), whereas these parameters significantly increased in the alendronate group (0.19 mm, 0.32 mm, and 1.38 mm3, respectively; all P < 0.01; between‐group differences, P < 0.01 for all). Quantitative analysis showed that the bone mineral density of the erosion margin significantly increased only after treatment by denosumab (19.75 mg/cm3; P < 0.05 for denosumab, and −5.44 mg/cm3; P = 0.51 for alendronate; P < 0.05 for between‐group differences).
Conclusion
Inhibition of receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand by denosumab can induce partial repair of erosions in patients with RA, while erosions continued to progress in patients treated with alendronate. Combining denosumab with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs may be considered for RA patients with progressive bone erosions.
To investigate the relationship between disease-related parameters and joint space width (JSW) on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) ...patients.
PsA patients who underwent HR-pQCT examination of the second to fourth metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ 2-4) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The joint space metrics included joint space volume (JSV), mean, minimum, and maximum JSW, JSW asymmetry, and distribution. Correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the association between disease-related variables and JSW.
Sixty-seven patients 37 (55.2%) males; median (IQR) age: 57.0 (53.0, 63.0); median disease duration: 21 (16, 28) years were included in this analysis. Multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated that males had larger JSV (MCPJ 2-4), mean (MCPJ 4), and maximum JSW (MCPJ 3). Longer disease duration (MCPJ 2-3) and higher ESR values (MCPJ 3) were negatively associated with mean and maximum JSW, while higher damage joint count was negatively associated with mean and minimum JSW (MCPJ 2). Use of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) was negatively associated with minimum JSW (MCPJ 3) while use of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) was positively associated with minimum JSW (MCPJ 2).
Higher inflammatory burden as reflected by longer disease duration, higher ESR levels, and damage joint count was negatively associated with mean, maximum, and minimum JSW, while suppression of inflammation using bDMARDs seems to limit the decline in JSW.
We assessed the relationship of bone density and microarchitecture between hand, peripheral, and axial skeletal sites using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and ...dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and which factors influence these parameters. This was a cross-sectional study of 100 female patients (53.4 ± 9.3 years) with RA. HR-pQCT scans at distal radius and the second metacarpal head were performed to assess cortical and trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and microarchitecture. DXA scans at the hip, lumbar spine, and ultradistal radius were performed to assess areal BMD. There was significant correlation in vBMD and microarchitectural parameters between the second metacarpal head and distal radius (
r
= 0.201−0.628). Areal BMD at the axial skeleton was moderately associated with vBMD at the peripheral sites (
r
= 0.354–0.558). Factors related to disease severity/chronicity significantly correlated with vBMD and microarchitecture at the distal radius and the second metacarpal head. Factors related to disease activity were more likely to correlate with vBMD and microarchitecture at the second metacarpal head but not those at the distal radius. HR-pQCT is a promising technique that is capable of providing detailed quantitative assessment of disease-associated periarticular bone loss at both cortical and trabecular bone compartments in patients with RA. Future longitudinal studies will be needed to investigate whether assessment by HR-pQCT can be used as a marker of disease activity and a predictor of disease progression in RA.
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