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The lambs break their silence

Researchers analyzed ancient bones from A??kl? Höyük to determine the ages of unborn and neonatal lambs. The study reveals that early Neolithic sheep-herders faced high levels of mortality among young animals, with infections, malnutrition, and overcrowding being primary causes.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateMar 23, 2021

Diabetes patients to benefit from new 3D bio-printing technique for bone repair

Researchers have developed an effective method for managing bone defects in diabetes patients using 3D bioprinted bone-repair scaffolds infused with bone marrow stem cells and macrophage. This technique has the potential to accelerate bone repair and improve outcomes for individuals with diabetes.

Meet the Smurfs: A bone metabolism family

A team of researchers from Osaka University has identified a novel mechanism by which the protein Smurf2 regulates bone formation through the BMP signaling pathway. The study found that Smurf2 uses ubiquitination to mark messenger proteins for destruction, leading to reduced bone mass and formation rates in mice without Smurf2.

SourceOsaka University·JournalBone Research·DateFeb 8, 2021

Can we make bones heal faster?

Researchers from UIC have discovered distinct pathways for bone and teeth formation, which can be manipulated to enhance healing processes. This breakthrough has significant implications for developing new treatments to cure dental diseases and bone injuries.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 3, 2020

New insight into neovessel formation shows promise in future treatment of cardiovascular diseases

A new study by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland provides novel insight into the previously unknown effects of factors regulating blood vessel formation. Bone morphogenetic factor 6, BMP6, is shown to regulate blood vessel formation via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and Hippo signalling pathway.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalAngiogenesis·DateOct 14, 2020

Sleep apnea linked with higher spine fracture risk among women

A new study published in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research suggests that women with a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at a higher risk of developing vertebral fractures. The study found that OSA was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of vertebral fracture, particularly among those experiencing daytime sleepiness.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateSep 10, 2020

Fossil growth reveals insights into the climate

Researchers analyzed fossil bones of Panthasaurus maleriensis, an ancestor of modern amphibians, and found phases of rapid and slow growth depending on the climate. The study provides valuable insight into the prehistoric past, with the Indian site showing evidence of both young and adult animals.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPeerJ·DateSep 8, 2020

How curved are your bones?

Researchers discovered that bones change shape in response to forces, curving to prevent fractures. The study used computational methods to monitor shape changes over an extended period, finding that the curving process needs to be highly targeted and can lead to a built-in warning mechanism.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 13, 2020

Bone marrow-on-a chip provides new research directions for Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome

Researchers have developed a new tool to study Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, a disease that affects bone marrow production. The bone marrow-on-a chip mimics the behavior of diseased bone marrow and has shown impaired blood cell production in patients. This discovery provides new research directions for developing treatments for SDS.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJan 28, 2020

Bone analysis suggests small T. rexes were not a separate genus; they were kids

A new study refutes the idea that small Tyrannosaurus rex specimens represent a separate genus, instead revealing they were juvenile versions of their larger counterparts. The research found evidence of rapid growth in these young T. rexes, suggesting they likely played different roles in their ecosystems than adults.

Shortened sleep may negatively affect women's bone health

A recent study found that postmenopausal women who slept 5 hours or less per night had lower bone mineral density at all four sites assessed. Women reporting 5 hours or less per night were also at higher risk of experiencing low bone mass and osteoporosis, particularly in the hips and spine.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateNov 6, 2019

BU researchers accurately estimate the sex of skeletons based on elbow features

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have found that examining the distal humerus (elbow) bone is superior to previous techniques for identifying sex in a non-Asian population. The study used over 600 modern, documented skeletons from Thailand and found that the shape of the elbow differs between females and males.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Forensic Sciences·DateOct 23, 2019

Bones secrete a stress hormone

Research reveals that bone-derived hormone osteocalcin plays a critical role in mediating the acute stress response, which is distinct from hormones released by the adrenal glands. Osteocalcin levels rise in response to stress, triggering physiological responses such as increased energy expenditure and heart rate.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 12, 2019

New osteoporosis therapy's dual effects on bone tissue

Romosozumab increases serum markers of bone formation and decreases those of bone breakdown, leading to improved bone mass and microarchitecture. The therapy also reduces the risk of bone fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateJun 25, 2019

Drug boosts growth in youngsters with most common form of dwarfism, new study finds

A groundbreaking drug has shown significant growth benefits for children with achondroplasia, a genetic bone disorder affecting about one in every 25,000 infants. The four-year study found that the drug vosoritide increased height by up to 50% per year and was well-tolerated with no adverse effects on body proportion.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 18, 2019

Oldest frog relative found in North America

A team of paleontologists has discovered the oldest known frog fossils in North America, dating back to the Late Triassic period around 216 million years ago. The fossils, found in Arizona, provide new insights into the ecosystems of the time and highlight the importance of microfossil collection and analysis.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalBiology Letters·DateFeb 27, 2019

New mechanism of bone growth discovered

A study published in Nature reveals that bone growth in mice follows the same principles as cell production in blood and other tissues. The discovery suggests that bone growth may be more dynamic than previously thought, with cells generated from a stem-cell like progenitor cell.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature·DateFeb 27, 2019

Fetal growth inhibited by cocktail of chemicals in the mother

Researchers at Aarhus University have found that exposure to a combination of perfluorinated substances in pregnant women significantly impairs fetal growth and development. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, highlights the potential health risks associated with these environmental chemicals.

SourceAarhus University·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateFeb 25, 2019

Unintended side effects: antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome dysregulates skeletal health

Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina found that antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome leads to increased osteoclast activity, dysregulating post-pubertal skeletal development. The study also revealed changes in immune cell populations, including an increase in myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateJan 16, 2019

Stem cell signal drives new bone building

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a cellular protein signal that drives both bone and fat formation in stem cells. Harnessing this signal, WISP-1, could help fractures heal faster, speed surgical recovery and prevent bone loss due to aging or injury.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 7, 2019

Probiotics increase bone volume in healthy mice

A study published in Immunity found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation increased bone formation in female mice by stimulating the growth of butyrate-producing gut bacteria. This activation led to the expansion of regulatory T cells, which secrete a protein called Wnt10b, critical for bone development.

SourceCell Press·JournalImmunity·DateNov 13, 2018

Montreal researchers explain how your muscles form

Researchers at the University of Montreal have discovered two proteins essential to the development of skeletal muscle. The study, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on the 'dance' of muscle cell movement and how cells fuse together to form a single large cell, leading to improved understanding of rare muscular diseases.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 12, 2018