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New opportunities for detecting osteoporosis

A large-scale study found that LDCT scans can identify a significant number of adults with low bone mineral density, equating to 49 million and 22.8 million Chinese citizens, respectively. The study revealed an unexpectedly high prevalence of osteoporosis in men, which may impact management strategies.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateNov 4, 2020

Texas A&M expert: New clues revealed about Clovis people

Researchers have discovered that the iconic Clovis spear-point and other distinctive tools were created by North America's earliest inhabitants for only a brief 300-year period. This finding provides new insights into the origin and demise of the Clovis culture, which once occupied the continent at the end of the last Ice Age.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2020

Women orthopaedic surgeons report high rates of sexual harassment

A survey of 250 women orthopaedic surgeons found that 68% reported experiencing sexual harassment during their training, with common types including obscene images, unwanted touching, and invitations. Despite efforts to recruit more women and increase leadership positions, the problem persists, emphasizing the need for targeted trainin...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateSep 23, 2020

Stronger bones thanks to heat and microbiota

Researchers found exposure to warmer temperatures improves bone strength, preventing bone density loss typical of osteoporosis. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in this phenomenon, adapting to heat by disrupting polyamine synthesis and degradation, which affects osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 11, 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

Anorexia may stunt young women's growth

A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism highlights the impact of anorexia nervosa on young women's growth. The research found that girls with anorexia nervosa tend to have stunted growth, which may affect their overall health and well-being.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateAug 20, 2020

Long-term risks of joint implants

A study published in Advanced Science has revealed that joint implants can release metals into the surrounding bone tissue, leading to osteolysis and premature loosening. The researchers used a unique synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging setup to determine the concentration and distribution of metallic degradation products.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalAdvanced Science·DateAug 11, 2020

New strategy against osteoporosis

Researchers identified a small protein that mobilizes bone resorbing cells under osteoporotic conditions. Chemical inhibitors targeting this protein show promise in blocking bone resorption without disrupting normal bone turnover.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2020

UMass Amherst biologists zero in on cells' environmental sensing mechanism

Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a key protein component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway as an important player in phenotypic plasticity, allowing cells to sense and respond to environmental inputs. This finding provides insights into how genes and environment interact to shape anatomical traits.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 28, 2020

Wrong number of fingers leads down wrong track

Researchers from the Universities of Bonn and Opole have discovered a fossilized hand with five metacarpal bones in a Late Triassic temnospondyl, Metoposaurus krasiejowensis. This finding is significant because it challenges the long-held assumption that early ancestors of modern frogs and salamanders had only four fingers. The discove...

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Anatomy·DateJul 24, 2020

3D X-ray reveals secrets from inside bones

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown substructure in healthy bone tissue using new X-ray techniques, revealing deviations in the orientation of nanocrystals. This discovery has significant implications for understanding bone diseases and developing new biomaterials.

SourceAarhus University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 15, 2020

Self-healing bone cement

Material scientists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena have developed a calcium phosphate cement with added carbon fibers that can seal cracks and promote self-healing. This intrinsic ability could expand the use of bone implants to include load-bearing areas, improving outcomes for patients with fractures or defects.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 10, 2020