Research on bone health and repair. Covers bone healing, mineral density, skeletal evolution, and radiopharmaceutical trials.
Consuming too much vitamin A may decrease bone thickness and increase fracture risk in humans. A recent study found that mice exposed to lower doses of vitamin A equivalent to 4.5-13 times the recommended daily allowance showed significant weakening of bones over a 10-week period.
A new DNA tool created by Michigan State University can accurately predict people's height and potentially assess their risk for serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer. The tool uses machine learning and analyzes the complete genetic makeup of nearly 500,000 adults in the UK to build predictors for complex traits.
Researchers uncover evidence of ancient goiter and thyroid disease using science and art in a 2,000-year-old carved statue. The discovery challenges traditional theories about the statue's representation of achondroplasia, providing new insights into the health and diet of Native Americans.
A study published in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that 8.3% of patients with total hip replacements experienced atypical femoral fractures, a type of rare stress fracture. The researchers also discovered a strong association between bisphosphonate use and the risk of these fractures.
A new approach using umbilical cord blood stem cells has shown promising results in repairing cleft palates in infants. The procedure, performed as part of reconstructive surgery when the infant is a few months old, provides good results in growing new bone to close the upper jaw cleft and may avoid the need for later bone graft surgery.
A new study found that exercise minimizes changes in muscle mass, bone density, and belly fat when estrogen levels drop, but does not protect against metabolic changes. Researchers discovered that while exercise reduces the risk of osteoporosis, it does not affect resting metabolic rate or energy balance in women with menopause.
Researchers discover Jinguofortis perplexus, a Pygostylia species with both bird-like and dinosaur-like features, providing insight into the evolution of modern birds. The study highlights the role of developmental plasticity in shaping the avian shoulder girdle.
Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from a human skeleton in Scandinavia to determine the genomic blueprint of the louse-borne relapsing fever pathogen Borrelia recurrentis. The study found that the ancient strain had fewer genes for antigenic variation and retained a regulatory gene, suggesting reductive evolution.
The discovery of the human skeletal stem cell could lead to treatments for regenerating bone and cartilage in people. The researchers created a family tree of stem cells important to the development and maintenance of the human skeleton.
Human skeletal stem cells have been isolated from fetal and adult bones, providing a breakthrough in understanding the molecular diagnosis and treatment of skeletal diseases. The discovery enables researchers to create a detailed lineage map of stem-cell-mediated formation of skeletal tissues in humans.
Hematologic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors are at risk of bone loss and osteoporosis, increasing the likelihood of fragility fractures. The IOF expert Working Group on Cancer and Bone Disease provides clinical guidance for monitoring, evaluation, and treatment of bone loss in these patients.
Scientists discover that as we age, a small molecule called microRNA-141-3p increases and silences key signaling molecules like SDF-1 in stem cells, leading to weaker bone formation. Restoring a youthful balance could be a novel approach to reducing age-related problems like osteoporosis.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed an injectable-targeted drug that demonstrates accelerated and improved bone fracture healing. The grant will support human trials for this novel treatment, which could also be used for other conditions such as dental implants and spinal fractures.
Scientists have discovered that humans arrived on Madagascar more than 6,000 years earlier than previously thought. Analysis of ancient bird bones found in the island reveals cut marks and depression fractures consistent with hunting and butchery by prehistoric humans.
A new study led by Dr. Tishya Wren at Children's Hospital Los Angeles aims to understand bone loss in ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy. The research will assess the bone health of 148 participants, identifying critical periods for intervention and guiding future interventions to maximize bone strength.
Researchers from the University of Bradford analyzed Anglo Saxon children's milk teeth to identify modern children at risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The study found that teeth provide a more reliable indicator of diet and health than bones, revealing biomarkers for stress in early life.
Researchers at the University of Kansas have developed two novel imaging procedures that enable better, more useful digital pictures of Earth's biodiversity. The techniques involve 'cleared and stained' specimens and fluorescent microscopy, allowing scientists to capture intricate anatomical structures in new ways.
A new study reveals that humans may have cultivated plants as far back as 4,800 years ago in Southern Brazil. The analysis of ancient human remains found teeth and bones rich in carbohydrates, suggesting a diet rich in cultivated yams and sweet potatoes.
A recent genome-wide association study found that only two factors - bone mineral density and muscle strength - contribute to fracture risk, while vitamin D levels do not directly predispose people to fractures. Increasing bone strength is more effective in preventing fractures than widespread vitamin D supplementation.
Limpets exhibit surprising sensory and self-healing abilities, detecting minor damage to their shells and remodelling them for strength. They actively repair structural weaknesses, restoring mechanical strength within a month.
Researchers re-examined ancient Propotto leakeyi fossil and found it was an early relative of the aye-aye, challenging the long-held view that lemurs descended from a single wave to Madagascar. The study proposes two lineages split in Africa before coming to Madagascar, suggesting a more complex evolutionary history.
A new expert review outlines the clinical characteristics of bone fragility in adults with diabetes and provides valuable insights for diagnosis and treatment. The review highlights recent studies on bone mineral density, biochemical markers, and fracture prediction to inform clinicians about the optimal approach to managing bone healt...
Researchers have found that early farmers at Çatalhöyük turned to drought-resistant sheep and goats during a sudden climate event 8,200 years ago. The study used ancient animal fats in cooking pots to detect changes in precipitation patterns, providing new insights into past climate conditions.
Scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center have engineered a system allowing microscopic monitoring and imaging of cancer in mice, enabling better understanding and treatment of bone metastasis. The model reveals how cancer cells interact with bone and bone resident cells over time, providing insights into the disease's progression.
Researchers have solved a 160-year-old mystery about the origin of vertebrates' skeletons by studying ancient fossils. They found that heterostracan skeletons were made from a unique tissue called aspidin, which is later revealed to be bone-like in structure.
A new mouse model has been developed to study bone metastasis, allowing researchers to inject a large number of cancer cells without causing death. The model enables the detection of bone metastasis in the hind limbs with high efficiency and provides insights into cancer cell dormancy and reactivation.
A new study found that twice-weekly one-hour football training sessions combined with dietary guidance significantly improved bone health in untrained 55-70-year-olds with prediabetes. After 16 weeks, the participants showed marked improvements in clinically important sites, including a 3.2% increase in femoral neck bone mineral content.
Researchers discovered that snipefish use an elastic-boosted head flick to capture prey at unprecedented speed, with the fastest recorded events occurring in just two milliseconds. This mechanism allows the fish to pivot their heads rapidly and bring their mouth up close to the prey.
Researchers analyzed over 4,000 mosasaur fossil specimens to determine if quality impacts our understanding of past biodiversity. The study found that the rich fossil record provides an accurate picture of mosasaur diversity and evolutionary history despite variable completeness.
Researchers found that the PGC-1α gene controls the equilibrium of bone and fat in bone marrow and affects how stem cells differentiate into bone or fat cells. Increasing PGC-1α expression may slow down bone loss and decrease bone marrow fat, suggesting a protective role in maintaining the bone-to-fat balance.
Researchers have discovered ancient tools in China that date back to 2.12 million years ago, challenging the long-held assumption that early humans left Africa at this time. The findings indicate that early human ancestors colonized East Asia over two million years ago.
University of Utah engineers uncover the reasons behind vertigo caused by specific sounds, linking it to a thinning of the bone enclosing the inner ear. The study reveals pathological fluid mechanical waves in the semicircular canals as the culprit, causing incorrect signals sent to the brain.
This study evaluated perioral soft tissue changes after orthognathic surgery using 3D CT scans. Significant post-operative changes were observed in nasolabial and mentolabial angles, while lip width remained unchanged.
The USPSTF updates its recommendation on screening for osteoporosis to include bone measurement testing for prevention of osteoporotic fractures in eligible populations. Approximately 12 million individuals in the US older than 50 years are expected to have osteoporosis by 2020.
Researchers have identified the biological process of mineralization that occurs in young corals, shedding light on coral reef formation and the storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The discovery also holds implications for new biotechnological developments using coral extractions to regenerate human bones.
Experts argue that persistent musculoskeletal pain without an obvious cause cannot be 'cured' and should be managed as other long-term conditions. Clinicians must be honest about what can be achieved, and patients need to take control of their condition through lifestyle changes.
Researchers have found that probiotics can significantly reduce bone loss in older women, halving the rate of bone degeneration compared to those who received a placebo. This discovery has important implications for preventing fractures among the elderly and may offer a new preventive treatment for osteoporosis.
A recent study found no correlation between circulating bone turnover markers and hip fracture risk among postmenopausal women. The research adds to the existing evidence that these markers are not useful for predicting hip fracture risk.
A new study challenges the classic image of dinosaurs, revealing that they couldn't stick out their tongues. Researchers compared hyoid bones of modern birds and crocodiles with those of extinct dinosaur relatives, finding that most dinosaurs had short, simple tongue bones anchored to the floor of their mouth.
The Anzick site in Montana has been dated to between 12,725 and 12,900 years ago, based on specific amino acid radiocarbon dating of human remains. This confirms the contemporaneity of human remains and Clovis artifacts, resolving long-standing dating issues and providing new insights into early human habitation in North America.
Researchers found that individuals living at high altitude have shorter lower arm segments but relatively similar upper arm and hand lengths compared to those living at low altitudes. This suggests the human body prioritizes energy allocation for growth, particularly in essential areas like manual dexterity.
A large international study found that higher circulating vitamin D concentrations are significantly associated with lower colorectal cancer risk. Optimal vitamin D concentrations for colorectal cancer prevention may be higher than current recommendations.
Staphylococcus aureus uses specific amino acid biosynthesis pathways to obtain essential nutrients from host tissues during invasive infection. The discovery sheds light on how bacterial pathogens survive in bone and may lead to the development of new antimicrobial therapies.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center identified two biomarkers that indicate patients likely to develop osteolysis, a condition causing joint loosening and potential revision surgery. These biomarkers can be detected up to six years before diagnosis.
Researchers developed an improved method for calculating risk for heart attack or stroke, finding that 11 million Americans may need to discuss different prescriptions with their doctor. The new calculations suggest major changes to statin, aspirin, and blood pressure medication prescribing, particularly for African Americans.
Researchers found weight loss over 40 years linked to significant bone deterioration, increasing fracture risk by almost three-fold. Weight-bearing exercise and balanced diet may help counteract negative effects on the skeleton.
A 2.5 metre-deep excavation at Eastland Port uncovered moa bones and stone tools made of obsidian and chert, dating back to the early 1300s.
New research suggests that a narrow corridor along Alaska's Pacific coast could have enabled early human migration to the Americas as far back as 17,000 years ago. The authors used dating and reanalysis of animal bones to reconstruct deglaciation and find that the area was habitable during this time period.
A $1.7 million NIH grant will aid in understanding citrate signaling for bone development and designing novel biomaterials. Researchers aim to mimic native tissue composition and induce bone growth through citrate-presenting biomaterials.
Researchers at UMass Lowell are using origami to create new biomaterials that can grow cells for repairing or regenerating tissues such as skin, bone, cartilage, and blood vessels. The team's paper-based platforms have shown promise in biocompatibility and potential applications for wound care.
Researchers used a novel approach to study the movement of ancient birds and reptiles, finding that many assumed poses were impossible due to ligament limitations. This challenges traditional views on pterosaur flight and provides new methods for assessing joint mobility in extinct species.
A new software tool called the automated bone scan index (aBSI) has been shown to be both accurate and speedy in calculating how extensively bones have been infiltrated by prostate cancer. The aBSI technology provided prognostic information about patient outcomes, including survival time and symptom progression.
Researchers have discovered four separate lineages of green-blooded lizards, each with unique evolutionary history. The study suggests that high levels of biliverdin in these lizards may have adaptive value, potentially leading to new approaches to treating human diseases such as malaria.
A new expert consensus review found that a balanced diet with sufficient protein intake can benefit adult bone health, particularly in seniors with osteoporosis. Adequate calcium intake is crucial to support the benefits of dietary protein on bone density and reduce fracture risk.
A WSU research team has made a breakthrough in 3D-printed bone health by combining natural medical cures with modern biomedical devices. The addition of curcumin to ceramic scaffolds improved bone growth capabilities by 30-45%, offering new hope for treating bone diseases like osteoporosis.
Researchers used scanning transmission electron microscopy to reveal a filamentous pattern of long, curved crystals in bone. A previously unknown substructure was discovered: rose-shaped crystals arranged into left-handed helices.
Weight loss surgery can cause declines in bone mass and strength, with increased risk of bone fractures. Nutritional factors, mechanical unloading, hormonal changes, and body composition alterations contribute to poor bone health.
Researchers found symbolic objects in Hayonim Cave, Israel, characterized by repetitive notches on scapulae and a hyoid of gazelle, suggesting cultural identification of the Levantine Aurignacian culture. The findings provide insights into the origins and spread of this ancient culture.
Brazilian researchers use human tissue samples from victims of the Hiroshima bombing to measure radiation dose absorbed by bones. The study confirms the feasibility of this method and opens up possibilities for future research, clarifying details of the nuclear attack.
A 3,000-year-old horse burial in Sudan has provided significant insights into the Kushite state formation and the role of horses in ancient Nubian culture. The discovery, dated to around 950 BC, reveals that horses were central to the state's identity and foreshadowed later developments in Nubian kingship.