Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Good bone, bad bone

A new hand-held instrument called OsteoProbe measures the bone material strength index (BMSi), which predicts bone fracture risk. The device is more sensitive than standard measurement techniques and can detect changes in cortical bone indentation following treatment with osteoporosis therapies.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateMar 24, 2015

Targets identified for developing therapies for IBMPFD

A new study has identified protein modification needed to treat IBMPFD, a rare and deadly genetic disorder. The researchers found that changing the p47 protein could lead to proper cellular functions in cells with mutated p97, opening the door for potential treatments or prevention.

SourceLA BioMed·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 16, 2015

Crocs rocked pre-Amazonian Peru

A new study has uncovered seven different species of crocodiles co-existing in the same place and time, filling gaps in understanding the Amazon's rich biodiversity. The research suggests that a peak in mollusk diversity was correlated with the rise of 'durophagous' crocodiles, which went extinct when the mega-wetlands transformed.

Infants with rare bone disease improve bone formation after cell transplantation

Researchers report a breakthrough in treating hypophosphatasia, a fatal genetic bone disease, by combining bone marrow transplants with mesenchymal stem cell transplants. The treatment has shown promising results in improving bone mineralization and survival rates for infants with severe hypophosphatasia.

Sleep problems may impact bone health

Recent research suggests sleep apnea impacts bone metabolism through sleep duration and quality disruptions. Daily rhythms play a crucial role in maintaining normal bone health.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateFeb 2, 2015

Collagen: Powerful workout with water

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute discovered that removing water from collagen fibers dramatically increases their tensile forces, generating up to 300 times more force than human muscles. This finding suggests a more active role for collagen in living organisms and opens new possibilities for developing novel materials.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 26, 2015

Fossil ankles indicate Earth's earliest primates lived in trees

Researchers found evidence of arboreality playing a key role in primate evolution, suggesting subtle changes allowed for easier navigation and better access to food in the trees. The discovery challenges traditional textbook illustrations and provides the oldest fossil evidence to date for this concept.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2015

New volume documents the science at the legendary snowmastodon fossil site in Colorado

The Snowmastodon Project Science Volume provides a new benchmark for understanding climate change in the American West, revealing dramatic ecosystems changes in response to climate shifts. The nearly continuous 85,000-year time span of the site offers the best-known record of life and climate at high elevation anywhere in North America.

SourceDenver Museum of Nature & Science·JournalQuaternary Science Reviews·DateNov 24, 2014

Older men less likely to receive osteoporosis screening and treatment following a bone fracture

A study found that older men are three times less likely than women to undergo osteoporosis screening and treatment after a broken wrist. This disparity increases the risk of future bone breaks and related complications in men, who already have twice the mortality rate of women following a hip fracture.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateNov 5, 2014

Osteoporosis, not just a woman's disease

A new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that men with osteoporosis-related fractures are under-screened for bone density testing and treatment. The research highlights the importance of evaluating and treating older men for osteoporosis, as fracture rates among men are expected to increase dramatically by 2050.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateNov 5, 2014

Kung fu stegosaur

Paleontologists uncover fatal stab wound in allosaur's pubis bone, suggesting stegosaurs wielded their tails as deadly weapons. The discovery challenges conventional views of stegosaurs as lumbering plant-eaters, highlighting their impressive dexterity and fighting skills.

Ancient rhino-relatives were water-loving

A new branch of mammals closely related to modern horses, rhinos, and tapirs has been identified through the discovery of ancient bones from India and Pakistan. These animals spent a considerable amount of time near water, similar to modern rhinos and tapirs, and were likely large and lumbering.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 8, 2014

A new way to extract bone-making cells from fat tissue

Researchers create a fluorescent tag that identifies bone-producing cells in human fat, yielding more than twice the yield of potential bone-makers compared to another method. The extracted cells produce significant amounts of bone matrix and show promise for regenerative therapies.

SourceBrown University·JournalStem Cell Research & Therapy·DateOct 6, 2014

How dinosaur arms turned into bird wings

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how birds evolved from dinosaurs by studying fossil and developmental data, revealing the fusion of two bones to form a semilunate bone. The study clarifies the identity of wrist bones in both groups, shedding light on the evolutionary reversal of a lost bone.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 30, 2014

Lifetime of fitness: A fountain of youth for bone and joint health?

Research suggests that comprehensive fitness and nutrition regimens can minimize bone and joint health decline and maintain overall physical health in seniors. The study recommends individualized exercise programs with resistance, endurance, flexibility, and balance training, as well as proper nutrition to optimize performance.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·DateAug 27, 2014

Smoking during pregnancy may affect grandchildren's growth

A UK study found that smoking during pregnancy affects grandkids' growth, with paternal grandmother's smoke increasing daughters' height and both sexes' bone mass. Maternal grandmother's smoke, however, linked to sons' increased weight and muscle mass during adolescence.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateAug 18, 2014