Bones News

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Osteoporosis Drug Seems to Shrink Breast Tumors
Zoledronic acid (Zometa), used to treat osteoporosis patients, also appears to shrink tumors in breast cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy…

Monday, December 15, 2008 Diabetes Drugs Double Fracture Risk
Long-term use of a popular class of oral diabetic drugs doubles the risk of fractures in women with type 2 diabetes...

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 OA Imaging Explains Subchondral Cysts, Bone Marrow Edema
New OA imaging studies support the bony contusion theory of subchondral cyst formation and show that bone marrow edema in the medial tibia, but not other sites, is a good marker for OA severity...

Monday, December 08, 2008 Medtronic Challenges Lawsuit Over Spinal Implant
The family of a woman who died after having neck surgery with Infuse Bone Graft is suing Medtronic, the maker of the spinal implant, for promoting off-label use of their device...

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 Medicaid DXA Cuts Jeopardize Osteoporosis Care
If Medicaid reimbursement cuts for dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are not reversed, experts predict a surge in osteoporotic fractures that will raise costs far beyond the DXA cost savings...

Monday, December 01, 2008 Bone Finding May Point to Hope for Osteoporosis
Serotonin formed in the gut, whose use has long been a mystery to researchers, may play a critical role in bone formation…

Thursday, November 20, 2008 FDA Says Bisphosphonates Do Not Cause Atrial Fibrillation
The FDA has concluded that there is no causal link between the use of bisphosphonates and atrial fibrillation...

Monday, November 17, 2008 Vitamin D Levels Linked to OA Cartilage Loss, OA Pain, and SSc Disease Activity by ACR Researchers
Low vitamin D levels are associated with faster progression of joint damage, bone loss, and pain in OA and with higher levels of inflammatory markers and vascular complications in systemic sclerosis, suggesting that more attention to vitamin D supplements might be in order...

Thursday, November 13, 2008 H. pylori Suspected in Oral Bisphosphonate Intolerance, SSc Stomach Problems
Helicobacter pylori infects nearly half of patients who cannot tolerate oral bisphosphonates and over 80% of systemic sclerosis patients. Treating H. pylori might reduce GI problems and increase treatment options in these and other rheumatoid conditions...

Thursday, November 13, 2008 Parathyroid Hormone Patch May Increase BMD and Adherence
A new patch that delivers parathyroid hormone (PTH) may increase spine and hip BMD and avoid some of the compliance issues seen with subcutaneous daily injections of PTH…