Osteoporosis in rheumatic diseases

The article presents a review of studies that have examined osteoporosis in rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic connective tissue diseases, and systemic vasculitis. The review discusses the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in these diseases, presents the results of epidemiological studies assessing the risk factors and the prevalence of osteoporosis in rheumatic diseases. There was a high prevalence of osteoporosis and fractures in rheumatic diseases, exceeding the population, associated primarily with systemic and local inflammation, as well as with the intake of glucocorticoids. It is indicated that the existing strategies for the treatment of rheumatic diseases may partially reduce bone loss, but long-term administration of glucocorticoids, on the contrary, increase bone resorption. The review presents data on the medications for the treatment of osteoporosis and approaches to the treatment of glucocorticoid osteoporosis.

Interleukin-10 Inhibits Bone Resorption: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy in Periodontitis and Other Bone Loss Diseases

Periodontitis and other bone loss diseases, decreasing bone volume and strength, have a significant impact on millions of people with the risk of tooth loss and bone fracture. The integrity and strength of bone are maintained through the balance between bone resorption and bone formation by osteoclasts and osteoblasts, respectively, so the loss of bone results from the disruption of such balance due to increased resorption or/and decreased formation of bone. The goal of therapies for diseases of bone loss is to reduce bone loss, improve bone formation, and then keep healthy bone density. Current therapies have mostly relied on long-term medication, exercise, anti-inflammatory therapies, and changing of the life style. However there are some limitations for some patients in the effective treatments for bone loss diseases because of the complexity of bone loss. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, and recent studies have indicated that IL-10 can contribute to the maintenance of bone mass through inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption and regulation of osteoblastic bone formation. This paper will provide a brief overview of the role of IL-10 in bone loss diseases and discuss the possibility of IL-10 adoption in therapy of bone loss diseases therapy.

Eurycoma longifolia: Medicinal Plant in the Prevention and Treatment of Male Osteoporosis due to Androgen Deficiency

Osteoporosis in elderly men is now becoming an alarming health issue due to its relation with a higher mortality rate compared to osteoporosis in women. Androgen deficiency (hypogonadism) is one of the major factors of male osteoporosis and it can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, one medicinal plant,Eurycoma longifoliaJack (EL), can be used as an alternative treatment to prevent and treat male osteoporosis without causing the side effects associated with TRT.ELexerts proandrogenic effects that enhance testosterone level, as well as stimulate osteoblast proliferation and osteoclast apoptosis. This will maintain bone remodelling activity and reduce bone loss. Phytochemical components ofELmay also prevent osteoporosis via its antioxidative property. Hence,ELhas the potential as a complementary treatment for male osteoporosis.

The Bone-Muscle Relationship in Men and Women

Muscle forces are a strong determinant of bone structure, particularly during the process of growth and development. The gender divergence in the bone-muscle relationship becomes strongly evident during adolescence. In females, growth is characterized by increased estrogen levels and increased mass and strength of bone relative to that of muscle, whereas in men, increases in testosterone fuel large increases in muscle, resulting in muscle forces that coincide with a large growth in bone dimensions and strength. In adulthood, significant age-related losses are observed for both bone and muscle tissues. Large decrease in estrogen levels in women appears to diminish the skeleton's responsiveness to exercise more than in men. In contrast, the aging of the muscle-bone axis in men is a function of age related declines in both hormones. In addition to the well-known age related changes in the mechanical loading of bone by muscle, newer studies appear to provide evidence of age- and gender-related variations in molecular signaling between bone and muscle that are independent of purely mechanical interactions. In summary, gender differences in the acquisition and age-related loss in bone and muscle tissues may be important for developing gender-specific strategies for using exercise to reduce bone loss with aging.