Changes in vertebral bone density in black girls and white girls during childhood and puberty

Article Abstract:

Osteoporosis, which is the loss of mineral density in the bone, contributes greatly to the risk of bone fractures in later life. Postmenopausal women are at high risk for osteoporosis. However, there are significant racial differences in this risk. Black people of either sex generally have greater bone mass than white people, and black women, therefore, are at a correspondingly lower risk for osteoporosis. There are other racial differences as well; Polynesians generally have higher bone mass than whites, while Asians generally have lower bone mass. Although there have been some published reports suggesting that black children have higher bone mineral density than white children, there is little data indicating whether there are racial differences in the maturation process. To learn more about the development of the skeleton and bone mineral density in girls, bone density was measured in 75 black girls and 75 white girls. Both groups ranged in age from 2 to 20 years, and were matched for age and stage of sexual development. In the present study, no differences in bone density were found between black and white girls prior to puberty. In both groups, the bone mineral density increased during puberty, but the increase was greater for black girls. During adolescence, the bone mineral density increased 34 percent among the black girls and 11 percent among the white girls; this difference in adolescent growth suggests that the metabolic and maturational changes which occur during puberty contribute greatly to the racial differences in bone mineral density that are observed later in life. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Growth, Health, Osteoporosis, Puberty, Health and race, Ethnic groups, Blacks, Bone development, Black race

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Brief report: treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease in glycogen storage disease type Ib with colony-stimulating factors

Article Abstract:

Colony-stimulating factors may be an effective treatment for chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by glycogen storage disease Type Ib. Glycogen storage disease type Ib is a rare genetic disorder that may cause inflammation of the intestine similar to Crohn's disease. Two patients with glycogen storage disease were treated with subcutaneously injected granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Both patients experienced complete relief from abdominal pain within five days to two weeks of starting treatment. Both experienced an increase in appetite and energy level, and both began to eat an unrestricted diet. Blood levels of neutrophils (white blood cells) increased to normal levels in both patients. One patient developed an allergic reaction to GM-CSF, and it was replaced with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). He was able to continue treatment with G-CSF.

Health aspects, Drug therapy, Inflammatory bowel diseases, Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, Glycogenosis, Glycogen storage diseases, Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor

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Vitamin D-receptor gene polymorphisms and bone density in prepubertal American girls of Mexican descent

Article Abstract:

Variations in the gene for the vitamin D receptor appear to be linked to bone density in children. Researchers used CT scans to measure the density of the spine and thighbone in 100 Mexican-American girls and genetic analysis to determine which vitamin D receptor gene they had. Two gene types resulted in a 2% to 3% higher density in the thighbone and an 8% to 10% higher density in the spine. However, no gene type was associated with larger bones. Genetic analysis could reveal children who could be at risk of bone fractures later in life.

Bone density, Genetic polymorphisms

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