Biomedical subjects

A Joseph Foldes

Publications and source records attributed to A Joseph Foldes.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Serum levels of osteoprotegerin and osteoprotegerin polymorphisms in Gaucher disease.

Bone involvement in Gaucher disease causes disability and reduced quality of life; loss of function and pain are important indications for enzyme replacement therapy. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether osteoprotegerin (OPG), which decreases osteoclast activity, is indicative of incipient bone involvement by comparing OPG serum levels to Gaucher disease severity (SSI) and bone mineral density (BMD), and to correlate bone and disease markers to OPG polymorphisms: OPG1-2(A163G), OPG3-4(T129C) and OPG5-6(C1217T). Of 554 patients, 173 Ashkenazi Jewish patients with non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease were enrolled and 32 healthy Ashkenazi Jews served as controls. Serum OPG levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and BMD was obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry. OPG polymorphisms were determined in 63 randomly chosen patients. Serum OPG values for patients were not greater than in controls, but showed a statistically significant trend to increase with age (P = 0.057). No correlation existed between OPG levels and BMD or with genotype or other disease markers. A significant correlation was noted between OPG5-6 genotype and SSI. A significant difference was found between the allele distributions of each OPG polymorphism when compared with Caucasians and Ashkenazi Jews. OPG levels probably do not predict BMD in Gaucher disease and hence are not indicative of osteoporosis in Gaucher disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

High prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia in female military recruits.

Iron deficiency anemia has long been known to impair physical and mental performance. Iron deficiency itself, even without anemia, may also cause such an effect. Similar to female athletes, women in active military units may have increased risks for iron deficiency and its detrimental effects. Female recruits were screened for anemia and iron store status, and a questionnaire on lifestyle habits and menstruation was completed. Iron depletion (serum ferritin level of <20 microg/L) was found for 77% of study participants. Iron deficiency (ferritin level of <12 microg/L and transferrin saturation of <15%) was found for 15% of study participants. Anemia was found for 24% of subjects, and iron deficiency anemia was found for 10% of subjects. High prevalence of iron depletion, iron deficiency, anemia, and iron deficiency anemia was found among female recruits intended for active military duty. Therefore, a recommendation can be made to screen such female recruits for anemia and iron stores.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Treatment preference and tolerability with alendronate once weekly over a 3-month period: an Israeli multi-center study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Osteoporosis is a chronic condition requiring long-term treatment, for which compliance is not easy to achieve. 70 mg of alendronate once weekly (alendronate OW) provides equivalent efficacy to treatment with 10 mg of alendronate once a day (alendronate OD); however, there are relatively few data regarding patient and physician preferences for once-weekly vs daily dosing. The aim of this study was to measure compliance, convenience, tolerance and relative preference of alendronate OW treatment among post-menopausal women with osteoporosis and physician satisfaction, compared with previous treatment with alendronate OD. METHODS: This open-label, prospective multi-center trial was conducted at 14 hospitals and 150 primary-care community clinics in Israel. Post-menopausal osteoporotic women (n = 3710), who had been treated for at least 1 month with alendronate OD during the preceding year, were treated with alendronate OW for 12 weeks. Convenience, satisfaction, tolerance and relative preference of alendronate OW during the trial, compared with past experience with alendronate OD, were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 96% of the patients preferred the alendronate OW regimen to the 10-mg daily dosage. Nearly all (98%) the patients who completed 12 weeks of treatment, including 77% of patients who had previously discontinued daily treatment due to intolerance, were willing to continue the alendronate OW regimen. Patient-reported compliance with dosing instructions was over 98%. Alendronate OW was well tolerated; only 2.8% of patients discontinued, due to adverse events. Physicians were highly satisfied with the once-weekly dosing regimen, and recommended continued treatment with alendronate OW for 99% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of post-menopausal women with osteoporosis, including those who were previously intolerant to alendronate OD, preferred alendronate OW to the once-daily dosing regimen. It is important to consider patient preference when selecting the appropriate treatment for osteoporosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Bone density changes with enzyme therapy for Gaucher disease.

Gaucher disease is the most common lysosomal storage disease. Enzyme replacement therapy engenders improvement in hematological and visceral parameters; however, improvement in bone density (BMD) with treatment has not been confirmed. This study presents follow-up of BMD in the first ten patients in Israel treated with low-dose recombinant enzyme for up to 108 months. BMD at femoral neck and lumbar spine was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the start of the trial, after 3-6 months, after 18-24 months, and at the most recent follow-up. BMD in all patients was very low at onset and never normalized. There was a decrease in BMD in all patients at 3-6 months. Older patients (four women, two men; >30 years of age) showed some improvement in BMD during treatment. Younger patients (four females; 18-23 years of age) did not show a statistically significant improvement. These findings might reflect the failure of patients with Gaucher disease to achieve expected peak bone density at appropriate chronological milestones despite treatment. Nonetheless, the z-scores of the older patients were better than those of the younger patients, implying some catch-up period. Yet, some patients with Gaucher disease evince rapid onset of osteoporosis in early adulthood. Enzyme treatment per se, as well as attendant improved well-being and increased physical activity, may induce amelioration in BMD at this later stage. One may consider adding anti-osteoporosis therapy in young adults to induce earlier "catch up" to peak bone mass, and then enzyme replacement in later adulthood to prevent decrements in bone mass related to Gaucher cell infiltration.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Decreased bone density in carriers and patients of an Israeli family with the osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe juvenile-onset osteoporosis and congenital or early-onset blindness. Other manifestations include muscular hypotonia, ligamentous laxity, mild mental retardation and seizures. The gene responsible was recently identified to be the low density lipoprotein receptor-related family member LRP5 on chromosome 11q11-12. OBJECTIVE: To measure bone density in two siblings with the OPPG syndrome as well as in their family members (parents and siblings). METHODS: Bone mineral density was determined in the lumbar spine (antero-posterior), femoral neck, two-thirds distal forearm (> 95% cortical bone) and ultradistal forearm (predominantly trabecular bone) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The studies revealed osteoporotic changes both in the patients and the carriers. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that OPPG carriers have reduced bone mass, which is a risk factor for development of early osteoporotic changes.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗