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J Christopher Gallagher

Publications and source records attributed to J Christopher Gallagher.

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An age-related decrease in creatinine clearance is associated with an increase in number of falls in untreated women but not in women receiving calcitriol treatment.

CONTEXT: Decreased calcitriol production due to impaired renal function may be a significant risk factor for falls in normal aging population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the association between creatinine clearance (CrCl) and the incidence of falls and fallers in groups treated with placebo, calcitriol, estrogen therapy (ET)/estrogen + progestin therapy (HT), and calcitriol + ET/HT. DESIGN: This was a 3-yr, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to test the efficacy of calcitriol and ET/HT on bone loss and falls with analysis by intention to treat and post hoc. SETTING: The study was conducted at an academic outpatient center. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred eighty-nine normal elderly women aged 65-77 yr; 415 women completed the study. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to placebo, calcitriol 0.25 mug twice a day, ET daily (conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg), HT (conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg + medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg) and calcitriol + ET/HT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative number of falls and fallers were compared between groups with 24-h urine CrCl less than 60 and 60 ml/min or greater. RESULTS: Calcitriol treatment decreased the number of fallers and falls. Low CrCl less than 60 ml/min was a predictor of the number of falls per person but not fallers in the placebo group (P = 0.007). In the low CrCl group (<60 ml/min), the rate of falls decreased on calcitriol by 53% [95% confidence interval (CI) -71% to -22%; P = 0.003], calcitriol + ET/HT by 61% (95% CI -76% to -37%; P = 0.001), and ET/HT by 25% (95% CI: -55% to +24%; not significant). Calcitriol reduced the rate of falls by 30% (95% CI -49% to -4%; P = 0.027) in the CrCl 60 ml/min or greater group. CONCLUSION: Calcitriol treatment decreases falls in all subjects but especially in elderly women with decreased renal function (<60 ml/min) and frequent fallers.

Accidental Falls↗

Teriparatide increases bone formation in modeling and remodeling osteons and enhances IGF-II immunoreactivity in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

UNLABELLED: Transiliac bone biopsies were obtained from 55 women treated with teriparatide or placebo for 12-24 months. We report direct evidence that modeling bone formation at quiescent surfaces was present only in teriparatide-treated patients and bone formation at remodeling sites was higher with teriparatide than placebo. INTRODUCTION: Recombinant teriparatide [human PTH(1-34)], a bone formation agent for the treatment of osteoporosis when given once daily subcutaneously, increases biochemical markers of bone turnover and activation frequency in histomorphometry studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the mechanisms underlying this bone-forming action of teriparatide at the basic multicellular unit by the appearance of cement lines, a method used to directly classify surfaces as modeling or remodeling osteons, and by the immunolocalization of IGF-I and IGF-II. Transiliac bone biopsies were obtained from 55 postmenopausal women treated with teriparatide 20 or 40 microg or placebo for 12-24 months (median, 19.8 months) in the Fracture Prevention Trial. RESULTS: A dose-dependent relationship was observed in modeling and mixed remodeling/modeling trabecular hemiosteons. Trabecular and endosteal hemiosteon mean wall thicknesses were significantly higher in both teriparatide groups than in placebo. There was a dose-dependent relationship in IGF-II immunoreactive staining at all bone envelopes studied. The greater local IGF-II presence after treatment with teriparatide may play a key role in stimulating bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: Direct evidence is presented that 12-24 months of teriparatide treatment induced modeling bone formation at quiescent surfaces and resulted in greater bone formation at remodeling sites, relative to placebo.

Aged↗

Early changes in biochemical markers of bone formation correlate with improvements in bone structure during teriparatide therapy.

CONTEXT: Biochemical markers of bone turnover may reflect bone structure during anabolic treatment. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate associations between changes in biochemical markers and structural and dynamic bone parameters during teriparatide treatment. DESIGN: This study was a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled fracture prevention trial, with 20-month median treatment duration for biopsy subset. SETTING: The trial was conducted at 11 clinical study sites. PATIENTS: Sixty-one postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who had paired transiliac biopsy specimens participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Once-daily sc injections of either placebo or teriparatide (20 or 40 microg) were administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The study measured: 1) serum and urinary biochemical markers of bone formation [bone alkaline phosphatase and procollagen I C-terminal propeptide (PICP)] and resorption (N-telopeptide and deoxypyridinoline); and 2) structural and dynamic analyses of bone biopsies, including two-dimensional (2D) histomorphometry and three-dimensional (3D) micro-computed tomography evaluations measured at baseline (n = 57) and 12 (n = 21) or 22 (n = 36) months. RESULTS: U-N-telopeptide/creatinine and serum-PICP correlated with bone structure and dynamic indices at baseline, respectively. Changes in bone alkaline phosphatase at 1 month correlated with changes at 22 months in 2D wall thickness (r = 0.73; P = 0.001), trabecular bone volume (trabecular bone volume per total volume, BV/TV) (r = 0.58; P < 0.05), marrow star volume (r = -0.51; P = 0.05); 3D trabecular thickness (r = 0.49; P < 0.05), and BV/TV (r = 0.54; P < 0.05). Changes in PICP at 1 month correlated with changes in wall thickness (r = 0.60; P = 0.01), and 2D BV/TV (r = 0.51; P < 0.05) at 22 months. Changes in markers at 6 or 12 months were not associated with changes in structural or dynamic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Early (1-month) changes in biochemical markers of bone formation, but not resorption, correlated with improvements in bone structure after 22 months of teriparatide therapy.

Aged↗

Bone response to treatment with lower doses of conjugated estrogens with and without medroxyprogesterone acetate in early postmenopausal women.

Lower doses of conjugated estrogens (CE) alone or combined with lower doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) increase mean bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline at the spine and hip in early postmenopausal women. However, not all women on therapy gain BMD. The incidence of continued bone loss (defined as a loss of BMD of > 2% from baseline) among women using lower doses of CE and CE/MPA is unknown. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter substudy of the Women's Health, Osteoporosis, Progestin, Estrogen (Women's HOPE) trial investigated the incidence of continued bone loss with lower-dose CE and CE/MPA. Eight hundred twenty-two healthy postmenopausal women with intact uteri received CE 0.625, CE 0.625/MPA 2.5, CE 0.45, CE 0.45/MPA 2.5, CE 0.45/MPA 1.5, CE 0.3, CE 0.3/MPA 1.5 (all doses in mg/day), or placebo for 2 years along with 600 mg/day of calcium. Changes from baseline in spine and total hip BMD were compared among treatment groups in an intent-to-treat analysis. At 12 months, < 10% of women on active treatment lost > 2% of spinal BMD (except CE 0.3/MPA 1.5 [15.6%]), compared with 41.2% of women on placebo. At 24 months, the percentages of women on active treatment who lost > 2% of spine BMD ranged from 4.5% with CE 0.45/MPA 1.5-15.6% with CE 0.3/MPA 1.5, compared with 55.2% of women taking placebo. More than 85% of women on active treatment did not experience continued BMD loss at the hip at 12 months and 24 months, in contrast to 30.6% of women on placebo at 12 months and 36.5% at 24 months. Women receiving active treatment who lost > 2% of spine or hip BMD also had a lesser reduction in biochemical markers of bone turnover. In summary, continued bone loss among early postmenopausal women treated with lower doses of CE or CE/MPA is uncommon.

Adult↗

Teriparatide reduces the fracture risk associated with increasing number and severity of osteoporotic fractures.

The relationship between prior fractures and risk of new fractures was evaluated in 931 postmenopausal women with prevalent vertebral fractures randomized to daily placebo or teriparatide (20 mug) in the Fracture Prevention Trial. The median observation time was 21 months. Among placebo patients with one, two, or three or more prevalent vertebral fractures, 7%, 16%, and 23%, respectively, developed vertebral fractures (by Cochran-Armitage trend test, P < 0.001), and 3%, 9%, and 17% developed moderate or severe vertebral fractures (P < 0.001). Among placebo patients with mild, moderate, or severe prevalent vertebral fractures, 10%, 13%, and 28%, respectively, developed vertebral fractures (P < 0.001), and 4%, 8%, and 23% developed moderate or severe vertebral fractures (P < 0.001). Among placebo patients with zero, one, or two or more prior nonvertebral fragility fractures, 4%, 8%, and 18%, respectively, developed nonvertebral fragility fractures (P < 0.001). In the teriparatide-treated group, there was no significant increase in vertebral or nonvertebral fracture risk in these subgroups. In summary, the number and severity of prevalent vertebral fractures independently predicted the risk for new vertebral fractures, and the number of prior nonvertebral fractures predicted the risk for new nonvertebral fractures in placebo patients. However, in teriparatide-treated patients, the increased fracture risk associated with prior number and severity of fracture was not observed.

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Endogenous levels of serum estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin determine bone mineral density, bone remodeling, the rate of bone loss, and response to treatment with estrogen in elderly women.

A total of 489 elderly women aged 65-75 yr who participated in a 3-yr, randomized, blinded osteoporosis trial underwent measurements of serum estradiol, bioavailable estradiol, and SHBG. At baseline, bone mineral density (BMD) was lower at the femoral sites (7-19%, P < 0.05), total body (6-8%, P < 0.05), and spine (5-9%, P = 0.2) in women in the lowest tertile for serum total estradiol [<9 pg/ml (33 pmol/liter)], serum bioavailable estradiol [<2.4 pg/ml (8.8 pmol/liter)], or highest tertile for serum SHBG (>165 nmol/liter), compared with women in the highest tertiles of total estradiol [>13.3 pg/ml (49 pmol/liter)] and bioavailable estradiol [>4 pg/ml (14 pmol/liter)] or lowest tertile for SHBG (<113 nmol/liter). Bone markers were increased in women in the lowest tertile for serum total estradiol (not significant) and bioavailable estradiol (P < 0.05) and highest tertile for SHBG (P < 0.05). In the longitudinal study, the rate of bone loss in the placebo group was significantly higher in total body (P < 0.05) and spine (P < 0.05) in women in the lowest tertile, compared with the highest tertile of serum bioavailable estradiol. After treatment with conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg/d, the increase in BMD was 4-6% higher at the femoral sites (P < 0.05), total body (P < 0.05), and spine (not significant), in the lowest tertile, compared with the highest tertile of serum bioavailable estradiol or highest tertile, compared with the lowest tertile of serum SHBG. In summary, small variations in endogenous serum estradiol and high serum SHBG determine differences in BMD and rate of bone loss in elderly women and also affect the response to treatment with estrogen. Women with a serum estradiol level of less than 9 pg/ml (33 pmol/liter) are optimal candidates for estrogen therapy for osteoporosis prevention.

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Protein intake: effects on bone mineral density and the rate of bone loss in elderly women.

BACKGROUND: The role of dietary protein in bone metabolism is controversial. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the associations of dietary protein intake with baseline bone mineral density (BMD) and the rate of bone loss over 3 y in postmenopausal elderly women. DESIGN: Women aged 65-77 y (n = 489) were enrolled in an osteoporosis intervention trial. We studied the associations of protein intake as a percentage of energy with baseline BMD and the rate of bone loss in 96 women in the placebo group (n = 96). We also examined the effect of the interaction of dietary calcium intake with protein intake on BMD. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional study, a higher intake of protein was associated with higher BMD. BMD was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the spine (7%), midradius (6%), and total body (5%) in subjects in the highest quartile of protein intake than in those in the lower 2 quartiles. This positive association was seen in women with calcium intakes > 408 mg/d. There was no significant effect of protein intake on hip BMD. In the longitudinal study of the placebo group, there was no association between protein intake and the rate of bone loss. CONCLUSIONS: The highest quartile of protein intake (: 72 g/d) was associated with higher BMD in elderly women at baseline only when the calcium intake exceeded 408 mg/d. In the longitudinal study, no association was seen between protein intake and the rate of bone loss, perhaps because the sample size was too small or the follow-up period of 3 y was not long enough to detect changes.

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Effect of discontinuation of estrogen, calcitriol, and the combination of both on bone density and bone markers.

In a 5-yr randomized prospective study we examined the treatment effect of estrogen replacement therapy/hormone replacement therapy (ERT/HRT), calcitriol, ERT/HRT and calcitriol, or placebo for 3 yr and the effect of discontinuation of therapy for 2 more yr on bone mineral density (BMD), calciotropic hormones, markers of bone remodeling, and calcium absorption in 489 elderly women. The treatment phase of the study was double-blinded. After discontinuing therapy for 2 yr, there was rapid bone loss in all 3 treatment groups, and most of the decrease in BMD occurred in the first year. In the ERT/HRT group, spine BMD increased 5.5% in yr 3, decreased 3.2% in yr 4, and decreased 0.7% in yr 5; femoral neck BMD increased 3.7% in yr 3, decreased 2.5% in yr 4, and decreased 0.4% in yr 5; total body BMD increased 2.1% in yr 3, decreased 1.4% in yr 4, and decreased 0.6% in yr 5. In the combination group, spine BMD increased 7.1% in yr 3, decreased 4.3% in yr 4, and decreased 0.3% in yr 5; femoral neck BMD increased 4.5% in yr 3, decreased 3.0% in yr 4, and decreased 0.01% in yr 5; total body BMD increased 2.2% in yr 3, decreased 1.5% in yr 4, and decreased 0.6% in yr 5. In the calcitriol group, spine BMD increased 1.8% in yr 3, decreased 1.8% in yr 4, and showed no change in yr 5; femoral neck BMD increased 0.2% in yr 3, decreased 0.2% in yr 4, and decreased 0.6% in yr 5; total body BMD decreased 0.4% in yr 3, decreased 0.6% in yr 4, and decreased 0.4% in yr 5. Compared with placebo, all treated groups at yr 5 had significantly higher total body BMD; only the combination group had significantly higher spine BMD (3.4%; P < 0.001) and total hip BMD (2.4%; P < 0.01.) compared with the placebo group. Compared with baseline, only spine BMD in the combination group was significantly higher (2.6%; P < 0.001) at yr 5. The increase in calcium absorption and the decrease in serum PTH levels in the calcitriol groups were reversed after discontinuation of treatment, and the decrease in bone markers was reversed in the hormone-treated groups. These results suggest that discontinuation of ERT/HRT and/or calcitriol therapy in elderly women leads to a decrease in much of the BMD gained on treatment; however, in the combination group there was a statistically significant residual effect on spine BMD.

Absorption↗

Seasonal changes in calciotropic hormones, bone markers, and bone mineral density in elderly women.

Seasonal variation of serum vitamin D metabolites, PTH, bone turnover markers, and bone mineral density (BMD), adjusted for confounding variables, was studied in a cross-sectional population of 251 ambulatory elderly women aged 65-77 yr. A significant (P < 0.05) seasonal change was observed in serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), bone resorption marker (urine N-telopeptide), and BMD of the spine, total body, and mid-radius. Serum 25OHD was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in winter (December, January, February, March) compared with summer (June, July, August, September), with the nadir in February (68.4 +/- 6.74 nmol/liter) and the zenith in August (85.6 +/- 5.12 nmol/liter). Mean serum PTH levels were higher in winter when serum 25OHD was low, and mean serum PTH was lower in summer when serum 25OHD was high, although the seasonal change in serum PTH was not significant. The change in serum 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D(3) paralleled that of serum 25OHD levels, but the seasonal effect was not significant. Mean 24-h urine N-telopeptide showed a significant seasonal change (P < 0.05); it was about 24% higher in February (zenith) compared with that in August (nadir). The zenith month of urine N-telopeptide levels corresponded to the nadir month of serum 25OHD levels and vice versa. A significant (P < 0.05) inverse correlation was observed between 24-h urine N-telopeptides and serum 25OHD levels. There was a significant (P < 0.05) seasonal change in mean BMD of spine, total body, and mid-radius. These changes paralleled those in serum 25OHD levels. Spine BMD was 8.4% higher in August (zenith) compared with that in February (nadir), whereas total body BMD and mid-radius BMD were 6.1 and 7.6% higher, respectively, in July (zenith) compared with that in January (nadir). There was a nonsignificant increase of 3.6% in total hip BMD. In summary (see Fig. 5), the seasonal changes in vitamin D metabolism in elderly women are closely associated with small changes in serum PTH, changes in bone resorption, and BMD.

Absorption↗

Effect of lower doses of conjugated equine estrogens with and without medroxyprogesterone acetate on bone in early postmenopausal women.

CONTEXT: Lower-than-commonly-prescribed doses of conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs) with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) improve vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy, provide acceptable bleeding and lipid profiles, and afford endometrial protection. This lower-dose therapy's protection against loss of bone mineral density (BMD) associated with menopause has not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of lower doses of CEEs only or CEEs-MPA on spine and hip BMD, total body bone mineral content (BMC), and biochemical markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women. DESIGN AND SETTING: Two-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled substudy of the Women's Health, Osteoporosis, Progestin, Estrogen trial, conducted at 19 US centers between August 1995 and October 2000. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred twenty-two healthy postmenopausal women aged 40 to 65 years who were within 4 years of their last menstrual period. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive CEEs, 0.625; CEEs, 0.625 and MPA, 2.5; CEEs, 0.45; CEEs, 0.45 and MPA, 2.5; CEEs, 0.45 and MPA, 1.5; CEEs, 0.3; CEEs 0.3 and MPA, 1.5 (all doses in mg/d); or placebo for 2 years. All participants also received elemental calcium at 600 mg/d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes from baseline in spine and total hip BMD, total body BMC, and biochemical markers of bone turnover (serum osteocalcin and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen), assessed at 6-month intervals and compared among treatment groups with a modified intention-to-treat approach. RESULTS: At 24 months, women assigned to all of the active treatment groups had significant gains from baseline (P<.001) in spine and hip BMD and total body BMC (except total body BMC in the group receiving CEEs, 0.3 mg/d). These changes were significantly different from those in the placebo group, in which losses of bone mass in spine and total body were evident over the course of the study (P<.001). The loss in hip BMD from baseline in the placebo group was significant at 18 (P =.02) but not at 24 months (P =.06). Osteocalcin and N-telopeptides of type I collagen were significantly reduced from baseline (P<.001) for all active treatment groups at all time points; no changes were found for the placebo group. For women treated with CEEs alone, the gains in spine BMD for the group taking CEEs, 0.625 mg/d, were significantly higher than those of the group taking CEEs, 0.3 mg/d (P =.02), but not the group treated with CEEs, 0.45 mg/d (P =.48). CONCLUSIONS: Doses of CEEs or CEEs-MPA lower than 0.625 mg/d effectively increase BMD and BMC in early postmenopausal women.

Adult↗

The effect of soy protein isolate on bone metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: This double-blind, 15-month pilot study was designed to investigate the effect of soy protein isolate with varying concentrations of isoflavones on early postmenopausal bone loss and lipids. DESIGN: A total of 65 women, with a mean age of 55 years and 7.5 years since menopause, were randomized to one of three groups; soy protein with 96 mg isoflavones/day, soy with 52 mg isoflavones/day, or soy without isoflavones (< 4 mg isoflavones/day). Soy was given for 9 months and then discontinued; participants were followed for an additional 6 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) and blood lipids were measured during this time. RESULTS: Measurement of serum isoflavones at 3 months showed dose-related increases in the three groups. There was no significant effect of the soy supplements on BMD of the spine or femoral neck in any of the three groups. BMD increased significantly in the trochanter at 9 months (P = 0.0219) and at 15 months (P < 0.05) in the group given isoflavone-free soy compared with the other two groups. There was no significant effect of soy on lipid metabolism at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSION: The present study did not find a significant positive effect of soy protein isolate supplemented with isoflavones on BMD and the serum lipid profile in early postmenopausal women.

Adult↗