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Biomedical subjects

M K Drezner

Publications and source records attributed to M K Drezner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Monitored impact loading of the hip: initial testing of a home-use device.

Many studies have been done involving exercise, impact loading, and the effect on BMD. In some of these studies, particularly those involving outpatient activity, compliance and the specific parameters of an individual's impact loading have been difficult to monitor effectively. In this study, an individual, home-use platform was used to record daily, specific, and reproducible impact forces generated during a heel drop exercise. At three centers over 24 months, we conducted a randomized, prospective study of 157 osteoporotic and osteopenic women, aged 60-85 years. A total of 99 patients used the home Osteocare device (OrthoGenesis Incorporated, Northborough, Massachusetts USA) to generate a reproducible and specific daily impact program (active group). Controls (32) performed a similar motion on the unit but without trying to trigger an impact force (sham group), and 26 patients did no prescribed heel drop exercise (control group). All groups had the same calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Hip DXA was performed at baseline and every 6 months during the entire study duration. Compliance with the 3-5 min routine was high, and patients were able to consistently achieve the specific targeted impact range. Pooled BMD results showed no significant differences between groups in overall BMD measurements. However, a classification model that looked at individual site-specific BMD changes showed that more than 75% of the active group responded (versus 62% for both the sham and the control groups) by maintaining or increasing site-specific hip BMD over the 2-year trial. In fact, at the end of the study, 45% of the actives were gainers versus 12% and 22% in the sham and control groups, respectively. This study suggests that hip BMD may be maintained through a brief, safe, at-home, monitored impact loading program.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Ontogeny of Phex/PHEX protein expression in mouse embryo and subcellular localization in osteoblasts.

PHEX, a phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome, is mutated in X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in humans and mice (Hyp). Although recent observations indicate that Phex protein is expressed primarily in bone and may play an important role in osteoblast function and bone mineralization, the pattern of the Phex protein expression in the developing skeleton and its subcellular localization in osteoblasts remain unknown. We examined the ontogeny of the Phex protein in the developing mouse embryo and its subcellular localization in osteoblasts using a specific antibody to the protein. Immunohistochemical staining of mouse embryos revealed expression of Phex in osteogenic precursors in developing vertebral bodies and developing long bones on day 16 postcoitum (pc) and thereafter. Calvaria from day 18 pc mice showed Phex epitopes in osteoblasts. No Phex immunoreactivity was detected in lung, heart, hepatocytes, kidney, intestine, skeletal muscle, or adipose tissue of mouse embryos. Interestingly, embryonic mouse skin showed moderate amounts of Phex immunostaining. In postnatal mice, Phex expression was observed in osteoblasts and osteocytes. Moderate expression of Phex was seen in odontoblasts and slight immunoreactivity was observed in ameloblasts. Confocal microscopy revealed the presence of immunoreactive PHEX protein in the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum of osteoblasts from normal mice and in osteoblasts from Hyp mice transduced with a human PHEX viral expression vector. PHEX protein was not detected in untransduced Hyp osteoblasts. These data indicate that Phex protein is expressed in osteoblasts and osteocytes during the embryonic and postnatal periods and that within bone, Phex may be a unique marker for cells of the osteoblast/osteocyte lineage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Bupropion for weight loss: an investigation of efficacy and tolerability in overweight and obese women.

OBJECTIVE: On the basis of the clinical observations that bupropion facilitated weight loss, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of this drug in overweight and obese adult women. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A total of 50 overweight and obese (body mass index: 28.0 to 52.6 kg/m(2)) women were included. The core component of the study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison for 8 weeks. Bupropion or placebo was started at 100 mg/d with gradual dose increase to a maximum of 200 mg twice daily. All subjects were prescribed a 1600 kcal/d balanced diet and compliance was monitored with food diaries. Responders continued the same treatment in a double-blind manner for an additional 16 weeks to a total of 24 weeks. There was additional single-blind follow-up treatment for a total of 2 years. RESULTS: Subjects receiving bupropion achieved greater mean weight loss (last-observation-carried-forward analysis) over the first 8 weeks of the study (p = 0.0001): 4.9% +/- 3.4% (n = 25) for bupropion treatment compared with 1.3% +/- 2.4% (n = 25) for placebo treatment. For those who completed the 8 weeks, the comparison was 6.2% +/- 3.1% (n = 18) vs. 1.6% +/- 2.9% (n = 13), respectively(p = 0.0002), with 12 of 18 of the bupropion subjects (67%) losing over 5% of baseline body weight compared with 2 of 13 in the placebo group (15%; p = 0.0094). In the continuation phase, 14 bupropion responders who completed 24 weeks achieved weight loss of 12.9% +/- 5.6% with fat accounting for 73.5% +/- 3.7% of the weight lost and no change in bone mineral density as assessed by DXA. Bupropion was generally well-tolerated in this sample. DISCUSSION: Bupropion was more effective than placebo in achieving weight loss at 8 weeks in overweight and obese adult women in this preliminary study. Initial responders to bupropion benefited further in the continuation phase.

Adult↗

Effect of alendronate on bone mineral density in male idiopathic osteoporosis.

Idiopathic osteoporosis in men is an increasingly recognized disorder accounting for up to 200,000 hip fractures worldwide each year. Although there is no widely accepted or proven efficacious treatment for men with idiopathic osteoporosis, we attempted to examine the effectiveness of alendronate in this disorder. We retrospectively compared the clinical records of male patients with osteopenia (hip or spine T scores less than -1.0, with or without low-trauma fractures) treated either with alendronate 10 mg orally/day and calcium and vitamin D replacement versus conservative treatment with calcium and vitamin D alone. Review included analysis of laboratory studies and bone turnover markers in a subset of patients. We documented bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and repeated BMD after an average follow-up of 1.9 and 2.7 years in the alendronate-treated and conservative treatment groups, respectively. At baseline, conservatively-treated and alendronate-treated patients had similar BMD at the lumbar spine and hip. Over the period of observation, the conservatively-treated patients exhibited insignificant changes in BMD at all measured sites. In contrast, alendronate treatment resulted in a significant increase in BMD of the spine (+4.6%, P =.002), trochanter (+6.4%, P =.002), and total hip (+4.7%, P =.002). Indeed, compared with conservative treatment, alendronate-treated patients sustained a significant annualized percent increment of the BMD in the spine (2.7 +/- 0.6 v 1.1 +/- 0.3, P =.025), trochanter (4.7 +/- 1.7 v 0.7 +/- 0.6, P =.025), and total hip BMD (3.3 +/- 0.9 v 0.1 +/- 0.4, P =.0009). These data are among the first that illustrate the potential efficacy of alendronate in the management of idiopathic osteoporosis in men.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PHEX gene and hypophosphatemia.

PHEX gene and hypophosphatemia. X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) are diseases that have in common abnormal proximal renal tubular function resulting in increased renal clearance of inorganic phosphorus and hypophosphatemia. The recent discovery of the PHEX gene has provided new insights to these disorders. In this regard, identification of the PHEX gene product as a membrane-bound endopeptidase suggests that the pathophysiologic cascade underlying XLH likely involves inactivation mutations of the gene causing a failure to clear an active hormone, phosphatonin, from the circulation. The presence of this hormone through unknown mechanisms decreases the sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter in the kidney, resulting in impaired phosphate transport. In contrast, TIO likely evolves secondary to tumor overproduction of the putative phosphatonin, which exerts physiologic function despite efforts to counteract the resultant hypophosphatemia with overproduction of PHEX transcripts that are insufficient to accommodate the enhanced substrate load. These potential pathophysiologic mechanisms for XLH and TIO provide valuable inroads to understanding phosphate homeostasis, as well as vitamin D metabolism, bone mineralization, and calcium metabolism.

Humans↗

Coordinated maturational regulation of PHEX and renal phosphate transport inhibitory activity: evidence for the pathophysiological role of PHEX in X-linked hypophosphatemia.

The mechanism by which inactivating mutations of PHEX (phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome) cause X-linked hypophosphatemia remains unknown. However, recent reports suggest errant PHEX activity in osteoblasts may fail to inactivate a phosphaturic factor produced by these cells. To test this possibility, we examined coordinated maturational expression of PHEX and production of phosphate transport inhibitory activity in osteoblasts from normal and hyp-mice. We assessed the inhibitory activity in conditioned medium by examining the effects on opossum kidney cell phosphate transport and osteoblast PHEX expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction during a 17-day maturational period. Inhibitory activity increased as a function of osteoblast maturational stage, with no activity after 3 days and persistent activity by 6 days of culture. More significantly, equal phosphate transport inhibitory activity in conditioned medium from normal and hyp-mouse osteoblasts (control 1.90 +/- 0.12, normal 1.48 +/- 0.10, hyp 1.45 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg of protein/minute) was observed at 6 days. However, by 10 days hyp-mouse osteoblasts exhibited greater inhibitory activity than controls, and by 17 days the difference in phosphate transport inhibition maximized (control 2.08 +/- 0.09, normal 1.88 +/- 0.06, hyp 1.58 +/- 0.06 nmol/mg of protein/minute). Concurrently, we observed absent PHEX expression in normal osteoblasts after 3 days, limited production at 6 days, and significant production by day 10 of culture, while hyp-mouse osteoblasts exhibited limited PHEX activity secondary to an inactivating mutation. The data suggest that the presence of inactivating PHEX mutations results in the enhanced renal phosphate transport inhibitory activity exhibited by hyp-mouse osteoblasts.

Animals↗

Intrinsic mineralization defect in Hyp mouse osteoblasts.

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is caused by inactivating mutations of PEX, an endopeptidase of uncertain function. This defect is shared by Hyp mice, the murine homologue of the human disease, in which a 3' Pex deletion has been documented. In the present study, we report that immortalized osteoblasts derived from the simian virus 40 (SV40) transgenic Hyp mouse (TMOb-Hyp) have an impaired capacity to mineralize extracellular matrix in vitro. Compared with immortalized osteoblasts from the SV40 transgenic normal mouse (TMOb-Nl), osteoblast cultures from the SV40 Hyp mouse exhibit diminished 45Ca accumulation into extracellular matrix (37 +/- 6 vs. 1,484 +/- 68 counts . min-1 . microgram protein-1) and reduced formation of mineralization nodules. Moreover, in coculture experiments, we found evidence that osteoblasts from the SV40 Hyp mouse produce a diffusible factor that blocks mineralization of extracellular matrix in normal osteoblasts. Our findings indicate that abnormal PEX in osteoblasts is associated with the accumulation of a factor(s) that inhibits mineralization of extracellular matrix in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Molecular dissection of Ca2+ efflux in immortalized proximal tubule cells.

Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger participate in regulating cell function by maintaining proper intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i). In renal epithelial cells these proteins have been additionally implicated in cellular calcium absorption. The purpose of the present studies was to determine the Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms in cells derived from the proximal tubule. Homology-based RT-PCR was used to amplify PMCA transcripts from RNA isolated from mouse cell lines originating from the S1, S2, and S3 proximal tubule segments. S1, S2, and S3 cells exhibited only PMCA1 and PMCA4 products. PCR product identity was confirmed by sequence analysis. Northern analysis of proximal tubule cell RNAs revealed appropriate transcripts of 7.5 and 5.5 kb for PMCA1 and 8.5 and 7.5 kb for PMCA4, but were negative for PMCA2 and PMCA3. Western analysis with a monoclonal antibody to PMCA showed that all proximal cell lines expressed a reacting plasma membrane protein of 140 kD, the reported PMCA molecular mas. Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) mRNA expression, analyzed by RT-PCR, protein expression by Western analysis, and functional exchange activity were uniformly absent from all proximal tubule cell lines. These observations support the idea that immortalized cells derived from the proximal tubule express PMCA1 and PMCA4, which may serve as the primary mechanism of cellular Ca2+ efflux.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distribution of mutations in the PEX gene in families with X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets (HYP).

Mutations in the PEX gene at Xp22.1 (phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases, on the X-chromosome), are responsible for X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets (HYP). Homology of PEX to the M13 family of Zn2+ metallopeptidases which include neprilysin (NEP) as prototype, has raised important questions regarding PEX function at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to analyse 99 HYP families for PEX gene mutations, and to correlate predicted changes in the protein structure with Zn2+ metallopeptidase gene function. Primers flanking 22 characterised exons were used to amplify DNA by PCR, and SSCP was then used to screen for mutations. Deletions, insertions, nonsense mutations, stop codons and splice mutations occurred in 83% of families screened for in all 22 exons, and 51% of a separate set of families screened in 17 PEX gene exons. Missense mutations in four regions of the gene were informative regarding function, with one mutation in the Zn2+-binding site predicted to alter substrate enzyme interaction and catalysis. Computer analysis of the remaining mutations predicted changes in secondary structure, N-glycosylation, protein phosphorylation and catalytic site molecular structure. The wide range of mutations that align with regions required for protease activity in NEP suggests that PEX also functions as a protease, and may act by processing factor(s) involved in bone mineral metabolism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Proximal nephron Na+/H+ exchange is regulated by alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenergic receptor subtypes.

Activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (alpha 1-AR) increases Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) in proximal tubule. NHE mediates the majority of active Na+ absorption in the proximal tubule. Three alpha 1-AR subtypes have been detected in kidney by molecular and binding techniques. We detected message for all three alpha 1-AR subtypes in mouse proximal tubule cells through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern analysis. To determine the alpha 1-AR subtypes that regulate NHE in mouse proximal tubule cells, two strategies were used: (i) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to selectively inhibit expression of alpha 1A-, alpha 1B-, and alpha 1D-AR subtypes and (ii) subtype-selective alpha 1-AR antagonists. Streptolysin-O permeabilization was used to introduce antisense and sense ODNs into cells three times over 72 hr. Western blot analysis of membranes prepared from cells treated with alpha 1B-AR antisense ODN demonstrated that alpha 1B-AR protein expression was reduced by 90% at 72 hr compared with control or sense ODN treatments. Functional regulation of NHE by alpha 1-ARs was determined by alpha 1-AR agonist changes in intracellular pH (pHi) in cells grown on coverslips and loaded with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)carboxyfluorescein-acetoxymethyl ester. Antisense ODNs for alpha 1B-AR significantly reduced phenylephrine (PHE)-induced maximal changes in pHi by 49%. The PHE-induced changes in pHi observed in cells treated with alpha 1A-AR antisense ODNs was reduced by 42%. The selective alpha 1A-AR antagonist WB-4101 and the alpha 1B-AR antagonist spiperone reduce PHE-induced pHi increases to a comparable extent. No significant changes in pHi were observed with cells treated with alpha 1D-AR antisense ODNs or the alpha 1D-AR antagonist BMY 7378 compared with untreated cells. Combined treatment with alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-AR antisense ODNs and antagonists additively inhibits PHE-induced delta pHi by 90%. We conclude that alpha 1A and alpha 1B-AR but not alpha 1D-ARs regulate NHE in proximal tubule cells.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Phosphate transport in renal cell cultures of gy mice: evidence of a single defect in X-linked hypophosphatemia.

Although current theory holds that the murine homologs of X-linked hypophosphatemia represent mutations of two closely linked genes with distinct pathophysiological consequences, insufficient data are available to support this hypothesis. We investigated whether an intrinsic defect in renal sodium (Na+)-dependent Pi cotransport truly distinguishes gy from hyp mice. We compared Pi transport in immortalized cells from S1 and S2 segments of the renal proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) of normal and gy mice. Cells from both murine models exhibit characteristics of differentiated PCT cells including gluconeogenesis, alkaline phosphatase activity, and parathyroid hormone (PTH)- and thyrocalcitonin (TCT)-dependent adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production. More importantly, kinetic studies reveal that cells from the PCT of gy mice have intrinsically normal Pi transport and support the hypothesis that, as in hyp mice, a humoral abnormality is likely responsible for the renal Pi wasting in this mouse model. These observations are consistent with the conclusion that gy and hyp mice do not represent mutations of two closely linked genes but rather two separate mutations of the same gene.

Animals↗

Effects of a new positioner on the precision of hip bone mineral density measurements.

In an attempt to reduce patient positioning errors, the authors tested the use of a new hip-specific positioning tool, OsteoDyne's Hip Positioner System (HPS). The HPS is an "A" frame splint designed to abduct both legs approximately 15 degrees to hold them in full extension at the hips and knees and to lock the feet in a neutral position. Seventy volunteer women aged 35-82 years were randomly assigned in two age-matched groups (mean age 56 years). Each group underwent two consecutive femur dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans with intermediate repositioning using the HPS system and two others utilizing the standard hip positioner provided with Hologic and Lunar scanners. One technician performed all scans using a Hologic QDR 1000-Plus and Lunar DPX-Plus densitometer. One hundred and fifty volunteer women aged 50-84 years (mean age, 64 years) were recruited in a multicenter study for the assessment of precision. Each subject underwent three consecutive femur DXA scans with intermediate repositioning using the HPS system. The coefficient of variation (CV) was significantly improved at the femoral neck by the use of the HPS with 0.7 versus 1.2 with the Hologic densitometer but only moderately altered at other sites. Similar results were found with the Lunar densitometer with improvement of precision at the femoral neck, 0.8 versus 1.8 with a similar trend but no significant difference at the other regions. No statistical difference was noted between the femoral neck BMD measured with the HPS system and with the standard positioners in either group. The mean precision of data obtained on the QDR 1000+ was 0.8% (range 0.1-1.4) for the femoral neck BMD, 1.1% (range 0.1-3.0) for the trochanter BMD, 2.3% (range 0.2-5.2) for Ward's triangle BMD, and 0.8% (range 0.1-1.9) for the total femur BMD. The mean precision of data obtained on the QDR 2000 was 0.7% (range 0.1-2), 1% (range 0.1-4.9), 2.6% (range 0.3-5.7), and 0.7% (range 0.1-1.8), respectively. In conclusion, data obtained with the new OsteoDyne's HPS seem capable of reducing patient positioning errors for the hip measurement. Its use is likely to improve confidence in hip bone mineral density measurements.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

The gene for X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets maps to a 200-300kb region in Xp22.1, and is located on a single YAC containing a putative vitamin D response element (VDRE).

The location of the HYP gene, which determines X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets, has been refined considerably by linkage analysis, and three new microsatellite primers isolated, Cap32 (DXS7473), Cap29 (DXS7474) and 7v2 (DXS7475). The locations of four other markers have also been determined (DXS1226, AFMa176zb1, AFMa152wc5, and AFM346azc1). Markers Cap29 and Cap32 are the closest distal markers to the gene with zetamax=11.93, thetamax= 0.018 and zetamax=12.03, thetamax = 0.015 respectively. Both Cap29 and Cap32 are proximal to DXS365 and AFMa176zb1, as deduced by screening non-chimaeric yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) from a contig spanning the HYP gene. A single crossover places AFMa176zbl distal to the disease gene. There are no recombinations between 7v2 and HYP (zetamax=12.9, thetamax=0.0), or between 7v2 and adjacent markers Cap32, Cap29, AFMa176zb1, DXS1683 and DXS365. However screening of YAC clones encompassing the HYP gene and also P1 clones localises 7v2 distal to Cap29 and Cap32, and proximal to DXS443. Marker DXS1226 is placed outside the region containing the gene, and is located proximal to DXS274 as confirmed by a crossover for this marker and DXS41 against HYP and its presence on YAC 83B05. Genetic mapping of CEPH pedigrees, and screening of YACs places AFMa152wc5 and AFMa346zcl between DXS1683 and DXS1052. The following gene marker map presents the best order for the HYP region: Xptel-DXS43-DXS999-DXS443-(DXS365/DXS74 75/AFMa176zb1)-(DXS7474/DXS7473)-HYP- DXS1683-(AFMa152wc5/AFMa346zc1)-DXS1052-DXS 274 -(DXS41/DXS1226)-Xcen. The distance between the cluster of distal flanking markers Cap29 (DXS7474), Cap32 (DXS7473), and DXS1683 is approximately 300 kb, as deduced from physical map data from a YAC contig spanning the gene. Thus the gene for HYP is contained within a single YAC (900AO472). Of further interest, is the location of a putative vitamin D response element (VDRE) on this YAC.

Base Sequence↗