16 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Osteoporosis is an age related disease in which a person's bone slowly becomes weaker with time. The bones may become so weak that they break easily such as a fall from standing height. The most commonly broke bones in osteoporosis are those of the hip, the spine or the wrist. Osteoporosis runs in families meaning that genetic differences explain why some people break bones in old age and other do not. Genetic studies have been done that show the the genes associated with spine (vertebral) fractures (broken bones) and hip fractures are different, suggesting that osteoporosis of the spine is not the exact same disease as osteoporosis of the hip. Genetic studies tell us what part of the genome (i.e. genes) are associated with a disease, but do not tell us how these genes act biologically to cause that disease. In this study, we seek to determine how the genes uniquely associated with spine osteoporosis behave in normal and aged bone, to determine how they interact with each other as a team to impact spine bone. In this study, we will measure gene activity (so called gene expression) in bone samples taken from people undergoing major spine deformity surgery. We will using genetic data from these patients to determine how gene activity is controlled in bone and how that relates to measures of bone health such as bone mineral density data. The results of this study will provide critical data regarding how osteoporosis of the spine happens, and these data will be used to find better and safer treatments to prevent bone fractures of the spine that happen with age.
Osteoporosis affects 24.5% of women over 65 and results in fracture-related hospital admissions exceeding those of heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer combined. Current treatment options do not account for differences between age-related and estrogen deficiency related osteoporosis, because of the need for bone biopsies for determination. This study will establish a paradigm-shifting individualized treatment protocol for age-related osteoporosis and a non-invasive method for its determination, thereby reducing the major health problems and enormous burden on society and the elderly related to this disease.
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness (how well it works) of a new experimental ultrasound bath device that uses low frequency ultrasound (LFU) that may or may not help healing.
A 12-month study to measure the efficacy and safety of abaloparatide in men with osteoporosis.
Models of Osteoporosis Screening in Male Veterans aims to test 1 distinct care model of primary osteoporosis screening in men within the VA healthcare setting. All care models deliver VA recommended osteoporosis screening and treatment to high-risk Veterans by appropriate Durham VA clinical staff. The MOPS project will evaluate patient, provider and facility outcomes to determine the effectiveness of each intervention.
The objective of this study was to describe persistence with Prolia® 60 mg administered subcutaneously (SC) every 6 months (Q6M) at 12 and 24 months.
This study is designed to answer the question as to whether the sympathetic nervous system is an important determinant of bone metabolism in humans.
In spite of aggressive approaches to prevent and treat osteoporosis, it remains one of the most costly and debilitating diseases associated with aging. The pursuit of alternative approaches for preventing bone loss has included the investigation of a number of promising plant-based foods that can be incorporated into the diet. This project is an extension of our pre-clinical studies with tart cherry, designed to determine whether the findings from our animal study can be extended to humans. Thus, the purpose of this project is to investigate the dose-dependent effect of tart cherry juice consumption on biomarkers of bone metabolism in women, aged 65-80 years. The hypothesis to be tested is that three months of tart cherry supplementation will improve bone biomarkers in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, these improvements in bone metabolism will correspond to a decrease in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
The objective of this study is to measure the early effects of abaloparatide on tissue-based bone formation using samples obtained by transiliac crest bone biopsy after quadruple fluorochrome labeling.
With aging, men and women develop a mild and progressive metabolic acidosis. This occurs as a result of declining renal function and ingestion of acid-producing diets. There is extensive evidence that severe metabolic acidosis causes bone and muscle loss, but the impact of the chronic, mild acidosis on bone and muscle in older individuals has not been established. In a recent study, administration of a single dose of bicarbonate daily for 3 months significantly reduced urinary excretion of N-telopeptide (NTX), a marker of bone resorption and urinary nitrogen, a marker of muscle wasting and improved muscle performance in the women but not the men. These and other data support a potential role for bicarbonate as a means of reducing the musculoskeletal declines that lead to extensive morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Before proceeding to a long-term bicarbonate intervention study, however, it is important to identify the dose of bicarbonate most likely to be optimal and to characterize the subjects who benefit most from it. This double blind, placebo controlled, dose-finding study will evaluate the effects of placebo and two doses of bicarbonate on urinary NTX and nitrogen excretion and on lower extremity performance over a 3 month period in 138 men and 138 women, age 60 and older. Changes in urinary excretion of NTX and nitrogen and in selected measures of lower extremity performance will be compared across the three groups. The safety and tolerability of the interventions will also be evaluated. This investigation should provide needed information on the appropriate dosing regimen for men and women and on the study population that should be enrolled in a future bicarbonate intervention trial to assess the long-term effects of this simple, low cost intervention on important clinical outcomes including rates of loss in bone and muscle mass, falls, and fractures.
To develop a decision aid to support the decision to use (or not use) bisphosphonates in postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporotic fractures, and to assess the impact of the decision aid on start and six month adherence to bisphosphonates.
Frailty is a health state related to the aging process in which multiple body systems gradually lose their built-in reserves. It is a medical condition of reduced function in older adults which is associated with increased risks of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, admission to hospital, or need for long-term care. Currently, there is no specific medical treatment of frailty. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated cells that self-replicated, and some may change into a particular cell type. These cells go to areas of injury due to signals released by injured cells. Upon reaching, the target tissue, MSCs repair injury by releasing growth factors and immune modulators to assist in the body's repair process. This initial study will assess the practicability of using MSCs for age-related frailty and provide information for planning a future full study of MSCs for maximizing Veteran's functional independence.
The purpose of this pilot study is to generate preliminary data regarding the skeletal effects of age-related changes in calcium and vitamin D metabolism in older men.
Osteoporosis, a disease in which the bones become weak and are more likely to break, is a major health problem in the United States. Too much acid in the body appears to be linked to loss of calcium via urine, bone loss, and muscle breakdown. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of various doses of potassium citrate, a supplement that can neutralize acid, on bone density and muscle mass in older, healthy adults.
The purpose of this study is to determine if supplemental vitamin K will reduce age-related bone loss in elderly men and women above that achieved by supplementation.
This study uses a bone labeling calcium tracer methodology to compare the dose-response effect of blueberry consumption on calcium retention and bone loss. Post-menopausal women will receive food or beverage products containing freeze-dried blueberries in the amount equivalent to 0.75 (low), 1.5 (medium), and 3 cups (high) of fresh blueberries per day over a 42-day period. The hypothesis is that the polyphenolics found in blueberries will reduce calcium loss from bones.