Anemia is associated with increased risk of non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures in elderly men: the MrOS Sweden cohort.

This study includes 1005 men from the Gothenburg part of the Osteoporotic Fracture in Men Study (MrOS). Included are 66 men with anemia (hemoglobin < 130 g/L). The follow-up time was up to 16 years, and the main results are that anemia is associated with all fractures and non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures. INTRODUCTION: Anemia and osteoporotic fractures are conditions that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Clinical studies have suggested that anemia can be used as a predictor of future osteoporotic fractures. METHOD: Men from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS) Sweden, Gothenburg, with available hemoglobin (Hb) values (n = 1005, median age 75.3 years (SD 3.2)), were included in the current analyses. Of these, 66 suffered from anemia, defined as Hb < 130 g/L. Median follow-up time for fracture was 10.1 years and the longest follow-up time was 16.1 years. RESULTS: Men with anemia had, at baseline, experienced more falls and had a higher prevalence of diabetes, cancer, prostate cancer, hypertension, and stroke. Anemia was not statistically significantly associated with bone mineral density (BMD). Men with anemia had higher serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (iFGF23) (p < 0.001) and phosphate (p = 0.001) and lower serum levels of testosterone (p < 0.001) and estradiol (p < 0.001). Moreover, men with anemia had an increased risk of any fracture (hazard ratio (HR) 1.97, 95% CI 1.28-3.02) and non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.18-3.93), after adjustment for age and total hip BMD, in 10 years. The risk for any fracture was increased in 10 and 16 years independently of falls, comorbidities, inflammation, and sex hormones. The age-adjusted risk of hip fracture was increased in men with anemia (HR 2.32, 95% CI 1.06-5.12), in 10 years, although this was no longer statistically significant after further adjustment for total hip BMD. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is associated with an increased risk for any fracture and non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture in elderly men with a long follow-up time. The cause is probably multifactorial and our results support that anemia can be used as a predictor for future fracture.

Highly increased risk of fracture in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm.

The risk for hip and vertebral fracture was determined in 10,752 patients diagnosed with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) in Sweden 1995-2015. The mean follow-up time were 6.34 years. Five percent developed hip fracture and 1.3% a vertebral fracture. There was a significant increased risk for fracture among the MPN patients compared with the Swedish population. The ratio of observed (obs) and expected (exp) number of hip fracture in all MPN patients, polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia and MPN undetermined (MPNu) was 1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.31), 1.37 (95% CI: 1.19-1.58), 1.02 (95% CI: 0.87-1.19), and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07-1.52), respectively. Corresponding figures for vertebral fractures were 1.94 (95% CI: 1.64-2.29), 2.09 (95% CI: 1.56-2.75), 1.50 (95% CI: 1.06-2.07) and 2.47 (95% CI: 1.77-3.35), respectively. Patients with MPN had an increased risk of hip and vertebral fracture, especially patients with PV and MPNu in comparison with the entire Swedish population.

High Plasma Erythropoietin Predicts Incident Fractures in Elderly Men with Normal Renal Function: The MrOS Sweden Cohort.

Preclinical studies on the role of erythropoietin (EPO) in bone metabolism are contradictory. Regeneration models indicate an anabolic effect on bone healing, whereas models on physiologic bone remodeling indicate a catabolic effect on bone mass. No human studies on EPO and fracture risk are available. It is known that fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) affects bone mineralization and that serum concentration of FGF23 is higher in men with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Recently, a direct association between EPO and FGF23 has been shown. We have explored the potential association between EPO and bone mineral density (BMD), fracture risk, and FGF23 in humans. Plasma levels of EPO were analyzed in 999 men (aged 69 to 81 years), participating in the Gothenburg part of the population-based Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, MrOS Sweden. The mean ± SD EPO was 11.5 ± 9.0 IU/L. Results were stratified by eGFR 60 mL/min. For men with eGFR ≥60 mL/min (n = 728), EPO was associated with age (r = 0.13, p < 0.001), total hip BMD (r = 0.14, p < 0.001), intact (i)FGF23 (r = 0.11, p = 0.004), and osteocalcin (r = -0.09, p = 0.022). The association between total hip BMD and EPO was independent of age, body mass index (BMI), iFGF23, and hemoglobin (beta = 0.019, p < 0.001). During the 10-year follow-up, 164 men had an X-ray-verified fracture, including 117 major osteoporotic fractures (MOF), 39 hip fractures, and 64 vertebral fractures. High EPO was associated with higher risk for incident fractures (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.43 per tertile EPO, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-1.63), MOF (HR = 1.40 per tertile EPO, 95% CI 1.08-1.82), and vertebral fractures (HR = 1.42 per tertile EPO, 95% CI 1.00-2.01) in a fully adjusted Cox regression model. In men with eGFR<60 mL/min, no association was found between EPO and BMD or fracture risk. We here demonstrate that high levels of EPO are associated with increased fracture risk and increased BMD in elderly men with normal renal function. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Global distribution of DNA hydroxymethylation and DNA methylation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been a good model system to understand the functional role of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) in cancer progression. More recently, an oxidized form of 5-mC, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) has gained lot of attention as a regulatory epigenetic modification with prognostic and diagnostic implications for several cancers. However, there is no global study exploring the role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) levels in CLL. Herein, using mass spectrometry and hMeDIP-sequencing, we analysed the dynamics of 5-hmC during B cell maturation and CLL pathogenesis. RESULTS: We show that naïve B-cells had higher levels of 5-hmC and 5-mC compared to non-class switched and class-switched memory B-cells. We found a significant decrease in global 5-mC levels in CLL patients (n = 15) compared to naïve and memory B cells, with no changes detected between the CLL prognostic groups. On the other hand, global 5-hmC levels of CLL patients were similar to memory B cells and reduced compared to naïve B cells. Interestingly, 5-hmC levels were increased at regulatory regions such as gene-body, CpG island shores and shelves and 5-hmC distribution over the gene-body positively correlated with degree of transcriptional activity. Importantly, CLL samples showed aberrant 5-hmC and 5-mC pattern over gene-body compared to well-defined patterns in normal B-cells. Integrated analysis of 5-hmC and RNA-sequencing from CLL datasets identified three novel oncogenic drivers that could have potential roles in CLL development and progression. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, our study suggests that the global loss of 5-hmC, accompanied by its significant increase at the gene regulatory regions, constitute a novel hallmark of CLL pathogenesis. Our combined analysis of 5-mC and 5-hmC sequencing provided insights into the potential role of 5-hmC in modulating gene expression changes during CLL pathogenesis.

High Serum Serotonin Predicts Increased Risk for Hip Fracture and Nonvertebral Osteoporotic Fractures: The MrOS Sweden Study.

Because several studies have implicated serotonin as a regulator of bone mass, we here explore its potential association on fracture risk and falls, as on bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle strength, in humans. Serum levels of serotonin were analyzed in 950 men (aged 69 to 81 years), participating in the Gothenburg part of the population-based study MrOS Sweden. Men taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had a mean value of 31.2 µg/L compared with 159.4 µg/L in those not taking SSRIs. SSRI users were excluded from further analysis. During 10-year follow-up, 224 men exhibited fractures, including 97 nonvertebral osteoporotic fractures (57 hip fractures), and 86 vertebral fractures. Serotonin was associated with hip fracture in linear analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.58) and to all fractures in a nonlinear manner, when quintiles of serotonin was included in quadratic terms (HR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21). Men in serotonin quintile 5 had, in multivariable analysis, a HR of 2.30 (95% CI 1.31-4.02) for hip fracture and 1.82 (95% CI 1.17-2.85) for nonvertebral fractures compared with men in quintiles 1 to 4. Men in quintile 1 had, in multivariable analysis, a HR of 1.76 (95% CI 1.03-2.99) for nonvertebral fractures compared with men in quintiles 2 to 4. No association was found with vertebral fractures. Individuals in serotonin quintile 1 had higher prevalence of falls compared with quintiles 2 to 5 (odds ratio = 1.90, 95% CI 1.26-2.87). Serotonin was positively associated with hand-grip strength (r = 0.08, p = 0.02) and inversely with hip BMD (r = -0.10, p = 0.003). To assess the association between SSRIs and falls and fractures, the total MrOS Sweden cohort was examined (n = 3014). SSRI users (n = 90) had increased prevalence of falls (16% versus 33%, p = 0.0001) and increased rate of incident fractures (28.0 versus 44.7 per 1000 person-years, p = 0.018). We present novel data showing that high levels of serotonin predict an increased risk for hip fracture and nonvertebral osteoporotic fractures. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

[Evaluation of thromboprophylactic therapy at Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland; a cross-sectional study on acute wards]. / Frammistada Landspitala i forvornum gegn blaaedasegasjukdomum; thversnidsrannsokn a bradadeildum.

OBJECTIVE: Venous thromboembolic disease is a serious and often fatal complication following hospital admission. Studies show that thromboprophylactic therapy for this condition is often underutilized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of thromboprophylactic therapy at Landspítali - The University Hospital of Iceland in adult patients admitted to acute wards. METHODS AND MATERIALS: On 2 December 2009 hospital charts of admitted patients on acute wards were reviewed and assessed for appropriate thromboprophylactic treatment according to the 2008 guidelines from The American College of Chest Physicians. The results were compared to those of other countries from the multinational Endorse study from 2008. RESULTS: 251 patient were included of whom 47% were considered at risk for venous thromboembolic disease. Of those 57% received appropriate thromboprophylactic treatment or 78% of surgical and 26% of medical patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to clinical guidelines for thromboprophylactic treatment at surgical wards of Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland was good and well above the average compared to the results of the Endorse study. Performance on the medical wards was on the other hand below average. Our results show that application of thromoboprophylactic treatment at Landspítali could be improved and thereby enhance patient safety.

Sheehan's syndrome in modern times: a nationwide retrospective study in Iceland.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Half a century ago the prevalence of Sheehan's syndrome (SS) was 10-20 per 100,000 women. With better obstetric help the prevalence is assumed to have decreased, especially in developed countries. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of SS in modern times in Iceland. DESIGN: We studied the prevalence of SS in 2009 in a nationwide retrospective population-based study. METHODS: All patients with diagnosed SS were identified, and information regarding obstetric care, clinical presentation and hormonal assays was collected. Correlation was calculated with Kendall's tau-b. Significance level: P<0.05. RESULTS: Eight women were identified with SS; thus, the prevalence of SS in 2009 was 5.1 per 100,000 women. The mean age at delivery and diagnosis was 33.0 and 36.6 respectively, resulting in a diagnostic delay (DD) of 1-240 months. Four women had low blood pressure during delivery, and five had massive blood loss (>1000 ml). Six had complicated deliveries. The most common clinical presentation was failure to lactate and failure to resume menstruation. The patients had three to five failing pituitary axis. There was no correlation between bleeding at delivery or the number of hormonal axes affected and DD. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of SS in Iceland was higher than we expected in a country with modern obstetric care. Long DD and incidental diagnosis indicate that women might be lacking correct diagnosis and treatment, and thus the prevalence of SS is even higher. As SS is easily diagnosed and treatable, but can be life-threatening if unrecognised, doctors need to be aware of the disease.

[Sheehan's syndrome - case report and review]. / Sheehan heilkenni sjúkratilfelli og yfirlit.

Sheehan's syndrome (SS) is a pituitary failure after delivery. Symptoms depend on which hormonal axis are affected, failure to lactate and resume menstruation is most frequent but cortisol deficiency is most dangerous and may lead to death if undiagnosed. We present a 38 year old female that was diagnosed with SS after repeated visits to health care professionals with typical symptoms of SS. The purpose of this case report is to draw attention to SS and the symptoms of cortisol deficiency.