Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 8, Issue 21, 2002

Postmenopausal women are at greatest risk of rapid bone loss and fracture with glucocorticoids and should be actively considered for prophylactic measures. In men and premenopausal women receiving glucocorticoids, the decision to use anti-osteoporosis prophylaxis is less clear and depends upon baseline bone mineral density [BMD], anticipated dose and duration of glucocorticoids. Based upon evidence the order of choice fo Read More

During the past ten years the range of treatments available for patients with osteoporosis has increased greatly. A decade ago the only proven therapy was oestrogen, while today the choice includes bisphosphonates, selective oestrogen receptor modulators, calcitonin, calcium and vitamin D supplementation and, in the near future, parathyroid hormone. Clinical trials involving bone mineral density (BMD) scans of the spine Read More

Strontium ranelate is composed of an organic moiety (ranelic acid) and of two atoms of stable nonradioactive strontium. In vitro, strontium ranelate increases collagen and non-collagenic proteins synthesis by mature osteoblast enriched cells. The effects of strontium ranelate on bone formation were confirmed as strontium ranelate enhanced pre-osteoblastic cells replication. The stimulation by strontium ranelate of th Read More

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that constitute a variety of adult tissues. MSCs maintain self-renewal ability with the ability to give rise to different mesenchymal cells, and are therefore responsible in part, for the regenerative capacity of mesenchymal tissues. MSCs throughout a variety of species were found to be able to differentiate to several mesenchymal tissues including: bone, cartilage, stroma, Read More

Bisphosphonates are organic analogues of pyrophosphate that are resistant to hydrolysis. Bisphosphonates exhibit an exceptional affinity to bone, which led to exploration of their utility for targeting pharmacological agents to bone. Among the pharmacological agents explored for bone delivery are radioisotopes, anti-neoplastic drugs, agents intended for augmentation of systemic bone mass, antiinflammatory drugs and proteins Read More