CrohnieToo
09-25-2005, 12:12 PM
This past week or so I've received two especially interesting news items:
Bone-fat link holds hope for osteoporosis. Shucks, now we've gotta worry about our bone marrow cells having too much fat!!!! At the time of birth, you have just a little bit of fat in the bones of your fingertips. But by age 30 half or more of bone marrow cells are replaced by fat. And in the elderly, almost all the marrow has turned to fat.
There is a stem cell in bone marrow that can turn into fat or bone depending on what signals it receives. Patients with osteoporosis have more fat in their bones than people the same age who do not have the bone-weakening disease.
When they are growing in petri dishes stem cells do not remain stem cells for long. The immature cells quickly start to develop into whatever their genetic programs and the biochemical soup they are grown in directs them to become. In the case of bone marrow stem cells, the cells seemed not to have a preference: They were equally likely to turn into fat or bone. If scientists added glucocorticoids, the drugs known to cause bone loss, the cells turned into fat. And if they added vitamin D3, which is needed to form bone, the cells turned into bone.
Scientists can do the conversion in the lab, taking fat from patients having liposuction. When they add a few chemicals, such as vitamin D and dexa- methasone, it turns into bone. They can see mineralization. It looks like new bone formation.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
New Bone Biopsy Study Confirms Unique Dual Mode of Action and Bone Safety of Protelos. Protelos is a new drug just approved in Europe. Protelos is the brand name for strontium ranelate.
Protelos is the first osteoporosis treatment with a dual mode of action. Protelos acts by increasing bone formation AND decreasing bone resorption. This is the first study of bone biopsies which shows clearly that treatment with Protelos is safe and does not alter the bone structure. The results showed that Protelos is safe with no increase in osteoid(a) thickness in the Protelos group and no change in mineralization lag time between both groups. Patients taking Protelos for up to five years produce normal lamellar bone with no mineralization defects (i.e. no sign of osteomalacia, the softening and weakening of bone) and no marrow fibrosis.
:bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing:
Bone-fat link holds hope for osteoporosis. Shucks, now we've gotta worry about our bone marrow cells having too much fat!!!! At the time of birth, you have just a little bit of fat in the bones of your fingertips. But by age 30 half or more of bone marrow cells are replaced by fat. And in the elderly, almost all the marrow has turned to fat.
There is a stem cell in bone marrow that can turn into fat or bone depending on what signals it receives. Patients with osteoporosis have more fat in their bones than people the same age who do not have the bone-weakening disease.
When they are growing in petri dishes stem cells do not remain stem cells for long. The immature cells quickly start to develop into whatever their genetic programs and the biochemical soup they are grown in directs them to become. In the case of bone marrow stem cells, the cells seemed not to have a preference: They were equally likely to turn into fat or bone. If scientists added glucocorticoids, the drugs known to cause bone loss, the cells turned into fat. And if they added vitamin D3, which is needed to form bone, the cells turned into bone.
Scientists can do the conversion in the lab, taking fat from patients having liposuction. When they add a few chemicals, such as vitamin D and dexa- methasone, it turns into bone. They can see mineralization. It looks like new bone formation.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
New Bone Biopsy Study Confirms Unique Dual Mode of Action and Bone Safety of Protelos. Protelos is a new drug just approved in Europe. Protelos is the brand name for strontium ranelate.
Protelos is the first osteoporosis treatment with a dual mode of action. Protelos acts by increasing bone formation AND decreasing bone resorption. This is the first study of bone biopsies which shows clearly that treatment with Protelos is safe and does not alter the bone structure. The results showed that Protelos is safe with no increase in osteoid(a) thickness in the Protelos group and no change in mineralization lag time between both groups. Patients taking Protelos for up to five years produce normal lamellar bone with no mineralization defects (i.e. no sign of osteomalacia, the softening and weakening of bone) and no marrow fibrosis.
:bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing:
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peregrine
09-25-2005, 12:45 PM
Protelos is the first osteoporosis treatment with a dual mode of action. Protelos acts by increasing bone formation AND decreasing bone resorption. This is the first study of bone biopsies which shows clearly that treatment with Protelos is safe and does not alter the bone structure. The results showed that Protelos is safe with no increase in osteoid(a) thickness in the Protelos group and no change in mineralization lag time between both groups. Patients taking Protelos for up to five years produce normal lamellar bone with no mineralization defects (i.e. no sign of osteomalacia, the softening and weakening of bone) and no marrow fibrosis.
And no side effects? I just did some research and found a few sites that list the side effects. I guess you would have to weigh these against other drugs you may be using for Osteo. What particularly caught my eye is that Protelos is also comprised of Aspartame!
And no side effects? I just did some research and found a few sites that list the side effects. I guess you would have to weigh these against other drugs you may be using for Osteo. What particularly caught my eye is that Protelos is also comprised of Aspartame!
CrohnieToo
09-25-2005, 01:42 PM
Now, Peregrine, I didn't say there were no side effects! Nor did the article. I was only parroting what I read as I did find it of interest and thought that others would too. Not too many osteoporosis clinical trials resort to bone biopsies to verify their results which I found impressive that this trial(s) did.
I've read elsewhere about strontium's use for treating osteoporosis, never with the Protelos brand name included though. In fact, it seems to me that there is more than one form of strontium and that it is not always a "nice" thing to the body in some of its forms. I wasn't paying all that much attention at the time.
I've read elsewhere about strontium's use for treating osteoporosis, never with the Protelos brand name included though. In fact, it seems to me that there is more than one form of strontium and that it is not always a "nice" thing to the body in some of its forms. I wasn't paying all that much attention at the time.
taape
09-25-2005, 04:37 PM
What were the listed side effects?
peregrine
09-26-2005, 07:40 AM
Chronie,
I wasn't accusing you, really just wondering about the nature of the product and if it was a drug or something along more natural lines. I think that you always communicate very thorough information. :cool:
Taape,
I cannot list the sites I visited on this board but you could do a search. Nausea, diarrhea and skin irritations for more "minor" effects. Less commonly reported were blood clots, fainting and seizures. I think the problem with many drugs is the length of time they are tested. Unfortunately, further testing usually comes after the drug has been lab tested and released because if often takes years to see long term effects. As I stated previously,if you opt for an osteo drug it may be a matter of "the devil or the deep blue sea". ;)
I wasn't accusing you, really just wondering about the nature of the product and if it was a drug or something along more natural lines. I think that you always communicate very thorough information. :cool:
Taape,
I cannot list the sites I visited on this board but you could do a search. Nausea, diarrhea and skin irritations for more "minor" effects. Less commonly reported were blood clots, fainting and seizures. I think the problem with many drugs is the length of time they are tested. Unfortunately, further testing usually comes after the drug has been lab tested and released because if often takes years to see long term effects. As I stated previously,if you opt for an osteo drug it may be a matter of "the devil or the deep blue sea". ;)
CrohnieToo
09-26-2005, 11:15 AM
Oh, I didn't take offense, Peregrine. I've forgotten already, I did a little checking yesterday. Strontium comes in 3 natural forms if I remember correctly: s. lactonate, s. gluconate and s.carbonate. There is a radioactive strontium 90 which is the nasty one and not a natural product as I remember it. I don't remember what strontium "is", tho. Perhaps a mineral? It is needed along with calcium, etc. for good bones. Calcium seems to be the key to everything about osteoporosis tho. No matter what drug or "whatever" is tested for osteoporosis treatment at least calcium, if not calcium AND vitamin D, are supplemented along with the item being tested.
I just have more respect for those clinical trials that utilize tried and true tests to test their results. We all known how "iffy" the DEXA can be relying on same machine, same tech (and hopefully tech is in same mood each time). The best indicator of bone strength and health seems to be the bone biopsy. And also more expensive than the blood tests or the DEXA scans.
I see new Crohn's meds being trialed using the CDAI (Crohn's Disease Activity Index) which is simply a rating by the patient of their current symptoms. The disease itself can and often does perk away in the intestines causing NO symptoms (symptomatic remission), in addition to which mild symptoms do not raise the CDAI enough to be given consideration during the clinical trial. What SHOULD be being used, but is CONSIDERABLY more expensive, of course, is sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy which is the equivalent of the bone biopsy for osteoporosis.
By the way: the clinical trials for strontium ranalate (man-made, synthetic, "good" strontium), brand name Protelos were: PREVOS (phase II), STRATOS (phase II), SOTI (phase III) and TROPOS (I don't know what phase clinical trial that one was). Anyway, using the trial names might help those who are interested dig up more info on side effects, etc.
I just have more respect for those clinical trials that utilize tried and true tests to test their results. We all known how "iffy" the DEXA can be relying on same machine, same tech (and hopefully tech is in same mood each time). The best indicator of bone strength and health seems to be the bone biopsy. And also more expensive than the blood tests or the DEXA scans.
I see new Crohn's meds being trialed using the CDAI (Crohn's Disease Activity Index) which is simply a rating by the patient of their current symptoms. The disease itself can and often does perk away in the intestines causing NO symptoms (symptomatic remission), in addition to which mild symptoms do not raise the CDAI enough to be given consideration during the clinical trial. What SHOULD be being used, but is CONSIDERABLY more expensive, of course, is sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy which is the equivalent of the bone biopsy for osteoporosis.
By the way: the clinical trials for strontium ranalate (man-made, synthetic, "good" strontium), brand name Protelos were: PREVOS (phase II), STRATOS (phase II), SOTI (phase III) and TROPOS (I don't know what phase clinical trial that one was). Anyway, using the trial names might help those who are interested dig up more info on side effects, etc.
PatNJ
09-30-2005, 09:27 AM
Thanks, Crohnie, for sharing those two extremely interesting bits of info. I don't know what we'd do without our researcher extraordinaire!
Foxbluff
10-17-2005, 05:59 PM
CrohnieToo, thanks for posting this. Very interesting. It sounds great...will definitely be worth watching. Hopefully, it will become avail in the states and add to the "decision soup" we're already in. LOL
CrohnieToo
10-18-2005, 10:33 AM
"Decision soup". What a great way to describe the various options available to us!
Foxbluff
10-18-2005, 03:58 PM
"Decision soup". What a great way to describe the various options available to us!
Thanks! (:
I googled this strontium ranelate and found lots of helpful sites. It is getting rave reviews. Am glad to see that the Phase III study was presented at 2004 annual meeting of The American College of Rheumatology.
Does anybody happen to know if this drug is being tested by FDA, yet, or know an easy way to find out? Thanks. Fox
Thanks! (:
I googled this strontium ranelate and found lots of helpful sites. It is getting rave reviews. Am glad to see that the Phase III study was presented at 2004 annual meeting of The American College of Rheumatology.
Does anybody happen to know if this drug is being tested by FDA, yet, or know an easy way to find out? Thanks. Fox
CrohnieToo
10-18-2005, 06:10 PM
Oh heck, I wouldn't get too too excited. Most of these new drugs by the time they hit Phase III clinical trials are getting rave reviews. Then comes approval and practical use and ..... they never quite live up to their clinical trial reputation. Plus there are often some side effects that pop up or that were clinicially insignifcant in numbers during the clinical trials that show up after they receive FDA approval and get into general use. That's not to say that I am not interested in this strontium therapy, just that I'm getting jaded and have learned so much of the clinical trials results are "hype" with the data given a spin that is especially favorable.
Phase III clinical trials are the last leg before applying for FDA approval. I'm not sure of the "average" time it takes FDA to approve a new med after the application is submitted.
Phase III clinical trials are the last leg before applying for FDA approval. I'm not sure of the "average" time it takes FDA to approve a new med after the application is submitted.