BACKGROUND Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and pathological changes in the spinal cord are major causes of back pain. In addition to its well-established anti-resorptive effect on bone, calcitonin (CT) potentially exerts protective effects on IVD degeneration in ovariectomized rats. However, possible therapeutic effects of CT on lumbar fusion-induced adjacent-segment disc degeneration (A...

Background and Aim: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) appears to be more common in osteoporotic patients. Fractal analysis is a mathematical method that can be used to assess trabecular bone. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation of bone mineral density (BMD) and fractal dimension (FD) of the condyles in women with TMJOA using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).   ...

We read with great interest the contribution of Gupta et al on the lumbo-costo-vertebral syndrome (LCVS).[1] We encountered this rare anomaly in a 39 week-of-gestation female patient, who after an uncomplicated birth underwent investigation because of a left lumbar hernia, and vertebral anomalies. Imaging assay with plain radiography, revealed the presence of tenth and eleventh thoracic hemiver...

The double S shape of the vertebral column is one of the most important evolutionary adaptations to human bipedal locomotion, providing an optimal compromise between stability and mobility. It is commonly believed that a six element long lumbar spine facilitated the critical adoption of lumbar lordosis in early hominins, which contrasts with five lumbars in modern humans and four in chimpanzees...

BACKGROUND Many studies have identified smoking as a risk factor for osteoporosis, but it is unclear whether passive smoking has an effect on bone mineral density and bone turnover and if such an effect could cause osteoporosis.The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of passive smoking on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover and the relationship between BMD and bone turno...

AIM The overall aim of this pilot study was to establish the role of dental practitioners in identifying patients at risk of osteoporosis from panoramic radiographs. METHODS The pilot study evaluated 32 randomly selected postmenopausal women with no known secondary cause of bone loss. A panoramic radiograph of each patient was taken and qualitative and quantitative radiomorphometric indices w...