Vitamin D in the Light of centuriesReview articles

M. Bayer

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 47-48

The role of vitamin K in bone metabolismReview articles

I. Žofková

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 49-51

Alfacalcidol and the risk of falls in osteoporosisReview articles

P. Masaryk

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 53-57

Falls represent an important risk factor for osteoporotic fractures, higher than bone density, especially in the elderly. Besides fractures, falls have serious extraskeletal consequences. Alfacalcidol is synthetic 1-hydroxyvitamin D3 hydroxylated in the critical 1-alpha posi­ tion and converted only in the liver, yielding the biologically active form of vitamin D, calcitriol (1,25-OH D). Alfacalcidol is a prodrug (analogue) of D-hormone. It is metabolically inactive and all its effects are derived from calcitriol. However, its pharmacological pro­ perties are more beneficial than those of calcitriol (better synthesis, higher concentrations in bone...

DXA morphometry and its potential use in clinical practiceOriginal contributions

D. Čierny, Z. Killinger, J. Payer

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 58-61

Vitamin D - new findings and endocrine microsystemsOriginal contributions

B. Kalvachová

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 62-67

For a long time, vitamin D contained in cod liver oil has been used to prevent rickets in infants. Yet only after the chemical structure of provitamins D and their transfer to effective metabolites were discovered in the 1960s, the complex impact of this vitamin on the human organism has been gradually understood. Some of these findings have already been utilized in practice, others are used in cli­ nical studies. Information on calcitriol, its local formation, binding to nuclear receptors and local effect in tissues has resulted in un­ derstanding vitamin D endocrine microsystems. These findings, together with a sophisticated revision of the recommended...

Vitamin D and other parameters of calcium and phosphate metabolism in healthy term newborns after birthGuidelines

J. Dort, M. Bayer, E. Dortová, V. Hadravová

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 70-73

Background: The literature concerning vitamin D saturation in newborns is sparse. The levels of vitamin D in healthy term newborns in the Czech Republic have not been examined yet. Vitamin D saturation in newborns depends mainly on matern pregnancy that may be decreased due to nutritional habits and climatic conditions in the Central Europe. Objective: To get comparative values for bone metabolism assessment in newborns with very low birth weight. Design: A prospective study carried out in the spring period (from April toJune 2006) in a cohort of 28 healthy term Caucasian new­ borns with normal birth weight (limits 3 000-4 000g). Blood and urine samples...

Recommended procedures for diagnosing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis II. PART TWOInformations

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 74-81

Osteology Centre Hradec KrálovéInformations

V. Palička, P. Živný

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 82

News from around the worldLiterature

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 84-86

Enabling orthopaedic surgeons to prevent future fractures, Nyon, Switzerland, May 13, 2007Informations

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 87

17th IOF Advanced Training Course on Osteoporosis, January 29-31, 2008; Lyon, FranceInformations

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 88

IOF World Congress on osteoporosis in Bangkok, 2008News

Clin Osteol 2007; 12(2): 89