Browsing by Author "Hough, S."

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    25th European Symposium on Calcified Tissues entitled 'Defining Typologies in Osteoporosis', Harrogate, April 25, 1997 : Fast and slow bone losers: Relevance to the management of osteoporosis
    (1998) Hough, S.
    A low bone mineral density (BMD) is presently regarded as the most important risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. BMD is a function of peak bone mass attained during growth and subsequent age-related bone loss. BMD can be measured accurately and precisely, although the rate of bone loss is more difficult to assess. When axial BMD was measured, the rate of bone loss was shown to increase by 2- to 4-fold at the menopause. Although this rate varies markedly between individuals, it is symmetrically distributed, which argues against the existence of a subpopulation of fast bone losers. Levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover (e.g. osteocalcin, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, deoxypyridinoline) also increase markedly at the menopause. and individuals with a high turnover tend to lose bone more rapidly. Moreover, since increased bone resorption also results in qualitative changes regardless of BMD, a high bone turnover constitutes an independent risk factor. Currently, large intraindividual variations (10 to 40%) in levels of biochemical markers and assay errors still limit our ability to correctly classify individual patients as fast or slow bone losers. The routine use of these markers as a screening tool to predict the risk of osteoporosis in individuals is of limited value, although their selective use in therapeutic decision-making is more promising.
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    A statement of intent on the formation of the NCRP on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease: A new initiative to fight heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity in South Africa
    (2007) Mayosi, B.; Bryer, A.; Lambert, V.; Levitt, N.; Noakes, T.; Ntsekhe, M.; Opie, L.; Rayner, B.; Zilla, P.; Abrahams, Z.; Abram, M.; Bhagwandin, N.; Bradshaw, D.; Dhansay, A.; Mbewu, A.; Madela-Mntla, N.; Parker, W-A.; Sifunda, S.; Skepu, A.; Steyn, N.; Brown, S.; Mollentze, W.; Brink, P.; Doubell, A.; Hough, S.; Huisamen, B.; Lochner, A.; Moolman-Smook, J.; Reuter, H.; Green-Thompson, W.; Horrocks, J.; Manga, P.; Norris, S.; Norton, G.; Raal, D.; Sliwa, K.; Woodiwiss, A.; Mntla, P.; Motala, A.; Naidoo, D.; Seedat, Y.; Ntutela, S.; Puoane, T.; Schwartz, P.
    [No abstract available]
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    Body fat distribution as a risk factor for osteoporosis
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1996) Blaauw, Renee; Albertse, E. C.; Hough, S.
    Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the body fat distribution of patients with osteoporosis (OP) with that of an appropriately matched non-OP control group. Design. Case control study. Setting. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tygerberg Hospital. Participants. A total of 56 patients with histologically proven idiopathic OP, of whom 39 were women (mean age 61 ± 11 years) and 17 men (49 ± 15 years), were compared with 125 age- and sex-matched non-OP (confirmed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) subjects, 98 women (60 ± 11 years) and 27 men (51 ± 16 years). Outcome measures. Anthropometric data, including weight, height, skinfold measurements, mid-upper arm, waist and hip circumferences, as well as elbow breadth. Results. The men and women with OP were significantly shorter (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03 respectively) and of lower body mass (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02 respectively) than the control subjects, although their mean body mass indices were comparable. The OP population had significantly lower skinfold, elbow breadth and arm circumference values, although the majority of subjects in both groups fell within the 15 - 85th percentiles. Despite their lower body mass, both the OP women (P = 0.009) and men (P = 0.002) had significantly higher waist/hip ratios than corresponding controls. Conclusion. Whatever the underlying pathogenesis, this new finding suggests that, should these results be confirmed by larger studies, OP can be added to the list of diseases associated with a waist fat distribution.