Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. It is often called a “silent” disease because it has no discernable symptoms until there is a bone fracture. Like other tissues in the body, bone tissue is in a state of constant flux – remodeling and rebuilding. There are many influences on bone mass and strength, such as genetics, hormones, physical exercise and diet (especially intake of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, and other nutrients). Osteoporosis occurs when there are problems with these factors, resulting in more bone loss than bone rebuilding.
This e-book offers a concise yet comprehensive source of all the latest basic research related to osteoporosis in one reference work. Experts from all areas of osteoporosis research expose readers to genomic and proteomic analysis, histopathology and imaging, as well cellular and molecular mechanisms relevant to assay development and drug discovery.
Osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among the elderly. The rationale for The Osteoporosis Primer is to provide an introductory text that relates the clinical presentation of osteoporosis to its molecular biochemical basis. The text has been organized into four sections that deal with the molecular/ cellular components of bone, the development of peak bone mass, the pathophysiology of aging bone and finally, how all of these relate to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. The international team of authors includes many leading clinicians and scientists who have provided the reader with a concise, yet comprehensive, synopsis of bone development and skeletal homeostasis. This book will be an essential introduction for individuals working on osteoporosis, including students and doctors considering a career related to metabolic bone disease, general practitioners, geriatricians, rheumatologists, and endocrinologists.