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Purpose As studies examining the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and airflow limitation (AL) have produced conflicting results, the current one set out to analyze if and to what degree there are any correlations between these variables in a population of fit elderly women. Methods One hundred and twenty-one non-smoking, fit and healthy women (age [greater than or equal to] 65 years) underwent anthropometric assessment, laboratory testing (serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, parathormone, and cytokine levels), pulmonary function testing (PFT), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate BMD values of the lumbar and femoral regions. Results A significant positive association was found between FEV.sub.1/FVC ratio (Tiffeneau index), a sensitive index of AL, and lumbar and femoral BMD; a 10 % increase in the FEV.sub.1/FVC ratio resulted in a significant increase of 0.025 g/cm.sup.2 in the total hip (p = 0.05), 0.027 g/cm.sup.2 in the femoral neck (p = 0.02), 0.028 g/cm.sup.2 in the femoral trochanter (p = 0.01), and 0.047 g/cm.sup.2 in the lumbar (p = 0.03) BMDs. Binary logistic analyses demonstrated more than a threefold higher risk of low BMD values for the lowest FEV.sub.1/FVC quartile in the lumbar (OR 4.62, 95 % CI 1.48-14.40, p = 0.008), total hip (OR 4.09, 95 % CI 1.28-13.05, p = 0.02 for the second quartile), and femoral trochanter regions (OR 3.90, 95 % CI 1.25-12.20, p = 0.02 for the third quartile). Conclusions AL was associated with a higher risk of reduced BMD in healthy, fit elderly women., Author(s): Caterina Trevisan[sup.1] , A. Vianello[sup.2] , N. Veronese[sup.1] , S. Carraro[sup.1] , S. Pizzato[sup.1] , P. Lucato[sup.1] , G. Girotti[sup.1] , C. Rinaldo[sup.2] , A. Coin[sup.1] , E. Manzato[sup.1] [...]

Background: Smoking is recognized among the risk factors for osteoporosis, but only few studies have comprehensively explored its influence on bone metabolism and strength. We aimed to evaluate smoking effects on calcium-phosphate metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in postmenopausal women., Methods: Our sample included 1067 postmenopausal women who arrived to our osteoporosis outpatient clinic. Anamnestic data, smoking habits (categorized as never, former, and current; and by smoking intensity and duration), biochemical parameters, lumbar/femoral BMD, and presence of vertebral fractures were recorded. In a subsample of 357 women, the changes in BMD after a 2-yr follow-up period were also assessed., Results: Current smokers had shorter reproductive age, lower body mass index, and higher prevalence of heavy alcohol consumption than former/never smokers. They also had lower PTH values and weaker linear association between serum vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (current β = -0.11[SE = 0.004]; former β = -0.14[SE = 0.01]; never β = -0.20[SE = 0.003]; p < 0.01 for all). Baseline BMD did not reflect differences based on smoking habits, duration or intensity. However, after 2 years, only current smokers significantly worsened in femural BMD. After adjustment for confounders, the chance of having sustained vertebral fractures at the first evaluation increased by 74% (95% confidence interval:1.07-2.83) in current compared with never smokers, especially among heavy smokers., Conclusions: Smoking may negatively affect bone by inhibiting vitamin D-parathyroid hormone axis, reducing estrogen exposure, promoting risky health behaviors, and accelerating bone loss, especially at the femur. No significant differences were observed in these outcomes among former smokers, suggesting that quitting smoking has beneficial effects on bone health., (Copyright © 2019 The International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Men have generally demonstrated higher pressure pain thresholds (PPT) than women. However, the possible impact of aging on the gender differences in pain perception has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the gender differences in PPT over the life course, in young, middle-aged and older adults., Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 355 pain-free healthy individuals aged 19-95 years, divided into < 45, 45-64 and ≥ 65 years age groups. PPT were measured using Fisher's algometer. Data on anthropometry, formal education and occupation were collected for each participant, and a multidimensional geriatric assessment was performed in older individuals., Results: Lower PPT values were observed in old vs young adults (21.8 ± 8.7 N/cm 2 vs 59.5 ± 31.6, p < 0.0001) and in women vs men (16.3 ± 6.1 vs 42.8 ± 19.6 N/cm 2 , p = 0.0003). A significant interaction emerged between age and sex in influencing PPT (p interaction  = 0.03). Although women had lower mean PPT values than men in all age groups, such gender difference diminished with aging, from 42.8 ± 19.6 vs 59.5 ± 31.6 N/cm 2 (p = 0.001) to 16.3 ± 6.1 vs 21.8 ± 8.7 vs N/cm 2 (p = 0.003) in younger and older women vs men, respectively., Conclusions: Female gender and older age are associated with lower PPT, but such gender difference seems to decrease with aging., (© 2019. European Geriatric Medicine Society.)