Research Theme

Musculoskeletal

The Menzies Research Institute utilises Tasmania's unique population characteristics to conduct research in musculoskeletal epidemiology, with a particular emphasis on fractures, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Some examples of research projects within the Musculoskeletal research theme at the Menzies Research Institute:

TASOAC

The Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort (TASOAC) study has recruited 1,000 males and females aged 50-79 years of age through the current electoral roll for southern Tasmania to determine, amongst other things:

• the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as an assessment technique that predicts the development and/or progression of osteoarthritis;
• whether physical activity is protective against the development and/or progression of osteoarthritis; and
• whether bone area change is a factor in the development of osteoarthritis.

In addition, the range of measurements being collected in this cohort will allow for many other hypotheses to be tested, and it is likely that other diseases such as osteoporosis, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes and cancer will be considered.

The TASOAC study is ongoing. Measurement of bone density in the knee, MRI assessment of knee and hip joints, and assessment of spinal fractures is a major and time consuming exercise but the results will be worth the effort.

Vitamin D status over time: Association with knee structural change

This study was designed to measure serum vitamin D levels in subjects who participated in the TASOAC follow-up study, then to determine the associations of serum vitamin D changes with knee structural change assessed by MRI, falls risk, change in bone density and vertebral fracture risk in older adults over two years. In 2006, serum vitamin D levels were measured in 600 subjects.

Are serum inflammatory markers predictive of knee structural changes and bone loss in the elderly?

This project, also associated with the TASOAC project, was designed to measure serum levels of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the elderly, and determine the association with progression of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis as well as other disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum levels of CRP, IL-1β, TNF- α and interleukin-6 were measured in 200 subjects from both baseline and follow-up samples. Data will be analysed and papers written up in 2007.

Are bone turnover biomarkers associated with knee structural change assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the elderly?

Serum or urinary levels of the bone turnover markers including serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and urinary pyridinoline (modified by urine creatinine) in elderly participants in the TASOAC study were measured to determine the association with progression of osteoarthritis as well as other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Urine pyridinoline and creatinine levels were measured in 200 subjects from both baseline and follow-up samples. Due to technical problems, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase was not assayed; instead, we measured serum level of leptin, a hormone encoded by the obesity gene. Data will be analysed and papers will be written up in the first half of 2007.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic disease that causes arthritis of the spine and joints of the lower back and can cause inflammation of the eyes, lungs and heart valves.

It can vary from intermittent episodes of back pain that occur throughout life to a severe chronic disease that attacks the spine, peripheral joints and other body organs, resulting in severe joint and back stiffness, loss of motion and deformity as life progresses.

AS affects 1 in 200 Australians and occurs in twice as many men as women. AS usually has its onset between the ages of 16 to 35. The cause of AS is unknown but there appears to be a strong genetic link.

For more information, contact:

Professor Graeme Jones

Senior Member

Telephone: (03) 6226 7705