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Updated: Oct 1, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
Biochemical markers of bone turnover: an update
P L van Daele1, J C Birkenhäger, H A Pols
1Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Abstract:
Currently, biomarkers are available which have considerably increased the possibility of monitoring changes in bone turnover. Assays for carboxy-terminal procollagen I fragments, osteocalcin and the bone-specific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase allow a more precise assessment of the complex osteoblastic functions in health and disease; osteocalcin appears at present to be the most satisfactory one. With respect to bone resorption, the measurement of urinary pyridinoline cross-links seems to be the most reliable assay. It has to be emphasized, however, that a single biomarker may be of value in some metabolic bone diseases but not in others.
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