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Calcium Metabolism & Osteoporosis Program 		AUB

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Research
The Program was awarded the Outstanding Clinical Program Departmental Award on June 12, 2004. The selection was driven by the very high productivity of the program in research, attracting a high level of funding institutionally and its success in achieving visibility not only nationally and regionally, but also internationally. The Program’s publications over the last five years have achieved the highest cumulative impact factor institutionally. Manuscript describing various studies/reviews from the  Program are published in the N Engl J Med, J Bone Miner Res, J Clin Endocrinol  Metab, Bone, Am J Clin Nutr, amongst others.

Research Program
Revolves around the evaluation of the epidemiology of osteoporosis in Lebanon, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and evaluation and treatment of secondary causes of bone loss.
  • Osteoporosis
    1. Epidemiology of osteoporosis in Lebanon
    2. Pathophysiology, prevention and therapies of osteoporosis
    3. Hypovitaminosis D in Lebanon: risk factors and skeletal implications
    4. Nutrition as a risk factor for osteoporosis in Lebanon
    5. Skeletal health in children and its determinants
    6. Genetic programming
    7. Heritability of bone density
    8. Hip fracture and its determinants
    9. Bone density / fracture relationship in the Lebanese and the Middle East

  • Hypovitaminosis D and impact on musculoskeletal health across the lifecycle
    1. Materno-neonatal: fetal programming.
    2. Childhood and adolescents.
    3. Elderly.

  • Women’s Health
    1. Education
    2. Women’s attitudes in Lebanon regarding women’s health.
    3. Strategies to improve compliance with osteoporosis prevention strategies.

  • Applications of Bone Densitometry Measurements
    1. Fracture risk assessment models
    2. Physician performance in BMD reporting

  • Secondary Causes of Bone Loss
    1. Effect of anticonvulsants on mineral and skeletal  metabolism
    2. Osteoporosis in renal failure
    3. Transplantation bone disease
    4. Effect of pulse steroid therapy and inhalational steroids on bone metabolism
    5. Chemotherapy-induced bone loss
    6. Effect of topical steroids on bone metabolism

  • Hyperparathyroidism and Abnormal PTH Dynamics
    1. Classical and non classical manifestations in Lebanon
    2. Bone disease in hyperparathyroidism
    3. Familial HPTH: study of a Syrian family with the jaw tumor syndrome
    4. Familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcemia

  • Multicenter Trials
    1. 2003-2006:  Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, MD, MPH. Principle Investigator.
      Co-investigators:  Asma Arabi, Joyce Maalouf.
      A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter, two years phase III study to determine the efficacy and safety of Risedronate therapy administered 35 mg once a week in Men with osteoporosis. MASTER trial Aventis/ Procter and Gamble.

    2. 2005-2007:  Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, MD, MPH. Principle Investigator.
      Co-investigators:  Asma Arabi, Joyce Maalouf.
      A multicenter, double –blind, randomized, active controlled, parallel group, non-inferiority study comparing 75 mg risedronate dosed on two consecutive days monthly with 5 mg daily risedronate in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis as assessed over 24 months. Aventis


    3. 2008-2010- Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, MD, MPH. Principle Investigator. Co-investigators: Samar Muwakkit, Miguel Abboud, Asma Arabi, Lina El-Onsi. A randomized , open-label efficacy and safety trial of intravenous zoledronic acid with vitamin D and calcium versus vitamin D and calcium alone in childhood cancer survivors with low bone mass".
Calcium Metabolism & Osteoporosis Program American University of Beirut Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine