Biomechanical-based methods of diagnosing scoliosis

1. A method for stratifying a subject having a scoliosis or at risk of developing a scoliosis, said method comprising:

(a) measuring a first level of circulating osteopontin (OPN) protein in a plasma sample from said subject;

(b) applying a pulsatile compressive pressure to one or more members from said subject for a time sufficient to increase circulating OPN protein level in corresponding control plasma samples from subjects not having a scoliosis or not at risk of developing a scoliosis;

(c) measuring a second level of circulating OPN protein in a corresponding plasma sample from said subject after the application of said pulsatile compressive pressure in step (b);

(d) determining a variation between said first level of circulating OPN protein and said second level of circulating OPN protein,

wherein said variation is an increase in circulating OPN level following the application of said pulsatile compressive pressure;

(e) comparing said variation to a control variation value,

wherein said control variation value corresponds to a variation between a first level of circulating OPN protein and a second level of circulating OPN protein determined in corresponding plasma samples from subjects not having a scoliosis or not at risk of developing a scoliosis; and

(f) (i) stratifying said subject in a first group when said variation is lower in said sample as compared to said control variation value; or

(ii) stratifying said subject in a second group when said variation is equal or higher in said sample as compared to said control variation value,

wherein said measuring comprises:

(1) contacting said sample with an antibody specific for said OPN protein; and

(2) immunodetecting the level of circulating OPN protein in said sample.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein stratifying said subject in said first group identifies said subject as being at risk of developing a scoliosis.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said scoliosis is an idiopathic scoliosis.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said idiopathic scoliosis is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said one or more members is an arm.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied using an inflatable strap.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied using an inflatable cuff.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied for a period of at least about 15 minutes.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied for a period of between about 30 to about 90 minutes.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied for a period of about 90 minutes.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the subject is a subject at risk of developing AIS.

12. The method of claim 4 , further comprising stratifying said subject of the first group in a first subgroup when said variation is less than about twofold lower than said control variation value and in a second subgroup when said variation is at least about twofold lower than said control variation value.

13. The method of claim 4 , wherein said lower variation in step (f) (i) is less than about twofold lower than said control variation value.

14. A method for stratifying a subject having a scoliosis or at risk of developing a scoliosis, said method comprising:

(a) measuring a first level of circulating osteopontin (OPN) protein in a plasma sample from said subject;

(b) applying a pulsatile compressive pressure to one or more members from said subject for a time sufficient to increase circulating OPN protein level in corresponding control plasma samples from subjects not having a scoliosis or not at risk of developing a scoliosis;

(c) measuring a second level of circulating OPN protein in a corresponding plasma sample from said subject after the application of said pulsatile compressive pressure in step (b);

(d) determining a variation between said first level of circulating OPN protein and said second level of circulating OPN protein,

wherein said variation is an increase in OPN level following the application of said pulsatile compressive pressure;

(e) comparing said variation to a first control variation value and a second control variation value,

wherein said first control variation value corresponds to a variation between a first level of circulating OPN protein and a second level of circulating OPN protein determined in corresponding plasma samples from subjects not having a scoliosis or not at risk of developing a scoliosis; and

wherein said second control variation value corresponds to a variation between a first level of circulating OPN protein and a second level of circulating OPN protein determined in corresponding plasma samples from subjects having a scoliosis with a Cobb angle above 45°; and

(f) (i) stratifying said subject in a first group when said variation is lower in said sample as compared to said first control variation value and higher in said sample as compared to said second control variation value;

(ii) stratifying said subject in a second group when said variation is about equal or lower in said sample as compared to said second control variation value; or

(iii) stratifying said subject in a third group when said variation is about equal or higher in said sample as compared to said first control variation value,

wherein said measuring comprises;

(1) contacting said sample with an antibody specific for said OPN protein; and

(2) immunodetecting the level of circulating OPN in said sample.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein stratifying said subject in said first group identifies said subject as at risk of developing a scoliosis.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis (IS).

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said idiopathic scoliosis is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said one or more members is an arm.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied using an inflatable strap.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied using an inflatable cuff.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied for a period of at least about 15 minutes.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied for a period of between about 30 to about 90 minutes.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein said pulsatile compressive pressure is applied for a period of about 90 minutes.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the subject is a likely candidate for developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.