Effect of Low-Magnitude Whole-Body Vibration Combined with Alendronate in Ovariectomized Rats: A Random Controlled Osteoporosis Prevention Study

Background

Alendronate (ALE) is a conventional drug used to treat osteoporosis. Low-magnitude whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise has been developed as a potential treatment for osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether low-magnitude WBV could enhance the protective effect of ALE on bone properties in ovariectomized rats.

Methods

A total of 128 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (SHAM, OVX+VEH, OVX+WBV, OVX + ALE, OVX+WBV+ALE). The level of WBV applied was 0.3 g at 45–55 Hz for 20 min/day, 5 day/week and for 3 months. ALE was administered in dose of 1 mg/Kg once a week. Every four weeks eight rats from each group were sacrificed and their blood and both tibiae were harvested. The expression of osteocalcin and CTX in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the tibiae were subjected to metaphyseal three-point bending and μCT analysis.

Results

Osteocalcin rose after ovariectomy and was not appreciably changed by either alendronate or WBV alone or in combination. Alendronate treatment significantly prevented an increase in CTX. WBV alone treatment did not alter this effect. Compared with the OVX+WBV group, nearly all tested indices such as the BV/TV, TV apparent, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Conn.D were higher in the OVX+ALE group at week 12.Compared with the OVX+WBV group, certain tested indices such as BV/TV, TV apparent, Tb.N, and Con.D, were higher in the OVX+WBV+ALE group at week 12. At week 12, tibiae treated with WBV+ALE exhibited a significantly higher F_max compared to the OVX+VEH group, and a significant difference was also found in energy absorption between the OVX+WBV+ALE and OVX+VEH groups.

Conclusions

Compared with the WBV, ALE was more effective at preventing bone loss and improved the trabecular architecture. However, WBV enhanced the effect of alendronate in ovariectomized rats by inducing further improvements in trabecular architecture.     

硫辛酸对卵巢切除小鼠学习记忆的影响

目的:探讨硫辛酸(Lipoic acid,LA)对卵巢切除(ovariectomized,OVX)小鼠学习记忆的影响。方法:2月龄雌性昆明小鼠随机分为4组:假手术(Sham)组、OVX组、OVX+LA组、OVX+LA+左旋硝基精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME)组。建立卵巢切除模型并给药,Morris水迷宫检测各组小鼠学习记忆能力。结果:前4天定位巡航实验中,OVX组与Sham组相比,逃避潜伏期明显延长(P0.05),第5天撤除平台后,OVX组在目的象限游泳距离及时间百分比较Sham组明显缩短(P0.05);OVX+LA组与OVX组相比,逃避潜伏期明显缩短(P0.05),撤除平台后,在目的象限游泳距离及时间百分比明显延长(P0.05);OVX+LA+L-NAME组与Sham组相比,逃避潜伏期明显延长(P0.05),撤除平台后,在目的象限游泳距离及时间百分比明显缩短(P0.05)。结论:OVX损伤小鼠的学习记忆,LA可改善这种损伤,内皮型一氧化氮合酶(e NOS)抑制剂L-NAME可削弱LA的这种保护作用。     

低剂量双酚A灌胃对去卵巢小鼠子宫的增生作用

目的观察小鼠经消化道途径给予低剂量环境内分泌干扰物双酚A对子宫的作用及机制。方法雌性ICR小鼠切除双侧卵巢,恢复性饲养1周,剔除异常个体后,50只动物随机分成5组,每组10只动物,依次皮下注射(sc)10.0μg/(kg·d)17β-雌二醇,灌胃(ig)0、20.0、60.0和180.0μg/(kg·d)BPA,连续7d。动物每3d称量体重一次,于最后一次给药24h后,阴道涂片检测角化上皮细胞,颈椎脱臼处死动物,取子宫,称其干湿重,计算子宫脏器指数,组织切片,HE染色后利用图像分析系统测量子宫上皮高度和宫腔面积。免疫组化法分析子宫雌激素受体(ER)和孕激素受体(PR)表达。结果①与对照组相比,雌二醇和BPA低剂量组动物体重增加,BPA中高剂量组动物体重无明显差异。②阴道涂片结果显示,处于动情期动物数分别为:对照组0/10,雌二醇组10/10,BPA低剂量组2/10,BPA中剂量组1/10,BPA高剂量组0/10;③BPA低剂量组动物子宫湿重和含水量较对照组增加,脏器系数增大,BPA中高剂量组子宫湿重和脏器系数较对照组降低明显(P0.05);④病理组织学及显微图像分析结果显示,BPA低剂量组动物子宫腔面积较对照组增大,中高剂量组子宫腔面积明显减小(P0.01);低剂量组动物子宫上皮高度较对照组增高(P0.01),中高剂量组子宫上皮高度降低明显(P0.01)。⑤免疫组化结果显示,低剂量BPA能增强小鼠子宫ER和PR表达,但随剂量增加,ER表达下降。结论BPA经消化道途径给予ICR小鼠,人环境暴露剂量下具有雌激素活性,但雌激素活性随BPA剂量增大呈现下降趋势。     

Gender-Specific Metabolomic Profiling of Obesity in Leptin-Deficient ob/ob Mice by 1H NMR Spectroscopy

Despite the numerous metabolic studies on obesity, gender bias in obesity has rarely been investigated. Here, we report the metabolomic analysis of obesity by using leptin-deficient ob/ob mice based on the gender. Metabolomic analyses of urine and serum from ob/ob mice compared with those from C57BL/6J lean mice, based on the ¹H NMR spectroscopy in combination with multivariate statistical analysis, revealed clear metabolic differences between obese and lean mice. We also identified 48 urine and 22 serum metabolites that were statistically significantly altered in obese mice compared to lean controls. These metabolites are involved in amino acid metabolism (leucine, alanine, ariginine, lysine, and methionine), tricarbocylic acid cycle and glucose metabolism (pyruvate, citrate, glycolate, acetoacetate, and acetone), lipid metabolism (cholesterol and carnitine), creatine metabolism (creatine and creatinine), and gut-microbiome-derived metabolism (choline, TMAO, hippurate, p-cresol, isobutyrate, 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, methylamine, and trigonelline). Notably, our metabolomic studies showed distinct gender variations. The obese male mice metabolism was specifically associated with insulin signaling, whereas the obese female mice metabolism was associated with lipid metabolism. Taken together, our study identifies the biomarker signature for obesity in ob/ob mice and provides biochemical insights into the metabolic alteration in obesity based on gender.     

Zoledronate Effects on Systemic and Jaw Osteopenias in Ovariectomized Periostin-Deficient Mice

Osteoporosis and periodontal disease (PD) are frequently associated in the elderly, both concurring to the loss of jaw alveolar bone and finally of teeth. Bisphosphonates improve alveolar bone loss but have also been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), particularly using oncological doses of zoledronate. The effects and therapeutic margin of zoledronate on jaw bone therefore remain uncertain. We reappraised the efficacy and safety of Zoledronate (Zol) in ovariectomized (OVX) periostin (Postn)-deficient mice, a unique genetic model of systemic and jaw osteopenia. Compared to vehicle, Zol 1M (100 µg/kg/month) and Zol 1W (100 µg/kg/week) for 3 months both significantly improved femur BMD, trabecular bone volume on tissue volume (BV/TV) and cortical bone volume in both OVX Postn^+/+ and Postn^−/− (all p<0.01). Zol 1M and Zol 1W also improved jaw alveolar and basal BV/TV, although the highest dose (Zol 1W) was less efficient, particularly in Postn^−/−. Zol decreased osteoclast number and bone formation indices, i.e. MAR, MPm/BPm and BFR, independently in Postn^−/− and Postn^+/+, both in the long bones and in deep jaw alveolar bone, without differences between Zol doses. Zol 1M and Zol 1W did not reactivate inflammation nor increase fibrous tissue in the bone marrow of the jaw, whereas the distance between the root and the enamel of the incisor (DRI) remained high in Postn^−/− vs Postn^+/+ confirming latent inflammation and lack of crestal alveolar bone. Zol 1W and Zol 1M decreased osteocyte numbers in Postn^−/− and Postn^+/+ mandible, and Zol 1W increased the number of empty lacunae in Postn^−/−, however no areas of necrotic bone were observed. These results demonstrate that zoledronate improves jaw osteopenia and suggest that in Postn^−/− mice, zoledronate is not sufficient to induce bone necrosis.     

黄芪对缺氧小鼠抗运动疲劳作用的效果研究

目的:黄芪是一种传统的提高身体各项机能的中药,本研究旨在探讨黄芪在高原缺氧环境下对运动小鼠疲劳缓解的效果.方法:雄性昆明种小鼠,随机分为对照组和黄芪高、中、低3个剂量组(30.0,3.0,1.0 g/kg),平原对照组在平原环境下饲养,缺氧小鼠在模拟5000m高原环境中饲养,每天灌胃给药,10d后在缺氧环境下进行游泳力竭实验,观察小鼠游泳力竭时间,同时检测血乳酸、血糖、肝糖原以及血清SOD活性和肝脏MDA等指标的变化.结果:与空白对照组比较,黄芪各剂量组可明显提高缺氧小鼠力竭游泳时间(P＜0.05),减少血乳酸曲线下面积(P＜0.05);黄芪高、中剂量组肝糖原显著增加(P＜0.05),力竭游泳后血糖明显升高(P＜0.05),SOD活性升高(P＜0.05),MDA降低(P＜0.05).结论:黄芪可显著缓解高原低氧小鼠的运动疲劳,具有明显的抗高原疲劳效果,具有进一步研究的价值.     

牛蒡低聚果糖对小鼠抗疲劳作用的研究

为研究牛蒡低聚果糖(BFOS)对小鼠的抗疲劳作用,将牛蒡低聚果糖用三个不同剂量组100、200、400mg.kg-1.d-1给小鼠灌胃,对照组为生理盐水,连续灌胃42 d,末次饲喂30 min后进行游泳实验,耐缺氧实验,测定运动耐力、血乳酸(LAC)、血尿素氮(BUN)等指标。测试结果表明三个剂量的牛蒡低聚果糖均能显著提高运动耐力和耐缺氧时间;降低运动后LAC和BUN的含量;提高肌、肝糖元含量。说明牛蒡低聚果糖具有良好的抗疲劳作用,200 mg.kg-1.d-1为最佳用量,高剂量无明显优势。     

Comparative Activities of the S-Enantiomer and Racemic Forms of Equol on Bone Fragility in Ovariectomized Mice

We compared the effects of the S-enantiomer and racemic forms of equol on bone using ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Femoral bone mineral density and bone strength decreased in the OVX mice, but not in OVX mice administered 0.5 mg/d S-equol. This, however, did not hold for racemic equol. Serum and urine S-equol concentrations were higher in the mice administered S-equol than in those administered racemic equol. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of S-equol on bone fragility in OVX mice are greater than those of racemic equol.     

槐角苷对雌性小鼠的抗生育作用研究

以ICR小鼠为研究对象,研究了槐角苷对雌性小鼠的抗生育作用。受孕小鼠按照0 mg/kg·day、150 mg/kg·day、300 mg/kg·day、600 mg/kg·day浓度的槐角苷进行灌胃处理,检测其胚胎着床数,SEM检视子宫内膜结构以及免疫组化研究子宫雌激素受体(ERα)和孕激素受体(PR)的表达水平。结果表明:经600 mg/kg·day槐角苷处理的小鼠胚胎平均着床数显著降低(P0.01);第5天SEM结果显示600 mg/kg·day的处理组小鼠子宫内胞饮突的形成受阻,子宫内膜容受性发生显著改变;第4天、第5天及第6天的免疫组化结果显示600 mg/kg·day的处理组小鼠子宫ERα表达水平显著降低(P0.05),PR表达水平显著升高(P0.01)。研究表明,槐角苷能够通过调节子宫内ERα与PR的表达、影响胞饮突的形成、降低子宫内膜容受性等多种途径的相互作用从而导致小鼠胚胎着床的失败,显示出了显著的抗生育活性。     

阿司匹林对去势大鼠腰椎骨密度及微观结构的影响

目的:研究阿司匹林对去势(卵巢切除)大鼠腰椎骨密度及微观结构的影响。方法:取48只3月龄SD雌性大鼠随机分为6组:去势组(OVX组)、对照组(Sham组)及4个阿司匹林治疗组(Aspirin组),每组8只。OVX组及Aspirin组采用卵巢切除法建立骨质疏松模型。去势后1周,阿司匹林治疗组剂量分别为2.25、4.46、8.92及26.75 mg/kg(A1、A2、A3及A4组),每天灌胃一次,OVX组及Sham组予同等量生理盐水灌胃。灌胃3个月后处死,剖取腰椎椎体,以双能X线吸收骨密度测量仪(DXA)和Micro-CT进行测量分析。结果:DXA分析结果显示:阿司匹林各剂量组BMD值较OVX组有统计学差异(P<0.01)。Micro-CT分析表明:与OVX组比较,阿司匹林各剂量组BV/TV、Tb.Th、Tb.N、BMD均显著性提高(P<0.01),BS/BV、Tb.Sp显著性降低(P<0.01),阿司匹林各剂量组BV/TV、BS/BV、Tb.Th、Tb.N、Tb.Sp、BMD与Sham组相比有统计学差异(P<0.01)。结论:阿司匹林可以改善去势大鼠骨小梁结构,增加骨质密度,对去势大鼠骨质疏松具有防治作用,其作用途径可能包括抑制骨吸收和刺激骨形成两方面。     

黄芪多糖抗小鼠疲劳的作用机制研究

目的:探讨黄芪多糖对小鼠的抗疲劳作用及机制。方法:该研究分为实验组和对照组两组,实验组设置三组剂量0.2,0.05,0.0125 g/kg对小鼠连续灌胃28天,对照组给予蒸馏水灌胃,进行负重游泳试验计算游泳力竭时间,并检测小鼠全血中血糖,血中乳酸含量,肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量及肌组织中糖原储备量。结果:1).与对照组相比较,黄芪多糖低剂量、高剂量组小鼠负重游泳时力竭时间明显延长;2).中剂量组小鼠运动后肝脏SOD活力值比对照组明显增高,高剂量组肌糖原的储存量明显升高,而低剂量组乳酸明显降低。结论:黄芪多糖具有抗疲劳作用,可能通过增加抗氧化酶类SOD活性、减少乳酸的产生及增加肌糖原能量储存等途径起作用。     

Hispidulin Exerts Anti-osteoporotic Activity in Ovariectomized Mice via Activating AMPK Signaling Pathway

To investigate the effect of Hispidulin on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in mice. Female mice subjected to OVX were treated with Hispidulin for 8 weeks. The total body bone mineral density was measured at the beginning and after the OVX at a time interval of 4 weeks. Micro-computed tomography of the tibia, bone histomorphometric analysis of the femur, and biomechanical analysis of tibia, vertebra, and femoral head were performed to fully evaluate the anti-osteoporotic effect of Hispidulin. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the level of activated AMPK. Hispidulin treatment effectively prevented OVX-induced body weight loss and attenuated OVX-induced bone loss. Hispidulin treatment also decreased trabecular spacing in OVX mice. The suppressing effect of Hispidulin on osteoclast surface and number was also found via histomorphometric analysis. Western blot analysis revealed that Hispidulin significantly elevated the activated AMPK levels. Our findings suggest that Hispidulin exerts anti-osteoporotic and bone resorption attenuating effects via activating the AMPK signaling pathway.     

Deuterium NMR Study of the Effect of Ergosterol on POPE Membranes

We study the effect of ergosterol on the physical properties of 1-[²H₃₁]palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) multibilayers using deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance. NMR spectra were taken as a function of temperature and ergosterol concentration up to 70 mol %. The spectral first moments show that there is a dramatic difference in the ability of ergosterol to disorder the gel phase and to order the liquid-crystalline phase of POPE membranes, an unusual behavior among lipid/sterol systems studied up to now. Further investigation of the liquid-crystalline phase shows that ergosterol (erg) increases the chain order of POPE-d31, but that this effect saturates at 10 mol % ergosterol. This is in marked contrast to the effect of cholesterol (chol) on POPE membranes: the chain order of POPE increases with cholesterol to at least 45 mol %. Moreover, we found that at higher ergosterol concentrations (>40 mol %) ergosterol decreases the POPE-d31 chain order, which, to our knowledge, has not been directly observed in other lipid/sterol systems. The temperature-composition phase diagram is presented. Finally, at all ergosterol concentrations, the chain order of liquid-crystalline-phase POPE is much smaller than that of comparable POPE/chol membranes. This implies that there is no liquid-ordered phase behavior for POPE/erg membranes.     

阿仑膦酸钠联合阿法骨化醇对预防全髋关节置换术后患者骨矿物质流失的疗效

目的：探讨初次行全髋关节置换术后使用阿仑膦酸钠单一用药或阿仑膦酸钠与阿法骨化醇联合用药对患者假体周围骨矿物 质流失的疗效。方法：将60 名患者按照随机数字表法分为阿仑膦酸钠单一药物治疗组（n=18）、阿仑膦酸钠和阿法骨化醇联合治 疗组（n=20）和无药物治疗组（n=22）。术后1、12、24 和48 周,对患者假体周围骨矿物质密度（BMD）和生化标志物进行检测,比较 检测区域测量值的变化。结果：单个测量周期中,单一药物治疗组和联合药物治疗组在股骨矩区域的BMD 均高于无药物治疗组 （P＜0.01）。单一药物治疗组和联合药物治疗组尿Ⅰ型胶原N端肽的血浆浓度与骨碱性磷酸酶浓度显著低于无药物治疗组（P＜ 0.01）。结论：单一药物治疗和联合治疗能显著预防假体周围的骨矿物质流失,尤其对预防股骨矩位置的骨矿物质流失效果显著。     

桂枝茯苓胶囊对小鼠尿生殖窦植入性前列腺增生的影响

观察桂枝茯苓胶囊对小鼠前列腺增生病理模型的影响。方法 :用小鼠尿生殖窦植入小鼠前列腺 ,建立前列腺增生病理模型 ,用桂枝茯苓胶囊连续灌胃给药 30天 ,测定前列腺重量和体积并进行病理学检查。结果 :与模型组比较 ,桂枝茯苓胶囊可明显减轻小鼠前列腺重量 ,减小小鼠前列腺体积 (P<0 .0 5 ;P<0 .0 1)。病理结果显示桂枝茯苓胶囊组小鼠前列腺增生轻于模型组。桂枝茯苓胶囊对小鼠前列腺增生具有抑制作用     

Metabolomic profiling of amoebic and pyogenic liver abscesses: an in vitro NMR study

Pus samples obtained from 109 patients with liver abscess were examined by NMR spectroscopy. To our knowledge this is the first report on metabolic profiling of liver abscesses. Fifty metabolites were identified by combination of one (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectra. Metabolic derangements were evaluated for differentiation between amoebic (ALA) and pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). The NMR results indicate that aspartate, asparagine and galactose, integral components of lipoproteophophoglycans (LPG) of the cell wall of Entamoeba histolytica are metabolic biomarkers of ALA. On the other hand, acetate, propionate, butyrate, succinate and formate, the fermentation products the facultative anaerobes are significantly prevalent in PLA. The NMR based metabolic profile of ALA and PLA are evaluated taking polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture as gold standard method. However, when NMR results were compared with culture and PCR methods, a correct diagnosis of 94.11% in ALA (n?=?85) and 100% in PLA (n?=?10) cases were observed. NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with PCR and culture can expedite in differentiating ALA from PLA.     

Evaluation of the Preventive Effect of Isoflavone Extract on Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats

To examine a potential role for soybean phytoestrogens in postmenopausal bone loss, twenty-four 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 4 groups and given controlled diets for 16 weeks. The treatment groups were as followed: sham operated, ovariectomized (OVX) control, OVX + isoflavone extract (6.25 g/kg), and OVX + 17β-estradiol (4 mg/kg). OVX treatments reduced femoral and fourth lumbar vertebral bone density and mineral content (p<0.01), decreased uterine weight (p<0.01), accelerated body weight increases (p<0.05), and increased the activities (p<0.01) of both serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Supplementation with isoflavone prevented the losses of bone density and mineral content caused by OVX (p<0.01). Although both isoflavone and 17β-estradiol exhibited similar bone-sparing ability on the OVX-induced bone loss, the effect of isoflavone was not the same as that of 17β-estradiol on the serum ALP and TRAP, body weight increase, and uterine weight change. We concluded that dietary supplementation with soybean isoflavone can prevent postmenopausal bone loss via a different mechanism of estrogen in OVX rats.     

Urinary Metabolomic Signatures in Obstructive Sleep Apnea through Targeted Metabolomic Analysis: A Pilot Study

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very common sleep problem, and it is associated with serious morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard test for OSA, but it is expensive and requires specific facilities and equipment. Thus, novel screening methods are needed for effective diagnosis and follow-up in OSA.

Objectives

The aims of the study were to investigate the urinary metabolic signatures and identify potential urine markers for OSA using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based assay for targeted metabolomics.

Methods

Urine samples were collected from 48 male subjects who visited a sleep clinic for suspicious OSA. All underwent overnight in-laboratory polysomnography. The Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ p180 kit was used for targeted metabolomics.

Results

Among the 86 metabolites quantified, three acylcarnitines, one biogenic amine, two glycerophospholipids, and two sphingomyelins were differently expressed in OSA patients [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5] compared with control groups (AHI <5 and/or simple snoring with no other sleep disorders). Additional partial correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that long-chain acylcarnitine C14:1, symmetric dimethylarginine, and sphingomyelin C18:1 might be potential biomarkers for OSA. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed favorable predictive properties of these metabolites. Furthermore, a combination of the metabolites exceeding cutoff values yielded further improved sensitivity or specificity.

Conclusions

MS-based targeted metabolomics identified specific classes of urinary metabolites that were up-regulated in OSA patients. Further assessments in large populations are required to clarify the screening values of these metabolite markers.