Cardiovascular toxic effects of nanoparticles and corresponding molecular mechanisms.

Rapid advancements in nanotechnology have been integrated into various disciplines, leading to an increased prevalence of nanoparticle exposure. The widespread utilization of nanomaterials and heightened levels of particulate pollution have prompted government departments to intensify their focus on assessing the safety of nanoparticles (NPs). The cardiovascular system, crucial for maintaining human health, has emerged as vulnerable to damage from nanoparticle exposure. A mounting body of evidence indicates that interactions can occur when NPs come into contact with components of the cardiovascular system, contributing to adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms driving these events remain elusive. This work provides a comprehensive review of recent advance on nanoparticle-induced adverse cardiovascular events and offers insight into the associated molecular mechanisms. Finally, the influencing factors of NPs-induced cardiovascular toxicity are discussed.

Anti-osteoporosis drugs reduce mortality in cancer patients: A national cohort study of elderly with vertebral fractures.

Introduction: The most prevalent type of fragility fractures is osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). However, only a few studies have examined the relationship between anti-osteoporosis treatments and malignancy-related mortality following an OVF. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of anti-osteoporosis therapy on mortality in OVF patients with and without cancer. Method: Data from older people over the age of 65 who were hospitalised for OVFs between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2018 were analysed retrospectively. A total of 6139 persons getting osteoporosis treatment and 28,950 who did not receive treatment were analysed, together with 2 sets of patients, comprising cancer patients (794) and cancer-free patients (5342), using anti-osteoporosis medication or not, in 1:1 propensity score-matched analyses. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: In all, 35,089 patients with OVFs were included in the population; 29,931 people (85.3%) were women, and the mean (standard deviation) age was 78.13 (9.27) years. Overall survival was considerably higher in those undergoing osteoporosis therapy. This was true both for those without cancer (adjusted HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.51-0.59; P<.0001) as well as those with cancer (adjusted HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.62-0.84; P<.0001). Even among cancer patients, those who received anti-osteoporotic drugs had a lower mortality rate than those who did not. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that anti-osteoporosis therapy should be initiated regardless of the presence of cancer in the elderly, as it increases survival following OVFs.

Asia-Pacific consensus on long-term and sequential therapy for osteoporosis.

Objectives: This study aimed to present the Asia-Pacific consensus on long-term and sequential therapy for osteoporosis, offering evidence-based recommendations for the effective management of this chronic condition. The primary focus is on achieving optimal fracture prevention through a comprehensive, individualized approach. Methods: A panel of experts convened to develop consensus statements by synthesizing the current literature and leveraging clinical expertise. The review encompassed long-term anti-osteoporosis medication goals, first-line treatments for individuals at very high fracture risk, and the strategic integration of anabolic and antiresorptive agents in sequential therapy approaches. Results: The panelists reached a consensus on 12 statements. Key recommendations included advocating for anabolic agents as the first-line treatment for individuals at very high fracture risk and transitioning to antiresorptive agents following the completion of anabolic therapy. Anabolic therapy remains an option for individuals experiencing new fractures or persistent high fracture risk despite antiresorptive treatment. In cases of inadequate response, the consensus recommended considering a switch to more potent medications. The consensus also addressed the management of medication-related complications, proposing alternatives instead of discontinuation of treatment. Conclusions: This consensus provides a comprehensive, cost-effective strategy for fracture prevention with an emphasis on shared decision-making and the incorporation of country-specific case management systems, such as fracture liaison services. It serves as a valuable guide for healthcare professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the ongoing evolution of osteoporosis management.

Micro(nano)-plastics exposure induced programmed cell death and corresponding influence factors.

Plastic products have played an indispensable role in our daily lives for several decades, primarily due to their cost-effectiveness and unmatched convenience. Nevertheless, recent developments in nanotechnology have propelled our attention toward a distinct category of plastic fine particulates known as micro(nano)-plastics (MPs/NPs). The investigation of the cytotoxic effects of MPs/NPs has emerged as a central and burgeoning area of research in environmental toxicology and cell biology. In the scope of this comprehensive review, we have meticulously synthesized recent scientific inquiries to delve into the intricate interplay between MPs/NPs and programmed cell death mechanisms, which encompass a range of highly regulated processes. First, the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of different programmed death modalities induced by MPs/NPs were elaborated, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. The causes of different programmed deaths induced by MPs/NPs, such as size, surface potential, functional group modification, aging, biological crown, and co-exposure of MPs/NPs are further analyzed. In contrast, the various cellular programmed death modes induced by MPs/NPs are not alone most of the time, and lastly, the connections between different cellular programmed death modes induced by MPs/NPs, such as interconversion, mutual promotion, and mutual inhibition, are explained. Our primary objective is to unveil the multifaceted toxicological implications of MPs/NPs on the intricate web of cellular fate and biological homeostasis. This endeavor not only broadens our understanding of the potential risks associated with MPs/NPs exposure but also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessments and regulatory measures in the context of environmental health.

Osteoporosis care after hip fracture: Observation from national health insurance database and fracture liaison services.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this research was to report the trend of osteoporosis care after hip fractures from usual care (UC) and to compare the quality of care with those who received fracture liaison services (FLSs). METHODS: Data on osteoporosis care for patients with hip fracture were acquired from the National Health Insurance claims (UC group), and surveys from FLS programs (FLS group). A total of 183,300 patients receiving UC and 3010 patients receiving FLS were studied. For the two groups, common osteoporosis care indicators, such as bone mineral density (BMD) testing rate, antiosteoporosis medication commencement rate, and adherence rate were described. RESULTS: There were 2488 participants (82.7%) in the FLS group who completed Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 8 weeks, 155 (5.1%) who finished it between 8 weeks and 1 year. Even in 2018, when the DXA completion rate was at its highest, the completion rate in the UC group was only 23.5%. In terms of medication commencement, 2372 FLS patients (78.8%) received treatment within 3 months. Only 24.9% of the UC patients received antiosteoporosis medication within 3 months. Furthermore, antiosteoporosis medication adherence rate was 92.2% after 1 year and 83.9% after 2 years in the FLS group, but these were only 66.5% and 42.7%, respectively, in the UC group. CONCLUSION: Patients who received FLS had more timely BMD exams, antiosteoporosis medication treatment, and higher adherence to antiosteoporosis therapy than those who received UC. The discrepancy in rates of continuing treatment became more significant over time between both groups.

Eleven years secular trend of the initiation of anti-osteoporosis medications and subsequent fractures in Taiwan: From 2008 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease that benefits from many newly developed anti-osteoporosis medications (AOMs). Reimbursement policies need to allocate medical budgets properly based on evidence-based data. This study aimed to investigate the 11-year secular trend, focusing on older age and males in this adjustment wave of the National Health Insurance reimbursement. METHODS: We adopted a nationwide cohort from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients undergoing newly initiated AOMs from 2008 to 2018 were included. The AOMs in this study included denosumab, zoledronate, ibandronate, alendronate, raloxifene, and risedronate. Patients <50 years, pathological fractures, missing data, and two AOMs prescribed were excluded. The real-world trends related to subsequent fragility fracture and death within 1 and 3 years were used to evaluate the potential effects due to revision of reimbursement policies. RESULTS: Of 393,092 patients, among them, 336,229 patients met the criteria, whose mean age ranged from 73.3 to 74.4 years, and nearly 80% were female. Further analysis showed a steady increase of AOMs from 5567 (17.1%) and 8802 (27.0%) in 2008-6697 (18.3%) and 10,793 (29.5%) in 2018 for males and 80+ years respectively. The subsequent fragility fracture within one and three years post AOMs initiation was 5.81% and 11.80% in 2018. CONCLUSION: This study showed an immediate drop in AOMs prescription after the implementation of a new stricter reimbursement policy. It took 5 years to return the annual prescription number.

Refracture risk and all-cause mortality after vertebral fragility fractures: Anti-osteoporotic medications matter.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures may predict the future occurrence of fractures and increase mortality. Treating underlying osteoporosis may prevent second fractures. However, whether anti-osteoporotic treatment can reduce the mortality rate is not clear. The aim of this population study was to identify the degree of decreased mortality following the use of anti-osteoporotic medication after vertebral fractures. METHODS: We identified patients who had newly diagnosed osteoporosis and vertebral fractures from 2009 to 2019 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We used national death registration data to determine the overall mortality rate. RESULTS: There were 59,926 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures included in this study. After excluding patients with short-term mortality, patients who had previously received anti-osteoporotic medications had a lower refracture rate as well as a lower mortality risk (hazard ratio (HR): 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-0.88). Patients receiving treatment for more than 3 years had a much lower mortality risk (HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.50-0.57). Patients who used oral bisphosphonates (alendronate and risedronate, HR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90-1.00), intravenous zoledronic acid (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.74-0.93), and subcutaneous denosumab injections (HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.65-0.77) had lower mortality rates than patients without further treatment after vertebral fractures. CONCLUSION: In addition to fracture prevention, anti-osteoporotic treatments for patients with vertebral fractures were associated with a reduction in mortality. A longer duration of treatment and the use of long-acting drugs was also associated with lower mortality.

Influence of power generation period on the oily sludge bio-electrical system.

The single-chamber bio-electrical systems can degrade oily sludge in sediments while generating electricity from the microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and their characteristics in energy and environmental effects have attracted wide international attention in recent years. To explore the influence of the power generation period on the oily sludge bio-electrical system, an oily sludge bio-electrical system was constructed. The output voltage, polarization curve, power density curve, crude oil removal rate and microflora were detected during different power generation periods, respectively. The results of this study showed that under the stable power generation period, the power generation and oily sludge degradation performance of MFC are higher than the voltage rise period and voltage attenuation period. Besides, the oily sludge bio-electrical system during the stable period contained more electricity-producing bacteria than the other two periods. The voltage in the stable period of oily sludge bio-electrical system is about 280 mV, the electromotive force is 493.1 mV and the power density is 134.93 mW·m-3. It lays a foundation for the improvement of degradation of crude oil and power generation performance in oily sludge bio-electrical system.

Asia-pacific consensus on osteoporotic fracture prevention in postmenopausal women with low bone mass or osteoporosis but no fragility fractures.

Postmenopausal women are at significant risk for osteoporotic fractures due to their rapid bone loss. Half of all postmenopausal women will get an osteoporosis-related fracture over their lifetime, with 25% developing a spine deformity and 15% developing a hip fracture. By 2050, more than half of all osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia, with postmenopausal women being the most susceptible. Early management can halt or even reverse the progression of osteoporosis. Consequently, on October 31, 2020, the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association hosted the Asia-Pacific (AP) Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Fracture Prevention (POFP) consensus meeting, which was supported by the Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Societies (AFOS) and the Asia Pacific Osteoporosis Foundation (APOF). International and domestic experts developed ten applicable statements for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women with low bone mass or osteoporosis but no fragility fractures in the AP region. The experts advocated, for example, that postmenopausal women with a high fracture risk be reimbursed for pharmaceutical therapy to prevent osteoporotic fractures. More clinical experience and data are required to modify intervention tactics.

The Effects of Switching from Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors to Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Bone Mineral Density in Diabetic Patients.

Purpose: Diabetes increases the risk of fragility fractures. As a result, when choosing a diabetes treatment, whether the drug affects bone density should be taken into account. The goal of this study was to determine how switching from dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) influenced bone mineral density (BMD) in diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, diabetic patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia who used DPP-4i but not anti-osteoporosis medications were divided into two groups: those who switched to GLP-1RA (n = 132) and those who did not (control group, n = 133). We compared changes in glycemic control and BMD with and without conversion from DPP-4i to GLP-1RA. Results: Prior to switching, there was no difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), or BMD. HbA1c was 8.7% in the participants (mean age 62.7 years, 17.4% female). Despite the fact that there was no difference in femoral neck BMD, the GLP-1RA group had a greater decrease in lumbar spine BMD (-0.028 g/cm2 versus -0.019 g/cm2, p = 0.041) than the control group. Furthermore, HbA1c levels in the GLP-1RA-treated group were considerably lower than in the control group (7.5% versus 8.0%, p = 0.027). Conclusion: While switching to GLP-1RA improves glycemic control, it appears to have a less favorable effect on bone density than continuing DPP-4i. More research is needed, however, to determine whether diabetic patients with low bone density should be switched from DPP-4i to GLP-1RA.

Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in Taiwan: 2022 update.

Osteoporosis greatly increases the risk of fractures. Osteoporotic fractures negatively impact quality of life, increase the burden of care, and increase mortality. Taiwan is an area with a high prevalence of osteoporosis. This updated summary of guidelines has been developed by experts of the Taiwan Osteoporosis Association with the intention of reducing the risks of osteoporotic fractures and improving the quality of care for patients with osteoporosis. The updated guidelines compile the latest evidence to provide clinicians and other healthcare professionals with practical recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis under clinical settings in Taiwan.

Within-person associations of escalated electronic nicotine delivery systems use with cigarette, alcohol, marijuana and drug use behaviors among US young adults.

AIMS: Most extant evidence has addressed between-person differences, short-term or cross-sectional associations of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use with other substance use, the majority focusing on current rather than escalated use. The present study aimed to examine within-person changes in escalated ENDS use and their associations with individual and combined substance use over a 6-year period. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This study used a longitudinal cohort design with US young adults. A generalized linear mixed-model approach was employed to fit a series of weighted logistic regression models. Data were drawn from waves 1-5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study in the United States. Of the 9110 young adults at baseline, aged 18-24 years, a total of 5042 individuals had matched data across all five waves of assessments. MEASUREMENTS: Escalated ENDS use was computed by subtracting the number of days of ENDS use within the past 30 days at wave w - 1 from that at wave w and coded as 1 = escalated, if the value was greater than zero (otherwise, coded as 0 = not escalated). FINDINGS: Escalated ENDS use gradually decreased over time, with the lowest prevalence at wave 4 (4.0%) but sharply increasing at wave 5 (8.4%). Escalated ENDS use was associated with increased odds of using each substance (binge drinking, marijuana use, marijuana vaping, prescription and illicit drugs) and different combinations of polysubstance use between cigarette smoking, binge drinking and marijuana use (Ps < 0.05). In addition, sweet/fruit flavor use (versus menthol/mint) was associated with increased likelihood of reporting co-use of cigarettes and marijuana. CONCLUSIONS: In the United States, the prevalence of young adults using electronic nicotine delivery systems appears to have increased steadily between 2013 and 2019, although the rate of increase may have started to accelerate in recent years. Escalated electronic nicotine delivery systems use and time-lagged established electronic nicotine delivery systems use appear to be prospectively associated with individual and combined substance use, particularly between cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Among established electronic nicotine delivery systems users, sweet/fruit flavor appears to be associated with increased risk of co-using cigarettes and marijuana.

An electricity-generating bacterium separated from oil sludge microbial fuel cells and its environmental adaptability.

Electricity-generating bacteria as biocatalysts for microbial fuel cells (MFCs), their species, and power generation performance determine the pollution control and power generation performance of MFCs. And there are few studies on the types and performance of electricity-generating bacteria isolated from oily sludge microbial fuel cells. For improving the power generation performance of oily sludge MFCs, an electricity-generating bacterium was isolated from the oily sludge. More importantly, the adaptability of nitrogen to phosphorus ratio, temperature, and pH of the electricity-generating bacteria were adjusted by a controlled variable method. The results of this study showed that the electricity-generating bacterium was identified as Bacillus cereus, with a rod-shaped cell, about 0.5-1.0 µm in length. The optimal nitrogen-phosphorus ratio, temperature, and pH of MFCs were 4.67:1, 25 ℃, and pH = 7, respectively. Its maximum power density, COD, and oil removal rate was up to 65 mW·m-3, 90.51%, and 87.76%, respectively. The study of this functional bacterium will provide beneficial assistance for the improvement of oil removal and power generation performance of oily sludge MFCs.

Effect of the Anode Structure on the Performance of Oily Sludge Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells.

The anode is considered to be a key factor to improve the single-chamber bioelectrochemical system's efficiency to degrade oily sludge in sediment while generating electricity. There are few studies on the effect of the anode structure on the performance of oily sludge MFCs systematically. In this paper, an oily sludge bioelectrical system was constructed using carbon felt and carbon plate as anode materials, adjusting the anode material arrangement as transverse and longitudinal, and using different anode materials from single to sextuple anodes. The results of this study showed that the rate of degradation of oily sludge was greater with carbon felt (17.04%) than with the carbon plate (13.11%), with transverse (23.61%) than with the longitudinal (19.82%) arrangement of anodes, and with sextuple anodes (33.72%) than with a single anode (25.26%) in the sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs). A similar trend was observed when the voltage, power density, and electromotive force (EMF) of SMFCs were estimated between the carbon felt and carbon plate, transverse and longitudinal arrangements, single and sextuple anodes. It is concluded that the proper adjustment of anode arrangements, using carbon felt as an anode material, and increasing the number of anodes to six may accelerate the rate of degradation of oily sludge in oily sludge sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs). Furthermore, the electricity generation performance was also improved.

Effects of Vibration Resistance Exercises on EMG and Skeletal Muscle Hemodynamics.

Objectives: Past studies show that vibration can stimulate muscle activity and improve muscle performance. However, further verification is needed on the effects of different vibration frequencies combined with different muscle strength exercise intensities on EMG activity and skeletal muscle hemodynamics. Methods: We recruited 27 male college athletes for 40%, 60%, and 80% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) tests at the vibration frequencies of 0 Hz, 10 Hz, 20 Hz, and 30 Hz. We collected EMG activity signals using wireless EMGs and skeletal muscle hemodynamic parameters using a near-infrared spectrometer. Results: At an 80% MVC intensity of the rectus femoris, the mean, peak, and area of EMG at 30 Hz were significantly increased, compared with those at 0 Hz. At a 40% MVC intensity with vibration frequencies of 10 Hz, 20 Hz, and 30 Hz, the HHb of skeletal muscles was significantly increased, while the O2Hb and TSI were significantly decreased, compared with those at 0 Hz. Conclusions: We conclude that high frequency and strongly vibrated muscle strength exercise can improve EMG activity, while vibration and low-intensity muscle strength exercise could increase the oxygen consumption of skeletal muscles.

Treatment of osteoporosis after hip fracture is associated with lower all-cause mortality: A nationwide population study.

PURPOSE: Mortality after osteoporotic hip fractures is high. Postoperative care is as important as surgery itself to prevent a second fracture and improve outcomes, and the effect of anti-osteoporosis treatment after hip fractures on overall mortality is controversial. This nationwide population study aimed to determine whether anti-osteoporosis treatment might reduce overall mortality after hip fracture surgery. METHODS: We conducted this cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan to identify patients admitted for surgery due to hip fractures from 2008 to 2018. The subsequent use and duration of anti-osteoporotic medication and other parameters were analyzed, and national death registration records were retrieved to investigate mortality. RESULTS: A total of 59,943 patients admitted for hip fracture surgery were identified. The 22,494 patients (37.5%) who received anti-osteoporotic medication showed a lower all-cause mortality rate compared with the 37,449 patients (62.5%) who did not receive further treatment (hazard ratio (HR): 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-0.70, p < 0.0001). Patients who received anti-osteoporotic medication for more than 1, 2, and 3 years exhibited propotional reductions in all-cause mortality (HR & 95%CI: 0.57 (0.54-0.60), 0.42 (0.38-0.46), and 0.29 (0.26-0.33) respectively). CONCLUSION: Anti-osteoporosis treatment was associated with lower all-cause mortality after hip fracture surgery. A longer duration of treatment was also associated with lower mortality. Postoperative treatment for osteoporosis is crucial for patients with hip fracture.

A Novel Game-Based Intelligent Test for Detecting Elderly Cognitive Function Impairment.

PURPOSES: This research explores the game-based intelligent test (GBIT), predicts the possibilities of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and the risk of cognitive impairment, and then verifies GBIT as one of the reliable and valid cognitive assessment tools. METHODS: This study recruited 117 elderly subjects in Taiwan (average age is 79.92 ± 8.68, average height is 156.91 ± 8.01, average weight is 59.14 ± 9.67, and average MMSE score is 23.33 ± 6.16). A multiple regression model was used to analyze the GBIT parameters of the elderly's reaction, attention, coordination, and memory to predict their MMSE performance. The binary logistic regression was then utilized to predict their risk of cognitive impairment. The statistical significance level was set as α = 0.05. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that gender, the correct number of reactions, and the correct number of memory have a significantly positive predictive power on MMSE of the elderly (F = 37.60, R 2 = 0.69, and p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis noted that the correct average number of reactions falls by one question, and the ratio of cognitive dysfunction risk increases 1.09 times (p < 0.05); the correct average number of memory drops by one question, the ratio of cognitive dysfunction risk increases 3.76 times (p < 0.05), and the overall model predictive power is 88.20% (sensitivity: 84.00%; specificity: 92.30%). CONCLUSIONS: This study verifies that GBIT is reliable and can effectively predict the cognitive function and risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Therefore, GBIT can be used as one of the feasible tools for evaluating older people's cognitive function.

A Rehabilitation-Based Multidisciplinary Care Model Reduces Hip Fracture Mortality in Older Adults.

PURPOSE: In older adults, the one-year mortality rate after experiencing a hip fracture ranges between 8% and 36%. The purpose of this study was to look at the efficacy of rehabilitation-based multidisciplinary care for older individuals who had hip fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 185 people (aged 65 and over) with a history of hip fracture surgery between February 2014 and March 2017. A survey was conducted one month and six months following the operation to assess the recovery of 93 individuals who were part of a rehabilitation-based multidisciplinary care program and 92 patients who were getting standard therapy with surgery and unsupervised physical therapy. RESULTS: Physical activity, gait, balance evaluation, and depression scale ratings all had statistical significance (P < 0.05) after participants received rehabilitation-based care services from multidisciplinary medical professionals. Furthermore, the refracture and one-year mortality rates in this rehabilitation-based multidisciplinary care model were lower than in the groups getting standard therapy. CONCLUSION: The research indicates the efficacy of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategy provided by a collaborative medical team to older individuals with hip fractures.

Retrospective Study of the Effects of Zoledronic Acid on Muscle Mass in Osteoporosis Patients.

PURPOSE: Several osteoporosis drugs can continuously improve bone mass, but the impact on muscle mass is still unknown. This study aims to investigate how zoledronic acid monotherapy affected muscle mass in osteoporosis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients from an osteoporosis database were divided into two groups in this retrospective cohort, case-control study: zoledronic acid-treated patients (n = 113) and a control group without osteoporosis treatment (n = 118). At four years, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) were calculated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The differences in muscle mass between the groups were compared. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no difference in sex, ASM, ASMI, and bone mineral density between the zoledronic acid treatment group and the control group. The treatment group's skeletal muscle mass increased by 841 g in ASM and 0.35 kg/m2 in ASMI after three years, while decreased in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study for the first time demonstrated that that zoledronic acid is beneficial not only to the bone but also to muscle.

A metabolomics approach to investigate the proceedings of mitochondrial dysfunction in rats from prediabetes to diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of preventable cardiovascular disease, but the metabolic changes from prediabetes to diabetes have not been fully clarified. This study implemented a metabolomics profiling platform to investigate the variations of metabolites and to elucidate their global profiling from metabolic syndrome to DM. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 44) were divided into four groups. Three groups were separately fed with a normal diet, a high-fructose diet (HF), or a high-fat (HL) diet while one group was treated with streptozotocin. The HF and HL diet were meant to induce insulin resistance, obesity, and dyslipidemia, which known to induce DM. RESULTS: The most significant metabolic variations in the DM group's urine samples were the reduced release of citric acid cycle intermediates, the increase in acylcarnitines, and the decrease in urea excretion, all of which indicated energy metabolism abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction. Overall, the metabolic analysis revealed tryptophan metabolic pathway variations in the prediabetic phase, even though the mitochondrial function remains unaffected. CONCLUSION: This study show that widespread methylations and impaired tryptophan metabolism occur in metabolic syndrome and are then followed by a decline in citric acid cycle intermediates, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes.