Curculigoside Protects against Titanium Particle-Induced Osteolysis through the Enhancement of Osteoblast Differentiation and Reduction of Osteoclast Formation.

Wear particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis is mainly responsible for joint replacement failure and revision surgery. Curculigoside is reported to have bone-protective potential, but whether curculigoside attenuates wear particle-induced osteolysis remains unclear. In this study, titanium particles (Ti) were used to stimulate osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells in the presence or absence of curculigoside, to determine their effect on osteoblast differentiation. Rat osteoclastic bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were cocultured with Ti in the presence or absence of curculigoside, to evaluate its effect on osteoclast formation in vitro. Ti was also used to stimulate mouse calvaria to induce an osteolysis model, and curculigoside was administrated to evaluate its effect in the osteolysis model by micro-CT imaging and histopathological analyses. As the results indicated, in MC3T3-E1 cells, curculigoside treatment attenuated the Ti-induced inhibition on cell differentiation and apoptosis, increased alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and cell mineralization, and inhibited TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 production and ROS generation. In BMSCs, curculigoside treatment suppressed the Ti-induced cell formation and suppressed the TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 production and F-actin ring formation. In vivo, curculigoside attenuated Ti-induced bone loss and histological damage in murine calvaria. Curculigoside treatment also reversed the RANK/RANKL/OPG and NF-κB signaling pathways, by suppressing the RANKL and NF-κB expression, while activating the OPG expression. Our study demonstrated that curculigoside treatment was able to attenuate wear particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis in in vivo and in vitro experiments, promoted osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation, and inhibited osteoclast BMSC formation. It suggests that curculigoside may be a potential pharmaceutical agent for wear particle-stimulated osteolysis therapy.

[Progress on prevention and treatment of heterotopic ossification].

Heterotopic ossification is the formation of pathological bone in non-skeletal tissues (including muscles, tendons or other soft tissues), and the pathogenesis is not completely clear. It is often caused by musculoskeletal trauma, postoperative bone and joint surgery, or damage of the nervous system, the clinical manifestations are joint swelling, pain, and movement disorders, which often occur around the hips, knees, and elbows. At present, the prevention of heterotopic ossification mainly includes drugs, radiotherapy, molecular biological mechanism intervention, and Chinese medicine-related measures. Among them, drugs and radiotherapy are more effective methods to prevent heterotopic ossification. The intervention of molecular biology mechanism to prevent heterotopic ossification has become a new research direction and focus of attention inrecent years, and is basically at the experimental research stage. The treatment of heterotopic ossification includes various methods such as drugs, physical therapy, and surgery. Among them, surgery is recognized as the most effective treatment, however there are still some controversies and disagreements about the choice of operation time and surgical methods.

Immunomodulatory activity of a fructooligosaccharide isolated from burdock roots.

A novel burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO-1) was extracted from fresh burdock roots. In our study, we found that BFO-1 possessed immunoenhancing activity in vitro and in vivo. The proliferation activities of splenocytes were significantly stimulated at a BFO-1 dose of 1000 µg ml-1 (p < 0.05), peritoneal macrophages showed increased activities of phagocytosis and acid phosphatase and increased production of NO at a BFO-1 dose of 1000 µg ml-1 (p < 0.01) in vitro. In normal mice, BFO-1 promoted the activities of peritoneal macrophages at dosages of 250 and 500 mg per kg per day (p < 0.01). Similarly, in immunosuppressed mice, BFO-1 enhanced the activities of peritoneal macrophages at the dosage of 1000 mg per kg per day (p < 0.05). Furthermore, S180 tumor-bearing mice that were pre-administered BFO-1 solution showed improved immunological function and suppressed tumor growth. These data indicate that BFO-1 can improve the functioning of the immune system and has the potential to be developed as a dietary supplement and medicinal food.

Urinary sexual steroids associated with bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in the early infant stage: Preliminary results from a Daishan birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: Many surveys have shown that older children are ubiquitously exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), and many laboratory studies have shown that BPA exposure has adverse effects related to estrogenic disruption, whereas the evidence in infants has not yet been observed. METHODS: Women in early pregnancy were recruited by the Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Service Center, Daishan, China, from March 2012 to December 2014. After delivery, urine samples were collected from the diapers of 59 infants (0 to 6months of age). Urinary BPA, estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and creatinine were analyzed. The partial correlation and multivariable linear regression were applied to assess the associations of BPA with E2, T, FSH, and LH for each of the development stages: at birth, 14days, 28days, 42days, 3months, and 6months. RESULTS: For both genders from birth to 6months, infants showed randomly changed urinary BPA but regularly changed hormones, i.e., the monotonic decreasing E2 and T, the "U" shaping E2/T and upside down "U" shaping FSH and LH with extreme values at approximately the 14-day stage, respectively. However, the creatinine-adjusted FSH for all stages and E2 from 6months were genders different. After adjustment for creatinine, gender, and infant body mass index, BPA was positively associated with E2 both in male (for 14-, 28-, and 42-day stages) and female (for 14-, 28-, 42-day, and 3-month stages) infants; positively associated with E2/T ratio in both male (for 14- and 28-day stages) and female (for 14-day stage) infants; and positively associated with T in female (for 3-month stage) infants. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that associations of BPA with E2, E2/T, and T in infant urine were observed. The results suggested that the infants first demonstrate a surge of steroids after leaving the maternal uterus's steroidogenic environment (i.e., mini-puberty) and may be affected by BPA; this pollution may disrupt the premature gonad function at some important developmental windows.

Local influence of high molecular polyethylene particles on heterotopic ossification.

We studied the effect of molecular polyethylene particles on local heterotopic ossification. A total of 36 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (n=18) and the observation group (n=18). High molecular polyethylene particles were injected to rupture Achilles tendon position in the observation group, and normal saline was injected in the control group. X-ray examinations were conducted on Achilles tendon in the 4th, 8th and 12th week after operation. The incidence rate of heterotopic ossification was evaluated, and bone trabecula morphological structure was studied under optical microscope after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression levels were also measured. Our results showed that heterotopic ossification incidence in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Achilles tendon structure in the control group increased in volume, and its texture was harder and cartilage-like. In the observation group, trabecular bone volume, thickness and quantity were more than those observed in the control group. BMP-2, TGF-ß, IL-1, TNF-α, Runx2 and MMP-9 levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. We concluded that, high molecular polyethylene particles had a significant inhibiting effect on local heterotopic ossification.

One-Lung Ventilation with Additional Ipsilateral Ventilation of Low Tidal Volume and High Frequency in Lung Lobectomy.

BACKGROUND To investigate the protective effects of additional ipsilateral ventilation of low tidal volume and high frequency on lung functions in the patients receiving lobectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty patients receiving lung lobectomy were randomized into the conventional one-lung ventilation (CV) group (n=30) and the ipsilateral low tidal volume high frequency ventilation (LV) group (n=30). In the CV group, patients received only contralateral OLV. In the LV group, patients received contralateral ventilation and additional ipsilateral ventilation of low tidal volume of 1-2 ml/kg and high frequency of 40 times/min. Normal lung tissues were biopsied for the analysis of lung injury. Lung injury was scored by evaluating interstitial edema, alveolar edema, neutrophil infiltration, and alveolar congestion. RESULTS At 30 min and 60 min after the initiation of one-lung ventilation and after surgery, patients in the LV group showed significantly higher ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen than those in the CV group (P<0.001). Lung injury was significantly less severe (2.7±0.7) in the LV group than in the CV group (3.1±0.7) (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS Additional ipsilateral ventilation of low tidal volume and high frequency can decrease the risk of hypoxemia and alleviate lung injury in patients receiving lobectomy.

Nutritional factors and gastric cancer in Zhoushan Islands, China.

AIM: To investigate the association between nutrient intakes and high incidence rate of gastric cancer among residents in Zhoushan Islands. METHODS: A frequency-matched design of case-control study was used during the survey on dietary factors and gastric cancer in Zhoushan Islands, China. A total of 103 cases of gastric cancer diagnosed in 2001 were included in the study and 133 controls were randomly selected from the residents in Zhoushan Islands. A food frequency questionnaire was specifically designed for the Chinese dietary pattern to collect information on dietary intake. A computerized database of the dietary and other relative information of each participant was completed. Total calories and 15 nutrients were calculated according to the food composition table and their adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by gender using unconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: High intakes of protein, saturated fat, and cholesterol were observed with the increased risk of gastric cancer particularly among males (OR(Q4 vs Q1) were 10.3, 3.24, 2.76 respectively). While carbohydrate was a significant high-risk nutrient (OR(Q4 vs Q1) = 14.8; P for linear trend = 0.024) among females. Regardless of their gender, the cases reported significantly higher daily intake of sodium mainly from salts. As to the nutrients of vitamins A and C, an inversed association with the risk of GC was found. Baseline characteristics of participants were briefly described. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study confirm the role of diet-related exposure in the etiology of gastric cancer from the point of view of epidemiology. An increased risk of gastric cancer is associated with high intakes of protein, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, while consumption of polyunsaturated fat, vitamin A and ascorbic acid may have a protective effect against gastric cancer.

[A case-control study on the relationship between nutrition and gastric cancer in islanders].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between nutritional factors and gastric cancer in islanders. METHODS: A population-based case-control study on diet and gastric cancer was carried out in Zhoushan islands, China. 103 cases of gastric cancer newly diagnosed in 2001 and 133 controls frequency-matched by age, sex, and islands of residence among residents in Zhoushan were included in the study. Dietary intake was estimated using a constructed food frequency questionnaire. Total calories and 15 nutrients were calculated according to the food composition table and their adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by gender using unconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: Increased risks of gastric cancer were associated with protein (ORQ4 vs. Q1=10.3; P for linear trend=0.01), saturated fat (ORQ4 vs. Q1=3.24), and cholesterol (ORQ4 vs. Q1=2.76) particularly among males. Among females, carbohydrate was a significant high-risk nutrient (ORQ4 vs. Q1=14.8; P for linear trend=0.024). In both sexes, all cases reported a significantly higher daily intake of natrium mainly from salts than controls. An inversed association with the risk of gastric cancer was seen in vitamin A and vitamin C. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study provided information about the role of specific nutrients in the etiology of gastric cancer. High intakes of protein, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and poor intakes of vitamin A and C could increase the risk of gastric cancer.

[Study on the relationship between smoking, alcohol intake and hyperlipidemia in fishermen].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the relationship between smoking, alcohol intake and hyperlipidemia in fishermen. METHODS: 115 fishermen were randomly recruited and divided into case and control groups according to the result of blood lipoprotein. A questionnaire was used to record general information and the history of smoking and alcohol intake. Statistics were gathered to compare the difference of lipoprotein and apolipoprotein level between exposure and control groups and to calculate the OR value of smoking and alcohol intake. RESULTS: The OR of smoking was 3.417 (95% CI: 1.132 - 10.308), with significant dosage-effect relationship between smoking index and hyperlipidemia. The serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein (apo) B levels in smoking group was higher than that of control group. The OR value of alcohol intake at early age (early than 20) were 3.275 (95% CI: 1.249 - 8.580) and 4.016 (95% CI: 1.475 - 10.952) respectively. The LDL-C, apoB, the serum total cholesterol (TC)/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in alcohol abuse group were higher than that of control group. CONCLUSION: Smoking and alcohol abuse were important risk factors of hyperlipidemia, through changing the level of LDL-C and apoB. There was synergistic action between smoking and alcohol abuse in the development of hyperlipidemia.