Efficacy and safety of elcatonin in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The present systematic review aimed to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) change and complication rates of elcatonin on treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. The result confirmed efficacy of elcatonin and safety in combination therapies of elcatonin (C-E). INTRODUCTION: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is an important issue in global aging trends. One treatment of osteoporosis is elcatonin, a kind of calcitonin. However, it has been challenged for long time because of safety. Many trials investigated on this topic, but they were designed differently. Those designs can be categorized in monotherapy of elcatonin (M-E) and C-E. Unfortunately, no synthesized evidence dealt this topic. METHODS: This study systematically identified target trials from six important databases and only included randomized controlled trial for synthesis. Two investigators assessed quality of eligible trials using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and they independently extracted data. Network meta-analysis performed Peto odds ratio (POR, used for dealing with zero cell) or weighted mean difference (WMD, for continuous data) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and consistency H. RESULTS: Sixteen trials recruiting 2754 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis were included in our study. Elcatonin therapies and non-elcatonin medications had comparable fracture rates and bone mineral density change. Yet, C-E (WMD, - 18.93; 95% CI, - 23.97 to - 13.89) and M-E (WMD, - 13.72; 95% CI, - 19.51 to - 7.94) had significantly lower pain score than non-elcatonin medications. However, M-E (POR = 8.413, 95% CI, 2.031 to 34.859) and non-elcatonin medication (Peto OR, 7.450; 95% CI, 1.479 to 37.530) had significantly higher complication rates than placebo. No evidence detected inconsistency and small study effect in this network model. CONCLUSIONS: Based on current evidence, C-E may be considered for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis because it benefits on pain relief and complications. Moreover, it shows comparable fracture rate and bone mineral density change as compared with anti-osteoporosis and calcium supplements. Nevertheless, further trials are needed to investigate formula and dosages of elcatonin.

Electroacupuncture and Acupuncture Promote the Rat's Transected Median Nerve Regeneration.

Background. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments of damaged nerves may aid nerve regeneration related to hindlimb function, but the effects on the forelimb-related median nerve were not known. Methods. A gap was made in the median nerve of each rat by suturing the stumps into silicone rubber tubes. The influences of acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments on transected median nerve regeneration were evaluated from morphological, electrophysiological, and functional angles. Results. Morphologically, the group receiving acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments had larger total nerve area and blood vessel number compared with the controls. Electrophysiologically, the group receiving electroacupuncture had significantly larger amplitude and larger area of the evoked muscle action potentials compared with the controls. Functionally, the acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments enhanced the injured paw's ability to regain its grasping power and resulted in a faster efficiency to a new bilateral balance. Conclusion. Our findings provide multiapproach evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments to the regeneration of median nerve. Indeed, acupuncture and electroacupuncture appear to have positive effects on the regeneration processes. This platform is beneficial to further study the clinical application of acupuncture and electroacupuncture alternative treatments on nerve-injured patients.

Gossypol, a component in cottonseed, induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ levels in Chang liver cells.

The effect of gossypol, a compound found in cottonseed, on intracellular free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+](i)) in Chang liver cells were evaluated using fura-2 as a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. Gossypol (0.2-5microM) increased [Ca2+](i) in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC(50) value of 1.5microM. The [Ca2+](i) response was composed of an initial rise and a slow decay to a sustained phase within 5min after drug application. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ markedly reduced the [Ca2+](i) signals by 80+/-2%. Preincubation with 0.1mM La3+ or 10microM nimodipine abolished the Ca2+ influx. Gossypol (5microM)-induced release of intracellular Ca2+ was reduced by 75% by pretreatment with 1microM thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor) to deplete the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+. Conversely, pretreatment with gossypol abolished thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ release. After pretreatment with 5microM gossypol in Ca2+-free medium for several min, addition of 3mM Ca2+ induced a [Ca2+](i) increase of a magnitude nine-fold greater than control. Gossypol (5microM)-induced Ca2+ release was not affected by inhibiting phospholipase C with 2microM 1-(6-((17beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122). Together, this study shows that gossypol induced significant [Ca2+](i) increases in Chang liver cells by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular pools in a phospholipase C-dissociated fashion and by causing La3+- and nimodipine-sensitive Ca2+ influx.

Effects of Tamm-Horsfall protein and albumin on the inhibition of free radicals.

INTRODUCTION: Oxalate in urine can cause tubular cellular damage by the production of free radicals. Then, cell death and cellular debris may promote the retention of calcium oxalate crystals and finally the formation of stones. The two most abundant urinary proteins, Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) and albumin, were tested for the effects of antioxidants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using xanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction, purified THP and albumin were tested for the inhibitory effect. OD(295) was used as a spectrophotometric method to measure the production of uric acid during the reaction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Both proteins can inhibit the reaction of xanthine oxidase on xanthine, although the effect was decreased after enzymatic deglycosylation of sialic acid. Albumin has an IC(50) of 10.7 nM in native condition and 11.9 nM after deglycosylation, whereas THP has 69.6 nM in native condition and 102.0 nM in deglycosylated condition. The data indicates that THP and albumin have an antioxidant effect. Sialic acid in THP has partly an inhibitory effect and is associated with calcium oxalate formation. Studies have indicated that further investigation of the role of free radicals in the formation of urolithiasis and of sialic acid in protein function is needed.

New jujubogenin glycosides from Colubrina asiatica.

Three new jujubogenin glycosides, namely, 3' '-O-acetylcolubrin (1); 3' ',2' "-O-diacetylcolubrin (2), and 3' '-O-acetyl-6' '-O-trans-crotonylcolubrin (3), were isolated from the leaves of Colubrina asiatica, in addition to the known colubrin, rutin, and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside. Compounds 1-3 were isolated and purified via a combination of chromatographic procedures, and determined structurally using spectroscopic methods.

Preparation and cytotoxic effect of ceanothic acid derivatives.

Six ceanothane and 1-norceanothane derivatives (1, 2, 8-11) were prepared from ceanothic acid dibenzyl ester. These ring-A homologues of betulinic acid exhibited cytotoxic effects. Among these, 1-decarboxy-3-oxo-ceanothic acid (2) was found to be the most cytotoxic against OVCAR-3 and HeLa cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of 2.8 and 6.6 microg/mL, respectively, and an IC50 of 11.3 microg/mL against normal cell line FS-5.

Effects of gypenosides on cellular immunity of gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of gypenosides (Gs) on cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-ray-irradiated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tested mice of ICR strain were treated continuously with Gs for 10 days before or after 4 Gy gamma-irradiation. Body weight and splenic weight of mice were measured. The blastogenic response of splenocytes to mitogens, such as PHA, Con A and LPS were also detected. The cellular immunocompetence was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation in each tested mouse. RESULTS: Body weight as well as splenic weight decreased in gamma-ray-irradiated mice. The blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens were inhibited after gamma-ray irradiation. To treat with Gs was effective to enhance the recovery of body weight, splenic weight and immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice from radiation damage. CONCLUSIONS: Four Gy gamma-ray irradiation could decrease splenic weight and cellular immunocompetence of mice. Gs could help the recovery of the splenic weight and cellular immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

Effects of glycyrrhizae and glycyrrhizic acid on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of glycyrrhizae (GL) and glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-ray-irradiated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tested mice of ICR strain were treated with GL and GA for 10 days continuously after 4 Gy gamma-irradiation. The counts of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood of mice were measured. The blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens, such as PHA, PWM, Con A and LPS were also detected. The cellular immunocompetence was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation in each tested mouse. RESULTS: The leukocytes and their differential counts decreased in gamma-irradiated mice. The blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens were inhibited by gamma-ray irradiation. GL and GA were effective in enhancing the recovery of leukocyte count and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens, such as PHA, PWM, Con A and LPS from the inhibition of 4 Gy gamma-irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Four Gy gamma-ray irradiation can decrease leukocytes and their differential counts, and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes of mice. GL and GA can help the recovery of the cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-irradiated mice.

Effects of Glycyrrhizae and Glycyrrhizic acid on radiation injury in mice.

The effects of Glycyrrhizae (GL) and Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on promoting the recovery of mice from radiation injury were investigated. Two hundred ICR strain male mice, 6-8 weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with 4 Gy gamma-ray irradiation. Groups C and D, the experimental groups, were treated with 500 mg/kg of GL (oral administration) and 5 mg/kg body weight of GA (i.p.), respectively, for ten days after gamma-ray irradiation. Eight mice in each group were sacrificed on days 5, 12, 26 and 33 post irradiation to measure the weights of spleen, thymus and testes, and the biosynthetic rates of DNA in these organs. The results revealed that 4 Gy gamma-ray irradiation evidently inhibited the weights of spleen, thymus and testes, and their DNA biosynthetic rates. GL and GA enhanced the recovery of these organs in mice from the injury of gamma-ray irradiation.

Protective effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in gamma-irradiated mice.

Radiation protective effects of Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Gp) were investigated in gamma-irradiated mice. Animals were sacrificed on days 5, 15, 25 and 35 after gamma-irradiation. GOT, GPT, serum IgG and leukocyte counts were measured. Proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by mitogens, such as PHA, Con A, and LPS were detected and compared. The results showed that all parameters measured in this study were decreased and proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by mitogens were repressed in gamma-irradiated mice. Gp helped to recover the decreased leukocyte counts, GOT, GPT and IgG in serum and the proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by PHA, LPS and Con A in the gamma-ray irradiated mice.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and krestin on cellular immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

The effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and Krestin (PSK) extracts on cellular immunocompetence, leukocyte counts and differential count in gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. ICR strain male mice were used and randomly divided into five groups. Group A is normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with Gl. Group C, the radiation treatment control, was treated with whole body exposure to 4 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT). Group D was treated with RT and Gl. Group E was treated with RT and PSK. The dosage of Gl was 400 mg/day/kg body weight and PSK was 500 mg/day/kg body weight. After irradiation, six mice from each group were sacrificed on day 7 and the other six on day 28. Cellular immunocompetence was measured by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation with splenic cells stimulated through mitogens such as PHA, Con A and LPS. The results revealed that relative splenic weight in Groups D and E were higher than group C on day 28 after gamma-irradiation, Group D was the highest in all the experimental groups. Leukocyte counts were decreased significantly in Groups D and E on day 7, the former was a little higher than the latter. Gl administration showed an increase in the leukocyte count in Group D on day 28. The blastogenic response of splenocytes to PHA and Con A in groups D and E were higher than in Group C on days 7 and 28. We suggested that Gl and PSK were effective in enhancing the recovery of cellular immunocompetence from gamma-ray irradiation.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and krestin on subset T-cell in spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and Krestin (PSK) extracts on spleen, thymus and splenocytes in gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. ICR strain male mice were divided into five groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with Gl. Group C, the radiation treatment control, was treated with whole body exposure to 4 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT). Group D was treated with RT and Gl. Group E was treated with RT and PSK. The dosage of Gl was 400 mg/day/kg body weight and PSK was 500 mg/day/kg body weight. Our results indicated that the relative thymus weight in groups D and E were higher than group C on day 28 after gamma-irradiation. Group D was the highest in all the experimental groups. CD4 and CD8 splenocytes in group D were higher than group C on days 7 and 28. Gl was better than PSK in repairing the damage of subset T-cells in the spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.

The study of pollen and Der p mite-specific IgE antibodies in children with allergic rhinitis.

UNLABELLED: The role of pollens and house dust mites in perennial chronic rhinitis has been investigated for the Taipei area. Fifty-four serum specimens were collected from children with chronic rhinitis. EIA kits (Phadezyme RAST) were used to detect specific IgE antibody of nine allergens, including house dust mite (Der p) and eight common pollens. The children were divided into allergic (AR) and nonallergic (NAR) groups, based on the results of skin tests, inhalant allergen-specific IgE screen (Phadiatop), physical examination, past history and family history. The results showed: (1) 41 (76%) patients were defined as allergic rhinitis; (2) Der p specific IgE was detected in 41 (100%) AR patients and 7 (54%) NAR patients (P < 0.005), a strong positive reaction (> 2+) in 83% AR and none NAR patients (P < 0.005); (3) one, or more than one, pollen-specific IgE were found in 13 (32%) AR and 4 (31%) NAR patients. No strong positive reaction was detected in either group. THE CONCLUSION: (1) three-fourths of the children with chronic rhinitis are allergic by nature; (2) house dust mite is the major allergen of allergic rhinitis; (3) in the Taipei area, pollen does not play an important role for children with allergic rhinitis.