Effect of compression fracture on trabecular bone score at lumbar spine.

Bone mineral density (BMD) may be increased due to vertebral compression fractures (VCF). Our study showed trabecular bone scores (TBS) was less affected than BMD by fractured vertebrae. The TBS of most compression fractures, including old and recent VCF with mild or moderate deformity and old VCF with severe deformity, could still be used in predicting fracture risk. INTRODUCTION: Trabecular bone score (TBS), a noninvasive tool estimating bone microarchitecture, provides complementary information to lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD). Lumbar spine BMD might be increased due to both degenerative disease and vertebral compression fractures (VCF). Lumbar spine TBS has been confirmed not influenced by osteoarthrosis, but the effects of VCF are still not been well evaluated. This study aimed to investigate whether lumbar spine TBS was affected by fractured vertebrae. METHODS: We studied postmenopausal women and men above 50 years old who underwent DXA between January 1, 2017, and May 31, 2019. By calculating the difference of BMD and TBS between L1 and the mean of L2-3, the study compared the difference of values between the control group and fracture group to determine the effects of fractured vertebrae on BMD and TBS. RESULTS: A total of 377 participants were enrolled with 202 in the control group (157 females; age: 68.06 ± 6.47 years) and 175 in the fracture group (147 females; age: 71.71 ± 9.44 years). The mean BMD of the L1 vertebrae in the fracture group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the mean differences of TBS between L1 and the means of L2-3 vertebrae in the control group and the most compression fractures, including old and recent VCF with mild or moderate deformity and old VCF with severe deformity. CONCLUSION: Lumbar spine TBS, unlike BMD, is less affected by fractured vertebrae. The TBS of most compression fractures, including old and recent VCF with mild or moderate deformity and old VCF with severe deformity, could still be used in predicting fracture risk.

Benefits and pitfalls of iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) imaging in clinical application of the cervical spine MR.

AIM: To evaluate efficacy of T2-weighted (T2W) iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL)-fast spin echo (FSE) imaging of the cervical spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cervical spine of 100 symptomatic patients was imaged using routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus IDEAL-FSE imaging. The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs), and image quality were analysed. To compare the diagnostic efficiency of degenerative spondylopathy, evaluations of spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis, disc herniation, myelopathy, disc degeneration, and bone marrow oedema were also performed. RESULTS: IDEAL-FSE showed significantly higher SNRs and CNRs (all p<0.001) than fat-suppressed (FS) T2W-FSE. Sixteen of 100 patients had cervical spine instrumentation; in those patients, IDEAL-FSE provided significantly better uniformity of fat suppression (p<0.001) and fewer metallic artefacts (p<0.001). For patients without instrumentation, FS T2W-FSE showed significantly better overall image quality (p<0.001) and homogeneity of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; p<0.001) with fewer motion artefacts (p<0.001). IDEAL-FSE, however, provided significantly better uniformity of fat suppression (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in the diagnoses of spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis, disc herniation, or myelopathy between IDEAL and FS T2W images. The only significant differences between the IDEAL and FS T2W images were noted when diagnosing degenerative disc disease at the C2-3 and C5-6 disc levels (p=0.019, p=0.002, respectively) and bone marrow oedema at C3 vertebral body (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: T2W IDEAL-FSE imaging should only be considered as an additional sequence to conventional FS T2W images in patients with poor fat suppression or severe metallic artefacts.

Neuroprotective effects of Hu-Yi-Neng, a diet supplement, on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is considered the potential risk to the development of dementia. Some medicines, vitamins, and diet supplements have been suggested to have possible benefits via the antioxidative effects to slow the decline of cognitive function in demented and non-demented individuals. However, few studies were conducted to examine their functions, especially in composite diet supplements. Hu-Yi-Neng is a composite diet supplement, including ginkgo biloba, extract of pine bark, phosphatidyl serine, docosahexaenoic acid, and folic acid, used extensively in Taiwan. Therefore, our aim is to investigate the potential protective effects of Hu-Yi-Neng on human neuron cells. MATERALS AND METHODS: H2O2-induced neuronal toxicity was characterized in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells by the decrease of cell viability using PrestoBlue™ assay and by the increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level using DCFH-DA (2', 7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate) assays. HO-1 mRNA expression was detected by real-time PCR. Akt and Erk 1/2 proteins were detected by western blotting. RESULTS: Pretreatment with Hu-Yi-Neng significantly reversed the decrease in cell viability induced by H2O2 in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, Hu-Yi-Neng dose-dependently suppressed the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Hu-Yi-Neng protected SH-SY5Y cells from oxidative stress may via the increase in mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an antioxidant enzyme. In addition, Hu-Yi-Neng inhibited H2O2-induced phosphorylation of Akt kinase but further increased the phosphorylation of Erk 1/2. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Hu-Yi-Neng has protective effect against oxidative stress-induced neuron cell loss and it could be an ideal composite diet supplement for preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Metabolic effects of mulberry leaves: exploring potential benefits in type 2 diabetes and hyperuricemia.

The leaves of Morus alba L. have a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine and also became valued by the ethnopharmacology of many other cultures. The worldwide known antidiabetic use of the drug has been suggested to arise from a complex combination effect of various constituents. Moreover, the drug is also a potential antihyperuricemic agent. Considering that type 2 diabetes and hyperuricemia are vice-versa in each other's important risk factors, the use of mulberry originated phytotherapeutics might provide an excellent option for the prevention and/or treatment of both conditions. Here we report a series of relevant in vitro and in vivo studies on the bioactivity of an extract of mulberry leaves and its fractions obtained by a stepwise gradient on silica gel. In vivo antihyperglycemic and antihyperuricemic activity, plasma antioxidant status, as well as in vitro glucose consumption by adipocytes in the presence or absence of insulin, xanthine oxidase inhibition, free radical scavenging activity, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were tested. Known bioactive constituents of M. alba (chlorogenic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, and loliolide) were identified and quantified from the HPLC-DAD fingerprint chromatograms. Iminosugar contents were investigated by MS/MS, 1-deoxynojirimycin was quantified, and amounts of 2-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-1-deoxynojirimicin and fagomine were additionally estimated.

RAS blockade decreases blood pressure and proteinuria in transgenic mice overexpressing rat angiotensinogen gene in the kidney.

Angiotensinogen (ANG) is the sole substrate of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Clinical studies have shown that RAS activation may lead to hypertension, a major cardiovascular and renal risk factor. To delineate the underlying mechanisms of hypertension-induced nephropathy, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress rat ANG (rANG) in the kidney to establish whether intrarenal RAS activation alone can evoke hypertension and kidney damage and whether RAS blockade can reverse these effects. Transgenic mice overexpressing renal rANG were generated by employing the kidney-specific, androgen-regulated protein promoter linked to rANG cDNA. This promoter targets rANG cDNA to renal proximal tubules and responds to androgen stimulation. Transgenic mice displayed kidney-specific expression of rANG, significantly increased blood pressure (BP) and albuminuria in comparison to non-transgenic littermates. Administration of losartan (an angiotensin II (type 1)-receptor antagonist) or perindopril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) reversed these abnormalities in transgenic animals. Renal injury was evident on examination of the kidneys in transgenic mice, and attenuated by losartan and perindopril treatment. We conclude that the overproduction of ANG alone in the kidney induces an increase in systemic BP, proteinuria, and renal injury. RAS blockers prevent these abnormalities. These data support the role of the intrarenal RAS in the development of hypertension and renal injury.

The alkaloids of Artabotrys uncinatus.

A novel type of alpha,beta-butenolide alkaloid, uncinine (1), two novel oxoaporphines, artabonatine C (2) and artabonatine D (3), a new oxazoloaporphine, artabonatine E (4), and a new 7,7'-bisdehydroaporphine, artabonatine F (5), along with 25 known alkaloids, were isolated from Artabotrys uncinatus. The structures of 1-5 were determined using NMR and mass spectral data. Atherospermidine and squamolone exhibited cytotoxicity against hepatocarcinoma cancer cell lines (Hep G(2) and 2,2,15), and the activity of some of the alkaloids in an antithrombin assay is also discussed.

Cytotoxic constituents of the fruits of Cananga odorata.

A new guaipyridine sesquiterpene alkaloid, cananodine (1), and two new eudesmane sesquiterpenes, cryptomeridiol 11-alpha-L-rhamnoside (2) and gamma-eudesmol 11-alpha-L-rhamnoside (3), along with gamma-eudesmol (4), were isolated from the fruits of Cananga odorata. The structures of compounds 1-3 were established on the basis of NMR and MS methods. In addition, compounds 1-4 and four previously reported alkaloids, cleistopholine (5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6), (+)-ushinsunine-beta-N-oxide (7), and lyscamine (8), were evaluated for cytotoxicity against two human hepatocarcinoma cell lines.

Cytotoxic constituents of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula.

A new halimane diterpene, 3beta,5beta, 16alpha-trihydroxyhalima-13(14)-en-15,16-olide (1), and a new oxoprotoberberine alkaloid, (-)-8-oxopolyalthiaine (2), along with 20 known compounds, were isolated from a methanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic analysis. Several of these compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity toward a small panel of human cell lines.