The effects and mechanism of paeoniflorin in promoting osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures is increasing every year. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can shed new light on the treatment of osteoporosis. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of paeoniflorin in promoting osteogenic differentiation of an osteoblast precursor cell line (MC3T3-E1). METHODS: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium (OIM) and OIM combined with different concentrations of paeoniflorin. The optimal dose of paeoniflorin was assessed by a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Then, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining were performed to assess the osteogenic capacity of paeoniflorin. The transcription of osteogenic genes and the expression of osteogenic proteins were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The transcription of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway genes and proteins was assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Finally, Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), a Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor, was used to identify whether the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway was involved in the osteogenic differentiation of paeoniflorin. Osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells was identified by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. RESULTS: At concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 µM, paeoniflorin was not cytotoxic to MC3T3-E1 cells. Paeoniflorin significantly increased the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, paeoniflorin significantly increased osteogenic differentiation gene and protein expression. Through bioinformatic analysis, paeoniflorin-affected genes were found to be involved in different signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Paeoniflorin enhanced ß-catenin and CyclinD1 expression compared with that of the control groups. DKK-1 partially reversed the promoting effects of paeoniflorin in promoting osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, paeoniflorin inhibited the osteoclastogenesis of RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSION: Paeoniflorin promotes osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Paeoniflorin is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis.

[ASL-based Observation of Central Nervous System Responses to Acupuncture Analgesia for People with Different Sensitivities].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of different sensitivities on the effectiveness of acupuncture analgesia by observing activation change characteristics of cerebral areas resulting from the influences of constitutions on analgesia effects and to discuss the response mechanism of central nervous system (CNS) to determine the factor of constitutions on acupuncture efficacy using cerebral functional magnetic resonance imaging arterial spin labeling (fMRI-ASL). METHODS: Participants with different sensitivities were assessed according to standard screening and grouped into two groups: insensitivity group (n＝24) and sensitivity group (n＝22). All participants were given acupuncture at the left-sided Zusanli point. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) of their body surface was determined before and after the acupuncture, and the two groups were subsequently compared in terms of analgesic effects and PPT rate of change; cerebral fMRI-ASL was performed; software such as SPM 8 and ASLtbx were utilized to preprocess the results, and correlation between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and visual analog scale (VAS) score was determined using Pearson's correlational analysis. RESULTS: VAS score in the sensitivity group was significantly higher than that in the insensitivity group (P< 0.05); after acupuncture, PPT rate of change in the sensitivity group was higher than that in the insensitivity group (P< 0.05). The analyses revealed that there was a negative correlation between rCBF and VAS score for the right-sided anterior cingulate cortex in the insensitivity group and superior frontal gyrus in the sensitivity group (|r|>0.3 and P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Different sensitivity to acupuncture is one of the crucial factors influencing analgesia effects. The sensitivity group had superior analgesia effect than the insensitivity group. Acupuncture might deactivate cerebral functional areas to generate analgesic effects.The superior frontal gyrus and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, because of deactivation, play a positive role in sensitive patients, which is probably one of the CNS cerebral areas responding to acupuncture analgesia of people who are sensitive to acupuncture.

[Effect of eletroacupuncture with close-to-bone needling treatment on expression of Sox9, VEGF and ColX in impaired cartilage of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of eletroacupuncture with close-to-bone needling treatment on expression of Sox9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and type X collagen (ColX) in impaired cartilage of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomized equally into normal control group, KOA model group, eletroacupuncture with close-to-bone needling group (CN group), and normal thrust needing group (NTN group). In the latter 3 groups, KOA was induced by Hulth-Telhag treatment and evaluated with X-ray examination, and 6 weeks after the modeling, eletroacupuncture for 20 min was administered in CN and NTN groups at the acupoints "Zusanli", "Waixiyan", "Neixiyan", "Liangqiu" and "Yinlingquan" in the left knee joints once daily for 5 days as a treatment cycle. After 5 treatment cycles, the rabbits were examined for behavioral changes, cartilage morphology, and Mankin scores; The protein and mRNA expressions of S0x9, VEGF, and ColX were examined using Westen blotting, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR as appropriate. RESULTS: The rabbits in the model, CN and NTN groups showed significant changes in behaviors and cartilage histomorphology after the modeling and after the treatments. HE staining showed that cartilage injury was repaired and tended to recovery in CN and NTN groups. The cartilage pathologies was severer in the model group than in the normal control, CN and NTN groups (P<0.01); Sox9 protein increased and VEGF mRNA level decreased in CN and NTN groups after treatment as compared with those in the model group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Eletroacupuncture with close-to-bone needling can effectively improve KOA in rabbits probably by enhancing Sox9 and reducing VEGF and ColX expressions in the cartilage to inhibit hypertrophic differentiation of the chondrocytes, maintain chondrogenic phenotype and repair cartilage cells.

[Effects of Short Thrust Needing plus Electroacupuncture Intervention on Cartilage Tissue in Rabbits with Knee Osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effectiveness of short thrust needling (STN, close-to-bone needing) plus electroacupuncture (EA) in healing knee cartilage tissue and in regulating expressions of cartilage vitamin K dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP 13) and serum uncarboxylated matrix gla protein (ucMGP) in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of KOA. METHODS: Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal, model, EA and STN+ EA groups (n = 10 in each group). The KOA model was created by cutting the medial lateral ligament and medial parapatellar arthrotomy of rabbits as described by Hulth and colleagues. For rabbits in the STN+ EA group, "Neixiyan" (EX-LE 4) and "Waixiyan" (ST 35) were punctured with filiform needles by controlling the needle-tip obliquely to advance till the bone surface of the knee joint cavity, and "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) punctured by holding the filiform needles vertically along the tibia, and "Liangqiu" (ST 34) was punctured by controlling the filiform needle to advance till the thigh-bone, followed by EA stimulation. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to unilateral EX-LE 4 and ST 35, and ST 36 and SP 9, separately for 20 min, once daily for 20 days except weekends. The pathological changes of the knee cartilage cells were observed using H. E. staining, Toluidine blue staining and electron transmission microscope, respectively. The immunoactivity of GGCX of the knee cartilage was determined by immunohistochemistry and the expression levels of GGCX and MMP 13 proteins in the cartilage were detected by Western blot, and the content of serum ucMGP was assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: H. E. staining, Toluidine blue staining and electron transmission microscope results showed that pathological changes of knee cartilage cells in structure after modeling were improved in both the STN+ EA and EA groups, particularly the former group. In comparison with the normal group, the expression levels of GGCX protein in the cartilage tissue showed by both Western blot and immunohistochemistry were notably down-regulated (P<0.01), and the cartilage MMP 13 protein expression and serum ucMGP content were considerably up-regulated in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). After STN+ EA and simple EA, the decreased GGCX and the increased MMP 13 expression and serum ucMGP content were reversed (P<0.01, P<0.05). The effects of STN+EA were significantly superior to those of simple EA in down-regulating MMP13 and ucGLA levels, and upre-gulating GGCX expression. CONCLUSION: Both STN+ EA and simple EA can effectively improve pathological changes of cartilage cells in KOA rabbits, which may be associated with their actions in up-regulating the expression of cartilage GGCX protein and lowering the levels of serum ucMGP content and cartilage MMP 13 protein expression, and the effects of STN+ EA are better.

Periplogenin induces necroptotic cell death through oxidative stress in HaCaT cells and ameliorates skin lesions in the TPA- and IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse models.

Psoriasis is a multifactorial skin disease that inconveniences many patients. Considering the side effects and drug resistance of the current therapy, it is urgent to discover more effective and safer anti-psoriatic drugs. In the present study, we screened over 250 traditional Chinese medicine compounds for their ability to inhibit the cell viability of cultured human HaCaT keratinocytes, a psoriasis-relevant in vitro model, and found that periplogenin was highly effective. Mechanistic studies revealed that apoptosis and autophagy were not induced by periplogenin in HaCaT cells. However, periplogenin caused PI to permeate into cells, increased lactate LDH release and rapidly increased the number of necrotic cells. Additionally, the typical characteristics of necrosis were observed in the periplogenin-treated HaCaT cells. Notably, the necroptosis inhibitor Nec-1 and NSA were able to rescue the cells from necrotic cell death, supporting that necroptosis was involved in periplogenin-induced cell death. Furthermore, the ROS levels were elevated in the periplogenin-treated cells, NAC (an antioxidant) and Nec-1 could inhibit the ROS levels, and NAC could attenuate necroptotic cell death, indicating that the periplogenin-induced necroptotic cell death was mediated by oxidative stress. More importantly, in the murine models of TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia and IMQ-induced skin inflammation, topical administration of periplogenin ameliorated skin lesions and inflammation. In sum, our results indicate, for the first time, that periplogenin is a naturally occurring compound with potent anti-psoriatic effects in vitro and in vivo, making it a promising candidate for future drug research.

[Characteristics of Deqi Induced by Needling Zusanli (ST 36) in 527 Healthy Volunteers with Different Constitutions].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the theory of constitution in terms of Chinese medicine and clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment via analyzling the characteristics of Deqi during acupuncture stimulation of Zusanli (ST 36) in healthy volunteers with different constitutions. METHODS: In the present study, a total of 527 healthy undergraduate student volunteers (267 girls and 260 boys) were recruited. They received questionnaire first about their constitutions in accordance with Professor WANG Qi's Classification and Determination of Constitution in terms of Chinese medicine. Then, the subjects were asked to take a supine position on a check-bed, a qualified acupuncturist held a sterilized fifiform needle to rapidly insert it into ST 36 and manipulated the acupuncture needle with uniform reinforcing-reducing technique at a frequency of about 60-90 times/min and an amplitude of 0.3-0.5 cm. The status of Deqi was assessed by using visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Needling sensations mainly involve soreness, numbness, heaviness, distension, dull pain and propagated sensations along meridian (PSC). During acupuncture stimulation, most subjects experienced distension sensation, accounting for 90.3%, followed by soreness, accounting for 45.9%. Except for PSC reaction, the rest 5 needling sensations had no statistical difference in their occurrence rates in those subjects with different constitutions (P>0.05). The PSC appeared a higher incidence in yin-yang harmony(balanced) constitution subjects than in qi- deficiency, yang-deficiency, blood-stagnation and qi-stagnation constitution subjects (P<0.05). The intensity of soreness was obviously stronger in the balanced constitution subjects than in qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, yin-deficiency, phlegm-damp, damp-heat and qi-stagnation constitution subjects (P<0.05), while the intensity of distension sensation was apparently stronger in the balanced constitution subjects than in simpleyang-deficiency subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Except for PSC, the Deqi sensations of soreness, numbness, heaviness, distension and dull pain induced by acupuncture stimulation of ST 36 are comparable in the occurrence rates in healthy volunteer subjectswith different (9 types of) constitutions in terms of Chinese medicine, whereas the intensity of soreness may be the important factor for acupuncture induced pain relief. A certain correlation between the constitution and acupuncture effectiveness exists, suggesting that acupuncture treatment should vary from patient to patientin clinical practice.

The effects of different levels of calcium supplementation on the bone mineral status of postpartum lactating Chinese women: a 12-month randomised, double-blinded, controlled trial.

Increasing dietary Ca intake may prevent the excessive mobilisation of bone mineral in nursing mothers. We aimed to investigate whether higher Ca intake could positively modulate the bone mineral changes in Chinese postpartum lactating women. The study was a 12-month randomised, double-blinded, parallel group trial conducted over 12 months. A total of 150 postpartum women were randomly selected to receive either 40 g of milk powder containing 300 mg of Ca and 5 µg of vitamin D (Low-Ca group) or same milk powder additionally fortified with 300 mg of Ca (Mid-Ca group) or 600 mg of Ca (High-Ca group). Bone mineral density (BMD) for the whole body, the lumbar spine, the total left hip and its sub-regions was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A total of 102 subjects completed the whole trial. The duration of total lactating time was 7·9 (SD 2·8) months on average. The intention-to-treat analysis yielded the following mean percentage changes in BMD for the whole body, the lumbar spine and the total left hip, respectively: -0·93 (SD 1·97), 2·11 (SD 4·90) and -1·60 (SD 2·65)% for the Low-Ca group; -0·56 (SD 1·89), 2·21 (SD 3·77) and -1·43 (SD 2·30)% for the Mid-Ca group; and -0·44 (SD 1·67), 2·32 (SD 4·66) and -0·95 (SD 4·08)% for the High-Ca group. The differences between the groups were not statistically significant (P: 0·5-0·9). The results of the complete case analysis were similar. In sum, we found no significant differences in the bone mineral changes from baseline to 12 months in postpartum lactating women consuming milk powder fortified with different levels of Ca.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture with Near-to-bone Needling to Chondrocyte Apoptosis and Proliferation on the Knee Osteoarthritis Model].

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of electroacupuncture with near-to-bone needling on the proliferation and apoptosis of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Totally 40 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, the normal group (A, n =10) and the modeling group (n =30). Hulth-Telhag method was applied 30 rabbits to establish rabbit left knee osteoarthritis model, and evaluated by X-ray after 6 weeks. Then divided the 30 modeling rabbits into electroacupuncture with near-to-bone needling group (C,n =10), electroacupuncture with ordinary needling group (D,n =10) and model group (B ,n =10) randomly. Four treatments (5 d as one course of treatment) were applied to C group and D group, respectively. At the end of the experiment, modeling situation was detected by X-ray, pathological changes of cartilage was detected by HE staining ,and apoptosis of chondrocytes was checked by TUNEL staining; mRNA expressions of Caspase-3 and proliferating cell unclear antigen (PCNA) in chondrocytes were detected by RT-PCR; protein expressions of Caspase-3, PCNA, Bcl-2 and Bax in chondrocytes were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: HE stain demonstrated that the chondrocytes of A group,C group and D group were arranged in a more regular and smooth surface when compared with B group. The expressions of Bcl-2 and PCNA in C and D groups were higher than those of B group, but the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax were lower, when evaluated with Western blot;increased expressions of PCNA and Bcl-2 but decreased expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax in C group were also noticed when compared with D group. RT-PCR results demonstrated that when compared with B group, the expression of PCNA mRNA were increased but Caspase-3 mRNA were decreased in C and D groups; compared with D group, the expression of PCNA mRNA were increased but Caspase-3 mRNA were decreased in C group. CONCLUSIONS: The electroacupuncture with near-to-bone needling method is superior to the electroacupuncture with ordinary needling in decreasing apoptosis and promoting proliferation of chondrocytes.

[Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on expression of testicular P 450 scc/17 ß-HSD3 in rats with partial androgen deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on expression of cytochrome P 450 side chain cleavage (P 450 scc) and 17 ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17 ß-HSD3) in the testis in partial androgen deficiency of aging male (PADAM) rats so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improving PADAM. METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into control, model, and EA groups. The PADAM model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (20 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)), once daily for 5 days. EA (20-30 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to bilateral "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) for 15 min, once daily for 8 weeks. Serum total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of P 450 scc/17 ß-HSD3 proteins and mRNA in the testis tissue were assayed by immunohistochemistry, Western bolt (WB) and RT-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), separately. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, both serum TT, FT levels and expression levels of P450 scc/17 ß-HSD3 proteins and mRNA in the testis tissue in the model group were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). After EA intervention, compared with the model group, the cyclophosphamide-induced decrease of serum TT, FT levels and the expression levels of P 450 scc/17 ß-HSD3 proteins and mRNA in the testis was reversed in the EA group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA intervention is effective in up-regulating serum TT and FT, testicular P 450 scc and 17 ß-HSD3 proteins and mRNA levels in PADAM rats, which may be one of its mechanisms underlying improvement of PADAM.

Calcium supplementation and bone mineral accretion in Chinese adolescents aged 12-14 years: a 12-month, dose-response, randomised intervention trial.

A 12-month, dose-response, randomised, intervention trial was conducted to determine adequate Ca intake levels for Chinese adolescents by investigating the effect of Ca supplementation on bone mineral accretion. A total of 220 Han adolescents (111 girls and 109 boys) aged 12-14 years were recruited. All subjects were randomly divided into three groups. The bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body, lumbar spine (L1-L4), left hip and femoral neck were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Girls in the high-Ca group (actual Ca intake: 1243 (sd 193) mg/d) exhibited greater increases in the femoral neck BMC compared with those in the low-Ca group (9·7 v. 6·4 %, P =0·04) over the 1-year intervention period. The increases in femoral neck BMC were greater in boys in the high-Ca and medium-Ca groups (actual Ca intake: 985 (sd 168) mg/d) than in those in the low-Ca group (15·7 v. 11·7 %, P =0·03; 15·8 v. 11·7 %, P =0·03). Ca supplementation had significant effects on the whole-body BMC and BMD in subjects with physical activity levels>34·86 metabolic equivalents and on the spine BMD and BMC and BMD of most sites in subjects with Tanner stage < 3. Increasing Ca intake levels with Ca supplementation enhanced femoral neck mineral acquisition in Chinese adolescents. Furthermore, high physical activity levels and low Tanner stage appeared to significantly contribute to the effect of Ca supplementation on bone mass. Whether this is a lasting beneficial effect leading to the optimisation of peak bone mass needs to be determined in other long-term prospective studies.

Effects of milk salt supplementation on bone mineral gain in pubertal Chinese adolescents: a 2-year randomized, double-blind, controlled, dose-response trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Adequate calcium intakes may enhance bone mineral accumulation during childhood. Little is known about the optimal calcium intake in Chinese adolescents. We examined the effects of three levels of calcium intake on bone mineral accretion in adolescents. METHODS: This was a 2-year randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive 40 g of milk powder containing 300 mg of calcium and 200 IU of vitamin D (Low-Ca group), or same milk powder additionally fortified with 300 mg of calcium (Mid-Ca group) or 600 mg of calcium (High-Ca group) for 2 years. The subjects' bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the total body, lumbar spine and left hip were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after the second year of treatment. Of the 111 girls and 109 boys (aged 12-14 years) enrolled, 91 girls and 91 boys completed the trial. RESULTS: The girls in the High-Ca group (1,110 mg/d) had 2.3%, 2.7% and 2.6% greater BMD accretion at the total hip, femoral neck and shaft (P<0.05) but not at total body less head and spine than those in the Low-Ca group (655 mg/d). A significant effect of higher calcium intake was also observed for percentage change of size-adjusted BMC at femur neck (P=0.047). Bonferroni tests indicated no significant differences in the percentage changes in BMD, BMC or size-adjusted BMC between the Mid- and Low-Ca groups and between the High- and Mid-Ca groups. Extra calcium had no observable additional effect in the boys (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: An intake of 1000 mg/d or more might be helpful in maximizing bone mineral accretion in the hip for girls. But further large studies are required to identify its long-term effects and the optimal calcium intake for boys.

[The influence of preventive iron supplementation to iron nutritional status in breastfed infants].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects to iron status who were given preventive iron supplements for two months from when they were breast-fed to four-month-old. METHODS: A total of 123 infants in four-month-old age who were breast-fed were randomly divided into iron supplementation group (63 cases) and control group (60 cases), iron supplementation group was supplied with low-dose iron (1 mg×kg⁻¹×d⁻¹) for two months with no intervention for control group. Blood samples were collected to test C reactive protein and iron status indicators in six-month-old age group infants, and the growth indices were measured and compared on the gender difference of iron status at and 6 months. RESULTS: After 2 months of low-dose iron supplementation, the hemoglobin of iron supplementation group (26 cases) increased about 5.5 g/L while the control group (34 cases) increases about 0.0 g/L (median), 95% confidence intervals were -7.0 - 13.0 g/L and -9.0 - 15.0 g/L, respectively. The hemoglobin increase of iron supplementation group was higher than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (u = -2.326, P < 0.05). The other iron nutritional status and the growth did not show any significant difference between iron supplementation group and control group (P > 0.05). At age 6 month, the MCV of the boys were (75.89 ± 3.34) fl, while the girls were (77.20 ± 3.17) fl. The boys had lower values of MCV than the girls, and the gender difference was statistically significant (t = 4.73, P < 0.05). The other iron nutritional status did not show any significant gender difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose iron supplementation of breast-fed infants at 4-month-old can increase the hemoglobin level when they were 6-month-old, and had no measurable side effect on growth.

[Changes of China agricultural climate resources under the background of climate change. V. Change characteristics of agricultural climate resources in Ningxia].

Based on the 1961-2009 weather data from 21 meteorological stations in Ningxia, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal variation trend of regional agricultural climate resources in Ningxia, Northwest China. In 1961-2009, the air temperature in Ningxia increased gradually from south to north, with the mean annual temperature increased by 0.4 degrees C x (10 a)(-1) , while the annual precipitation in most regions decreased gradually, with a decrement 4.26 mm x (10 a)(-1). Both the frost-free period and the duration of crop growth season prolonged. The regions with > or = 10 degrees C accumulated temperature being > or = 3200 degrees C x d extended southwardly, and thereby, the regions adaptive for planting mid and late rice increased. In 2001-2009, most regions were adaptive for plating winter wheat, and the whole Ningxia was adaptive for plating spring wheat. In the southern mountain regions, the region with mean temperature in July being < or = 20 degrees C decreased gradually, and accordingly, the regions adaptive for planting potato decreased.

[Relationship between estrogen receptor gene Px haplotype and the effect of calcium and soy isoflavone supplementation on bone mineral density of Chinese postmenopausal women].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between estrogen receptor gene Px haplotype and the effect of calcium and soy isoflavone supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD) of Chinese postmenopausal women. METHODS: It was a randomly controlling test for 12 months. The Pvu II and Xba I polymorphisms of ER-alpha gene were detected by using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in 691 Chinese postmenopausal women, aged 45-65 years. In 497 carriers of definitive Pvu II-Xba I haplotype, 93 subjects were chosen randomly. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXEA). According to BMD T score in any skeleton site of 81 subjects at baseline, 29 subjects with T > or = -1.5 were grouped into observation group, and 52 subjects with T < -1.5 were randomly assigned into two intervention groups and received either a 100 mg soy isoflavone and 440 mg Ca and 100 IU VD supplement/d (n = 26) or 440 mg Ca and 100 IU VD supplement/d (n = 26). BMD of the whole body, lumber (L2-L4), and hip were measured at baseline and after 12 months. RESULTS: After one year fellow-up, the BMD at L2-L4, femur neck site and whole body were significantly decreased as compared with those of baseline (P < 0.05, change percent of BMD as follows: -3.31%, -3.09%, -1.88%) in observation group, and the whole body BMD was significantly lower at 12 month than that at baseline in subjects with Px haplotype (percent change was -2.44%, P < 0.05), but no difference was found in subjects without Px haplotype. Whole body and femur neck BMD were significantly decreased in both Ca group and Ca + soy isoflavone group, but no significant difference of change percent between two groups. There were no significant changes in L2-L4 and trochanter BMD irrespective of treatment. ER-alpha Px haplotype had no effect on the changes in BMD in both Ca group and Ca + soy isoflavone group. CONCLUSION: The rate of bone loss in Chinese postmenopausal women seems to haverelation to ER Px haplotype. Calcium supplementation for 1 year might lower the bone loss rate, but soy isoflavone supplementation for 1 year had notshowu no effects. The effect of supplementation had no relationship with ER Px haplotype.

NaFeEDTA fortified soy sauce showed higher iron absorption rate in Chinese females.

OBJECTIVE: NaFeEDTA was considered as a promising iron fortificant for controlling iron deficiency anemia. Soy sauce is a suitable food carrier for iron fortification and is a popular condiment in China. Iron absorption rates of NaFeEDTA and FeSO4 were observed and compared in adult female subjects. METHODS: The stable isotope tracer method was used in Chinese females consuming a typical Chinese diet. Ten healthy young Chinese women were selected as subjects in the 15-day study. A plant-based diet was used based on the dietary pattern of adult women in the 1992 National Nutrition Survey. Six milligram of 54Fe in 54FeSO4 soy sauce and 3 mg 58Fe in Na58FeEDTA soy sauce were given to the same subjects in two days. Food samples and fecal samples were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Iron absorption rates of NaFeEDTA and FeSO4 were 10.51% +/- 2.83 and 4.73% +/- 2.15 respectively. The 58Fe (NaFeEDTA) absorption was significantly higher than that of 54Fe (FeSO4) (P < 0.01). The iron absorption rate from NaFeEDTA was 1.2 times higher than that from FeSO4 in Chinese adult women consuming a typical Chinese diet. CONCLUSION: The higher absorption rate of NaFeEDTA suggested that NaFeEDTA would be a better iron fortificant used in soy sauce for the controlling of iron deficiency anemia in China.

Studies on BN rats model to determine the potential allergenicity of proteins from genetically modified foods.

AIM: To develop a Brown Norway (BN) rat model to determine the potential allergenicity of novel proteins in genetically modified food. METHODS: The allergenicity of different proteins were compared, including ovalbumin (OVA), a potent respiratory and food allergen, bovine serum albumin (BSA), a protein that is considered to have a lesser allergenic potential, and potato acid phosphatase (PAP), a non-allergenic protein when administered to BN rats via different routes of exposure (intraperitoneally or by gavage). IgG and IgE antibody responses were determined by ELISA and PCA, respectively. An immunoassay kit was used to determine the plasma histamine level. In addition, possible systemic effect of allergens was investigated by monitoring blood pressure. RESULTS: OVA provoked very vigorous protein-specific IgG and IgE responses, low grade protein-specific IgG and IgE responses were elicited by BSA, while by neither route did PAP elicit anything. In either routes of exposure, plasma histamine level in BN rats sensitized with OVA was higher than that of BSA or PAP. In addition, an oral challenge with BSA and PAP did not induce any effect on blood pressure, while a temporary drop in systolic blood pressure in few animals of each routes of exposure was found by an oral challenge with OVA. CONCLUSION: BN rat model might be a useful and predictive animal model to study the potential allergenicity of novel food proteins.