Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with lipid profiles in osteoporosis patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In the literature, scarce data investigate the link between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and blood lipids in the osteoporosis (OP) population. 25(OH)D, as a calcium-regulating hormone, can inhibit the rise of parathyroid hormone, increase bone mineralization to prevent bone loss, enhance muscle strength, improve balance, and prevent falls in the elderly. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and lipid profiles in patients with osteoporosis, with the objective of providing insight for appropriate vitamin D supplementation in clinical settings to potentially reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, which is known to be a major health concern for individuals with osteoporosis. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study from the Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, including 2063 OP patients who received biochemical blood analysis of lipids during hospitalization from January 2015 to March 2022. The associations between serum lipids and 25(OH)D levels were examined by multiple linear regression. The dependent variables in the analysis were the concentrations of serum lipoprotein, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), apolipoprotein-A, lipoprotein A, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The independent variable was the concentration of blood serum 25(OH)D. At the same time, age, body mass index, sex, time and year of serum analysis, primary diagnosis, hypertension, diabetes, statins usage, beta-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide were covariates. Blood samples were collected in the early morning after the overnight fasting and were analyzed using an automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on the LABOSPECT 008AS platform (Hitachi Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The generalized additive model was further applied for nonlinear associations. The inception result for smoothing the curve was evaluated by two-piecewise linear regression exemplary. RESULTS: Our results proved that in the OP patients, the serum 25(OH)D levels were inversely connected with blood TGs concentration, whereas they were positively associated with the HDL, apolipoprotein-A, and lipoprotein A levels. In the meantime, this research also found a nonlinear relationship and threshold effect between serum 25(OH)D and TC, LDL-C. Furthermore, there were positive correlations between the blood serum 25(OH)D levels and the levels of TC and LDL-C when 25(OH)D concentrations ranged from 0 to 10.04 ng/mL. However, this relationship was not present when 25(OH)D levels were higher than 10.04 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated an independent relationship between blood lipids and vitamin D levels in osteoporosis patients. While we cannot establish a causal relationship between the two, our findings suggest that vitamin D may have beneficial effects on both bone health and blood lipid levels, providing a reference for improved protection against cardiovascular disease in this population. Further research, particularly interventional studies, is needed to confirm these associations and investigate their underlying mechanisms.

Digestive characteristics of oil body extracted from soybean aqueous extract at different pHs.

Soybean oil bodies (SOBs), a natural source of pre-emulsified oil, have important potential applications in food industry. In this study, SOBs were extracted from raw soybean milk at pH 5.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 11.0. The pH 5.0-, 7.0- and 8.0-SOB contained extrinsic proteins (mainly 7S, 11S and γ-conglycinin) and oleosins (24 kDa, 18 kDa and 16 kDa), and pH 9.0-, 11.0-SOB only had oleosins. Extrinsic protein contents decreased from 83.9% at pH 5.0-SOB to 58.2% at pH 8.0-SOB, zeta potentials increased gradually from -21.7 mV to -14.67 mV and particle sizes decreased from 924 nm to 359 nm with increasing extraction pHs. In stomach digestion, oleosins of pH 5.0-, 7.0-, 8.0-SOB were hydrolyzed more rapidly than extrinsic proteins. All 24 kDa oleosins were hydrolyzed during 5 min, and 18 kDa oleosins were completely hydrolyzed at 30 min for all SOBs. Oleosins were hydrolyzed and produced <15 kDa pepsin-resistant peptides. In addition, some 7S and 11S of pH 5.0-, 7.0-, 8.0-SOB resisted pepsin hydrolysis. For all SOB emulsions, zeta potentials decreased and the droplets sizes increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the extension of gastric digestive time. The oil droplets of all SOB emulsions aggregated, and the coalescence of oil droplets more easily occurred in pH 9.0- and 11.0-SOB emulsions. During the intestinal phase, zeta potentials and diameters of the droplets decreased gradually, and the droplets of SOB emulsions dispersed according to the CLSM. FFA release rates of pH 5.0-, 7.0-, 8.0-SOB emulsions increased rapidly and then increased slowly, however, the release tendency of pH 9.0-, 11.0-SOB emulsions were opposite. Total FFA releases of pH 5.0-, 7.0-, 8.0-, 9.0-, 11.0-SOB emulsions were respectively 52.5%, 70.5%, 59%, 48.8%, 43.3% at 180 min. Therefore, the digestive behaviors of SOB emulsions extracted at different pHs were different. This study will provide guidance for SOB products.

Relaxation Effect of Patchouli Alcohol in Rat Corpus Cavernous and Its Underlying Mechanisms.

In this study, we investigated the relaxation effect and mechanisms of patchouli alcohol (PA) on rat corpus cavernosum. Corpus cavernosum strips were used in organ baths for isometric tension studies. The results showed that PA demonstrated concentration-dependent relaxation effect on rat corpus cavernosum. The relaxant response to PA was not influenced by tetrodotoxin and atropine while it was significantly inhibited by removal of endothelium. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor) significantly inhibited relaxation response to PA, whereas indomethacin (COX inhibitor) had no effect on PA-induced relaxation. The treatment of endothelium-deprived corpus cavernosum with several potassium channel blockers including tetraethylammonium (TEA), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and glibenclamide had no effect on PA-induced relaxation. Endothelium-deprived corpus cavernosal contractions induced by cumulative addition of Ca2+ to high KCl solution without CaCl2 were significantly inhibited by PA. Also, PA improved relaxant capacity of sildenafil in rat corpus cavernosum. In addition, the perfusion with PA significantly increased the levels of cGMP and expression of mRNA and protein of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Furthermore, intracavernous injection of PA enhanced the rise in intracavernous pressure in rats during cavernosal nerve electric stimulation. In conclusion, PA relaxed the rat corpus cavernosum attributed to both endothelium-dependent and -independent properties. While the former component was mostly involved in nitric oxide signaling pathway, the endothelium-independent mechanism involved in PA-induced relaxation was probably linked to calcium antagonism.

Suo Quan Wan Protects Mouse From Early Diabetic Bladder Dysfunction by Mediating Motor Protein Myosin Va and Transporter Protein SLC17A9.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Suo Quan Wan (SQW), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, on the overactive bladder (OAB) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse models, particularly on its function of mediating the gene and protein expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9. Materials and Methods: After 4 weeks high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, C57BL/6J mice were injected with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) for four times. After 3 weeks, the diabetic mice were treated with SQW for another 3 weeks. Voided stain on paper assay, fasting blood glucose (FBG) test, and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were conducted. Urodynamic test, tension test [α,ß-methylene ATP, electrical-field stimulation (EFS), KCl, and carbachol] and histomorphometry were also performed. Western blot analysis and qPCR assays were used to quantify the expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9. Results: The diabetic mice exhibited decreased weight but increased water intake, urine production, FBG, and OGTT. No significant changes were observed after 3 weeks SQW treatment. Urodynamic test indicated that the non-voiding contraction (NVC) frequency, maximum bladder capacity (MBC), residual volume (RV), and bladder compliance (BC) were remarkably increased in the diabetic mice, whereas the voided efficiency (VE) was decreased as a feature of overactivity. Compared with the model mice, SQW treatment significantly improved urodynamic urination with decreased NVC, MBC, RV, and BC, and increased VE. Histomorphometry results showed that the bladder wall of the diabetic mice thickened, and SQW effectively attenuated the pathological alterations. The contract responses of bladder strips to all stimulators were higher in the DSM strips of diabetic mice, whereas SQW treatment markedly decreased the contraction response for all stimuli. Moreover, the protein and gene expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9 were up-regulated in the bladders of diabetic mice, but SQW treatment restored such alterations. Conclusion: T2DM mice exhibited the early phase of diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) characterized by OAB and bladder dysfunction. SQW can improve the bladder storage and micturition of DBD mice by mediating the protein and gene expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9 in the bladder, instead of improving the blood glucose level.

Effects of Radix Linderae extracts on a mouse model of diabetic bladder dysfunction in later decompensated phase.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of Radix Linderae (RL) extracts on a mouse model of diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD), especially on later decompensated phase. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (STZ) after 4 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. DBD mouse models (later decompensated phase) were developed by 12-weeks persistent hyperglycemia and then treated with RL extracts for 4 weeks. During administration, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) test was performed once a week. Four weeks later, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), voided stain on paper (VSOP), and urodynamic alteration were explored. We also performed haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining to observe the histology of the bladder. Then, the contractile responses to α, ß-methylene ATP, capsaicin (CAP), KCl and carbachol were measured. Moreover, qPCR assay was performed to analyse the bladder gene expression levels of M3 receptors and TRPV1. RESULTS: The diabetic mice exhibited higher FBG, OGTT and urine production, and no substantial alteration was observed after RL treatment. Urodynamic test showed the maximum bladder capacity (MBC), residual volume (RV) and bladder compliance (BC), as well as the decrement of voided efficiency (VE) and micturition volume (MV), remarkably increased in the DBD mice. Furthermore, RL treatment significant improved urodynamic urination, with lower MBC, RV, and, BC, as well as higher VE and MV, as compared with the model groups. The wall thickness of the bladder and the ratio of smooth muscle/collagen remarkably increased, and RL could effectively attenuate the pathological change. The response of bladder strips to the stimulus was also reduced in the DBD mice, and RL treatment markedly increased the contraction. Furthermore, the gene expression levels of M3 receptors and TRPV1 were down-regulated in the bladders of the diabetic mice, whereas RL treatment retrieved those gene expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: RL extracts can improve the bladder voiding functions of the DBD model mice in later decompensated phase, and underlying mechanisms was associated with mediating the gene expression of M3 receptors and TRPV1 in the bladder instead of improving blood sugar levels.

Tumor angiogenesis and dynamic CT in colorectal carcinoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

AIM: To investigate the correlation between microvessel density and spiral CT perfusion imaging in colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients, with histologically proven colorectal carcinoma, underwent water enema spiral CT scan. The largest axial surface of the primary tumor was searched on unenhanced spiral CT images. At this level, the enhanced dynamic scan series was acquired. Time-density curves (TDC) were created from the region of interest drawn over the tumor, target artery by Toshiba Xpress/SX spiral CT with perfusion functional software. Then the perfusion was calculated. Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens with anti-CD34, and then MVD was correlated with perfusion. RESULTS: MVD of colorectal carcinomas was 33.11-173.44, mean 87.28, and perfusion was 15.60-64.80 mL/min/100 g, mean 39.74 mL/min/100 g. MVD and perfusion were not associated with invasive depth, metastasis and disease stage, and they all decreased with increasing Dukes' stage, but no significant correlation was found between them (r = 0.18, P = 0.29). CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between MVD and perfusion. Neovascularizaton and perfusion are highly presented in early colorectal carcinoma. CT perfusion imaging may be more suited for assessing tumorigenesis in colorectal carcinoma than histological MVD technique.