Consumption of Phytoestrogens Affects Bone Health by Regulating Estrogen Metabolism.

Osteoporosis is a significant concern in bone health, and understanding its pathomechanism is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This article delves into the relationship between estrogen metabolism and bone mineralization, shedding light on how phytoestrogens can influence this intricate process. Estrogen, a hormone primarily associated with reproductive health, plays a pivotal role in maintaining bone density and structure. The article explores the positive effects of estrogen on bone mineralization, highlighting its importance in preventing conditions like osteoporosis. Phytoestrogens, naturally occurring compounds found in certain plant-based foods, are the focal point of the discussion. These compounds have the remarkable ability to mimic estrogen's actions in the body. The article investigates how phytoestrogens can modulate the activity of estrogen, thereby impacting bone health. Furthermore, the article explores the direct effects of phytoestrogens on bone mineralization and structure. By regulating estrogen metabolism, phytoestrogens can contribute to enhanced bone density and reduced risk of osteoporosis. Finally, the article emphasizes the role of plant-based diets as a source of phytoestrogens. By incorporating foods rich in phytoestrogens into one's diet, individuals may potentially bolster their bone health, adding a valuable dimension to the ongoing discourse on osteoporosis prevention. In conclusion, this article offers a comprehensive overview of 137 positions of literature on the intricate interplay between phytoestrogens, estrogen metabolism, and bone health, shedding light on their potential significance in preventing osteoporosis and promoting overall well-being.

The Ways of Forming and the Erosion/Decay/Aging of Bioapatites in the Context of the Reversibility of Apatites.

This study primarily focused on the acid erosion of enamel and dentin. A detailed examination of the X-ray diffraction data proves that the products of the acid-caused decay of enamel belong to the family of isomorphic bioapatites, especially calcium-deficient hydroxyapatites. They are on a trajectory towards less and less crystallized substances. The increase in Bragg's parameter d and the decrease in the energy necessary for the changes were coupled with variability in the pH. This was valid for the corrosive action of acid solutions with a pH greater than 3.5. When the processes of natural tooth aging were studied by X-ray diffraction, a clear similarity to the processes of the erosion of teeth was revealed. Scarce data on osteoporotic bones seemed to confirm the conclusions derived for teeth. The data concerning the bioapatite decays were confronted with the cycles of apatite synthesis/decay. The chemical studies, mainly concerning the Ca/P ratio in relation to the pH range of durability of popular compounds engaged in the synthesis/decay of apatites, suggested that the process of the formation of erosion under the influence of acids was much inverted in relation to the process of the formation of apatites, starting from brushite up to apatite, in an alkaline environment. Our simulations showed the shift between the family of bioapatites versus the family of apatites concerning the pH of the reaction environment. The detailed model stoichiometric equations associated with the particular stages of relevant processes were derived. The synthesis processes were alkalization reactions coupled with dehydration. The erosion processes were acid hydrolysis reactions. Formally, the alkalization of the environment during apatite synthesis is presented by introducing Ca(OH)2 to stoichiometric equations.

Influence of Various Strontium Formulations (Ranelate, Citrate, and Chloride) on Bone Mineral Density, Morphology, and Microarchitecture: A Comparative Study in an Ovariectomized Female Mouse Model of Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis stands out as a prevalent skeletal ailment, prompting exploration into potential treatments, including dietary strontium ion supplements. This study assessed the efficacy of supplementation of three strontium forms-strontium citrate (SrC), strontium ranelate (SrR), and strontium chloride (SrCl)-for enhancing bone structure in 50 female SWISS mice, aged seven weeks. In total, 40 mice underwent ovariectomy, while 10 underwent sham ovariectomy. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: OVX (no supplementation), OVX + SrR, OVX + SrC, and OVX + SrCl, at concentrations equivalent to the molar amount of strontium. After 16 weeks, micro-CT examined trabeculae and cortical bones, and whole-bone strontium content was determined. Results confirm strontium administration increased bone tissue mineral density (TMD) and Sr content, with SrC exhibiting the weakest effect. Femur morphometry showed limited Sr impact, especially in the OVX + SrC group. This research highlights strontium's potential in bone health, emphasizing variations in efficacy among its forms.

Does Chronic Pancreatitis in Growing Pigs Lead to Articular Cartilage Degradation and Alterations in Subchondral Bone?

Chronic pancreatitis (CP), a progressive inflammatory disease, poses diagnostic challenges due to its initially asymptomatic nature. While CP's impact on exocrine and endocrine functions is well-recognized, its potential influence on other body systems, particularly in young individuals, remains underexplored. This study investigates the hypothesis that CP in growing pigs leads to alterations in articular cartilage and subchondral bone, potentially contributing to osteoarthritis (OA) development. Utilizing a pig model of cerulein-induced CP, we examined the structural and compositional changes in subchondral bone, articular cartilage, and synovial fluid. Histological analyses, including Picrosirius Red and Safranin-O staining, were employed alongside immuno-histochemistry and Western blotting techniques. Our findings reveal significant changes in the subchondral bone, including reduced bone volume and alterations in collagen fiber composition. Articular cartilage in CP pigs exhibited decreased proteoglycan content and alterations in key proteins such as MMP-13 and TGF-ß1, indicative of early cartilage degradation. These changes suggest a link between CP and musculoskeletal alterations, underscoring the need for further research into CP's systemic effects. Our study provides foundational insights into the relationship between CP and skeletal health, potentially guiding future pediatric healthcare strategies for early CP diagnosis and management.

Assessment of the Impact of Physical Activity on the Musculoskeletal System in Early Degenerative Knee Joint Lesions in an Animal Model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent diseases of the osteoarticular system. Progressive destruction of joints is accompanied by development of pathological changes in the muscle tissue, i.e., weakening, atrophy, and remodelling (sarcopenia). The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of physical activity on the musculoskeletal system in an animal model of early degenerative lesions in the knee joint. The study involved 30 male Wistar rats. The animals were allocated to three subgroups of 10 animals each. Each animal from the three subgroups received sodium iodoacetate by injection into the patellar ligament of the right knee joint, whereas saline was administered through the patellar ligament in the left knee joint. The rats in the first group were stimulated to exercise on a treadmill. The animals in the second group were allowed to lead a natural lifestyle (no treadmill stimulation). In the third group, all parts of the right hind limb muscle were injected with Clostridium botulinum toxin type A. The study demonstrated that, compared to the active rats, bone density in the immobilised rats decreased, as indicated by the densitometric assessment of the whole body and the examination of rats' hind limbs and knee joints alone. This clearly evidenced the impact of physical activity on bone mineralisation. The weight of both fat and muscle tissues in the physically inactive rats was reduced. Additionally, the adipose tissue had higher weight in the entire right hind limbs, where monoiodoacetic acid was administered to the knee joint. The animal model clearly showed the importance of physical activity in the early stages of OA, as it slows down the process of joint destruction, bone atrophy, and muscle wasting, whereas physical inactivity contributes to progression of generalised changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Quantitative Description of Isomorphism in the Series of Simple Compounds.

The introduction of the notion of energy change resulting from the ion exchange in apatites leads to the question: how can some simple isomorphic series be described using the mentioned idea? We concentrated on the simple isomorphic series of compounds: apatite, bioapatite, calcite, aragonite, celestine, K-, Zn- and Cu-Tutton's salts. It was demonstrated in all the series, except Tutton's salts, that the change in energy and the change in the crystal cell volume are, in a simple way, dependent on the change in the ionic radii of the introduced ions. The linear relationships between the variations in energy and in the universal crystallographic dimension d were derived from the earlier equations and proven based on available data. In many cases, except the Tutton's salts, linear dependence was discovered between the change in energy and the sinus of universal angle Θ, corresponding to the change in momentum transfer. In the same cases, linear dependencies were observed between the energy changes and the changes in the volumes of crystallographic cells, and mutually between changes in the crystallographic cell volume V, crystallographic dimension d, and diffraction angle Θ.

Contribution to Knowledge on Bioapatites: Does Mg Level Reflect the Organic Matter and Water Contents of Enamel?

The matter constituting the enamels of four types of organisms was studied. The variability of the ions was presented in molar units. It was proven that the changes in water contents of the enamel are significantly positively related to changes in Mg; inversely, there is also a strong connection with changes in Ca and P, the main components of bioapatite. The variability in the organic matter has the same strong and positive characteristics and is also coupled with changes in Mg contents. Amelogenins in organic matter, which synthesize enamel rods, likely have a role in adjusting the amount of Mg, thus establishing the amount of organic matter and water in the whole enamel; this adjustment occurs through an unknown mechanism. Ca, P, Mg, and Cl ions, as well as organic matter and water, participate in the main circulation cycle of bioapatites. The selection of variations in the composition of bioapatite occurs only along particular trajectories, where the energy of transformation linearly depends on the following factors: changes in the crystallographic d parameter; the increase in the volume, V, of the crystallographic cell; the momentum transfer, which is indirectly expressed by ΔsinΘ value. To our knowledge, these findings are novel in the literature. The obtained results indicate the different chemical and crystallographic affinities of the enamels of selected animals to the human ones. This is essential when animal bioapatites are transformed into dentistic or medical substitutes for the hard tissues. Moreover, the role of Mg is shown to control the amount of water in the apatite and in detecting organic matter in the enamels.

Studies on Chemical Composition, Structure and Potential Applications of Keratoisis Corals.

The chemical composition and structure of bamboo octocoral Keratoisis spp. skeletons were investigated by using: Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM, Raman Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction XRD, Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma LA-ICP, and amino acid analyzers. Elements discovered in the nodes (mainly organic parts of the skeleton) of bamboo corals showed a very interesting arrangement in the growth ring areas, most probably enabling the application of bamboo corals as palaeochronometers and palaeothermometers. LA-ICP results showed that these gorgonian corals had an unusually large content of bromine, larger than any other organism yet studied. The local concentration of bromine in the organic part of the growth rings of one of the studied corals grew up to 29,000 ppm of bromine. That is over 440 times more than is contained in marine water and 35 times more than Murex contains, the species which was used to make Tyrian purple in ancient times. The organic matter of corals is called gorgonin, the specific substance that both from the XRD and Raman studies seem to be very similar to the reptile and bird keratins and less similar to the mammalian keratins. The missing cross-linking by S-S bridges, absence of aromatic rings, and significant participation of ß-turn organization of peptides differs gorgonin from keratins. Perhaps, the gorgonin belongs to the affined but still different substances concerning reptile and bird keratin and in relation to the more advanced version-the mammalian one. Chemical components of bamboo corals seem to have great medical potential, with the internodes as material substituting the hard tissues and the nodes as the components of medicines.

Hierarchy of Bioapatites.

Apatites are one of the most intensively studied materials for possible biomedical applications. New perspectives of possible application of apatites correspond with the development of nanomaterials and nanocompounds. Here, an effort to systematize different kinds of human bioapatites forming bones, dentin, and enamel was undertaken. The precursors of bioapatites and hydroxyapatite were also considered. The rigorous consideration of compositions and stoichiometry of bioapatites allowed us to establish an order in their mutual sequence. The chemical reactions describing potential transformations of biomaterials from octacalcium phosphate into hydroxyapatite via all intermediate stages were postulated. Regardless of whether the reactions occur in reality, all apatite biomaterials behave as if they participate in them. To conserve the charge, additional free charges were introduced, with an assumed meaning to be joined with the defects. The distribution of defects was coupled with the values of crystallographic parameters "a" and "c". The energetic balances of bioapatite transformations were calculated. The apatite biomaterials are surprisingly regular structures with non-integer stoichiometric coefficients. The results presented here will be helpful for the further design and development of nanomaterials.

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Seeds-A Valuable Byproduct for Further Processing.

The rational exploitation of byproducts is important from the point of view of their potential applicability in various fields. In this study, the possibility of further processing of blackcurrant seeds (BCs), which are a byproduct of fruit processing, was investigated. BCs were used as a material for the extraction of oil on a semi-industrial scale, and the residues were assessed in terms of their potential application in skin care products. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 at pressures of 230 and 330 bar and extraction temperature of 40 °C was exploited for isolation of oil, and the products were characterised taking into account lipophilic constituents. After 120 min, the oil yields were 19.67% and 20.94% using CO2 at 230 and 330 bar, respectively, which showed that SFE was an effective method on a semi-industrial scale, taking into account the extraction yield. The oils had similar fatty acid compositions with a high percentage of linoleic acid (ca. 43%); however, tocopherols and carotenoids were most abundant in the oil obtained at 230 bar. It was also found that the composition of the SFE oils was comparable with that of cold-pressed oil, which shows that supercritical fluid extraction provides a high-quality product; therefore, it can be an alternative to cold pressing. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the extracts from the oil isolation residues were established using UPLC-MS, and the impact of the extracts on human skin fibroblasts was assessed using the MTT and NR assays. The quantitative analysis revealed that the residues contained high amounts of polyphenolic acids, including gallic, protocatechuic, and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, as well as flavonoids, especially quercetin and kaempferol glucoside. Moreover, it was found that the extracts were nontoxic and exerted a stimulatory effect on cell metabolism. Therefore, they can be a valuable additive to natural plant-based cosmetics. Our results showed that blackcurrant seeds, regarded as a byproduct, can be a valuable material for further use.

Measurements of Energetic States Resulting from Ion Exchanges in the Isomorphic Crystals of Apatites and Bioapatites.

Developments in the field of nanostructures open new ways for designing and manufacturing innovative materials. Here, we focused on new original ways of calculating energy changes during the substitution of foreign ions into the structure of apatites and bioapatites. Using these tools, the energetic costs of ion exchanges were calculated for the exemplary cases known from the literature. It was established that the most costly were ion exchanges of some cations inside apatites and of anions, and the least costly exchanges in tetrad channel positions. Real energy expenses for bioapatites are much smaller in comparison to mineral apatites due to the limited involvement of magnesium and carbonates in the structure of hard tissues. They are of the order of several electron volts per ion. The rigorous dependences of the energy changes and crystallographic cell volumes on the ionic radii of introduced cations were proved. The differentiation of the positioning of foreign ions in locations of Ca(I) and Ca(II) could be calculated in the case of a Ca-Pb reaction in hydroxyapatite. The energetic effects of tooth aging were indicated. The ability of energy change calculation during the ion exchange for isomorphic substances widens the advantages resulting from X-ray diffraction measurements.

ß-Hydroxy-ß-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation Prevents Bone Loss during Pregnancy-Novel Evidence from a Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus) Model.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation during pregnancy on postpartum bone tissue quality by assessing changes in trabecular and compact bone as well as in hyaline and epiphyseal cartilage. The experiment was carried out on adult 6-month-old female spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) divided into three groups: pregnant control (PregCont), pregnant HMB-treated (supplemented with 0.02 g/kg b.w of HMB during the second trimester of pregnancy, PregHMB), and non-pregnant females (NonPreg). Cross-sectional area and cortical index of the femoral mid-shaft, stiffness, and Young modulus were significantly greater in the PregHMB group. Whole-bone mineral density was similar in all groups, and HMB supplementation increased trabecular number. Growth plate cartilage was the thinnest, while the articular cartilage was the thickest in the PregHMB group. HMB supplementation increased the content of proteoglycans in the articular cartilage and the percentage of immature collagen content in metaphyseal trabeculae and compact bone. In summary, dietary HMB supplementation during the second trimester of pregnancy intensifies bone metabolic processes and prevents bone loss during pregnancy.

Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy Combined with Principal Component Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks for the Study of the Effect of ß-Hydroxy-ß-Methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Articular Cartilage.

The potential of Fourier Transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR microspectroscopy) and multivariate analyses were applied for the classification of the frequency ranges responsible for the distribution changes of the main components of articular cartilage (AC) that occur during dietary ß-hydroxy-ß-methyl butyrate (HMB) supplementation. The FTIR imaging analysis of histological AC sections originating from 35-day old male piglets showed the change in the collagen and proteoglycan contents of the HMB-supplemented group compared to the control. The relative amount of collagen content in the superficial zone increased by more than 23% and in the middle zone by about 17%, while no changes in the deep zone were observed compared to the control group. Considering proteoglycans content, a significant increase was registered in the middle and deep zones, respectively; 62% and 52% compared to the control. AFM nanoindentation measurements collected from animals administered with HMB displayed an increase in AC tissue stiffness by detecting a higher value of Young's modulus in all investigated AC zones. We demonstrated that principal component analysis and artificial neural networks could be trained with spectral information to distinguish AC histological sections and the group under study accurately. This work may support the use and effectiveness of FTIR imaging combined with multivariate analyses as a quantitative alternative to traditional collagenous tissue-related histology.

[Sarcopenia - unnoticed problem of aging society].

In the elderly, there is a reduction of the efficiency in many organs, including muscles. The weight, strength and power reduction of elderly muscles is defined as sarcopenia. The pathophysiology of sarcopenia is multifactorial, it can be influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as reduced caloric intake, denervation of muscle fibers - in the course of various neurodegenerative diseases, intracellular oxidative stress, hormonal disorders and others. The European Working Group on sarcopenia in the elderly published diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia in 2010, which should increase the recognition of this disease and speed up the treatment process. The best-confirmed methods of treatment of sarcopenia are nutritional hyperalimentation and resistance training. Pharmacological agents, i.e. selective androgen receptor modulators, and myostatin inhibitors are not sufficiently tested to be approved, by the FDA as a treatment regimen of sarcopenia.

[Overview of selected tests used to assess the functional status of elderly].

Physical activity is one of the most important element of a healthy lifestyle and determinant of the physical and mental health. According to the WHO, limited physical activity is the fourth most common premature deaths risk factor in the world. Regular sport and active recreation is very important for our health. Physical exercise is the most effective method used by physiotherapists to prevent and slow down the aging process of the body, and consequently, diseases of elderly, such as: osteoporosis, injuries caused by falls, diabetes or hypertension. Physical activity has a positive effect on the quality of life and cognitive functions of elderly. People over 65 years constitute about 40-50% of people who require specialist medical care in the world. Therefore, health and medical professionals dealing with preventive healthcare and treatment of elderly people should have basic knowledge in geriatric rehabilitation, as well as to be able to plan suitable physiotherapy program adequate to the needs of older people. To assess the functional status of the patient, as well as the effectiveness of the training, various types of functional tests are used, specially designed for the elderly. These tests are based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (COG) considering the state of health, physical and mental fitness as well as socio-environmental conditions. The physiotherapeutic program should be based on functional training involving the entire human body, i.e. nervous, muscular, skeletal, sensory and balance systems.

Postural disorders in the elderly in static assessment.

Physical activity is one of the most important element of a healthy lifestyle and determinant of the physical and mental health. According to the WHO, limited physical activity is the fourth most common premature death risk factor in the world. Regular sport and active recreation is very important for our health. Physical exercise is the most effective method used by physiotherapists to prevent and slow down the aging process of the body, and consequently, diseases of elderly (e.g. osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and injuries). Physical activity has a positive effect on the quality of life and cognitive functions of elderly. The physiotherapeutic program should be based on functional training involving the entire human body. To plan and monitor the effectiveness of the training, different types of tests are used to assess the functional status of elderly people. These tests are based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment considering the state of health, physical and mental fitness as well as social and environmental determinants.

Phase 3 Studies Comparing Brodalumab with Ustekinumab in Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Early clinical studies suggested that the anti-interleukin-17 receptor A monoclonal antibody brodalumab has efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis. METHODS: In two phase 3 studies (AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3), patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive brodalumab (210 mg or 140 mg every 2 weeks), ustekinumab (45 mg for patients with a body weight ≤100 kg and 90 mg for patients >100 kg), or placebo. At week 12, patients receiving brodalumab were randomly assigned again to receive a brodalumab maintenance dose of 210 mg every 2 weeks or 140 mg every 2 weeks, every 4 weeks, or every 8 weeks; patients receiving ustekinumab continued to receive ustekinumab every 12 weeks, and patients receiving placebo received 210 mg of brodalumab every 2 weeks. The primary aims were to evaluate the superiority of brodalumab over placebo at week 12 with respect to at least a 75% reduction in the psoriasis area-and-severity index score (PASI 75) and a static physician's global assessment (sPGA) score of 0 or 1 (clear or almost clear skin), as well as the superiority of brodalumab over ustekinumab at week 12 with respect to a 100% reduction in PASI score (PASI 100). RESULTS: At week 12, the PASI 75 response rates were higher with brodalumab at the 210-mg and 140-mg doses than with placebo (86% and 67%, respectively, vs. 8% [AMAGINE-2] and 85% and 69%, respectively, vs. 6% [AMAGINE-3]; P<0.001); the rates of sPGA scores of 0 or 1 were also higher with brodalumab (P<0.001). The week 12 PASI 100 response rates were significantly higher with 210 mg of brodalumab than with ustekinumab (44% vs. 22% [AMAGINE-2] and 37% vs. 19% [AMAGINE-3], P<0.001). The PASI 100 response rates with 140 mg of brodalumab were 26% in AMAGINE-2 (P=0.08 for the comparison with ustekinumab) and 27% in AMAGINE-3 (P=0.007). Rates of neutropenia were higher with brodalumab and with ustekinumab than with placebo. Mild or moderate candida infections were more frequent with brodalumab than with ustekinumab or placebo. Through week 52, the rates of serious infectious episodes were 1.0 (AMAGINE-2) and 1.3 (AMAGINE-3) per 100 patient-years of exposure to brodalumab. CONCLUSIONS: Brodalumab treatment resulted in significant clinical improvements in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. (Funded by Amgen; AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3 ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01708603 and NCT01708629.).

Effect of Long-Term Strontium Exposure on the Content of Phytoestrogens and Allantoin in Soybean.

Abiotic stress, including metal excess, can modify plant metabolism. Here we investigated the influence of long-term strontium exposure (12 weeks, 0.5⁻4.0 mM Sr) on the content of phytoestrogens and allantoin as well as the mineral composition in soybean. Seven phytoestrogens were identified in the soybean: daidzin, glycitin, genistin, malonyldaidzin, malonylgenistin, daidzein, and coumestrol. The results showed that both malonyldaidzin and malonylgenistin were dominant phytoestrogens; however, the roots contained a relatively high amount of daidzein. It was found that strontium reduced the phytoestrogen content and decreased the antioxidant capacity. Strontium evoked depletion of the sum of all phytoestrogens by 40⁻70% in the leaves, 25⁻50% in the stems and in the seeds, depending on the strontium concentration. In the roots, 0.5 and 4.0 mM of strontium decreased the total phytoestrogen content by 25 and 55%, respectively, while 2.0 mM of strontium did not exert an effect on their accumulation. On the other hand, strontium ions induced allantoin accumulation mainly in the roots. Strontium was preferentially accumulated in the leaves, with a slight impact on macro- and micro-nutrients. Our research showed strontium-secondary metabolites interaction in the soybean, which can be useful for obtaining a natural pharmaceutical product containing both strontium and phytoestrogens for remediation of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Pharmaceutical-grade Chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).

OBJECTIVES: Chondroitin sulfate 800 mg/day (CS) pharmaceutical-grade in the management of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis consistent with the European Medicines Agency guideline. METHODS: A prospective, randomised, 6-month, 3-arm, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo and celecoxib (200 mg/day)-controlled trial assessing changes in pain on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and in the Lequesne Index (LI) as coprimary endpoints. Minimal-Clinically Important Improvement (MCII), Patient-Acceptable Symptoms State (PASS) were used as secondary endpoints. RESULTS: 604 patients (knee osteoarthritis) diagnosed according to American College of Rheumalogy (ACR) criteria, recruited in five European countries and followed for 182 days. CS and celecoxib showed a greater significant reduction in pain and LI than placebo. In the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, pain reduction in VAS at day 182 in the CS group (-42.6 mm) and in celecoxib group (-39.5 mm) was significantly greater than the placebo group (-33.3 mm) (p=0.001 for CS and p=0.009 for celecoxib), while no difference observed between CS and celecoxib. Similar trend for the LI, as reduction in this metric in the CS group (-4.7) and celecoxib group (-4.6) was significantly greater than the placebo group (-3.7) (p=0.023 for CS and p=0.015 for celecoxib), no difference was observed between CS and celecoxib. Both secondary endpoints (MCII and PASS) at day 182 improved significantly in the CS and celecoxib groups. All treatments demonstrated excellent safety profiles. CONCLUSION: A 800 mg/day pharmaceutical-grade CS is superior to placebo and similar to celecoxib in reducing pain and improving function over 6 months in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. This formulation of CS should be considered a first-line treatment in the medical management of knee OA.

The Stimulatory Effect of Strontium Ions on Phytoestrogens Content in Glycine max (L.) Merr.

The amount of secondary metabolites in plants can be enhanced or reduced by various external factors. In this study, the effect of strontium ions on the production of phytoestrogens in soybeans was investigated. The plants were treated with Hoagland's solution, modified with Sr(2+) with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 mM, and were grown for 14 days in hydroponic cultivation. After harvest, soybean plants were separated into roots and shoots, dried, and pulverized. The plant material was extracted with methanol and hydrolyzed. Phytoestrogens were quantified by HPLC. The significant increase in the concentration of the compounds of interest was observed for all tested concentrations of strontium ions when compared to control. Sr(2+) at a concentration of 2 mM was the strongest elicitor, and the amount of phytoestrogens in plant increased ca. 2.70, 1.92, 3.77 and 2.88-fold, for daidzein, coumestrol, genistein and formononetin, respectively. Moreover, no cytotoxic effects were observed in HepG2 liver cell models after treatment with extracts from 2 mM Sr(2+)-stressed soybean plants when compared to extracts from non-stressed plants. Our results indicate that the addition of strontium ions to the culture media may be used to functionalize soybean plants with enhanced phytoestrogen content.