The Effect of Ceratonia siliqua Supplement on Bone Mineral Density in Ovariectomy-induced Osteoporosis in Rats.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ceratonia siliqua on bone mineral density (BMD) as a non-pharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty mature female Wistar rats were randomly separated into three groups of 10: Control, ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized-plus-C. siliqua (OVX+CS). Total and proximal BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in all groups before ovariectomy, and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. At the end of the study, the femurs were subjected to a three-point bending test. RESULTS: DEXA revealed no statistically significant difference in absolute values or percentage changes for total tibial BMD between OVX+CS and OVX groups throughout the study. In the proximal tibia, both absolute values and BMD percentage changes from baseline were higher in the OVX+CS group compared to the OVX group after 3 and 6 months of C. siliqua administration. Three-point bending test revealed a significantly higher thickness index in the OVX+CS group compared to the OVX group and a higher cross-sectional area index compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Long-term administration of C. siliqua may be considered a non-pharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Further research is required to properly investigate the effects, and suitable treatment dose and schedule.

The effect of table olive wastewater extract administration on the adult ovariectomised rat model of osteoporosis.

Recent efforts for alternative non-pharmaceutical treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis are focused on nutritional measures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of table olive wastewater extract (OE) administration on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical strength in ovariectomised rats. Thirty mature 9-month-old female Wistar rats were separated into three groups of ten: Control, Ovariectomised (OVX) and OVX + OE. BMD was measured before ovariectomy, 3 and 6 months afterwards. At the end of the study, blood, both femurs and tibias, internal organs and abdominal fat were collected. After 3 months, the percentage changes from baseline of the total and proximal tibial BMD of the OVX + OE group were both higher compared with the OVX group (P < 0·005). Similar results were found after 6 months, when the percentage changes from baseline of the total and proximal tibial BMD of the OVX + OE group were both higher compared with the OVX group (P < 0·005). Biomechanical testing of the femurs did not reveal any statistically significant difference between the groups. Body weights throughout the study, organs' and abdominal fat ratios to final body weight and blood results (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Ca and P) were within normal limits and did not show any significant difference between the treated and untreated groups. As a conclusion, the administration of OE for 6 months protected tibial BMD loss in comparison with the untreated OVX group without causing adverse effects.

Protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots extract on bone mineral density of ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of the methanolic extract of plant Glycyrrhiza glabra roots on bone mineral density and femoral bone strength of ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Thirty 10-month-old Wistar rats were randomly separated into three groups of ten, Control, Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza in their drinking water. Total and proximal tibial bone mineral density was measured in all groups before ovariectomy (baseline) and after 3 and 6 months post ovariectomy. Three-point-bending of the femurs and uterine weight and histology were examined at the end of the study. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted in bone density percentage change of total tibia from baseline to 3 months between Control and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza groups (+5.31% ± 4.75 and +3.30% ± 6.31 respectively, P = non significant), and of proximal tibia accordingly (+5.58% ± 6.92 and +2.61% ± 13.62, P = non significant) demonstrating a strong osteoprotective effect. There was notable difference in percentage change of total tibia from baseline to 6 months between groups Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza (-13.03% ± 5.11 and -0.84% ± 7.63 respectively, P < 0.005), and of proximal tibia accordingly (-27.9% ± 3.69 and -0.81% ± 14.85 respectively, P < 0.001), confirming the protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract in preserving bone density of the Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza group. Three-point-bending did not reveal any statistically significant difference between Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza groups. Uterine weights of the Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza group ranged between the other two groups with no statistically significant difference to each. CONCLUSIONS: Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract notably protected tibial bone mineral density loss in Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza rats in comparison with ovariectomized rats, but did not improve biomechanical strength.

The impact of financial crisis on central serous chorioretinopathy in Greece: is there any correlation?

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of economic crisis on central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) incidence in Greece, analyzing data by 3 different ophthalmology units during the period 2005-2012. METHODS: Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012, all patients at 3 separate ophthalmology units, i.e., 2 public university clinics and 1 private center, presenting with the diagnosis of acute CSCR, either new cases or recurrent ones, were consecutively enrolled in the study. Patients' data, including age and sex, as well as the date of presentation, were recorded and analyzed. Recurrent cases were also recorded. RESULTS: The study sample included 580 new cases of CSCR (463 male, 117 female) and 97 recurrent cases (84 male, 13 female). The mean age was 48.8 ± 10.3 years (range 25-90). The number of incident as well as recurrent cases increased with more recent years. As expected, the increasing trend of cases and recurrences was reproducible upon the sex-specific analyses. Moreover, the increasing trend of cases and recurrences was reproducible upon the majority of analyses stratified by age. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a potential impact of financial crisis on CSCR. Our results demonstrated that CSCR incidence, in both new and recurrent cases, has increased during the years of economic crisis in Greece, especially in 2010-2011, implying that CSCR is likely to be associated with stress or other emotional stimuli caused by financial crisis. It is also important to note that the results were similar in public and private units.