Relationship of iron overload to bone mass density and bone turnover in postmenopausal women with fragility fractures of the hip / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study relationships between serum ferritin and bone metabolism in patients with hip fragility fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This cross-sectional study included 76 postmenopausal women with hip fracture from Feburary 2011 to June 2012. The mean age of the women was (73 ± 10) years (range, 55-93 years) and the mean duration of menstruation was (22 ± 10)years (range, 5-50 years). Serum concentrations of ferritin, transferrin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), amino-terminal extension peptide of type I collagen (P1NP), C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX)and femoral and lumbar bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were measured. Bone metabolism was compared between normal and elevated ferritin groups with t-test, Pearson linear, partial correlation and multiple regression analysis examined associations between iron- and bone-related markers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum ferritin concentration raised to (230 ± 146)µg/L, transferrin concentration reduced to (1.89 ± 0.33)g/L. P1NP concentration raised to (61 ± 32) ng/L when the concentration of serum ALP and β-CTX were in the normal range. T-scores for bone mineral density in the femoral neck (-2.0 ± 1.1) and lumbar (-2.1 ± 1.2) were below the normal ranges(-1.0-1.0). The subjects were divided into two groups according to serum ferritin concentration, normal group(serum ferritin concentration ≤ 150 µg/L, n = 25) and elevated group(serum ferritin concentration > 150 µg/L, n = 51). Patients of elevated group had lower bone mineral density in femoral neck and lumbar than normal group(t = 3.13,2.89, P < 0.01), and higher P1NP, β-CTX concentration (t = -2.38, -3.59, P < 0.05) . In partial correlation analysis adjusted for confounders, serum ferritin concentration was correlated negatively with bone mineral density in both femoral neck and lumbar (r = -0.335,-0.295, P < 0.05), and positively with P1NP and β-CTX (r = 0.467,0.414, P < 0.05), but not correlated with ALP (r = 0.188, P > 0.05). Transferrin concentration tended to be correlated positively with bone mineral density in both femoral neck and lumbar (r = 0.444, 0.262, P < 0.05) and negatively with ALP, P1NP and β-CTX(r = -0.326,-0.285,-0.278, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Iron overload has a high prevalence in postmenopausal women with fragility fracture. Increased iron stores, which might lead to bone loss and lower bone mineral density by enhancing the activity of bone turnover, could be an independent factor to take effects on bone metabolism on postmenopausal women.</p>

Radiation protection and possible mechanisms for low intensity microwave / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate radiation protection and possible mechanisms of low intensity microwave on gamma-ray exposed mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>96 healthy Kunming mice were randomly divided into the following four groups: normal control, microwave (120 microW/cm(2), 900 MHz), gamma-ray irradiation (5 Gy), combined exposure of microwave and gamma-ray (120 microW/cm(2) + 5 Gy). The microwave group and combined group were exposed to 120 microW/cm(2) microwave firstly, 1 h/d, for 14 days. Then the ionization and combined group were exposed to 5 Gy (60)Co gamma-ray irradiation on the 15th day. Animals were sacrificed on the third, 6th, 9th and 12th day after irradiation. The sternum and spleen paraffin section were produced, and the histological changes were observed. Apoptosis rate of mice splenic cells in each group was examined by flow cytometry, and serum concentration of antioxidant and lipid peroxide was detected at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bone marrow was obviously injured either by radiation or microwave exposure, characterized by undergoing four-phase lesions, namely apoptosis-necrosis, void, regeneration and recovery phase. Compared with the gamma-ray group, the pathological changes in combined group were slighter and the recovery was quicker. The pathological injuries of spleen were similar to that of bone marrow. Injuries in the combined group were slighter than gamma-ray group. It showed that apoptosis rate of splenic cells in combined group was significantly lower on the 6th and 9th day after gamma-ray radiation (23.02% +/- 15.18%, 25.37% +/- 11.62% respectively) from FCM results. Assays of oxidative damages suggested that serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in combined group increased while lipid peroxide level decreased significantly (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low intensity microwave may exert protection effects on injuries induced by ionizing radiation. The underlying mechanisms might be related with suppression on the hematopoietic cells apoptosis induced by gamma-ray radiation, inhibition of oxidative damages, and thus enhanced reconstruction of the hematopoietic system.</p>

Antagonistic effect of microwave on hematopoietic damage of mice induced by gamma-ray irradiation / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate antagonistic effect of microwave on hematopoietic damage of mice induced by gamma-ray irradiation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male healthy Kunning mice were treated with low dose microwave radiation before exposure to (60)Co gamma-ray irradiation of 8.0 Gy. The 30-day survival rate and average survival time of the mice after the treatment were examined. Peripheral blood parameters and the organ indexes of thymus and spleen were also observed in the irradiated mice. After exposure to 5.0 Gy gamma irradiation, indexes of hematopoietic foci formation of bone marrow cells (CFU-GM) and the proliferation activity of BMNCs were examined. The serum concentration of hemopoietic factors (GM-CSF and IL-3) were detected by ELISA kits.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pre-exposure with 120 microW/cm(2) 900 MHz microwave increased the 30-day survival rate (P < 0.05) and the number of white blood cells of gamma-ray treated mice. The increases of the organ indexes of thymus and spleen, proliferation activity of BMNCs and CFU-GM hematopoietic foci numbers, as well as the higher serum concentration of GM-CSF and IL-3 were observed in the microwave pre-exposure group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low dose microwave radiation may exert potential antagonistic effects on hematopoietic injuries induced by ionizing radiation. The underlying mechanisms might be related with stimulation of hematopoietic growth factors expression, promotion of HSCs/HPCs proliferation, suppression on the reduction of HSCs/HPCs caused by (60)Co gamma-ray, and enhanced construction of the hematopoietic system.</p>