A randomized, multicenter controlled trial to compare the efficacy of recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) with elcatonin in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) (rhPTH (1-34)) given by injection is a new seventh class drug of biological products, which is prepared by adopting gene recombination technique. rhPTH (1-34) is mainly used to treat osteoporosis, especially for postmenopausal women. This study compared the clinical efficacy and safety of rhPTH (1-34) with elcatonin for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in 11 urban areas of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and five women with osteoporosis were enrolled in a 6-month, multicenter, randomized, controlled study. They were randomized to receive either rhPTH (1-34) 20 microg (200 U) daily or elcatonin 20 U weekly. Lumbar spine (L1-4) and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), as well as biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured. Adverse events were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>rhPTH (1-34) increased lumbar BMD significantly more than did elcatonin at 3 months and 6 months (2.38% vs 0.59%, P < 0.05; 5.51% vs 1.55%, P < 0.01), but there were no significant increases of BMD in these two groups at femoral neck. There were larger mean increases in bone markers in the rhPTH (1-34) group than in the elcatonin group at 3 months and 6 months (serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) 36.79% vs 0.31%; 92.42% vs -0.17%; urinary N-telopeptide/creatinine (NTX/Cr) 48.91% vs -5.32%; 68.82% vs -10.86%). Both treatments were well tolerated and there were no significant differences detected between the two groups in the proportion of any adverse events and any serious adverse events (67.0% vs 59.0%; 0 vs 0).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>rhPTH (1-34) has more positive effects on bone formation, as shown by the larger increments of lumbar BMD and bone formation markers, than elcatonin, with only mild adverse events and no significant change in the liver, kidney or hematological indices.</p>

Effects of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedii on the metabolism of typeⅠcollagen and the expression of cathepsin K in the bone of ovariectomized rats / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedii(HEF)on the metabolism of typeⅠcollagen and the expression of cathepsin K in the bone of ovariectomized(OVX)rats. Methods Fifty-four female SD rats were allocated into 6 groups;OVX group,sham operation group,OVX rats followed by three doses of HEF(40,80 and 160 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1))and nilestriol(0.1 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1))for 12 weeks respectively.Bone mineral density(BMD)of whole body was determined by dual-energy X-ray absoptiometry.The level of cross-linked N-telopeptide of typeⅠcollagen(NTx)in the urine were determined by ELISA.The amounts of typeⅠcollagen protein and cathepsin K protein in bone tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blotting.Results Compared with OVX group,the total BMD values in the HEF treated groups were increased(all P＜0.05),and the expression levels of typeⅠcollagen in three HEF treated groups rose significantly in a dose-dependent manner after 12 week,and simultaneously,both the expression of cathepsin K in bone and the level of NTx/Cr were reduced markedly(P＜0.05),being most significant(P＜0.01)in the group treated with the highest dose of HEF(160 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)).Conclusion HEF seems to be able to elevate BMD and improve bone quality of rats via promoting synthesis and inhibiting proteolysis and absorption of typeⅠcollagen in the bone.

Efficacy of?-lipoic acid in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Forty type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) were assigned to two groups and treated respectively with?-lipoic acid or mecobalamin for 2 weeks.The results suggested that?-lipoic acid could accelerate the nerve conduction velocity and decrease the plasma level of endothelin and C reactive protein as well as microalbuminceria with a effect similar to mecobalamin therapy on DPN.