Promotion effect of FGF23 on osteopenia in congenital scoliosis through FGFr3/TNAP/OPN pathway / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a complex spinal malformation of unknown etiology with abnormal bone metabolism. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), secreted by osteoblasts and osteocytes, can inhibit bone formation and mineralization. This research aims to investigate the relationship between CS and FGF23.@*METHODS@#We collected peripheral blood from two pairs of identical twins for methylation sequencing of the target region. FGF23 mRNA levels in the peripheral blood of CS patients and age-matched controls were measured. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of FGF23. The expression levels of FGF23 and its downstream factors fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFr3)/tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP)/osteopontin (OPN) in primary osteoblasts from CS patients (CS-Ob) and controls (CT-Ob) were detected. In addition, the osteogenic abilities of FGF23-knockdown or FGF23-overexpressing Ob were examined.@*RESULTS@#DNA methylation of the FGF23 gene in CS patients was decreased compared to that of their identical twins, accompanied by increased mRNA levels. CS patients had increased peripheral blood FGF23 mRNA levels and decreased computed tomography (CT) values compared with controls. The FGF23 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with the CT value of the spine, and ROCs of FGF23 mRNA levels showed high sensitivity and specificity for CS. Additionally, significantly increased levels of FGF23, FGFr3, OPN, impaired osteogenic mineralization and lower TNAP levels were observed in CS-Ob. Moreover, FGF23 overexpression in CT-Ob increased FGFr3 and OPN levels and decreased TNAP levels, while FGF23 knockdown induced downregulation of FGFr3 and OPN but upregulation of TNAP in CS-Ob. Mineralization of CS-Ob was rescued after FGF23 knockdown.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our results suggested increased peripheral blood FGF23 levels, decreased bone mineral density in CS patients, and a good predictive ability of CS by peripheral blood FGF23 levels. FGF23 may contribute to osteopenia in CS patients through FGFr3/TNAP / OPN pathway.

Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Physique Types of Elderly Population from One University Community in Guangzhou / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To provide epidemiological evidence for the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physique differentiation to the disease control and prevention, Chinese medicine health care, public education and so on in the elderly population. Methods TCM physique types of the elderly population aged over 65 years old from one University community in Tianhe district of Guangzhou city were analyzed by one-on-one questionnaire investigation with the Classification and Identification Scale for Senile Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution, and the correlation of TCM physique types with gender, age group was also explored. Results (1) In the 65-year-old elderly population of 777 cases, 231(29.7％) were classified into phlegm-damp physique, 129(16.6％) into blood-stasis physique, and 71(9.1％) into harmony physique, which contributed to the major physique types. (2) Physique types varied in the gender. The male was dominated by phlegm-damp physique and damp-heat physique, and the female was dominated by yang-deficiency constitution, Qi-stagnation physique and interweaved physique. The differences of the constitution ratio of physique types in the gender were significant (P<0.01). (3) In various age groups, the leading 3 physique types were the same, and they were phlegm-damp physique, blood-stasis physique, and interweaved physique (P<0.01). With the increase of age years, the ratio of deficiency physique type showed an increasing trend while that of the non-deficiency physique type showed a decreasing trend. Conclusion The investigation revealed the distribution of TCM physique types of the elderly population from one University community in Guangzhou, which has important practical value for the intervention of the elderly population with Chinese medicine.

Effect of Toluene Diisocyanate on Cell Multiplication and DNA Damage / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To study the effect of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) on cell multiplication and DNA damage. The present paper also aims to provide the proof for the potential biological effect. Methods The cell growth inhibition rate of toluene diisocyanate (0.04,0.08,0.16 ?mol/ml)was determined with MTT method,the DNA damage of TDI(0.01,0.02,0.04,0.08,0.16 ?mol/ml) was detected by the single cell gel electrophoresis technique (SCGE). Results Toluene diisocyanate caused morphological change of the cells. It could inhibit CHL cells growth with a dose-time-reaction relationship. The cell growth inhibition rate in 0.16 ?mol/ml group was 88.6%. Toluene diisocyanate could induce DNA breakage. The rate of comet tail,DNA content of comet tail and comet tail length in experiment group were higher and showed a dose-response relationship compared with the negative group. The rate of comet tail,DNA content of comet tail and comet tail length in 0.16 ?mol/ml group were 86.30%,34.54% and 7.18 ?m. Conclusion TDI can inhibit the growth of the cells and induce DNA damage.