Association of bone mineral density with peripheral blood cell counts and hemoglobin in Chinese postmenopausal women: A retrospective study.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic bone disease that can cause structural changes in bone marrow cavity. Bone marrow is the hematopoietic organ of adults. Accumulating evidence has shown a close connection between bone marrow hematopoietic function and bone formation. Some studies have revealed that OP is associated with hematopoiesis. However, the relationship is not definite.This study aimed to evaluate the association between peripheral blood cell counts (white blood cells [WBC], red blood cells [RBC], platelets [PLT]), hemoglobin [HGB], and bone mineral density [BMD]) in a sample of Chinese postmenopausal women. This is a retrospective study involving 673 postmenopausal women cases. The BMD of lumbar spine and left hip joint were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The levels of blood cell counts and HGB were measured and analyzed.The study results showed the WBC, RBC, PLT, and HGB levels of postmenopausal women in the OP group were all higher than those in the non-osteoporosis group. Spearman linear trend analysis and partial correlation analysis demonstrated that BMD was negatively correlated with WBC, RBC, PLT, and HGB in postmenopausal women.Due to the differences between different countries and races, and there are few studies on the association of BMD with peripheral blood cell counts and HGB in Chinese Postmenopausal Women. Therefore, more large sample studies are needed.

Efficacy and Safety of Tongning Gel for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multicentre, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongning Gel (TNG) compared to placebo-controlled (PC) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, parallel, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was performed in 576 patients (432 patients in the TNG group, 144 patients in the PC group), and 1 in the experimental group withdrew due to nonuse of drug. Patients were randomized to receive TNG or PC applied to knee skin at 3g per time, 2 times per day, which lasted for 3 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score was used to evaluate the primary efficacy of TNG and WOMAC stiffness and physical function and total scores were used to evaluate the secondary efficacy of TNG. All participants who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the safety analysis. This trial has been registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (no. CTR20131276). RESULTS: Primary efficiency outcome: there were significant differences in the decreased value of WOMAC pain score between two groups (P < 0.05), and the decreased value of WOMAC pain score in the TNG group were better than those in the PC group (P < 0.05). Secondary efficiency outcome: the WOMAC total score, WOMAC stiffness score, WOMAC physical function score, and the decrease of the above indexes of the two groups of patients after treatment were statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the improvement of the above indexes in the TNG group was better than that of the PC group (P < 0.05). Safety Evaluation. A total of 42 adverse events were reported by 29 patients: 25 adverse events reported by 16 patients (3.71%) in the experimental group and 17 adverse events were reported by 13 patients (9.03%) in the control group. And 8 adverse reactions were reported by 6 patients including 2 adverse reactions by 2 patients (0.46%) in the experimental group and 6 adverse reactions by 4 patients (2.78%) in the control group. Two cases of significant adverse events occurred in the experimental group. Both groups had one serious adverse event, respectively, which were not relevant to the intervention. CONCLUSION: These results of the trial demonstrate that TNG is superior to placebo in the treatment of patients with KOA, and TNG can improve other symptoms of KOA, such as stiffness and physical function. TNG is safe for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis as a whole.

Liuwei Dihuang Pill () Treats Postmenopausal Osteoporosis with Shen (Kidney) Yin Deficiency via Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signal Pathway by Up-regulating Cardiotrophin-Like Cytokine Factor 1 Expression.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill (, LDP) in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) with Shen (Kidney) yin deficiency. METHODS: In this study, 205 cases of PMOP were divided into the PMOP Shen-yin deficiency group (Group A), PMOP Shen-yang deficiency group (Group B), PMOP without Shen deficiency group (Group C), and control group (Group N). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot techniques were used to observe the effects of LDP treatment on the cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1), ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing 1 (ASB1), and prokineticin 2 (PROK2) genes and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. RESULTS: The mRNA (P<0.05) and protein (P<0.01) expression levels of the CLCF1 gene in Group A were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in Group N. After LDP treatment for 3 months, the mRNA expression levels of the CLCF1 gene were obviously up-regulated (P<0.01). After 6-month treatment, the expression levels of CLCF1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated (both P<0.01), and the average bone density of the top femur had significantly increased (P<0.05). In vitro, CLCF1 overexpression resulted in a significant increase in the total protein and phosphorylated protein levels of JAK2 and STAT3. CONCLUSIONS: The CLCF1 gene is an important gene associated with PMOP Shen-yin deficiency and the therapeutic effects of LDP may be mediated by up-regulation of CLCF1 gene expression and activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

[Effect of compound duzhong jiangu granule on knee joint osteoarthritis: a report of 400 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction of compound Duzhong Jiangu granule (CDJG) on knee joint osteoarthritis (KJO) of Gan-Shen deficiency with stasis in tendon and muscle syndrome. METHODS: The randomized controlled method was adopted in this study, comparative study was conducted in 400 patients in the treated group treated with CDJG and 200 patients in the control group treated with Zhuanggu Guanjie pill (ZGP). RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treated group was 92% and the curative-markedly effective rate was 47%, which were higher than those in the control group respectively. Moreover, CDJG showed superiority in improving symptoms and with shorter initiating time of action as compared with ZGP. However CDJG had the effect more favourable for patients of mild condition. CONCLUSION: CDJG is a kind of effective and safe medicine for treatment of KJO.