Urban-Rural Differences in Bone Mineral Density and its Association with Reproductive and Menstrual Factors Among Older Women.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) of older women living in rural and urban areas, and evaluate the potential factors affecting the risk of osteoporosis. METHODS: We recruited 574 women aged 65 years or older from rural areas and 496 from urban areas in Shanghai, China. The BMD values of the lumbar vertebrae and total left hip were measured by a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry densitometer. We also recorded information about education level, family income, medications, reproductive and menstrual history, diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Women in urban areas had significantly higher BMD in their lumbar spine, and there was a dramatic increase in the proportion of women with osteoporosis in rural areas. The age at menarche was significantly higher among women living in rural areas, and there were more years from menarche to menopause among urban women. Rural women had significantly higher numbers of both pregnancies and parity, and a significantly lower age at first parity. In multiple linear regression analyses, years from menarche to menopause was independently related to high lumbar spine BMD, while age at menarche and parity was independently related to low lumbar spine BMD. CONCLUSION: More older women in rural areas had osteoporosis. Later menarche, less years from menarche to menopause and higher parity might partially contribute to decreased BMD among women in rural areas. More attention should be paid to women in rural areas to prevent bone loss and further bone and health impairment.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Osteosarcoma in the Mouse: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and critically assess the inhibitory effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on tumor volume and tumor weight for the treatment of osteosarcoma (OS) in mouse models. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and Chinese BioMedical (CBM) were searched since their inception dates to March 10, 2016. Two reviewers independently selected the controlled studies estimating effects of CHM on mouse OS by administration in vivo. A pair-wise meta-analysis was performed. Twenty-five studies with adequate randomization were included in the systematic review. RESULTS: CHM may significantly inhibit OS growth in mice, as assessed using the tumor weight [20 studies, n=443; 290 for CHM and 153 for the control: pooled mean difference (MD)=-2.90; 95% confidence interval (Cl): -3.50 to -2.31: P<0.01], tumor volume (16 studies, n=382; 257 for CHM and 125 for the control; pooled MD =-2.57; 95% Cl: -3.33 to -1.80; P<0.01) and tumor growth inhibition rate. CONCLUSION: CHM could significantly inhibit the growth of OS in mouse models, which might be supportive for the design of preclinical and clinical trials in future.

Matrine inhibits prostate cancer via activation of the unfolded protein response/endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling and reversal of epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the sixth global primary cause of malignancy­associated fatality. Increased invasiveness and motility in prostate cancer cells are associated with ubiquitin proteasome system­regulated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Impairment of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causes ER stress due to the accumulation of unfolded proteins and altered cell survival. In the current study, the effect and mechanism of matrine on cell apoptosis, viability, migration and invasion of human prostate cancer cells in vivo and in vitro through the unfolded protein response (UPR)/ER stress pathway were investigated. Matrine inhibited proteasomal chymotrypsin­like (CT­like) activity in the prostate carcinoma cellular proteasome. Upregulated vimentin and N­cadherin and downregulated E­cadherin were also observed in vitro and in vivo. In vitro analyses showed that matrine repressed cell motility, viability and invasion, arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and induced prostate cancer cell apoptosis. Furthermore, matrine activated the UPR/ER stress signaling cascade in prostate cancer cells and tumor tissues of xenograft­bearing nude mice. Results also demonstrated that the anti­apoptotic protein Bcl­2 was downregulated, the pro­apoptotic protein Bak was upregulated and the cell growth and cell cycle­related proteins c­Myc, Cyclin B1, Cyclin D1 and CDK1 were downregulated. Moreover, matrine inhibited tumor growth and Ki­67 expression in xenograft­bearing nude mice. To the best of our knowledge, the present study indicated for the first time that matrine exerted marked anticancer functions in human prostate carcinoma in vivo and in vitro through activation of the proteasomal CT­like activity inhibition mediated by the UPR/ER stress signaling pathway.

Long non-coding RNA XIST as a potential prognostic biomarker in human cancers: a meta-analysis.

Growing studies have confirmed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involve in the occurrence and development of various cancers. XIST, as a lncRNA, was dysregulated in different cancers. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic potential of XIST in malignant tumors. Eight databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library, CNKI, VIP, SinoMed and Wang Fang were comprehensively searched from their initiation date to August 15, 2017. A total of nine studies with 853 cancer patients met the including criteria were finally included in this meta-analysis after independently screening the literatures by two researchers. Any discrepancies were resolved by a consensus. Hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the primary endpoints were extracted and pooled for meta-analysis. Our results showed that expression level of XIST was markedly associated with overall survival (function as oncogene, HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42-0.68, p < 0.00001; function as tumor suppressor, HR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.15-4.37, p = 0.02), disease free survival (DFS)(HR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.31-0.67, p < 0.0001), tumor type (digestive system carcinoma, HR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.37-0.69, p < 0.00001; non-digestive system carcinoma, HR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.39-0.87, p = 0.008), lymph node metastasis (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.20-0.52, p < 0.00001), distant metastasis (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.22-0.60, p < 0.0001) and tumor stage (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.60, p < 0.00001). In conclusion, the pooled results in our current work suggest that XIST is an important prognostic biomarker in cancer patients.

Long non-coding RNAs for osteosarcoma in the mouse: a meta-analysis.

Osteosarcoma, one of the most common primary bone malignances, is a leading cause of cancer death among children and adolescents. Recently, growing studies have found that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can interfere with the expression of various genes, and participate in the occurrence and development of malignancies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential functions of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma in mice, thus to direct the strict design for the future preclinical experiments and clinical trials. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, VIP, Chinese BioMedical and Wan Fang Database from their initiation date to June 20, 2017. Two researchers independently screened the literatures and withdrew the data, which used the tumor volume and tumor weight as the outcome measures. A total of 10 studies were included, and the results of this meta-analysis revealed that lncRNAs could serve as the diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma; and progression of osteosarcoma in mice could be inhibited via rescuing the abnormally expressed lncRNAs. It is necessary to carry out more rigorous basic experiments before lncRNAs can be further investigated in the clinical trials and used in future clinical practices.

Polyphyllin I suppresses human osteosarcoma growth by inactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer in children and adolescents. In spite of aggressive treatment, osteosarcoma has a high mortality rate with minimal improvements in survival over past few decades. Polyphyllin I (PPI), a component in the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Paris polyphylla Smith, has been shown to have anti-tumor properties. However, its mechanism as an anti-osteosarcoma agent has not been well elucidated. In this study, we found that PPI suppressed osteosarcoma cell viability, arrested cell cycle in G2/M phase, induced apoptosis and inhibited invasion and migration of osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, PPI significantly suppressed intratibial primary tumor growth in xenograft orthotopic mouse model without any obvious side effects. These therapeutic efficacies were associated with inactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, as PPI treatment decreased the amount of p-GSK-3ß, leading to down-regulated levels of active ß-catenin. PPI induced inhibition of osteosarcoma cell viability was abolished upon addition of GSK-3ß specific inhibitor, CHIR99021, while PPI induced inhibition of osteosarcoma cell viability and migration were potentiated by ß-catenin silencing. These findings suggested that, in vitro and in vivo, PPI treatment inhibited osteosarcoma, at least in part, via the inactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Thus, PPI could serve a novel therapeutic option for osteosarcoma patients.

MicroRNAs for osteosarcoma in the mouse: a meta-analysis.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone carcinoma with high morbidity that happens mainly in children and young adults. As the key components of gene-regulatory networks, microRNAs (miRNAs) control many critical pathophysiological processes, including initiation and progression of cancers. The objective of this study is to summarize and evaluate the potential of miRNAs as targets for prevention and treatment of OS in mouse models, and to explore the methodological quality of current studies. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wan Fang Database, VIP Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, and Chinese BioMedical since their beginning date to 10 May 2016. Two reviewers separately screened the controlled studies, which estimate the effects of miRNAs on osteosarcoma in mice. A pair-wise analysis was performed. Thirty six studies with enough randomization were selected and included in the meta-analysis. We found that blocking oncogenic or restoring decreased miRNAs in cancer cells could significantly suppress the progression of OS in vivo, as assessed by tumor volume and tumor weight. This meta-analysis suggests that miRNAs are potential therapeutic targets for OS and correction of the altered expression of miRNAs significantly suppresses the progression of OS in mouse models, however, the overall methodological quality of studies included here was low, and more animal studies with the rigourous design must be carried out before a miRNA-based treatment could be translated from animal studies to clinical trials.

Molecular mechanisms of Polyphyllin I-induced apoptosis and reversal of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human osteosarcoma cells.

Osteosarcoma is a most common highly malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Polyphyllin I (PPI) is an ethanol extraction from Paris polyphylla Smith var.yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz, which belongs to antipyretic-detoxicate family and has been used as a natural medicine in the treatment of infectious disease and cancer in China for centuries. The proteasome activity inhibitory and anti-osteosarcoma effects of PPI have not been known. Here we found PPI exhibited a selective inhibitory effect on proteasomal chymotrypsin (CT)-like activity, both in purified human proteasome and in cultured osteosarcoma cellular proteasome, and caused an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. PPI also inhibited viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of MG-63, Saos-2, and U-2 OS osteosarcoma cells and resulted in S phase arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, we explored the molecular targets involved. Exposure of osteosarcoma cells to PPI caused an inactivation of the intrinsic nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and activation of unfolded protein response (UPR)/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling cascade in osteosarcoma cells, followed by down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, with up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins. We also demonstrated down-regulation of c-Myc, Cyclin B1, Cyclin D1, and CDK1, which are involved in the cell cycle and growth. Finally, we identified down-regulation of Vimentin, Snail, Slug, and up-regulation of E-cadherin, which are integral proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our data provide insights into the mechanism underlying the anticancer activity of PPI in human osteosarcoma cells.

[Changes of agroecosystem service value during urbanization of Guangzhou City, South China].

Based on the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 statistical data of Guangzhou City, and by the methods of marketing valuation, shadow price, afforestation cost, carbon tax, and industrial oxygen-producing, this paper calculated the related service values of various agroecosystems in Guangzhou, and assessed the changes of agroecosystem service value during the rapid urbanization of the City. In 1996-2008, though the service values of farmland, grassland, and water ecosystems had somewhat increase, the overall agroecosystem service value of Guangzhou decreased, mainly due to the more decrease of forest ecosystem service value which occupied more than 90% of the total service value each year. Over the studied period, the proportion of each individual functional service value to the total service value changed little, and the contribution of each individual functional service value was in the order of climate regulation > gases regulation > product service > waste treatment > soil conservation > biodiversity conservation > recreation and culture > water source retention and storage. The sum of climate regulation and gases regulation service values took over 91% of the total agroecosystem service value. There was a significant negative correlation (R = -0.905, P < 0.01)between urbanization rate and total agroecosystem service value, suggesting that the increase of urbanization rate would lead to a decrease of agroecosystem service value. Therefore, it requires an appropriate reservation of various agroecosystems to maintain the regional sustainable development during urbanization.