Administration of zoledronic acid alleviates osteoporosis in HIV patients by suppressing osteoclastogenesis via regulating RANKL expression.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common phenomenon in HIV patients on tenofovir treatment, but its underlying mechanisms remain to be explored. METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze the expression of miR-302, miR-101, miR-145 and osteoclast-specific genes in the serum of HIV patients treated with tenofovir and ZOL. ELISA was used to evaluate the expression of RANKL, SMAD3 and PRKACB in the serum of these patients. Luciferase assay was carried out to explore the inhibitory effects of miR-302, miR-101 and miR-145 on the expression of PRKACB, RANKL and SMAD3, respectively. Western blot was used to examine the expression of genes involved in NF­κB and JNK signaling pathways. RESULTS: ZOL treatment significantly suppressed the expression of CTx and osteocalcin in HIV patients treated with tenofovir. The BMD loss of HIV patients treated with tenofovir was effectively hindered by ZOL treatment. Mechanistically, the expression of miR-302, miR-101, miR-145, RANKL, SMAD3 and PRKACB in the serum was remarkably activated by ZOL treatment. Luciferase assays showed that miR-302, miR-101 and miR-145 effectively suppressed the expression of PRKACB, RANKL and SMAD3, respectively, through binding to their 3' UTR. Furthermore, ZOL treatment notably restored the normal expression of osteoclast­specific genes while activating NF­κB and JNK signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrated that administration of ZOL suppressed the expression of RANKL via modulating signaling pathways of miR-101-3p/RANKL, miR-302/PRKACB/RANKL and miR-145/SMAD3/RANKL. Furthermore, down-regulated expression of RANKL by ZOL treatment alleviated osteoporosis in HIV-positive subjects treated with tenofovir.

[A comparison of ultrasonography versus traditional approach for caudal block in children].

OBJECTIVE: To apply ultrasonic technology in positioning and monitoring for pediatric caudal blocks and compare it with traditional landmark approach and Swoosh test. METHODS: After obtaining the approval of hospital ethics committee and written parental informed consent, a total of 102 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II pediatric patients aged from 1 month to 8 years and scheduled for urologic or perineal surgery were recruited. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: ultrasound group (n = 52) and control group (n = 50). The sites of sacral cornu and sacral hiatus were determined by ultrasonic imaging or classic method of anatomical surface landmarks. Patients of two groups were punctured according to the scheduled site. Local anesthetic was injected slowly into caudal space after a successful caudal puncture and the positive reaction in caudal space was monitored simultaneously by ultrasound and classic swoosh test. The observational results and relevant date were recorded. RESULTS: In ultrasound and control groups, the number of puncture attempts was 1.10 ± 0.30 vs 1.56 ± 0.63, the duration of puncture (1.40 ± 0.39) vs (3.23 ± 1.23) min, the success rate at the first puncture attempt 90.4% vs 66% and the total puncture success rate 100% vs 92% respectively. After the injection of local anesthetic, the positive reaction rate of ultrasonography and swoosh test was 97.96% vs 62.24% respectively. All of above results in ultrasound group were superior to those in control group or with classic test. And the difference had statistical significance (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic positioning and monitoring for pediatric caudal block is both scientific and reasonable. The positioning detected by ultrasonic imaging is accurate and the monitoring results of ultrasound are reliable. It is obviously superior to traditional method and has clinical application values for caudal block in children.

[Physiological effects of cold and cool Chinese herbal medicine of channel tropism of stomach on rats with stomach-heat syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: Stomach physiological effects of channel tropism of stomach, cold & cool Chinese herbal medicine on rats with stomach-heat syndrome were studied. METHOD: Using water decoction of warm &heat medicine, Rhizoma Zingiberis to feed rats for 15 days continuously, causing the stomach-heat sydrome model, then decoction of Rhizoma Coptidis, Herba Taraxaci, Fractus Aurantii Immaturus was used to feed rats for 10 days, respectively. Biochemical indexes of blood reflecting the physiological function of stomach, including thromboxaneB2 (TXB2), 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), Gastrin (Gas), Motilin (MTL), and Somatostation (SS) were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULT: Symptom of stomach-heat syndrome prevailed in body of rats after filled with decoction of Rhizoma Zingiberis, values of TXB2/6-keto-PGF(1alpha), MTL, and Gas in blood raised up evidently, compared with the control (P < 0.05), but values of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha). decreased conspicuously (P < 0.05). After treated with decoction of Rhizoma Coptidis, Herba Taraxaci or Fractus Aurantii Immaturus for 10 days, respectively. Symptoms of stomach heat syndrome were eliminated or alleviated, values of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), and SS in blood elevated at different degrees, and those of TXB2, TXB2/6-keto-PGF(1alpha), MTL, and Gas felled down at different degrees. Difference of efficacy existed at different groups, group of Rhizoma Coptidis was the strongest, group of Herba Taraxaci was the second, group of Fractus Aurantii Immaturus was the third. Efficacy of medicine in groups with high dosage was stronger than those with low dosage. CONCLUSION: Channel tropism of stomach, cold and cool Chinese herbal medicine could improve the physiological functions of stomach effectively, and the efficacy concerns with the degree of their cold and cool characteristics.

[Effect of protein and anthraquinone glucosides from Semen Cassia on learning and memory capacity and related substances of senile mice induced by D-galactose].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate actions of protein and anthraquinone glucosides from Semen Cassia on learning and memory capacity and related substances of senile mice induced by D-galactose. METHOD: The subacute senile mouse models induced by injection of D-galactose subcutaneously were used. RESULT: Protein and anthraquinone glucosides from Semen Cassia could improve the learning and memory capacity of senile mice. Protein and anthraquinone glucosides from Semen Cassia not only inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cerebrum of senile mice, but also enhanced the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cerebrum and lessened the lipofuscin (LF) in liver tissue of senile mice. Protein from Semen Cassia could reduce the content of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in cerebrum of senile mice. CONCLUSION: Protein and anthraquinone glucosides from Semen Cassia could improve the learning and memory capacity of senile mice and delay aging.

[Analysis of dental plaque by using cellular neural network-based image segmentation].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and evaluate a new method for measurement of dental plaque by using cellular neural network-based image segmentation. METHODS: A total of 195 subjects were selected from community population. After dental plaque staining, oral digital picture of anterior teeth area was taken by an Olympus digital camera (C-7070 Wide Zoom). At the same time, the Turesky dental plaque indices of anterior teeth were evaluated. The image analysis was conducted by cellular neural network-based image segmentation. RESULTS: The image cutting errors between two operators were very small. The Kappa value is 0.935. Pearson's correlation coefficient is 0.988 (P < 0.001). There was high correlative consistency between traditional dental plaque index and plaque percentage obtained by using image analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.853 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cellular neural network-based image segmentation is a new method feasible for evaluating dental plaque.