Pharmacology and mechanisms of apigenin in preventing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (OP) stands as the most prevalent systemic skeletal condition associated with aging. The current clinical management of OP predominantly depends on anti-resorptive and anabolic agents. Nevertheless, prolonged use of some of these medications has been observed to reduce efficacy and elevate adverse effects.

Comparative Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils from the Bark and Flower of Rehd. et Wils.

This study was designed to compare the antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils from the bark and flower of Rehd. et Wils. Distillation extraction and steam distillation were used to extract EOs from the bark and flower.

Targeting bone homeostasis regulation: potential of traditional Chinese medicine flavonoids in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a systemic metabolic disease characterized by disrupted bone formation/resorption and homeostasis. Flavonoids extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal plants regulate bone homeostasis by intervening in differentiating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, balancing the bone immune system, inhibiting oxidative stress response, and reversing iron overload. The target molecules and signaling pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin and OPG/RANKL/RANK, directly affect osteoblast/osteoclast activity, exhibiting significant potential in the treatment of OP.

An evidence-based guideline on treating lumbar disc herniation with traditional Chinese medicine.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH), as one of the most common causes of lower back pain, imposes a heavy economic burden on patients and society. Conservative management is the first-line choice for the majority of LDH patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important part of conservative treatment and has attracted more and more international attention.

Huogu injection protects against SONFH by promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and preventing osteoblast apoptosis.

To investigate the effect and mechanism of Huogu injection (HG) on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH), we established a SONFH model in rabbits using horse serum and dexamethasone (DEX) and applied HG locally at the hip joint. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy at 4 weeks using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-CT, and qualitative histology including H&E, Masson's trichrome, ALP, and TUNEL staining. In vitro, we induced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and performed analysis on days 14 and 21 of cell differentiation.

Exploring the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating gut-derived 5-HT for osteoporosis treatment.

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by an imbalance in the relationship between osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. This imbalance in bone metabolism results in the destruction of the bone's microstructure and an increase in bone brittleness, thereby increasing the risk of fractures. Osteoporosis has complex causes, one of which is related to the dysregulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine, a neurotransmitter closely associated with bone tissue metabolism.

Facile Solid-State Synthesis to In Situ Generate a Composite Coating Layer Composed of Spinel-Structural Compounds and LiPO for Stable Cycling of LiCoO at 4.6 V.

Due to its high energy density, high-voltage LiCoO is the preferred cathode material for consumer electronic products. However, its commercial viability is hindered by rapid capacity decay resulting from structural degradation and surface passivation during cycling at 4.6 V.

Targeting different phenotypes of macrophages: A potential strategy for natural products to treat inflammatory bone and joint diseases.

Background: Macrophages, a key class of immune cells, have a dual role in inflammatory responses, switching between anti-inflammatory M2 and pro-inflammatory M1 subtypes depending on the specific environment. Greater numbers of M1 macrophages correlate with increased production of inflammatory chemicals, decreased osteogenic potential, and eventually bone and joint disorders. Therefore, reversing M1 macrophages polarization is advantageous for lowering inflammatory factors.

Tanshinone I alleviates steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral heads and promotes angiogenesis: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Background: The impaired blood supply to the bones is an important pathological feature of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SIONFH). Danshen is a Chinese herb that shows therapeutic effects on SIONFH, but the effects of one of its major bioactive constituents, Tanshinone I (TsI), on SIONFH remain unknown. Here, we evaluated the effects of TsI on SIONFH, particularly focusing on its effects on angiogenesis, in in vivo and in vitro research.

Novel homozygous variants in cause male infertility with asthenoteratozoospermia owing to dynein arm complex and mitochondrial sheath defects in flagella.

Tracing the genetic causes for male infertility due to asthenoteratozoospermia has revealed at least 40 causative genes, which provides valuable reference for the genetic testing of asthenoteratozoospermia in clinical practice. To identify deleterious variants in the human tetratricopeptide repeat domain 12 (TTC12) gene in a large cohort of infertile Chinese males with asthenoteratozoospermia. A total of 314 unrelated asthenoteratozoospermia-affected men were recruited for whole exome sequencing.

Therapeutic potential of naringin in improving the survival rate of skin flap: A review.

Naringin is the main component of Drynaria. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that naringin has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-ulcer, and anti-osteoporosis effects. Its therapeutic effects have been observed in various clinical models, such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and rheumatic diseases.

Huogu injection alleviates SONFH by regulating adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs via targeting the miR-34c-5p/MDM4 pathway.

Although the precise pathogenesis of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH) is not yet fully understood, evidence shows miRNAs-mediated posttranscription control directs the adipogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and plays a pivotal role in the SONFH processes. Huogu injection formulated according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory has been used to treat SONFH by intra-articular injection. In this study, we asked whether the therapeutic effects of Huogu injection might depend on the inhibition of adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and if so, the pathway might be a therapeutic target to promote bone repair.

Altered gut microbiota and metabolites profile are associated with reduced bone metabolism in ethanol-induced osteoporosis.

Objective: Chronic heavy drinking causes ethanol-induced osteoporosis (EIO). The present study aimed to explore the role of GM in EIO.

Material And Methods: A rat EIO model was established by chronic ethanol intake.

Bi-allelic variants in SHOC1 cause non-obstructive azoospermia with meiosis arrest in humans and mice.

Meiosis is pivotal to gametogenesis and fertility. Meiotic recombination is a mandatory process that ensures faithful chromosome segregation and generates genetic diversity in gametes. Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) caused by meiotic arrest is a common cause of male infertility and has many genetic origins, including chromosome abnormalities, Y chromosome microdeletion and monogenic mutations.

[Pre-conception carrier screening for 21 inherited metabolic diseases in a Chinese population].

Objective: To determine the carrier rate for 21 inherited metabolic diseases among a Chinese population of childbearing age.

Methods: A total of 897 unrelated healthy individuals (including 143 couples) were recruited, and DNA was extracted from their peripheral blood samples. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out to screen potential variants among 54 genes associated with 21 inherited metabolic diseases.

Evaluation of phenotype-driven gene prioritization methods for Mendelian diseases.

It's challenging work to identify disease-causing genes from the next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of patients with Mendelian disorders. To improve this situation, researchers have developed many phenotype-driven gene prioritization methods using a patient's genotype and phenotype information, or phenotype information only as input to rank the candidate's pathogenic genes. Evaluations of these ranking methods provide practitioners with convenience for choosing an appropriate tool for their workflows, but retrospective benchmarks are underpowered to provide statistically significant results in their attempt to differentiate.

Tanshinone I Mitigates Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head and Activates the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Rats.

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SIONFH) is a frequent orthopedic disease caused by long-term or high-dose administration of corticosteroids. Tanshinone I (TsI), a flavonoid compound isolated from Bunge, has been reported to inhibit osteoclastic differentiation . This study aimed to investigate whether TsI can ameliorate SIONFH.

The comprehensive variant and phenotypic spectrum of TUBB8 in female infertility.

Purpose: TUBB8 is a gene that is frequently analysed in the genetic diagnosis of female infertility; 102 variants of this gene have been identified. However, the evaluation of its pathogenicity and the resulting phenotypes vary. Here, we aimed to identify novel TUBB8 variants as well as to summarize the reported variants and phenotypes in order for them to be included in genetic counselling analyses.

[Biomechanical stability evaluation of the fixation technique for crossed rods consisting of occipital plate and C bilateral lamina screws].

Objective: To evaluate the stability of the fixation technique for the crossed rods consisting of occipital plate and C bilateral lamina screws by biomechanical test.

Methods: Six fresh cervical specimens were harvested and established an atlantoaxial instability model. The models were fixed with parallel rods and crossed rods after occipital plate and C bilateral laminae screws were implanted.

A biomechanical comparison of crossed and parallel rod configurations in atlantoaxial internal fixation.

Background: Posterior atlantoaxial fixation with screw rod forms an approximate "II" shape or "H" increasing transverse link for better stability. In order to improve stability and in consideration of difficult placement of transverse connecting rod, possibility of inadequate bone graft, some scholars have preliminarily researched biomechanics of a novel crossed rod as an approximate "X" configuration of screw rod.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the biomechanics of the crossed and parallel rod configurations in the screw rod system for posterior atlantoaxial fixation on a cadaveric model.

Identification of lncRNA and mRNA Biomarkers in Osteoarthritic Degenerative Meniscus by Weighted Gene Coexpression Network and Competing Endogenous RNA Network Analysis.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in varieties of biological processes. This study is aimed at investigating meniscal degeneration-specific lncRNAs and mRNAs and their related networks in knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: The dataset GSE98918, which included 24 meniscus samples and related clinical data, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Gene-Focused Networks Underlying Phenotypic Convergence in a Systematically Phenotyped Cohort With Heterogeneous Intellectual Disability.

The broad spectrum of intellectual disability (ID) patients' clinical manifestations, the heterogeneity of ID genetic variation, and the diversity of the phenotypic variation represent major challenges for ID diagnosis. By exploiting a manually curated systematic phenotyping cohort of 3803 patients harboring ID, we identified 704 pathogenic genes, 3848 pathogenic sites, and 2075 standard phenotypes for underlying molecular perturbations and their phenotypic impact. We found the positive correlation between the number of phenotypes and that of patients that revealed their extreme heterogeneities, and the relative contribution of multiple determinants to the heterogeneity of ID phenotypes.

The potential roles of circular RNAs in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (Review).

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are categorized as non‑coding RNAs that, unlike widely known canonical linear RNAs, form a covalently closed continuous loop without 5' or 3' polarities, which enables them to resist digestion by RNA exonucleases. Although the functions of circRNAs remain largely unknown, accumulated evidence has demonstrated that circRNAs can act as microRNA sponges, which allows them to regulate numerous biological processes and disease mechanisms, including apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and stem cell differentiation. Although research into circRNAs is in its infancy, studies have identified critical roles for circRNAs in the initiation and progression of disease.