Effect of Body Surface Area on Severe Osteoporotic Fractures: A Study of Osteoporosis in Changsha China.

Clinical vertebral fractures and femoral neck fractures are severe osteoporotic fractures that increase morbidity and mortality. Anthropometric variables are associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, but it is not clear whether body surface area (BSA) has an effect on clinically severe osteoporotic fractures. The study included total of 3,694 cases of clinical vertebral fractures and femoral neck fractures (2,670 females and 1,024 males) and 3,694 controls without fractures who were matched with the cases by sex and age.

Oestrogen Inhibits Arterial Calcification by Promoting Autophagy.

Arterial calcification is a major complication of cardiovascular disease. Oestrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women is associated with lower levels of coronary artery calcification, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we show that oestrogen inhibits the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro and arterial calcification in vivo by promoting autophagy.

Gender differences in a reference database of age-related femoral neck geometric parameters for Chinese population and their association with femoral neck fractures.

Femoral neck geometric parameters (FNGPs) are closely related to the strength of the femoral neck and the risk of fragility fractures. No reference database is available for FNGPs for Chinese population, and gender-related differences in FNGPs as well as their association with the risk of femoral neck fractures are unknown. This investigation aimed to set up reference databases for FNGPs, understand gender-related differences in FNGPs, and examine the association between FNGPs and the risk of osteoporotic fractures of the femoral neck.

Age-related bone turnover markers and osteoporotic risk in native Chinese women.

Background: The rate of bone turnover is closely related to osteoporosis risk. We investigated the correlation between bone turnover markers and BMD at various skeletal sites in healthy native Chinese women, and to study the effect of changes in the levels of bone turnover markers on the risk of osteoporosis.

Methods: A cross-section study of 891 healthy Chinese women aged 20-80 years was conducted.

[Relationship of age-related levels of serum sex hormones with bone mineral density decreasing rate in women].

Objective: To explore the relationship between the changes of estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) decreasing rate (BDR) at different skeletal regions and examine the effects of hormones levels on BDR.

Methods: An age cross-sectional study was conducted in 694 healthy adult women excluded from diseases and drugs affecting bone metabolism. Their age range was 20-80 years.

Relationships between age-related biochemical markers of bone turnover and OPG, TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in native Chinese women.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and TGF-β2 are cytokines closely associated with bone metabolism. However, their association with bone turnover markers in native Chinese women remains unknown. The study aims to investigate the relationship between bone metabolism related cytokines including OPG, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and bone turnover markers in native Chinese women.

Relationship between Serum Levels of OPG and TGF- β with Decreasing Rate of BMD in Native Chinese Women.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of OPG, TGF- β 1, and TGF- β 2 and BMD decrease rate (BDR) in native Chinese women. This cross-sectional study was performed on 465 healthy native Chinese women aged 35-80 years. Serum levels of OPG, TGF- β 1, and TGF- β 2 were determined.

Early bone mineral density decrease is associated with FSH and LH, not estrogen.

Background: It remains unclear whether gonadotropins or estrogen is responsible for early bone mineral density (BMD) decrease in Chinese women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 368 healthy adult women, aged 35-60 years. We measured BMD, calculated BMD decrease rates (BDRs) and assessed serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels.

The relationship between bone turnover markers and BMD decreasing rates in Chinese middle-aged women.

Background: The relationship between bone turnover markers (BTMs) and BMD decreasing rate (BDR) in Chinese women is unclear. Wu investigated the relationship between (BTMs) and BDR at various skeletal sites in Chinese middle-aged women.

Methods: A cross-section study of 555 healthy Chinese women over 35-60years of age.

The relationship between the levels of gonadotropic hormones and OPG, leptin, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in Chinese adult women.

Background: The relationship between the levels of gonadotropic hormones and bone metabolism-related cytokines in Chinese women is unclear. We investigated the relationship between FSH and LH and OPG, leptin, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta2 in Chinese women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 694 Chinese women, aged 20 to 82y was conducted.

L-carnitine and taurine synergistically inhibit the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Aim: To investigate the synergistic action of L-carnitine (LC) and taurine (TAU) on the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: DNA and protein synthesis of VSMCs were assessed using scintillation counting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium content were determined to investigate the effects of LC and TAU on the osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of VSMCs.

Taurine restores Axl/Gas6 expression in vascular smooth muscle cell calcification model.

Our previous studies demonstrated that taurine inhibits osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscular cells (VSMCs) via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway, but the underlying mechanism is not elucidated. The tyrosine kinase receptor Axl and its ligand growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) are expressed in VSMCs. Axl/Gas6 signaling system is known to inhibit VSMCs calcification.

Relationship between age-related serum concentrations of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 and those of osteoprotegerin and leptin in native Chinese women.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta2, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and leptin are important cytokines in the regulation of bone remodeling. We investigated the relationship of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 concentrations with those of OPG and leptin in Chinese females.

Methods: The serum concentrations of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, OPG, and leptin were measured by ELISA in 459 healthy Chinese females aged 25-80 y.

[Construction of WISP3 gene's mutants in SEDT-PA and their expression in COS-7 cells].

Objective: To construct two types of Wnt-inducible secreted protein 3(WISP3) gene's mutants(1000T/C,840delT) found in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive anthopathy (SEDT-PA) patients, and to observe their expression in COS-7 cells.

Methods: Full-length cDNA of wild type WISP3 gene(WT-WISP3) was amplified from human chondrocytes by RT-PCR, and site-directed mutagenesis was used to obtain full-length cDNAs of the mutated WISP3 genes(MUT1000T/C and MUT840delT). The recombined plasmids WT-WISP3/pcDNA3.

Relationship between age-related reference values of serum osteoprotegerin and leptin in native Chinese women and compared with those in women of other races.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and leptin are important cellular factors in the regulation of bone remodeling. We investigated the serum OPG and leptin in Chinese women.

Methods: The serum OPG and leptin in 690 Chinese women aged 20-81 y were measured by an ELISA.

WISP3 suppresses insulin-like growth factor signaling in human chondrocytes.

WISP3 is essential for maintaining cartilage integrity mainly by regulating the expression of collagen II, and mutations of WISP3 linked to spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDT-PA) can compromise this function and lead to cartilage loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of WISP3 on insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in human chondrocytes, investigate whether WISP3 up-regulates collagen II through the IGF signaling pathway, and compare IGF signaling between wild-type and mutant WISP3. Experimental results suggest that WISP3 up-regulates collagen II expression and inhibits the activation of IGF-IR, IRS-1, and ERK kinase in human chondrocytes, and mutation of WISP3 augments IGF signaling in human chondrocytes.

Cellular and molecular responses in progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia articular cartilage associated with compound heterozygous WISP3 gene mutation.

Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPD) is characterized by continuous degeneration and loss of articular cartilage, which has been attributed to mutations in the gene encoding WISP3. We collected a PPD family and analyzed their WISP3 genes mutation. Articular chondrocytes (ACs) were purified from the femurs of a PPD patient after hip replacement surgery.

[Proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression profile of osteoblast of patient with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy].

Objective: To explore the proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression profile of the osteoblasts (OBs) of patient with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDT-PA).

Methods: OBs from the head of femur of a SEDT-PA patient resected during operation were cultured. ELISA was used to examine the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), and osteoprotegrin (OPC) in the lysate of OBs.

[Characterization of biologic behaviors and cDNA expression of articular chondrocytes in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy].

Objective: Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDT-PA) is an autosomal-recessive hereditary disorder of cartilage homeostasis. The pathogenesis of SEDT-PA is unknown though it has been demonstrated that CCN6 is the SEDT-PA causing gene. The present study characterized the biologic behaviors and cDNA differential expression profile of articular chondrocytes in SEDT-PA.

[Pathology and molecular pathogenesis of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy caused by compound CCN6 heterogeneous gene mutations].

Objective: To characterize the clinical manifestations, features of roentgenography and MR imaging, and the pathology of articular cartilage and matrix of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDT-PA), to screen the mutations of the disease-causing CCN6 gene, and try to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of SEDT-PA.

Methods: A questionnaire survey on the clinical manifestations and history was conducted among a pedigree of SEDT-PA with 57 persons (53 living members) in tolal, including 2 probands, a 19-year old female and a 9-year old male. Physical examination and roentgenography and MR imaging were used on the 2 probands to characterize the features of their joints and articular cartilage.

Stimulation of RANKL and inhibition of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression by parathyroid hormone in normal human osteoblasts.

Receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK) ligand (RANKL), expressed by cells of the osteoblast lineage binds to RANK, induces signaling and a gene expression cascade that leads to osteoclast differentiation and activation. Recently, osteoblast-derived membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MT1-MMP) have been implicated in the process of bone resorption by degrading bone matrix. In the present study, we investigated the effects of parathyroid hormone [PTH (1-34)] on RANKL and MT1-MMP production in cultured normal human osteoblast-like cells (hOB).

[Isolation of differentially expressed genes in human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cell line induced with 17beta-estradiol].

Objective: To obtain a serial differentially expressed cDNA fragments from human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma MG-63 cells induced with 17beta-estradiol and to find some estrogen-responsive genes.

Methods: Optimized cDNA representational difference analysis (RDA) was performed to isolate up-regulated expressed sequences between cDNA from MG-63 cell line treated with and without 17beta-estradiol. The sources of up-regulated expressed cDNA fragments were proved by Southern blot.