Humans ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery

The therapeutic effects and mechanisms of traditional Chinese kidney-tonifying drugs in treating osteoporosis have become the focus under study. Pharmacological studies have shown that traditional Chinese kidney-tonifying drugs are promoters for the proliferation of osteoblasts, inhibitors for the activity of osteoclasts, regulators for the estrogen level and its receptor, plays important roles in promoting osteogenesis and suppressing adipogenesis of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), modulating the function of OPG/RANK/RANKL system and the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, as well as antioxidation. The anti-osteoporotic active ingredients and pharmacological action mechanism of traditional Chinese kidney-tonifying drugs are summarized from the perspective of molecular and cell biology in this paper, so as to provide references for the study of their mechanism of anti-osteoporosis and for the development of traditional Chinese kidney-tonifying and bone-strengthening drugs.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy on primary osteoporosis treated with spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation so as to provide the effective clinical therapeutic methods for osteoporosis.

METHODSSixty cases of primary osteoporosis were randomized into a spreading moxibustion group (30 cases) and a calcium tablet group (30 cases). In the calcium tablet group, caltrate was prescribed for oral administration, 600 mg per day. In the spreading moxibustion group, on the basis of the treatment as the calcium tablet group, the spreading moxibustion was applied at Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) for warming yang and activating blood circulation. The duration of treatment was 12 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, TCM clinical symptom score and bone mineral density (BMD) were observed and compared before and after treatment in the patients between the two groups.

RESULTSVAS scores were reduced apparently after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (2.36 +/- 0.43 vs 4.52 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). BMD were all increased in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were superior to those in the calcium tablet group (both P < 0.05). The total clinical effective rate was 86.67% (26/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 63.33% (19/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05). TCM clinical symptom scores after treatment were all reduced apparently in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and the result in the spreading moxibustion group was obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (4.72 +/- 1.90 vs 6.82 +/- 2.30, P < 0.01). The total effective rate of TCM symptoms was 93.33% (28/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 70.00% (21/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation and the oral administration of caltrate apparently relieves pain and TCM clinical symptoms, improves BMD in the patients of osteoporosis and achieves definite clinical efficacy in the patients of osteoporosis.

Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; physiopathology ; therapy

This study investigated the interrelation between the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the bone variation of osteoporosis in rats. Four animal models of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis (OVX), glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis (RAOP) and senile osteoporosis (SOP) were used to study the influence of osteoporosis on ARC. Ovariectomized rats were further treated with thymopeptide, ciclosporin and exercise respectively to detect the changes of ARC nerve cells number. The results showed that: (1) The OVX, GIOP, RAOP and SOP models were successfully established, showing osteoporosis as well as decrease of the number of ARC nerve cells; (2) Thymopeptide and exercise respectively alleviated the bone loss induced by ovariectomy, accompanied by increase of the number of ARC nerve cells, while ciclosporin further increased the bone loss of ovariectomized rats, accompanied by further decrease of the number of ARC nerve cells. These results suggest that there is a close interrelationship between ARC and osteoporosis in rat. There is a hypothalamus-pituitary-bone (HPB) axis, and HPB axis regulates the mechanism of osteoporosis in rats.
Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; physiopathology ; Bone and Bones ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Rats

At present, the numerical model of bone remodeling is inadequate to copy the physiological process of bone remodeling. According to the physiological mechanism of bone remodeling and the anisotropy of bone mechanics properties, an anisotropic bone modeling model with mechanostat was developed, and then was applied to a study on the remodeling evolution of 2D squareplate model. Good results were obtained. The model can be used in the study of implant, osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
Anisotropy ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Remodeling ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; physiology ; Models, Biological ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effectiveness of warm needling combined with element calcium on postmenopausal osteoporosis, and to explore its action mechanism.

METHODSEighty-five postmenopausal patients were randomly divided into an observation group (43 cases) and a control group (42 cases). Both the two groups were treated with oral administration of caltrate-D tablet, 600 mg per day, once a day before sleep for one year. Patients in the observation group were treated with warm needling at Dazhu (BL 11), Shenshu (BL 23), Xuan-zhong (GB 39), once a day; 30 days of treatment were taken as a course, and totally 4 courses were given with an interval of 60 days between courses. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebra and hip joint, and the level of serum bone gla protein (S-BGP) and hydroxyproline/creatinine (Hyp/Cr) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTS(1)After treatment, the BMD in the observation group was significantly increased [lumbar vertebra (0. 811±0. 024) g/cm2 vs (0. 892±0.019) g/cm2, femoral neck (0. 512±0.014) g/cm2 vs (0. 554±0. 015) g/cm2, femoral trochanter (0. 716±0. 028) g/cm2 vs (0.769±0.026) g/cm2, Ward's trigonum (0. 590±0. 013) g/cm2 vs (0. 660±0. 017) g/cm2, all P<0. 05)]; the improvement in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (all P<0. 05). (2)After treatment, the index of bone metabolism in the control group was increased, and the serum S-BGP, the Hyp/Cr in the control group were higher than those in the observation group (both P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of warm needling combined with element calcium on postmenopausal osteoporosis is significant, which is likely to be achieved by reducing the bone metabolism of postmenopausal patients.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with drug and simple drug for treatment of male osteoporosis.

METHODSFifty-five cases were divided into an observation group (25 cases) and a control group (30 cases) randomly. The observation group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Shenque (CV 8) and so on combined with taking Alendronate, while the control group was treated with taking Alendronate simply. The improvement of both Integral of Clinical Symptoms (ICS) and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) of two groups was observed after 6 months treatment.

RESULTSThe ICS of two groups after treatment both decreased significantly (both P < 0.001), and the decreasing degree in observation group was more significant than that in control group (P < 0.001). The BMD of lumbar vertebrae and femur in observation group increased obviously than that before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The increasing degree of BMD of lumbar vertebrae in observation group after treatment was more obvious than that in control group (P < 0.05). There were abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia and other adverse reaction in control group, while the degree and occurrence rate of those in observation group alleviated and decreased obviously.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of acupuncture combined with drug for treatment of male osteoporosis is good with little adverse reaction. This method is better than taking Alendronate.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEUltrasound scanning can provide the information of acoustic impedance through the ultrasonic reflection theory. This study tries to introduce the application of the ultrasonic technique in predicting biomechanical properties of cancellous bone.

METHODSThe rat femoral head embedded in plexiglass was used as the bone specimens for ultrasound scanning and the gray scale images scanned by ultrasound microscope were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSThe value of acoustic impedance was calculated by analyzing the gray scale image.

CONCLUSIONThe application of ultrasonic microscopy can show more value about the microstructure of biomechanical properties of bone tissue.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Femur Head ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; Rats

To elucidate the changes in bone turnover during pregnancy and puerperium, we measured serially the levels of serum osteocalcin and urine deoxypyridinoline (Dpy) as markers of bone formation and bone resorption, respectively, in 22 healthy women with normal pregnancy. Nineteen non-pregnant women served as control. The Dpy levels increased significantly at 16 weeks of pregnancy and remained elevated thereafter. The levels of osteocalcin, however, were significantly decreased at 16 weeks of pregnancy and elevated later at 6 weeks postpartum. Bone turnover ratio (Dpy/osteocalcin) continued to rise during pregnancy, but returned to control levels 6 weeks after delivery. Dpy levels and bone turnover ratio during puerperium tended to be higher in 17 breast-feeding women than those of 5 exclusive bottle-feeders. In conclusion, bone resorption begins to increase from the second trimester of pregnancy and calcium release from bone tissue might play a major role in calcium homeostasis during the whole period of pregnancy as well as during lactation.
Adult ; Amino Acids/urine ; Analysis of Variance ; Biological Markers* ; Bone Resorption/physiopathology* ; Calcium/metabolism ; Female ; Human ; Lactation/physiology ; Osteocalcin/blood ; Osteoporosis/physiopathology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/physiopathology* ; Puerperium/physiology*

OBJECTIVETo explore the better treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis of liver and kidney deficiency type.

METHODSOne hundred and five cases were randomly divided into an observation group, a control group A and a control group B equally. In control group A, Calcichew D3 tablets were taken with oral administration; in control group B, Calcichew D3 tablets and Xianling Gubao capsule were taken with oral administration. In observation group, Calcichew D3 tablets and acupoint catgut embedding were applied; Shenshu (BL 23), Ganshu (BL 18), Jiaji (EX-B 2) and Weizhong (BL 40) etc. were selected at acute stage; Shenshu (BL 23) and Ganshu (BL 18) etc. were selected at remission stage, once every half a month and 6 months treatment in all. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), bone mineral density(BMD), estradiol (E2) and clinical effects were compared among groups.

RESULTSAfter 3 and 6 months treatment, the scores of VAS were reduced among groups (all P < 0.01); the reduction in observation group and control group B was superior to that in control group A (all P < 0.001), and it was more obvious in observation group than that in control group B (both P < 0.001). After 6 months treatment, lumbar BMD and the serum level of Ez improved obviously in observation group and control group B (all P < 0.01). The comparison among groups after treatment showed that the BMD in observation group and control group B was superior o o that in control group A (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the serum level of E2 in observation group was superior to that in control group B and control group A (both P < 0.001), and it in control group B was superior to that in control group A. The total effective rate was 91.4% (32/35) in observation group, superior to that in control group A (57.1%, 20/35); and the total effective rate was 82. 9% (29/35) in control group B, superior to that in control group A.

CONCLUSIONCalcichew D3 tablets and acupoint catgut embedding therapy can relieve the pain caused by postmenopausal osteoporosis of liver and kidney deficiency, improve the bone mineral density and serum level of estradiol; in brief, it is the better method.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Catgut ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Vitamin D ; therapeutic use