AIM: The relationship between muscle force (MF) and bone mass (BM)has become one of the pivotal aspects in research of cause, prevention and treatment of primary osteoporosis. This paper is to probe into the mechanism by which estrogen influences the relationship between MF and BM.METHODS: We searched for the relative papers on the relationship between muscle force and bone mass and the effect of estrogen on relationship between muscle force and bone mass. Combining the literatures with our previous results, we discussed the effects of estrogen on relationship between muscle force and bone mass.RESULTS: Muscle force, which determines bone structure and bone mass,makes bone strength adaptable to work load. Estrogen adjustes adaptability of muscle force and bone mass, mainly by the influence on threshold of bone strain. Estrogen therapy could maintain muscle force, partially by which estrogen exerts the beneficial effects on bone.CONCLUSION: Estrogen could influence the relationship between muscle force and bone mass, and estrogen therapy could have the beneficial effect on muscle force.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic responses to transsphenoidal surgery and medical therapy in terms of normalization of prolactin(PRL),mortality,morbidity and the cost-effectiveness of PRL normalization in order to establish an individualized therapeutic protocol for the patients with prolactinoma.Methods A retrospective study was undertaken of a consecutive series of patients with prolactinoma who were followed for at least 1 year after transsphenoidal surgery or medical treatment.The clinical characteristics and the long-term outcomes(normalization of PRL,morbidity or mortality)were assessed.Utilizing the principle of medical economics and data from the two types of treatment,we worked out a Markov chain and calculated the lowest cost of two kinds of therapeutic protocols.Results(1)The success rate of normalizing serum PRL through surgical treatment in microadenoma was 85%(22/26),and that of medical treatment was 95%(19/20).There was no statistical difference between the two therapies(P＞0.05).The success rate of normalizing serum PRL through surgical treatment in macroadenoma was45%(19/42),and that of medical treatment was 5/5.There was a statistical difierence between the two therapies(P＜0.05).(2)According to the Markov model,it would cost a microprolactinoma patient 25 129.25 yuan to normalize serum PRL by surgical treatment.This is comparable to the cost of medical treatment which would be 24 943.99 yuan.Whereas for a macroprolactinoma patient surgery would cost 35 208.20 yuan and medical treatment would cost 25 344.38 yuan.Conclusions Medical therapy is superior to surgical treatment in regard to complication rate and cost-effectiveness for macro-and extra big prolactinomas.Transsphenoidal surgery remains an option for patients with microadenomas.Markov model is an effective way to predict the treatment cost for patients with hyperprolactinoma at different ages and with different canses

Objective To explore the role of TLR2 and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura ( HSP) by investigating their expression at mRNA and protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs ) and their influences on Th 1/Th2 immune response in children with HSP . Methods 64 hospitalized children with HSP in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical Col -lege from October 2011 to November 2012 were enrolled in the study .They were further divided into non-He-noch-Schonlein purpura nephritis ( NHSPN ) group ( n =36 ) and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) group (n=28).30 age-matched healthy children from Child Health Division of the same hospital were selected as controls .The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 at mRNA level in PBMCs were detected by re-al-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction .The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 at protein level and T cells subset were detected by flow cytometry .The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-6 in plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results (1)Compared with the control group , the expres-sion of TLR2 and TLR4 at mRNA and protein levels were remarkably increased in children with HSP , espe-cially in HSPN group.(2)Compared with the control group, the percentage of CD3+T cells and CD3+CD4+T cells were down-regulated in HSP group , but the percentage of CD 3+CD8+T cells and CD3+HLADR+T cells were up-regulated.(3)The level of IFN-γand the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in plasma from children with HSP were significantly lower than those of the controls , while the level of IL-4 and IL-6 were remarkably higher than those of the controls .(4)The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 at protein level in PBMCs from chil-dren with HSP showed significant positive correlations with the expression of TLR 2 and TLR4 at mRNA level and plasma concentration of IL-4 and IL-6, but a negative correlation with the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4.Conclu-sions The aberrant activation of TLR 2 and TLR4 might be correlated with the immunological pathogenesis of HSP by enhancing Th2 immune response.The hyper-activation of TLR2 and TLR4 might result in renal injury in patients with HSP .

Objective To study the relationship between breast symptom, characteristic of ultrasound image and sex hormone level in women with different menstruation status.Methods 50 women with normal men-strual cycle, 129 women in menopause transition and 318 menopausal women were recruited.Breast ultrasound were performed.Breast section thickness, ductal width, breast structure and blood flow were measured.Serum estradiol( E2 ) and progesterone( P) level were measured by enzyme immunoassay on the day when ultrasound was performed.Onset and persistent days of breast pain were recorded.Results ①32(60.4%)women with normal menstrual cycle and 74(57.4%)women in menopause transition women experienced cyclic mastalgia.The aver-age serum E2 level and serum progesterone level were higher in women with cyclic breast pain than in women with-out breast pain.12.5%of menopausal women had breast pain.There was no significant difference of average ser-um E2 level between women with cyclic breast pain and women without breast pain②Breast section thickness was (14.4 ±4.3)mm,(13.0 ±3.7)mm and(10.6 ±3.2)mm, and ductal width was(0.62 ±0.18)mm,(0.88 ± 0.39)mm and(0.90 ±0.47)mm in normal menstrual group, menopause transition group and menopausal group, respectively.The difference had statistical significance.③26 women ( 49.1%) in normal menstrual group had breast structure changes, while 42 cases ( 32.6%) and 60 cases ( 18.9%) in menopause transition group and menopausal group had breast structure changes.Conclusions Most women in normal menstruation and meno-pause transition group experience mastalgia.About 1/3 breast structure change in women of normal menstruation are inversible.About 1/2 breast structure change in menopause transition and menopausal group are similar to those with normal menstruation.

Objective To observe the effect of ageand menstrual statuson body composition in healthy Beijing women.Methods We measured body composition with dual-energy X-ray(GE Lunar Prodigy)in 316 healthy Beijing females aged 20 to 74 years(5-7 cases per age).Parameters provided by the software were as following:total body bone mineral content,lean mass,fat mass and fat percentage(% fat).Local regions measured included arm,leg,trunk,android region and gynoid region.Body mass index (BMI),fat mass index(FMI),free fat mass index(FFMI)and A/G were calculated.Volunteers were assigned to 6 groups according age by every ten years a group.Results BMC peaked during the 4th decade,LM peaked during the 5th decade,with a decline of 18.1%and 5.2%respectively at age 74 years.Total body fat mass and % fat showed a general increase with aging throughout the studied age range.Total body fat mass increased from 16±5 kg at age 20-29 years to 24±6 kg at age 70-74 years,while % fat increased from 31.3%to 39.5%.All local region % fat increased with aging at different extents.Android region % fat showed the largest raise extent(32.2%).BMI increased gradually from 21.1 kg/m2 at age 20-29 years to 26.1 kg/m2 at age 70-74 years.FMI changed more obviously than FFMI.A/G increased from 0.85 at age 20-29years to 1.02 at age 70-74 years.Different menstrual status in women of 40-59 vears had obvious eflfect on A/G and BMC(P＜0.05),while it had no significant effect on BMI.body weight and waist circumference(P＞0.05). Conclusions Aging and menstrual status have evident effect on body composition distribution in healthy Beijing women.

Objective To explore the expressions and clinical significance of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Henoch-Schsnlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) children.Methods According to their 24-hour urinary albumin and whether children with HSP had renal damage or not,105 cases were divided into group A,B and C.Group A were children only with HSP but without renal damage,while group B were children only with HSPN not proteinuria and group C were children with both HSPN and proteinuria.Thirty healthy children were in healthy control group(group N).Flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time PCR detected the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Results 1.The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were significantly higher in group A,B,C than those in group N (F =37.33,24.01,all P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4 in group C were much higher than those in group A and B (all P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,there was no significant difference between group A and B(all P ＞0.05).2.Moreover,there was a positive relationship between protein expression of TLR4 and 24-hour urinary albumin in group C(r =0.69,P ＜ 0.01).3.Expression of TLR3 was of no significant difference in all groups(F =0.86,1.78,all P ＞ 0.05).4.The expression of TLR4 mRNA had a positive correlation with protein expression of TLR4(r =0.61,P ＜ 0.0 1).Conclusions Expressions of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells significantly increased and had a positive correlation with urinary protein excretion from HSPN in children.This implied that aberrant activation of TLR4might be relevant to the development of HSPN.

events were associated with promestriene use. Conclusion The premestriene capsule was safe and effective in the treatment of postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of estradiol and drospirenone tablets (Angeliq)in treatment of menopausal symptoms among postmenopausal Chinese healthy women.Methods Total 244 postmenopausal Chinese healthy women who had moderate to severe hot flushes were randomly assigned for 16 weeks in this randomized multi-center double-blind placebo-controlled study.During the trial.the follow-up visits were conducted at week 4,8,12,16 of treatment and 2 weeks after treatment respectively.Height,weight,vital signs,hot flushes,other relevant menopausal symptoms and vaginal bleeding were observed in each follow-up visit,while the clinical global impression scale Was assessed at 16 weeks as well.Results It showed that hot flushes were reduced significantly more in observation group than that in placebo group ( P＜0.01 ), although both treatments were effective. The absolute values of mean severity index of total hot flushes decreased by - 0. 6± 0. 5 in observation group and - 0. 4 ± 0. 4 in placebo group from baseline respectively, which reached significant difference ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). However, the absolute values of mean severity index of moderate to severe hot flushes decreased by - 0. 6± 0. 8 in observation group and -0. 3± 0.6 in placebo group from baseline respectively, which had no significant difference (P ＞ 0. 05 ).After 16 weeks treatment, it also showed that estradiol and drospirenone had significant better efficacy than placebo on moderate to severe sweating, vaginal dryness and clinical global impression scale (P ＜0. 01 ).During the trial, blood pressure in observation group was stable. The rate of vaginal bleeding in observation group was higher than that in the placebo group, especially during the week 4 to week 8 when 48. 9% (87/178) in observation group and 10. 7% (6/56) in placebo group of patients bled. Although the cumulative amenorrhea rate of observation group was lower than that of placebo group in each cycle (28 days), it increased gradually along with duration of the treatment. The commonest adverse event in observation group was breast tenderness which accounted for 12.0% (22/183 ). The level of serum potassium was in the normal range in observation group mostly. Meanwhile, the other adverse events rate was low. Serious adverse events reported in this trial were assessed as not study drug related or as unlikely study drug related. Conclusion Estradiol and drospirenone tablets which could effectively alleviate menopausal symptoms in postmeuopausal Chinese healthy women is a novel hormone replacement therapy regimen with high safety and efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of low bone mass in amenorrhea patients with elevated follicular stimulating hormone (FSH).

METHODSAmenorrhea patients with elevated FSH: Primary amenorrhea 18 cases, secondary amenorrhea 171 cases and age matched controls with normal menstruation, 180 cases. The descriptive parameters were: estrogen, alkaline phosphatase, urinary excretion of calcium to creatine ratio, cortical bone mineral density at the right radius measured by single photon absorptiometry and trabecular bone mineral density at the lumbar vertebra body measured by quantitative computerized tomography.

RESULTSAverage E(2) levels in amenorrhea patients is under 150 pmol/L with significantly higher alkaline phosphatase and urine calcium to creatine ratio values than the normal menstruation group. Cortical bone mineral density in the secondary amenorrhea group (655 +/- 69 mg/cm(2)) was significantly lower than that of the normal menstruation group (677 +/- 56 mg/cm(2), P < 0.01). Trabecular bone mineral density in the secondary amenorrhea group (145 +/- 26 mg/cm(3)) was significantly lower than that of the NOR group (192 +/- 28 mg/cm(3), P < 0.001). The disparity with the normal menstruation group is even greater in the primary amenorrhea group. Bone mineral density of the amenorrhea patients was negatively correlated with duration of the menopause.

CONCLUSIONSSerum estrodiol levels in amenorrhea patients was so low that bone turnover was accelerated. This led to insufficient bone accumulation and a dramatically drop in trabecular bone mineral density. The extent was closely related to age of onset of amenorrhea and the duration of ovarian failure.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Amenorrhea ; blood ; metabolism ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo identify the optimal dosage of 17beta-estradiol gel + oral progestin for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal Chinese women.

METHODSA 3-year open label, randomized, prospective clinical trial was conducted. Sixty healthy women who had been postmenopausal for 1 to 5 years were recruited and divided into following 4 groups: group 1, percutaneous gel 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) 1.5 mg/d plus micronized progesterone (MP) 100 mg/d; group 2, percutaneous gel 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) 1.5 mg/d plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 2 mg/d; group 3, percutaneous gel 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) 0.75 mg/d plus micronized progesterone (MP) 100 mg/d; and group 4, percutaneous gel 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) 0.75 mg/d plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 2 mg/d. Estrogen and progestin were given continuously for 25 days per month. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) for trabecular bone of L2-5 and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for L2-4 and hip 5 times during the trial at baseline and at the 6-, 12-, 18-, 24- and 36-month visits.

RESULTSFifty-nine patients (98.3%, 59/60) stayed in the study for 1 year, 56 patients (93.3%, 56/60) for 2 years, and 51 (85%, 51/50) for 3 years. On average, menopausal symptoms were relieved by 80% after 6 months of treatment. By the 24th month, the mean increase in BMD ranged from 4.3% to 7.5% in trabecular bone; and by the 36th month, it ranged from 4.2% to 6.2% in L2-4 and 1.61% to 3.77% in the neck. There were significant difference after treatment (P < 0.05). Among the four groups, no significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in improvement of symptoms, levels of bone markers or BMD.

CONCLUSIONA daily dose of estradiol gel, either 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg, is effective in preventing early postmenopausal bone loss and relieving menopausal symptoms. After 3-year treatment, spinal BMD could increase steadily, so does hip BMD, especially in the first 2 years.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult ; Bone Density ; Estradiol ; administration & dosage ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; prevention & control