OBJECTIVETo investigate the mandibular bone mineral density (BMD) change of senile osteoporosis patients and the relationship between the mandible bone loss and systemic bone loss.

METHODSForty senile osteoporotic patients (group A), 40 non-osteoporosis control elders (group B) and 40 healthy youths (group C) were included in this study. Standard digital panoramic tomography (SDPTG) was taken for each participant. Cortical width (CW), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), alveolar bone density and alveolar bone height were measured on the SDPTG. Lumbar and hip BMD were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

RESULTSClose relationship was found between CW (3.57 +/- 0.82) and systemic BMD for osteoporosis patients (P < 0.05). All the SDPTG indices including CW, PMI, alveolar bone density and alveolar bone height were different for osteoporosis patients from the healthy youths (P < 0.05). The osteoporosis patients had thinner CW (3.57 +/- 0.82) and smaller PMI (0.29 +/- 0.06) than non-osteoporosis control elders (CW: 4.07 +/- 0.75, PMI: 0.32 +/- 0.07, P < 0.05). The alveolar bone density (105.40 +/- 20.48) and alveolar bone height (10.42 +/- 1.82) of the non-osteoporosis control elders reduced compared with the healthy youths (alveolar bone density: 117.10 +/- 22.23, alveolar bone height: 11.69 +/- 1.63, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe senile osteoporotic patients had significant mandibular cortical bone loss.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography, Panoramic

To produce the recombinant baculovirus transfer plasmid pFast-ORF2, the ORF2 gene of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) was subcloned into baculovirus transfer vector (pFastBac(TM1) ) using Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. E. coli DH10Bac (Gibco BRL) containing baculovirus shutter vector (bacmid) and helper vector was transformed with recombinant plasmid pFast-ORF2. Within E. coli DH10Bac, the ORF2 gene was transposed into the bacmid. The colonies of E. coli containing recombinant bacmid (Bac. ORF2) were collected by blue/white selection. The Bac. ORF2 was transfected into sf9 cells to yield AcNPV carrying the PCV2 ORF2 gene, referred to as Ac. ORF2. Expression of the ORF2 gene of PCV2 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IIFA), SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting. The expressed ORF2 gene product had a molecular mass of 28kD and could be recognized by the positive serum of PCV2. The results indicated the ORF2 gene was properly expressed in sf9 cell. It was noteworthy that many self-assembled virus-like particles (VLPs) were found in purified and phosphotungstic acid (PTA) stained PCV2 ORF2 protein by electron microscope. The particles were of similar morphology to the PCV2 virion and some self-assembled virus-like particles had darkly stained centers that made them appear to be empty capsids. Both PCV2 particles and self-assembled particles were approximately 17 nm in diameter.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Circovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Insecta ; cytology ; metabolism ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Swine ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virion

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles or effects of oviductus ranae (OR) or oviductus ranae eggs (ORE) in preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODSIn vivo experiment: Sixty female adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 12. To provide an osteoporosis model 4 groups of rats were ovariectomized (OVX), with the 5th being sham operated. Medication commenced 7 days after the operation and lasted continuously for 12 weeks. Sham operated and OVX groups were given equivalent volumes of 5% Tween-80. The other three groups intragastrically received conjugated estrogens (CE), OR or ORE of the corresponding doses. At the 12th week, serum estrogen, bone gla protein (BGP), serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assayed; bone mineral densities (BMD) were measured and bone scanning was conducted; uteri were weighed, and weight, volume and length of the femoral bones were determined; and cortical thickness of femoral heads and area of bone trabecula were measured by image analyzer. In vitro experiment: Eighty 10-month old SD rats, with equal numbers of males and females, were randomly divided into 8 groups. Osteoblasts were isolated from neonatal rat calvariae, and the cells were exposed to various concentrations of serum from OR and ORE groups to study the impact of these sera on osteoblastic proliferation, ALP activity and mineralization. Osteoclastic numbers were determined using tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP).

RESULTSIn vivo experiment: The body weight of the four OVX groups increased significantly (P<0.01). Uterine weight of the CE group was the highest (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, estrogen level, BMD, bone scanning/bone imaging index weight of the femoral bones, cortical thickness of femoral heads in the OR and ORE groups increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01); femoral volume in the ORE group increased significantly (P<0.05); and the content of osteocalcin, phosphorus, and ALP in serum decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). In vitro experiment: Sera from OR and ORE groups had notable effects on the proliferation of osteoblasts (P<0.05 and P<0.01, repsectively) and stimulated the formation of calcium nodes (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the enhancement of ALP activity in osteoblasts was significant (P<0.05, P<0.01). The number of TRAP-positive cells was significantly reduced as well (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSOR and its eggs could effectively suppress OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats, and increase bone turnover possibly by both an increase in osteoblastic activity and a decrease in osteoclastic activity. The present study provides evidence that OR and its eggs could be considered a complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Calcification, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Ovariectomy ; Ovum ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Uterus ; drug effects ; pathology

Objective To study and compare biomechanical properties of a newly developed magnesium AZ31B alloy intramedullary nail (AZ31B) with that of imported Poly-L-lactic acid intramedullary nail (PLLA) and pure titanium rib plate (TPRP), so as to provide scientific evidences for better internal fixation in clinical operation. Methods Forty fresh adult ribs were used and divided into 4 groups randomly. Three groups were made lateral rib fracture in midaxillary line and fixed by AZ31B, PLLA and TPRP, respectively, while the group with normal ribs was used as control. Biomechanical properties of specimens in each group were measured and tested using experimental stress analysis. Results (1) Three-point bending strength of internal fixation with AZ31B was close to that of control group (P>0.05), but significantly different to that of TPRP group and PTRP group (P<0.05); (2) No significant differences in torsional strength were found between AZ31B group, PTRP group and control group (P>0.05), and the torsional strength of both AZ31B and PTRP was superior to that of PLLA (P<0.05). Conclusions The internal fixation with AZ31B is an ideal mode for treating rib fracture since AZ31B has larger flexural strength than PLLA and TPRP, and its torsional strength was close to PTRP and normal ribs. This study provides some support for future research on biomechanical properties of AZ31B.