BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Vitamin K may plays a role in controlling hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth. In this study, we intended to present 5-year experience of 72 patients receiving oral vitamin K with or without sorafenib. Its end-point was to evaluate the safety of combination therapy using sorafenib and vitamin K. METHODS: An interim analysis was performed as a single-arm cross-sectional study, including 72 HCC patients who underwent liver resection or transplantation and administered oral vitamin K2 alone (n=47) or with sorafenib (n=25). RESULTS: In all patients, administration of vitamin K2 analog 45 mg/day did not show any noticeable adverse side-effect during vitamin K therapy of 23.3+/-10.6 months, except for one patient who experienced skin rash at the third day of vitamin K therapy. In 25 patients receiving sorafenib and vitamin K for 6 months or longer, any noticeable adverse side-effect suspected of vitamin K origin was not identified yet. A small proportion of patients showed unexpectedly favorable anti-tumor effects after use of vitamin K with or without sorafenib. CONCLUSIONS: Because add-on of oral vitamin K did not increase the adverse side-effects of sorafenib, a combination therapy with these two agents appears to be worthy of further clinical trial with an expectation of synergistic therapeutic effects.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Liver ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vitamin K 2 ; Vitamin K*

Several theories have been proposed to explain the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) until present. However, limited data are available regarding the impact of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency on scoliosis. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent in adolescents, including AIS patients. A series of studies conducted in Hong Kong have shown that as many as 30% of these patients have osteopenia. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level has been found to positively correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy adolescents and negatively with Cobb angle in AIS patients; therefore, vitamin D deficiency is believed to play a role in AIS pathogenesis. This study attempts to review the relevant literature on AIS etiology to examine the association of vitamin D and various current theories. Our review suggested that vitamin D deficiency is associated with several current etiological theories of AIS. We postulate that vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency affects AIS development by its effect on the regulation of fibrosis, postural control, and BMD. Subclinical deficiency of vitamin K2, a fat-soluble vitamin, is also prevalent in adolescents; therefore, it is possible that the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to decreased fat intake. Further studies are required to elucidate the possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and clinical management of AIS.
Adolescent ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcifediol ; Fibrosis ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Scoliosis ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K 2 ; Vitamins

Humans ; Vitamins/therapeutic use* ; Iron, Dietary ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Nutrition Surveys ; Diet ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin K

Vitamin K has been suggested to plays a role in bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine whether vitamin K2 supplementation is related to bone mineral density, bone formation markers, and bone resorption in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats (body weight, 200 +/- 10 g) were divided into four groups: a sham group fed a control diet, a sham group fed a vitamin K2 supplemented diet, OVX fed a control diet, and OVX fed a vitamin K2 supplemented diet (3.5 mg vitamin K2/kg diet). All rats were fed the experimental diets for 6 weeks, and deionized water was provided ad libitum. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline crosslink values were measured as markers of bone formation and resorption. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content were measured in the spine and femur using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co., Madison, WI, USA). No significant differences in body weight gain, food intake, or food efficiency ratio were observed between the control and experimental groups. Serum ALP, osteocalcin, and urinary crosslink values were not significantly different between the vitamin K2 supplemented groups. No significant differences were observed for any of the variables in the sham group. Spine BMD values were significantly lower in the OVX than those in the sham groups. Spine and femur BMD per weight of vitamin K2 tended to be higher than the control diet group within the OVX group, but no significant differences were observed. In conclusion, dietary vitamin K2 supplementation may have a beneficial effect on spine and femur BMD in OVX rats. Further research is needed to understand the potential benefits of vitamin K2 on bone loss in OVX rats.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amino Acids ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Diet ; Eating ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Salicylamides ; Spine ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K 2 ; Vitamins ; Water

Functional membrane microdomains (FMMs) that are mainly composed of scaffold proteins and polyisoprenoids play important roles in diverse cellular physiological processes in bacteria. The aim of this study was to identify the correlation between MK-7 and FMMs and then regulate the MK-7 biosynthesis through FMMs. Firstly, the relationship between FMMs and MK-7 on the cell membrane was determined by fluorescent labeling. Secondly, we demonstrated that MK-7 is a key polyisoprenoid component of FMMs by analyzing the changes in the content of MK-7 on cell membrane and the changes in the membrane order before and after destroying the integrity of FMMs. Subsequently, the subcellular localization of some key enzymes in MK-7 synthesis was explored by visual analysis, and the intracellular free pathway enzymes Fni, IspA, HepT and YuxO were localized to FMMs through FloA to achieve the compartmentalization of MK-7 synthesis pathway. Finally, a high MK-7 production strain BS3AT was successfully obtained. The production of MK-7 reached 300.3 mg/L in shake flask and 464.2 mg/L in 3 L fermenter.
Bacillus subtilis/metabolism* ; Vitamin K 2/metabolism* ; Bioreactors/microbiology* ; Membrane Microdomains/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of vitamin K2 in addition to risedronate on postmenopausal osteoporosis METHOD: We enrolled 21 postmenopausal osteoporosis women (age: 65.2+/-7.8 years). Ten subjects received risedronate (35 mg, weekly) and vitamin K2 (45 mg, daily) and eleven subjects only received risedronate. They all received calcium citrate 2,130 mg and vitamin D 600 IU daily. The duration of treatment was 7.7+/-1.4 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and both femurs, serum osteocalcin and urine deoxypyridinoline were examined at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, BMD, serum osteocalcin and urine deoxypyridinoline were improved in each group but there was no statistical difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of the benefit of vitamin K2 in addition to risedronate in bone metabolism on postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Bone Density ; Calcium Citrate ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal* ; Risedronate Sodium ; Spine ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin K 2* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of zoledronic acid combined with vitamin K2 regimen in percutaneous vertebroplasty for multi-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCFs). METHODS: This study was a retrospective control study. A total of 364 patients with OVCFs who were admitted to our spinal surgery department from January 2014 to January 2017 were selected as the study subjects. According to whether zoledronic acid combined with vitamin K2 was used to treat osteoporosis after surgery, the patients were divided into control group and experimental group. Among them, 257 patients in the control group were treated with calcium carbonate and vitamin D regimen, while 107 patients in the experimental group were treated with zoledronic acid combined with vitamin K2 regimen on the basis of the control group. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical effect. Pre- and post-operative bone mineral density of lumbar spine and proximal femur, vertebral height ratio of responsible vertebral body and Cobb angle of vertebral body were observed by image data. Serological indicators related to bone metabolism were detected by laboratory. The complications such as fever, dizziness, osteoarthritis, muscular and soft tissue pain and adjacent vertebral re-fracture were compared between two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in general data between the two groups (<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS score between experimental group and control group before and 24 hours after operation (>0.05);VAS score in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 month, 3 months and 1 year after operation(<0.05). There was no significant difference in ODI between two groups before operation(>0.05), and at the 24 hours, 3 months, 1 year after operation, the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (<0.05). There was no significant difference in the vertebral height ratio of the responsible vertebral body and the Cobb angle before operation between two groups (>0.05). The vertebral height ratio of the responsible vertebral body in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group and Cobb angle in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group at 3 months and 1 year after operation (<0.05). There was no significant difference in preoperative bone mineral density of lumbar spine and proximal femur between two groups (>0.05), but at 3 months and 1 year after operation, the bone mineral density of lumbar spine and proximal femur in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group (< 0.05). There was no significant difference in preoperative bone metabolic markers such as total type I collagen amino-terminal elongation peptide, β-collagen degradation products and 25-hydroxyvitamin D between two groups (>0.05). At 1 year after operation the total type I collagen amino-terminal elongation peptide and β-collagen degradation products in experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (<0.05), but the 25-hydroxyvitamin D operation in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group(<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications such as fever, dizziness, osteoarthritis, muscle and soft tissue pain and adjacent vertebral re-fracture in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Zoledronic acid injection combined with vitamin K2 regimen can be used for anti-osteoporosis treatment of OVCFs vertebroplasty. It has a definite curative effect and a high safety factor. It is worth popularizing.
Bone Cements ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebroplasty ; Vitamin K 2 ; Zoledronic Acid

OBJECTIVES: To describe prescription patterns by gynecologists for osteoporosis therapy and to compare with the prescription patterns by physicians of other medical specialties based on the data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. METHODS: A total of 28,568 prescription claims by gynecologists of 633,870 prescription claims by physicians with medications for osteoporosis alone or medications for other indications, including osteoporosis, were analyzed. The medications for osteoporosis alone were, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), calcitonin (injection or nasal spray), vitamin K2, ipriflavone, and fluoride. The medications for other indications including osteoporosis were estrogen, tibolone, testosterone, calcium, calcium-vitamin D complex, vitamin D, and oxymetholone. RESULTS: Anti-osteoporosis medications were prescribed by 4.7% of gynecologists. Calcium and vitamin D were the most commonly prescribed medications by gynecologists (60.7%), followed by hormones, including tibolone (44%). Bisphosphonates, including bisphosphonate complex, were prescribed by 27.5% of gynecologists and SERMs were prescribed by 3.6% of gynecologists. Amongst all prescribers, the percentage of gynecologists was highest for hormones (50.6%), followed by tibolone (31.0%). When both medications were combined, the percentage of gynecologists among prescribers was 81.6%. The combination rate of calcium with other anti-osteoporosis medications was highest in gynecologists among prescribers of medical specialties (34.1%). CONCLUSION: A very small percentage of gynecologists prescribed anti-osteoporosis medications, while calcium, vitamin D, and hormones, including tibolone, were commonly prescribed by gynecologists.
Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Diphosphonates ; Estrogens ; Fluorides ; Insurance, Health ; Isoflavones ; Norpregnenes ; Osteoporosis ; Prescriptions ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Testosterone ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin K 2

OBJECTIVES: To describe prescription patterns by gynecologists for osteoporosis therapy and to compare with the prescription patterns by physicians of other medical specialties based on the data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. METHODS: A total of 28,568 prescription claims by gynecologists of 633,870 prescription claims by physicians with medications for osteoporosis alone or medications for other indications, including osteoporosis, were analyzed. The medications for osteoporosis alone were, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), calcitonin (injection or nasal spray), vitamin K2, ipriflavone, and fluoride. The medications for other indications including osteoporosis were estrogen, tibolone, testosterone, calcium, calcium-vitamin D complex, vitamin D, and oxymetholone. RESULTS: Anti-osteoporosis medications were prescribed by 4.7% of gynecologists. Calcium and vitamin D were the most commonly prescribed medications by gynecologists (60.7%), followed by hormones, including tibolone (44%). Bisphosphonates, including bisphosphonate complex, were prescribed by 27.5% of gynecologists and SERMs were prescribed by 3.6% of gynecologists. Amongst all prescribers, the percentage of gynecologists was highest for hormones (50.6%), followed by tibolone (31.0%). When both medications were combined, the percentage of gynecologists among prescribers was 81.6%. The combination rate of calcium with other anti-osteoporosis medications was highest in gynecologists among prescribers of medical specialties (34.1%). CONCLUSION: A very small percentage of gynecologists prescribed anti-osteoporosis medications, while calcium, vitamin D, and hormones, including tibolone, were commonly prescribed by gynecologists.
Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Diphosphonates ; Estrogens ; Fluorides ; Insurance, Health ; Isoflavones ; Norpregnenes ; Osteoporosis ; Prescriptions ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Testosterone ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin K 2

BACKGROUND: Posttransplant osteoporosis in renal transplant recipient is frequently observed complications, but therapeutic modalities are not clearly elucidated. Recent studies indicate that vitamin K2 also play a role in bone metabolism. Therefore, we performed prospective study to evaluate the effect of vitamin K2 (Menatetrenone(R)) on posttransplant osteroporosis. METHODS: Our study included total 83 patients (40 male, 43 female; age 36.9+/-5.5 years) who received a renal transplant more than 6 months ago. They underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at lumbar spine and femoral neck. The patients with osteoporosis were treated with vitamin K2 (glakay 15 mg) (group 1) or vitamin D3 with calcium carbonate (group 2). The patients without osteoporosis was observed without any treatment (group 3). After one year, follow-up BMD was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Of 83 patients, 44 patients (53.0%) had osteoporosis and 39 patients (47.0%) had not. In group 1 (N=28), vitamin K2 treatment significantly increased BMD at femoral neck (-3.2+/-0.4 vs 2.6+/-0.6, p<0.05), but there was no increase of BMD at lumbar spine (-2.2+/-1.0 vs 2.2+/-0.9, p>0.05). In group 2 (N=16), there was significant increase in BMD at femoral neck (-3.0+/-0.6 vs -2.5+/-0.8, p< 0.05), but there was no increase of BMD at lumbar spine (-1.8+/-0.7 vs -1.8+/-0.8, p>0.05). Between group 1 and 2, there was no significant difference in BMD change. In group 3, BMD decreased at femoral neck (-1.3+/-0.2 vs -1.5+/-0.2) and lumbar spine (-0.8+/-0.2 vs -1.0+/-0.2) during follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Vitamin K2 (Menatetrenone(R)) is effective in treating osteoporosis at femoral neck and its effectiveness is s imilar with that of using vitamin D3 with calcium carbonate.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Calcium Carbonate ; Cholecalciferol ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis* ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Transplantation* ; Vitamin K 2