Inflammation-associated proteinase functions are key determinants of inflammatory stromal tissues deconstruction. As a specialized inflammatory pathological process, dental internal resorption (IR) includes both soft and hard tissues deconstruction within the dentin-pulp complex, which has been one of the main reasons for inflammatory tooth loss. Mechanisms of inflammatory matrix degradation and tissue resorption in IR are largely unclear. In this study, we used a combination of Cre-loxP reporter, flow cytometry, cell transplantation, and enzyme activities assay to mechanistically investigate the role of regenerative cells, odontoblasts (ODs), in inflammatory mineral resorption and matrices degradation. We report that inflamed ODs have strong capabilities of matrix degradation and tissue resorption. Traditionally, ODs are regarded as hard-tissue regenerative cells; however, our data unexpectedly present ODs as a crucial population that participates in IR-associated tissue deconstruction. Specifically, we uncovered that nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-κB) signaling orchestrated Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced matrix metalloproteinases (Mmps) and Cathepsin K (Ctsk) functions in ODs to enhance matrix degradation and tissue resorption. Furthermore, TNF-α increases Rankl/Opg ratio in ODs via NF-κB signaling by impairing Opg expression but increasing Rankl level, which utterly makes ODs cell line 17IIA11 (A11) become Trap⁺ and Ctsk⁺ multinucleated cells to perform resorptive actions. Blocking of NF-κB signaling significantly rescues matrix degradation and resorptive functions of inflamed ODs via repressing vital inflammatory proteinases Mmps and Ctsk. Utterly, via utilizing NF-κB specific small molecule inhibitors we satisfactorily attenuated inflammatory ODs-associated human dental IR in vivo. Our data reveal the underlying mechanisms of inflammatory matrix degradation and resorption via proteinase activities in IR-related pathological conditions.
Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism* ; Minerals/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Odontoblasts/metabolism* ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

Objective: This research was performed to evaluate the effect of tebuconazole (TBZ) on reproductive organs of male rats and to assess the protective role of combined essential trace elements in alleviating the detrimental effect of TBZ on male reproductive function. Methods: For this purpose, 48 rats were exposed to 100 mg/kg TBZ, TBZ supplemented with zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe), TBZ + (Se + Zn); TBZ + Cu; or TBZ + Fe. The experiment was conducted for 30 consecutive days. Results: TBZ caused a significant perturbation in mineral levels and reduction in reproductive organs weights, plasma testosterone level, and testicular antioxidant enzyme activities. The TBZ-treated group also showed a significant increase in sperm abnormalities (count, motility, and viability percent), plasma follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone concentrations, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and severe DNA degradation in comparison with the controls. Histopathologically, TBZ caused testis impairments. Conversely, treatment with trace elements, in combination or alone, improved the reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, TBZ-induced toxicity, and histopathological modifications in testis. Conclusion TBZ exerts significant harmful effects on male reproductive system. The concurrent administration of trace elements reduces testis dysfunction, fertility, and toxicity induced by TBZ.
Animal Feed/analysis* ; Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements/analysis* ; Fungicides, Industrial/adverse effects* ; Male ; Minerals/metabolism* ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Testis/physiology* ; Trace Elements/metabolism* ; Triazoles/adverse effects*

A major goal of mineral nutrition research is to provide information of feed zinc (Zn) utilization efficiency and gross Zn requirements as affected by changing rearing conditions. This can be achieved only by applying precise experimental models that acknowledge the basic principles of Zn metabolism. This review article summarizes the most important aspects of Zn homeostasis in monogastric species, including molecular aspects of Zn acquisition and excretion. Special emphasis is given to the role of the skeleton as well as the exocrine pancreas for animal Zn metabolism. Finally, we discuss consequences arising from these physiological principles for the experimental design of trials which aim to address questions of Zn requirements and bioavailability.
Animal Feed ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Diet ; Genotype ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Minerals/metabolism* ; Pancreas, Exocrine/metabolism* ; Trace Elements ; Zinc/metabolism*

PURPOSE: This randomized control trial was designed to examine the effect on the self-managing ability for promoting bone health of mobile typeebone health intervention (mobile typeeBHI). METHODS: The mobile typeeBHI consisted of amobile application called “Strong bone, Fit body” (SbFb) and group education. A total of 82 college women with low bone mass (Z score <−1) participated. They were assigned randomly to three groups, experimental group I, (n = 28), experimental group II (n = 32), and control group (n = 22). This study ran from June 2014 to January 2015. The outcome variables were bone mineral density, minerals related to bone metabolism (calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D), biochemical markers related to bone remodeling (osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide, sclerostin), food intake diary by 24 hours recall, and psychosocial variables related to bone health (knowledge, health belief and selfefficacy). Data were analyzed using SAS program and a computer aided nutritional analysis program. RESULTS: Both the experimental group I, who used mobile typeeBHI, and experimental group II, who only received group education, showed outcomes regarding knowledge of the benefits of exercise and calcium as compared with the control group. The two experimental groups also demonstrated results in the serum levels of calcium, vitamin D, and sclerostin compared to those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Although both experimental groups exhibited positive outcomes in regards to the promotion of bone health, this study did not show an additional effect of the mobile application on selfmanagement ability for the promotion of bone health. Nonetheless, the SbFb application is very meaningful as it is the first application developed with the aim of improving women's bone health.
Biomarkers ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; Calcium ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Minerals ; Miners ; Mobile Applications ; Nutrition Assessment ; Phosphorus ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins ; Young Adult*

OBJECTIVE: Serum parameters of calcium homeostasis were measured based on previously published evidence linking osteoporotic fractures and/or bone/mineral loss with antipsychotics. METHODS: Prospective, four-week, time-series trial was conducted and study population consisted of patients of both genders, aged 35-85 years, admitted within the routine practice, with acute psychotic symptoms, to whom an antipsychotic drug was either introduced or substituted. Serial measurements of serum calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, osteocalcin and C-telopeptide were made from patient venous blood samples. RESULTS: Calcium serum concentrations significantly decreased from baseline to the fourth week (2.42+/-0.12 vs. 2.33+/-0.16 mmol/L, p=0.022, n=25). The mean of all calcemia changes from the baseline was -2.6+/-5.7% (-24.1 to 7.7) with more decreases than increases (78 vs. 49, p=0.010) and more patents having negative sum of calcemia changes from baseline (n=28) than positive ones (n=10) (p=0.004). There were simultaneous falls of calcium and magnesium from baseline (63/15 vs. 23/26, p<0.001; OR=4.75, 95% CI 2.14-10.51), phosphorous (45/33 vs. 9/40, p<0.001; 6.06, 2.59-14.20) and 25(OH)D concentrations (57/21 vs. 13/35, p<0.001; 7.31, 3.25-16.42), respectively. Calcemia positively correlated with magnesemia, phosphatemia and 25(OH)D values. Parathyroid hormone and C-telopeptide showed only subtle oscillations of their absolute concentrations or changes from baseline; calcitonin and osteocalcin did not change. Adjustment of final calcemia trend (depletion/accumulation) for relevant risk factors, generally, did not change the results. CONCLUSION: In patients with psychotic disorders and several risks for bone metabolism disturbances antipsychotic treatment was associated with the decrease of calcemia and changes in levels of the associated ions.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Bone and Bones ; Calcitonin ; Calcium* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Ions ; Magnesium ; Metabolism* ; Minerals ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prospective Studies ; Psychotic Disorders ; Risk Factors

In the Chinese national nutrition surveys, fortified foods were not investigated separately from the base diet, and the contribution of fortified foods to micronutrients intake is not very clear. This study investigated the diet, including fortified foods and food supplements, of urban pregnant women and analyzed the intake of calcium, iron, and zinc to assess the corresponding contributions of fortified foods, food supplements, and the base diet. The results demonstrated that the base diet was the major source of calcium, iron, and zinc, and was recommended to be the first choice for micronutrients intake. Furthermore, consumption of fortified foods and food supplements offered effective approaches to improve the dietary intake of calcium, iron, and zinc in Chinese urban pregnant women.
Adult ; Calcium, Dietary ; analysis ; metabolism ; China ; Cities ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; analysis ; Female ; Food, Fortified ; analysis ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Iron, Dietary ; analysis ; metabolism ; Micronutrients ; analysis ; metabolism ; Minerals ; analysis ; Pregnancy ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Urban Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult ; Zinc ; analysis ; metabolism

Content of osteocyte in bone tissue is the most abundant, the most widely distributed, and embedding the cells in the mineralized bone matrix, the life can be close to the life of the body. Osteocyte formed by the cytoplasm dendritic communication network system between osteocyte and bone surface, is of great significance to maintaining the normal physiological function of bone tissue. Bone cells as the direct receptor of bone mechanical stress, through the release of bioactive factors such as PEG2, NO, ATP and classic Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway mechanical stress signal can be converted to bone formation and bone resorption of biochemical signals, and the biochemical signals were transfer to the other type cells of the tissue to regulate its function activities and cause bone reconstruction function. The microcracks surrounding osteocyte can disrupt the microtubule network system,cause surrounding osteocyte autophagy. In addition, osteocyte is very important for regulation of the body mineral balance, fat metabolism, and hematopoietic function.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Minerals ; metabolism ; Osteocytes ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Mechanical

BACKGROUNDOptimal mineral intakes are important for infant growth and development. However, data on mineral compositions of breast milk in Chinese women are scarce, and most were acquired before 1990. The objectives of this study were three-fold: (1) to investigate the mineral compositions of Chinese healthy mothers' breast milk in different lactation stages; (2) to explore correlations among mineral concentrations in breast milk; and (3) to explore the associated factors affecting mineral compositions in breast milk.

METHODSThe inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze mineral concentrations in breast-milk of 444 healthy lactating women from three cities in China. A questionnaire was used to survey socio-demographic characteristics and pregnancy history. Food intakes by lactating women were measured using both food frequency questionnaire and one cycle of 24-hour dietary recall.

RESULTSMineral compositions of breast milk varied in different regions. Concentrations of most minerals were higher in the first one or two months of lactation, and then decreased with time, except for magnesium and iron. Inter-mineral correlations existed among several minerals. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio was above 2:1 in each lactation stage. Women with caesarean section had higher concentration of iodine in the transitional milk (349.9 µg/kg) compared to women with natural delivery (237.5 µg/kg, P < 0.001). Dietary mineral intakes, supplements, food intake frequencies in the recent 6 months, maternal age and maternal BMI did not show significant correlations with concentrations of milk minerals (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMilk minerals decreased with time, and changed most rapidly in the first one or two months of lactation. Caesarean section might affect the iodine level in transitional milk.

Adult ; Calcium ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Lactation ; metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Minerals ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (Samdasoo(TM)), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Fatty Liver ; Groundwater* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertrophy ; Ions ; Korea ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Minerals ; Rats* ; Simvastatin ; Triglycerides ; Vanadium ; Water

This study investigated the daily physical activity level, energy expenditure, energy balance, and body composition and their relationship with university students. The participants were 130 male students (19.5 +/- 0.5 yrs) and 139 female students (19.5 +/- 0.3 yrs) at a university in Chungnam province. Physical activity level was evaluated by an equation based on 24 hr-activity record and dietary nutrient intake was evaluated using the food record method during a three-day period consisting of two week days and one weekend. Body composition was measured using Inbody 430 (Biospace Co., Cheonan, Korea). As a result, mean body mass index (BMI) of subjects indicated that they had normal weight, however mean body fat ratio was 19.1 +/- 5.4% for males and 28.4 +/- 5.0% for females, indicating that they had higher than normal weight. Daily mean physical activity level was 1.55 for males and 1.47 for females, which was regarded as 'low active', respectively. Females had more light activity than males (p < 0.01). Daily mean energy expenditure was 2,803.5 +/- 788.9 kcal/d for males and 1,915.4 +/- 510.2 kcal/d for females (p < 0.001). Daily mean dietary energy intake was 2,327.0 +/- 562.5 kcal/d for males and 1,802.1 +/- 523.6/d for females (p < 0.001), and daily mean energy balance was -476.5 +/- 955.9 kcal/d for males and -113.3 +/- 728.1 kcal/d for females (p < 0.01). Daily mean dietary intake of protein, vitamins, and minerals, except Ca, satisfied recommended nutrient intake. Daily energy expenditure was positively related to body weight (p < 0.01), BMI (p < 0.01), and fat free mass ratio (p < 0.05), but was negatively related to body fat ratio (p < 0.01). In conclusion, subjects had a negative energy balance and low physical activity. They had a normal weight by BMI but had a more fat than normal weight by body fat ratio. This appears to be related to their low physical activity. Thus, nutrition education should be provided for university students in order to increase their physical activity for maintenance of normal weight by body composition and health promotion.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Light ; Male ; Minerals ; Motor Activity ; Vitamins