Bisphosphonates and glucocorticoid osteoporosis in men: results of a randomized controlled trial comparing zoledronic acid with risedronate

Background

We studied 265 men (mean age 56.4 years; range 18-83 years), among patients enrolled in two arms of a double-blind, 1-year study comparing the effects of zoledronic acid (ZOL) with risedronate (RIS) in patients either commencing (prednisolone 7.5 mg/day or equivalent) (prevention arm, n = 88) or continuing glucocorticoid therapy (treatment arm, n = 177).

Methods

Patients received either a single ZOL 5 mg infusion or RIS 5 mg oral daily at randomization, along with calcium (1000 mg) and vitamin D (400-1200 IU). Primary endpoint: difference in percentage change from baseline in bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (LS) at 12 months. Secondary endpoints: percentage changes in BMD at total hip (TH) and femoral neck (FN), relative changes in bone turnover markers (β-CTx and P1NP), and overall safety.

Findings

In the treatment subpopulation, ZOL increased LS BMD by 4.7% vs. 3.3% for RIS and at TH the percentage changes were 1.8% vs. 0.2%, respectively. In the prevention subpopulation, bone loss was prevented by both treatments. At LS the percentage changes were 2.5% vs. − 0.2% for ZOL vs. RIS and at TH the percentage changes were 1.1% vs. − 0.4%, respectively. ZOL significantly increased lumbar spine BMD more than RIS at Month 12 in both the prevention population (p = 0.0024) and the treatment subpopulation (p = 0.0232) in men. In the treatment subpopulation, ZOL demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in serum β-CTx and P1NP relative to RIS at all time-points. In the prevention subpopulation, ZOL significantly reduced β-CTx? at all time-points, and P1NP at Month 3 (p = 0.0297) only. Both treatments were well tolerated in men, albeit with a higher incidence of influenza-like illness and pyrexia events post-infusion with ZOL.

Interpretation

Once-yearly ZOL preserves or increases BMD within 1 year to a greater extent than daily RIS in men receiving glucocorticoid therapy.     

Insights on the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease: The crosstalk between amyloid pathology,neuroinflammation and the peripheral immune system

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, whose prevalence is growing along with the increased life expectancy. Although the accumulation and deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the brain is viewed as one of the pathological hallmarks of AD and underlies, at least in part, brain cell dysfunction and behavior alterations, the etiology of this neurodegenerative disease is still poorly understood. Noticeably, increased amyloid load is accompanied by marked inflammatory alterations, both at the level of the brain parenchyma and at the barriers of the brain. However, it is debatable whether the neuroinflammation observed in aging and in AD, together with alterations in the peripheral immune system, are responsible for increased amyloidogenesis, decreased clearance of Aβ out of the brain and/or the marked deficits in memory and cognition manifested by AD patients. Herein, we scrutinize some important traits of the pathophysiology of aging and AD, focusing on the interplay between the amyloidogenic pathway, neuroinflammation and the peripheral immune system.     

Prevention of recognition memory loss and moderation of mitochondrial dynamic tendency toward fusion by flavone derivatives in Aβ-injected rats: a comparison between two flavonoids with different polarity

Growing evidence sheds light on the use of flavonoids as the promising alternatives for the treatment of chronic conditions, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, in the present study, we aimed at evaluating the effects of oral intake of two structurally different flavonoids 5-hydroxy-6,7,4?-trimethoxyflavone (flavone 1) and 5,7,4?-trihydroxyflavone (flavone 2) on recognition memory, hippocampal protein level of immediate early gene cFos and mitochondrial dynamic markers in Amyloid β (Aβ)-injected rats. Recognition aspect of memory and level of proteins were measured using novel object recognition test and Western blot, respectively. Our data indicated that even though flavone 1 was more effective than flavone 2 to prevent memory impairment, feeding with both flavones alleviated memory in Aβ-injected rats. Furthermore, in flavones-administered rats, mitochondrial dynamic balancing returned to the control level by the decline in Dynamin-related protein-1 protein level, a known marker for mitochondrial fission, and elevation in protein level of mitochondrial fusion factors Mitofusins 1 and 2. In parallel with behavior results, flavone 1 was more effectual on mitochondrial dynamic moderating. The more neuroprotective effects of flavone 1 could be attributed to its methylated structure leading to crossing of the blood-brain barrier with ease and metabolic stability and bioactivity.     

Genomic analyses of the Daphnia pulex peptidome

Genome mining has provided a valuable tool for peptide discovery in many species, yet no crustacean has undergone this analysis. Currently, the only crustacean with a sequenced genome is the cladoceran Daphnia pulex, a model organism in many fields of biology. Here, we have mined the D. pulex genome for peptide-encoding genes. For each gene identified, the encoded precursor protein was deduced, and its mature peptides predicted. Twenty-four peptide-encoding genes were identified, including ones predicted to produce members of the A-type allatostatin, B-type allatostatin, C-type allatostatin, allatotropin (ATR), bursicon α, bursicon β, calcitonin-like diuretic hormone, corazonin, crustacean cardioactive peptide, crustacean hyperglycemic hormone, ecdysis-triggering hormone, eclosion hormone (EH), insulin-like peptide (ILP), molt-inhibiting hormone, neuropeptide F, orcokinin (two genes), pigment-dispersing hormone, proctolin, red pigment concentrating hormone/adipokinetic hormone (RPCH/AKH), short neuropeptide F, SIFamide, sulfakinin, and tachykinin-related peptide (TRP) families/subfamilies. In total, 96 peptides were predicted from these genes. Our identification of isoforms of corazonin, EH, ILP, proctolin, RPCH/AKH, sulfakinin and TRP are the first for D. pulex, while our prediction of ATR from this species is the first from any crustacean. The number of peptides predicted in our study shows the power of genome mining for peptide discovery, and provides a model for future genomic analyses of the peptidomes of other crustaceans. In addition, the data presented in our study provide foundations for future molecular, biochemical, anatomical, and physiological investigation of peptidergic signaling in D. pulex and other cladoceran species.     

惠州市同型β地中海贫血夫妇的胎儿产前地贫基因诊断分析

目的研究惠州市同型β地贫夫妇的胎儿地贫携带率、基因突变类型和分布特点。方法 116对夫妇均为轻型β-地中海贫血基因突变者,在孕早期取胎儿绒毛组织,孕中期取脐血或羊水,孕晚期取脐血;对羊水细胞和绒毛组织进行原位培养,脐血进行血液学和血红蛋白分析,分别采用培养前后的组织或脐血进行β地中海贫血基因检测。结果 116例胎儿中检出重型β-地中海贫血胎儿27例(23.28%);检出地贫携带者56例(48.28%)。共检出11种突变基因,21种基因型,居前4位的依次是:CD41-42(26.51%)(22/27+56)、IVS-Ⅱ-654(14.46%)(12/27+56)、CD-28(10.84%)(9/27+56),CD17(6.02%)(5/27+56);其中,单突变杂合子9种,56例(67.47%)(56/27+56),双突变杂合子10种,24例(28.92%)(24/27+56),突变纯合子2种,3例(3.61%)(3/27+56),另外,检出少见位点突变CD14-15和CD41-42/43各1例。结论本研究描述了惠州市同型β地贫夫妇的胎儿地贫的发生率和基因突变谱,为制订本地区地贫的防治工作提供科学依据。     

原花青素对 Aβ25-35诱导的小鼠学习记忆损伤的影响

目的：观察原花青素对淀粉样β蛋白25‐35（Aβ25‐35）诱导的小鼠学习记忆损伤的影响。方法将30只雄性2月龄C57bl／6小鼠随机均分为五组：E组为空白对照;其余四组采用双侧侧脑室注射Aβ25‐35制备的小鼠学习记忆损伤模型后,D组为模型对照,A、B和C组分别用原花青素50、100和150 mg／kg灌胃,连续30 d。D组和E组采用灭菌双蒸水灌胃。采用Y迷宫测试小鼠短期学习记忆能力;HE染色观察小鼠海马CA1区神经元损伤情况;化学比色法测定小鼠血清中丙二醛（MDA）、羟自由基（OH －）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）、总抗氧化能力（T‐AOC）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）表达水平;Western blot测定硝基络氨酸（NTS）、过氧化物还原酶1（Prdx‐1）在小鼠海马组织中的表达。结果与D组比较,A、B和C组小鼠短期学习记忆能力较好,CA1区深染神经细胞比例呈剂量依赖性下降,血清GSH、T‐AOC和SOD含量增高,且海马组织中NTS表达水平降低,Prdx‐1表达水平升高（ P＜0．01或P＜0．05）。结论原花青素能改善Aβ25‐35诱导的小鼠氧化应激水平,从而减轻小鼠海马神经退行性病变和小鼠学习记忆损伤。     

Visfatin Protects Rat Pancreatic β-cells against IFN-γ-Induced Apoptosis through AMPK and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways

ObjectiveInterferon-γ (IFN-γ) plays an important role in apoptosis and was shown to increase the risk of diabetes.Visfatin, an adipokine, has anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, and regulating inflammatory properties. In this study we investigated the effect of visfatin on IFN-γ-induced apoptosis in rat pancreatic β-cells. MethodsThe RINm5F (rat insulinoma cell line) cells exposed to IFN-γ were treated with or without visfatin. The viability and apoptosis of the cells were assessed by using MTT and flow cytometry. The expressionsof mRNA and protein were detected by using real-time PCR and western blot analysis. ResultsThe exposure of RINm5F cells to IFN-γ for 48 h led to increased apoptosis percentage of the cells. Visfatin pretreatment significantly increased the cellviability and reduced the cell apoptosis induced by IFN-γ. IFN-γ-induced increase in expression of p53 mRNA and cytochrome c protein, decrease in mRNA and protein levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were attenuated by visfatin pretreatment. Visfatin alsoincreasedAMPK and ERK1/2phosphorylation and the anti-apoptotic action of visfatin was attenuated by the AMPK and ERK1/2 inhibitor. ConclusionThese results suggested that visfatin protected pancreatic islet cells against IFN-γ-induced apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. The anti-apoptotic action of visfatin is mediated by activation of AMPK and ERK1/2 signaling molecules.     

Probing the Secrets of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Human-induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology

Our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still incomplete and, as a result, we lack effective therapies. Reprogramming to generate human-induced pluripotent stem cells provides a new approach to the generation of human neurons that carry the genomes of people with familial or sporadic AD. Differentiation of such stem cells to human neurons is already providing new insights into AD and molecular pathways that may provide new targets for effective therapy. These pathways include typical amyloid response pathways, as well as pathways leading from altered behavior of amyloid precursor protein to the elevated phosphorylation of tau protein. There is also a need for standardization of models so that isogenic lines differing only in the familial AD mutation can be compared.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13311-014-0326-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The role of genetic variation across IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and BDNF in antipsychotic-induced weight gain

Objectives. Antipsychotics with high weight gain-inducing propensities influence the expression of immune and neurotrophin genes, which have been independently related to obesity indices. Thus, we investigated whether variants in the genes encoding interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met are associated with antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG). Methods. Nineteen polymorphisms were genotyped using Taqman^® assays in 188 schizophrenia patients on antipsychotic treatment for up to 14 weeks. Mean weight change (%) from baseline was compared across genotypic groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Epistatic effects between cytokine polymorphisms and BDNF Val66Met were tested using Model-Based Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction. Results. In European patients, IL-1β rs16944*GA (P = 0.013, P_corrected = 0.182), IL-1β rs1143634*G (P = 0.001, P_corrected = 0.014), and BDNF Val66Met (Val/Val, P = 0.004, P_corrected = 0.056) were associated with greater AIWG, as were IL-1β rs4849127*A (P = 0.049, P_corrected = 0.784), and IL-1β rs16944*GA (P = 0.012, P_corrected = 0.192) in African Americans. BDNF Val66Met interacted with both IL-1β rs13032029 (Val/Met+ TT, P_Perm = 0.029), and IL-6 rs2069837 (Val/Val+ AA, P_Perm = 0.021) in Europeans, in addition to IL-1β rs16944 (Val/Val+ GA, P_Perm = 0.006) in African Americans. Conclusions. SNPs across IL-1β and BDNF Val66Met may influence AIWG. Replication of these findings in larger, independent samples is warranted.