Educational difference in the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: a study in northern Iran

Background

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in the world and it is rapidly increasing in Iran. In this study the relationship between educational levels and osteoporosis was investigated among Iranian postmenopausal women.

Method and subjects

Seven hundred and six women aged 50-75 years old were randomly recruited from urban (n = 440) and rural (n = 266) areas in Guilan. Osteoporosis was diagnosed by quantitative ultrasound technique and dual X-ray absorptiometry. Serum 25(OH) D3, body weight and height were measured in all subjects. Other data including age, educational level, menopause age, medications and history of illness were also collected.

Results

We found that the prevalence of osteoporosis was significantly greater among women with low educational level than women with high educational status (18.0% vs 3.8% P < 0.0001). However, women with low educational level had higher mean serum level of vitamin D than women with high educational level. Osteoporosis was significantly more prevalent among women living in rural areas than women living in urban areas (19.1% v.s 13.3%, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

This study showed that educational level is associated with bone health in this population of postmenopausal women with significantly higher osteoporosis found in lower social groups. Therefore, we suggest that women with low social level should be carefully evaluated for signs of osteoporosis during routine physical examinations.     

High-dose MDMA does not result in long-term changes in impulsivity in the rat

Rationale Evidence suggests that recreational users of (±)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine HCl (MDMA, “ecstasy”) have cognitive and behavioral deficits and show increased impulsivity consistent with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurotoxicity. MDMA effects on impulsivity in users are difficult to establish being confounded by polydrug use and individual predisposition to impulsivity or behavioral inhibition.Objective We previously observed a long-term anxiolytic effect of a neurotoxic dose of MDMA on elevated plus maze behavior in Dark Agouti (DA) rats while other strains were reported to show anxiogenesis. We have now examined whether MDMA influences impulsivity producing disinhibited behavior interpretable as anxiolysis.Methods Impulsivity was measured using an operant visuospatial discrimination procedure. Male DA rats (n=24) were trained to lever press for food reward in response to a light-stimulus and subsequently required to withhold responding. Correct responses, premature responses, and response latencies were used as measures of accuracy and impulsivity. Trained rats were administered MDMA (5 mg/kg, i.p. at 3-h intervals to a total of three injections). Performance was measured at 3 h and 7, 27, 49, and 80 days posttreatment.Results There was a short-term effect of MDMA on the percentage of correct responses at 3 h and day 1 with recovery to control levels by days 7–8 and no significant long-term changes up to day 80. There was no effect of MDMA on premature responses on any of the days measured. MDMA reduced cortical 5-HT content (MDMA 363±14 ng/g and control 440±10 ng/g tissue).Conclusion These results suggest that impulsivity may not be directly altered by MDMA despite serotonergic neurotoxicity.     

6－甲氧基正丁苯酞在大鼠肝微粒体中的代谢研究

报道了用ＧＣ／ＭＳ方法及衍生化技术研究６甲氧基正丁苯酞（ＭＢＰ）在大鼠肝微粒体中的代谢转化结果。６甲氧基正丁苯酞在苯巴比妥（ＰＢ）诱导的大鼠肝微粒体中主要转化为３羟基、γ羟基取代物，６羟基正丁苯酞与一个环氧化代谢产物     

常咯啉在实验性心律失常狗的药代动力学－药效动力学分析

用Ｈａｒｒｉｓ冠脉结扎法诱发的心律失常狗研究常咯啉药代动力学－药效动力学。７只狗按８３．３３μｇ·ｋｇ￣（－１）·ｍｉｎ￣（－１）静脉滴注６０ｍｉｎ，在给药期间和停药后不同时间记录ＥＣＧ及测定血药浓度。Ｃ－Ｔ数据用药代程序计算药代参数；药效数据用药代－药效同步分析模型计算药效动力学参数，Ｋ１０，Ｔ１／２，Ｖｄ，Ｃｌ分别为０．００８７ｍｉｎ￣（－１），７８．０３ｍｉｎ，４０．５５ｍｌ·ｋｇ￣（－１）和０．４２１ｍｌ·ｋｇ￣（－１）·ｍｉｎ￣（－１）；Ｋｅ０和Ｃｅ（５０）分别为０．００４８ｍｉｎ￣（－１）和２．０１μｇ·ｍｌ￣（－１）.     

6－甲氧基正丁苯酞的体内代谢转化研究

大鼠用６－甲氧基正丁苯酞（ＭＢＰ）灌胃，收集０～２４ｈ尿液，经酶水解、提取浓缩、衍生化处理后用ＧＣ／ＭＳ分析。在大鼠０～２４ｈ尿液中，６－甲氧基正丁苯酞原药含量很低，主要以代谢物形式存在，依次为Ｃ－６脱甲基产物、Ｃ３－Ｃα环氧化物、γ－羟化物、β－羟化物以及两个次级代谢产物。６－甲氧基正丁苯酞体内代谢结果与其在肝微粒体中代谢结果基本一致。     

常咯啉在实验性心律失常狗的药代动力学-药效动力学分析

用Harris冠脉结扎法诱发的心律失常狗研究常咯啉药代动力学-药效动力学。7只狗按83.33μg·kg^-1·min^-1静脉滴注60min,在给药期间和停药后不同时间记录ECG及测定血药浓度。C-T数据用药代程序计算药代参数;药效数据用药代-药效同步分析模型计算药效动力学参数,K₁₀, T_1/2,Vd,Cl分别为0.0087min^-1,78.03min,40.55ml·kg^-1和0.421ml·kg^-1·min^-1;K_eO和Ce(50)分别为0.0048min^-1和2.01μg·ml^-1.     

The Effect of Garlic Extract on Expression of INFγ And Inos Genes in Macrophages Infected with Leishmania major

Background

The study was aimed to show the effect of molecular mechanism of Aqueous Garlic Extract (AGE) on expression of IFNγ and iNOS genes in Leishmania major.

Methods

Leishmania major promastigotes (MRHO/IR/75/ER) were added to the in-vitro cultured J774 cell line, the cells were incubated for 72 hours. Various concentrations of garlic extract (9.25, 18.5, 37, 74, 148 mg/ml) were added to the infected cells. MTT assay was applied for cellular proliferation. After 72 hours of incubation, supernatants were collected and total RNA was extracted from the infected cells. The express of IFNγ and iNOS genes were studied by RT-PCR method.

Results

The colorimetric MTT assay after 3 days of incubation showed cytotoxic effect of garlic extract with an IC50 of 37 mg/ml. In addition, IFNγ and iNOS genes expression by RT-PCR indicated that garlic extract lead to over expression of these genes in J774 cell line infected with L. major.

Conclusion

Garlic extract exerts cytotoxic effect on infected J774 cell line. In addition, the hypothesis that garlic can improve cellular immunity with raising the expression of IFNγ and of iNOS genes confirmed.     

Cardiovascular risk factors in an Iranian urban population: Tehran lipid and glucose study (phase 1)

OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery disease is becoming more prevalent in developing countries, particularly in urban areas. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Tehran urban population. METHODS: The prevalence and distribution of high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, dyslipoproteinemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity was determined in 15,005 subjects, aged three years and over, selected by cluster random sampling in Tehran urban district-13 between February 1999 to August 2001. Total energy intake, percent of energy derived from protein, carbohydrate, and fat were assessed in a subsidiary of 1,474 persons by means of two 24-hour dietary recalls. RESULTS: In adults, 78% of men and 80% of women presented at least one CVD risk factor. The percentage of adult women with two or more risk factors was significantly greater than the one for men. Prevalence of DM, hypertension, obesity, high TC, low HDL, high TGs, and smoking was 9.8, 20.4, 14.4, 19.3, 32, 5.3, and 22.3%, respectively. In children and adolescents, two or more CVD risk factors were found in 9% of boys and 7% of girls. Prevalence of hypertension, obesity, high TC, low HDL, and high TGs, was 12.7, 5.2, 5.1, 10.2, and 5%, respectively. The mean percentage values of energy intake derived from carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 57.8 +/- 6.9, 11.1 +/- 1.8, and 30.9 +/- 7.2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Tehran urban population is high; particularly of high total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol levels, and high waist to hip ratio. An effective strategy for life style modification is a cornerstone of a population approach to the cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, these results will serve as a baseline for assessment of future trends in the risk factors studied.     

苦楝化学成份的研究

从苦楝(Melia azedarach L.)果中分得苦楝新醇(Ⅰ),苦楝醇(Ⅱ)、苦楝酮(Ⅲ)、苦楝二醇(Ⅳ)、香草醛(Ⅴ)和香草酸(Ⅵ)。根据波谱(IR,MS,¹HNMR,¹³CNMR)分析和理化常数测定,确定了它们的结构。其中苦楝新醇(Ⅰ)为新化合物,对菜青小虫有一定的拒食活性。