Radiographic damage associated with low bone mineral density and vertebral deformities in rheumatoid arthritis: The Oslo‐Truro‐Amsterdam (OSTRA) collaborative study

Objective

To examine variables associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral deformities in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 3 northwest European countries.

Methods

Female patients were recruited from rheumatology clinics in Oslo, Norway; Truro, UK; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands (150 total, 50 per center, age 50–70 years, disease duration ≥5 years). Demographic and clinical data were collected and BMD was measured by means of dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Associations between demographic and clinical measures on the one hand and BMD and vertebral deformities on the other were investigated by single and multiple regression analyses.

Results

Body mass index (BMI), medication use, RA damage measures, and BMD differed significantly between the 3 centers. Overall, Norwegian patients had the lowest BMI, used more corticosteroids and antiosteoporotic drugs, had lower joint damage measured by Larsen score, and lower BMD at both spine and hip. High age, low BMI, and high cumulative dose of corticosteroids (last 2 years) are related to low BMD. A high Larsen score was associated with low BMD at the hip. Larsen score was the independent determinant of vertebral deformities after correction for center, age, BMI, and BMD.

Conclusion

Data from 3 countries on BMD and vertebral deformities in female patients aged 50–70 years with longstanding RA are presented, demonstrating an association between radiographic RA damage and low BMD and between radiographic RA damage and vertebral deformities.

     

强力定眩片联合氟桂利嗪治疗脑动脉硬化性眩晕的疗效观察

目的探讨强力定眩片联合氟桂利嗪治疗脑动脉硬化性眩晕的临床疗效。方法选取2017年3月—2019年12月天津市宁河区医院收治的脑动脉硬化性眩晕患者120例,随机分为对照组(60例)和治疗组(60例)。对照组口服盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊,65岁以下患者10 mg/次,65岁以上患者5 mg/次,1次/d,每周给药5 d。治疗组在对照组的基础上口服强力定眩片,4片/次,3次/d。两组均治疗2个月。观察两组患者临床疗效,同时比较治疗前后两组患者症状评分,及右椎动脉、左椎动脉和基底动脉的平均血流速度。结果治疗后,对照组临床有效率为76.67%,显著低于治疗组的91.67%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者植物神经功能紊乱、听力障碍、眩晕、平衡障碍、头痛、耳鸣症状评分均明显下降(P0.05),且治疗组明显低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者右椎动脉、左椎动脉和基底动脉的平均血流速度均显著升高(P0.05),且治疗组明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论强力定眩片联合氟桂利嗪治疗脑动脉硬化性眩晕,可迅速改善患者临床症状及脑血流状况,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

Detection of bioactive peptides including gonadotrophin‐releasing factors (GnRHs) in horse urine using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS)

The use of bioactive peptides as a doping agent in both human and animal sports has become increasingly popular in recent years. As such, methods to control the misuse of bioactive peptides in equine sports have received attention. This paper describes a sensitive accurate mass method for the detection of 40 bioactive peptides and two non‐peptide growth hormone secretagogues (< 2 kDa) at low pg/mL levels in horse urine using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS). A simple mixed‐mode cation exchange solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridge was employed for the extraction of 42 targets and/or their in vitro metabolites from horse urine. The final extract was analyzed using UHPLC/HRMS in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode under both full scan and data independent acquisition (DIA, for MS²). The estimated limits of detection (LoD) for most of the targets could reach down to 10 pg/mL in horse urine. This method was validated for qualitative detection purposes. The validation data, including method specificity, method sensitivity, extraction recovery, method precision, and matrix effect were reported. A thorough in vitro study was also performed on four gonadotrophin‐releasing factors (GnRHs), namely leuprorelin, buserelin, goserelin, and nafarelin, using the S9 fraction isolated from horse liver. The identified in vitro metabolites have been incorporated into the method for controlling the misuse of GnRHs. The applicability of this method was demonstrated by the identification of leuprorelin and one of its metabolites, Leu M4, in urine obtained after intramuscular administration of leuprorelin to a thoroughbred gelding (castrated horse).     

In vitro and in vivo metabolism and detection of 3‐HO‐PCP,a synthetic phencyclidine,in human samples and pooled human hepatocytes using high resolution mass spectrometry

The new psychoactive substance (NPS) 3‐HO‐PCP, a phencyclidine (PCP) analog, was detected in a law enforcement seizure and in forensic samples in Denmark. Compared with PCP, 3‐HO‐PCP is known to be a more potent dissociative NPS, but no toxicokinetic investigations of 3‐HO‐PCP are yet available. Therefore, 3‐HO‐PCP was quantified in in vivo samples, and the following were investigated: plasma protein binding, in vitro and in vivo metabolites, and metabolic targets. All samples were separated by liquid chromatography and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The unbound fraction in plasma was determined as 0.72 ± 0.09. After in vitro incubation with pooled human hepatocytes, four metabolites were identified: a piperidine‐hydroxyl‐and piperidine ring opened N‐dealkyl‐COOH metabolite, and O‐glucuronidated‐ and O‐sulfate‐conjugated metabolites. In vivo, depending on the sample and sample preparation, fewer metabolites were detected, as the O‐sulfate‐conjugated metabolite was not detected. The N‐dealkylated‐COOH metabolite was the main metabolite in the deconjugated urine sample. in vivo analytical targets in blood and brain samples were 3‐HO‐PCP and the O‐glucuronidated metabolite, with 3‐HO‐PCP having the highest relative signal intensity. The drug levels of 3‐HO‐PCP quantified in blood were 0.013 and 0.095 mg/kg in a living and a deceased subject, respectively. The 3‐HO‐PCP concentrations in deconjugated urine in a sample from a living subject and in post‐mortem brain were 7.8 and 0.16 mg/kg, respectively. The post mortem results showed a 1.5‐fold higher concentration of 3‐HO‐PCP in the brain tissue than in the post mortem blood sample.     

A high‐throughput and broad‐spectrum screening method for analysing over 120 drugs in horse urine using liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry

A high‐throughput method has been developed for the doping control analysis of 124 drug targets, processing up to 154 horse urine samples in as short as 4.5 h, from the time the samples arrive at the laboratory to the reporting deadline of 30 min before the first race, including sample receipt and registration, preparation and instrument analysis and data vetting time. Sample preparation involves a brief enzyme hydrolysis step (30 min) to detect both free and glucuronide‐conjugated drug targets. This is followed by extraction using solid‐supported liquid extraction (SLE) and analysis using liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS). The entire set‐up comprised of four sets of Biotage Extrahera automation systems for conducting SLE and five to six sets of Orbitrap for instrumental screening using LC–HRMS. Suspicious samples flagged were subject to confirmatory analyses using liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method comprises 124 drug targets from a spectrum of 41 drug classes covering acidic, basic and neutral drugs. More than 85% of the targets had limits of detection at or below 5 ng/mL in horse urine, with the lowest at 0.02 ng/mL. The method was validated for qualitative identification, including specificity, sensitivity, extraction recovery and precision. Method applicability was demonstrated by the successful detection of different drugs, namely (a) butorphanol, (b) dexamethasone, (c) diclofenac, (d) flunixin and (e) phenylbutazone, in post‐race or out‐of‐competition urine samples collected from racehorses. This method was developed for pre‐race urine testing in Hong Kong; however, it is also suitable for testing post‐race or out‐of‐competition urine samples, especially when a quick total analysis time is desired.     

雷奈酸锶治疗骨质疏松症的疗效及安全性的Meta分析

目的系统评价雷奈酸锶治疗骨质疏松症的疗效及安全性。方法检索Cochrane的RCT中心数据库、Embase、PubMed、CNKI数据库和维普数据库中雷奈酸锶治疗骨质疏松症的临床研究,按照纳入及排除标准筛选出随机对照试验,使用"Cochrane协作网的偏倚评论指标"评估搜集的文献质量。提取有效数据,采用RevMan 5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入双盲、随机对照试验6项,结果表明,雷奈酸锶治疗12个月后,腰椎、髋部及股骨颈骨密度提升度比安慰剂对照组分别高6.72%(95%CI:6.17%~7.27%,P<0.01)、3.97%(95%CI:3.53%~4.40%,P<0.01)及3.51%(95%CI:3.21%~3.81%,P<0.01)。雷奈酸锶组的不良反应发生率、因不良反应导致的患者退出率和安慰剂组相似,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);雷奈酸锶组的皮肤和胃肠道不良反应事件发生率高于安慰剂组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论相对于安慰剂对照,雷奈酸锶可显著提高腰椎、髋部及股骨颈骨密度,两者的安全性近似。     

Serum IL‐36 cytokines levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and their association with obesity,insulin resistance,and inflammation

BackgroundThe interleukin (IL)‐36 cytokines include IL‐36α, IL‐36β, IL‐36γ, and IL‐36Ra. Little was known about their roles in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThe study included 40 T2DM patients and 42 healthy control subjects. The anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed using automatic biochemical analyzer, high‐performance liquid chromatography, and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Circulating IL‐36α, IL‐36γ, IL‐36Ra, and IL‐17 levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSerum IL‐36α, IL‐36γ, and IL‐17 levels in T2DM patients were significantly higher than those in controls, whereas serum IL‐36Ra levels in T2DM patients were lower. Correlation analysis showed that serum IL‐36α was positively correlated with high sensitivity C‐reactive protein. Serum IL‐36α was negatively correlated with IL‐36Ra. Serum IL‐17 was negatively correlated with low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that T2DM patients displayed increased IL‐36α and IL‐36γ expression and decreased IL‐36Ra expression. Moreover, the inflammatory cytokine levels were directly proportional to the inflammation and blood lipid levels. Our results suggest that IL‐36 cytokines may be a new target for the diagnosis or treatment of T2DM.     

Comparison of seven different reagents of peroxidase method for small and dense low density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL‐C) measurement

BackgroundWe validated the performance of seven different reagents of peroxidase method for sdLDL‐C in two automatic analyzers that are common in Chinese laboratories.MethodsSeven commercially available sdLDL‐C assays were analyzed with the Beckman AU5400 and Mindray BS2000 automatic analyzers. A total of 336 blood samples were collected and the reference interval was also validated in 298 apparently healthy individuals. Serum samples were used for method comparison of precision, recovery, lower limit of detection, comparison and concurrence analysis, as well as reference interval for the Mindray reagent.ResultsThe repeatability CV% of the seven sdLDL‐C assays were 0.81%~3.66% for Mindray BS2000 and 0.76%~3.91% for Beckman AU5400, while Total CVs for Mindray BS2000 sdLDL‐C assay were 1.34%~4.81%, and that of Beckman AU5400 were 2.25%~10.33%. The measured recovery rates of sdLDL‐C assays were within the allowable ±10% deviation range. There was no obvious difference between the reagents in the lower limit detection. There was a difference between the validation results of the reference range and the manufacturer''s.BSBE, Mindray, and Dongou had a high degree of association with DENKA SEIKEN on Mindray BS2000, while BSBE, Mindray, Dongou and Merit Choice had a high degree of association with DENKA SEIKEN on Beckman AU5400. Passing–Bablok regression showed excellent linear correlation between BSBE and Mindray and DENKA SEIKEN and on Beckman AU5400.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the basic performance can meet the testing requirements, but the comparability between them is still insufficient.     

Ethnopharmacological Studies of Tribulus Terrestris (Linn). in Relation to Its Aphrodisiac Properties

Synergism and antagonism impact of different plant metabolites present in crude fruit extract of Tribulus terrestris ‘the herbal Viagra’ have been studied. Variability in plant composition, biomass and metabolites concentration in different modules was significantly contributed by spatial factor. However the edhaphic parameters also changes with both spatial and temporal factors significantly. Fruit is the officinal part and the fruit production significantly related with soil nitrogen (P<0.01), whereas the soil nitrogen and pH also influenced the alkaloid content in fruit (P<0.05). The linear relation between fruit protein and fruit alkaloid (P<0.01) also observed and the relationship in between different soil parameters were established. Bioassay work confirmed its aphrodisiac properties, and site III is suggested for maximum biomass and high concentration of different metabolites.