Novel Genetic Variants Associated With Increased Vertebral Volumetric BMD,Reduced Vertebral Fracture Risk,and Increased Expression of SLC1A3 and EPHB2

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed numerous loci for areal bone mineral density (aBMD). We completed the first GWAS meta‐analysis (n = 15,275) of lumbar spine volumetric BMD (vBMD) measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), allowing for examination of the trabecular bone compartment. SNPs that were significantly associated with vBMD were also examined in two GWAS meta‐analyses to determine associations with morphometric vertebral fracture (n = 21,701) and clinical vertebral fracture (n = 5893). Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses of iliac crest biopsies were performed in 84 postmenopausal women, and murine osteoblast expression of genes implicated by eQTL or by proximity to vBMD‐associated SNPs was examined. We identified significant vBMD associations with five loci, including: 1p36.12, containing WNT4 and ZBTB40; 8q24, containing TNFRSF11B; and 13q14, containing AKAP11 and TNFSF11. Two loci (5p13 and 1p36.12) also contained associations with radiographic and clinical vertebral fracture, respectively. In 5p13, rs2468531 (minor allele frequency [MAF] = 3%) was associated with higher vBMD (β = 0.22, p = 1.9 × 10^–8) and decreased risk of radiographic vertebral fracture (odds ratio [OR] = 0.75; false discovery rate [FDR] p = 0.01). In 1p36.12, rs12742784 (MAF = 21%) was associated with higher vBMD (β = 0.09, p = 1.2 × 10^–10) and decreased risk of clinical vertebral fracture (OR = 0.82; FDR p = 7.4 × 10^–4). Both SNPs are noncoding and were associated with increased mRNA expression levels in human bone biopsies: rs2468531 with SLC1A3 (β = 0.28, FDR p = 0.01, involved in glutamate signaling and osteogenic response to mechanical loading) and rs12742784 with EPHB2 (β = 0.12, FDR p = 1.7 × 10^–3, functions in bone‐related ephrin signaling). Both genes are expressed in murine osteoblasts. This is the first study to link SLC1A3 and EPHB2 to clinically relevant vertebral osteoporosis phenotypes. These results may help elucidate vertebral bone biology and novel approaches to reducing vertebral fracture incidence. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

患者报告结局评价技术在针灸疗效评价中的适用性研究

【目的】探讨患者报告结局(PRO)评价技术在评价针灸临床疗效中的适用性。【方法】引入NPQ颈痛量表作为主要疗效指标,应用PRO模式评价针灸干预颈椎病颈痛的疗效,以麦吉尔疼痛量表(MPQ)和SF-36生存质量量表为参照,对一项多中心(9个中心)随机对照临床试验中896例患者治疗前后和随访中所测量的NPQ评分进行信度、效度、反应度评价。【结果】信度分析提示:NPQ量表的克朗巴赫α系数为0.769(95%CI∶0.761～0.804)。内容效度分析提示:NPQ评分与MPQ量表各个领域是一般到中等强度的相关,与SF-36量表中的躯体疼痛领域为中到强相关,与其他6个领域为一般相关,与精神健康为弱相关。结构效度提示:NPQ颈痛量表共可筛选出3个因子,累计方差贡献率为59.3%。反应度分析提示:患者在治疗结束时和随访3个月后的NPQ评分与治疗前的NPQ评分差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001)。【结论】以NPQ颈痛量表评价针灸治疗颈椎病颈痛的临床疗效,具有良好的信度、效度和反应度。PRO评估技术适用于针灸临床疗效评价,能够准确测量临床结局,值得在各类针灸临床研究中推广应用。     

中医药临床疗效评价若干关键环节的思考

为探讨中医药临床疗效评价的方法,提出正确评价中医药临床疗效的两个关键环节是建立中医药干预措施有效性的科学假说和应用科学方法检验假说;强调中医药有效性科学假说的建立必须以包括辨证论治、整体调节在内的中医药理论和临床治疗基本特点为前提,而检验假说又必须应用包括临床流行病学、循证医学在内的现代临床研究方法学,其中尤其需要强调随机对照试验的重要性。