Quantification of bone histomorphometric parameters using the Weibel technique in animals

Bone histomorphometric measurements are required to understand the efficacy of treatment on bone remodelling. Previous studies used the Weibel technique as a quantitative stereological method to determine bone cellular and dynamic changes. However, there was no description on how this technique was applied. This studyaimed to provide a full picture about the utilization of the Weibel technique to measure static and dynamic bone histomorphometric indices. Technical expertise, processing of bone samples, randomization of the trabecular sections and an adequate number of analysed images for each section are required to achieve reliable results with a low possibility of errors

The Role of Vitamin E in Preventing and Treating Osteoarthritis – A Review of the Current Evidence

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease of the joint involving cartilage degeneration and chondrocytes apoptosis. Oxidative stress is one of the many proposed mechanisms underpinning joint degeneration in osteoarthritis. The current pharmacotherapies emphasize pain and symptomatic management of the patients but do not alter the biological processes underlying the cartilage degeneration. Vitamin E is a potential agent to prevent or treat osteoarthritis due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the relationship between vitamin E and osteoarthritis derived from preclinical and human studies. Cellular studies showed that vitamin E mitigated oxidative stress in cartilage explants or chondrocyte culture invoked by mechanical stress or free radicals. Animal studies suggested that vitamin E treatment prevented cartilage degeneration and improve oxidative status in animal models of osteoarthritis. Low circulating or synovial vitamin E was observed in human osteoarthritic patients compared to healthy controls. Observational studies also demonstrated that vitamin E was related to induction or progression of osteoarthritis in the general population. Vitamin E supplementation might improve the outcomes in patients with osteoarthritis, but negative results were also reported. Different isomers of vitamin E might possess distinct anti-osteoarthritic effects. As a conclusion, vitamin E may retard the progression of osteoarthritis by ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation of the joint. Further studies are warranted to develop vitamin E as an anti-osteoarthritis agent to reduce the global burden of this disease

Leptin, adiponectin and insulin as regulators for energy metabolism in a rat model of metabolic syndrome

Leptin, adiponectin, and insulin are pivotal regulators for lipid and glucose metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the changes in these hormones in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (MetS) induced by high-carbohydrate high-fat (HCHF) diet. Twelve-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups. The normal group was given standard rat chow with tap water. The HCHF group was given HCHF diet with 25% fructose-supplemented drinking water to induce MetS. Body composition of the animals was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood was collected at week 0, 8, 12, and 16 for the measurement of blood glucose and hormone levels. Our findings demonstrated that HCHF diet significantly increased fat mass, percentage of fat, and decreased lean mass in the animals starting from week 8. The levels of blood glucose, leptin, and insulin were significantly higher but the level of adiponectin was significantly lower in the HCHF rats compared to the normal rats. In conclusion, hormones play a key underlying role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism in MetS

The Potential Role of Quercus Infectoria Gall Extract on Osteoblast Function and Bone Metabolism

The galls of the Quercus infectoria (QI) tree are traditionally believed to have great medicinal value. Pharmacologically the galls are claimed to have various biological activities such as astringent effect, antidiabetic, antitremorine, local anaesthetic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and many more. These pharmacological activities of gall extracts were reported to be due to its excellent antioxidant activity with phytochemicals constituents of phenolic and flavanoid compounds. The phenolic compounds or polyphenols can act on bone metabolism by modulating os-teoblast proliferation, differentiation and mineralization, as well as osteoclastogenesis. In addition, elemental and phys-ico-chemical analysis indicated the presence of important minerals in QI, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, oxygen, potassium, aluminium, carbon, zinc, iron, manganese, nickel and silica. The current review will be focusing on the potential bone health benefits of the well-known traditional herbal medicine, QI or locally known as the “manja-kani”

Effects of Tocotrienol and Lovastatin Combination on Osteoblast and Osteoclast Activity in Estrogen-Deficient Osteoporosis

Statins are HMGCoA reductase inhibitors and had been demonstrated to stimulate bone formation in rodents after high oral doses. Observational studies on patients treated with oral statins were varied. Delta-tocotrienol had been found to stimulate the cleavage of HMGCoA reductase and inhibit its activity. Tocotrienols were found to have both catabolic and anabolic effects on bone in different animal models of osteoporosis. The current study aimed to ascertain the effects of delta–tocotrienol and lovastatin combination on biochemical and static bone histomorphometric parameters in a postmenopausal rat model at clinically tolerable doses. 48 Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: (1) baseline control group; (2) sham-operated control group; (3) ovariectomised control group; (4) ovariectomised and 11 mg/kg lovastatin; (5) ovariectomised and 60 mg/kg delta-tocotrienol; (6) ovariectomised and 60 mg/kg delta-tocotrienol + 11 mg/kg lovastatin. These treatments were given daily via oral gavage for 8 weeks. Delta-tocotrienol plus lovastatin treatment significantly increased bone formation and reduced bone resorption compared to the other groups. Therefore, the combined treatment may have synergistic or additive effects and have the potential to be used as an antiosteoporotic agent in patients who are at risk of both osteoporosis and hypercholesterolemia, especially in postmenopausal women

The influence of age, ethnicity and body anthropometry on the level of serum osteocalcin and terminal-c telopeptides of type I collagen in men

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) are useful in the assessment of bone health status. However, the infl uence of age, ethnicity and body anthropometry on the level of BTMs in men remains understudied. This study aimed to determine the influence of these factors on the level of BTM, namely osteoclacin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen (CTX-1) among Malay and Chinese men (N = 407) aged 20 years and above in Klang Valley. The subjects were recruited using purposive sampling method. Their height, body weight and body mass index were measured. Their blood was collected in the morning for serum OC and CTX-1 analysis using enzyme-linked immunoasorbent assays. Results showed that OC and CTX-1 levels were significantly higher in Malay compared to Chinese men (p 0.005). There were significant and negative correlations between OC and body mass index and weight, which were significant for men aged 20-39 years only (p 0.05). As a conclusion, levels of BTMs in Malaysian men could be infl uenced by age, ethnicity and body anthropometry. Thus, these factors should be taken into consideration in the evaluation of bone health status of men using BTMs

Serum testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and total calcium levels predict the calcaneal speed of sound in men

OBJECTIVES: Variations in sex hormones and the calcium balance can influence bone health in men. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between the calcaneal speed of sound and biochemical determinants of bone mass, such as sex hormones, parathyroid hormones and serum calcium. METHODS: Data from 549 subjects from the Malaysian Aging Male Study, which included Malay and Chinese men aged 20 years and older residing in the Klang Valley, were used for analysis. The subjects' calcaneal speed of sound was measured, and their blood was collected for biochemical analysis. Two sets of multiple regression models were generated for the total/bioavailable testosterone and estradiol to avoid multicollinearity. RESULTS: The multiple regression results revealed that bioavailable testosterone and serum total calcium were significant predictors of the calcaneal speed of sound in the adjusted model. After adjustment for ethnicity and body mass index, only bioavailable testosterone remained significant; the total serum calcium was marginally insignificant. In a separate model, the total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin were significant predictors, whereas the total serum calcium was marginally insignificant. After adjustment for ethnicity and body mass index (BMI), the significance persisted for total testosterone and SHBG. After further adjustment for age, none of the serum biochemical determinants was a significant predictor of the calcaneal speed of sound. CONCLUSION: There is a significant age-dependent relationship between the calcaneal speed of sound and total testosterone, bioavailable testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in Chinese and Malay men in Malaysia. The relationship between total serum calcium and calcaneal speed of sound is ethnicity-dependent

Aqueous polyphenol semi-purified fractions from galls of Quercus infectoria increase ALP activity and mineralisation of hFOB 1.19 cells

The galls of Quercus infectoria (QI) have been reported to possess numerous medicinal values and give a positive effect on bone metabolism. This study investigated the effects of semi-purified fractions of QI gall extract on the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralisation of human foetal osteoblast cell line (hFOB 1.19). The semi-purified fractions (fraction A and B) were prepared by column chromatography methods. MTT assay was used to measure cell proliferation activity to obtain half maximal concentration (EC50) of the cells treated with fraction A (phenolic components and contained amide), fraction B (phenolic components with the presence of alkene), and pamidronate (drug control). The most potent or lowest EC50 was further used to measure ALP activity in the treated and untreated cells at day 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 by ELISA. Cell mineralisation was determined by von Kossa staining for phosphate depositions and Alizarin Red S staining for calcium depositions. The EC50 values for fraction A and B were 8.86 and 9.92 μg/mL, respectively, which showed a greater effect compared to the pamidronate (15.27 μg/mL). The ALP activity of both fractions in the treated cells were also greater compared to the two control groups (cells treated with pamidronate and untreated cells), starting from day 3 onwards. The calcium depositions appeared as red spots, while phosphate depositions appeared as black spots. Interestingly, the calcium depositions of cells treated with both fractions were higher than those of the two control groups. In conclusion, semi-purified fractions of QI gall extract enhanced proliferation, improved mineralisation, and increased ALP activity of hFOB 1.19 cells