Objective To summarize the advances in MRI-based bone quality scoring systems and their clinical applications. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted on recent studies related to the MRI-based bone quality scoring system, focusing on measurement methods, influencing factors, and clinical significance. Results Osteoporosis has a high incidence in China, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life and the postoperative outcomes of related orthopedic surgeries. Early identification of osteoporosis holds important clinical significance. In recent years, both domestic and international research has enriched the MRI-based bone quality scoring systems, which includes vertebral bone quality scoring, endplate bone quality scoring, and pedicle bone quality scoring. Compared to the “gold standard” of bone density measurement, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, the bone quality scoring systems demonstrate good efficacy in identifying abnormal bone mass and predicting postoperative complications, while being less influenced by degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, indicating its important clinical application value. ConclusionThe MRI-based bone quality scoring systems have good value in clinical applications. However, current studies are mostly retrospective cohort and case-control studies, which carry a risk of bias. The clinical application value needs further clarification through meta-analysis and large-scale prospective studies.
Osteosarcopenia (OS), which has become a global public health problem, is a geriatric syndrome in which sarcopenia and osteoporosis co-exist, leading to falls, fractures, and even varying degrees of disability in the elderly. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is a tool to measure the overall level of dietary inflammation in an individual, and the DII score is closely associated with the development of OS. This article reviews the basic concepts of DII and OS and their interrelationships, focusing on the associations between diet, inflammation, DII and OS, with the aim of providing a reference for dietary interventions in the prevention and control of OS patients.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of the regulatory role of microRNA (miRNA) in osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its application as a therapeutic target and diagnostic tool in orthopedic diseases.MethodsThe recent literature on the regulation of MSCs osteogenic differentiation by miRNAs was extensively reviewed, and its regulatory mechanism and its application as a therapeutic target and diagnostic tool in orthopedic diseases were reviewed.ResultsmiRNAs are small endogenous non-coding RNAs with a length of 20-22 nucleotides, which play an important role in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Osteogenesis begins with the differentiation of MSCs into mature osteoblasts, and each stage of dynamic homeostasis of bone metabolism is associated with the regulation of different miRNAs. miRNAs are regulated from the post-transcriptional level by mRNAs cleavage, degradation, translational repression, or methylation. In addition, current studies suggest that miRNAs can be used as a new diagnostic tool and therapeutic target for orthopedic diseases.ConclusionFurther study on the regulation mechanism of miRNAs will provide more ideas for finding new therapeutic targets and diagnostic tools for orthopedic disease.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of nicotine intake on bone microstructure, bone biomechanics, and oxidative stress state in rats. MethodsThirty-six 6-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (weight, 160-180 g) were randomly divided into control group, low dose group, and high dose group, 12 rats each group. The rats in high dose group and low dose group were given respectively 6.0 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg nicotine gavage intervention for 12 months; no intervention was made in the control group. The survival of rats was observed during experiment, and the weight of rats was measured every month. At 12 months after modeling, the L1 vertebral body was harvested to measure the bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BVF), trabecular thickness (TT), trabecular number (TN), and trabecular spacing (TS) by Micro-CT three-dimensional reconstruction; the left femur was harvested for biomechanical tests of maximal load, stiffness, and the maximal fracture energy; and arterial blood was extracted to measure the malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and cotinine. ResultsDuring the experiment, two rats and one rat were added in the high dose group and the low dose group because of death, and no death in the control group. The body weight of the rats in the high and low dose groups gradually decreased with time when compared with one in the control group, and significant difference was found between two dose groups and the control group at 8-12 months (P < 0.05); the body weight of the high dose group was significantly lower than that of the low dose group at 11 and 12 months (P < 0.05). At 12 months after modeling, BMD, BVF, TT, and TN were significantly lower in the high dose group than the control group and the low dose group, but TS was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Difference in BVF, TN, and TS was significant between the low dose group and the control group (P < 0.05). The maximal load, stiffness, and maximal fracture energy of femoral shaft were significantly lower in the high dose group than the control group and the low dose group, and in the low dose group than the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of cotinine and MDA were significantly increased, and the levels of CAT and SOD were significantly decreased in the high and low dose groups (P < 0.05), and there were significant differences between the high and low dose groups (P < 0.05). ConclusionNicotine intake can cause micro-structural changes of the bone, decreased bone mechanical properties, and imbalance of oxidation-antioxidant levels in rats. High-dose nicotine intake may be one of the causes of osteoporosis.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw combined with multiple level Schwab grade Ⅰ osteotomy for chronic thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures with kyphosis.MethodsThe clinical data of 27 patients with symptomatic chronic thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures combined with kyphosis treated between June 2015 and June 2017 were retrospectively analysed. Among them, there were 8 males and 19 females, with an average age of 69.5 years (range, 56-81 years). The damage segment (kyphosis vertex) included T11 in 4 cases, T12 in 12 cases, L1 in 10 cases, and L2 in 1 case. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 21 months, with an average of 12.5 months. The T value of lumbar vertebral bone mineral density ranged from −4.9 to −2.5, with an average value of −3.61. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification was used to evaluate spinal cord injury, there were 1 case of grade D and 26 cases of grade E. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), kyphosis Cobb angle of fracture site, and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) data were obtained before operation, at 2 weeks after operation, 3 months after operation, and last follow-up, to evaluate the quality of life and improvement of sagittal spine parameters.ResultsNo complications related to pedicle screw and bone cement occurred. The incisions healed by first intention in 26 cases, and 1 incision healed after dressing change due to poor blood glucose control. There were no complications such as bedsore, hypostatic pneumonia, or deep venous thrombosis. All patients were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 16.6 months. The VAS score, ODI score, Cobb angle, and SVA were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Cobb angle between each time point after operation (P>0.05); the VAS score and ODI score at 3 months after operation and last follow-up were significantly better than those at 2 weeks after operation (P<0.05), and the ODI score at last follow-up was further improved when compared with the score at 3 months (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in VAS score (P>0.05); SVA at last follow-up was significantly worse than that at 2 weeks and 3 months after operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between at 2 weeks and 3 months after operation (P>0.05). During the follow-up period, there was no complication such as pedicle screw loosening, breakage or cutting, adjacent vertebral fracture, proximal junctional kyphosis, and so on.ConclusionFor the chronic thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures combined with kyphosis, the cement-injectable cannulated pedicle screw and multiple level Schwab grade Ⅰ osteotomy has the advantages of less operation trauma, quick recovery, and remarkable effectiveness.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of low-magnitude vibration on osteogenesis of osteoblasts in ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis via estrogen receptor α(ERα). The mRNA expression of osteogenic markers were examined with qRT-PCR, based on which the optimal vibration parameter for promoting osteogenesis was determined (45 Hz × 0.9 g, g = 9.8 m/s2). Then we loaded the optimal vibration parameter on the osteoblasts of ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis. The protein expression of osteogenic markers and ERα were detected with Western blot; the distribution of ERα was examined with immunofluorescence technique. Finally, through inhibiting the expression of ERα with estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780, the protein and mRNA expression of osteogenic markers were examined. First, the results showed that low-magnitude vibration could promote the expression of osteogenic markers and ERα in osteoblasts of ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis (P < 0.05), and make ERα transfer to the nucleus. On the other hand, the results also showed that after inhibiting the expression of ERα in osteoblasts of ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis, the protein and mRNA expression of osteogenic marker were decreased (P < 0.05). In our study, low-magnitude vibration played an important role in the osteogenesis of osteoblasts in ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis through increasing the expression and causing translocation of ERα. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical basis for the application of low-magnitude vibration in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Objective To explore the potential causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and osteoporosis (OP) through bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to provide genetic evidence for the risk association between thyroid dysfunction and OP, and provide reference for early prevention and treatment of OP. Methods Causal relationships were estimated based on data from genome-wide association studies for hypothyroidism (n=410141), hyperthyroidism (n=460499), Hashimoto thyroiditis (n=395640), and OP (n=212778). The inverse variance weighted method was used as the main analysis method, and the other four methods were used as the supplementary analysis methods to evaluate the causal effect of thyroid dysfunction and OP. Results The results of inverse variance weighted method showed that hypothyroidism [odds ratio (OR)=1.097, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.017, 1.183), P=0.017], hyperthyroidism [OR=1.089, 95%CI (1.000, 1.186), P=0.049] and Hashimoto thyroiditis [OR=1.190, 95%CI (1.054, 1.343), P=0.005] were positively correlated with the causal effect of OP. The results of reverse MR analysis did not support that OP would increase the risk of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto thyroiditis (P>0.05). In the bidirectional MR analyses, there was no heterogeneity in Cochran Q detection, MR-Egger intercept test results showed that there was no horizontal pleotropy, and the leave-one-out method analysis results showed that the MR analysis results were reliable. Conclusion Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and Hashimoto thyroiditis increase the risk of OP, while OP is not found to increase the risk of thyroid dysfunction in reverse studies.
ObjectiveTo overview the reporting and methodology quality of systematic reviews/meta-analysis on acupuncture in the treatment of primary osteoporosis (POP).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect systematic reviews/meta-analysis on acupuncture in the treatment of POP from inception to July 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of systematic reviews. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) methodological quality score and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) were used to assess the methodological quality and reporting quality of the systematic reviews, along with the risk of homogeneity and publication bias.ResultsA total of 11 systematic reviews/meta-analysis were included and multiple evaluations of the radar plot showed that the quality average rank scored 7.68. The major problems in studies were lack of items registration, imperfect search strategies and selection bias and so on.ConclusionThe quality of systematic reviews/meta-analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of POP is insufficient, indicating that the methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews should be further strengthened.
目的 探讨独活寄生汤联合唑来膦酸治疗绝经后肝肾亏虚型骨质疏松症（PO）的疗效。 方法 选取2009年2月－2012年12月收治的210例绝经后肝肾亏虚型PO患者，且所有患者均愿意接受研究。采用随机对照试验法，将患者分为A、B、C 3组各70例。A组采用独活寄生汤联合唑来膦酸治疗；B组采用唑来膦酸治疗；C组采用独活寄生汤治疗。观察3组患者治疗前后骨密度、骨源性碱性磷酸酶（NBAP）、骨钙素（BGP）、雌二醇（E2）变化，疗效及不良反应。 结果 骨密度、NBAP、BGP、E2各项指标，治疗前3组患者比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）；治疗后A组各项指标明显优于B组、C组（P＜0.05）；B组与C组对比，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）；治疗后A组总有效率为97.14%，与B组、C组对比，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。3组均未见严重不良反应。 结论 独活寄生汤联合唑来膦酸治疗绝经后肝肾亏虚型PO疗效显著，可有效提高患者骨密度、BGP、E2含量，降低骨源性碱性磷酸酶含量，缓解骨质疏松，且无严重不良反应发生，值得临床推广。
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Method Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were searched in Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2008), MEDLINE (1978-2008) and Clinical Evidence database. Search terms included Postmenopausal (post-menopausal) osteoporosis, therapy, vertebral fracture, hormone replacement therapy, randomized controlled trial, meta analysis, female,human. Result A total of 4 protocols were found in Cochrane Library and a meta-analyse was found in MEDLINE. The result demonstrated that both cancellous and cortical bone mineral density increased after HRT. Statistically significant reductions in the risk of vertebral and non-vertebral fracture were also found. Conclusion HRT can reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture by increasing bone density. However, other disease and adverse event were also associated with the BMD increase. Therefore, both advantage and disadvantage should be considered before applying HRT therapy to postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.