INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT INTERVALS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT ON BONE INTENSITY IN PRIMARY OSTEOPOROSIS PATIENTS

Objective: To observe the influence of different intervals of acupuncture treatment on bone intensity in primary osteoporosis subjects. Methods: A total of 45 cases of primary osteoporosis female patients were randomly divided into 1 treatment/week (1-T/W), 2 treatments/week (2-T/W) and 3 treatments/week (3-T/W) groups, with 15 cases being in each group. Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3) and Pishu (BL 20) were used and stimulated with reinforcing needling manipulation. For patients with deficiency syndrome of kidney-yang, thermal acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), and for patients with spleen-deficiency syndrome, thermal acupuncture applied to Zusanli (ST 36). Results: After 6 months’ treatment, in 1-T/W group, no apparent change of bone intensity was observed, while in 2-T/W and 3-T/W groups, the bone intensity was increased significantly (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment twice or 3 times every week can obviously improve the bone intensity.

Icariin associated with exercise therapy is an effective treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Background There are no conclusive studies evaluating the interaction between icariin and exercise for treatment of osteoporosis; the efficacy and safety of this treatment combination remains to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of icariin treatment combined with exercise therapy on bone parameters and body weight of ovariectomized rats. Methods Ovariectomized rats were used as a model of postmenopausaJ osteoporosis and were exposed to either icariin treatment, exercise, hormone replacement therapy, or a combination of the above. Untreated, ovariectomized rats and sham operated rats were used as controls. After 3 months of experimental interventions the effects of the treatments on the body and uterine weights, the physical and biomechanical properties of bones, and the expression of the osteoblast-specific gene Osterix （Osx）, were assessed. Results The weight gain of the ovariectomized rats was greater than that of the treated experimental groups. Uterine weight and serum estradiol levels were significantly greater in sham operated and estrogen-treated ovariectomized rats than in the other groups. Biomechanical parameters were improved significantly in ovariectomized rats treated with exercise alone or treated with exercise and icariin. Osx expression was increased in ovariectomized rats treated with exercise and icariin or treated with just icariin. Conclusions Exercise combined with icariin had a synergistic effect in the early prevention of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. The effects of icariin and exercise on osteoporosis are worth further exploration.

A bone-targeted engineered exosome platform delivering siRNA to treat osteoporosis

The complex pathogenesis of osteoporosis includes excessive bone resorption,insufficient bone formation and inadequate vascularization,a combination which is difficult to completely address with conventional therapies.Engineered exosomes carrying curative molecules show promise as alternative osteoporosis therapies,but depend on specifically-functionalized vesicles and appropriate engineering strategies.Here,we developed an exosome delivery system based on exosomes secreted by mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).The engineered exosomes BT-Exo-siShn3,took advantage of the intrinsic anti-osteoporosis function of these special MSC-derived exosomes and collaborated with the loaded siRNA of the Shn3 gene to enhance the therapeutic effects.Modification of a bone-targeting peptide endowed the BT-Exo-siShn3 an ability to deliver siRNA to osteoblasts specifically.Silencing of the osteoblastic Shn3 gene enhanced osteogenic differentiation,decreased autologous RANKL expression and thereby inhibited osteoclast formation.Furthermore,Shn3 gene silencing increased production of SLIT3 and consequently facilitated vascularization,especially formation of type H vessels.Our study demonstrated that BT-Exo-siShn3 could serve as a promising therapy to kill three birds with one stone and implement comprehensive anti-osteoporosis effects.