The major risk factor of postmenopausal osteoporosis is estrogen deficiency. Hormone replacement therapy is efficacious against osteoporosis, but it induces several significant adverse effects. In this study, therefore, we compared therapeutic potencies of three phytoestrogens: genistein, daidzein, and formononetin. Our result showed that in Saos-2 cells, formononetin and genistein (5 x 10(-7) M) treatment increased alkaline phosphatase activity by 33.0 +/- 5.8% and 21.1 +/- 4.0%. Genistein inhibited osteoclast formation in a dose-dependent manner. In OVX rats, formononetin-treated groups given 1 and 10 mg/kg/day displayed increased trabecular bone areas (TBAs) within the tibia. Genistein- and daidzein-treated groups also displayed increased tibial TBAs. TBAs of the lumbar vertebrae were higher in all treated groups than in the control group. In conclusion, formononetin as well as other isoflavones, such as daidzein and genistein, inhibited bone loss caused by estrogen-deficiency.

The specific properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), such as antimicrobial activity and electrical conductivity, allow them to be used in many fields. However, their expanding application is also raising health, environmental and safety concerns. Previous in vivo AgNP toxicity studies have indicated a gender-different accumulation of silver in the kidneys, with 2-3 times more silver in female kidneys compared to male kidneys. However, no other studies have further addressed this gender difference. Accordingly, the current study investigated the gender-dependent effect of AgNPs on the kidney gene level based on toxicogenomic studies of kidneys obtained from rats exposed to AgNPs via inhalation for 12 weeks. When compared with the fresh air control, the silver nanoparticle-exposed kidneys included 104 genes with a more than 1.3-fold expression increase. For the male rat kidneys exposed to a low or high dose of silver nanoparticles, 96 genes exhibited expression changes, where six genes changed with both the low and high dose; four increased and two decreased. Meanwhile, for the female rat kidneys exposed to a low or high dose of silver nanoparticles, 66 genes exhibited expression changes, where 11 genes changed with both the low and high dose; nine increased and two decreased. Gender-dependent gene expression changes of more than 2-fold were linked to 163 genes, with 79 genes in the male kidneys and 84 genes in the female kidneys, plus gender-dependent gene expression changes of more than 5-fold were linked to 21 genes. However, no genes involved in apoptosis or the cell cycle were activated by the 12-week silver nanoparticle inhalation exposure. Overall, the male rat kidneys showed a higher expression of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, while the female rat kidneys showed a higher expression of genes involved in extracellular signaling.

The renin angiotensin system plays an important role in growth and development. Exposure of the neonate to an ACE inhibitor increases mortality and results in growth retardation and abnormal development. We have demonstrated that ACE inhibition in the developing kidney increases apoptosis and decreases cell proliferation, which may account for renal growth impairment. To evaluate the role of endogenous angiotensin in cardiac development, the relationship between ACE inhibition, cell proliferation, apoptosis, several modulators of apoptosis (bcl-2, bcl-xl, and clusterin) was examined in the developing rat heart. Thirty-five newborn rat pups were treated with enalapril (30 mg/kg/d) or a vehicle (control group) for 7 d, and hearts were removed for rt-PCR and Western blotting of bcl-2, bcl-xl, and clusterin. An additional 10 rat pups were treated with hydralazine (10 mg/kg/d) or a vehicle, to serve as a hypotensive control. Cell proliferation was determined by PCNA immunostaining, and apoptosis was detected using the total TUNEL technique. Enalapril treatment resulted in a 24% mortality, reduced body weight, and decreased heart weight (p Ͻ 0.05). Enalapril decreased proliferating myocytes by 23%, and reduced proliferating cardiac interstitial cells by 8.1% (p Ͻ 0.05). Enalapril also decreased myocytes apoptosis by 60%, but the proportion of myocytes undergoing apoptosis was 10-fold less than that of proliferating cells. Cardiac bcl-2 mRNA, clusterin mRNA, bcl-2 protein, and bcl-xl protein content were not changed, but clusterin protein expression was decreased by enalapril treatment. Hydralazine did not alter cardiac cell proliferation or apoptosis. We conclude that ACE inhibition decreases cell turnover in the developing rat heart, which may contribute to cardiac growth impairment. The loss of myocytes may lead to greater myocyte hypertrophy and myocardial damage during later life. The renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in the maintenance of systemic arterial pressure in the newborn, and provides a homeostatic response to hypovolemia (1). Davidson (1) demonstrated parallel increases in plasma renin activity in arterial ANG-II concentration occurred in the immediate minutes after delivery. Furthermore, the release of catecholamines may be stimulated by the production of ANG II, and the activation of the sympathoadrenal system at birth has been implicated in several adaptive processes and structural integrity (2).In newborn animals and human infants, the activity of the RAS increases at birth, which is important in regulating cellular growth and organ differentiation (1, 3). ANG-II, which is a final product of the RAS, has been reported to exert atrophic effect on cardiac myocytes in cultures (4) and in vivo (5). ANG-II may stimulate a growth response in cardiac tissue indirectly, by increased blood pressure and total peripheral vascular resistance, which develops in response to ANG-II receptor coupling in the vasculature (5). Alternatively, ANG-II may have a direct effect by coupling to its cardiac membrane...

Background: Lorcaserin is a serotonin 2C receptor agonist approved in the U.S. as adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in patients with a BMI ≥ 30 or ≥ 27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity. To date, there is limited data on the real-world use of lorcaserin for weight management, including in patients diagnosed with T2DM, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed at the Scripps Clinic Weight Management Center. Patients were identified if they had at least one prescription for lorcaserin and were ≥ 18 years old. Weight change at 90 days and reason for discontinuation were assessed for patients with at least one day on pharmacotherapy. Patients with weight loss of ≥ 5% at 90 days were defined as medication “responders.” Results: A total of 118 overweight and obese patients filled a prescription for lorcaserin. Of these, 69 (58%) remained on lorcaserin ≥ 90 days (median follow-up was 306 days). Mean age was 53 years old, 73% were female, and mean baseline weight was 102 kg (BMI= 36). For patients who had follow-up weight information available (N=65), overall mean weight loss at 90 days was -3.5 kg (-4%) from baseline, responders had a decrease -7 kg (-7%, n=24) versus -1 kg (-2%) for non-responders (n=41). For patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (n=25), mean weight loss for responders (n=10, 40%) was -6.7 kg (-7%) versus -2.1 kg (-2%) for non-responders (n=15). Similar weight loss was observed in patients with T2DM and prediabetes. Conclusion: These "real world" results represent a group of commercially insured overweight and obese patients and demonstrate that weight loss programs can use lorcaserin and expect to get significant weight loss when used according to the label. Disclosure S.R. Harris: Consultant; Self; Sanofi. Research Support; Self; Eisai Inc. R.L. Knoth: Employee; Self; Eisai Inc. X. Li: Employee; Self; Eisai Inc. I. Khilfeh: Employee; Self; Eisai Inc. J. Choi: Employee; Self; Eisai Inc. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Johnson & Johnson. A. Philis-Tsimikas: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Glooko, Inc., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc. K. Fujioka: Consultant; Self; Eisai Inc. Funding Eisai Inc.