Efficacy and safety of ossein-hydroxyapatite complex versus calcium carbonate to prevent bone loss

High doses of hydroxyapatite nanoparticle (nHAP) impairs microcirculation in vivo

Nanoparticles has surrounded the population by their use in electronics, medicine and cosmetics. The exposure to nanoparticles coming from different sources is uncountable as the amount of nanoparticles in which a person is exposed daily. In this direction and considering that microcirculation is the main and most affected system by nanoparticles in the first moment, responsible to transport and deal with nanoparticles internally, we evaluated a massive exposure (1 g/Kg) of a well-known nanoparticle (hydroxyapatite) and the impact on the microvessels. The results showed a massive destruction of venules, arterioles, and capillaries when nHAPs were administered topically. However, systemic administration of high doses of nHAP did not affect microcirculation but altered biochemical parameters of blood samples from treated animals. The data demonstrated that even well documented nanoparticles at high doses might affect the whole-body homeostasis. Finally, the results raise the necessity for further investigation of the effect of nanoparticles in microcirculation and the impact in the whole-body homeostasis.

The Role of the Extrafibrillar Volume on the Mechanical Properties of Molecular Models of Mineralized Bone Microfibrils

Bones are responsible for body support, structure, motion, and several other functions that enable and facilitate life for many different animal species. They exhibit a complex network of distinct physical structures and mechanical properties, which ultimately depend on the fraction of their primary constituents at the molecular scale. However, the relationship between structure and mechanical properties in bones are still not fully understood. Here, we investigate structural and mechanical properties of all-atom bone molecular models composed of type-I collagen, hydroxyapatite (HA), and water by means of fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Our models encompass an extrafibrillar volume (EFV) and consider mineral content in both the EFV and intrafibrillar volume (IFV), consistent with experimental observations. We investigate solvation structures and elastic properties of bone microfibril models with different degrees of mineralization, ranging from highly mineralized to weakly mineralized and nonmineralized models. We find that the local tetrahedral order of water is lost in similar ways in the EFV and IFV regions for all HA containing models, as calcium and phosphate ions are strongly coordinated with water molecules. We also subject our models to tensile loads and analyze the spatial stress distribution over the nanostructure of the material. Our results show that both mineral and water contents accumulate significantly higher stress levels, most notably in the EFV, thus revealing that this region, which has been only recently incorporated in all-atom molecular models, is fundamental for studying the mechanical properties of bones at the nanoscale. Furthermore, our results corroborate the well-established finding that high mineral content makes bone stiffer.

Acceleration of Bone Fracture Healing through the Use of Bovine Hydroxyapatite or Calcium Lactate Oral and Implant Bovine Hydroxyapatite-Gelatin on Bone Defect Animal Model

Bone grafts a commonly used therapeutic technique for the reconstruction and facilitation of bone regeneration due to fractures. BHA-GEL (bovine hydroxyapatite-gelatin) pellet implants have been shown to be able accelerate the process of bone repair by looking at the percentage of new bone, and the contact between the composite and bone. Based on these results, a study was conducted by placing BHA-GEL (9:1) pellet implants in rabbit femoral bone defects, accompanied by 500 mg oral supplement of BHA or calcium lactate to determine the effectiveness of addition supplements. The research model used was a burr hole defect model with a diameter of 4.2 mm in the cortical part of the rabbit femur. On the 7th, 14th and 28th days after treatment, a total of 48 New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups, namely defect (control), implant, implant + oral BHA, and implant + oral calcium lactate. Animal tests were terminated and evaluated based on X-ray radiology results, Hematoxylin-Eosin staining, vascular endothelial growth Factor (VEGF), osteocalcin, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and calcium levels. From this research can be concluded that Oral BHA supplementation with BHA-GEL pellet implants showed faster healing of bone defects compared to oral calcium lactate with BHA-GEL pellet implants.

Modulatory activity of a bovine hydrolyzed collagen-hydroxyapatite food complex on human primary osteoblasts after simulating its gastrointestinal digestion and absorption

INTRODUCTION

osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone disease and one of the main causes of chronic disability in middle and advanced ages. Conventional pharmacological treatments are still limited, and their prolonged use can cause adverse effects that motivate poor adherence to treatment. Nutritional strategies are traditionally based on supplementing the diet with calcium and vitamin D. Recent studies confirm that the results of this supplementation are significantly improved if it is accompanied by the intake of oral hydrolyzed collagen.

OBJECTIVE

to evaluate the possible in vitro osteogenic activity of a peptide-mineral complex formed by bovine hydrolyzed collagen and bovine hydroxyapatite (Phoscollagen®, PHC®).

METHODS

the digestion and absorption of PHC® were simulated using the dynamic gastrointestinal digester of AINIA and Caco-2 cell model, respectively. Primary cultures of human osteoblasts were treated with the resulting fraction of PHC® and changes were evaluated in the proliferation of preosteoblasts and in the mRNA expression of osteogenic biomarkers at different stages of osteoblast maturation: Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) and type I collagen (ColA1).

RESULTS

an increase in preosteoblastic proliferation was observed (p ≤ 0,05). No changes were detected in the biomarkers of osteoblasts with 5 days of differentiation, but were with 14 days, registering an increase in Runx2 (p = 0.0008), ColA1 (p = 0.035), OC (p = 0.027) and ALP (without significance).

CONCLUSION

these results show that the PHC® peptide-mineral complex stimulates the activity of mature osteoblasts, being capable of promoting bone formation.

Recent Advances in Marine-Based Nutraceuticals and Their Health Benefits

The oceans have been the Earth's most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector and the overall health of humans are expanding. This review is an update on the recent studies of functional seafood compounds (chitin and chitosan, pigments from algae, fish lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids and bioactive proteins/peptides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and minerals) focusing on their potential use as nutraceuticals and health benefits.

High risk for cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer patients have a higher mortality risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than women from the general population. CVD risk may increase significantly in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for CVD in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 96 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors were compared with 192 postmenopausal women. The main group included women with amenorrhea >12 months, aged ≥45 years, with breast cancer, and without established CVD. The control group fulfilled the same criteria, but did not have breast cancer. Groups were matched by age, time since menopause, and body mass index, in a ratio of 1 case to 2 controls (1:2). Women with three or more of the following criteria were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome: waist circumference >88 cm; triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <50 mg/dL; blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg; and glucose ≥100 mg/dL. Immunoassays were used (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test) for measurement of plasma heat shock proteins (HSP) 60 and 70 concentrations. Atherosclerotic disease was determined by intima-media thickness (>1 mm) of the carotid arteries and/or the presence of atheromatous plaque assessed by carotid artery ultrasound (scanner duplex).

RESULTS

Breast cancer patients had higher HSP60 levels and lower HSP70 levels than controls (P < 0.05). Analysis showed that the odds of developing metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 4.21, 95% CI, 2.28-7.76), atheromatous plaque (OR = 2.61, 95% CI, 1.19-5.72), diabetes (OR = 4.42; 95% CI, 1.86-10.49), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 2.32, 95% CI, 1.33-4.0), and increased waist circumference (OR = 11.22, 95% CI, 4.0-31.65) was significantly higher in women treated for cancer than in women without breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors had a stronger association with risk factors for cardiovascular disease than postmenopausal women without breast cancer.