METHODS: Sprague-Dawley female rats (12 weeks old) were divided randomly into five groups (n = 6): healthy; nontreated OA; OA + diclofenac (5 mg/kg); OA + extract (200 mg/kg); and OA + extract (400 mg/kg). Two weeks after bilaterally ovariectomy, OA was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate into the right knee joints. After 28 days of treatment, the rats were evaluated for knee OA via physical (radiological and histological observations), biochemical, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and gene expression analysis, for inflammation and cartilage degradation biomarkers.
RESULTS: The osteoarthritic rats treated with the extract, and diclofenac showed significant reduction of cartilage erosion (via radiological, macroscopic, and histological images) compared with untreated osteoarthritic rats. The elevated serum interleukin-1β, prostaglandin E2, and C-telopeptide type II collagen levels in osteoarthritic rats were significantly reduced by F deltoidea leaf extract comparable to diclofenac. The extract significantly down-regulated the interleukin-1β, prostaglandin E2 receptor, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 mRNA expressions in the osteoarthritic cartilages, similar to diclofenac.
CONCLUSIONS: F deltoidea leaf extract mitigated postmenopausal osteoarthritic joint destruction by inhibiting inflammation and cartilage degradation enzymes, at an effective extract dose equivalent to about 60 mg/kg for humans. The main bioactive compounds are probably the antioxidative flavonoids vitexin and isovitexin.
METHODS: Fifty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into eight groups (n = 7): SHAM (healthy sham control); OVX (ovarietomized) nontreated rats (negative control); OVX + Remifemin (100 mg/kg body weight), and 2% green tea extract (positive controls); OVX + OS 50% ethanolic and aqueous extracts, both at either 150 or 300 mg/kg. After 16 weeks, the rats' bones and blood were evaluated for osteoporosis indicators (protein and mRNA expressions), micro-computed tomography for bone histomorphometry, and three-point bending test for tibia mechanical strength.
RESULTS: The extracts dose-dependently and significantly (P
METHODS: A retrospective observational study involving postmenopausal women with pelvic floor dysfunction attending a tertiary urogynecology center between January 2012 and March 2015. All underwent a clinical examination including International Continence Society Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification and 4D translabial ultrasound imaging. Information on current or former use of systemic HT and current local estrogen use was collected. Main outcome measure was pelvic organ support.
RESULTS: One thousand four hundred forty-three women were seen during the study period. On univariate analysis, current HT was significantly associated with sonographically determined descent of the rectal ampulla (β [95% confidence interval] 3.4 mm [0.4-6.5], P = 0.03) and Gh + Pb (-0.45 mm [-0.8 to -0.1], P = 0.005). Past HT use, duration of HT use, or current vaginal estrogen use was not associated with pelvic organ support. On multivariate analysis controlling for age, parity, body mass index, history of forceps delivery, and avulsion, the association between current HT on the one hand and Gh + Pb as well as increased descent of the rectal ampulla on ultrasound, remained significant (P = 0.008 and P = 0.012, respectively).
CONCLUSION: HT may have a minor negative effect on pelvic organ support; however, the effect is likely too small to be clinically relevant.