| 摘要 |
Methods for identifying compounds for use in treating bone diseases associated with changes in bone elasticity or bone density and for monitoring efficacy of a therapeutic protocol in treating such bone diseases are provided. The methods comprise the use of spectrometric methods, particularly Raman spectroscopy, to monitor the effects of a test compound or therapeutic protocol of interest on sulfation and/or disulfide bond formation within structural proteins, more particularly within keratin and type I or type II collagen, or within biologically active variants thereof. Compounds or therapeutic protocols that promote sulfation and/or disulfide bonding in keratin and/or type I collagen and/or type II collagen are useful in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Therapeutic protocols, including dietary supplements and/or change in diet, drug therapy, exercise, and the like, can be monitored for efficacy in treating such bone diseases by following the change in protein sulfation and/or level of disulfide bonding within nail tissues using in situ real-time Raman spectroscopy. Such monitoring is useful in identifying when an efficacious protocol can be discontinued, for example, where its maximum therapeutic benefit has been achieved, or reinstated, for example, in response to a relapse or increase in symptoms of the disease following a time period off of the therapeutic protocol. |
