Chronic kidney disease–mineral bone disorder (CKD–MBD), comprising mineral, hormonal, and bone metabolic imbalance, is a major CKD-related issue; it causes osteoporosis prevalence in CKD patients. Osteocyte-derived sclerostin inhibits the osteogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; its levels rise when kidney function declines. Exercise modulates the physiological functions of osteocytes, potentially altering sclerostin production. It may aid bone and mineral electrolyte homeostasis in CKD. Mild CKD was induced in rats by partial nephrectomy. They were divided into: sham (no CKD), CKD, and CKD + exercise (8 weeks of treadmill running) groups. Micro-CT scanning demonstrated that the CKD + exercise-group rats had a higher bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and femoral metaphysis and higher femoral trabecular bone volume than the CKD-group rats. Bone formation rates were not significantly different. The CKD + exercise-group rats had lower serum sclerostin (157.1 ± 21.1 vs 309 ± 38.1 pg/mL, p < 0.05) and CTX-1 (bone resorption marker) levels. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher tibial β-catenin concentrations in the CKD + exercise-group rats. Serum FGF-23, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, and phosphate levels showed no significant differences between these groups. Thus, exercise improves BMD and bone microstructure in mild CKD by inhibiting sclerostin production, but does not alter serum minerals.

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This paper describes the performance of Ni-P and Ni-Mo-P alloy coatings deposited by electroless plating on the aluminum alloy 5052 to evaluate the corrosion resistance, thermal stability and electro-conductivity of coating assemblies. Corrosion behaviors of the obtained deposits in a 0.5M H2SO4 environment were investigated. The crystalline state and morphologies of Ni-P and Ni- Mo-P alloys were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The experimental results indicate that the Ni-Mo-P coating operated at 70°C and pH 9.0 has a nanocrystalline structure and its corrosion resistance in a 0.5M H2SO4 environment can be enhanced by the co-deposition of Mo as compared to Ni-P films. It has also been found that the Ni-Mo-P ternary alloys reveal good thermal stability after annealing at 400°C. Based on the excellent performance of Ni-Mo-P ternary alloys, these alloys have a potential to be applied to precision mould, optical parts mould, and surface metallization of substrates.

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