The activity of N-acetylglucosamine kinase in rat gastric mucosa

Effects of Glucosamine in the Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: A Review

Osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a chronic disease characterized by irreversible damage to articular surfaces, including inflammation, loss of articular cartilage, and subchondral bone alterations, which would be radiographically evident only in later stages. Symptomatic slow-acting so-called nutraceutical drugs have been proposed as a treatment for osteoarthritis in comparison to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) because of their appreciable safety profile even in long-term intake. Glucosamine, being one among them, proved highly efficient in knee osteoarthritis. However, its application in TMJ osteoarthritis dates back only to 2001 and is still inconclusive in its efficiency even with systematic reviews, in restoring the structural and functional aspects of damaged TMJ. Glucosamine, being a natural compound and also a contributor to building the matrix of articular cartilage, can be utilized effectively for TMJ osteoarthritis as an adjunct along with other conventional treatment modalities available till now, which also have moderate prognosis in most of the clinical scenarios. This review summarizes data relating to the mechanism of osteoarthritis and its management using glucosamine formulations. The beneficial effects of glucosamine on the pathophysiology of TMJ osteoarthritis are possibly due to its contribution to hyaluronic acid regulation and in establishing a proper balance between anabolism/catabolism in the articular tissues.

The neglect of glucosamine as a treatment for osteoarthritis--a personal perspective

Osteoarthritis results from progressive catabolic loss of cartilage proteoglycans, owing to an imbalance between synthesis and degradation. Standard drug therapy is only of palliative benefit and may exacerbate loss of cartilage. Glucosamine is an intermediate in mucopolysaccharide synthesis, and its availability in cartilage tissue culture can be rate-limiting for proteoglycan production. A number of double-blind studies dating from the early 1980s demonstrate that oral glucosamine decreases pain and improves mobility in osteoarthritis, without side effects. Nevertheless, medical researchers and physicians in the US have totally ignored this rational and safe therapeutic strategy. By mechanisms that are still unclear, the natural methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine also promotes production of cartilage proteoglycans, and is therapeutically beneficial in osteoarthritis in well-tolerated oral doses. These and other safe nutritional measures supporting proteoglycan synthesis, may offer a practical means of preventing or postponing the onset of osteoarthritis in older people or athletes.

In vitro and in vivo effect of proglumide on cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase release in mouse pancreatic acini

The effect of proglumide on cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated amylase release was studied in vitro and in vivo in dispersed acini from mouse pancreas. In an in vitro study, proglumide at concentrations between 0.3-10 mM inhibited CCK-stimulated amylase release dose-dependently, while proglumide did not influence the basal amylase release at concentrations between 0-3 mM. Dose-response curves to CCK for amylase release shifted to the right with increase in proglumide concentration. This inhibition by proglumide was reversible. In addition, the effect of proglumide was selective for CCK and its related peptide, and this drug did not inhibit other secretagogues such as carbachol or gastrin releasing peptide in mouse acini. In contrast to its inhibitory effect in vitro, in vivo administration of proglumide (500 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 5 days) to mice did not cause the rightward shift of the dose-response curve to CCK for amylase release from dispersed acini.

Double-blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulphate in the basic treatment of osteoarthrosis

The efficacy and tolerance of oral glucosamine sulphate were tested against placebo in a prospective double-blind trial in 20 out-patients with established osteoarthrosis. Two capsules of either glucosaminene sulphate (250 mg) or placebo were administered 3-times daily over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. Articular pain, joint tenderness and restricted movement were semi-quantitatively scored 1 to 4 every 3 days, and individually averaged over the treatment period (overall composite score). Possible side-reactions were similarly scored upon positive questioning of the patients. Haematology, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, urine analysis and X-rays were recorded before and after treatment. Significant alleviation of symptoms was associated with the use of the active drug at the prescribed dose. Similarly, patients given glucosamine sulphate experienced earlier alleviation of symptoms compared with those who had placebo. The use of glucosamine sulphate also resulted in a significantly larger proportion of patients who experienced lessening or disappearance of symptoms within the trial period. No adverse reactions were reported by the patients treated with glucosamine, and no variation in laboratory tests was recorded.