Evaluation of Correlation between Salivary Calcium, Alkaline Phosphatase and Osteoporosis- A Prospective, Comparative and Observational Study

Composition and Properties of Saliva in Patients with Osteoporosis Taking Antiresorptive Drugs

The aim of this study was to examine how the composition and properties of saliva change in people with osteoporosis who have received antiresorptive (AR) treatment, compared to patients with osteoporosis who have not yet received this treatment.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 38 patients with osteoporosis using AR drugs (Group I) and 16 patients with osteoporosis who had never used AR drugs (Group II). The control group consisted of 32 people without osteoporosis. Laboratory tests included determination of pH and concentrations of Ca, PO₄, total protein, lactoferrin, lysozyme, sIgA, IgA, cortisol, neopterin, activity of amylase at rest, and stimulated saliva. The buffering capacity of stimulated saliva was also determined.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the saliva of Group I and Group II. No statistically significant correlation was found between the amount of time using AR therapy (Group I) and the tested parameters of the saliva. Significant differences were found between Group I and the control group. The concentrations of PO₄, lysozyme, and cortisol were higher, while concentrations of Ca ions, sIgA, and neopterin were lower, in comparison to the control group. The significant differences between Group II and the control group were smaller, and they concerned only the concentrations of lysozyme, cortisol, and neopterin.

CONCLUSIONS

The saliva of people with osteoporosis subjected to AR therapy and those not subjected to AR therapy did not show statistically significant differences in terms of the examined parameters of the saliva. However, the saliva of patients with osteoporosis taking and not taking AR drugs was significantly different compared to the saliva of the control group.

Morinda officinalis Polysaccharides Ameliorates Bone Growth by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Regulating the Gut Microbiota in Thiram-Induced Tibial Dyschondroplasia Chickens

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) occurs in chickens and other fast-growing birds, affecting their cartilage growth and leading to reduced meat quality in broilers. Morinda officinalis polysaccharide (MOP) is one of the chief active components of Morinda officinalis, which promotes bone formation, inhibiting bone loss and having anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A total of 120 AA chickens were randomly divided into the CON group (basal diet), TD group (100 mg/kg thiram + basal diet), and MOP group (100 mg/kg thiram + basal diet + water with 500 mg/kg MOP). The experiment lasted 21 days. The results showed that MOP could alleviates broiler lameness caused by TD, restore the morphological structure of tibial growth plate (TGP), increase tibial weight (p < 0.05), balance the disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and promote bone formation by increasing the expression of BMP-2, Smad4, and Runx2 genes In addition, MOP supplementation stimulated the secretion of plasma antioxidant enzymes (T-SOD and GSH-Px) by regulating the expression of SOD and GPX-1 genes, thereby enhancing the antioxidant capacity of TD broilers. Interestingly, we observed MOP can also improve gut microbiota by increasing the beneficial bacteria count and decreasing the harmful bacteria count. These findings indicated that MOP can regulate bone formation through the BMP/Smads signaling pathway, attenuating oxidative stress and regulating the gut microbiota of TD broilers, so as to achieve the effect of treating TD. This suggests that MOP might be a potential novel drug in the treatment of TD in chickens.

Salivary Menopausal Markers and Oral Health Status - A Hidden Hook Up

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to evaluate salivary estradiol and salivary calcium in postmenopausal women with varying degrees of oral dryness. The primary objective was to establish the interrelationship between salivary parameters and oral health status among menopausal women and compare the same with premenopausal women and normal controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 60 women Group I consisted of healthy menstruating women between 25 and 34 years of age. In Group II premenopausal women between 35 and 45 years of age were present and Group III consisted of menopausal women between 45 and 60 years of age. Unstimulated saliva was collected from the participants and estradiol analysis was done using ELISA method and calcium analysis was done using Arsenazo III reaction using colorimetric method. The oral health status in these patients was determined by using xerostomia score, Russell's periodontal score, and oral hygiene index. The values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis and the results were derived.

RESULTS

On oral examination, most of them had poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, and moderate to severe levels of xerostomia. Salivary estradiol levels were low and salivary calcium levels were high among postmenopausal women and as salivary estradiol levels decreased there was an increase in xerostomia scores and salivary calcium. And also as salivary calcium levels increased the periodontal disease scores increased. All parameters were within normal limits among healthy menstruating women.

CONCLUSION

Saliva can be a preferred medium and an emerging alternative for serum to estimate estradiol and calcium levels. As a dentist, we have to educate them about the oral changes they will experience during menopause and emphasize its strong association between low estradiol levels. Oral hygiene instructions should be given for the maintenance of healthy periodontium. Menopausal women who experience severe postmenopausal symptoms can be identified and the dentist and gynecologist can work hand in hand to treat the symptoms of these women.

Renal Proximal Tubule Cell Cannabinoid-1 Receptor Regulates Bone Remodeling and Mass via a Kidney-to-Bone Axis

The renal proximal tubule cells (RPTCs), well-known for maintaining glucose and mineral homeostasis, play a critical role in the regulation of kidney function and bone remodeling. Deterioration in RPTC function may therefore lead to the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and osteoporosis. Previously, we have shown that the cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) modulates both kidney function as well as bone remodeling and mass via its direct role in RPTCs and bone cells, respectively. Here we employed genetic and pharmacological approaches that target CB1R, and found that its specific nullification in RPTCs preserves bone mass and remodeling both under normo- and hyper-glycemic conditions, and that its chronic blockade prevents the development of diabetes-induced bone loss. These protective effects of negatively targeting CB1R specifically in RPTCs were associated with its ability to modulate erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis, a hormone known to affect bone mass and remodeling. Our findings highlight a novel molecular mechanism by which CB1R in RPTCs remotely regulates skeletal homeostasis via a kidney-to-bone axis that involves EPO.

Sialometric and Sialochemical Analysis in Individuals With Pulp Stones

The aim of this study was to analyze the saliva of patients with pulp stones, with sialometric and sialochemical tests. Eighty individuals, aged between18 and 65 years, of both sexes, were investigated. Patients were included in the pulp stone group when radiographic examination was suggestive of pulp stones in at least one permanent tooth, whereas those without this alteration were considered controls. Saliva was collected by stimulation, followed by salivary flowrate (SFR) and pH analysis tests. The organic components, such as urea (URE), glucose (GLU), total proteins (TPTs), alkaline phosphatase, creatinine (CRE), salivary amylase (SAM), and uric acid (URA), and the inorganic components, such as calcium, iron, and phosphorus, were evaluated by colorimetric techniques in an ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometer. Differences among pulp stones and control groups were compared using Student’s t-test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. In both groups prevailed the female. Statistically significant differences between groups were observed for pH (p = 0.027), SFR (p = 0.002), alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.008), and URA (p = 0.005). None of the inorganic components showed significant difference (p > 0.05). In the analyses stratified by sex, difference between groups was observed for pH (p = 0.007) and URA (p = 0.003) in women. In conclusion, sialometric and sialochemical alterations occurred in patients with pulp stones, with significantly higher levels of pH, SFR, alkaline phosphatase, and URA.

An experimental research into the potential therapeutic effects of Anti-Osteoporosis Decoction and Yougui Pill on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis

Many traditional Chinese medicine tonifying prescriptions for kidney and spleen have been proved to play various roles in osteoporosis. This study aimed to explore whether Anti-Osteoporosis Decoction (AOD) and Yougui Pill (YGP) have potential therapeutic effects on osteoporosis in ovariectomy-induced rat model. The osteoporosis rat model was established with female Wistar rats by the way of ovariectomy. The chosen rats were randomly divided into five groups (control group, model group, sham group, model + AOD group, and model + YGP group). H&E staining was used to detect the bone histological pathology changes. The bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In addition, western blotting assay was applied to explore the expressions of BMP2, Runx2, Collagen I and Opn. Next, we examined the expression of collagen I by immunohistochemistry staining. Finally, the levels of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), procollagen type I N propeptide (PINP) and β-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) were detected. The results revealed that the OVX osteoporosis model was successfully established. AOD and YGP treatment effectively inhibited osteoporosis and reduced the broken trabecular bones. BMD was increased in AOD and YGP treatment. In addition, AOD and YGP treatment groups significantly increased the ALP levels. Furthermore, AOD and YGP significantly increased the expressions of BMP2, Runx2, Collagen I and Opn, while reduced the levels of PINP and β-CTX in serum compared to OVX model group. In conclusion, AOD and YGP exert regulatory effects on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. They may be potential candidates for the therapy and cure of human osteoporosis.

Alkaline phosphatase is a predictor of Bone Mineral Density in postmenopausal females

Objectives:

The study was planned to determine whether serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal non-osteoporotic, osteopenic, and osteoporotic females.

Methods:

In this cross sectional study, conducted at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore in the year 2014-2015, postmenopausal females between 50-70 years of age were taken and divided into three groups non-osteoporotic (n=52), osteopenic (n=69) and osteoporotic (n=47). Serum ALP, phosphate and calcium were used in a stepwise multiple regression analysis to predict T-score in these groups.

Results:

In normal postmenopausal females, the prediction model was statistically significant, F(2, 41) = 6.041, p < 0.05 and showed a T-score variance of 22%. T-score was primarily predicted by higher levels of phosphate and calcium. In postmenopausal osteopenic females, T-score was only predicted by lower levels of ALP. The model was statistically significant, F(1, 59) = 4.995, p < 0.05, and accounted for approximately 7% of the variance of T-score. In postmenopausal osteoporotic females, the prediction model contained no predictors.

Conclusion:

Our study suggested that calcium and phosphate are the strongest predictors of T-score in postmenopausal normal females, while in postmenopausal osteopenic females ALP was the strongest predictor of T-score. Elevated serum ALP levels may help in determining loss of BMD in postmenopausal females.