Validity of Osteocalcin and Alkaline Phosphatase Biomarkers in Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Mineral Density

Background: Bone mineral density (BMD) can predict osteoporotic fractures which are major public health problem associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care cost amongst elderly. Objective: To assess validity of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) biomarkers in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on postmenopausal women. BMD was measured by Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Salivary and serum of both osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were measured from all postmenopausal women. Results: Of a total 72 postmenopausal women, 48 had low BMD and 24 of normal BMD. Mean salivary and serum osteocalcin and mean serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal women with low BMD than those of normal BMD. Mean salivary ALP level was numerically more in women with low BMD than those with normal BMD but statistically not significant. Salivary and serum osteocalcin and ALP biomarkers score at cut off >1 had accuracy of 80.55 % to diagnose postmenopausal women with low BMD with positive predictive value of 88.64 %, sensitivity was 81.25 %, and specificity 79.17%. Conclusions: Osteocalcin and ALP were valid biomarkers to diagnose postmenopausal women with low BMD. Biomarker score>1 had high accuracy and sensitivity to diagnose low BMD. This may suggest a new promising measure to early diagnose patients at high risk of low BMD and subsequently giving early appropriate treatment. Key words: Osteocalcin, Alkaline phosphatase, bone mineral density, periodontal statu

Evaluation of Anti-Scl-70, Anti-Ro (SSA) Levels in Serum and Saliva of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is one of autoimmune diseases that affected multiorgans, clinically showed that the extensive skin and internal organs fibrosis. Systemic sclerosis showed that the three basic sorts: autoimmunity, inflammation, vasculopathy. This study was design to investigate the changes of anti-topoisomerase I antibody (Scl-70) and Anti-Ro (SSA) in the whole saliva and serum of patients with SSc. There were highly significant (p< 0.001) elevation in Scl-70 antibody in serum and non-significant difference in saliva of patients with systemic sclerosis with median and mean rank (215.91, 51.80, 228.43 and 37.13 ng/ml respectively) in compares with control subject. The mean level of serum SSA in SSc patient (140.4 ± 22.67) ng/ml  that it was significant increased (p< 0.001) as well as the mean level of salivary SSA in SSc patient (145.5 ± 19.98) ng/ml  was highly significantly increased in compares with control subject. Keywords:  Anti topoisomerase antibody (Scl-70), SSA (anti-Ro), SSc

Application of Buccal Micronucleus Cytome Assay in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients on Etanercept: A Case–Control Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease characterized by its chronicity and symmetrical pattern of involvement. The purpose of the present study was to assess the genotoxic effect of the antitumor necrosis factor-ɑ agent (Etanercept) in the adult rheumatoid arthritis patients by the mean of a buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Buccal smears from a normal mucosa of 30 rheumatoid arthritis patients on Etanercept and 30 healthy subjects were taken to apply the buccal micronucleus cytome assay on them. Significantly higher frequencies of micronuclei, pyknotic cells and nuclear buds were seen in those patients when compared to controls. In respect to these findings, the rheumatoid arthritis patients on Etanercept were showing a higher frequency of the genomic damage and cell death biomarkers than the healthy controls which indicates a higher risk of developing pathosis. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, genotoxic effect, buccal micronucleus cytome assay

Salivary Interleukin 6 is A Valid Biomarker for Diagnosis of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Background: Interleukin 6 (IL6) is pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with decline in ovarian function during menopause which is involved in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal bone loss. Objective: To investigate validity of salivary IL6 as a biomarker to diagnose osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 75 postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to diagnose osteoporosis. Salivary IL6 was measured for all postmenopausal women by using Human ELISA kit. Results: Of a total 75 individual involved in the study, 25 were healthy postmenopausal women, 25 had osteopenia, and 25 had osteoporosis. There was no statistical significant differences between age and body mass index in all groups (p>0.05). Mean level of salivary IL6 was significantly different among healthy controls, osteopenic group, and osteoporotic group (11.66 ± 4.44 vs 14.51 ± 6.5 vs 23.9 ±5.52 pg/ml; p<0.001) respectively. The mean salivary IL-6 was significantly higher in osteoporosis group (23.9 pg/ml) compared to control group (11.66 pg/ml). Salivary IL-6 was a valid parameter to predict osteoporosis in postmenopausal woman (ROC area=0.91, p<0.001).Salivary IL-6 showed positive strong significant linear correlation with bone t- score (r=0.62,     P<0.001). Salivary IL6 at the optimum cut off value ≥19.45 pg/ml has highest accuracy (81.3%) to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women  with sensitivity was 84.%, specificity 80 %, positive predictive value (PPV) at pretest probability 50% was 80.8%,  and PPV at pretest probability 90% was 97.4 %,  and  negative predictive value (NPV) at pretest  probability 10% was 97.8 %. Conclusions: Salivary IL6 was a simple, easy, and a valid biomarker to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with high accuracy. This may indicate a hopeful measure for early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Keywords: Salivary IL6, Menopause, Proinflammatory cytokines, Osteoporosis

Threshold sensitivity of taste perception and the role of saliva and Zinc level in some physiological & pathological conditions

Background: Decreased taste acuity to the four basic tastes is closely related to health problems (diseases & medications), aging, and smoking. This study aimed to determine taste detection and recognition thresholds to the four basic tastes in some physiological and pathological conditions, determine saliva flow rate, serum and saliva zinc levels in these groups. Objective and Methods: The study includes 218 individuals (35–80) years old divided into six groups; the control, aging (subjects over 60 years), smokers, diabetics, haemodialysis patients and hypertensive patients on chronic use of captopril.The taste detection and recognition thresholds of sweet, salty, sour and bitter tastes, saliva flow rate were determined. Zinc concentration was assessed in serum and saliva spectrophotometricaly. Results: The results showed a significant increase in the taste detection and recognition thresholds of the four basic tastes of all groups than in the control, except the salty taste thresholds of the haemodialysis group and the salty taste detection threshold of the diabetics. Saliva flow rates, serum and saliva zinc levels decreased significantly at p<0.001 in study groups as compared to the control group. Conclusions:The taste acuity was impaired in aged subjects, smokers, diabetics, haemodialysis patients, and hypertensive patients on chronic use of captopril. Decreased saliva flow rate and saliva zinc concentration could be causative factors for hypogeusia