Changes in male reproductive system and mineral metabolism induced by soy isoflavones administered to rats from prenatal life until sexual maturity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the influence of high-dose soy isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) administered from prenatal life to sexual maturity on testosterone and estradiol levels, testicular and epididymal morphology, the number of epididymal spermatozoa, and mineral metabolism in rats. METHODS: Pregnant Wistar rats received orally soy isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein at a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight per day. After separating sucklings from their mothers, male rats received the same dose of isoflavones until reaching the age of sexual maturity, i.e., for 3 mo. RESULTS: In the isoflavone-treated group, statistically significant decreased concentrations of zinc (determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry) in blood serum and increased concentrations in bone were observed. The isoflavones induced changes in the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium of rat testes. However, there were no significant changes in the number of spermatozoa in the epididymis. The levels of estradiol in serum and cauda epididymis homogenates of rats receiving phytoestrogens were significantly higher than in the control group. No differences were observed in testosterone concentrations in the serum of treated and control rats. The testosterone levels in the homogenates of the treated rat testes were significantly lower than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The relatively mild effects of phytoestrogen administration on the morphology of testes and epididymides and the number of epididymal spermatozoa were observed despite the high dose used. The exposure of rats to genistein and daidzein during intrauterine life until sexual maturity influenced the mineral metabolism of the organism by significant decreases of Zn concentration in serum and increased Zn concentration in bones.

[The impact of treatment by extremely low frequency magnetic fields on the electropotentials in an oral cavity and some chemical elements content in saliva]. / Wplyw zabiegów magnetostymulacji na elektropotencjaly w jamie ustnej i zawartosc niektórych pierwiastków w slinie.

INTRODUCTION: Introducing new methods of treatment in dentistry cause various alloys to appear in oral cavities. These alloys present in the oral cavity may generate an electrolytic cell, while saliva serves as a fine electrolytic conductor. Hence, the electropotentials that occur may initiate different illnesses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted among 25 patients. All of them have undergone treatment with the Viofor JPS system. The electropotentials in the oral cavity have been checked, as saliva's pH and selected levels of chemical elements have been estimated. RESULTS: After having applied a series of treatments with the JPS system it was found that the electropotentials decreased, pH level of saliva increased, the content of copper in the non stimulated saliva fell, no alterations in the remaining elements before and after the treatments were observed.

[The influence of hygiene and health habits on the concentration of some ions in saliva of postmenopausal women]. / Wplyw nawyków higieniczno-zdrowotnych na zawartosc wybranych jonow w slinie kobiet po menopauzie.

PURPOSE: The study was designed to evaluate the influence of tooth-brushing, milk consumption, hormone therapy, allergy, and cigarette smoking on the content of fluoride, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in saliva. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 100 women aged 48-70 years. Biochemical analysis was done to measure ion content. A questionnaire was used to determine hygiene and health habits. Correlation analysis was done to determine the relationships between parameters. CONCLUSIONS: A significant correlation was observed between ion content in saliva and frequency of tooth-brushing, smoking, and use of oral contraceptives. More frequent tooth-brushing was associated with reduced salivary content of calcium and phosphorus. Significantly higher salivary calcium levels were observed in smokers than non-smokers. Oral contraceptives produced significantly higher concentrations of fluoride ions in saliva. No correlation was noted between ion content in saliva and milk consumption, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or allergy.

[Mineral content of enamel, depth of biopsy, and dentition status in postmenopausal women]. / Sklad mineralny szkliwa zebów a glebokosc biopsji i stan uzebienia kobiet w wieku pomenopauzalnym.

PURPOSE: The study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the content of fluoride, magnesium and phosphorus in enamel, depth of biopsy, and dentition status in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dentition status in 81 postmenopausal women aged 48-70 years (mean 54.98 years) was determined using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) index. Double-layer superimposed acid biopsies were used for sampling labial enamel of upper permanent central incisor. Biochemical analysis was performed to determine the content of fluoride, magnesium, and phosphorus. Assuming that enamel contains 37% calcium, enamel mass, layer thickness, biopsy depth and concentrations of ions in the surface and subsurface layer were calculated. Correlation analysis was done to disclose relationships between the parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that the concentration of ions decreased with growing depth of biopsy. Decreasing depth of biopsy correlated with increasing concentration of fluorides and magnesium in surface and subsurface layer of enamel. The total depth of biopsy correlated more exactly with the concentration of fluorides and magnesium in subsurface layer than in surface layer. Increasing concentration of fluoride was associated with increasing concentration of magnesium. No correlation was observed between DMFS and the depth of enamel biopsy.

Copper modifies the activity of sodium-transporting systems in erythrocyte membrane in patients with essential hypertension.

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis if copper could influence the activity of sodium-transporting systems in erythrocyte membrane that could be related to essential hypertension. The examined group of patients consisted of 15 men with hypertension. The control group was 11 healthy male volunteers. The Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity in erythrocytes was determined according to Orlov et al. The activity of transporting systems (ATP-Na+/K+; co-Na+/K+/Cl-; ex-Na+/Li+; free Na+ and K+ outflow [Na+, K+-outflow]) was determined according to Garay's method. The concentration of copper in plasma was assessed using atomic absorption spectrometry. The activity of ATP-Na+/K+ (micromol/L red blood cells [RBCs]/h) in hypertensive patients was 2231.5 +/- 657.6 vs 1750.5 +/- 291 in the control (p < 0.05), the activity of co-Na+/K+/Cl- (micromol/L RBCs/h) in hypertensives was 171.3 +/- 77.9 vs 150.7 +/- 53.9 in the control (NS). Na+-outflow (micromol/L RBCs/h) in hypertensives was 118.3 +/- 51.6 vs 113.3 +/- 24.4 in the control (NS). The K+-outflow (micromol/L RBCs/h) in hypertensives was 1361.7 +/- 545.4 vs 1035.6 +/- 188.3 in the control (NS). The activity of ex-Na+/Li+ (micromol/L RBCs/h) in hypertensive patients was 266.1 +/- 76.1 vs 204.1 +/- 71.6 in the control (p < 0.05). NHE activity (mmol/L RBCs/h) in hypertensives was 9.7 +/- 2.96 vs 7.7 +/- 1.33 in the control (p < 0.05). In hypertensive patients, negative correlation was found between the activity of Na+/K+/Cl- co-transport and plasma copper concentration (Rs = -0.579, p < 0.05) and between the activity of ex-Na+/Li+ and plasma copper concentration (Rs = -0.508, p < 0.05). Plasma copper concentration significantly influences the activity of sodium transporting systems in erythrocyte membrane. Copper supplementation could be expected to provide therapeutic benefits for hypertensive patients.

[Concentration of fluoride in mixed saliva of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing renal replacement therapy]. / Stezenie fluorków w slinie mieszanej osób ze schylkowa niewydolnoscia nerek leczonych metodami nerkozastepczymi.

This study was carried out on 48 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis treatment (29 males and 19 females, mean age 50.8 years) and renal transplantation (15 females and 33 males, mean age 42.2 years). The results were compared with a group of 44 healthy persons (23 females and 21 males, mean age 49.5 years). The aim of our investigation was to examine the content of fluoride in the mixed unstimulated saliva of the patients undergoing renal replacement therapy and in the control group of healthy persons. We studied the influence of hemodialysis on saliva fluoride levels. Saliva samples were collected by the spitting method according to Navazesh. Samples were collected before and after hemodialysis session and once in graft recipients and controls. Fluoride concentrations were determined with an Orion fluoroselective electrode model 96-09. The fluoride level in healthy persons was 4.92 +/- 2.30 micromol/L. Before hemodialysis, the mean fluoride level was 9.63 +/- 3.90 micromol/L and decreased significantly to 7.52 +/- 2.71 micromol/L after hemodialysis (p < 0.0001). Saliva content of fluorides in patients before and after hemodialysis was significantly higher than in healthy subjects and kidney graft recipients (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in fluoride concentration between patients after kidney transplantation and controls. The results suggest the need for individual fluoride supplementation in chronically hemodialysed patients.

Influence of tamoxifen on the mandible bone and hard teeth tissues of animals.

Tamoxifen, protactedly used, can cause disadvantageous changes in the bones and in the hard teeth tissues. The aim of this paper was to define to what extent tamoxifen given to the animals influences the structure of the mandible bone and the hard teeth tissues.