The Influence of Alcohol Consumption in Conjunction with Sex Hormone Deficiency on Ca/P Ratio in Rats.

Deficiency of sex hormones and excessive alcohol consumption are factors that have been related to alterations in the pattern of bone mineralization and osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible alterations in the calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio in the femur of rats subjected to sex hormone deficiency and/or alcohol consumption. Methods. Female and male Wistar rats (n = 108) were divided into ovariectomized (Ovx), orchiectomized (Orx), or sham-operated groups and subdivided according to diet: alcoholic diet (20% alcohol solution), isocaloric diet, and ad libitum diet. The diets were administered for 8 weeks. The Ca/P ratio in the femur was analyzed by energy dispersive micro-X-ray spectrometer (µEDX). Results. Consumption of alcohol reduced the Ca/P ratio in both females and males. The isocaloric diet reduced the Ca/P ratio in females. In groups with the ad libitum diet, the deficiency of sex hormones did not change the Ca/P ratio in females or males. However, the combination of sex hormone deficiency and alcoholic diet presented the lowest values for the Ca/P ratio in both females and males. Conclusions. There was a reduced Ca/P ratio in the femur of rats that consumed alcohol, which was exacerbated when combined with a deficiency of sex hormones.

Influência do alcoolismo crônico e da deficiência estrogênica sobre a expressão imunoistoquímica de proteínas reguladoras do processo de reabsorção óssea no periodonto de ratas / Influence of chronic alcoholism and estrogen deficiency on the variation of stoichiometry of hydroxyapatite within alveolar bone crest of rats

Estudos prévios sugerem que tanto o consumo de álcool quanto a deficiência estrogênica poderiam afetar o osso alveolar e aumentar a suscetibilidade individual a uma mais rápida progressão da doença periodontal. No entanto, a literatura ainda não chegou a um consenso sobre esse assunto, que precisa ser mais estudado. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar possíveis modificações na expressão imunoistoquímica de proteínas envolvidas na regulação do processo de reabsorção óssea, no periodonto de ratas submetidas ao alcoolismo crônico e/ou à deficiência estrogênica. Ratas Wistar, com três meses de idade, foram divididas em dois grupos: ovariectomizadas (ovz) ou não ovariectomizadas (sham). Trinta dias após os procedimentos cirúrgicos, os animais foram subdivididos e receberam os seguintes tratamentos: dieta alcoólica (alc), dieta isocalórica (iso) ou dieta livre (dl). Os grupos álcool receberam solução alcoólica (20%), por dois meses. A análise do tratamento dietético mostrou que o grupo ovz/dl foi o que mais ganhou peso e o que mais ingeriu ração, sendo as diferenças significativas se comparadas a todos os outros grupos (p<0,01). Quando considerados ambos os grupos álcool, 53,49% das calorias diárias da dieta (em média) foram provenientes do álcool. Os resultados também mostraram que o grupo sham/alc consumiu mais álcool se comparado ao ovz/alc, sendo essa diferença estatisticamente significativa (p<0,001). A crista óssea alveolar e tecidos adjacentes (na região entre o primeiro e segundo molar inferior) foram avaliados por imunoistoquímica, utilizando-se anticorpos para detecção de osteoprotegerina (OPG), proteína que inibe a reabsorção óssea, e ligante do receptor ativador do fator nuclear Kappa ß (RANKL), proteína que estimula a reabsorção óssea. Os grupos ovz/alc, ovz/iso e ovz/dl apresentaram menor imunomarcação para a OPG, se comparados ao sham/alc, sham/iso e sham/dl, respectivamente, sendo essas diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p<0,05, p<0,05 e p<0,01). O grupo ovz/iso apresentou maior imunomarcação para o RANKL se comparado ao grupo sham/iso, sendo essa diferença estatisticamente significativa (p<0,01). O grupo sham/alc apresentou menor imunomarcação para a OPG e maior imunomarcação para o RANKL quando comparado aos outros grupos sham, sendo essas diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p<0,01). No grupo ovz/alc foi observada a menor imunomarcação para a OPG e a maior imunomarcação para o RANKL, sendo as diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p<0,05), quando comparado com a maioria dos outros grupos (exceção do ovz/iso e sham/alc, para o RANKL). Pode-se concluir que tanto a deficiência estrogênica quanto a dieta alcoólica foram relacionados à diminuição da expressão de OPG e aumento da expressão de RANKL, o que seria compatível com uma maior predisposição à reabsorção óssea. Esses resultados foram ainda mais evidentes no grupo no qual a deficiência estrogênica e o consumo de álcool foram associados(AU)

Previous studies suggest that both chronic alcoholism and estrogen deficiency may affect alveolar bone and increase individual susceptibility to faster periodontal disease progression. However, the literature has not yet reached a consensus on this issue, which needs to be further studied. The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in immunohistochemical expression of proteins involved in the regulation of bone resorption process in the periodontium of female rats subjected to chronic alcoholism and/or estrogen deficiency. Wistar female rats, at three months of age, were divided into two groups: ovariectomized (ovx) or not ovariectomized (sham). Thirty days after the surgical procedures, animals were split again and received the following treatments: alcoholic diet (alc), isocaloric diet (iso) or ad libitum diet (ad). The alcohol groups received alcoholic solution (20%), for two months. The dietary treatment analysis showed ovx/ad group gained more weight and ingested more solid food and these differences were statistically significant as compared with all other groups (p<0.01). When considering both alcohol groups, 53.49% of the daily calories diet (in average) were coming from alcohol. The results also showed the sham/alc group ingested more alcohol as compared to ovx/alc group and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001).The alveolar bone crest and adjacent tissues (in the region between first and second lower molars) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, using antibodies for detection of osteoprotegerin (OPG), a protein that inhibits bone resorption, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa ß ligand (RANKL), a protein that stimulates bone resorption. The groups ovx/alc, ovx/iso and ovx/ad showed lower immunostaining for OPG, compared to sham/alc sham/iso and sham/ad, respectively, and these differences were statistically significant (p<0.05, p<0.05, and p<0.01). The group ovx/iso showed higher immunostaining for the RANKL compared to sham/iso group, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). Sham/alc group showed lower immunostaining for OPG and higher immunostaining for the RANKL when compared to other sham groups, and these differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). In ovx/alc group the lowest immunostaining for OPG and the highest immunostaining for the RANKL were observed, and these differences were statistically significant (p<0.05) as compared to the most others groups (except ovx/iso and sham/alc for RANKL). It can be concluded that estrogen deficiency and alcohol diet were related to decreased expression of OPG and increased expression of RANKL, which would be consistent with a greater predisposition to bone resorption. These results were even more evident in the group in which estrogen deficiency and alcohol consumption were associated(AU) Keywords:

Effects of estrogen deficiency combined with chronic alcohol consumption on rat mandibular condyle

Estrogen deficiency and chronic alcohol consumption may have a synergistic and deleterious effect on bone tissue. AIM: To investigate the effects of estrogen deficiency associated with chronic alcohol consumption on the mandibular condyle in rats. METHODS: Fifty-four female rats were first divided equally into two groups: ovariectomized Ovx and simulated ovariectomy Sham. One month after the surgeries, these groups were equally sub-divided according to their dietary treatment: G1: Sham/ad-libitum diet; G2: Sham/alcohol; G3: Sham/isocaloric; G4: Ovx/ad-libitum diet; G5: Ovx/alcohol, G6: Ovx/isocaloric. Eight weeks after starting the diets, all animals were anesthetized and sacrificed. The condyles were analyzed histologically, histomorphometrically, and immunohistochemically using the antibodies for bone sialoprotein BSP, osteocalcin OCC and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand RANKL. RESULTS: Histological analysis of the mandibular condyles showed that Ovx and Sham groups presented almost the same characteristics. The histomorphometric analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference only between Ovx/isocaloric and Ovx/ad-libitum groups p=0.049. No difference was observed in the intensity of BSP, OCC, and RANKL antibody staining between the Ovx/alcohol and the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: It may be concluded that there was no histomorphometric, histological, or RANKL, BSP, and OCC staining differences between the Ovx/alcohol group and other experimental groups...

Taste alteration, mouth dryness and teeth staining as side effects of medications taken by elderly

Elderly patients generally use several types of medication, some of which may cause oral side effects. Aim: To investigate the oral side effects caused by medication in an elderly sample. Methods: Three hundred patients were interviewed about their use of medication and were divided in two groups: institutionalized (n=150) and community-dwelling (n=150) elderly. Results: The most used drugs were antihypertensives (53%) for community-dwelling elders and antiulceratives (76%) for the institutionalized ones. The more prevalent side effects were taste alterations that occurred in 19%, dry mouth in 17% and teeth staining in 2%. Conclusions: A high prevalence of oral side effects from medications used by the elderly was found in this study. The health professionals should be aware of the possible side effects caused by prescribed medications.

Alcoholic and isocaloric diet, but not ovariectomy, influence the apoptosis of bone cells within the alveolar bone crest of rats.

OBJECTIVE: Studies suggest that chronic alcoholism as well as oestrogen deficiencies may affect bones in general, including alveolar bone and, by doing so, increase individuals' susceptibility to develop progressive periodontal disease. This paper aims to verify the influence of chronic alcoholism and/or oestrogen deficiencies in the apoptosis of bone cells of the alveolar bone crest region in rats. DESIGN: Initially, 54 rats were divided into ovariectomized (Ovx) and Sham operated (Sham) groups. Thirty days after surgery, these two groups were equally sub-divided, and received, for 56 days, the following dietary intervention: alcoholic diet (with 20% alcohol solution,), isocaloric diet and ad libitum diet (free diet). Analysis was undertaken by immunohistochemistry, using an antibody to detect apoptosis (anti PARP p-85). RESULTS: When comparing the six experimental groups, no significant differences were observed in the apoptosis of bone cells. Also, there was no significant difference in the quantity of cells undergoing apoptosis when the animals from Ovx groups were compared with those from Sham groups. However, when comparing only different dietary groups, differences were observed between the groups ad libitum and isocaloric, to osteoblasts (p=0.045); and ad libitum and alcohol, to osteocytes (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that ovariectomy was not able to influence the rate of apoptosis of bone cells of the alveolar bone crest region in rats and that a possible influence of diet on apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes cannot be ruled out.