Prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in an apparently healthy Indian population

OBJECTIVES: An understanding of bone mineral density (BMD) pattern in a population is crucial for prevention and diagnosis of osteoporosis and management of its complications in later life. This study aimed to screen the bone health status and factors associated with osteoporosis in an apparently healthy Indian population. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was done in a tertiary-care hospital for the subjects who had undergone preventive health-check-ups that included BMD measurements at femur-neck, total-femur, and lumbar-spine. RESULTS: We evaluated 524 subjects (age, 50.0 ± 12.4 years) including 41.2% female and 58.8% male subjects. Osteoporosis was present in 6.9% subjects (female, 11.1%; male, 4.2%) and osteopenia in 34% subjects (female, 40.3%; male, 29.9%). Absolute BMD was higher in male subjects (P 0.05) at any site. CONCLUSIONS: Further data on absolute BMD, T scores, and prevalence rates of osteoporosis/osteopenia on multiple bone sites have been presented in this article.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and bone health: A review of clinical studies and plausible mechanisms

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the treatment of choice in depression and constitute major portion of prescription in depressive patients. The role of serotonin receptors in bone is emerging, raising certain questions regarding the effect of blockade of serotonin reuptake in the bone metabolism. Clinical studies have reported an association of SSRI antidepressants which with increase in fracture and decrease in bone mineral density. This review focus on recent evidence that evaluate the association of SSRIs with the risk of fracture and bone mineral density and also the probable mechanisms that might be involved in such effects.

Effect of thioperamide on nitric oxide in middle cerebral artery occlusion model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats

The present study evaluated the effect of Thioperamide [THP], a selective histamine H[3]-receptor antagonist, on middle cerebral artery occlusion [MCAO]-induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats. The rats were subjected to 2 hrs of MCAO followed by 22 hrs reperfusion followed by nitrate and nitrite levels estimations in the whole brain of rats. A decrease in the level of nitrate and nitrite was observed following MCAO. THP pre-treatment could not reverse such a reduction in nitrite but slightly reversed reduced nitrate levels. The opposite effect of THP on nitrate and nitrite levels requires further investigation and raises doubts on its possible use in cerebral ischemia