Limited utility of salivary mineral content in prediction of fragility fractures among postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease characterized by increased bone fragility. As it is characterized as a general skeletal disease, changes can also be seen in the stomatognathic system (edentulism, wrong fitting of dentures, etc.). The question is whether early changes in the salivary mineral content and acid-base balance may reflect skeletal status and risk of bone fracture. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether minerals in the saliva were associated with skeletal fractures in a population of postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this observational study, dental examinations along with the collection of saliva were conducted in 117 randomly recruited women (mean age 64.6 ±5.9 years). The study group included 23 study participants with fractures, of which 10 had a history of osteoporotic fractures. Saliva samples for mineral content including copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P), as well as salivary pH were collected and analyzed to determine associations between salivary mineral content and fracture risk. RESULTS: As a result, the median pH value was 6.8, and the median levels for Cu (0.35 µmol/L), Zn (0.61 µmol/L), Ca (0.7 mmol/L), and P (6.64 mmol/L) were observed. No differences were noted in salivary mineral content and acid-basic balance between the fractured and non-fractured participants. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that salivary mineral content has limited usability in predicting skeletal fragility in postmenopausal women when used alone.

Impact of the Chemical Structure of Photoreactive Urethane (Meth)Acrylates with Various (Meth)Acrylate Groups and Built-In Diels-Alder Reaction Adducts on the UV-Curing Process and Self-Healing Properties.

A series of UV-curable urethane (meth)acrylates were obtained by copolymerization of the Diels-Alder adduct (HODA), isophorone diisocyanate, PEG1000, and various hydroxy (meth)acrylates. The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of the chemical structure of the introduced (meth)acrylic groups, i.e., hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and hydroxypropyl methacrylate, on the UV-curing process and self-healing properties of cured coatings. The chemical structure of prepolymers was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, whereas the UV-curing process was monitored in real time using FTIR and photo-DSC. In turn, the self-healing properties were characterized in relation to the thermally reversible mechanism, which was tested using the following methods: an FTIR spectroscope equipped with a heating attachment; DSC and TG apparatus; and an optical microscope equipped with a stage with programmable heating. The result of comprehensive research on the self-healing of photocurable coatings in the context of the presence of various photoreactive groups and the course of the curing process allows one to control the self-healing process by reducing the effective healing temperature. The self-healing properties, taken together with the fast UV curing of the coatings and excellent properties of cured coatings, make the material attractive for a variety of applications, in particular in cases where coatings are not repaired, e.g., for economic reasons or when it is not possible, such as in flexible electronic screens, car paint film, and aircraft interior finishes.

Evaluation of the Structural Modification of Ibuprofen on the Penetration Release of Ibuprofen from a Drug-in-Adhesive Matrix Type Transdermal Patch.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chemical modifications of the structure of active compounds on the skin permeation and accumulation of ibuprofen [IBU] from the acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive used as a drug-in-adhesives matrix type transdermal patch. The active substances tested were ibuprofen salts obtained by pairing the ibuprofen anion with organic cations, such as amino acid isopropyl esters. The structural modification of ibuprofen tested were Ibuprofen sodium salt, [GlyOiPr][IBU], [AlaOiPr][IBU], [ValOiPr][IBU], [SerOiPr][IBU], [ThrOiPr][IBU], [(AspOiPr)2][IBU], [LysOiPr][IBU], [LysOiPr][IBU]2, [PheOiPr][IBU], and [ProOiPr][IBU]. For comparison, the penetration of unmodified ibuprofen and commercially available patches was also investigated. Thus, twelve transdermal patches with new drug modifications have been developed whose adhesive carrier is an acrylate copolymer. The obtained patches were characterized for their adhesive properties and tested for permeability of the active substance. Our results show that the obtained ibuprofen patches demonstrate similar permeability to commercial patches compared to those with structural modifications of ibuprofen. However, these modified patches show an increased drug permeability of 2.3 to even 6.4 times greater than unmodified ibuprofen. Increasing the permeability of the active substance and properties such as adhesion, cohesion, and tack make the obtained patches an excellent alternative to commercial patches containing ibuprofen.

Multiblock Elastomers TPEAA and TPEEA: Physical Structure and Properties.

A three series of terpolymers composed of the blocks PTMO (MPTMO = 1000 g/mol) or DLAol (MDLAol = 540 g/mol), PA12 (MPA12 = 2000 g/mol) and xGT (DPxGT = 2) with various chemical compositions of ester block were obtained. The series differ in the chemical structure of the flexible block and weight content of the soft phase. The effect of the number of carbons dividing the terephthalate groups on the synthesis, structure and properties of these elastomers has been investigated. To confirm assumed chemical structure Carbon-13 (13C NMR) and Proton (1H NMR) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used. The influence of chemical compositions of ester block on the thermal properties and the phase separation of obtained systems were defined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS). The mechanical and elastic properties were evaluated.

Sustainable UV-Crosslinkable Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives for Medical Application.

This study aimed to investigate the potential of photoreactive acrylate patches as systems for transdermal drug delivery, in particular, using more renewable alternatives and more environmentally friendly synthesis routes of transdermal patches. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a transdermal patch containing ibuprofen and investigate its performance in vitro through the pigskin. Transparent patches were prepared using four acrylate copolymers with an incorporated photoinitiator. Two types of transdermal patches based on the photocrosslinking acrylic prepolymers with isobornyl methacrylate as biocomponent and monomer increasing Tg ("hard") were manufactured. The obtained patches were characterized for their adhesive properties and tested for permeability of the active substance. It turns out that patches whose adhesive matrix is photoreactive polyacrylate copolymers have a higher cohesion than patches from commercial adhesives, while the modification of the copolymers with isobornyl methacrylate resulted in an improvement in adhesion and tack. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing photoreactive acrylic-based transdermal patches that contain biocomponents that can deliver a therapeutically relevant dose of ibuprofen.

Salivary Content Might be Associated With Skeletal Status in Postmenopausal Women: SilesiaOsteoActive Study Results.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate whether salivary mineral content may be associated with bone status in women after menopause. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 125 postmenopausal women aged 64.3 ± 6.9 yr, derived from the epidemiological SilesiaOsteoActive Study. All participants underwent hip and spine bone densitometry using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, dental examination, and saliva content analysis. Data for salivary pH, copper, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was 0.739 ± 0.118 g/cm2, total hip BMD 0.891 ± 0.14 g/cm2, and spine BMD 0.868 ± 0.14 g/cm2. Salivary pH was significantly lower in women with spinal osteoporosis defined as T-score below -2.5, compared to individuals with normal BMD (pH: 6.65 ± 0.67 vs 6.96 ± 0.58, p < 0.05). There was a significant though weak inverse correlation between Ca concentration in saliva and femoral neck BMD (r = -0.23, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High salivary calcium content and low salivary pH may be indicative of low hip and decreased spine BMD, respectively. These associations may reflect demineralization process (calcium redistribution) influencing bone, and a negative effect of acidity on mineral tissues, although causal pathway remains not clear.

Preparation and Characterization of Potato Starch Copolymers with a High Natural Polymer Content for the Removal of Cu(II) and Fe(III) from Solutions.

Cross-linked potato starch (StMBA) and starch-g-polyacrylamide materials with a high content of natural polymer from 60 to 90 wt.% (St60-St90) were synthesized by double chemical-chemical modification (grafting and cross-linking). Eco-friendly starch absorbents were tested for removal of Cu2+ and Fe3+ from aqueous solutions. The characteristics of the obtained materials (Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal analysis (TGA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and laser scanning microscopy (LSM)) confirmed their diversity in terms of composition and structure. The effect of N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) content in the starch graft copolymers, treatment time and concentration of metal ions on adsorption efficiency were investigated. The adsorption efficiency for StMBA was 14.0 mg Cu2+/g and 2.9 mg Fe3+/g, regardless of the initial concentration of ions, whereas for starch graft copolymer St60 it was 23.0 mg Cu2+/g and 21.2 mg Fe3+/g. Absorption of Fe(III) was persisted even after 2 days. Pseudo-second order model was used to investigate the adsorption mechanisms. It was found that in addition to the chemical adsorption of ions on the surface, there is sorption inside the polymer network and chelating mechanism may dominate. Satisfactory results were attributed to the adequate grafting of PAM onto starch, the ability to form complexes with metal cations and changes in material structure.

Hydrophilic Films Based on Carboxymethylated Derivatives of Starch and Cellulose.

The carboxymethylated derivatives of starch (CMS) and cellulose (CMC) were used for film preparation. The infrared spectroscopy revealed that crosslinking via ester bridges with citric acid occurred between the two polysaccharide derivatives. The effect of polysaccharide derivatives ratio on physicochemical properties of prepared films was evaluated. Generally, the values of tested parameters (moisture absorption, surface roughness, and mechanical and thermal properties) were between the values noted for neat CMS or CMC-based films. However, the physicochemical properties of the system with equal CMS/CMC weight ratio diverged from this trend, i.e., the highest tensile strength, the highest Young's modulus (ca. 3.4 MPa and ca. 4.9 MPa, respectively), with simultaneously the lowest moisture absorption (18.5% after 72 h) have been noted. Such systems could potentially find application in agriculture or pharmacy.