India seems to have the highest prevalence of osteoporosis. With growing awareness of osteoporosis and its impact on life span especially in India, special attention is being paid to early detection, management and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women. Measurement of BMD and osteocalcin are of value in estimating bone turnover rates. The aim of this study is (1) to measure the specific, sensitive bone formation marker such as osteocalcin and BMD in postmenopausal osteoporosis women and postmenopausal non-osteoporosis women; (2) the follow up study to evaluate the impact of specific antiresorptive therapy (alendronate ? calcium ? vitamin D) regimen in postmenopausal osteoporosis by assaying osteocalcin and BMD. Sixty clinically diagnosed postmenopausal osteoporosis patients and 60 normal subjects (postmenopausal non-osteoporosis women) were recruited as control. Mean bone mineral density T score and Z score was significantly decreased (P \ 0.001) in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients as compared to controls. Highly significant increase in the mean score of BMD-T score and Z score from baseline to post therapy of 3 months was observed in postmenopausal osteoporosis women. Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly increased (P \ 0.001) as compared to control group. Serum osteocalcin levels were decreased significantly (P \ 0.001) from baseline to post therapy of 3 months in postmenopausal osteoporosis women. BMD is the best quantifiable predictor of osteoporotic fracture and osteocalcin is specific, sensitive, promising, currently used marker for better prognosis of osteoporosis and for monitoring responses to antiresorptive therapy.

The aim of the study was to know the effects of steam sauna bath on fasting blood glucose levels (FBGLs). A total of 80 subjects, 40 males and 40 females, in the age group of 30 to 50 years were subjected to seven steam baths on alternate days. The temperature of the steam sauna was maintained at 50°C and each bath was taken for 15 minutes.Blood for FBGL was taken before the first steam bath and blood was taken again after seven steam sauna baths and the FBGL was estimated. The FBGLs after seven steam sauna baths were significantly decreased as compared with presteam sauna FBGLs. Steam saunas may help in preventing hyperglycemia and hence diabetes mellitus. It is also beneficial for healthy, asymptomatic subjects.

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Adolescence age group has significant impact of advertizing industry for use of soft drink and junk food. Present study is aimed to find out the alteration in the bone markers in medical and dental students, who regularly consume soft drinks. Students from our institute were divided (n = 200) in two groups. Group A – Students who consume 200 ml or less than 200 ml of soft drink in a week. Group B -Students consuming more than 200 ml of either ‘regular’ soft drink (B1) or ‘diet’ soft drink (B2) per day There is a significant decrease in the levels of bone density, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin D and increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in Group B2 than group A as well as B1.Diet soft drinks are consumed instead of regular soft drinks, the decrease in the pH due to phosphoric acid and aspartame; may lead to bone demineralization resulting into decreased bone density. Inhibition of 1alpha hydroxylase may get inhibited due to acid pH caused by phosphoric acid from soft drinks. These changes may lead to develop tendency of bone fractures in the future life.