title: Research on serum and saliva concentration of some bivalent cations in patient with suppurations of the oro-maxillo-facial area.
abstract: Bivalent cations, such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese play important roles in some physiological and pathological processes on the human body.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine possible modifications in serum and saliva concentration of total-Ca2+, total-Mg2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ in patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area and eventually their significance for the mentioned pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study included 47 patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area, hospitalised during 2006-2008 in the oro-maxillo-facial clinic of "Sfântul Spiridon" Hospital Iaşi and 43 healthy control volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed decreased serum Zn2+ (0.94 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.39 +/- 0.14 mg/L, p < 0.01), decreased serum Zn2+/Cu2+ ratio and increased serum and saliva total-Mg2+ concentration (27.34 +/- 2.61 mg/mL in patients vs. 23.83 +/- 1.61 mg/L in healthy controls- serum, p < 0.05 and 3.79 +/- 0.41 mg/mL in patients vs. 3.21 +/- 0.40 mg/mL in healthy controls - saliva, p < 0.05) in patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area vs. healthy controls. There were no statistically significant differences in total-Ca2+ concentrations in saliva and serum. Our data are in agreement with medical literature revealing zinc deficiency as a predisposition factor to infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider that a significant increase in total-Mg2+ saliva concentration, as well as a decrease in Zn2+/Cu2+ serum ratio could be considered a marker for predisposition to oro-maxillar suppurations.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, Department of Protetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa" Iaşi.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: Florina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crivoi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galeş
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciubotariu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nechifor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005145:Face / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013492:Suppuration / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium