Could the bone mineral density (T-score) be correlated with the Raman spectral features of keratin from women's nails and be used to predict osteoporosis?

Author(s)

Mussatto, Julio Cesar ^[1] ; Perez, Mauro Coura ^[1] ; de Souza, Renato Aparecido ^[2] ; Pacheco, Marcos Tadeu T. ^[1] ; Zangaro, Renato Amaro ^[1] ; Silveira, Jr., Landulfo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Camilo Castelo Branco UNICASTELO, Inst Biomed Engn, BR-12247016 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Fed Educ Ciencia & Tecnol Sul Minas Gerais I, GEP CS, BR-37890000 Muzambinho, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Lasers in Medical Science; v. 30, n. 1, p. 287-294, JAN 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a disease with great importance in current public health due to the associated risk of fracture; therefore, a rapid and accurate diagnosis becomes increasingly important. Recent literature has described a possible relationship between the changes in the organic phase of bone and the changes in nail keratin measured through Raman spectroscopy, aiming at the development of a standard for measuring bone quality and fracture risk both rapid and accurately. This work evaluated the correlation between the bone mineral density (BMD) scores of women with and without osteoporotic disease with the changes in the Raman spectra of the nail keratin, by assessing the intensity of the peak at 510 cm(-1) (S-S bridge) and the scores of principal component analysis (PCA), correlated with the values of BMD measured at the lumbar and hip. Raman spectra of ex vivo fingernails of 213 women were obtained by means of a dispersive Raman spectrometer (830 nm, 300 mW, in the spectral range between 400 and 1,800 cm(-1)). Peak intensities at similar to 510 cm(-1) (assigned to the keratin S-S bridge) were measured, and the scores of first principal component loading vectors were calculated. Results showed no differences in the mean Raman spectra of nails of groups with and without osteoporosis. No correlation was found between the BMD scores and both the intensities of the 510 cm(-1) peak and the scores of the first four principal component vectors. Results suggest that BMD and fracture risk could not be assessed by the nail keratin features. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/01788-5 - Dispersive Raman spectroscopy using optical fibers "Raman probe" applied to the diagnosis of neoplasia in the skin and prostate
• Grantee: Landulfo Silveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants