Background: Determination of arsenic species in human saliva is potentially useful for biomonitoring of human exposure and studying arsenic metabolism. Arsenic speciation in saliva has not been reported previously.
Methods: We separated arsenic species in saliva using liquid chromatography (LC) and quantified them by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We further confirmed the identities of arsenic species by LC coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. These methods were successfully applied to the determination of arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), and their methylation metabolites, monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV), in >300 saliva samples collected from people who were exposed to varying concentrations of arsenic.
Results: The mean (range) concentrations (µg/L) in the saliva samples from 32 volunteers exposed to background levels of arsenic were AsIII 0.3 [not detectable (ND) to 0.7], AsV 0.3 (ND to 0.5), MMAV 0.1 (ND to 0.2), and DMAV 0.7 (ND to 2.6). Samples from 301 people exposed to increased concentrations of arsenic in drinking water showed detectable AsIII in 99%, AsV in 98%, MMAV in 80%, and DMAV in 68% of samples. The mean (range) concentrations of arsenic species in these saliva samples were (in µg/L) AsIII 2.8 (0.1–38), AsV 8.1 (0.3–120), MMAV 0.8 (0.1–6.0), and DMAV 0.4 (0.1–3.9). Saliva arsenic correlated with drinking water arsenic. Odds ratios for skin lesions increased with saliva arsenic concentrations. The association between saliva arsenic concentrations and the prevalence of skin lesions was statistically significant (P <0.001).
Conclusions: Speciation of AsV, AsIII, MMAV, and DMAV in human saliva is a useful method for monitoring arsenic exposure.
Human saliva can detect breast cancer
NEW YORK: Specific protein markers can be identified and quantified in human saliva to provide an early, non-invasive diagnosis of breast cancer, a new study has found.
The study, published in the Journal of Cancer Investigation , describes how the onset of breast cancer produces a change in the normal type and amount of protein in glandular secretions from the salivary glands.
The protein profile in a healthy person is altered by the presence of cancer, it revealed.
The study is being applied to a "lab-on-a-chip" technology platform developed by biochemists at the University of Texas at Austin.
The ultimate goal is to bring this type of diagnostic test, which is capable of detecting the presence of cancer before a tumour forms, into the dental office or other health care facilities, the University said in a statement.
The technology aims to improve the ease and effectiveness with which dental professionals and other health care providers can provide quick, accurate diagnostic information and physician referrals to their patients, it said.
The study was a collaborative effort of Charles Streckfus, professor of diagnostics at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, and William Dubinsky, a biochemist and professor of integrative biology and pharmacology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Lenora Bigler, clinical research professor with the UT Dental Branch.
The research found that saliva holds the codes to many medical secrets.
The study, published in the Journal of Cancer Investigation , describes how the onset of breast cancer produces a change in the normal type and amount of protein in glandular secretions from the salivary glands.
The protein profile in a healthy person is altered by the presence of cancer, it revealed.
The study is being applied to a "lab-on-a-chip" technology platform developed by biochemists at the University of Texas at Austin.
The ultimate goal is to bring this type of diagnostic test, which is capable of detecting the presence of cancer before a tumour forms, into the dental office or other health care facilities, the University said in a statement.
The technology aims to improve the ease and effectiveness with which dental professionals and other health care providers can provide quick, accurate diagnostic information and physician referrals to their patients, it said.
The study was a collaborative effort of Charles Streckfus, professor of diagnostics at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, and William Dubinsky, a biochemist and professor of integrative biology and pharmacology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Lenora Bigler, clinical research professor with the UT Dental Branch.
The research found that saliva holds the codes to many medical secrets.
Influence of Saliva Medium on Freeing Heavy Metal Ion From Fixed Dentures
In dental-prosthetic practice, various kinds of fixed dentures, crowns and bridges, have very often been used in order to replace natural teeth and to respond to all health and esthetic needs. This study investigated the effect of saliva medium on migration of ions of heavy metals from fixed dentures that were fixed with various cements. Also, the influence of saliva medium on natural human teeth was observed. Potentiometric stripping analysis was used in order to determine the content of toxic heavy metals in the examined samples. The study confirmed that synthetic saliva had no significant influence on heavy metal ion migration from the natural teeth, whereas slight migration of some observed toxic heavy metal ions from the fixed dentures was present. This, however, indicates that these contents, although very low, must be taken seriously, because the above mentioned metals have cumulative effect which after some period of time may lead to functional disorders of some organs, and even to some very serious diseases.
Kalicanin B, Ajduković Z.
University of Nis, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Nis, Serbia.
Kalicanin B, Ajduković Z.
University of Nis, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Nis, Serbia.
Screening for periodontitis in pregnant women with salivary enzymes.
Aim: To develop a test for the screening of pregnant women for periodontitis using saliva prior to a dental examination.
Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed. Whole unstimulated saliva was collected from 221 pregnant women prior to a dental examination at the Amagasaki Public Health Office and levels of activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and of occult blood in the saliva were measured. The data were compared with Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) scores. The diagnostic performance of LDH Lacate Dehydrogenase , ALP, and occult blood was determined in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and the area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.
The optimal combination of parameters for screening periodontitis was determined at maximum sensitivity and specificity. Results: Periodontitis (CPITN 3, 4) in 19 women (8.6%) and gingivitis (CPITN 1, 2) in 129 women (58.4%) were observed. The activity levels of LDH and ALP were significantly higher in the pregnant women with periodontitis than those with gingivitis or a healthy periodontium.
To distinguish between the pregnant women with periodontitis and the others, a cut-off value of 684 IU/L for LDH and of 75 IU/L for ALP were determined by a ROC analysis. The test combining LDH, ALP, and occult blood showed the highest diagnostic performance; with a sensitivity value of 0.90, specificity value of 0.62, positive predictive value of 0.18, and negative predictive value of 0.98.
Conclusions: A test combining the parameters salivary LDH, ALP and occult blood is useful for screening pregnant women for periodontitis.
Kugahara T, Shosenji Y, Ohashi K.
Department of Children and Women's Health, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.J. Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2008 Feb;34(1):40-6
Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed. Whole unstimulated saliva was collected from 221 pregnant women prior to a dental examination at the Amagasaki Public Health Office and levels of activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and of occult blood in the saliva were measured. The data were compared with Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) scores. The diagnostic performance of LDH Lacate Dehydrogenase , ALP, and occult blood was determined in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and the area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.
The optimal combination of parameters for screening periodontitis was determined at maximum sensitivity and specificity. Results: Periodontitis (CPITN 3, 4) in 19 women (8.6%) and gingivitis (CPITN 1, 2) in 129 women (58.4%) were observed. The activity levels of LDH and ALP were significantly higher in the pregnant women with periodontitis than those with gingivitis or a healthy periodontium.
To distinguish between the pregnant women with periodontitis and the others, a cut-off value of 684 IU/L for LDH and of 75 IU/L for ALP were determined by a ROC analysis. The test combining LDH, ALP, and occult blood showed the highest diagnostic performance; with a sensitivity value of 0.90, specificity value of 0.62, positive predictive value of 0.18, and negative predictive value of 0.98.
Conclusions: A test combining the parameters salivary LDH, ALP and occult blood is useful for screening pregnant women for periodontitis.
Kugahara T, Shosenji Y, Ohashi K.
Department of Children and Women's Health, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.J. Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2008 Feb;34(1):40-6
Salivary parameters in infants aged 12 to 60 months with Down syndrome
The purpose of this study was to measure certain components in whole saliva from children with Down syndrome aged 12 months to 60 months. Twenty children with Down syndrome were compared with 18 children without Down syndrome.
Whole saliva was collected under slight suction and the salivary pH was measured with a portable pH meter soon after collection. Electrolyte concentrations were determined by inductively coupled argon plasma with atomic emission spectrometry. Sialic acid was determined by thiobarbituric acid assay.
Amylase was assayed measuring the maltose produced by the breakdown of starch and peroxidase with ortho-dianisidine. No statistically significant differences were observed in sialic acid, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium concentrations between the group with Down syndrome and the control group.
Protein and sodium concentration were higher in the group with Down syndrome compared to the control group. On the other hand, the flow rate, pH, amylase and peroxidase activities and potassium concentration were lower in those with Down syndrome compared to those children in the control group.
Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Mass., USA. wlsiqueira@gmail.com
Whole saliva was collected under slight suction and the salivary pH was measured with a portable pH meter soon after collection. Electrolyte concentrations were determined by inductively coupled argon plasma with atomic emission spectrometry. Sialic acid was determined by thiobarbituric acid assay.
Amylase was assayed measuring the maltose produced by the breakdown of starch and peroxidase with ortho-dianisidine. No statistically significant differences were observed in sialic acid, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium concentrations between the group with Down syndrome and the control group.
Protein and sodium concentration were higher in the group with Down syndrome compared to the control group. On the other hand, the flow rate, pH, amylase and peroxidase activities and potassium concentration were lower in those with Down syndrome compared to those children in the control group.
Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Mass., USA. wlsiqueira@gmail.com
Amylase-producing multiple myeloma: a case report
A 80-year-old man was admitted because of acute-onset thrombocytopenia and renal failure . He was diagnosed with Bence Jones ( lambda ) -type multiple myeloma associated with sepsis with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. On admission, serum amylase activity was elevated to 1,814 IU/l (98% salivary type; S-amylase ). Several days after admission, he developed bilateral myelomatous pleuritis. The activity of s-amylase in the effusion was 5,495 IU/l. Myeloma cells in the pleural effusion were positive for cytoplasmic amylase with an antibody against human amylase . High S-amylase activity was detected in the supernatant of cultured myeloma cells in the effusion. Furthermore, s-amylase gene expression was detected by RT-PCR. A diagnosis of amylase-producing multiple myeloma was made. The patient died of renal insufficiency complicated by severe DIC. We report a rare case of amylase-producing myeloma confirmed by immunocytochemistry, culture method, and gene expression.
Mori M, Maruoka H, Nagai Y, Fujita H, Togami K, Tabata S, Kurata M, Matsushita A, Nagai K, Tanaka K, Yamashiro A, Takahashi T.
Department of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital,Rinsho Ketsueki. 2007 Nov;48(11):1484-8.
Mori M, Maruoka H, Nagai Y, Fujita H, Togami K, Tabata S, Kurata M, Matsushita A, Nagai K, Tanaka K, Yamashiro A, Takahashi T.
Department of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital,Rinsho Ketsueki. 2007 Nov;48(11):1484-8.
Complex formation in mixtures of lysozyme-stabilized emulsions and human saliva
In this paper, we studied the interaction between human unstimulated saliva and lysozyme -stabilized oil-in-water emulsions (10 wt/wt% oil phase, 10 mM NaCl, pH 6.7), to reveal the driving force for flocculation of these emulsions. Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) showed formation of complexes between salivary proteins and lysozyme adsorbed at the oil-water interface and lysozyme in solution as well. To assess the electrostatic nature of the interaction in emulsion/saliva mixtures, laser-diffraction and rheological measurements were conducted in function of the ionic strength by adding NaCl to the mixture in the range between 0 and 168 mM. Increasing the ionic strength reduced the ability of saliva to induce emulsion flocculation as shown by the decreased floc size and the effect on the viscosity. Turbidity experiments with varying pH (3-7) and ionic strength also showed decreased complex formation in mixtures between saliva and lysozyme in solution upon NaCl addition up to 200 mM. Decreasing the pH increased the turbidity, in line with the increase of the positive net charge on the lysozyme molecule. We conclude that electrostatic attraction is the main driving force for complex formation between saliva components and lysozyme adsorbed at the oil droplets and in solution.
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