Measurement of Creatine kinase and Aspartate aminotransferase in saliva of dogs: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Muscle enzymes in saliva have been reported to be possible markers of heart and muscle damage in humans. The aim of this study was to assess if Creatine kinase (CK) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities could be measured in canine saliva, and to evaluate their possible changes in situations of muscle damage. RESULTS: The spectrophotometric assays for CK and AST measurement in saliva of dogs showed intra- and inter-assay imprecision lower than 1 and 16% and coefficients of correlation close to 1 in linearity under dilution tests. Healthy dogs showed activities in saliva of CK between 27 and 121 U/L and AST between 46 and 144 U/L, whereas in saliva of dogs with muscle damage CK ranged between 132 and 3862 U/L and AST between 154 and 4340 U/L. Positive moderate correlations were found between saliva and serum activities of the two enzymes (CK, r = 0.579; P = 0.001; AST, r = 0.674; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CK and AST activities can be measured in canine saliva with commercially available spectrophotometric assays. In addition these enzymes show higher values in saliva of dogs with muscle damage and their values are moderately correlated with those of serum.

Changes of salivary biomarkers under different storage conditions: effects of temperature and length of storage.

INTRODUCTION: In this report, we aimed to examine the stability of various analytes in saliva under different storage conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alpha-amylase (AMY), cholinesterase (CHE), lipase (Lip), total esterase (TEA), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), lactate (Lact), adenosine deaminase (ADA), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing ability (FRAS), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), uric acid (UA), catalase (CAT), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were colorimetrically measured in saliva obtained by passive drool from 12 healthy voluntary donors at baseline and after 3, 6, 24, 72 hours, 7 and 14 days at room temperature (RT) and 4 ºC, and after 14 days, 1, 3 and 6 months at - 20 ºC and - 80 ºC. RESULTS: At RT, changes appeared at 6 hours for TEA and H2O2; 24 hours for Lip, CK, ADA and CUPRAC; and 72 hours for LD, Lact, FRAS, UA and AOPP. At 4 ºC changes were observed after 6 hours for TEA and H2O2; 24 hours for Lip and CUPRAC; 72 hours for CK; and 7 days for LD, FRAS and UA. At - 20 ºC changes appeared after 14 days for AST, Lip, CK and LD; and 3 months for TEA and H2O2. At - 80 ºC observed changes were after 3 months for TEA and H2O2. CONCLUSIONS: In short-term storage, the analytes were more stable at 4 ºC than at room temperature, whereas in long-term storage they were more stable at - 80 ºC than at - 20 ºC.

Changes in creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase in saliva samples after an intense exercise: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the enzymes creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in saliva before and after an intense exercise consisting of a futsal match. METHODS: CK, LDH and AST were analyzed in saliva and serum samples of eleven, injury-free, amateur young men before and 30 minutes, 12 hours and 36 hours after a futsal match. RESULTS: A significant increase in CK, LDH and AST was observed after the game in serum samples. In saliva, although a high interindividual variability was found with some individuals no showing increases, significant increases in CK and LDH were observed after the game. No significant changes were observed in saliva AST after the game. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed for first time that CK and LDH can increase in saliva after an intensive exercise consisting on a futsal match. Results suggest that measurements of CK and LDH in saliva could be potentially used to evaluate possible muscle stress or damage in cases of intensive exercise.

Impact of Saliva Collection and Processing Methods on Aspartate Aminotransferase, Creatin Kinase and Lactate Dehydrogenase Activities.

We aimed to investigate the impact of saliva collection and processing methods on AST, CK and LDH. Saliva was collected from 17 healthy participants by a passive drool. Each saliva sample was distributed into 3 aliquots: not treated, centrifuged, and passed through cotton. Centrifugation improved the precision of assays and produced lower values of AST and CK. The use of cotton resulted in decreased levels of LDH. This data stress the importance of the standardization of sample processing to measure enzymes in saliva.

[The effectiveness of training schemes in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome at health centers]. / Mejoría en la asistencia al síndrome coronario agudo en los centros de asistencia primaria mediante un plan de formación.

OBJECTIVE: A preliminary evaluation of the impact of a training program on pre-hospitalization care of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Lleida Health Service area. PATIENTS: A total of 661 ACS cases were observed in the Intensive Medical Care Unit from January 1st 2002 to December 31st 2004. INTERVENTIONS: A training program for primary health care medical staff on the pre-hospitalization management of ACS from July 2003 to December 2006 in 29 health care centers was conducted. MAIN ENDPOINTS OF INTEREST: The evolution of 5 pre-hospitalization interventions, (acetylsalicylic acid, nitroglycerine, electrocardiogram, intravenous tube and intravenous morphine) throughout the study period was measured. RESULTS: It was noted during the study that those centers in which training programs were held had a clear increase in the use of the 5 pre-hospitalization interventions. Insertion of an intravenous line, administration of intravenous morphine and administration of acetylsalicylic acid were all observed to have multiplied their use 10, 8 and 3 times, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A training scheme for general practitioners (GP) is essential to ensure appropriate care of patients with this condition.