La saliva y su importancia con referencia a la inmunodeficiencia adquirida / Importancy of the saliva with special reference to adquired immunodeficience

La saliva es una secreción que juega un papel muy importante tanto en la salud como en la enfermedad, oral y general. Lubrica y protege las estructuras orales y modifica la naturaleza de la flora oral microbiana u la composición química de los dientes. El papel de la saliva en la formación de la placa y del cálculo es de suma importancia y por lo tanto está intimamente relacionada con la caries y la enfermedad periodontal. Desde el punto de vista inmunológico ayuda al organismo y lo protege contra esas enfermedades

Development of Eosinophilia in dogs intradermically inoculated with sand fly saliva and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi stationary-phase promastigotes

Salivary glad lysates of the sand fly Lutzomia longipalpis have been shown to enhance the infectivity of Leishmania in mice. As shown herein, the simultaneous inoculation of Leishmania chagasi stationary-phase promastigotes and L. longipalpis salivary gland by the intradermal route in a group of mongrel dogs induced a statistically significant eosinophilia, in relation to dogs inoculated with Leishmania or with salivary gland lysate only. These dogs had no evidence of infection, in spite of the infectivity of the promastigotes when inoculated by the intravenous route

Determinación de streptococcus mutans en saliva (técnica de Matsukubo) en niños de instituciones infantiles / Determination of streptococcus mutans (Matsukubo technique) in children from day-care centers

Se estudiaron 60 niños procedentes de instituciones infantiles para la determinación de Streptococcus mutans en saliva, mediante la aplicación de la técnica de Matsukubo et al. (modificada); se recogieron datos generales, y de la exploración de la cavidad bucal. Se concluyó que esta técnica es de gran utilidad porque nos permite, de forma masiva, determinar el grado de infección por este microorganismo, además de detectar que existe una alta correlación entre el grado de infección por el Streptococcus mutans y la presencia de caries dentales. Es una técnica sencilla y fácil de realizar

Niveles salivales de teofilina en niños asmáticos: una alternativa para el monitoreo terapéutico / Salivary levels on theofilin asthmatic children: alternative for terapeutic monitory

Con el objetivo de evaluar la aplicabilidad del monitoreo terapeútico de teofilina en muestras de saliva, se estudió la relación entre niveles séricos y salivales de la droga en un grupo de 20 niños asmáticos entre 7 y 18 años de edad, en tratamiento con una teofilina de liberación lenta. En muestras simultáneas de sangre y de saliva extraídas en estado estacionario y 6 horas después de una dosis se encontró una relación lineal, con una correlación significativa (r=0,96, SD 1,4 mcg/ml). Si bien se obtuvo una buena correlación entre niveles séricos y salivales, la variabilidad del 56%del rango terapeútico, no ofrece la precisión requerida para estimar niveles séricos de teofilina a partir de niveles salivales

Niveles salivales de teofilina en niños asmáticos: una alternativa para el monitoreo terapéutico / Salivary levels on theofilin asthmatic children: alternative for terapeutic monitory

Con el objetivo de evaluar la aplicabilidad del monitoreo terapeútico de teofilina en muestras de saliva, se estudió la relación entre niveles séricos y salivales de la droga en un grupo de 20 niños asmáticos entre 7 y 18 años de edad, en tratamiento con una teofilina de liberación lenta. En muestras simultáneas de sangre y de saliva extraídas en estado estacionario y 6 horas después de una dosis se encontró una relación lineal, con una correlación significativa (r=0,96, SD 1,4 mcg/ml). Si bien se obtuvo una buena correlación entre niveles séricos y salivales, la variabilidad del 56%del rango terapeútico, no ofrece la precisión requerida para estimar niveles séricos de teofilina a partir de niveles salivales

Phosphopeptides derived from human salivary acidic proline-rich proteins. Biological activities and concentration in saliva.

Human saliva contains a large number of phosphopeptides derived by cleavage of acidic proline-rich proteins (APRPs). These peptides were purified by column chromatography and they constituted 0.5% of APRPs in parotid saliva, but 11% of APRPs in saliva expectorated from the mouth (whole saliva), indicating that there is considerable cleavage of APRPs after secretion from the gland. Similarly to APRP, the phosphopeptides bind Ca2+, but they accounted for only 4% of protein-bound Ca2+ in whole saliva. APRPs as well as the phosphopeptides inhibited formation of hydroxyapatite, but, whereas 19-20 micrograms of APRP was needed for 50% inhibition, only 0.7-3.3 micrograms of purified peptides was needed for the same degree of activity, and the phosphopeptides accounted for 18% of total inhibitory activity in whole saliva. All phosphopeptides adsorbed on hydroxyapatite in vitro, and adsorption of phosphopeptides on tooth surfaces in vivo could also be demonstrated, indicating that they would be able to inhibit unwanted mineral formation on the tooth surface in vivo. Degradation of APRPs after secretion therefore does not lead to a loss of their biological activities.

Variability of measures of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the home.

We assessed the variability of four markers of environmental tobacco smoke exposure in 10 homes with 20 nonsmoking and 11 smoking household members. We obtained exposure questionnaires, saliva and urine for cotinine, and air particle samples for respirable particles and nicotine on 10 sampling days: every other day over 10 days, and then 1 day every other week over 10 wk. The mean concentrations of respirable particles in the 10 homes ranged from 32.4 to 76.9 micrograms/m3, and concentrations of nicotine ranged from 0.6 to 6.9 micrograms/m3. Linear regression models that included indicator variables for self-reported exposure explained 9 and 6% of the variability of the respirable particle and the nicotine concentrations, respectively. The individual mean urinary cotinine levels standardized to creatinine concentration ranged from 3.9 to 55.8 ng/mg Cr, and for salivary cotinine the mean levels ranged from 0.9 to 4.3 ng/ml. Indicator variables for self-reported exposure explained 8 and 23% of the variability of the urinary and salivary cotinine levels, respectively. We conclude that because of the marked variability of these measures, multiple measurements are needed to establish a stable profile of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the home.

ABO blood groups in natural populations of callitrichidae (Platyrrhini, primates)

Foram coletadas amostras de sangue e saliva de 88 Saguinus fuscicollis weddelli e 47 Callithrix emiliae, capturados às margens do rio Jamari (Rondônia), e 35 Callithrix jacchus, capturados no estado do Rio Grande do Norte. A existência de substâncias ABH foi investigada em amostras de saliva, através do método convencional de inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo. As três espécies apresentaram-se monomórficas para o sistem ABO,s endo os indivíduos classificados como pertencentes ao grupo sangüneo A. Esses resultados säo semelhantes a maioria dos estudos realizados anteriormente na família Callitrichidae. As amostras de plasma foram utilizadas na detecçäo de aglutininas naturais do sistema ABO, tendo-se observado discrepâncias entre os fenótipos salivar e séricos nas três espécies

Aislamiento y caracterizaciónm de cepas de streptococcus mutaus en niños de 3 a 7 años de edad / Isolation and characterization of strains of streptococcus mutans in children aged 3-7 years

En este trabajo se realiza el aislamiento y caracterización de 40 cepas de Streptococcus mutans a partir de salivas de niños comprendidos en las edades de 3 a 7 años basándonos en el esquema bioquímico propuesto por Perch et al en 1974. En esta población estudiada se encontró que predominaba el serotipo c y sólo se aisló una cepa perteneciente al serotipo b. Se muestran además las diferentes características y respuestas bioquímicas de las cepas aisladas

Saliva from cystic fibrosis patients contains an unusual form of epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) was assayed in saliva collected from control subjects and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, using both radioimmuno (RIA) and radioreceptor (RRA) assays. An intriguing finding was that the average ratio of the values found by RRA over those obtained by RIA was of 1.7 for normal subjects and of about 0.4 for CF patients. This observation could be understood following gel filtration analysis of EGF-like material in these salivary fluids. Whereas control saliva contained the expected 6 kDa EGF active peptide, the immunoreactive EGF material from CF patients eluted as a polydisperse macromolecular moiety. The poor biological reactivity of this material as assessed by radioreceptor assay suggests that this EGF anomaly may contribute to the physiopathology of cystic fibrosis, especially as the upper gastrointestinal tract differentiated functions may be the target of normal salivary EGF.

A personal monitoring study to assess workplace exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

We enrolled 15 nonsmoking volunteers to evaluate the feasibility of measuring personal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at work and to characterize workplace exposures. During one workshift, we obtained questionnaires on exposure, saliva and urine for cotinine, and personal air samples for respirable particles and nicotine. The levels of cotinine, respirable particles, and nicotine varied widely with self-reports of exposure to ETS, but on average increased with increasing exposure.

The effectiveness of a dental/dietitian team in the assessment of bulimic dental health.

Individuals with bulimia nervosa have been found to experience a variety of dental complications. Because of purging behaviors and erratic food consumption, the oral manifestations of bulimia frequently include irreversible enamel erosion, xerostomia, and oral mucosal irritation. A pilot study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the dental/dietitian team in assessing the dental health of individuals with bulimia. Control and bulimic subjects were compared. The results demonstrated a significantly different (p less than .05) intake of folacin-412 micrograms in controls compared with 207 micrograms in bulimic subjects. Control subjects were found to have significantly greater (p less than .05) amounts of calculus deposits on teeth; however, subjects with bulimia demonstrated a lower (p less than .05) saliva pH. We conclude that the collaborative effort of the dental/dietitian team was useful in the assessment of dental health. The team approach may also help to identify clients with bulimia and facilitate therapy.

Determination of free progesterone in an ultrafiltrate of saliva collected in situ.

We have investigated the utility of an ultrafiltrate of saliva for measuring progesterone as an indicator of luteal function during the menstrual cycle of women. A filtrate of saliva is collected in the mouth by means of an osmotic pump that accumulates medium containing only molecules less than 12,000 Da. We analyzed the nonextracted ultrafiltrate by a solid-phase immunoassay for progesterone and monitored the mid-luteal surge of lutropin in urine with a liquid-phase radioimmunoassay. Progesterone concentrations in the ultrafiltrate are significantly lower during the follicular phase and increase after the release of lutropin. The concentration of progesterone in the ultrafiltrate correlates closely with total progesterone in matched blood samples (r = 0.84, cycle 1; and r = 0.89, cycle 2). Likewise, we found a good correlation between the results in whole saliva and in the ultrafiltrate (r = 0.95). The described method of obtaining a pre-processed specimen noninvasively simplifies the self-collection of samples by patients (including collection at home); excludes potential interference from microorganisms, desquamated cells, and salivary components; and simplifies the processing of the biological fluid in the laboratory.

Comparative study on mineralization-related intraoral parameters in periodontitis-affected and periodontitis-free adults.

The parameters related to an intraoral mineralization tendency in periodontitis-affected (P+) and periodontitis-free (P-) study subjects (16 adults, 46-74 yr, matched for sex and age) were compared. For this purpose the calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) concentration of both plaque and saliva, resting pH and the acidogenic response of interdental plaque, plaque wet weight, salivary flow rate, buffering capacity and sucrase activity, interdental plaque, plaque S. mutans levels as well as salivary lactobacilli and yeast levels were estimated. Plaque Ca (micrograms/mg protein, P less than 0.025) and P (micrograms/mg protein, P less than 0.05), saliva Ca (micrograms/ml, P less than 0.005) and the saliva Ca:P ratio (P less than 0.005) were higher in the P+ than in the P- group. The resting pH values were higher (P less than 0.025) and the acidogenic response of the interdental plaque was lower (P less than 0.025) in the P+ group than in the P- group. The P+ group had lower S. mutans levels in saliva and interdental plaque. No differences were found in the wet weight of plaque and in the flow rate, buffering capacity or sucrase activity of saliva between the groups. The findings of the mineralization-related parameters in the two "extreme" groups of periodontal status suggest a higher intraoral mineralization tendency in periodontitis-affected persons than in periodontitis-free subjects. Ca and P accumulation of supragingival plaque seem to be connected with low acidogenicity of plaque and high salivary Ca concentration.

Alteraciones electrolíticas en la hipertensión arterial esencial / Electrolytic changes in essential arterial hypertension

Se determinaron las concentraciones de sodio y potasio en plasma sanguíneo, saliva y eritrocitos en 3 grupos de pacientes. Grupo A (n=27) normotensos sin antecedentes familiares de hipertensión arterial y grupo C (n=35), individuos que padecían de hipertensión arterial. Se encontró un aumento estadísticamente significativo (p < 0,05) del sodio y una disminución del potasio intraeritrocitario, así como un aumento del sodio y potasio en la saliva en el grupo C con respecto a los demás grupos estudiados. No hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos A y B en ninguno de los parámetros.

Oral mucosal status and major salivary gland function.

Normal salivary function is considered to be critical for the maintenance of healthy oral mucosa. However, few studies have examined mucosal changes in patients with objectively documented salivary gland performance. In the present report, the mucosal status of 298 subjects being evaluated in a dry mouth clinic was assessed. A complete oral examination was performed and unstimulated and stimulated salivary samples were collected separately from the parotid and submandibular/sublingual glands. Data were analyzed according to diagnosis and salivary output after the assignment of an oral mucosal rating to each subject. In general, the mucosal surfaces were well preserved and infections were not seen. Patients evaluated for Sjögren's syndrome and radiation-induced xerostomia had the lowest salivary gland performance but displayed a mucosal status similar to denture-wearing healthy subjects or patients with normal salivary flow who had idiopathic xerostomia. However, those patients with a total lack of salivary flow rarely had normal-appearing oral mucosa. These results confirm a role for saliva in oral mucosal preservation and also suggest that other factors may act to maintain oral mucosal integrity.

Possible roles for frequent salivary antiepileptic drug monitoring in the management of epilepsy.

Salivary levels of phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine and carbamazepine-epoxide correlate with the simultaneous plasma water levels of these substances, after correcting for the effects of pH differences between saliva and plasma in the case of phenobarbitone. Saliva is easy and painless to collect, and salivary levels of the drugs are conveniently measured. Frequent (often daily) monitoring of pre-dose morning anticonvulsant drug concentrations in saliva over periods of weeks or months in 3 groups of epileptic subjects showed that (i) in some but not all poorly controlled epileptic patients seizures tended to occur on days when salivary anticonvulsant levels were lower than on non-seizure days, (ii) in such subjects it was possible to estimate an anticipated optimal drug concentration and dose to minimize seizure activity from the plot of seizure frequency against drug concentrations, (iii) in women with 'catamenial' epilepsy, salivary anticonvulsant levels were lower on perimenstrual days than at mid-cycle in half of the subjects studied, and (iv) in pregnant epileptic women the time course of the change in drug levels relative to dose could be followed more closely throughout pregnancy and the post-natal period than was practicable when using blood level measurements. Frequent measurement of salivary anticonvulsant concentrations appears a promising and inexpensive adjunct to the investigation and management of certain problem areas in epilepsy.

A quantitative study of endometrial development in the luteal phase: comparison between women with unexplained infertility and normal fertility.

This study compared endometrial development in the luteal phase of women with unexplained infertility (n = 30) with that in women with normal fertility (n = 70) by the use of quantitative histological techniques (morphometric analysis) on endometrial specimens which were precisely timed from the luteinizing hormone surge. When overall endometrial development (histological dating) was considered, the proportion of women with unexplained infertility who had retarded endometrial development (20%) was found to be significantly higher than for women with normal fertility (3%) (P less than 0.01). When individual histological features were considered, women with unexplained infertility were found to have significant deviation from the normal range established from fertile women in only five of the 14 histological features measured. All of these five features related to the glandular but not to the stromal component of the endometrium; four of these five features are related to glandular secretory activity.