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Saliva is currently used as a reliable diagnostic fluid in a wide range of local and systemic diseases. However, the link between salivary diagnosis and the inflammatory process in autoimmune diseases has not yet been explored. The aim of our study is to assess possible correlations between salivary inflammatory markers and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients fulfilling the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) diagnosis criteria were included. Salivary and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were determined using stochastic sensors. Serum leptin and IL-6 had significantly higher levels in SLE patients compared to non-SLE. Also, salivary IL-6 levels highly correlated with the serum IL-6 levels. A positive correlation was found between salivary and serum levels of IL-6, signaling salivary IL-6 as a reliable marker for assessing the inflammation process in SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of many systemic and oral diseases such as periodontal disease. The main aim of this study is to explore a possible association between salivary markers of OS and alveolar bone loss. Materials and methods. The study included 20 patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 controls. Salivary OS biomarkers 8-hidroxy-desoxguanosine (8-HOdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), uric acid, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated. Bone loss markers such as C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX I), matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8), osteocalcin and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25- OH D) were detected in this study. The methods included general biochemical tests and ELISA. Results. Salivary 8-OHdG, MDA levels were significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group compared with controls ( p < 0.05). Salivary activities for uric acid, TAC and GPx were significantly decreased in patients with chronic periodontitis vs controls ( p < 0.05). Salivary levels for CTX I, MMP-8, 25-OH D and Osteocalcin were significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group compared to the controls ( p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was observed between salivary levels of MDA and CTX I. Significant negative correlations between uric acid and CTX I and between MMP-8 and uric acid have been found. Significant positive correlations were observed between CTX I, MMP-8, 25-OH D, osteocalcin and clinical parameters of periodontal disease. Conclusions. Important oxidative stress associated with alveolar bone loss biomarkers can be detected in saliva of patients with periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of saliva as a diagnostic fluid is a relatively recent trend. Saliva is a mixed oral fluid derived from major and minor salivary glands. Oral fluid, often called the mirror of the body's health, is a perfect medium to be explored for health and disease surveillance. Saliva is considered to be the first line of defense against oxidative stress (OS), the main cause for many systemic and oral diseases. Important sources of oral free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are tobacco smoke, periodontitis and other oral diseases. Saliva is rich in antioxidants: uric acid, albumin, ascorbate and enzymes which constitute the antioxidant potential of saliva. Aim of the study: To test possible correlations between several salivary biomarkers and oral diseases associated with OS. Material and methods: We have determined the salivary antioxidant potential in patients with periodontitis (20), oral lichen planus (OLP) (20) smokers (20) versus controls (20). The following salivary biomarkers were evaluated: uric acid, albumin and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Salivary biomarkers were performed using analysis kits on automatic analyzer. Analysis kits were provided by Biosystems Diagnostics (Spain) and by Randox (UK). Results: Analysis revealed statistically significant changes of the mentioned parameters in patients' saliva versus controls. Conclusions: Our results illustrate that OS caused a depletion of antioxidant status in the oral cavity. Uric acid, albumin and TAC are very important and promising salivary biomarkers for monitoring the oral OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saliva is the first biological fluid that inhaled cigarette smoke (CS) encounters. CS contains several carcinogens known to initiate and promote tumourigenesis and metastasis. One of the aims of this study was to establish if glutathione peroxidase and gamma-glutamyltranspherase (GGT) could be used as possible markers for evaluating the oral oxidative stress caused by smoking. The effect of CS on free radical generation was investigated using two methods. Using different assays, different antioxidants present in saliva may be evidenced due to the different principles on which they are based. Our results indicate that exposure to CS caused a statistically significant decrease of both salivary glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.01) and salivary GGT (p < 0.01). We also found that exposure to CS caused a statistically significant decrease of salivary total antioxidant status (p < 0.01). Such decreases may have a consistent role in the mechanisms by which the toxic effects of CS initiate oral inflammatory diseases, promote precancerous transformations, and destroy the oral cavity homeostasis. Therefore the evaluation of total antioxidant capacity of saliva is important but it must be done together with the evaluation of salivary specific markers of oxidative stress, such as uric acid, albumin and possibly, GGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Saliva can be used as a diagnostic fluid in medicine. Components of saliva proposed as disease markers include enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, esterase, glucuronidase, aminopeptidase), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG), and hormones (steroid hormones). Many of these salivary components appeared to be useful biochemical markers of the evolution of periodontal disease, for which salivary analysis can offer a cost-effective approach for monitoring the disease. The salivary components proposed as markers for periodontal disease activity are aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aminopeptidases, and glucuronidases. The purpose of our study was to illustrate the influence of periodontal disease on the level of salivary AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ALP. Methods: All clinical periodontal examinations were performed by the same periodontist. All patients included in the study presented a probing depth >5 mm, bleeding on probing and alveolar bone loss >40%. Salivary AST, ALT and ALP activities were measured using DiaSys analysis kits from Diagnostic Systems. The methods were adapted for saliva. Results: Salivary AST activity in patients with periodontal disease was significantly increased (p<0.01) (median 81.75±23 U/L) compared with controls (15.25±10.5 U/L). Salivary ALT activity was not significantly modified in saliva from patients with periodontal disease compared with the control group. Our results showed a significant (p<0.01) increase in salivary ALP activity (34.38±1.5 U/L) in patients with periodontal disease compared with controls (6.6±4.2 U/L). Conclusions: Our results revealed that periodontal destruction such as periodontal pockets, gingival bleeding and suppuration are related to higher ALP and AST levels in saliva. Salivary AST could be used as a useful marker for monitoring periodontal disease. The increase in salivary ALP activity in periodontitis demonstrated could be associated with alveolar bone loss, a key feature of periodontal disease. More studies are necessary to evaluate which specific clinical, microbiological and histological characteristics of periodontal disease are associated with elevated levels of AST and ALP in saliva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saliva is the first line of defense against oxidative stress. The salivary antioxidant system includes different categories of molecules, the most important of these being the uric acid molecule and the salivary peroxidase system, both hydrosoluble. Our experimental data revealed significant reductions in salivary uric acid levels in the context of severe oral conditions, such as periodontal disease, oral lichen, oral cancer, compared to controls. The analysis of our results led us to the conclusion that chronic inflammation, as well as premalignant and/or malignant lesions, can significantly reduce the salivary antioxidant potential, supported primarily by uric acid, thus causing the oral environment to become more vulnerable to oxidative stress, which explains the progression of oral affections and the emergence of resistance to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Saliva is a complex biological fluid that has great potential as a diagnosis fluid for both oral and systemic diseases. At the same time, chronic hepatitis affects millions of people worldwide and can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this context, our research group aimed to evaluate the modifications produced in the saliva of patients with chronic hepatitis compared to healthy subjects. Material and method. The present work included 88 subjects that were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 22 people. Saliva samples were collected for each participant to the study. Salivary levels of total protein (TP), IgA, IgG and aminotransferases AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) were determined. Results. Our results showed significantly increased salivary levels of TP, IgA, AST and ALT for patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CHV) and chronic alcoholic hepatitis (CAH) compared to controls. IgG salivary levels were also higher in patients with hepatitis versus controls, however while statistical significance could be found for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and CAH, this was not the case for the patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Conclusions. The results of our study showed significantly increased salivary levels of the determined parameters in hepatitis patients compared to the healthy subjects, hence promoting the use of saliva as a diagnosis and monitoring fluid for chronic hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]