Effect of age on flow-rate, protein and electrolyte composition of stimulated whole saliva in healthy, non-smoking women

Assessment and Correlation of Salivary Ca, Mg, and pH in Smokers and Non-Smokers with Generalized Chronic Periodontitis

Background and Objectives: Diagnostic evaluation with the aid of biomarkers has reached newer heights to assess disease activity. Salivary calcium, magnesium, and pH are one of the biochemical parameters which can be helpful in assessing the progression of periodontal disease. Smokers are at topnotch threat for having oral diseases, predominantly periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the salivary calcium, magnesium, and pH levels in smokers compared with non-smokers with chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: The current study was conducted on 210 individuals affected with generalized chronic periodontitis, with the age group between 25 and 55 years. Based on their smoking habit, an equal number of patients were categorized into two groups; namely, group I consisted of non-smokers and group II consisted of smokers. The clinical parameters that were measured included Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL). The biochemical variables that were evaluated in the current study included salivary calcium, magnesium, and pH using an AVL9180 electrolyte analyzer (Roche, Germany). The gathered data were analyzed with an unpaired t test was using SPSS 20.0. Results: A statistically significant higher PPD (p < 0.01), CAL (p < 0.05), and salivary calcium levels (p < 0.001) were observed in the smokers' compared with their non-smoking counterparts. Among the biochemical parameters, calcium showed a significantly (p < 0.001) higher level in smokers (5.79 ± 1.76) in contrast to non-smokers (3.87 ± 1.03). Additionally, a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) between calcium and PPD was observed in non-smokers, whereas a non-significant inverse relation (p > 0.05) was seen in smokers. Conclusions: The present study indicates that the salivary calcium level can be a potential biochemical parameter to assess the progression of periodontal disease in smokers and non-smokers. Within the limitations of the current study, the salivary biomarkers appear to have an essential role in the identification and indication of the status of periodontal diseases.

Correlation Depending on Age Between Saliva and Plasma Parameters

Introduction. Because of the increasing interest in the study of saliva, many methods have become available that can allow us to perform multiple and rapid analyzes of the composition of salivary secretion using advanced techniques of nanotechnology and fluid micro- engineering. The objectives of our study were to identify immunoglobulin levels variations with age.

Materials and methods. We conducted an analysis to check the correlation between saliva and plasma parameters on 24 patients. The study population was divided into 2 groups based on age, with a cut-off at 35 years. The differences on the variables between two groups were evaluated by TTEST and CORREL.

Results. Total plasma calcium, as well as ionic calcium have increased values in group 2, the increase being statistically significant (p =0.04) only for ionic calcium. Significant correlation of plasma and salivary values in the case of IgA / IgG ratio, and also a significant correlation of salivary and plasma concentrations for IgG were identified in our study.

Conclusions. The correlation between plasma and salivary parameters is closely related to age and these can be used as markers for diagnosis and evaluation of various pathologies. Also, regarding women, salivary calcium and phosphate concentrations increase with age showing peak values around menopause.

The Association Between Some Macro and Trace Elements in Saliva and Periodontal Status

Changes in the macro and trace element composition of saliva might be indicative for pathological changes in periodontal tissues. However, there is a lack of evidence in the literature showing associations between mineral elements and periodontal status. The aim of this study was to determine whether such associations occur. Totally, 190 systemically healthy non-smoker participants (mean age 32.2 ± 6.02; 50 periodontally healthy, 50 gingivitis, 50 chronic periodontitis, and 40 aggressive periodontitis individuals) were included in this cross-sectional study. Salivary levels of some macro and trace elements were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Kruskal-Wallis's test was used for statistical analysis. Statistically significant differences were found in sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), vanadium (V), chromium Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), and selenium (Se) concentrations among the groups. Significant increases in the essential minerals Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, and Se occurred in both periodontitis groups when compared to the gingivitis and periodontally healthy groups. Lower Se, Sr, Fe, Mn, and V concentrations were found in the aggressive periodontitis group than in the chronic periodontitis group. The results of this study demonstrated that assessment of mineral element concentrations in saliva might be useful in assessing periodontal health and disease. However, further studies are required to determine whether the change in a specific mineral element is the result of periodontal disease or is involved in its pathogenesis.

Solid contact potassium selective electrodes for biomedical applications - a review

Ion-selective electrodes (ISE) are used in several biomedical applications, including laboratory sensing of potassium concentration in blood and urine samples. For on-site determination of potassium concentration and usage in other applications such as determination of extracellular potassium concentration, miniaturization of the sensors is required. To that extent, solid contacts have proven to be an adequate substitute of liquid contacts as inner layer for ion-to-electron transduction, allowing industrial production of miniaturized ISEs. This review paper covers relevant developments of solid-state ISEs in the past decade, critically compares current potassium ISEs and discusses future prospects for biomedical applications. Performances of three main types of solid contact materials in potassium sensing are compared, namely polypyrrole, polythiophenes and conducting nanomaterials. With these new materials, numerous improvements in stability, selectivity and time response of solid-state ISEs have been made. Current developments are new operational methods of sensing, flexible miniaturized sensors and multi-electrode designs able to measure electrolyte concentrations in one-drop blood samples or transmembrane ionic flows.

The Effect of Smoking on Mineral and Protein Compositionof Saliva

INTRODUCTION

To assess the salivary composition of proteins and minerals in smokers compared with non-smokers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study we compared the total protein and Ca, Na, K, Mg, Pb of whole saliva in two groups of men (28 smokers and 31nonsmokers) aged between 29-41years.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine participants were evaluated. The mean age was 33.14±5.32 years among smokers and 32.15±5.12 years among non-smokers (P>0.05). The mean concentration of total protein, Ca, Pb, and Zn of whole saliva in smokers was lower than that in non-smokers, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The mean concentration of Na, K, Mg in whole saliva was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

We specified that smoking reduced the value of total protein, Ca and Pb of saliva, however it did not have an impact on Na, K, and Mg of saliva.

Prevalence of xerostomia in patients attending Shorish dental speciality in Sulaimani city

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of xerostomia among dental patients and explore the possible risk factors and symptoms associated with this condition. Patient and Methods: The prevalence of xerostomia and its associations were investigated among patients (n=1132) who were visiting the department of oral medicine at shorish dental speciality in sulaimani city. The age range was between 10-79 years. 512 (45.2%) of participants were males and 620 (54.8%) were females. The data collected were age, sex, systemic diseases, medications and habit of smoking. Logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to investigate the association of xerostomia with age, systemic diseases and medications and Chi Square test was also used to analyze the data. Results: Prevalence of xerostomia was 16.07%. Prevalence of xerostomia was significantly higher among females (19.51%) than males (11.91%) (P=0.001). The most common diseases with the highest prevalence of xerostomia were psychological disorders (57.14%) followed by diabetes mellitus (53.84%), neurological disorders (40%), thyroid disorders (37.5%) and hypertension (36.48%). The most common medication with the highest prevalence of xerostomia was antihistamine (66.66%) followed by psychotherapeutic medications (60%), pain medications (55.88%), endocrinologic agents (51.21%), antidyslipidic agents (50%) and antihypertensive medication (38.98%). Xerostomia was significantly associated with ageing (OR: 1.02, P=0.000), systemic diseases (OR: 2.80, P=0.000) and medications (OR: 5.17, P=0.000). There was a high prevalence of reported symptoms of xerostomia and these symptoms were more prevalent among females, Prevalence of xerostomia was higher in heavy smoker patients (19.48%) than non smoker patients but not significantly (16.14%) (p= 0.44). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of xerostomia among dental patients; xerostomia was significantly more prevalent among females and significantly associated with age, systemic diseases and medications; xerostomia adversely affects oral functions; dentist must be familial with sign and symptoms of xerostomia and can have an active role in the management of xerostomia and preventing or treating complications.

Key words:Ageing, medications, xerostomia, prevalence.

Aging affects morphology but not stimulated secretion of saliva in rats

BACKGROUND

The role of aging on the salivary gland function still remains controversial and inconclusive. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of aging on the morphology and secretion of salivary glands using male Wistar rats.

METHOD

There were three age groups; group A (3 months old; n = 8), group B (6 months old; n = 8), and group C (9 months old; n = 8). Body weights, salivary gland weights, salivary flow rates, pH and salivary levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate and total protein were measured and compared. Hematoxylin-eosin stained histological slides of the salivary glands were assessed for morphological changes.

RESULTS

Body weights increased with age while mean parotid gland weight was significantly higher in group B than in groups A and C. Mean salivary flow rate was significantly higher in group B and C than in group A, and mean salivary pH was significantly higher in group B and C than group A. Analysis of salivary electrolytes and total protein showed that mean levels of sodium, potassium and bicarbonate increased with age significantly while mean levels of calcium, chloride, phosphate and total protein did not show significant change among the groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings showed that varying changes were observed in the morphology of salivary glands of aging rats without impaired function.

Salivary calcium concentration as a screening tool for postmenopausal osteoporosis

AIM

Measurements of salivary calcium level may be a useful screening tool for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether this measure is valid compared with dual-energy X-ray (Bone Mineral Density) screening tools in osteoporosis.

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out in 40 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5) and 40 women without osteoporosis (T-score > -1 bone mineral density). Salivary samples were collected and calcium concentrations were measured and expressed as mg/dL. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses was used to determine the optimal cut-off thresholds for salivary calcium in healthy postmenopausal women.

RESULTS

The cut-off point for salivary calcium was 6.1 mg/dL. The sensitivity and specificity, respectively, for identifying women with osteoporosis, were 67.5 (95%CI 52.33-82.67) and 60% (95%CI 44.62-75.38). The area under curve (AUC) was 0.678 (95%CI 0.56-0.79), the positive predictive value (PPV) was 62.79 (95%CI 47.74-77.84) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 64.86% (95%CI 49.27-80.46). The positive likelihood ratio was 1.688 and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.542.

CONCLUSIONS

Salivary calcium concentration discriminates between women with and without osteoporosis and constitutes a useful tool for screening for osteoporosis.

Self-reported dry mouth in Swedish population samples aged 50, 65 and 75 years

BACKGROUND

Reduced salivary flow may have a negative impact on general well-being, quality of life and oral health.

OBJECTIVES

To examine xerostomia in 50-, 65- and 75-year-olds, background factors and effect on Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP).

METHODS

In 1992, a questionnaire was sent to all 50-year-old persons (n = 8888) in two Swedish counties. In 2007, the same questionnaire was sent to all 65-year-olds (n = 8313) in the two counties and to all 75-year-olds (n = 5195). Response rate was for the 50, 65 and 75 year olds 71.4, 73.1 and 71.9%, respectively.

RESULTS

Xerostomia was higher in women than in men in all age groups. There was higher prevalence of xerostomia with increasing age in both sexes and it was more frequent at night than during daytime. 'Often mouth dryness' was 2.6-3.4 times more prevalent in those who reported an impact from OIDP. The highest odd ratios were for daytime xerostomia and for the variables burning mouth (17.1), not feeling healthy (4.5), daily smoking (4.4), and medication (4.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The dramatic increase of xerostomia between age 50 and 75, especially amongst women, needs to be considered in the management of this age group.