|
1
|
Schwarz C, Balean O, Dumitrescu R, Ciordas PD, Marian C, Georgescu M, Bolchis V, Sava-Rosianu R, Fratila AD, Alexa I, Jumanca D, Galuscan A. Total Antioxidant Capacity of Saliva and Its Correlation with pH Levels among Dental Students under Different Stressful Conditions. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3648. [PMID: 38132232 PMCID: PMC10743087 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13243648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: This cross-sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Timisoara, Romania, between December 2022 and February 2023 aims to assess salivary total antioxidant capacity and pH levels in dental students experiencing non-stressful and stressful situations and explore potential correlations between these factors. (2) Methods: Saliva samples were collected during two different periods: before an Oral Health course and before the Oral Health exam, under stressful conditions. Ethical principles were followed, and informed consent was obtained. Data on age, gender, health status, drug use, smoking habits, and anxiety levels were recorded. Saliva was collected using the draining method and pH was measured using indicator paper strips. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was determined using a commercial assay kit. Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics, Student's t-test to compare pH and TAC between study groups, and Pearson's correlation coefficient to analyze the correlation between salivary pH and TAC within each group, with p < 0.05 indicating significance. (3) Results: This study involved 80 participants, comprising 26 males and 54 females, all enrolled in the 5th year of the Oral Health course, with ages ranging from 20 to 53 and a mean age of 23.62 (±4.19) years. Pearson's correlation results show a statistically significant negative relationship between the STAI test and TAC during the stress-free period (-0.02 **, N = 80, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: There are variations in saliva's antioxidant capacity in response to different stress conditions. Dental students experienced a higher level of stress before academic assessments compared to the non-stress period during the course.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Schwarz
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
| | - Octavia Balean
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
- Clinic of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Department I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Sq. no 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ramona Dumitrescu
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
- Clinic of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Department I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Sq. no 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Paula Diana Ciordas
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pta Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (P.D.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Catalin Marian
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pta Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (P.D.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Marius Georgescu
- Functional Sciences Department, Physiology Discipline, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Vanessa Bolchis
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
| | - Ruxandra Sava-Rosianu
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
- Clinic of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Department I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Sq. no 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Aurora Doris Fratila
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Goethestraße 70, 80336 München, Germany;
| | - Iulia Alexa
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310045 Arad, Romania;
| | - Daniela Jumanca
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
- Clinic of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Department I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Sq. no 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Atena Galuscan
- Translational and Experimental Clinical Research Centre in Oral Health, Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300040 Timisoara, Romania; (C.S.); (O.B.); (R.D.); (V.B.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
- Clinic of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Department I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Sq. no 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Stojanović NM, Randjelović PJ, Pavlović D, Stojiljković NI, Jovanović I, Sokolović D, Radulović NS. An Impact of Psychological Stress on the Interplay between Salivary Oxidative Stress and the Classic Psychological Stress-Related Parameters. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:6635310. [PMID: 33505584 PMCID: PMC7808825 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6635310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Both oxidative and psychological (mental) stress are the likely culprits for several acute and chronic health disturbances, and adequate tests mimicking that are needed. Herein, in controlled laboratory surroundings, a PEBL (Psychology Experiment Building Language) test battery was used to evoke stress-related biological responses followed by tracking changes in saliva parameters. The study objectives were to determine the impact of psychological stress on selected salivatory parameters and to assess the correlation between the determined oxidative and stress parameters. The study was conducted on 36 healthy young subjects, mainly females (n = 24). Before and following the completion of a battery of four PEBL tests, subjects' saliva samples were collected. Stress-evoking changes in total antioxidant capacity and nitrite/nitrate levels, as oxidative stress parameters, and cortisol and immunoglobulin A (IgA), as parameters of psychological stress, were established and mutually correlated by comparing the values of the evaluated parameters pre- and post-PEBL test. The results showed that there is no change in the total salivary antioxidant capacity (p > 0.05); however, there was a significant increase in nitrites/nitrates levels after the PEBL test (p = 0.007). On the other hand, the determined cortisol levels after the test battery were found to be statistically significantly increased (p = 0.025) when compared to the values obtained before the test, while the levels of IgA were found to be statistically significantly decreased (p < 0.001). The only statistically significant correlation between the changes in the studied parameters was found to be the one between cortisol and IgA levels (Spearman's Rö = -0.4). These results suggest that the short-term stress induced by the PEBL test does evoke changes in the salivary mental stress-related parameters (an increase in cortisol and nitrite/nitrate levels, and a decrease in IgA), but not in the total antioxidant capacity. They also indicate that the constructed PEBL four-test battery might represent an adequate laboratory stress-inducing paradigm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikola M. Stojanović
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića, 81 Niš, Serbia
| | - Pavle J. Randjelović
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića, 81 Niš, Serbia
| | - Dragana Pavlović
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića, 81 Niš, Serbia
| | - Nenad I. Stojiljković
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića, 81 Niš, Serbia
| | - Ivan Jovanović
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića, 81 Niš, Serbia
| | - Dušan Sokolović
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Zorana Đinđića, 81 Niš, Serbia
| | - Niko S. Radulović
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska, 33 Niš, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|