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Spit and phlegm
Readers will discover the science behind the gross studying why we need saliva to eat and phlegm to protect ourselves from bacteria and illness.
Book
The Essential Role of Tick Salivary Glands and Saliva in Tick Feeding and Pathogen Transmission
As long-term pool feeders, ticks have developed myriad strategies to remain discreetly but solidly attached to their hosts for the duration of their blood meal. The critical biological material that dampens host defenses and facilitates the flow of blood-thus assuring adequate feeding-is tick saliva. Saliva exhibits cytolytic, vasodilator, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive activity. This essential fluid is secreted by the salivary glands, which also mediate several other biological functions, including secretion of cement and hygroscopic components, as well as the watery component of blood as regards hard ticks. When salivary glands are invaded by tick-borne pathogens, pathogens may be transmitted via saliva, which is injected alternately with blood uptake during the tick bite. Both salivary glands and saliva thus play a key role in transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to vertebrate hosts. During their long co-evolution with ticks and vertebrate hosts, microorganisms have indeed developed various strategies to exploit tick salivary molecules to ensure both acquisition by ticks and transmission, local infection and systemic dissemination within the vertebrate host.
Journal Article
Alleviation of dry mouth by saliva substitutes improved swallowing ability and clinical nutritional status of post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial
Purpose
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an edible saliva substitute, oral moisturizing jelly (OMJ), and a topical saliva gel (GC) on dry mouth, swallowing ability, and nutritional status in post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients.
Methods
Sixty-two post-radiation head and neck cancer patients with xerostomia completed a blinded randomized controlled trial. They were advised to swallow OMJ (
n
= 31) or apply GC orally (
n
= 31) for 2 months. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 1, and 2 months, including subjective and objective dry mouth (Challcombe) scores, subjective swallowing problem scores (EAT-10), water swallowing time, clinical nutritional status (PG-SGA), body weight, and dietary intake.
Results
After 1 and 2 months of interventions, subjective and objective dry mouth scores, subjective swallowing problem scores, swallowing times, and clinical nutritional status in both groups were significantly improved (
p
< 0.0001). Compared to GC, OMJ group had higher percent improvement in all outcome measures (
p
< 0.001) except swallowing time and clinical nutritional status. Interestingly, subjective dry mouth scores were significantly correlated with subjective swallowing problem scores (
r
= 0.5321,
p
< 0.0001).
Conclusions
Continuous uses of saliva substitutes (OMJ or GC) for at least a month improved signs and symptoms of dry mouth and enhanced swallowing ability. An edible saliva substitute was superior to a topical saliva gel for alleviating dry mouth and swallow problems. These lead to improved clinical nutritional status. Thus, palliation of dry mouth may be critical to support nutrition of post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients.
Clinical trial registry
Clinicaltrials.gov
NCT03035825
Journal Article
Scent dog identification of samples from COVID-19 patients – a pilot study
Background
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, early, ideally real-time, identification of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals is pivotal in interrupting infection chains. Volatile organic compounds produced during respiratory infections can cause specific scent imprints, which can be detected by trained dogs with a high rate of precision.
Methods
Eight detection dogs were trained for 1 week to detect saliva or tracheobronchial secretions of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in a randomised, double-blinded and controlled study.
Results
The dogs were able to discriminate between samples of infected (positive) and non-infected (negative) individuals with average diagnostic sensitivity of 82.63% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 82.02–83.24%) and specificity of 96.35% (95% CI: 96.31–96.39%)
.
During the presentation of 1012 randomised samples, the dogs achieved an overall average detection rate of 94% (±3.4%) with 157 correct indications of positive, 792 correct rejections of negative, 33 incorrect indications of negative or incorrect rejections of 30 positive sample presentations.
Conclusions
These preliminary findings indicate that trained detection dogs can identify respiratory secretion samples from hospitalised and clinically diseased SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals by discriminating between samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and negative controls. This data may form the basis for the reliable screening method of SARS-CoV-2 infected people.
Journal Article
Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of forest walking compared to urban walking in enhancing mucosal immunity
Scientific research on forest therapy’s preventive medical and mental health effects has advanced, but the need for clear evidence for practical applications remains. We conducted an unblinded randomized controlled trial involving healthy men aged 40–70 to compare the physiological and psychological effects of forest and urban walking. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to either the forest or urban group, with 78 completing 90-min walks and analysis. The primary outcome measured was the change in saliva-secreted immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels. Evaluating researchers were blinded to the groups, but participants and on-site staff were not. Here, we demonstrate a significant increase in saliva-secreted immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in the forest group. Furthermore, forest walking resulted in improved mood, including a reduction in stress hormone levels. In conclusion, mindful forest walking has the potential to enhance immunity and promote health.
Clinical trial registration
: University Hospital Medical Information Network.
Trail registration number
: UMIN000045851.
Approval date
: 25/10/2021.
Journal Article
Value of Routine Dengue Diagnostic Tests in Urine and Saliva Specimens
Dengue laboratory diagnosis is essentially based on detection of the virus, its components or antibodies directed against the virus in blood samples. Blood, however, may be difficult to draw in some patients, especially in children, and sampling during outbreak investigations or epidemiological studies may face logistical challenges or limited compliance to invasive procedures from subjects. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using saliva and urine samples instead of blood for dengue diagnosis.
Serial plasma, urine and saliva samples were collected at several time-points between the day of admission to hospital until three months after the onset of fever in children with confirmed dengue disease. Quantitative RT-PCR, NS1 antigen capture and ELISA serology for anti-DENV antibody (IgG, IgM and IgA) detection were performed in parallel on the three body fluids. RT-PCR and NS1 tests demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 85.4%/63.4%, 41.6%/14.5% and 39%/28.3%, in plasma, urine and saliva specimens, respectively. When urine and saliva samples were collected at the same time-points and tested concurrently, the diagnostic sensitivity of RNA and NS1 detection assays was 69.1% and 34.4%, respectively. IgG/IgA detection assays had an overall sensitivity of 54.4%/37.4%, 38.5%/26.8% and 52.9%/28.6% in plasma, urine and saliva specimens, respectively. IgM were detected in 38.1% and 36% of the plasma and saliva samples but never in urine.
Although the performances of the different diagnostic methods were not as good in saliva and urine as in plasma specimens, the results obtained by qRT-PCR and by anti-DENV antibody ELISA could well justify the use of these two body fluids to detect dengue infection in situations when the collection of blood specimens is not possible.
Journal Article
Secretor and Salivary ABO Blood Group Antigen Status Predict Rotavirus Vaccine Take in Infants
Histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) expressed on enterocytes are proposed receptors for rotaviruses and can be measured in saliva. Among 181 Pakistani infants in a G1P[8] rotavirus vaccine trial who were seronegative at baseline, anti–rotavirus immunoglobulin A seroconversion rates after 3 vaccine doses differed significantly by salivary HBGA phenotype, with the lowest rate (19%) among infants who were nonsecretors (ie, who did not express the carbohydrate synthesized by FUT2), an intermediate rate (30%) among secretors with non–blood group O, and the highest rate (51%) among secretors with O blood group. Differences in HBGA expression may be responsible for some of the discrepancy in the level of protection detected for the current rotavirus vaccines in low-income versus high-income settings.
Journal Article
The short-term effects of full-mouth or quadrant-wise applied subgingival instrumentation on immune response and oxidation process in saliva: a randomized clinical trial
Aim
To evaluate oxidation and antioxidant activity in the saliva of periodontitis patients following non-surgical periodontal therapy applied either as full mouth subgingival instrumentation (FM) or quadrantwise (Q).
Methods
Patients affected by periodontitis were randomly allocated to receive FM or Q and followed up at 1st and 3rd months. Saliva samples and periodontal variables were collected at baseline, 1st, and 3rd month. The primary outcomes were the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS). Secondary outcomes were clinical measurements, Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) parameters.
Results
Forty-five subjects were included in the study. Both FM and Q resulted reductions in all periodontal variables, TNF alpha and TOS values, with an improvement in TAS values compared to baseline. Significant differences were observed in the reductions of probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) between the FM group and the Q group as periodontal variables (
p
< 0.05). The change in TNF alpha (ng/L) and TAS (mmol Trolox Eq/L) from baseline to post treatment significantly improved in FM group compared to Q.
Conclusion
Both treatment protocols were efficient in the treatment of periodontitis but the FM therapy significantly reduced periodontal tissue inflammation, as evidenced by changes in both clinical and biochemical parameters in our study. However, it may be seen that FM therapy is more effective during short-term recovery, maybe the reason could be attributed to TAS and TNF alpha changes following FM therapy.
Trial registration
This study was registered at Thai Clinical Trials Registry. (
https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20240416007
, TCTR ID: TCTR20240416007; date of registration: 16 April 2024)—retrospectively registered).
Journal Article
Exploring neural entrainment and synchrony in response to repeated 60 Hz flickering white light in healthy volunteers
Flickering light is a new promising, fully non-invasive brain stimulation technique that utilizes intermittent sensory stimulation to induce brainwave synchronization (entrainment). While the effects of 40 Hz externally induced neural entrainment have been extensively described, little is known about 60 Hz entrainment in humans. This study presents preliminary observations on the neural and somatic response to flickering 60 Hz light in healthy volunteers over a 3-week period. Fourteen volunteers were randomized to receive either 60 Hz flickering white light or constant light as sham (30-min sessions, 3 weeks, 5 days/week on weekdays). Neural entrainment was assessed with EEG on days 1, 5 and 19. Salivary cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, measured with ELISA, assessed the somatic response to stimulation. Side effects and well-being were monitored via questionnaires. EEG recordings showed neural entrainment and synchrony in response to 60 Hz flickering light across multiple cortical regions, including occipital, central, temporal, and frontal areas. The entrainment power and synchronization between different cortical regions declined significantly by day 19 compared to day 1, indicating possible neural habituation. Cortisol and CRP salivary levels were unchanged, and minor side effects were reported with equal frequency in the active and sham groups. Our findings show that 60 Hz flickering light can induce significant neural entrainment and synchrony in healthy adults and is well tolerated. The decline in entrainment strength and neural synchrony observed with repeated 60 Hz stimulations suggests plastic changes in the cortex. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize neural and somatic responses to repeated 60 Hz flickering visual stimuli. Given the well-known connection between 60 Hz brain oscillations and cognition, neuroplasticity, and their role in neuropsychiatric disorders, additional research in both preclinical and clinical settings is warranted.
Journal Article