Association of salivary alpha-amylase with anxiety and stress in nursing professionals / Associação da alfa amilase salivar com a ansiedade e o estresse de profissionais de enfermagem / Asociación de la alfa amilasa salival con la ansiedad y el estrés en profesionales de enfermería

Objective: to assess if changes in salivary alpha-amylase activity are associated with anxiety and stress among hospital nursing professionals and whether anxiety and stress are associated with sociodemographic, epidemiological, and occupational factors. Method: cross-sectional, quantitative study, carried out with 210 nursing professionals from a hospital. For data collection, we used a questionnaire to characterize workers, Beck's Anxiety Inventory, Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults and samples and saliva samples collected in work shifts. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the software Statistical Package for the Social Science and GraphPad Prism. Results: most professionals experienced stress and anxiety. The variables age group, number of children, use of medication and workload were associated with anxiety; age group, smoking and medication use were associated with stress. An increase in the salivary alpha-amylase activity was observed in the middle of the work shift. Professionals who had stress and anxiety had significant changes in alpha-amylase in the night shift. Conclusion: changes in salivary alpha-amylase were associated with anxiety and stress among nursing professionals, indicating that this enzyme can be a possible biomarker of anxiety and stress in workers.

Objetivo: avaliar se a alteração na atividade da alfa amilase salivar está associada à ansiedade e ao estresse dos profissionais de enfermagem hospitalar e, se a ansiedade e o estresse estão associados aos fatores sociodemográficos, epidemiológicos e laborais. Método: estudo transversal, quantitativo, desenvolvido com 210 profissionais de enfermagem de uma instituição hospitalar. Para a coleta de dados, utilizouse um questionário de caracterização dos trabalhadores, o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck, o Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp e as amostras de saliva coletadas durante os turnos de trabalho. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva e inferencial utilizando os softwares Statistical Package for the Social Science e GraphPad Prism. Resultados: a maioria dos profissionais apresentou estresse e ansiedade. As variáveis faixa etária, quantidade de filhos, uso de medicamentos e carga horária de trabalho estavam associadas à ansiedade; faixa etária, tabagismo e uso de medicamentos estavam associadas ao estresse. Observouse um aumento da atividade da alfa amilase salivar no meio do turno de trabalho. Os profissionais que tinham estresse e ansiedade apresentaram alteração significativa da alfa amilase no turno da noite. Conclusão: as alterações na atividade da alfa amilase estavam associadas à ansiedade e ao estresse dos profissionais de enfermagem, demonstrando que essa enzima pode ser um possível biomarcador de ansiedade e estresse em trabalhadores.

Objetivo: evaluar si la alteración en la actividad de la alfa amilasa salival está asociada a la ansiedad y al estrés de los profesionales de enfermería hospitalaria y, si la ansiedad y el estrés están asociados a factores sociodemográficos, epidemiológicos y laborales. Método: estudio transversal, cuantitativo, desarrollado en 210 profesionales de enfermería, en una institución hospitalaria. Para la recogida de datos, se utilizó un cuestionario de caracterización de los trabajadores, el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck, el Inventario de Síntomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp y las muestras de saliva recogidas durante los turnos de trabajo. Los datos fueron analizados de forma descriptiva e inferencial utilizando los softwares Statistical Package for the Social Science y GraphPad Prism. Resultados: la mayoría de los profesionales presentó estrés y ansiedad. Las variables intervalo etario, cantidad de hijos, uso de medicamentos y carga horaria de trabajo estaban asociadas a la ansiedad; el intervalo etario, el tabaquismo y el uso de medicamentos estaban asociados al estrés. Se observó un aumento de la actividad de la alfa amilasa salival en los ambientes de los turnos de trabajo. Los profesionales que tenían estrés y ansiedad presentaron alteración significativa de la alfa amilasa en el turno de la noche. Conclusión: las alteraciones en la actividad de la alfa amilasa estaban asociadas a la ansiedad y al estrés de los profesionales de enfermería, demostrando que esa enzima puede ser un posible biomarcador de ansiedad y estrés en trabajadores.

Existe associação entre α -amilase salivar, escala hospitalar de ansiedade e depressão e autorrelato em estudantes com sintomas de ansiedade? / Is there an association between salivary α -amylase, hospital scale of anxiety and depression and self-report in students with anxiety symptoms?

Objetivo: Verificar se existe associação entre a α-amilase salivar, a escala hospitalar de ansiedade e a depressão e autorrelato de estudantes universitários com sintomas da ansiedade. Métodos: Estudo observacional, realizado com 67 estudantes de uma universidade pública. Para a coleta de dados, foram utilizada a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão, o autorrelato de ansiedade e a aferição da α-amilase salivar por meio do dispositivo Cocoro Meter®. Os dados foram analisados por meio do teste de qui-quadrado. Resultados: Não houve associação entre α-amilase salivar e a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão (p=0,51), nem entre a α-amilase salivar e o autor- relato de ansiedade (p=0,51), o que indica que o biomarcador não produz resposta dessas duas variáveis ao mensurar a ansiedade. Conclusão: O biomarcador α-amilase salivar não possui a mesma capacidade em mensurar a ansiedade quando associado com à Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade de Depressão e ao autorrelato em estudantes universitários com sintomas de ansiedade.

Objective: Verifying if there is an association between the salivary α-amylase biomarker, the hospital scale of anxiety and depression, and a self-report of university students with anxiety symptoms. Methods: An observational study carried out with 67 students from a public university. For the data collection, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the self-reported anxiety, and the salivary α-amylase measurement were carried out with the Cocoro Meter® device. The data were analyzed by using the chi-square test. Results: There is no association between salivary α-amylase and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (p = 0.51), and neither between the salivary α-amylase and the self-reported anxiety (p = 0.51), which indicates that the biomarker does not produce any response of these two variables when measuring anxiety. Conclusion: The salivary α-amylase biomarker does not have the same ability to measure anxiety when associated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and with the self-report in university students with anxiety symptoms.

Gender differences in the psychophysiological effects induced by VOCs emitted from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

BACKGROUND@#Wood is a valuable material for interiors, and the psychophysiological relaxation effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wood chips and essential oils have been reported. However, few studies have identified the odors in full-scale wooden environment, and also, differences in gender have not been clarified. In this study, we aimed to confirm the effects of VOCs emitted from interior wood walls in both human male and female participants.@*METHODS@#We used Japanese cedar timber and analyzed VOCs in the experimental rooms with and without Japanese cedar timber by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The physiological effects were measured using neuroendocrinological and immunological parameters in saliva. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the subjective responses to each odor in the experimental rooms.@*RESULTS@#The main compound emitted from Japanese cedar timber was δ-cadinene, and the total volume of VOCs in the wood condition (presence of VOCs emitted from Japanese cedar) was 282.4 (μg/m). Significant differences between genders in salivary parameters were shown that there were decreases of α-amylase in wood condition and increases of cortisol in the control (absence of VOCs) condition in female participants compared to male participants. The results demonstrated that VOCs in the experimental room with Japanese cedar timber tend to suppress the activation of the sympathetic nervous activity and non-VOCs of Japanese cedar in the control room increase cortisol in female participants.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These results suggest that an indoor environment with wood interior materials has the potential to be useful for health management, especially women's health.

Evaluación de estrés percibido y niveles de alfa-amilasa salival en mujeres embarazadas (del Municipio Libertador del Estado Mérida) / Evaluation of perceived stress and levels of salivary alpha-amylase in pregnant women (the Libertador Municipality of Mérida State)

OBJETIVO: Investigar la percepción del estrés en mujeres embarazadas y su interrelación con los niveles de la enzima alfa amilasa salival (AAS) que es un marcador biológico de estrés. MÉTODOS: Incluimos 38 embarazadas que acudían a la consulta prenatal en Centros de Salud del Municipio Libertador del Estado Mérida, Venezuela. Se distribuyeron en 3 grupos de acuerdo con la edad gestacional, 8 en el primer trimestre, 10 en el segundo, 10 en el tercer y como grupo control se tomaron 10 mujeres no embarazadas con características demográficas similares. El estrés percibido se midió a través del instrumento EEP-13 y el nivel de enzima alfa amilasa salival mediante ensayo enzimático con espectrofotometría. Con los puntajes del EEP-13, se establecieron tres niveles de estrés percibido. RESULTADOS: El 23,7 % de la muestra tenía niveles bajos de estrés percibido, 50 % poseía un nivel intermedio y la cuarta parte (26,3 %) mostró un nivel alto. No se encontró relación significativa entre el nivel de estrés percibido y la etapa del embarazo (P = 0,637). La concentración de enzima alfa amilasa salival fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de embarazadas en el primer trimestre en comparación con el control (P<0,001), sin embargo, no encontramos correlación entre la puntuación del EEP-13 (R²=0,014; P=0,81) y los niveles de enzima alfa amilasa salival. CONCLUSIÓN: El 76,3 % de este grupo de embarazadas mostró niveles significativos de estrés según el EEP-13 y solo el grupo de embarazadas en el primer trimestre mostró niveles de enzima alfa amilasa salival superiores al grupo control.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the levels of salivary alpha amylase enzyme (SAA) that is a biomarker of stress and the correlation of those levels with the perception of stress in pregnant women. METHODS: Thirty eight pregnant women who attended prenatal care clinics in the Libertador Municipality of Merida, Venezuela, were distributed in 3 groups according with the gestational age: 8 on the first trimester, 10 on the second and 10 on the third. The control group consisted of 10 non-pregnant women with similar demographic characteristics. The perceived stress was measured with the EEP-13 instrument and the level of SAA was determined by means of an spectrophotometric enzymatic assay. Three levels of perceived stress were established according to the score obtained by the EEP-13 test. RESULTS: Twenty three percent (23.7 %) of the pregnant women had low levels of perceived stress, 50 % had an intermediate level and 26.3 % showed a high level. No significant relationship between the level of perceived stress and the age of pregnancy was found (P=0.637). The SAA concentration was significantly higher in the group of pregnant women in the first trimester compared to the non-pregnant control group (P <0.001). No correlation between the EEP-13 test values of perceived stress and the enzyme concentration was found (R2=0.014; P=0.81). CONCLUSION: In this group of pregnant women, 76.3 % suffer from a significant amount of stress and only the pregnant women in the first trimester showed increased levels of SAA.

Chagas disease in the State of Amazonas: history, epidemiological evolution, risks of endemicity and future perspectives

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic infection that originated in the Americas and is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. In the last few years, the disease has spread to countries in North America, Asia and Europe due to the migration of Latin Americans. In the Brazilian Amazon, CD has an endemic transmission, especially in the Rio Negro region, where an occupational hazard was described for piaçaveiros (piassaba gatherers). In the State of Amazonas, the first chagasic infection was reported in 1977, and the first acute CD case was recorded in 1980. After initiatives to integrate acute CD diagnostics with the malaria laboratories network, reports of acute CD cases have increased. Most of these cases are associated with oral transmission by the consumption of contaminated food. Chronic cases have also been diagnosed, mostly in the indeterminate form. These cases were detected by serological surveys in cardiologic outpatient clinics and during blood donor screening. Considering that the control mechanisms adopted in Brazil's classic transmission areas are not fully applicable in the Amazon, it is important to understand the disease behavior in this region, both in the acute and chronic cases. Therefore, the pursuit of control measures for the Amazon region should be a priority given that CD represents a challenge to preserving the way of life of the Amazon's inhabitants.

Cortisol y amilasa salival en niñas: variación según la curva diurna, la ingesta de alimentos y la actividad física / Diurnal variation of salivary cortisol and alpha amylase levels in normal girls: effects of meals and physical exercise

Salivary cortisol levels and saliva alpha-amylase enzymatic activity are non-invasive markers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system related to stress, which could be associated with excessive energy intake in response to stressors. Aim: To describe the diurnal variation of salivary cortisol levels and á-amylase activity in prepubertal girls and to assess their change after meals and physical activity episodes. Subjects and Methods: Nine normal-weight girls aged 8 to 10 years were monitored for 14 hours, from 6:00 AM to 20:00 h. Three standardized meals were administered across the day with a controlled sport competition performed at the end of the day. Saliva samples were drawn upon awakening, 30 min after awakening, before and after lunch, before and after dinner, and before-after the controlled episode of physical activity. Results: A decreasing salivary cortisol diurnal pattern was confirmed, with an initial increase occurring 30 minutes after waking up. An ascending diurnal pattern was observed for salivary amylase activity. Meals significantly increased cortisol levels, with a non-significant trend to increase amylase activity. The magnitude of physical activity during acute exercise was associated with increased salivary amylase activity (rho = 0.84; P <0.01). Cortisol levels were positively correlated with body mass index z scores (rho = 0.87; P <0.01). Conclusions: We confirmed the existence of a diurnal pattern of salivary cortisol levels and á-amylase activity in saliva that is modulated by diet and exercise. Our preliminary results also show that salivary cortisol might be related with body weight...

Effect of citric acid stimulation on salivary alpha-amylase, total protein, salivary flow rate and pH value in Pi deficiency children / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect of citric acid stimulation on salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), total protein (TP), salivary flow rate, and pH value between Pi deficiency (PD) children and healthy children, thereby providing evidence for Pi controlling saliva theory.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty PD children were recruited, and 29 healthy children were also recruited at the same time. Saliva samples from all subjects were collected before and after citric acid stimulation. The sAA activity and amount, TP contents, salivary flow rate, and pH value were determined and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Citric acid stimulation was able to significantly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, sAA activities, sAA specific activity and sAA amount (including glycosylated and non-glycosylated sAA amount) in healthy children (P<0.05), while it could markedly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, and glycosylated sAA levels in PD children (P<0.05); (2) Although there was no statistical difference in determined salivary indices between the two groups (P>0.05), salivary indices except salivary flow rate and glycosylated sAA levels decreased more in PD children. There was statistical difference in sAA activity ratio, sAA specific activity ratio, and the ratio of glycosylated sAA levels between PD children and healthy children (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PD children had decreased response to citric acid stimulation.</p>

Correlation between nurse occupational stress and salivary alpha-amylase: an analysis of 131 cases / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between nurse occupational stress and salivary alpha- amylase (SAA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Evaluation of occupational stress was conducted in 131 nurses. The activity of SAA was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The activity of SAA in nurses varied with age and working years. The baseline, work period, recovery, average activities of >35 age group were less than those of ≤ 30 age group; work period, recovery, average activities of ≤ 10 years group were higher than other two groups; there was no statistical difference between SAA vitalities of different degree groups (P>0.05). In nurses with high scores for job demands, the activity of SAA in working period was significantly higher than that in nurses with low scores (P < 0.05). The baseline SAA activity in nurses with high scores for role conflict and ambiguity was significantly higherthan thatin nurses with low scores (P < 0.05). The baseline SAAactivity was positively correlated with workload, role conflict, and role ambiguity (P < 0.05). The activity of SAA in working period was negatively correlated with task control, decision control, and technology utilization (P < 0.05), and was positively correlated with quantitative load, load change, work monotony, and workload (P < 0.05). The activity of SAA in recovery period was negatively correlated with task control, decision control, resource control, and technology utilization (P < 0.01). The average activity of SAA was negatively correlated with task control, decision control, resource control, technology utilization, opportunity for participating in decision-making, and promotion (P < 0.05), and was positively correlated with quantitative load, load change, workload, and role ambiguity (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The occupational stress in 131 nurses is correlated with the activity of SAA, which can be used as an objective biomarker for identification and evaluation of occupational stress.</p>

Association between salivary α-amylase activity and pain relief scale scores in cancer patients with bone metastases treated with radiotherapy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Subjective assessment tools such as visual analog scales (VAS) or pain scores are commonly used to evaluate the intensity of chronic cancer-induced pain. However, their value is limited in some cases. We measured changes in VAS pain scores and salivary α-amylase (sAA) concentrations in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy for bone metastases to ascertain the correlation between these measures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We enrolled 30 patients with bone metastases attending a single institution from June 2010 to March 2011. All patients with cancer-induced bone pain received radiation therapy (RT) at the same dose (30 Gy) and fractionation (3 Gy/fraction, 5 days/week) for palliative pain relief. We assessed heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (DBP/SBP) and VAS pain scores before (d0) and after five (d5) and ten fractions (d10) of irradiation. sAA and salivary cortisol (SC) concentrations were measured using a portable analyzer and automated chemiluminescence analyzer, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Radiotherapy markedly decreased VAS scores from (82.93 ± 9.29) to (31.43 ± 16.73) mm (P < 0.001) and sAA concentrations from (109.40 ± 26.38) to (36.03 ± 19.40) U/ml (P <0.001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between these two indices (P <0.01, r = 0.541). HR decreased by 6.5% after radiotherapy, but did not correlate with VAS scores (P >0.05). SC concentrations and BP did not change significantly during the study (P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The significant correlation between sAA concentrations and VAS pain scores identified in these preliminary results suggests that this biomarker may be a valuable, noninvasive and sensitive index for the objective assessment of pain intensity in patients with cancer-induced bone pain.</p>

Adsorption kinetic study of the interaction between human salivary alpha-amylase and the polyphenoles from the black/green tea / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the driving force of the oral astringency produced by the interaction of theaflavin (TF) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to human salivary a-amylase(HSA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The constants of the rate, equilibrium of reaction (k(a), k(d), K(A), and K(D)) and Langmuir, Freundlich adsorption isotherm (K(L), K(f), and Mm) were determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique and adsorption kinetics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both of Langmuir and Freundlich models could be used for describing the binding processes of TF and EGCG onto HSA surfaces, and there were no significant differences of the correlation coefficient of determination between these two models (P > 0.05). The constants of adsorption isotherm, the rate and equilibrium constants of the association for TF were higher than those of EGCG (P < 0.05). The rate and equilibrium constants of the dissociation for TF were lower than those of EGCG (P < 0.05). The affinity of TF to HSA was higher than that of EGCG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sorely oral astringency is much easily produced by TF from the black tea rather than EGCG from the green tea. The driving force of the oral astringency is attributed to the hydrogen bonds of hydroxyl groups and hydrophobic interaction of galloyl groups in polyphenolic structures.</p>

Extraction and characterization of alpha-amylase inhibitor from some cereals and legumes

Alpha-amylase inhibitor extracted from different sources, i.e., wheat grains [Sohag 2 and Giza 164], legume seeds such as cow pea [Carim 7 and Giza 3], and kidney bean [Giza 6 and Giza 133] was purified and tested for activity using human salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylase. Results showed that the alpha-amylase inhibitor activity from samples studied were 120 to 285 unit / mg protein. The inhibitor was found to be stable at pH range from 2 to 4. It was also stable to digestion by proteolytic enzymes [pepsin and trypsin]. The inhibition was faster at 37°C than at 25°C, The results showed that the degree of thermal stability of alpha-amylase inhibitor extracted from kidney bean [Giza 133] was at 35-37°C, activity was decreased on 50°C for 5 hr. Increased of pre-incubation time between inhibitor and both alpha-amylase enzymes at 37°C increased the rate of inhibition of these enzymes and the complex formation between them from 60 - 80% in 30 min, while addition of these enzymes to the mixture containing inhibitor and substrate [without pre-incubation] decrease the percent inhibition. Therefore, an evidence of specific interference of the alpha-amylase inhibitor with starch availability was established. Such possibilities will have valuable interest in the field of special dietary food preparations for diabetes and over weight reduction purposes