Serum and Saliva Myelin Basic Protein as Multiple Sclerosis Biomarker.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is presented with motor and sensory function loss. It is caused by demyelination and following axonal lesion. As Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) is one of the key elements of the myelin cover, we examined the level of MBP in serum, stimulated, and unstimulated saliva as a suitable biomarker for detecting MS. METHODS: A case-control study was performed in 29 healthy women and 32 definitive relapsing-remitting MS patients hospitalized in Imam Reza hospital, Tehran, Iran. MBP level was assayed in serum and stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva. RESULTS: MBP was expressed at a lower level in serum and stimulated saliva of MS patients compared to the control group. The serum MBP level had a considerable correlation with its stimulated saliva level. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed significant diagnostic ability for MBP to discriminate MS patients with serum and stimulated saliva from controls. CONCLUSION: Serum and saliva level of MBP is lower in MS, so it may be considered a potential biomarker in MS.

Elevation of Urate in Saliva and Serum of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) is the most common joint disease and the leading cause of disability and has a considerable financial burden on the healthcare system. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate urate in saliva and serum of knee OA. METHODS: Serum and saliva urate levels of 30 knee OA and 30 healthy controls were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Data were analysed by Student's t test, Pearson correlation test, and receiver operating characteristic. RESULTS: The mean serum and both stimulated and unstimulated saliva urate levels were higher in the knee OA than that of the healthy group. WOMAC score positively correlated with serum (r = 0.485; p = 0.004), unstimulated saliva (r = 0.575; p = 0.001) and stimulated saliva (r = 0.453; p = 0.009) levels of urate. The serum level of urate significantly correlated with unstimulated (r = 0.442; p < 0.001) and stimulated (r = 0.563; p < 0.001) saliva urate levels. Serum and saliva urate had significant cutoff values (6.4, 4.9, and 3.3 mg/dL in serum, stimulated, and unstimulated saliva, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this study, urate in serum and saliva was increased in patients with knee OA and positively correlated with WOMAC.

Serum and saliva total tau protein as a marker for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered as motor and sensory function loss, which results from demyelination and following axonal lesion. Tau protein interferes in the construction and stabilization of microtubules that are needed for axonal transport. We hypothesize that the level of tau protein alters in MS, so we examined the level of total tau protein in serum, stimulated and unstimulated saliva as a suitable biomarker for detecting of relapsing-remitting MS. A case-control study was carried out in 30 healthy women and 30 who suffer MS and were hospitalized in Imam Reza hospital, Tehran, Iran. Total tau protein level was assayed in serum and stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva. Total tau protein was expressed at a lower level in serum of MS patients compared to control groups. The serum total tau protein level negatively correlated with EDSS. There was no significant difference in saliva total tau protein between MS and healthy individuals. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between saliva and serum total tau protein and between saliva total tau protein and EDSS. The serum level of tau protein is lower in MS and it may be considered as a potential biomarker in Multiple sclerosis. However, it seems that tau protein in the saliva isn't a suitable biomarker for detection of MS.

Stimulated saliva aminotransaminase alteration after experiencing acute hypoxia training.

OBJECTIVE: Acute cypobarih hypoxia is generally recognized to be the most serious single physiological hazard during flight at altitude. Simulation of acute hypoxia in an altitude chamber is used for the training of military aircrew. Acute hypobaric hypoxia affects critical organ systems in different manners. The purpose of this study was to investigate stimulated saliva glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) alteration after the hypobaric hypoxia process. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 44 normal healthy military aircrew conducted at the hypobaric chamber of physiology at the University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The GPT and GOT activities were assayed in stimulated whole saliva before and after the experience of hypobaric hypoxia by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry method. Statistical analysis of the Student t-test was performed. RESULTS: The mean stimulated saliva GPT activity was significantly higher after the experience of the hypobaric hypoxia process (2.83 ± 0.34 vs. 0.42 ± 0.029 U/L, respectively; P = .001). Saliva GOT activity was also increased after this process (3.32 ± 0.43 vs. 1.22 ± 0.18 U/L, respectively; P = .001). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that subsequent to the experience of the hypobaric hypoxia process, there is a rise in the salivary activities of aminotransferases.