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There is a lack of objective indicators to evaluate the treatment effect of burning mouth syndrome, a neuropathic pain of unknown causes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate potential salivary biomarkers by analyzing saliva before and after clonazepam treatment in patients with burning mouth syndrome. Saliva was collected from 23 patients with burning mouth syndrome before and 4 weeks after the topical administration of clonazepam. Patients were classified as responders (pain relief of 50% or more, n = 10) or non-responders (n = 13) based on pain relief after treatment. Clinical examination data of responders and non-responders were compared using Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. Changes in the level of salivary biomarkers (salivary α-amylase, cortisol, calmodulin, α-enolase and interleukin-18) were evaluated before and after treatment using Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test, and their association with treatment response was examined using Fisher's exact test. The salivary biomarker levels showed no significant differences between the responders and non-responders. However, the change in salivary α-amylase activity after treatment revealed a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.039). Although not all patients showed the same pattern, there was a difference in the alteration of salivary α-amylase activity before and after treatment between responders and non-responders. Further study is required to clarify whether there is a causal relationship between salivary α-amylase activity and treatment response. However, considering that salivary α-amylase activity is related to orofacial pain and psychological stress, this suggests the potential use of salivary α-amylase as a biomarker for burning mouth syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines stress biomarkers over the process of teaching and their associations with demographics, emotions, and mental health of 56 English as Foreign Language teachers. Participating teachers were invited to complete a questionnaire packet and provide saliva samples over three‐time points (i.e., before, during, and end of teaching). Afterward, the saliva samples were assayed for cortisol and α‐amylase as stress biomarkers. The results showed a significant change in the concentrations of cortisol and α‐amylase over the teaching process. In addition, being female, younger, more educated, and having more teaching experience were significantly associated with a higher level of α‐amylase, particularly before and during class time, thereby reflecting a greater level of stress. However, emotions and general mental health were not significantly associated with cortisol and α‐amylase over time. The findings highlighted the changes of biomarkers over the process of teaching and their relationships with other variables. Practitioner points: Female and younger teachers may experience high level of α‐amylase before and during class time.High level of α‐amylase may exist among teachers with long teaching experience.Emotions and general mental health are not significant predictors of teachers' stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress is faced by every individual in their day-to-day life activities. During pandemic, most people have experienced multiple episodes of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Several medical and dental problems are reported with stress and the fastest and easiest way to study and investigate is through body fluids, mainly saliva. Hence, we aim to study salivary α amylase in disabled individuals and hypothesize that salivary α amylase could be a reliable stress biomarker in disabled individuals. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted including 200 individuals grouped into controls (100) and disabled individuals (100). Disabled individuals were further grouped into physically (50) and mentally (50) disabled. Stimulated and unstimulated saliva was collected from all the participants and were investigated for salivary α-amylase by direct substrate method. The enzyme activity was analyzed using a spectrophotometer and the obtained were analyzed statistically. Result: Salivary α-amylase showed significant difference between controls and disabled group (p = 0.000). Salivary α-amylase was least in the mentally disabled group compared to physically disabled group. Age related comparison of salivary α-amylase was higher in physically disabled whereas gender related comparison showed females in physically disabled group to be more affected than controls. Conclusion: Saliva, the easy and most researched fluid, is rich in salivary α-amylase. Salivary α-amylase is a potential biomarker to assess stress. Further diagnostic studies are required to know the salivary changes and their influence on individual general health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stress is a phenomenon accompanying everyday life. Various reactions of the body are activated during stress, including activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal endocrine axis and the autonomous nervous system. Their activity could be assessed by the measurement of biological stress marker molecules - salivary α-amylase and cortisol - on one side and heart rate, and blood pressure monitoring, on the other. The aim of the present study is to determine whether the daily professional routines cause stress development among general practitioners (GPs) who work in rural, distant areas in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight GPs were asked to answer a questionnaire to assess their health conditions, habits, priority objectives and interests, as well as their moral and ethical relationships with the patients. On this basis 40 participants were selected and outlined for the present survey (n=40, mean age 55.92±8.8). Four salivary samples were collected from each participant during 1 week: two on Monday (one in the morning and one after work) and two on Friday, by the same mechanism. The salivary samples collection was followed by measurement of blood pressure and pulse. This non-invasive survey was based on an ELISA method for quantitative determination of the marker molecules in saliva. The blood pressure and pulse were measured by blood pressure monitor. Results: The levels of the salivary a-amylase were significantly higher at the end of the working day, especially on Friday (142.28±23.34 U/mL, p=0.018), but not between the beginning and the end of the week. The normal cortisol awakening response, characterized by a peak in the levels of cortisol after wake-up, followed by a slow decrease during the day, was detected only at the beginning of the week. The data show a significant impairment of this regularity at the end of the week. Moreover, the levels of cortisol, measured for the morning samples, show a decrease at the end of the week (25.73±10.51 ng/mL) in comparison to the beginning of the week (30.1±10.84, p=0.033). The analyses on the effect of smoking (p=0.002) and alcohol consumption (p=0.036) on stress development show a significant increase in the levels of the salivary α-amylase, but not on the levels of salivary cortisol. The changes in the blood pressure indicate stress development at the end of the week (p=0.04), while the pulse showed changes within a day rather than during the week. The values of the pulse were higher at the end of the day. Conclusion: The professional lives of the GPs who work in distant and rural places are associated with stress development. Different habits from the daily routine, such as alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity, could be considered as modulators of stress development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An electrochemical sensor based on enzymatic catalysis of amylase was reported. • The sensor was based on starch coated cyclodextrin decorated carbon nanotubes. • The method is a two-step chemical reaction on carbon electrodes. • The sensor was tested with clinical saliva samples across various age groups. Salivary α-amylase (α-ALS) has drawn attention as a possible bioindicator for dental caries. Herein, combining the synergistic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and starch, an electrochemical sensor is constructed employing ferrocene (FCN) as an electrochemical indicator to oversee the progression of the enzymatic catalysis of α-ALS. The method involves a two-step chemical reaction sequence on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the synthesized material, while Static water Contact angle measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed to monitor each step of sensor fabrication. The electrochemical sensor permitted to detect α-ALS within the linear range of 0.5–280 U mL−1, revealing detection (LOD), and quantification (LOQ) values of 0.041 U mL−1, and 0.159 U mL−1, respectively. Remarkably, the sensor demonstrated exceptional specificity and selectivity, effectively discriminating against other interfering substances in saliva. Validation of the method involved analyzing α-ALS levels in artificial saliva with an accuracy range of 97 % to 103 %, as well as in real clinical saliva samples across various age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maija Lipponen,1 Ville Hallikainen,2 Pekka Kilpeläinen3 1Unit of Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Paltamo, Finland; 2Unit of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Rovaniemi, Finland; 3Unit of Measurement Technology, Kajaani University Consortium, University of Oulu, Kajaani, FinlandCorrespondence: Maija Lipponen, Unit of Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Manamansalontie 90, Paltamo, FI-88300, Finland, Tel +35 8295322024, Email maija.lipponen@luke.fiPurpose: To assess methodology and its limitations for measuring effects of nature-based intervention (NBI).Patients and Methods: Participants were 11 middle-aged female health care workers with lowered capacity to work. NBI included six group appointments in six months study period. Heart rate variability (HRV) and self-reported pain and work exhaustion were measured pre-post study period. Salivary α-amylase samples were collected immediately before and after three individual interventions. Salivary cortisol samples were collected on the same three interventions, on three consecutive days starting from the day of intervention, to assess (a) month effect (pre-post study period) and (b) day effect (intervention day vs non-intervention day).Results: Individual interventions resulted in increase in α-amylase activity. However, the average fold increase decreased from the 3.05 ± 1.20 of the first intervention to 1.91 ± 1.00 and 1.46 ± 0.77 in the second and third intervention, respectively (p < 0.001). Cortisol concentrations were lower on intervention days vs non-intervention days, the difference being indicative (p = 0.050). Pain and work exhaustion decreased during the study period, as well as HRV, although any of these changes was not statistically significant.Conclusion: For a large-scale study, it would be ideal to select assays for both major pathways: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can be measured by cortisol, whereas response via autonomic nervous system can be measured by HRV, when roles of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can be pinpointed separately. Salivary α-amylase can be used when continuous monitoring is not possible. Psychological well-being of participants should be surveyed, as well as their activities and moods on sampling days recorded.Keywords: salivary cortisol, salivary α-amylase, heart rate variability, pain, work exhaustion

Introduction: Stress is a phenomenon accompanying everyday life. Various reactions of the body are activated during stress, including activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal endocrine axis and the autonomous nervous system. Their activity could be assessed by the measurement of biological stress marker molecules - salivary α-amylase and cortisol - on one side and heart rate, and blood pressure monitoring, on the other. The aim of the present study is to determine whether the daily professional routines cause stress development among general practitioners (GPs) who work in rural, distant areas in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight GPs were asked to answer a questionnaire to assess their health conditions, habits, priority objectives and interests, as well as their moral and ethical relationships with the patients. On this basis 40 participants were selected and outlined for the present survey (n=40, mean age 55.92±8.8). Four salivary samples were collected from each participant during 1 week: two on Monday (one in the morning and one after work) and two on Friday, by the same mechanism. The salivary samples collection was followed by measurement of blood pressure and pulse. This non-invasive survey was based on an ELISA method for quantitative determination of the marker molecules in saliva. The blood pressure and pulse were measured by blood pressure monitor. Results: The levels of the salivary α-amylase were significantly higher at the end of the working day, especially on Friday (142.28±23.34 U/mL, p=0.018), but not between the beginning and the end of the week. The normal cortisol awakening response, characterized by a peak in the levels of cortisol after wake-up, followed by a slow decrease during the day, was detected only at the beginning of the week. The data show a significant impairment of this regularity at the end of the week. Moreover, the levels of cortisol, measured for the morning samples, show a decrease at the end of the week (25.73±10.51 ng/mL) in comparison to the beginning of the week (30.1±10.84, p=0.033). The analyses on the effect of smoking (p=0.002) and alcohol consumption (p=0.036) on stress development show a significant increase in the levels of the salivary α-amylase, but not on the levels of salivary cortisol. The changes in the blood pressure indicate stress development at the end of the week (p=0.04), while the pulse showed changes within a day rather than during the week. The values of the pulse were higher at the end of the day. Conclusion: The professional lives of the GPs who work in distant and rural places are associated with stress development. Different habits from the daily routine, such as alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity, could be considered as modulators of stress development.

Sports competitions are one of the challenges that lead to increased stress and impaired performance. Therefore, studies to measure and control stress in this group of people can help improve their overall performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of competition on salivary α-amylase levels in taekwondo athletes. The study was conducted on 20 taekwondo male athletes in the Taekwondo Premier League, and their salivary α-amylase was measured in five stages before and after competitions. Also, a sports stress questionnaire was completed for each person. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare the means of α-amylase. The relationship between α-amylase and stress score was also analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The highest mean level of α-amylase was observed in the third stage of measurement immediately after competitions (282.5 ± 29.2 U/mL). The lowest mean was observed in the fifth stage, one day after competitions (102.2 ± 8.9 U/mL). The results of repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the difference between these measurement steps was statistically significant. Also, the correlation coefficient between the α-amylase level and stress score was 0.916, which was significant (P < 0.001). The study of the mean stress score in the winners and losers also showed that the mean stress score in the winners was significantly lower (P < 0.05). According to the present study results, increased stress leads to impaired performance in athletes. One of the consequences is increased salivary α-amylase levels. Therefore, reducing stress can decrease α-amylase levels, ultimately improving oral health outcomes in these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine is commonly used by athletes as an energy supplement, but studies on its effects on salivary antimicrobial proteins (sAMPs) in humans during exercise are rare with ambiguous findings. It is also still controversial whether hot environments affect sAMPs. Using a double-blind, randomized crossover design, we examined 12 endurance-trained male collegiate athletes who completed the following two experiments: a caffeine experiment (CAF) and a placebo experiment (PLA). The participants acutely consumed caffeine-containing (6 mg/kg body weight) sports drink (3 ml/kg body weight) or an equivalent amount of placebo sports drink and subsequently performed cycling exercise for 40 min in the heat (33 ± 0.24°C, 64 ± 2.50% relative humidity) at 50% of maximum output power, maintaining a pedal frequency of 60 rpm. Saliva was collected at 60 min pre-exercise (T–60), the start of exercise (T0), 20 min of exercise (T20), and the end of the exercise (T40), and salivary α-amylase (sAA) and lactoferrin (sLac) were tested. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured at T0–T40, while core body temperature (Tre) and heart rate (HR) were monitored continuously. Tre, HR, and RPE increased with time during the exercise (p < 0.01), with no difference in Tre and HR between the CAF and PLA (p > 0.05), but RPE was higher in the PLA than in the CAF (p < 0.05). sLac concentrations were significantly higher at T20 and T40 than at T–60 (p < 0.01) and higher at T40 than at T0 and T20 (p < 0.01), with no difference between the CAF and PLA (p > 0.05). Compared with T–60, sAA activity was significantly increased at T0, T20, and T40 (p < 0.01). sAA activity was significantly higher at T40 than at T0 and T20 (p < 0.01), at T20 than at T0 (p < 0.05), and in the CAF than in the PLA (p < 0.01). Heat stress caused by acute exercise in hot environments did not impair the sAMPs parameters of the participants. Instead, the participants showed transient increase in sAA activity and unchanged sLac concentrations. Caffeine may increase salivary markers related to immune response during exercise.

The differentiation between bloodstain patterns resulting from impact events and those from the expiration of blood can be crucial to crime scene reconstruction. Physical characteristics used to distinguish impact and expirated bloodstain patterns, are often unclear or absent, making interpretation of some bloodstain patterns difficult. Presumptive tests for salivary α-amylase (SAA) exist; however, these tests are generally unsuited for use at crime scenes or have not been tested on realistic expirated bloodstains. To address this, we assessed the RSIDTM-Saliva test for detecting SAA in expirated bloodstains and developed a modified protocol that can be used in-scene by forensic examiners. Phase 1 experiments, which involved volunteers creating simulated bloodstains by expirating volumes of their own blood onto painted timber boards, produced entirely positive results which demonstrated the test's efficacy for realistic expirated bloodstains. Phase 2 development and evaluation of a modified in-scene protocol demonstrated that a reduced buffer volume and modified incubation could successfully detect SAA in expirated bloodstains. A significant inverse relationship was observed between the size of a bloodstain and the 'time-to-positive'. These results support the modified RSIDTM-Saliva test protocol as a viable method to detect SAA in expirated bloodstains in a crime scene environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Numerous studies, including our previous work with lemon juice, have reported that low-pH meals reduce the glycemic response to starchy foods. However, the underlying mechanism is not yet understood. Tea, for its polyphenol content, has also been investigated. The main objective of this research was to concurrently study gastric emptying, appetite perceptions and glycemic responses to bread consumed with water, tea, or lemon juice. Methods: In this randomized, crossover intervention, ten participants consumed equal portions of bread (100 g) with 250 mL of water, water-diluted lemon juice, or black tea at breakfast. Gastric volumes, blood glucose concentrations and appetite perceptions were alternately assessed over 180 min using magnetic resonance imaging, the finger-prick method and visual analogue scales, respectively. Results: Compared to water, lemon juice led to a 1.5 fold increase of the volume of gastric contents, 30 min after the meal (454.0 ± 18.6 vs. 298.4 ± 19.5 mL, x ¯ ± SEM P < 0.00001). Gastric emptying was also 1.5 times faster (P < 0.01). Conversely, lemon juice elicited a lower glycemic response than water (blood glucose concentrations at t = 55 min were 35% lower, P = 0.039). Tea had no effect. Changes in appetite perceptions and gastric volumes correlated well, but with no significant differences between the meals. Conclusions: Lemon juice lowered the glycemic response and increased both gastric secretions and emptying rate. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that the reduction of the glycemic response is mainly due to the interruption of starch hydrolysis via the acid-inhibition of salivary α-amylase. Trial registration number: NCT03265392, August 29, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have demonstrated food texture manipulation on oral processing behaviour (OPB). We explored the effect of texture-differences of equivalent carbohydrate load on OPB, bolus properties and postprandial glycaemic responses (PPG). In a randomised cross-over, within-subjects, non-blinded design, healthy male participants (N = 39) consumed fixed portions of white rice (WR) and rice cake (RC) while being video recorded to measure microstructural eating behaviours. PPG was compared between test foods over a period of 120-min, and the bolus properties and saliva uptake at swallow were measured for both test foods. RC displayed higher instrumental hardness, chewiness and Young's modulus than WR (p = 0.01), and participants perceived RC as more springy and sticky than WR (p

Background/purpose: Stress in the elderly is caused by loss of physical and psychological health. Although there have been many reports on the intraoral environment affecting physical health, few reports exist on stress and the intraoral environment in the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between salivary α-amylase as an index of stress value and the intraoral environment. Materials and methods: Three hundred and nineteen participants were community-dwelling independent individuals over 65 years old. The outcome variable was salivary α-amylase. After measurement, salivary α-amylase was classified into four groups (0 = 0–30, 1 = 31–45, 2 = 46–60, 3 = 61–200). The predictor variables were physical status (which includes age and male body-mass index) and subjective and objective symptoms (which include present teeth, torus palatinus, torus mandibularis, temporomandibular joint noise, bruxism, and dental attrition). These variables were compared among participants using univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The participants included 77 men and 242 women, with a mean age of 75.8 ± 5.4 years (65–94 years). Although temporomandibular joint noise and dental attrition were significantly positively correlated with salivary α-amylase, bruxism was significantly negatively correlated with salivary α-amylase (p

Background: Copy number (CN) variation (CNV) of the salivary amylase gene (AMY1) influences the ability to digest starch and may influence glucose homeostasis, obesity and gut microbiota composition. Hence, the aim was to examine the association of AMY1 CNV with fasting glucose, BMI, and gut microbiota composition considering habitual starch intake and to investigate the effect of AMY1 CNV on the postprandial response after two different starch doses. Methods: The Malmö Offspring Study (n = 1764, 18–71 years) was used to assess interaction effects between AMY1 CNV (genotyped by digital droplet polymerase chain reaction) and starch intake (assessed by 4-day food records) on fasting glucose, BMI, and 64 gut bacteria (16S rRNA sequencing). Participants with low (≤ 4 copies, n = 9) and high (≥ 10 copies, n = 10) AMY1 CN were recruited for a crossover meal study to compare postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses to 40 g and 80 g starch from white wheat bread. Results: In the observational study, no overall associations were found between AMY1 CNV and fasting glucose, BMI, or gut microbiota composition. However, interaction effects between AMY1 CNV and habitual starch intake on fasting glucose (P = 0.03) and BMI (P = 0.05) were observed, suggesting inverse associations between AMY1 CNV and fasting glucose and BMI at high starch intake levels and positive association at low starch intake levels. No associations with the gut microbiota were observed. In the meal study, increased postprandial glucose (P = 0.02) and insulin (P = 0.05) were observed in those with high AMY1 CN after consuming 40 g starch. This difference was smaller and nonsignificant after consuming 80 g starch. Conclusions: Starch intake modified the observed association between AMY1 CNV and fasting glucose and BMI. Furthermore, depending on the starch dose, a higher postprandial glucose and insulin response was observed in individuals with high AMY1 CN than in those with low AMY1 CN. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03974126. Registered 4 June 2019—retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing disposable paper-based devices has positively impacted analytical science, particularly in developing countries. Some benefits of those devices include their versatility, affordability, environmentally friendly, and the possibility of being integrated with portable electrochemical or colorimetric detectors. Paper-based analytical devices (PADs) comprising circular zones and microfluidic networks have been successfully employed in the analytical chemistry reign. However, the combination of the stencil-printing method and alternative binder has not been satisfactorily explored for fabricating colorimetric paper devices. We developed PADs exploring the stencil printing approach and glass varnish as the hydrophobic chemical agent. As a proof-of-concept, the colorimetric assay of salivary α-amylase (sAA) was performed in saliva samples. Through the scanning electron microscopy measurements, it was possible to indicate satisfactory definitions between native fibers and barrier, and that the measured values for the channel width revealed suitable fidelity (R2 = 0.99) with the nominal widths (ranging from 400 to 5000 μm). The proposed hydrophobic barrier exhibited excellent chemical resistance. The analytical applicability for detecting sAA revealed linear behavior in the range from 2 to 12 U mL−1 (R2 = 0.99), limit of detection of 0.75 U mL−1, reproducibility (RSD ≤2.4%), recovery experiments ranged from 89 to 108% and AGREE response (0.86). In addition, the colorimetric analysis of sAA in four different saliva samples demonstrated levels ranging from 202 to 2080 U mL−1, which enabled monitoring the absence and presence of periodontitis. This report has presented the first use of a self-adhesive mask and glass varnish for creating circular zones and microfluidic architectures on paper without using thermic or UV curing treatments. Also, the proposed analytical methodology for detecting sAA exhibited suitable ecological impact considering the AGREE tool. We believe the proposed fabrication of paper devices emerges as a novel, simple, high-fidelity microfluidic channel and portable analytical approach for colorimetric sensing. [Display omitted] • Paper-based analytical devices (PADs) comprising circular zones and microfluidic networks have been manufactured. • The stencil printing approach and glass varnish as the hydrophobic agent were utilized. • The proposed hydrophobic barrier presented suitable chemical resistance. • Colorimetric detection of salivary α-amylase in saliva samples was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The inhibition of enzymes that hydrolyze starch during digestion could constitute an opportunity to slow down the release, and ultimately the uptake, of starch-derived glucose. Simple dietary approaches consisting in pairing starch-rich foods with beverages that have the capacity to inhibit such enzymes could be an effective and easily implementable strategy. The objective of this work was to test the impact of black tea and lemon juice on the glycemic response to bread and subsequent energy intake in healthy adults. Methods: A randomized crossover study was conducted with equal portions of bread (100 g) and 250 ml of water, black tea or lemon juice. Capillary blood glucose concentrations were monitored during 180 min using the finger-prick method. Ad libitum energy intake was assessed 3 h later. Results: Tea had no effect on the glycemic response. Lemon juice significantly lowered the mean blood glucose concentration peak by 30% (p < 0.01) and delayed it more than 35 min (78 vs. 41 min with water, p < 0.0001). None of the tested beverages had an effect on ad libitum energy intake. Conclusion: These results are in agreement with previous in vitro studies showing that lowering the pH of a meal can slow down starch digestion through premature inhibition of salivary α-amylase. Furthermore, the effect of lemon juice was similar to what has been repeatedly observed with vinegar and other acidic foods. Including acidic beverages or foods in starchy meals thus appears to be a simple and effective strategy to reduce their glycemic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco consumption alters many biological parameters, including α-amylase activity. This study reports the effect of cigarette smoking on salivary α-amylase activities of some male heavy smokers (100) in apparent good health compared with (40) male non-smokers as control. The salivary α-amylase activity was assayed using the standard colorimetric method. The α-amylase enzyme was characterized from the saliva samples collected from healthy adult smokers and non-smokers (control) to determine the effects of temperature, pH, and substrate concentration on the kinetic parameters of the enzyme. The analysis of the saliva samples showed that there were significant increases (P

Background: Stress is an invisible factor affecting modern day living and is strongly associated with many disease pathogenesis including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women. PCOS is the most frequent endocrinological disorder that affects women of reproductive age, leading to metabolic dysfunction and body composition alterations. Salivary amylase and cortisol are major stress mediators that have been implicated in PCOS. However, their role in altering body composition in PCOS is yet to be deciphered. Aim: The present study aimed at understanding the relation between stress-associated factors and alterations in body composition among PCOS patients. Design: This study enrolled a total of 100 patients (PCOS) and 60 age-matched controls. The female patients were of ages between 13 and 30 years. Materials and Methods: Standard assay kits were used to evaluate the α-amylase activity and cortisol level in saliva. The participants were chosen on the basis of the Rotterdam American Society for Reproductive Medicine/European Society of Human Reproduction criteria. Saliva was collected from each participant as per the protocol of Salimetrics, USA. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 for Windows. The quantitative variables are described as mean ± standard deviation. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Increased salivary cortisol level and α-amylase activity were seen in the PCOS population as compared to age-matched controls suggesting patients a sustained stress scenario in their system. Moreover, overweight PCOS participants reflected higher amylase activity than the lean patients participants. Pulse rate, body mass index (BMI), visceral adiposity, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) was considerably higher in the PCOS patients participants compared to controls. A significant correlation could be drawn between the α-amylase activity and BMI or WHR, respectively, among PCOS patients. These observations indicate a strong link between the stress marker and alterations in the body composition parameters of PCOS patients participants. Conclusion: Higher prevalence of stress in PCOS patients participants has a critical role in their altered body composition.

Pulmonary aspiration is a potentially fatal anesthetic complication occurring when gastric contents enter the respiratory system. Fasting guidelines aim to decrease the risk of pulmonary aspiration by recommending a timeframe in which patients abstain from food and drink before surgery. Fasting guidelines recommended for healthy individuals fail to account for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Gastroparesis, a common condition associated with T2DM, is exacerbated during stress such as an impending surgery. This study sought to determine whether a relationship exists between stress levels and gastric contents in fasting patients with T2DM presenting for an elective surgical or diagnostic procedure. The quality and quantity of gastric contents and preoperative stress were evaluated using gastric ultrasonography and salivary α-amylase levels. No relationship existed between preoperative stress and gastric contents; however, glycated hemoglobin levels of 7% or greater were associated with increased gastric fluid, which was the most significant finding in this study. In addition, there was a significant difference between the mean gastric volume in healthy individuals and patients with T2DM. Performance of gastric ultrasonography preoperatively provides objective data that could influence the anesthetic plan and decrease the risk of pulmonary aspiration in patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress in the elderly is caused by loss of physical and psychological health. Although there have been many reports on the intraoral environment affecting physical health, few reports exist on stress and the intraoral environment in the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between salivary α-amylase as an index of stress value and the intraoral environment. Three hundred and nineteen participants were community-dwelling independent individuals over 65 years old. The outcome variable was salivary α-amylase. After measurement, salivary α-amylase was classified into four groups (0 = 0–30, 1 = 31–45, 2 = 46–60, 3 = 61–200). The predictor variables were physical status (which includes age and male body-mass index) and subjective and objective symptoms (which include present teeth, torus palatinus, torus mandibularis, temporomandibular joint noise, bruxism, and dental attrition). These variables were compared among participants using univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. The participants included 77 men and 242 women, with a mean age of 75.8 ± 5.4 years (65–94 years). Although temporomandibular joint noise and dental attrition were significantly positively correlated with salivary α-amylase, bruxism was significantly negatively correlated with salivary α-amylase (p < 0.05). Stepwise regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between salivary α-amylase and temporomandibular joint noise, bruxism, and dental attrition. High salivary α-amylase is associated with a high rate of temporomandibular joint noise and dental attrition, and a low rate of bruxism among elderly participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common type of headache across the world with the greatest socioeconomic impact on patient’s life in comparison with other primary headaches. Salivary α-amylase could reflect changes associated with stress in the body. The present study investigated the relationship between stress and frequent episodic tension-type headache by measuring the salivary α-amylase levels. Materials & Methods: In this case- control study, 90 females in two groups, a case group with 45 females with frequent episodic TTH and a control group with 45 healthy females were enrolled. The Hamilton stress questionnaire was completed in the two groups to examine the level of stress. Then, salivary α-amylase levels were measured. The data were analyzed with SPSS 18 using t-test and Mann-Whitney test (α = 0.05). Results: The mean salivary α-amylase activity levels and mean Hamilton questionnaire scores in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p value = 0.001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between the salivary α-amylase activity and Hamilton questionnaire scores in the case (p value = 0.002) and control (p value= 0.001) groups. Conclusion: According to the result of the present study, salivary α-amylase levels can be an appropriate marker for assessing anxiety in patients with frequent episodic tension type headache. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been hypothesized that the occurrence of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) might be associated with stress. Therefore, our purpose was to investigate the diurnal trajectories of salivary cortisol and α-amylase (α-Amy) – markers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system activity, respectively – and psychological profiles in idiopathic acute CSC. This cross-sectional observational case-control study, which included self-reported psychometric questionnaires, was formally approved by the Ethics Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Home diurnal saliva collection was scheduled at several timepoints: at awakening, 30 and 60 min later, and at approximately 13:00 h and 20:00 h. Twenty consecutive male subjects with first-episode CSC attending the outpatient clinic of the Retina Medical Service at the Bietti Foundation were enrolled in the study. Twenty age-matched subjects were recruited as controls. After their initial enrollment, 3 subjects per group were excluded. The production of cortisol and α-Amy and the scores on the negative subscale of the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule, the Daily Hassles and Stress Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were higher in the CSC group than in the control group. To estimate the diurnal trends in the production of salivary cortisol and α-Amy, an equation was derived for each group of the study population. The equations describing the interpolated regression lines gave salivary cortisol and salivary α-Amy slopes that were determined to be significantly different by Student's t-test (cortisol: t = 3.533, p <.001; α-Amy: t = 2.382, p =.018). Furthermore, the area under the curve with respect to the ground (AUCG) was calculated to summarize repeated salivary biomarker measurements from 07:00 h to 08:00 h for assessment of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and the α-Amy awakening response (AR). The diurnal cortisol AUCG and diurnal α-Amy AUCG were calculated from 07:00 h to 20:00 h. The CAR AUCG values of the CSC patients were significantly higher than those of the controls. No differences between the two groups were detected for the α-Amy AR AUCG. The present study adds novel information to the growing body of data suggesting that abnormal diurnal activity of the HPA axis and the SAM system is associated with CSC in susceptible individuals, providing ophthalmologists with a new chronobiological approach for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study found that the enzyme activity of human salivary α-amylase (α-AHS) was competitively inhibited by nanoplastic polystyrene (PS-NPs), with a half-inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of 92 μg/mL, while the maximum reaction rate (V max) remained unchanged at 909 μg/mL•min. An increase in the concentration of PS-NPs led to a quenching of α-AHS fluorescence with a slight red shift, indicating a static mechanism. The binding constant (K a) and quenching constant (K q) were calculated to be 2.92 × 1011 M−1 and 1.078 × 1019 M−1• S−1 respectively, with a hill coefficient (n) close to one and an apparent binding equilibrium constant (K A) of 1.54 × 1011 M−1. Molecular docking results suggested that the interaction between α-AHS and PS-NPs involved π-anion interactions between the active site Asp197, Asp300 residues, and van der Waals force interactions affecting the Tyr, Trp, and other residues. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and circular dichroism (CD) analyses revealed conformational changes in α-AHS, including a loss of secondary structure α-helix and β-sheet. The study concludes that the interaction between α-AHS and PS-NPs leads to structural and functional changes in α-AHS, potentially impacting human health. This research provides a foundation for further toxicological analysis of MPs/NPs in the human digestive system. [Display omitted] • Assessment of PS-NPs effects on α-AHS was investigated in the microenvironment system. • The PS-NPs against α-AHS inhibition activity and enzyme kinetics were performed. • The inhibition efficiency of IC 50 was used to determine the competitive inhibition type. • A static quenching mechanism and affected amino acid residues were shown by fluorescence spectroscopy. • An in silico Molecular Docking study was determined to affect aromatic residues and confirmational structural alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of salivary α‐amylase is a critical factor in both catalytic and immunological method‐based forensic saliva identification. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity of catalytic and immunological tests on degraded saliva samples. Degraded saliva stains were prepared by microbial decomposition using humid soil. Salivary α‐amylase activity was catalytically detected both qualitatively and quantitatively using the Phadebas® amylase test. As immunological methods, we conducted qualitative and quantitative tests using the RSID™‐saliva test and ELISA, respectively. Salivary α‐amylase activity of degraded samples (incubated at 37°C for 12 h) was significantly lower than that of controls in the quantitative tests. All the degraded samples obtained by the humid soil produced negative results in the Phadebas® tests, but showed positive results in the RSID™‐saliva test and ELISA. These results suggest that immunological tests are effective for testing degraded saliva samples that have lost their enzymatic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objectives The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of competition on stress salivary biomarkers alpha-amylase (sAA), cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in elite or amateur female adolescent inline skaters. Material and methods Eighteen female adolescent inline skaters (9 elites and 9 amateurs) who have competed in official skate competitions, participated in the present study. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected during their rest day, 1 h and immediately before competition (pre-competition), as well as immediately and 1 h after the competition (post-competition). Free cortisol, sAA, DHEA, and total protein concentrations were assessed. Results Cortisol concentrations of elite group significantly increased 1 h before and pre-competition compared to rest day (P < 0.05) whereas no significant changes observed in amateur group (P > 0.05). The sAA concentrations were significantly higher in the elite group at 1 h before and at pre-competition compared to the rest day (P < 0.05). sAA concentrations of amateur group were significantly higher at pre-competition, post-competition, and 1 h after competition compared to the rest day (P < 0.05). DHEA levels of both groups markedly decreased 1 h after competition compared to the rest day (P < 0.05). No significant differences in DHEA concentrations were observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). The ratio of DHEA to cortisol exhibited significant difference among the five measurement stages in the amateur group (P < 0.05), whereas no significant changes in this ratio were observed in the elite group (P > 0.05). The total protein concentrations of the elite group increased significantly during three stages, pre-competition, post-competition, and 1 h after competition compared to rest day (P < 0.05). Additionally, the total protein concentrations at pre-competition and 1 h after competition were significantly higher in elite group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Our results confirmed that the optimum increase in adrenal activity occurs before a competition, which can improve athletic performance. However, a similar increase after a competition suggests the body's attempt to maintain homeostasis. Therefore, anticipatory stress indicates that athletes need to relax before a competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To ascertain whether stress biomarkers and psychological indices of stress may predict both conception and miscarriage rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: A university-affiliated tertiary hospital.Population: Infertile women who were undergoing fresh or frozen IVF/ICSI cycles.Methods: Women were recruited to (1) complete validated psychological questionnaires (visual analogue scale of stress, state-trait anxiety inventory, perceived stress scale, fertility problem inventory, Beck depression inventory, and general health questionnaire), at the time of embryo transfer (ET) and pregnancy testing (PT), and (2) provide saliva samples for α-amylase (sAA) measurement before and after ET and at PT.Main Outcome Measures: Women were grouped according to subsequent reproductive outcome; scores/levels of all tests were then compared between groups at each time-point.Results: In all, 197 women completed the study, of which 92 conceived and 28 miscarried. The level of psychological stress, as measured by questionnaires, was highest at the time of PT, whereas the level of biological stress as measured by sAA level (IU/l) post-ET (1.8 × 105  ± 1.5 × 105 ) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than pre-ET (1.2 × 105  ± 1.0 × 105 ) and at PT (1.0 × 105  ± 1.1 × 105 ). However, there was no difference in psychological scoring and in sAA levels between women who did or did not conceive and who had miscarried or had an ongoing pregnancy.Conclusions: The level of sAA is highest following ET, whereas psychological stress is highest at PT. However, neither stress level appeared to be of prognostic value in predicting conception or miscarriage.Tweetable Abstract: Stress level fluctuated at different time-points, but it did not predict conception or miscarriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: To elucidate the changes in the daily variation seen in the autonomic nervous system during pregnancy brought about by maternity yoga and to evaluate how maternal yoga affects stress and sleep. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted between January 2013 and December 2014. Pregnant women who were attending maternity yoga classes at Palmore Hospital between 20 and 23 weeks’ gestation were enrolled as the yoga group, and a matched control group was also enrolled. Study participants completed questionnaires, including a perceived stress scale and sleep logs, during their second and third trimesters. Heart rate variability and salivary α‐amylase levels were evaluated as stress indices at 20–23 weeks’ gestation, 28–31 weeks’ gestation and 36–40 weeks’ gestation. Results: A total of 38 women were in the yoga group, with 53 in the control group. At 28–31 weeks’ gestation, heart rate variability during night and late‐night periods was significantly higher in the yoga group than in the control group. At 36–40 weeks’ gestation, variability between the morning, afternoon and late night was significantly higher in the yoga group. Salivary α‐amylase levels decreased significantly immediately after practicing yoga during all evaluation periods in the yoga group. Night‐time sleep duration was significantly longer in the yoga group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that practicing yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system during the third trimester of pregnancy, consolidating sleep during the night and decreasing α‐amylase levels, which indicates reduced stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cold pressor test (CPT) involves acute hand or foot exposure to cold water. CPT hyper-responders have unique traits, including risk of hypertension and a greater vasoconstrictor reserve and g force tolerance compared to hypo-responders. The purpose of this study was to uncover differences in cardiovascular and sympathetic biomarkers between responder types. Methods: Healthy volunteers (N = 30) submerged one hand into cold water (3.3 ± 0.8°C) for 5 min. Blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and cardiac parameters were recorded using an automated monitor, impedance cardiography, and a beat-to-beat monitoring system. We analyzed for salivary α-amylase (SaA), which is a convenient biomarker of the sympathetic nervous system. Subjects were stratified post hoc into hyper-responders (> 22 mmHg) and hypo-responders (< 22 mmHg) based on change in systolic blood pressure during CPT. Results: Hyper-responders had a significantly lower baseline heart rate (64 ± 7 bpm), cardiac output (5.6 ± 0.9 L. min-1), and SaA (60 ± 37 U. mL-1) compared to hypo-responders (73 ± 9 bpm, 6.9 ± 1.3 L' min-1, 165 ± 122 U. mL-1). During the cold immersion, hyper-responders had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (150 ± 14 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (91 ± 1 0 mmHg), mean arterial pressure (129 ± 17 mmHg), and systemic vascular resistance (1780 ± 640 dyn. s-1 - cm-5) than hypo-responders (130 ± 14 mmHg, 81 ± 10 mmHg, 110 ± 9 mmHg, 1290 ± 220 dyn. s-1. cm-5). The change in systolic blood pressure correlated with baseline SaA (r =--0.455, P = 0.011) and baseline heart rate (r = -0.374, P= 0.042). Discussion: Baseline characteristics influenced by sympathetic tone such as SaA, heart rate, and cardiac output are indicative of responses to CPT. Our data supports the use of baseline values to predict blood pressure response to acute cold exposure and indicates an intrinsic difference between CPT responder phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with elevated noradrenergic signaling, which has an impact on emotional learning and memory. Fear extinction is thought to underlie the processes of exposure therapy, however the relationship between noradrenaline and extinction in PTSD is unclear. Participants with PTSD ( n  = 21), trauma-exposure without PTSD (TC; n  = 36), and non-trauma-exposed controls (NTC; n  = 27) completed a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm, and conditioned fear was indexed by skin conductance response (SCR). Salivary α-amylase (sAA) collected at baseline and immediately post-fear acquisition was used as an index of noradrenaline, and we examined whether sAA in response to fear acquisition was a moderator between fear extinction and PTSD symptoms. While there was a significant increase in sAA from baseline to post-fear acquisition, this was not modulated by group. Compared to TC and NTC, the PTSD group displayed a slower decline in SCRs during early extinction, which generalized across stimulus type, and was not moderated by sAA. These findings suggest that the relationship between fear extinction and PTSD symptoms does not change as a function of sAA levels; however previous research suggests other processes of fear learning may be associated with noradrenergic activity in PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed to investigate the response in psoriatic patients of the two primary neuroendocrine systems, namely the Autonomic Nervous System and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, whose main biomarkers of activation are salivary α-amylase and cortisol, respectively. Reliable analytical procedures for the determination of salivary α-amylase enzymatic activity and cortisol concentration in oral fluid were developed. The non-invasive sampling that does not require trained personnel represents one of the main advantages of oral fluid analysis compared to the analysis of blood and its derivatives (e.g. plasma). Since oral fluid offers the advantage of a simple and stress free sample collection, it is particularly useful to quantify stress related molecules. α-amylase activity was measured by a spectrometric method, whereas salivary cortisol by Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. The effect of salivary pH and flow rate on salivary α-amylase activity and cortisol were also investigated. Finally, both methods were preliminary tested on oral fluid samples of psoriatic volunteers underwent to a psychosocial stress task (the Trier Social Stress Test), as a first step of a more comprehensive study on the responsiveness of psoriatic subjects to stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress is an invisible factor affecting modern day living and is strongly associated with many disease pathogenesis including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women. PCOS is the most frequent endocrinological disorder that affects women of reproductive age, leading to metabolic dysfunction and body composition alterations. Salivary amylase and cortisol are major stress mediators that have been implicated in PCOS. However, their role in altering body composition in PCOS is yet to be deciphered. Aim: The present study aimed at understanding the relation between stress-associated factors and alterations in body composition among PCOS patients. Design: This study enrolled a total of 100 patients (PCOS) and 60 age-matched controls. The female patients were of ages between 13 and 30 years. Materials and Methods: Standard assay kits were used to evaluate the a-amylase activity and cortisol level in saliva. The participants were chosen on the basis of the Rotterdam American Society for Reproductive Medicine/European Society of Human Reproduction criteria. Saliva was collected from each participant as per the protocol of Salimetrics, USA. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 for Windows. The quantitative variables are described as mean ± standard deviation. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Increased salivary cortisol level and a-amylase activity were seen in the PCOS population as compared to age-matched controls suggesting patients a sustained stress scenario in their system. Moreover, overweight PCOS participants reflected higher amylase activity than the lean patients participants. Pulse rate, body mass index (BMI), visceral adiposity, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) was considerably higher in the PCOS patients participants compared to controls. A significant correlation could be drawn between the a-amylase activity and BMI or WHR, respectively, among PCOS patients. These observations indicate a strong link between the stress marker and alterations in the body composition parameters of PCOS patients participants. Conclusion: Higher prevalence of stress in PCOS patients participants has a critical role in their altered body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a hand-held stress assessment meter with a chemically colorimetric strip for determining salivary α-amylase activity, using a 3,5 dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) assay to quantify the reducing sugar released from soluble starch via α-amylase hydrolysis. The colorimetric reaction is produced by heating the strip with a mini polyester heater plate at boiling temperature to form a brick red colored product, which measured at 525 nm wavelength. This investigation describes in detail the design, construction, and performance evaluation of a hand-held α-amylase activity colorimeter with a light emitted diode (LED) and photo-detector with built-in filters. The dimensions and mass of the proposed prototype are only 120 × 60 × 60 mm3 and 200 g, respectively. This prototype has an excellent correlation coefficient (>0.995), comparable with a commercial ultraviolet–visible spectroscope, and has a measurable α-amylase activity range of 0.1–1.0 U mL−1. The hand-held device can measure the salivary α-amylase activity with only 5 μL of saliva within 12 min of testing. This sensor platform effectively demonstrates that the level of salivary α-amylase activity increases more significantly than serum cortisol, the other physiological stressor biomarker, under physiologically stressful exercise conditions. Thus, this work demonstrates that the hand-held α-amylase activity meter is an easy to use and cost-effective stress assessment tool for psychoneuroendocrinology research.

Early life adversity (ELA) can lead to poor health later in life. However, there is significant variation in outcomes, with some individuals displaying resilience even in the face of adversity. Using longitudinal data collected from free-ranging rhesus macaques between birth and 3 years, we examined whether individual variation in vigilance for threat, an early emerging attentional bias, can account for variation in long-term outcomes between individuals reared in similar environments. We found that ELA and vigilance during infancy interact to predict physiological dysregulation in Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) stress responses during juvenility. During high stress periods, High ELA juveniles with high vigilance exhibit less asymmetry than High ELA juveniles with low vigilance. This suggests that although increased vigilance is viewed as a negative consequence of ELA, it might also be a mechanism by which vulnerable individuals proactively buffer themselves from negative outcomes in unstable or threatening environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a portable testing device for detecting Human Salivary α-Amylase (HSA) is very timely since such an enzyme is a valuable biomarker for diagnosing many diseases and monitoring the human stress. We show that an easy-to-use and robust device like the Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM) can be a suitable platform for HSA sensing with a limit of detection of 1 µg/mL (77 U/L). The functionalization of the gold surface is realized by the Photochemical Immobilization Technique (PIT), a powerful and simple method based on an appropriate UV-activation of antibodies. The resulting QCM-based immunosensor allows one to detect HSA in saliva by simple dilution and one-step protocol, whereas the measurement of HSA content in body fluids like urine and serum could be carried out by introducing an additional step consisting of analyte ballasting through the formation of sandwich complexes, which pushes the limit of detection to less than 10 U/L. The validation of the one-step protocol with a standard laboratory method like Phadebas test demonstrates the reliability of the proposed immunosensors, which can be applied to the amylase concentration in body fluids like blood serum and urine for which the physiological level is above 20 U/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibiting salivary α-amylase is a critical issue of forensic saliva identification using the catalytic method. This study aims to identify human α-amylase inhibitors in forensic saliva screening by using a blue starch amylase test and to measure the extent of enzyme inhibition. Thus, in order to demonstrate the presence of inhibitors, we prepared positively charged metal ion sources or chelators that were mixed into the saliva stains. The results of this study show that ferric chloride (FeCl 3 ), magnesium chloride, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and citric acid significantly decrease the α-amylase activity of saliva stains. We also verified this approach using blood, a magnesium-containing liquid supplement, and two citric acid-containing soft drinks that were contaminated with saliva stains as forensic mock samples; these samples also showed a significant reduction in salivary α-amylase activity. To establish an inhibitor-resistant blue starch amylase test, we applied bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) to the reaction system. The results show that salivary α-amylase inhibition of the forensic mock samples occurred under normal test conditions (i.e., 300 ng/µL BSA, 0 mM CaCl 2 ), and that inhibition was significantly relieved under the BSA + CaCl 2 conditions (i.e., 1000 ng/µL BSA, 5 mM CaCl 2 ). Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that both BSA and CaCl 2 can be utilized as reaction stabilizers in forensic saliva screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common in patients with asthma. High levels of GAD may lead both to exacerbation of the condition and poor management. However, the physiological mechanisms of GAD in asthma patient is unclear. This study investigated the associations between the diurnal rhythm of sputum cytokines, salivary cortisol, α-amylase and GAD in asthma patients. Patients with co-morbid GAD and asthma showed higher sputum IL-1 AUC, sputum IL-6 AUC and sAA AUC. And there were positive correlations between Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) scores and sputum IL-1 AUC concentrations (r = 0.37, P = 0.002), HAMA scores and sputum IL-6 AUC (r = 0.56, P < 0.001), HAMA scores and sAA AUC (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). Also, there were positive correlations between Sputum IL-1 AUC and sAA AUC (r = 0.40, P < 0.001), between Sputum IL-6 AUC and sAA AUC. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed the combination of sputum sAA AUC, IL-1 AUC, IL-6 AUC and cortisol AUC was the best predictor of HAMA scores (ΔR 2 = 0.439, F (4,63) = 14.086, p < 0.001). Therefore, pro-inflammatory cytokines, salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase may all be involved in the occurrence of GAD in asthma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on psychological and physical effects of stress while performing community garden activities of various intensity levels. The aim of this study was to determine the psychological and physical effects in adults with (case group) and without (control group) mental disabilities. Salivary α-amylase (sAA) levels and the stress response scale (SRS-18) were used for the psychological analysis (n = 42). For physical assessment (n = 13), electrocardiogram (ECG), surface electromyogram (sEMG), and respiration rate were continuously measured while performing the activities using a multichannel telemetry system. The results showed that following the activities, the case group exhibited decreasing sAA levels while control group exhibited increasing sAA levels. However, both groups exhibited lower SRS-18 results following the activities. Compared with the control group, the case group had a significantly lower increase in the ratio of the heart rate (IRHR) (5.5%) during low-intensity work (filling pots with soil), but a significantly higher IRHR (16.7%) during high-intensity work (turning over soil). The case group experienced significantly higher levels of fatigue during high-intensity work (digging) than during the rest condition. These findings indicate that appropriate workload allocation, according to health, is necessary in the community garden setting because reducing the intensity of work assignments for people with mental disabilities will reduce their physical stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cephalic phase insulin release (CPIR) occurs following sensory stimulation with food-related stimuli, and has been shown to limit postabsorptive hyperglycemia. While the specific stimuli that elicit CPIR in humans have not been clearly defined, previous research points to sugars as having potential importance. Maltodextrins are a starch-derived food ingredient commonly found in a variety of processed food products. When consumed, salivary α-amylase rapidly cleaves its component saccharides into smaller units, leading to the production of sugars in the mouth. Here, we investigated whether humans elicit CPIR after tasting but not swallowing maltodextrin, and whether the degree of CPIR exhibited is affected by individuals' salivary α-amylase activity. We found that a gelatin-based stimulus containing 22% w/v maltodextrin elicited CPIR in healthy individuals (N = 22) following a modified sham-feeding protocol using both insulin and c-peptide as indices of the response. However, the degree of CPIR measured did not differ across three groupings (low, medium, or high) of effective α-amylase activity by either index. In a follow-up experiment, a subset of participants (N = 14) underwent the same protocol using a gelatin stimulus without maltodextrin, and no observable CPIR ensued. These findings suggest that oral stimulation with maltodextrin elicits CPIR in humans, but that individual differences in effective salivary α-amylase activity may not necessarily be predictive of the degree of CPIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported complaints in the general population. As physical activity (PA) has been shown to have beneficial effects, we hypothesized that everyday life PA improves fatigue. Thirty-three healthy students (21 women, 22.8 ± 3.3 years, 21.7 ± 2.3 kg/m2) completed two ambulatory assessment periods. During five days at the beginning of the semester (control condition) and five days during final examination preparation (examination condition), participants repeatedly reported on general fatigue (awakening, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm) by means of an electronic diary, collected saliva samples for the assessment of cortisol and α-amylase immediately after providing information on fatigue and wore a triaxial accelerometer to continuously record PA. Self-perceived chronic stress was assessed as a moderator. Using hierarchical linear modeling, including PA, condition (control vs. examination), sex and chronic stress as predictors, PA level during the 15 min prior to data entry did not predict momentary fatigue level. Furthermore, there was no effect of condition. However, a significant cross-level interaction of perceived chronic stress with PA was observed. In fact, the (negative) relationship between PA and fatigue was stronger in those participants with less chronic stress. Neither cortisol nor α-amylase was significantly related to physical activity or fatigue. Our study showed an immediate short-term buffering effect of everyday life PA on general fatigue, but only when experiencing lower chronic stress. There seems to be no short-term benefit of PA in the face of higher chronic stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering chronic stress when evaluating the effectiveness of PA interventions in different target populations, in particular among chronically stressed and fatigued subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Current diagnosis of Major depressive disorder (MDD) depends on its clinical symptoms, not on the results of any laboratory examinations. Establishing biological markers for diagnosis of MDD is one of the most important problems to be solved in psychiatry practice. MDD patients (n = 8) and a healthy control group (n = 8) were recruited in this study. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) assessments were completed and saliva samples were collected for assessments of salivary cortisol and salivary α-amylase (sAA). PET examination was performed. Salivary cortisol and sAA in the MDD patients group were significantly higher than the healthy control group (P < 0.001). MDD patients showed lower glucose metabolism of 18F-FDG in Cingulate Gyrus (BA24), Superior Frontal Gyrus (BA6), Rectal Gyrus (BA11) and Orbital Gyrus (BA11/47) compared with the healthy control group. The severity of depression, salivary cortisol and sAA correlated negatively with regional glucose metabolism in Cingulate Gyrus (BA 24), Superior Frontal Gyrus (BA 6), Rectal Gyrus (BA 11) and Orbital Gyrus (BA 11/47). The combination of salivary cortisol, sAA, superior frontal gyrus and rectal gyrus was the potential predictor of depression for MDD patients (ΔR 2 = 0.981, p < 0.001). The present study showed that, MDD patients group showed higher salivary cortisol, sAA levels and lower glucose metabolism of 18 F-FDG in several brain areas compared with the healthy control group. The combination of salivary cortisol, sAA, glucose metabolism of 18 F-FDG of superior frontal gyrus and rectal gyrus may serve as a simple clinical tool for the early diagnosis of MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background: This study tested the hypothesis that maternal physiological and psychological variables during pregnancy discriminate between theoretically informed infant stress reactivity profiles. Methods: The sample comprised 254 women and their infants. Maternal mood, salivary cortisol, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and salivary α-amylase (sAA) were assessed at 15 and 32 weeks gestational age. Infant salivary cortisol, RSA, and sAA reactivity were assessed in response to a structured laboratory frustration task at 6 months of age. Infant responses were used to classify them into stress reactivity profiles using three different classification schemes: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, autonomic, and multi-system. Discriminant function analyses evaluated the prenatal variables that best discriminated infant reactivity profiles within each classification scheme. Results: Maternal stress biomarkers, along with self-reported psychological distress during pregnancy, discriminated between infant stress reactivity profiles. Conclusions: These results suggest that maternal psychological and physiological states during pregnancy have broad effects on the development of the infant stress response systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 578-599, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]