Interaction of age and specific saliva component output on caries.

Background And Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between individual salivary components, dental caries and age, utilizing the data from the Oral Health: San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (OH:SALSA).

Methods: The study population comprised a well-defined stratified sample of 811 dentate men and women. Subjects were divided into four age groups from 35 to 75+ years old.

Salivary gland function in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if HAART alters salivary oral host defense in HIV(+) men.

Study Design: Whole, parotid, and submandibular/sublingual saliva was collected from 39 healthy men and 147 HIV(+) patients with mild to moderate immune dysfunction (69 treated with HAART [HAART(+)]; 78 not treated [HAART(-)]). Salivary flow rates, anticandidal activities, electrolytes, and antimicrobial/antifungal proteins were determined.

Health benefits of saliva: a review.

Objective: The aim is to present a review of the literature on human saliva composition, flow rates and some of the health benefits of saliva, with emphasis on studies from our laboratory that have looked at effects of age and age-related diseases on saliva output and composition.

Data: Saliva influences oral health both through its non-specific physico-chemical properties, as well as through more specific effects. The proline-rich proteins, statherin and the histatins are salivary proteins that influence calcium phosphate chemistry, initial plaque formation and candida infection.

Salivary secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor increases in HIV infection.

Background: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an antimicrobial protein found in saliva and having anti-HIV activity. The concentrations of SLPI in parotid and submandibular/sublingual (SMSL) saliva were determined in an HIV(+) population and compared with uninfected controls. The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the concentrations in saliva was determined.