Dynamics of salivary cortisol in chronic kidney disease patients at stages 1 through 4.

Context: End-stage renal disease has been associated with derangement of the HPA function. The dynamics of this axis in early stages of renal disease (CKD) has not been assessed.

Objectives: To evaluate in patients with CKD at stages 1-4 (KDOQI): the diurnal variation of salivary cortisol; the suppressibility of cortisol in saliva and serum after an overnight oral 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg DST) with simultaneous measurement of circulating dexamethasone.

Adrenocortical function in hypotensive patients with end stage renal disease.

Background: Sustained hypotension among patients with end stage renal disease on dialysis (ESRDh) varies from 5.0% to 12.0%.

An accurate, non-invasive approach to diagnose Cushing's syndrome in at-risk populations.

Background: The prevalence of Cushing's syndrome (CS) in at-risk populations in developing countries remains uncertain. Evening urinary cortisol (UFC(22-23)) and salivary cortisol after treatment with 1-mg DST (SAFdex) have seldom been used as diagnostic tools in these populations.

Objectives: (1) To establish the prevalence of CS in adults with cortisol-related morbidities using UFC22-23 and SAFdex as markers along with all first-line diagnostic tests recommended for CS; and (2) to assess the performance of each test and define a non-invasive diagnostic approach for CS in at-risk outpatient subjects.

Hormonal secretion and quality of life in Nelson syndrome and Cushing disease after long acting repeatable octreotide: a short series and update.

Clinical management of persistent adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) excess in Nelson syndrome (NS) and Cushing disease (CD) remains a challenge. Somatostatin and its analogs as octreotide decrease ACTH secretion through somatostatin receptors of pituitary cells. To our knowledge, there are no reports on the effect of long-acting repeatable octreotide (oct-lar) on hormonal secretion and quality of life in patients with NS and CD who failed conventional therapy.

Salivary testosterone for the diagnosis of androgen deficiency in end-stage renal disease.

Background: Hypogonadism is frequent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Salivary testosterone (Sal-T) is a non-invasive tool to screen androgen deficiency in adult male with normal renal function. However, available data on its utility in ESRD are not conclusive.

Assessment of salivary urea as a less invasive alternative to serum determinations.

Objective: Experimental studies describe how urea is excreted through salivary glands and correlates with serum levels independently of salivary flow rate. This study confirms that salivary urea (SaU) is a reliable biomarker of uraemic state. In order to validate the SaU methodology, the following factors were taken into account: the independence of urea levels from saliva flow rate in healthy subjects and patients with chronic renal failure and the agreement between SaU and serum urea (U) levels in the entire population.

Diagnostic value of salivary cortisol in Cushing's syndrome (CS).

Objective: The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome (CS) remains a challenge in clinical endocrinology. The aim of this study was to determine the reproducibility and diagnostic value of late-night salivary cortisol (SAF(23)) for CS and its utility along the follow-up of treated patients. In addition, using the same radioimmunoassay reactives, the cut-off values for saliva and serum cortisol, assessed synchronically after the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST), were defined.

Effect of translocator protein (18 kDa)-ligand binding on neurotransmitter-induced salivary secretion in rat submandibular glands.

Background Information: TSPO (translocator protein), previously known as PBR (peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor), is a ubiquitous 18 kDa transmembrane protein that participates in diverse cell functions. High-affinity TSPO ligands are best known for their ability to stimulate cholesterol transport in organs synthesizing steroids and bile salts, although they modulate other physiological functions, including cell proliferation, apoptosis and calcium-dependent transepithelial ion secretion. In present study, we investigated the localization and function of TSPO in salivary glands.

Salivary testosterone: a reliable approach to the diagnosis of male hypogonadism.

Objective: This study was to demonstrate that Sal-T is a reliable biomarker of androgen status in the diagnosis of male hypogonadism.

Design: In order to validate the salivary testosterone assay (Sal-T), its reproducibility, the agreement with serum free testosterone levels (Free-T), the correlation with other circulating androgen markers (bioavailable testosterone, total testosterone) and cut-off values were defined.

Patients And Methods: We studied 52 eugonadic (E) and 20 hypogonadic (Hy) men.

Diagnostic value of salivary cortisol in end stage renal disease.

Objectives: Salivary cortisol has been proposed a surrogate marker for free serum cortisol measurements. The aim of this study was to ascertain the diagnostic value of basal and stimulated salivary cortisol for the detection of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in hypotensive end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Basal salivary cortisol and basal total serum cortisol were studied in order to determine the accuracy of both biomarkers in predicting AI.

Standardization of a simple method to study whole saliva: clinical use in different pathologies.

The present study describes a methodology to assess the salivary flow rate in humans. Whole saliva was obtained from the floor of the mouth with a plastic dental ejector and a vacuum pump. Forty healthy subjects of both sexes and 51 patients with different pathologies (Sjögren Syndrome, Thyroid Dysfunction, Diabetes Mellitus) were included in the study.

Assessment of adrenal function by measurement of salivary steroids in response to corticotrophin in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: Adrenal insufficiency has been reported among critically ill HIV-infected patients. This is the first study that attempts to detect subclinical hypoadrenal states in non-critical HIV patients through salivary steroids in response to intramuscular low-dose ACTH injection.

Patients And Methods: We studied 21 ambulatory adult HIV-infected patients without specific clinical signs or symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.

A new less-invasive and more informative low-dose ACTH test: salivary steroids in response to intramuscular corticotrophin.

Objective: The intravenous low-dose ACTH test has been proposed as a sensitive tool to assess adrenal function through circulating steroids. The aims of this study were to: (a) find the minimal intramuscular ACTH dose that induced serum and salivary cortisol and aldosterone responses equivalent to those obtained after a pharmacological dose of ACTH; and (b) define the minimum normal salivary cortisol and aldosterone responses in healthy subjects to that dose of ACTH. We also compared the performances of the standard- and low-dose ACTH intramuscular tests to screen patients with known hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal impairments.