Hyposialorrhea as an early manifestation of Parkinson disease.

We sought to determine whether hyposialorrhea is an early manifestation of Parkinson disease (PD). We measured basal and citric acid stimulated secretion of whole saliva in 20 patients with early stage (Hoehn-Yahr I-II) PD who had motor symptoms for less than 1 year and were on no medication and 11 age matched controls. Compared to controls, PD patients had significant reduction of both basal (0.

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.

[Predictors of intrahospitalary mortality in the upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding due to chronic liver disease treated endoscopically].

Unlabelled: Upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding is one of the most serious complications in patients with chronic liver disease. The aim of this trial is to identify in hospital mortality predictors in this illness.

Material And Methods: 106 hospitalizations due to this disease from October 2001 to April 2006 in cohort design.

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.