Total esterase activity in human saliva: Validation of an automated assay,characterization and behaviour after physical stress

Although saliva has esterase activity, this activity has not been characterized or studied in individuals subjected to physical stress. The aim of this report was to develop and validate an automated spectrophotometric assay for total esterase activity measurement in human saliva, as well as to study the contribution of different enzymes on this activity and its behaviour under physical stress in healthy subjects. The assay used 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate and was precise, accurate and provided low limits of detection and quantification. Inhibition with diisopropylfluorophosphate showed that cholinesterase, carboxylesterase and cholesterol esterase contributions not represented more than 20% of total esterase. Addition of standards of lipase and albumin to saliva samples showed that both proteins significantly contributed to esterase activity only when equal or higher than 11.6?IU/L and 250?μg/mL, respectively. Western blot analyses showed absence of paraoxonase-1 and high amount of carbonic anhydrase-VI. The high affinity of purified carbonic anhydrase-VI for the substrate supported a major contribution of this enzyme. Total esterase activity and alpha-amylase was measured in saliva samples from 12 healthy male students before and after participation in an indoor football match. The activity significantly increased after match and positively correlated with salivary alpha-amylase. This method could be used as a biomarker of physical stress in humans, with carbonic anhydrase-VI being the esterase that contributed more to the activity of the assay.     

Serum proteome of dogs at subclinical and clinical onset of canine leishmaniosis

The objective of this study was to identify changes in serum proteome in dogs that may occur after an experimental infection at subclinical and clinical stages of canine leishmaniosis (CanL). For this purpose, canine pre‐ and post‐infection with Leishmania infantum serum proteomes in the same dogs were analysed by a high‐throughput label‐based quantitative LC‐MS/MS proteomic approach. A total of 169 proteins were identified, and 74 of them including complement C8 alpha chain, adiponectin, transferrin, sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase acid‐like 3A and immunoglobulins showed different modulation between the different stages of CanL. These proteins could be considered as potential serum biomarkers of early diagnostic or disease progression in CanL. Additionally, biological pathways modulated during CanL such as blood coagulation or gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor were revealed, which could help to understand the pathological mechanisms of the disease.     

Possible Reduction of Cardiac Risk after Supplementation with Epigallocatechin Gallate and Increase of Ketone Bodies in the Blood in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. A Pilot Study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes anthropometric changes characterised by functional disability, increase in fat mass, and decrease in lean mass. All these variables are related to a greater cardiac risk. The polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and an increase in ketone bodies in the blood have been shown to have beneficial effects on anthropometric and biochemical variables related to cardiovascular activity. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of the intervention with EGCG and ketone bodies on cardiac risk in MS patients. A population of 51 MS patients were randomly assigned to a control group and an intervention group (daily dose of 800 mg of EGCG and 60 mL of coconut oil). Both groups followed an isocaloric diet for 4 months. Levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), albumin, paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in serum before and after the intervention, as well as determining functional ability, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), fat percentage and muscle percentage. After 4 months, in the intervention group there was a significant increase in BHB, PON1 and albumin, while CRP did not vary; a significant decrease in cardiac risk associated with a significant decline in WHR; as well as a significant increase in muscle percentage. By contrast, these changes were not observed in the control group. Finally, results from analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant time–condition interaction effect, observing that WHtR and fat mass decreased in the intervention group, while they increased in the control group.     

Chemosensory Function in Burning Mouth Syndrome a Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Taste and smell are considered to be functions that contribute to the maintenance of good nutritional status. The present study evaluates taste and smell function in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) versus a control group. A cross-sectional study was made of 36 consecutive patients with BMS and 56 healthy patients. Smell was assessed using the Sniffin’ Sticks test, while taste was evaluated with Taste Strips. Oral quality of life was assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and the severity of dry mouth with the Thompson Xerostomia Inventory. The patients with BMS had a mean age of 60.4 ± 10.5 years, while the controls had a mean age of 61.3 ± 19 years. No significant differences in smell were recorded between the two groups. In contrast, significant differences in taste function were observed between the patients with BMS and the controls. In the patients with BMS, 44.4% suffered taste alterations compared with the 3.4% healthy controls. Further studies in such patients are needed to allow improved management of the chemosensory problems, mouth dryness, and oral health-related quality of life in BMS.     

Acute phase proteins and markers of oxidative stress to assess the severity of the pulmonary hypertension in heartworm-infected dogs

Background

Canine heartworm infection is characterized by pulmonary endarteritis and pulmonary hypertension (PH). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between PH with the concentrations of different positive (C-reactive protein [CRP] and haptoglobin [Hp]) and negative (albumin and paraoxonase-1 [PON-1]) acute phase proteins (APP), as well as the oxidative stress, by measuring glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in 27 heartworm-infected dogs on Day 0 (diagnosis) and Day 120 (1 month after the last adulticide injection). Presence/absence of PH was determined by the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility (RPAD) Index.

Results

On Day 0, 62.9% of the dogs showed PH. Concentrations of CRP and Hp were higher in dogs with PH, especially in dogs with moderate-severe PH (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively). Albumin and PON-1 concentrations were higher in dogs without PH (P < 0.05 for albumin). On Day 120, 59.2% of the dogs presented with PH; CRP decreased while Hp increased (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively). Also, albumin and PON-1 rose, especially in absence of PH. There were not significant changes in the serum values of GPx and TAC.

Conclusions

CRP and Hp have a potential prognostic role in dogs with dirofilariasis because increases in positive APP correlated with presence and severity of PH. CRP decreased, but Hp persisted at an elevated level in dogs with PH 1 month after the end of the adulticide treatment. CRP and Hp could work as early biomarkers of PH and be useful to stage the disease and to monitor the evolution of the patient and indirectly evaluate the persistence of arterial damage after the parasites have been eliminated. Albumin and PON-1 also showed potential value as markers of PH, although further research is necessary to determine its utility.

     

Possible Role of Butyrylcholinesterase in Fat Loss and Decreases in Inflammatory Levels in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis after Treatment with Epigallocatechin Gallate and Coconut Oil: A Pilot Study

(1) Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by the loss of muscle throughout the course of the disease, which in many cases is accompanied by obesity and related to inflammation. Nonetheless, consuming epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and ketone bodies (especially β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB)) produced after metabolising coconut oil, have exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and a decrease in body fat. In addition, butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), seems to be related to the pathogenesis of the disease associated with inflammation, and serum concentrations have been related to lipid metabolism. Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the role of BuChE in the changes caused after treatment with EGCG and ketone bodies on the levels of body fat and inflammation state in MS patients. (2) Methods. A pilot study was conducted for 4 months with 51 MS patients who were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received 800 mg of EGCG and 60 mL of coconut oil, and the control group was prescribed a placebo. Fat percentage and concentrations of the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme (BuChE), paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, triglycerides, interleukin 6 (IL-6), albumin and βHB in serum were measured. (3) Results. The intervention group exhibited significant decreases in IL-6 and fat percentage and significant increases in BuChE, βHB, PON1, albumin and functional capacity (determined by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)). On the other hand, the control group only exhibited a decrease in IL-6. After the intervention, BuChE was positively correlated with the activity of PON1, fat percentage and triglycerides in the intervention group, whereas these correlations were not observed in the control group (4). Conclusions. BuChE seems to have an important role in lipolytic activity and the inflammation state in MS patients, evidenced after administering EGCG and coconut oil as a βHB source.     

Salivary adiponectin,but not adenosine deaminase,correlates with clinical signs in women with Sjögren’s syndrome: a pilot study

Clinical Oral Investigations - To evaluate salivary adiponectin and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in women suffering from Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Salivary adiponectin and ADA were measured...     

Blunted rest–activity rhythms link to higher body mass index and inflammatory markers in children

Study ObjectivesDisturbances of rest–activity rhythms are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) in adults. Whether such relationship exists in children is unclear. We aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of rest–activity rhythm characteristics with BMI z-score and obesity-related inflammatory markers in school-age children.MethodsParticipants included 411 healthy children (mean ± SD age 10.1 ± 1.3 years, 50.8% girls) from a Mediterranean area of Spain who wore wrist accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. Metrics of rest–activity rhythm were derived using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. Obesity-related inflammatory markers were measured in saliva (n = 121).ResultsIn a multivariable-adjusted model, higher BMI z-score is associated with less robust 24-h rest–activity rhythms as represented by lower relative amplitude (–0.16 [95% CI –0.29, –0.02] per SD, p = 0.02). The association between BMI z-score and relative amplitude persisted with additional adjustment for sleep duration, and attenuated after adjustment for daytime activity level. Less robust rest–activity rhythms were related to increased levels of several salivary pro-inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, which is inversely associated with relative amplitude (–32.6% [–47.8%, –12.9%] per SD), independently of BMI z-score, sleep duration, and daytime activity level.ConclusionBlunted rest–activity rhythms are associated with higher BMI z-score and salivary pro-inflammatory markers already at an early age. The association with BMI z-score seem to be independent of sleep duration, and those with pro-inflammatory markers further independent of BMI z-score and daytime activity. Novel intervention targets at an early age based on improving the strength of rest–activity rhythms may help to prevent childhood obesity and related inflammation.Clinical Trials Registration{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02895282","term_id":"NCT02895282"}}NCT02895282