Although various proteins and some electrolytes have been measured in human saliva, little systematic data about the major and minor elemental components of this body fluid have been obtained. In order to obtain such data, concentrations of C, Na, P, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sb, I, and Cs in human parotid saliva were measured by instrumental nuclear methods. The data obtained confirmed the relative lack of Zn in saliva of patients with hypogeusia (decreased taste acuity) and suggested that concentrations of Na, Cl, Br, and Ca followed the order: normals greater than hypogeusia greater than hyposmia (decreased smell acuity). To compare concentrations of elements in saliva with those in blood and urine, absolute concentrations were normalized to that of Na through the use of a concept called an enrichment factor. On this basis, parotid saliva is relatively depleted in Se, Zn, and Fe and enriched for most other elements relative to blood plasma indicating that the fluid is not simply a transudate of blood plasma. Using this same technique, saliva composition was found more similar to urine than blood plasma, being relatively depleted in Se, Cs, and Co, being enriched in I, Br, and Cr and having about the same relative concentrations of P, Cl, Zn, Fe, Ca, K, and Rb. As the total body concentrations of many of the enriched elements in saliva are extremely small, their enrichment in saliva suggests special roles for these elements in the oral cavity. Because of its accessibility, ease of collection, and interaction with some body constituents, saliva represents a useful, albeit neglected, tool in the diagnosis of some physiological and pathological changes in body function and in understanding important aspects of trace metal metabolism.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Application of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/neutron activation analysis for protein quantification.

A combination of two methods, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and neutron activation analysis (NAA), has been applied to solutions containing phosphoproteins for the purpose of protein quantification. The proteins were separated by molecular weight using PAGE, and then the whole gel was activated by neutron bombardment. Densitometric measurements of the developed bands from 32P, taken from autoradiographs of the activated gels, resulted in quantification of the phosphorus, and then the related protein. This PAGE/NAA method was applied to several phosphoprotein-containing materials, including commercial milk products and reference materials, i.e., IAEA A-11, milk powder, and SRM 1845, Cholesterol in Egg Powder.

Caseins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with clinical success of cervical abrasion/erosion restorations.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of class 5 restorations according to USPHS criteria. Twenty-five patients and 116 abrasion/erosion lesions were restored with either a glass-ionomer cement restoration (Ketac-Fil), a composite resin restoration with a dentin bonding agent (Silux Plus, Scotchbond 2), or a composite resin restoration with a dentin bonding agent and a glass-ionomer liner (Silux Plus, Scotchbond 2, Vitrebond). At 3 years, 24 patients and 110 teeth were evaluated. All restorations were rated clinically acceptable for color match, cavosurface discoloration, surface texture, and caries development. Glass-ionomer cement restorations demonstrated a slightly rougher surface texture than the composite restorations (Friedman Two-way ANOVA, P=0.000). Significant differences were found with retention (Cochran Q test, P=0.012). Percentages retained were: glass ionomer, 97.3% (36/37); composite/dentin bonding agent, 75.7% (28/37); composite/dentin bonding agent/glass-ionomer liner, 100% (36/36). At 3 years class 5 restorations of glass-ionomer cement or composite with a dentin bonding and a glass-ionomer liner demonstrated significantly better retention than restorations of composite with a dentin bonding agent. Increased occlusal function, mobility, and mandibular arch were associated with a decrease in retention rate.

Aged↗