Human saliva plays a major role in lubricating the oral cavity, which in turn aids in various functions such as swallowing, speaking, and maintaining the integrity of the hard tissues of the teeth. In addition, saliva can now play a crucial role in the early diagnosis of heart attack, according to a multi-institutional study, the findings of which was presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Association for Dental Research at Dallas, Texas.
The study, led by Dr John McDevitt, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, was done in collaboration with researchers from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. The researchers developed nano-bio-chip sensor devices, biochemically programmed to detect blood serum proteins in saliva that are considered to be potential markers for cardiac diseases. Eighty patients who had symptoms of cardiac diseases were recruited for the study. Patients’ saliva was transferred from a tube to the nano-bio-chip, fitted to a credit card-sized lab card. The card was then inserted into an analyzer that provides the cardiac status of the patients within 15 minutes, along with identifying those at a higher risk of developing heart attack later in their life.
Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death among the United States population. Myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack, is caused due to decreased blood supply to the heart, leading to necrosis of the cardiac tissues. The National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI, 2004) estimated 1,200,000 cases of new and recurrent heart attacks in the US, annually. The symptoms include chest pain, usually described as tightness or squeezing across the anterior sternum that may radiate to the jaws, neck, arms, back and epigastrium; anxiety; lightheadedness; dyspnea; and wheezing. Most of the patients with heart attack do not show these specific symptoms and so get medical help only after irreversible damage is done to the cardiac tissues. If left untreated, the condition is fatal.
Previously, saliva has also been used in the detection of various diseased conditions including breast cancers, which are usually considered to be most difficult to detect. A study done by Streckfus CF, et al (Cancer Investigation, 2008) reported that saliva aids in early diagnosis of breast cancer. A group of Australian researchers led by Debattista J (Sexual Health, 2007) used the oral fluids for testing HIV antibodies. The researchers concluded that saliva can be a potential agent in testing HIV antibodies.
Saliva is considered as a potential diagnostic tool for diagnosing certain disorders as it can be obtained easily and also due to fact that there is a positive correlation between many parameters in serum and saliva. Now, salivary analysis, with the newly invented nano-bio-chip, can produce promising results for the early diagnoses of the cardiovascular diseases, thereby drastically reducing the complications and improving the patient’s prognosis and survival.
The study, led by Dr John McDevitt, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, was done in collaboration with researchers from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. The researchers developed nano-bio-chip sensor devices, biochemically programmed to detect blood serum proteins in saliva that are considered to be potential markers for cardiac diseases. Eighty patients who had symptoms of cardiac diseases were recruited for the study. Patients’ saliva was transferred from a tube to the nano-bio-chip, fitted to a credit card-sized lab card. The card was then inserted into an analyzer that provides the cardiac status of the patients within 15 minutes, along with identifying those at a higher risk of developing heart attack later in their life.
Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death among the United States population. Myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack, is caused due to decreased blood supply to the heart, leading to necrosis of the cardiac tissues. The National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI, 2004) estimated 1,200,000 cases of new and recurrent heart attacks in the US, annually. The symptoms include chest pain, usually described as tightness or squeezing across the anterior sternum that may radiate to the jaws, neck, arms, back and epigastrium; anxiety; lightheadedness; dyspnea; and wheezing. Most of the patients with heart attack do not show these specific symptoms and so get medical help only after irreversible damage is done to the cardiac tissues. If left untreated, the condition is fatal.
Previously, saliva has also been used in the detection of various diseased conditions including breast cancers, which are usually considered to be most difficult to detect. A study done by Streckfus CF, et al (Cancer Investigation, 2008) reported that saliva aids in early diagnosis of breast cancer. A group of Australian researchers led by Debattista J (Sexual Health, 2007) used the oral fluids for testing HIV antibodies. The researchers concluded that saliva can be a potential agent in testing HIV antibodies.
Saliva is considered as a potential diagnostic tool for diagnosing certain disorders as it can be obtained easily and also due to fact that there is a positive correlation between many parameters in serum and saliva. Now, salivary analysis, with the newly invented nano-bio-chip, can produce promising results for the early diagnoses of the cardiovascular diseases, thereby drastically reducing the complications and improving the patient’s prognosis and survival.
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