Search Results (102)

Sport injury recognition is rapidly evolving with the integration of new emerging technologies. This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate technologies capable of detecting injuries during sports participation. A comprehensive search of PUBMED, Sport Discus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024608964). Inclusion criteria focused on prospective studies involving athletes of all ages, evaluating tools which are utilised to identify injuries in sports settings. The review included research between 2014 and 2024; retrospective, conceptual, and fatigue-focused studies were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool. Of 4283 records screened, 70 full-text articles were assessed, with 21 studies meeting the final inclusion criteria. The technologies were grouped into advanced imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DFI), and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM), with biomarkers (i.e., Neurofilament Light (NfL), Tau protein, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Salivary MicroRNAs, and Immunoglobulin A (IgA), and sideline assessments (i.e., the King–Devick test, KD-Eye Tracking, modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS), DETECT, ImPACT structured video analysis, and Instrumented Mouth Guards (iMGs)), which demonstrated feasibility for immediate sideline identification of injury. Future research should improve methodological rigour through larger, diverse samples and controlled designs, with real-world testing environments. Following this guidance, the application of emerging technologies may assist medical staff, coaches, and national governing bodies in identifying injuries in a sports setting, providing real-time assessment. Full article

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) exhibits considerable clinical and immunological heterogeneity, complicating personalized management. We aimed to delineate the demographic, functional, serological, histopathological, and therapeutic features of a Romanian pSS cohort and to identify biomarker–treatment correlations that could inform patient-oriented strategies. Thirty-two patients meeting the 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for pSS were retrospectively analyzed. Data collected included demographics, autoantibody profiles (Anti-Ro/SSA, Anti-La/SSB, ANA, RF, Anti-CCP), immunoglobulin levels, complement consumption (C3/C4), minor salivary gland biopsy (focus score), salivary flow tests, and systemic inflammation markers (CRP). Pearson correlation matrices were constructed to explore the associations between serological markers and prescribed therapies. The cohort was predominantly female (87.5%) with a mean age of 52.8 ± 9.9 years. Seropositivity rates were 50% for Anti-Ro/SSA, 77% for Anti-La/SSB, and 40% for ANA. Clinically significant glandular dysfunction was evident in 65% of patients (unstimulated flow ≤ 0.1 mL/min), and all biopsies demonstrated focus scores > 1. Methotrexate use correlated strongly with Anti-Ro/SSA and Anti-La/SSB positivity (p ≤ 0.05), indicating its targeted application in seropositive sub-phenotypes. Conclusion: These findings underscore the immunologic and clinical diversity of pSS and support a biomarker-driven, multidisciplinary framework for personalized treatment. Larger prospective and multicenter studies are warranted to validate these correlations and to refine precision medicine approaches in pSS. Full article

Background: Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) plays a key role in oral and mucosal immunity, serving as a first-line defense against pathogens. Smoking is known to negatively affect immune function, but data on the impact of heated tobacco products such as IQOS^® on sIgA levels are limited. Objective: To assess and compare the effects of conventional cigarette smoking and IQOS^® use on the concentration of salivary sIgA in healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 200 participants were enrolled and divided into three groups: 60 non-smokers, 70 conventional cigarette smokers, and 70 IQOS^® users. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected and analyzed for sIgA concentration using ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: Mean salivary sIgA levels were significantly lower in both cigarette smokers (246.03 μg/mL) and IQOS^® users (243.54 μg/mL) compared to non-smokers (380.74 μg/mL, p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between cigarette smokers and IQOS^® users. A pronounced reduction in sIgA was seen in female users of both tobacco products, whereas male users did not show a statistically significant decline. Conclusions: Both cigarette smoking and IQOS^® use are associated with a significant decrease in salivary sIgA levels, particularly in females. The findings suggest that IQOS^® does not offer an immunological advantage over conventional smoking in terms of preserving mucosal immunity. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms. Full article

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent mental health disorders often associated with dysregulation of neuroendocrine and immune systems, particularly the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic–adrenal–medullary (SAM) system. Recent research highlights the potential of salivary biomarkers to serve as non-invasive indicators for psychological distress. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on key salivary biomarkers, cortisol, alpha-amylase (sAA), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), chromogranin A (CgA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and salivary microRNAs (miRNAs), in relation to anxiety, depression, and stress. A comprehensive literature search (2010–2025) was conducted using multiple databases and relevant MeSH terms. The review reveals consistent associations between these salivary analytes and stress-related disorders, reflecting changes in neuroendocrine activity, immune response, and neuroplasticity. Cortisol and sAA mirror acute stress reactivity, while cytokines and CRP indicate chronic inflammation. BDNF and miRNAs provide insight into neuroplastic dysfunction and gene regulation. Despite promising results, limitations such as variability in sampling methods and biomarker specificity remain. In conclusion, salivary biomarkers offer a promising avenue for early detection, monitoring, and personalization of treatment in mood and anxiety disorders. Conclusions: Cortisol and alpha-amylase serve as the principal markers of acute stress response, whereas cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, together with CRP, indicate chronic inflammation associated with extended emotional distress. Full article

Childhood obesity and overweight are linked to subclinical inflammatory conditions. The present manuscript aimed to undertake a scoping review exploring the relationship between childhood obesity and salivary biomarkers to answer the following question: “Are salivary biomarkers trustful factors/indicators for childhood obesity?” The main search terms used were: “obesity and salivary biomarkers and children” (Pubmed, Scielo, Scopus, Embase databases: 1999–2025). Assessed articles were carefully classified according to a predetermined criterion (Newcastle–Ottawa Scale), and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were considered. Papers involving children >13 years, duplicates/triplicates, literature reviews, and non-related to the question addressed were excluded. More than 30 salivary biomarkers were assessed in the thirteen studies appraised. Three studies were rated as having a high level of evidence, two as moderate, and eight as having a low level. Fourteen biomarkers were found to be significantly increased in childhood obesity/overweight (p < 0.05): leptin, insulin, α-amylase, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, C-reactive protein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, resistin, phosphate, nitric oxide, interleukin 1β, uric acid and fetuin-A; and three were found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.05): adiponectin, secretory immunoglobulin A, and interleukin-12p70. In conclusion, the present review supported the idea that saliva might be a promising diagnostic tool in early life and that it is a significant source of obesity biomarkers in children. Full article

Saliva was used as non-invasive alternative to blood for diagnosing pathophysiological conditions. This study aimed to assess changes in protein profile in people with obesity after bariatric surgery and to assess the impact of exercise on these changes. The saliva proteome was determined from two-dimensional gels of twenty adults (ten people with normal weight and ten people with obesity). The effects of bariatric surgery and exercise were assessed. A decrease in body weight, body mass index, and waist-to-height ratio was observed after bariatric surgery. Low levels of carbonic anhydrase VI (CA-VI), short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone 2 (SPLUNC2), and haptoglobin were observed. One month after bariatric surgery, spots of haptoglobin and SPLUNC2 increased, although one CA-VI spot decreased. Zn-alpha-2 glycoprotein, immunoglobulin chains, and actin-related protein-3, which are high in people with obesity, decreased 1 month after bariatric surgery. Five months after bariatric surgery, the most significant change was the amylase decrease. The exercise-induced changes in salivary proteins increased SPLUNC, CA-VI, type S cystatins, actin cytoplasmic 1, and zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein levels and decrease Ig kappa chain C region and Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor beta. It can be concluded that the salivary proteins change between people with normal weight vs. patients with obesity, as well as after bariatric surgery and exercise programmes. Salivary proteins may be useful biomarkers in non-invasive samples for monitoring and assessing the impact of interventions on people with obesity. Full article

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between acute and chronic loads, and the fatigue response within male elite professional football players. Design: 40-week longitudinal study across the 2021–2022 season in the English Championship. Methods: Twenty-three outfield football players had workload measured using global positioning system (Distance, High-Intensity Distance and Sprint Distance) and perceived exertion. Load-response was measured via a perceived wellbeing questionnaire, counter-movement jump (CMJ) and salivary immunoglobulin A. Results: General estimating equation models identified 18 significant interactions between workload and load-response markers. Thirteen significant interactions were found between acute and chronic workloads and CMJ variables, jump height, eccentric duration and flight contraction time. A poor CMJ was observed when acute sprint workload was >+1 standard deviation and chronic distance increased. However, when chronic perceived exertion increased, and acute sprint workload was >+1 standard deviation an advantageous response was detected on counter movement jump variables. The S-IgA response to acute and chronic workload was more variable; when chronic loads were >+1 standard deviation above mean values and acute workload increased, salivary immunoglobulin A was both suppressed and elevated depending on the interacting acute variable. Higher chronic workload was associated with better perceived wellbeing, even when acute workload was >+1 standard deviation above the mean. Conclusion: In general, low chronic workloads and acute spikes in workload were associated with poorer neuromuscular and immune function. Furthermore, CMJ performance and perceived wellbeing improved when chronic workloads were higher, despite the occurrence of acute spikes in workload. Full article

Dental fear and anxiety are frequently identified as major contributing factors to non-compliance, uncooperativeness, and difficulties during dental procedures in pediatric patients. These issues can lead to avoidance of dental treatment, resulting in long-term negative consequences for oral health and overall well-being. The assessment and quantification of psychological functioning (i.e., dental fear, anxiety, and self-perceived stress) has traditionally relied on self-reported questionnaires validated for the pediatric population. While this approach is cost-effective and non-invasive, it relies on subjective self-reported data, oftentimes influenced by parental or guardian interaction, especially in young children. Salivary diagnostics has recently emerged as an objective method for the procurement of biological molecules that serve as biomarkers for a variety of oral and systemic conditions. This literature review aims to comprehensively summarize the available literature on the correlation between psychological and salivary physiological measurements assessing dental fear, dental anxiety, and self-perceived stress in pediatric dental patients, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each method of assessment. Four databases (PubMed^®, PsycInfo, Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source, and Web of Science) were searched for published articles, in the English language, assessing the correlation between psychological and physiological distress in children undergoing dental procedures. Studies on pediatric patients reveal positive correlations between salivary cortisol and dental fear, stress, and anxiety, especially in returning patients. Conversely, findings on salivary alpha-amylase and secretory immunoglobulin A were inconsistent, with some studies suggesting correlations with dental fear and prior dental experiences. Full article

Nectins constitute a family of Ca(2+)-independent immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecules. They are involved in cell proliferation, morphogenesis, growth, development, and immune modulation. Due to their broad involvement in physiological processes, extensive research is being conducted on the expression of individual nectins in a variety of cancers and their potential in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The overexpression of nectin-1 may be a poor prognostic factor in gastrointestinal cancers (intestine and pancreas). Similarly, the overexpression of nectin-2 is a worse prognostic factor (greater tumor advancement and shorter patient survival) in cancers such as gallbladder, esophagus, and breast cancer. Changes in nectin-3 expression also affect the advancement of, e.g., colorectal cancer. Additionally, a significant factor here seems to be the change in the localization of nectin-3 expression within cellular structures. The most extensively studied nectin-4 also shows prognostic potential in many cancers. Most often, its high expression correlates with poor prognosis (e.g., gastric cancer), but it may also be a positive prognostic factor, e.g., in salivary gland cancer. Therapy based on nectin-4 is already known and used in the case of urothelial cancers. The expression of nectin-like protein 5 (necl-5) also shows prognostic and therapeutic potential in pancreatic and lung cancers, as well as in multiple myeloma. Full article

T cell phenotypes and kinetics are emerging as crucial factors associated with immunotherapeutic responses in a wide range of solid cancer types. However, challenges remain in understanding the spatial and temporal profiles of T cells with differential phenotypes due to difficulties in single-cell analysis with preserved tissue structures. Here, we provide an optimized 12-marker multiplex immunohistochemical (IHC) panel and single-cell-based quantitative assessment to identify the spatial distributions of T cell phenotypes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. This panel revealed differential T cell populations with spatial localizations in human tonsil tissue, where the percentages of CD8⁺ T cell-expressing programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3), and other T cell phenotypic markers vary by tonsillar tissue components such as follicles, parenchyma, and epithelium. A specimen from salivary gland adenocarcinoma during hyper-progression, followed by anti-PD-1 treatment, exhibited the exclusion of CD8⁺ T cells from the intratumoral regions. Although the vast majority of peritumoral CD8⁺ T cells exhibited proliferative effector T cell phenotypes with PD-1⁻TIM3⁻Ki67⁺CD45RA⁺, intratumoral CD8⁺ T cells showed exhausted phenotypes with PD-1⁺TIM3⁻ and increased Eomes expression, which might be related to poor therapeutic response in this case. To verify these findings in the context of temporal changes, we analyzed six longitudinal samples from a single patient with maxillary sinus cancer, observing increased T cell exhaustion along with metastasis and progression. Together, highly multiplexed IHC can be applied to analyze the spatiotemporal phenotypes of T cells, potentially contributing to the understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Volleyball training camps are known to reduce salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (s-SIgA); however, when it begins to decrease is unclear. The validity of a simple device for quantifying s-SIgA is lacking; hence, this study aimed to observe detailed s-SIgA changes during a volleyball training camp after moving to a high altitude and to investigate the difference in s-SIgA response between the two quantification methods, namely, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow device (LFD). Methods: Twenty-four male university volleyball players participated in the observational study. Measurements were collected at three points of the training camp (days 1, 4, and 7). The s-SIgA was quantified using conventional ELISA and the new LFD method. Results: The s-SIgA concentrations quantified using the two methods decreased significantly by day 4 (p < 0.05) and continued to decrease until day 7 (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the s-SIgA concentrations quantified using the LFD and ELISA (p < 0.05, r_s = 0.319). Conclusions: These results indicate that a high-altitude volleyball training camp may suppress oral immune function by day 4 and that the evaluation of s-SIgA concentration using the LFD method is beneficial. A faster and easier method for assessing s-SIgA could contribute to athletes’ condition management strategies. Full article

Lawsonia intracellularis is a Gram-negative, intracellular bacterium that can infect several animal species. In pigs, the bacteria cause porcine proliferative enteropathy, or ileitis. The wide spread of the pathogen produces a large impact on pig production worldwide. Saliva is a source of biomarkers that can help to monitor changes in the immune system after vaccination. The purpose of this study was to study the changes in haptoglobin (Hp), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in saliva after vaccination against Lawsonia intracellularis. In addition, productivity parameters were analysed to evaluate if vaccination and changes in salivary analytes could be associated with changes in these parameters. The pigs vaccinated against Lawsonia showed an improvement in the productive parameters and a reduction in food conversion and frequency of diseases. In addition, they showed lower values of Hp (p = 0.011), IgG (p < 0.01), and ADA (p < 0.003) in saliva during the first two months of the fattening period compared to non-vaccinated pigs. It could be concluded that in our experimental conditions, the vaccination against Lawsonia intracellularis produced a significant decrease in biomarkers of the immune response in saliva compared with the non-vaccinated pigs. This would indicate a reduction in the activation of the immune system, which could be postulated to be due to the increased defence ability of the organism against pathogens. This reduced activation of the immune system can lead to better food conversion and an increase in the productive parameters of these pigs. Overall, this report opens a new window for the possible use of saliva for non-invasive evaluation of the immune system after vaccination in pigs. Full article

Background/Objective: Conventional techniques for evaluating hydration status include the analysis of blood, urine, and body weight. Recently, advancements in dentistry have introduced capacitance sensor-based oral epithelial moisture meters as promising avenues for assessment. This study aimed to examine the correlation between oral mucosal moisture content, as determined using a capacitance sensor, and exercise-induced dehydration. Methods: A total of 21 participants engaged in a 120 min slow distance exercise session. A series of measurements were taken before and after the exercise session, including body weight, sweat rate, secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) concentration in saliva samples, saliva flow rate, and oral mucosal moisture content, which were assessed using a capacitance sensor. The relationship between physical dehydration and oral mucosal moisture content was investigated using statistical analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to ascertain whether variations in oral mucosal moisture content could discern body mass losses (BMLs) of 1.5% and 2%. Results: A significant correlation was observed between the sweat rate during exercise and the change in oral mucosal moisture content before and after exercise (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient: ρ = −0.58, p < 0.001). The salivary flow and s-IgA secretion rates were lower after the exercise period than before, whereas the s-IgA concentration was higher. Oral mucosal moisture decreased during the exercise period. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that differences in oral mucosal moisture content exhibited discriminative capabilities, with area under the curve values of 0.79 at 1.5% BML and 0.72 at 2% BML. Conclusions: The measurement of oral mucosal moisture using capacitance sensors represents a promising noninvasive approach for the assessment of exercise-induced dehydration. Full article

Background/Objectives: Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a mediator of local immunity and host defence. Altered IgA levels may predispose to bacterial invasion of the mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract, including the oral cavity. Our study aimed to present the diagnostic trends related to salivary IgA in health and disease based on a bibliometric analysis of published papers between 2009 and 2024. Methods: By 14 September 2024, 1247 English original articles were found in the database Web of Science. We selected 838 records considering the diagnostic usefulness of IgA in human subjects. Based on bibliographic data, we created citation and keyword co-occurrence maps using VOSviewer 1.6.20. Results: Most articles belonged to the “Sport Sciences” category (n = 169), followed by the “Immunology” category (n = 93). The Brazilian researcher Alexandre Moreira from the University of Sao Paulo had the most published and most frequently cited papers. Most of the included articles came from the USA (n = 158), England (n = 105), Brazil (n = 95), and Japan (n = 95). The most cited article described research on IgA in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 690), but the subsequent two papers considered the role of salivary IgA in the dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases (n = 272) and the formation of systemic immune responses from the gastrointestinal tract (n = 245). Conclusions: Salivary IgA is a widely evaluated diagnostic marker in both patients and healthy individuals. Numerous reports have identified its changes as a result of physical exertion in various groups of athletes, during infections (including SARS-CoV-2) and in the course of local diseases (e.g., periodontal disease) or systemic diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease). Full article

Chewing is a sensorimotor activity that aims to prepare food for swallowing, in which saliva intervenes, moistening food particles, assisting in bolus formation, enzymatic digestion, and swallowing. This study investigated the effect of chewing carrots of different shapes on salivary secretion and protein profiles using 2-DE gel electrophoresis. Fifteen participants chewed sliced or grated carrots, or parafilm (non-food control), in a crossover design, with saliva samples collected before and after mastication. The results showed significant differences in salivation and saliva composition when chewing carrots vs. the control, with sliced carrots inducing greater changes: 37 protein spots, including amylase and immunoglobulin spots, 9 protein spots, and 1 protein spot were significantly altered after chewing sliced carrots, grated carrots, and parafilm, respectively. Mastication combined with the sensory properties of food had a greater effect on saliva secretion and salivary protein levels than mastication alone. Among carrot shapes, the results suggest that harder food textures, which require more chewing effort, lead to more pronounced changes in salivary protein profiles. These findings contribute to the understanding of how food shape and texture influence salivation and salivary proteome dynamics, with potential implications for oral digestion, food-related sensory experiences, and the personalisation of diets for individuals with a compromised chewing capacity. Full article