Background:The pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the appearance of intracytoplasmic inclusions known as Lewy bodies in which its principal component is α-synuclein.Aim:This study aimed to determine salivary α-synuclein and the extinction coefficient of the saliva protein as biomarkers of PD.Materials and Methods:This observational study was done in Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine in cooperation with Department of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry at Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, Iraq from September 2013 to March 2014. A total number of 20 PD patients and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Unstimulated saliva obtained from each participant obtained for determination of salivary flow rate, saliva protein and α-synuclein using enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) technique.Results:Total saliva protein and uncontaminated protein with nucleic acids are significantly higher in PD compared with healthy subjects. The mean extinction coefficient of that protein is 27.25 M.cm-1 which significantly (P < 0.001) less than corresponding value of healthy subjects (33.48 M.cm−1 ). Saliva α-synuclein level is significantly less in PD (65 ± 52.2 pg/ml) than healthy subjects (314.01 ± 435.9 pg/ml).Conclusions:We conclude that saliva α-synuclein serves as a biomarker for PD if its level compared with healthy subjects, and a specific protein with extinction coefficient 27.25 M.cm-1 is detected in saliva of Parkinson's patients.

Background: Renal failure refers to a condition where the kidneys lose their normalfunctionality. Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) have to undergohemodialysis (HD), With impaired renal function, a decreased glomerularfiltration rate (GFR), and the accumulation and retention of various products ofrenal failure, the oral cavity may show a variety of changes as the body progressesthrough an azotemic to a uremic state. The general dentist should be able torecognize these oral symptoms as part of the patient’s systemic disease and not asan isolated occurrence.Aims of the study: To evaluate the biochemical properties of the saliva andAssessment of oral manifestations in patients with chronic renal failureundergoing hemodialysis.Patients and methods: Spectrophotometer was used for measuring serum andsalivary calcium, phosphorous, urea and creatinine in thirty three hemodialysispatients and twenty two control healthy subjects . Salivary PH, Gingival indexand salivary buffering capacity was also recorded.Results and discussion: All serum and salivary biomarkers (calcium, phosphorous,urea and creatinine) were significantly changed in hemodialysis patients (calciumdecreased while the others increased).Also salivary PH and buffering capacitywere significantly increased in hemodialysis patients. Gingival index alsoincreased, and the oral manifestations that was recorded include: dry mouth(n=21), uremic odor (n=20) , bad taste (n=17) , burning sensation (n=14) , coatedtongue (n=10) ,pale mucosa ( n=5) petechia (n=3), fissured tongue (n=3).Conclusions: there was differences in salivary parameters between hemodialysispatients and control group and the salivary variables was correlated too serumvariables , many oral manifestations found to be in hemodialysis patients.

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Carrageenan extract is a compound of sulfated polyglycan that is taken out from red seaweeds. Being hydrocolloid in nature, carrageenan has gelling, emulsifying and thickening properties allowing it to be commonly used in the oral healthcare products and cosmetics. Due to its bioactive compounds, carrageenan has been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor properties. The purpose of this work is to study the probable use of carrageenan on the diseases that are related to oral cavity and on the genomic DNA in in vitro experimental model In this study, the effects of k-carrageenan on four different cell lines related to the cancer and normal cells which cultured on selective media were done. Moreover, the effect of K-carrageenan on the DNA molecule using an in vitro model was investigated in order to explain the antiproliferative effect of carrageenan. Kappa-carrageenan inhibited the cancer cell growth and fibroblast cell lines growth (in vitro) experimental model. In additionk-carrageenan solution completely and significantly damaged the DNA molecule by the evidence that the mean ± SD absorbance of the mixture of k-carrageenan and DNA solution is 0.0 ± 0.0.  This study shows that the k-carrageenan pharmaceutical preparations exert biological activities as anticancer in vitro studies.