Sand flies (order Diptera) are vectors of Leishmania parasites (Trypanosomatida), which are inoculated into the host skin together with the vector saliva. Sand fly saliva plays the important role in the Leishmania transmission; in naive host it supresses the host immune response assisting Leishmania to establish the infection, while in repeatedly bitten host it elicits a protective immune response. The submitted thesis focuses on the effect of sand fly saliva on macrophages, the key cells in the infection control. In the first part of the thesis we established a laboratory model L. major - P. papatasi - Balb/c to describe the protective effect of saliva immunization on Leishmania infection development. Immunized mice were protected against Leishmania infection which was reflected in the ear lesion size, parasite load in the ear dermis and draining lymph nodes but also in cytokine production. On the contrary, produced lower amount of nitric oxide, while arginase activity was comparable with nonimmunized group. The IgG antibodies against saliva served as a marker of exposure to sandflies while IgG antibodies against Leishmania antigens served as a marker of infection severity. The experiments were aimed on the possibility of cross-protectivity in Balb/c mice against L. major between closely related...

Le système endocannabinoïde (SEC) est un système clé de la régulation de la balance énergétique. Les rares études réalisées chez l’Homme concluent à une augmentation des concentrations plasmatiques des endocannabinoïdes, anandamide (AEA) et 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), chez les sujets obèses ou diabétiques de type 2. Cependant plusieurs questions restent posées et cette thèse s’est spécifiquement intéressée : i) à l’existence d’une cinétique prandiale et au rôle des endocannabinoïdes circulants par rapport à la prise alimentaire, ii) aux effets d’une perte de poids obtenue par court-circuit gastrique sur ces concentrations et iii) aux liens physiopathologiques entre insulinorésistance et SEC. Enfin, nous avons tenté de développer un outil non invasif pour faciliter l’étude du SEC chez l’Homme. Dans la 1ère étude, nous avons mis en évidence pour la première fois une augmentation préprandiale de l’AEA indépendante du poids. Ceci suggère que l’AEA plasmatique pourrait jouer un rôle dans l’initiation de la prise alimentaire chez l’Homme. De façon intéressante, la réduction post prandiale de l’AEA est émoussée chez les sujets obèses insulinorésistants, ce qui peut créer un cercle vicieux vis à vis de l’obésité. Dans la 2ème étude, des résultats préliminaires montrent qu’une même perte de poids obtenue par court-circuit gastrique ou par règles hygiéno-diététiques modifie différemment les concentrations plasmatiques d’AEA qui tendent à augmenter après court-circuit gastrique alors qu’elles ne sont pas modifiées après règles hygiéno-diététiques. Ainsi, le court-circuit gastrique pourrait directement affecter le fonctionnement du SEC localisé au niveau du tractus gastro-intestinal. Dans la 3ème étude, 72 heures de régime hypoglucidique permettent de diminuer significativement la glycémie à jeun et la résistance à l’insuline de 8 sujets diabétiques de type 2, mais pas les concentrations plasmatiques d’endocannabinoïdes, qui ne sont par ailleurs pas modifiées chez ces sujets en fonction du statut nutritionnel. Enfin, nous avons pu déterminer les concentrations des endocannabinoïdes dans la salive humaine, qui sont plus élevées chez les sujets obèses par rapport aux normopondéraux, avec une diminution de l’AEA salivaire associée à la perte de poids, mais sans variation en fonction de la prise alimentaire. La salive pourrait donc constituer un outil non invasif pour l’étude du SEC chez l’Homme.Ainsi, notre travail confirme les liens entre SEC et pathologies métaboliques chez l’Homme. Nos résultats suggèrent en particulier un rôle physiologique de l’AEA dans la prise alimentaire ainsi que l’importance potentielle du SEC du tractus gastro-intestinal. Nous confirmons la dérégulation statique et dynamique du SEC dans la situation de diabète de type 2. Enfin nous développons un nouvel outil pour l’exploration du SEC chez l’Homme. Nos résultats sont importants car la meilleure connaissance des systèmes impliqués dans la régulation de la balance énergétique est nécessaire pour le développement de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques efficaces contre l’obésité et ses pathologies associées. / The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a key system for the regulation of energy balance. Only few studies have been so far carried out in humans but they all lead to conclude that obese subjects have higher plasma fasting levels of the 2 major endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). However, many questions concerning the role of the ECS in the physiopathology of obesity in humans remain still unanswered. This thesis has therefore attempted to address some of these questions by investigating i) the changes of plasma endocannabinoids in response to food intake, ii) the effect of weight loss induced by gastric bypass or lifestyle intervention on these plasma levels and iii) the potential link between insulin resistance and circulating endocannabinoids. Lastly, we have also tested the possibility to develop a non-invasive tool to ease the investigation of the ECS in humans. In the 1st study, we have described for the first time the existence of a pre-prandial peak in plasma AEA, which is independent of body weight. This evidence suggests that circulating AEA levels might work as a meal initiator factor in humans. Importantly, the AEA postprandial decrease is blunted in obese insulin resistant subjects and might therefore favor the persistence of the obese phenotype. In our 2nd study, preliminary results suggest that the same body weight loss obtained through gastric-bypass or lifestyle intervention differently affects plasma AEA levels. In particular, while AEA tend to increase in subjects who have undergone gastric bypass, no changes are observed after a comparable weight loss induced by lifestyle intervention. Thus, a possibility is that the bypass might directly affect the function of the ECS localized within the gastrointestinal tract. In our 3rd study, which was carried out on 8 type 2 diabetic patients, we have shown that 72 hours of a low carbohydrate diet significantly decreases glycaemia and insulin resistance, without affecting the levels and the kinetic of circulating endocannabinoids. Lastly, we demonstrated that endocannabinoids are reliably measured in saliva. Salivary endocannabinoids are higher in obese as compared to normal weight subjects. Body weight loss significantly decreases salivary AEA, while the consumption of a meal does not influence salivary endocannabinoids levels. Altogether our studies confirm the association between ECS deregulation and metabolic disease in humans. In particular, we have demonstrated that plasma AEA might have a physiological role in the regulation of human feeding behavior, and have hinted the potential relevance of the gastro-intestinal ECS in our studies on gastric-bypass patients. We have also shown that in type 2 diabetes, there is a flattening of the kinetics of circulating endocannabinoids. Finally, we have shown that measurement of salivary endocannabinoids is reliable and might be of clinical value. These findings extend our knowledge on one of the systems majorly implicated in energy balance regulation. Such knowledge is a necessary step towards the development of novel therapeutic strategies needed to halt obesity and metabolic disease.

Orientador: Ismael Forte Freitas Júnior / Banca: Marjori Leiva Camparoto / Banca: Giovana Rampazzo Teixeira / Resumo: A obesidade é um problema de saúde pública mundial, caracterizada como uma doença crônica inflamatória e além de estar associada à diversas complicações, tem acometido cada vez mais crianças e adolescentes. A obesidade pode ser causada por fatores genéticos e comportamentais e, dentre os comportamentais, a ingestão alimentar inadequada e a pratica insuficiente de exercício físico são os mais comuns. Devido ao intenso desenvolvimento que ocorre durante a adolescência, os hábitos cotidianos podem ser influenciados, em especial, os hábitos alimentares. A amilase salivar é uma enzima que digere os carboidratos (CHO) em partículas menores ainda na cavidade oral e tem sido considerada um potente marcador biológico envolvido na ingestão alimentar devido sua ação sobre a percepção do gosto dos alimentos, as preferências alimentares e a resposta glicêmica e insulínica pós-prandial. Para tratar a obesidade, a orientação nutricional e a prática de exercício físico sistematizada é cada vez mais indicada e, dentre as modalidades de exercício, o intervalado de alta intensidade (high intensity interval training - HIIT) tem sido eficaz para reduzir gordura corporal. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar e correlacionar a ingestão alimentar, a concentração de amilase salivar e gordura corporal de adolescentes obesos submetidos a um programa de tratamento para obesidade. Adolescentes obesos (IMC= 33,82 ±6,23 Kg/m2; n= 21, 13,83 ±1,85 anos) de ambos os gêneros realizaram avali... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Obesity is a worldwide public health problem, characterized as a chronic inflammatory disease and in addition to being associated with several complications, has been affecting more and more children and adolescents. Obesity can be caused by genetic and behavioral factors and, among the behavioral ones, inadequate food intake and insufficient physical exercise are the most common. Due to the intense development that occurs during adolescence, daily habits can be influenced, especially, eating habits. Salivary amylase is an enzyme that digests carbohydrates (CHO) into smaller particles still in the oral cavity and has been considered a potent enzyme involved in food intake due to its action on the perception of food taste, food preferences and glycemic response, and Postprandial insulin. To address obesity, nutritional counseling and the practice of systematic exercise are increasingly indicated and, among the exercise modalities, high intensity interval training (HIIT) has been effective in reducing body fat. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze and correlate food intake, salivary amylase concentration and body fat of obese adolescents submitted to a treatment program. Obese adolescents (BMI= 33,82 ± 6,23 kg/m2, n= 21, 13,83± 1,85 years) of both genders performed body composition and sexual maturation, biochemical saliva and blood tests, questionnaires food intake and parental education level and maximum pre and post-program effort test. The treatment program consisted of 20 weeks of nutritional counseling and 16 weeks of HIIT... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Elisa Maria Aparecida Giro / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil proteômico e a proteólise da histatina 1 e da histatina 5 na saliva total estimulada de indivíduos com síndrome de Down (SD) e não-sindrômicos (NS) na presença e na ausência da doença periodontal (DP). Foram selecionados 24 indivíduos, os quais foram divididos em 4 grupos experimentais (n=6): SD com DP (SDcDP), SD sem DP (SDsDP), não sindrômicos com DP (NScDP) e não sindrômicos sem DP (NSsDP - controle). Inicialmente, os participantes passaram por exame clínico intra-bucal para avaliação da condição periodontal e determinação do índice CPO-D. Foi realizada a coleta da saliva estimulada até a obtenção de 3,0 mL. Parte da saliva foi utilizada para a análise microbiológica e parte foi centrifugada para obtenção do sobrenadante da saliva total (SST), aliquotada e armazenada em freezer -80ºC para as análises proteômica e de degradação. Os níveis salivares de Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans e Porphyromonas gingivalis foram quantificados pela Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real (qPCR). A análise espectrométrica foi realizada com os pools de saliva de cada um dos quatro grupos, os quais foram submetidos a nLC-ESI-MS/MS (Cromatografia Líquida por ionização electrospray Tandem Espectrometria de Massas). A degradação proteica foi realizada pela adição de histatina 1 e histatina 5 sintéticas ao SST diluído (1:10) e incubação à 37ºC pelos tempos 0, 0,5, 1,5, 4, 6, 8, 24 e 48 horas. Em seguida, foram realizadas as análises d... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the proteomic profile and histatins 1 and 5 proteolysis in stimulated whole saliva of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and non-syndromics (NS) in the presence and absence of periodontal disease (PD). Twenty-four individuals were selected and divided in the following groups (n=6): DS with PD (DSwPD), DS without PD (DSwtPD), NS with PD (NSwPD) and NS without PD (NSwtPD - control). First, periodontal condition and DMFT index were evaluated and 3.0 mL of stimulated whole saliva was collected. Then, part of whole saliva was used to microbiological analysis and the remaining samples were centrifuged in order to obtain the whole saliva supernatant (WSS), aliquoted and stored at -80ºC to proteomic and degradation assays. Levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Spectrophotometric analyses were carried out with saliva pools of each group by using nLC-ESI-MS/MS (Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry). Protein degradation assay was carried out with synthetic histatins 1 or 5 added to WSS (1:10) followed by samples incubation at 37°C for 0, 0.5, 1.5, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 hours. Next, polyacrylamide cationic gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis and measurement of bands density (%) were performed. Kruskal-Wallis test complemented by Dunn's test was applied to analyze clinical and microbiological data. Total protein and hi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Syfte: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att sammanställa evidens kring diabetes typ 1 och dess påverkan på barn och ungdomars orala hälsa. Metod: Studien var en allmän litteraturstudie. Inklusionskriterier var att de skulle ha publicerats mellan år 2008 till 2018, vara peer-reviewed granskade samt ha ett åldersspann på deltagare från 3  till 18 år. Efter en kvalitetsgranskning bedömdes 21 artiklar uppfylla kriterier till grund för studien. Artiklarna som användes har samtliga studerat diabetes typ 1 och dess påverkan på barn och ungdomars orala hälsa. Resultat: Resultatet påvisade att sjukdomen diabetes typ 1 har en påverkan på barn och ungdomars orala hälsa. Gingivit, karies, parodontit, oral candidos, plack samt tandsten är orala besvär som har visat sig ha en högre prevalens hos barn med diabetes i jämförelse med friska barn, enligt tidigare evidens. Resultatet i studierna varierade i en viss utsträckning beroende på olika utfallsmått och metoder. Slutsats: En sammanställning av studier visade ett samband mellan barn och ungdomar med diabetes typ 1 och en försämrad oral hälsa, där plack och gingivitförekomsten var som högst. Mer forskning generellt krävs kring hur diabetes typ 1 påverkar den orala hälsan hos barn och ungdomar, i syfte om att få en heltäckande bild. / Purpose: The purpose of the literature overview was to study evidence for type 1 diabetes impact on children and adolescents oral health. Method: The study was a general literature study. The inclusion criteria were that they should have been published between 2008 until 2018, peer-reviewed and have an age range of children up to 18 years. After a quality review, 21 articles were used in this study. The articles that was used, have all studied diabetes type 1 and its impact on children and adolescents oral health. Result: The result showed that the disease type 1 diabetes has an effect on the oral health of children and adolescents. Gingivitis, caries, periodontitis, oral candidos, plaque and calculus are oral disorders that has been shown having a higher prevalence in children with diabetes in comparison to healthy children. The results in the studies varied to a certain extent due to different outcome measures and methods. Conclusion: Previous studies have shown a relationship between children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their impaired oral health, where plaque and gingivitis were most prevalent. More research is generally required on how diabetes type 1 affects the oral health of children and adolescents in general.

Two studies were conducted to validate marshmallows as a saliva stimulant for use with toddlers. First, cortisol concentrations from 14 subjects (ages 6–46 years) were compared using three saliva collection methods: (1) plain cotton dental roll, (2) dental roll with one mini-marshmallow, and (3) expectorating into a collection tube using no cotton or stimulant. EIA was used for analyses. There were no significant differences among cortisol concentrations. Second, saliva collection compliance rate was compared for 21-month-olds (n = 51) using either flavored drink crystal- (compliance rate = 16.7%) or marshmallow-flavored (compliance rate = 60%) dental rolls for saliva collection (χ2 )1) = 4.02, p = .045). These studies indicate that marshmallow is a viable option for saliva stimulation to determine toddler cortisol concentrations using EIA.

Determina y evalúa la actividad inhibitoria del extracto etanólico al 1,07mg/ml de Stevia rebaudiana en etanol a 70° y la solución acuosa a 1mg/ml de xilitol sobre el crecimiento de los microorganismos presentes en flora mixta salival, in vitro. Para el desarrollo de la prueba se incubaron en aerobiosis a 37°C por 24 horas 0,2 ml de saliva recolectada por estimulación en 0,8 ml de cada solución preparada (Stevia rebaudiana, Xilitol, etanol de 70°, clorhexidina al 0,12% y Caldo BHI infusión cerebro corazón). Posteriormente, se realizó la siembra sobre superficie por diseminación con espátula de Digralsky en placa de Petri con Agar Tripticasa soya TSA de 0,1 ml de inóculo en dilución seriada 1:10 hasta alcanzar el factor de dilución 10-2 y se procedió a la incubación en aerobiosis a 37°C por 24 horas para luego realizar el recuento de unidades formadoras de colonias (UFC/ml). El análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa estadístico Stata versión libre 12.0., se calcularon medidas de tendencia central y dispersión, se aplicó la prueba de normalidad de Shapiro – Wilk para conocer la normalidad de los datos, y el Test de Kruskal – Wallis y post hoc “Test de Dunn” para la prueba de hipótesis. Se trabajó con un nivel de significancia del 5% (p < 0,05). Encuentra que el extracto etanólico al 1,07mg/ml de Stevia rebaudiana en etanol a 70°, la Clorhexidina al 0,12% y el etanol de 70° presentan 0 unidades formadoras de colonias. Y la solución acuosa a 1mg/ml de Xilitol presento un índice de crecimiento bacteriano de 816 x 10-4 ± 657,91 UFC/ml, con una diferencia altamente significativa con respecto al extracto etanólico al 1,07mg/ml de Stevia rebaudiana en etanol a 70°, clorhexidina al 0,12% y etanol de 70°, siendo el segundo con mayor crecimiento bacteriano después del caldo BHI infusión cerebro corazón. Concluye que el extracto etanólico al 1,07mg/ml de Stevia rebaudiana en etanol a 70° posee actividad inhibitoria sobre el crecimiento de los microorganismos presentes en flora mixta salival, mientras que la solución acuosa a 1mg/ml de Xilitol disminuye el crecimiento bacteriano, pero no de manera significativa. / Tesis

It is well established that biofilm formed on tooth surfaces is the major culprit for caries and periodontal disease development. The critical early event of biofilm formation is the specific interaction of microorganisms with the acquired enamel pellicle. This pellicle is formed from adsorbing proteins from saliva, and perhaps also from gingival crevicular fluid. The purpose of this project was two fold: first, to investigate the extent of serum protein adsorption in a salivary protein environment, and second, to investigate the colonization of salivary pellicles by early microbial colonizers. Hydroxyapatite (HA) was incubated with saliva and serum and adsorbing proteins were identified by LC-ESI-MS/MS. To investigate competition among salivary and serum proteins for adsorption to HA proteins were labeled with specific CyDyes, mixed in various ratios and incubated with HA. The early phase of oral biofilm formation in vivo was studied on teeth exposed to the oral environment. The harvested biofilm samples were analyzed with the Human Oral Microbiome Identification Microarray containing 407 different microbial probes. In the pure saliva- and serum-derived pellicles eighty-two and eighty-four proteins were identified. Concomitant presence of salivary and serum proteins showed that salivary protein adsorbers effectively competed with serum proteins adsorbers for the HA surface. Specifically acidic proline-rich protein, cystatin, statherin and amylase proteins in saliva competed off apolipoprotein, C-reactive protein, peroxiredoxin-1 and albumin. In vivo evidence supported the replacement of serum proteins by salivary proteins. The studies with oral biofilm formed in vivo led to the identification of 92 species with streptococci being the most abundant early colonizers. High frequency detection was furthermore made with Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Gemella haemolysans, Slackia exigua and Rothia species. Eight uncultivated phylotypes were detected. While there is a significant amount of serum protein emanating from the gingival sulcus, their ability to participate in dental pellicle formation is likely reduced in the presence of strong salivary protein adsorbers. Furthermore, the early pellicle colonizers exhibit considerable bacterial diversity and include non-cultivable species. These findings will be helpful in designing target-specific approaches for the prevention of and/or intervention in diseases exhibiting an oral-biofilm-based etiology.

Submitted by William Justo Figueiro (williamjf) on 2015-06-17T20:39:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 28.pdf: 565889 bytes, checksum: 692a178a5e90d0450796ed3ddc637d61 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-17T20:39:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 28.pdf: 565889 bytes, checksum: 692a178a5e90d0450796ed3ddc637d61 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Nenhuma / A xerostomia, conhecida como boca seca, pode ser uma consequência ou não do declínio ou interrupção da função das glândulas salivares com redução do fluxo salivar. A xerostomia possui variada etiologia e múltiplas consequências podendo comprometer o estado nutricional e a saúde do indivíduo e, poucas são as opções hoje existentes no mercado para amenizar seus sintomas. A proposta deste estudo foi desenvolver uma bala de goma mastigável acrescida de substâncias com potencial sialogogo em quantidades permitidas pela Legislação Brasileira. Foram desenvolvidas três balas nos sabores tangerina, morango e menta, as quais foram submetidas a análises microbiológicas, físico-químicas e sensoriais. Os resultados da análise sensorial foram obtidos através da aplicação do Teste de Aceitação com escala hedônica de nove pontos, variando de desgostei muitíssimo até gostei muitíssimo, cujos atributos considerados foram aparência, sabor, textura e aroma. Os resultados mostraram por meio da análise microbiológica que as balas estavam aptas para o consumo. Quanto às análises físico-químicas, a bala em estudo apresentou 308 kcal/100g sendo 75,90 % provenientes de carboidratos, 23,69 % provenientes de proteínas e 0,41 % provenientes de lipídeos. Com relação à análise sensorial, não houve diferença quanto aos atributos aparência e textura. Quanto ao atributo aroma, a bala de sabor morango diferiu estatisticamente entre as demais balas e em relação ao atributo sabor todas as balas foram diferentes, sendo a de sabor morango a de melhor aceitação pelo painel. O desenvolvimento de uma bala como um produto inovador que atenda às necessidades de pacientes com xerostomia pode ser uma alternativa na contribuição da melhoria na qualidade de vida, pois além do potencial sialogogo, a bala pode ser saborosa e um interessante veículo de nutrientes essenciais à saúde humana. / Xerostomia, known as dry mouth, may be a consequence, or not, of the decline or interruption of salivary gland function with reduced salivary flow. Xerostomia has a varied etiology and multiple consequences which may compromise the nutritional status and health of the individual, and there are few options in the market to minimize its symptoms. The purpose of this study was the development of a jelly candy with addition of sialogogue substances with amounts in accordance to the Brazilian law. Three jelly candies were developed in tangerine, strawberry and mint flavors, and they were submitted to physicochemical, microbiological and sensory analysis. The results of sensory analysis were obtained by applying the Acceptance Test with a nine-point hedonic scale ranging from dislike extremely to like extremely, whose considered attributes were appearance, flavor, texture and aroma. The microbiological analysis results showed the jelly candies were suitable for the consumption. Regarding the physicochemical analysis, the jelly candies presented 308 kcal/100g, being 75.90% from carbohydrates, 23.69% from proteins and 0.41% from lipids. In the sensory analysis, there was no difference in the appearance and texture attributes. As to aroma attribute, the strawberry jelly candy differed from the others and as flavor attribute, all of them were different, being the strawberry jelly candy the best accepted. The development of a jelly candy as an innovative product that answers the needs of patients with xerostomia may be an alternative to improve the quality of life, because besides the sialogogue effect, the jelly candy can be a tasty vehicle for essential nutrients to the human health.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:29:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 412615.pdf: 4933199 bytes, checksum: 35eff7948e1f5baae8ca1ae5f63d60c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-10-17 / A S?ndrome da Ard?ncia Bucal (SAB) caracteriza-se por sintomas de queima??o, ard?ncia, dor ou prurido na mucosa bucal, que n?o s?o acompanhados por altera??es cl?nicas. Embora haja evid?ncias para uma origem neurop?tica, outros fatores parecem estar envolvidos na etiologia da SAB, como a associa??o de transtornos psicol?gicos e altera??es hormonais. Com o objetivo de identificar fatores de risco para a s?ndrome, neste estudo foram analisadas as concentra??es salivares de desidroepiandrosterona (DHEA), a velocidade do fluxo salivar (VFS) e os escores de depress?o e desesperan?a de pacientes com essa doen?a. Foram selecionadas 30 pacientes do sexo feminino portadoras de SAB, com idade variando entre 42 a 81 anos, e 30 pacientes-controle do mesmo sexo e faixa et?ria, que n?o apresentassem les?es bucais nem utilizassem f?rmacos ansiol?ticos, antidepressivos ou corticoster?ides. Ap?s anamnese e exame f?sico, a VFS foi determinada em repouso e sob estimula??o e os sintomas de depress?o e de desesperan?a foram investigados pelos instrumentos The Beck Depression Inventory e The Beck Hopelessness Scale, respectivamente. Amostras de saliva foram coletadas pela manh? e ? noite para an?lise da DHEA pela t?cnica de radioimunoensaio. O grupocaso exibiu sintomas de disgeusia e de xerostomia numa freq??ncia significativamente superior ao controle (p=0,045 e p=0,003, respectivamente). A velocidade do fluxo salivar das pacientes com SAB foi inferior ? do grupo-controle, tanto em repouso, quanto sob estimula??o (p<0,001 e p=0,007, respectivamente). N?o houve diferen?a significativa entre os grupos quanto aos escores de desesperan?a (p=0,597) ou de depress?o (p=0,416). O grupo-caso obteve concentra??es salivares de DHEA significativamente inferiores ao controle nas amostras matinais (p=0,003), entretanto, nas amostras coletadas ? noite, n?o houve diferen?a entre os grupos (p=0,620). N?o foi observada correla??o entre as concentra??es salivares de DHEA e os escores de depress?o e de desesperan?a nas pacientes com SAB. A an?lise multivariada de regress?o log?stica demonstrou que a velocidade do fluxo salivar em repouso e as concentra??es salivares matinais de DHEA foram fatores associados ? SAB. Os resultados do presente estudo permitem concluir que: (1) pacientes com SAB exibem concentra??es salivares matinais de DHEA e VFS inferiores ?s de pacientes sem a doen?a; (2) os sintomas de depress?o e desesperan?a n?o diferem entre indiv?duos com a s?ndrome e os controle; (3) n?o h? correla??o entre as concentra??es salivares de DHEA e os escores de depress?o e desesperan?a em indiv?duos com a S?ndrome da Ard?ncia Bucal. Sendo este o primeiro estudo a investigar as concentra??es salivares de DHEA em pacientes com SAB, sugerem-se outras pesquisas para esclarecer esta associa??o e suas conseq??ncias.