title: Amylase and peroxidase activities and sialic acid concentration in saliva of adolescents with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the flow rate, amylase and peroxidase activities, and total protein and sialic acid concentrations in saliva of adolescents with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The saliva of 24 adolescents with cerebral palsy was compared with that of 18 adolescents without cerebral palsy, all aged around 12 years, 2 months. The whole saliva was collected under slight suction and frozen at -80 degrees C. Flow rate, amylase and peroxidase activities, and total protein and sialic acid concentrations were analyzed by standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flow rate was low in the cerebral palsy group. The cerebral palsy group demonstrated low amylase and peroxidase activities. Boys and girls from the cerebral palsy group demonstrated higher total protein concentration than the boys and girls from the control group. Sialic acid, free and total, concentration was higher in the cerebral palsy group than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that adolescents with cerebral palsy present alterations in the salivary parameters studied that can increase the risk of oral disease in this population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, School of Dentistry, University Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil. drsantosmt@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Botti
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Santos
authors.forename: Walter Luiz
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicolau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000201:enzymology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D009195:Peroxidase; D000681:Amylases; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid