title: Estimation of levels of salivary mucin, amylase and total protein in gingivitis and chronic periodontitis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontal diseases are a group of inflammatory conditions resulting from interaction between a pathogenic bacterial biofilm and susceptible host's inflammatory response eventually leading to the destruction of periodontal structures and subsequent tooth loss. Hence, investigation of salivary proteins in individuals with periodontal diseases may be useful to enhance the knowledge of their roles in these diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was conducted at A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. The study comprised of 90 patients of age between 25-60 years who were clinically examined and divided into three groups of 30 each: namely clinically healthy, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. These were classified according to the values of gingival index score, clinical attachment loss and probing pocket depth. Unstimulated saliva was collected and salivary mucin, amylase and total protein levels were determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  RESULTS obtained were tabulated and statistically analyzed using ANOVA test and Karl pearson's correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the study showed an increased concentration of salivary mucin, amylase and total protein in gingivitis patients and increased levels of amylase and total protein in saliva of chronic periodontitis patients compared to healthy individuals which were statistically significant. A decrease in mucin concentration was observed in the periodontitis group compared to gingivitis group. A positive correlation was present between salivary mucin, amylase and total protein levels in the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary mucin, amylase and total protein may serve as an important biochemical parameter of inflammation of the periodontium. Also, it can be hypothesized that various enzyme inhibitors might be useful as a part of host modulation therapy in the treatment of periodontal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Periodontics, A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kejriwal
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhandary
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Periodontics, A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Biju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, K.S.Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Suchetha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumari
keywords: Enzyme; Glycoprotein; Host modulation; Saliva