Recent advances in mass spectrometric proteomics provide a promising result in utilizing saliva to explore biomarkers for diagnostic purposes, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry.
DrBicuspid reports on a review of peer-reviewed articles published through July 2009 to define and summarize disease-related salivary biomarkers identified by mass spectrometry proteomics.
Of the 243 articles that met the researchers' criteria, they selected 21 studies and identified 180 biomarkers for many conditions, including Sjögren's syndrome, squamous cell carcinoma, dental caries, diabetes, breast cancer, periodontitis, gastric cancer, systemic sclerosis, oral lichen planus, bleeding oral cavity and graft-versus-host disease.
Future studies will have larger sample sizes and standard collection protocols, the authors say.
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