Hi everyone,
Woke up this morning to cloudy, but mild day in the Toronto area (14 degrees C). I browsed the morning Toronto Star (online) and low and behold, a fantastic article on saliva and its usefulness in disease diagnostics. Here's a snippet:
There may be plenty of things that aren't worth spit. But saliva is certainly not one of them, according to new research that pegs it as a potential gold mine for the bloodless diagnosis of dozens of ailments.
Scientists have uncovered the molecular "alphabets" of saliva's key protein and genetic components – work that will soon allow the early detection of diseases ranging from lung cancer to osteoporosis through the simple act of spitting into a vial, according to a study being presented today.
"Using these alphabets we can corner every human disease," says Dr. David Wong, associate dean of research at California's UCLA School of Dentistry. "The perception of saliva has now changed from a negative connotation to a positive medical fluid."
Read the rest of the article here: Saliva a new tool in disease detection
Source: Toronto Star Online Edition, March 22/07 http://www.thestar.com/News/article/194798
Quite an interesting article.
Take care
Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100
