High levels of CORTISOL are associated with negative affective states such as anxiety (1) and depression (2). Conversely, low CORTISOL levels have been related to positive psychological states (3). Furthermore, it has been reported that fit individuals demonstrate attenuated CORTISOL responses to acute exercise (4), although the SALIVARY CORTISOL response to sustained exercise has not been examined. Following approval of the study procedure by the University’s Human Ethics Committee, nine healthy male (mean±s, age 23.9±3.1 years; height 1.79±0.7 m; mass 73.5±6.3 kg; body fat 12.7±1.7%, HR rest 58±9 beat.min-1 and VO2 max 56.9±4 ml.kg-1.min-1) volunteered to participate in the study. The acute exercise condition was a continuous exercise over 90 minutes on a motorized treadmill. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected over a 5-min period into pre-weighted tubes during the week prior to commencement of exercise, before exercise and on repeated occasions up to 48 hours after the exercise trial. Samples were analysed for CORTISOL and osmolality, and CORTISOL to osmolality ratio was calculated. SALIVARY CORTISOL was used to measure activation of the pituitary-adrenal cortical system. The DRG SALIVARY CORTISOL ELISA kit (DRG Diagnostics, Germany) was used for the quantitative measurement of CORTISOL in saliva samples. Data were analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements. There was a main effect of time (F3, 24=13.9, P= 0.01) on body mass (73.5±6.2 vs. 72.4±5.8). Mean heart rate and perceived exertion during the continuous exercise were 142±15 and 10.6±1.1 respectively. The pattern of change in SALIVARY response, including SALIVARY volume, flow rate, CORTISOL concentration, CORTISOL secretion rate and CORTISOL to osmolality ratio did not differ between overall time points (P> 0.05). A main effect of time on SALIVARY osmolality was also evident (F6, 48=5.36, P< 0.05). It is concluded the SALIVARY CORTISOL is relatively stable during prolonged exercise.    

Background and Aim: Periodontal diseases are the most prevalent diseases of the oral cavity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between the SALIVARY CORTISOL levels with moderate to severe periodontitis in patients referring to Oral Medicine Department of Dental Branch of Islamic Azad University of Tehran.Materials and Methods: This study was case control. Thirty patients with moderate to severe periodontitis were selected as case group and 30 patients were selected as control group. They answered hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD scale) stress questionnaire. Periodontal indices such as plaque index and pocket probing depth and clinical attachment loss were assessed. Each subject provided a saliva sample of 1ml and the CORTISOL level was assessed by ELISA method. Both groups were matched regarding confounding variables (age, sex and smoking). Data were analyzed using chi-squared test and using Odds Ratio. Correlation between HAD scale results and SALIVARY CORTISOL level was assessed using Pearson correlation test.Results: The mean age of case group was 41.77±7.92 and the mean age of control group was 40.73±7.94. Cut off point of SALIVARY CORTISOL level was determined as 5.7 ng/ml by ROC curve method. There were 17 patients (56.7%) in case group and 4 in control group (13.3%) who exhibited SALIVARY CORTISOL level over 5.7 ng/ml (p<0.0005). The mean of HAD scale was 14.07±6.10 in case group and 11.27±4.24 in control group.Conclusion: The results indicate that there is a significant positive association between elevated SALIVARY CORTISOL levels and moderate to severe periodontitis. This finding justifies further cohort studies or clinical trials.