COTININE SALIVA CONCENTRATION AND QUALI-QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SALIVA SAMPLES FROM VAPE USERS

• Grant number: 22/16249-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Janete Dias Almeida
• Grantee: Kethilyn Chris Sousa Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems has increased over the years, especially among the young population. The presence of cytotoxic and carcinogenic substances in the composition of its flavorings has shown harmful effects on the lungs and also on the oral mucosa, including the reduction of salivary functions. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the possible salivary alterations related to the use of electronic cigarettes, also called vape. For this purpose, two groups will be composed: Vape Group (GV), composed of 25 regular and exclusive vape users, and Control Group (CG), composed of 25 non-smokers and non-vape vapers, matched in sex and age to the GV. Clinical examination will be performed for all the participants. Unstimulated saliva will be collected for 5 minutes so that the sialometric pattern is established. The saliva will be aliquoted and submitted to the following analyses: salivary viscosity, pH, buffer capacity and salivary cotinine concentration. The quantification of cotinine will be performed by means of the enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) using the Cotinine Enzyme Immunoassay Kit (Salimetrics). The data will receive statistical treatment according to Student's t test (if parametric) or Mann-Whitney test (if not parametric). Associations between variables and clinical data will be explored using Spearman's correlation coefficient. For all analyses, a significance level of 5% will be adopted.