Translational Oral Science Implications for Systemic Clinical Research

Abstract

Modern contemporary oral science brings forward timely and critical contributions to translational science, the convergence of translational research and translational effectiveness. Incontrovertible evidence has established oral fluids biomarkers as reliable and replicable materials for assessing, for example, cortisol levels following challenges of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, such as is the case of experimental stress challenges (e.g., Trier stress test), for monitoring cortisol resistance in certain patient populations, as well as for assessing cytokine levels as markers of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) activation, because HPA and CMI activation usually cross-regulate and interact. Equally as important in our global warming environment and consequential advancing tropical diseases, oral science critically informs translational research in patients afflicted with Zika, Dengue and related viruses.