Fear and anxiety were evaluated through physiological changes according to changes in heart rate [24 (link)] and salivary cortisol level [23 ,25 (link)]. Heart rate measurement was performed 10 min before and 10 min after the anesthetic procedure. Heart rate measurement was performed using a digital oximeter positioned on the left index finger.
Salivary cortisol levels were also measured 10 min before and 10 min after the anesthetic procedure. The collection was performed with a cotton roll positioned sublingually; approximately 1 mL of saliva was achieved. The free cortisol levels in saliva were determined in duplicates using a high-sensitivity salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Salimetrics, LLC, State College, PA, USA). The samples from each subject were assayed in the same batch.
Salivary cortisol levels were also measured 10 min before and 10 min after the anesthetic procedure. The collection was performed with a cotton roll positioned sublingually; approximately 1 mL of saliva was achieved. The free cortisol levels in saliva were determined in duplicates using a high-sensitivity salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Salimetrics, LLC, State College, PA, USA). The samples from each subject were assayed in the same batch.
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