Flow Rate Of Whole Saliva Research Articles

Whole Salivary Cotinine Levels and Interleukin 1-β Levels among Young Adults Involuntarily Exposed to Vapor from Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems.

To the assess whole salivary cotinine and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels among individuals involuntarily exposed to vapor from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) (test group) and unexposed individuals (control group). Demographic data and information related to ENDS vapor exposure were collected using a questionnaire. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected, unstimulated whole-saliva flow rate (UWSFR) was calculated, and cotinine and IL-1β levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sample-size estimation and statistical analysis were performed. Regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between whole salivary cotinine and IL-1β levels. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Forty-eight individuals (24 and 24 in test and control groups, respectively) were included. Mean ages of individuals in the test and control groups were comparable. In the test group, the mean duration for which the individuals inhaled vapor from ENDS in each session was 22.3 ± 9.5 min and they were exposed to ENDS vapor 12.2 ± 2.4 times daily. There was no difference in the UWSFR between patients in the test (0.21 ± 0.02 ml/min) and control (0.22 ± 0.04 ml/min) groups. Whole salivary cotinine (p < 0.001) and IL-1β (p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in the test than control group. Young adults involuntarily exposed to vapor from ENDS express elevated whole salivary cotinine and IL-1β levels. Long-term exposure to ENDS vapor may potentially predispose vulnerable populations to oral and systemic inflammatory diseases.

Minor salivary glands function is decreased in hyposalivation-related diseases

ObjectivesThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between minor salivary gland (MSG) flow rates and oral dryness degrees in patients with xerostomia induced by primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), IgG4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS), radiation therapy-induced dry mouth (RTDM), or Steven–Johnson syndrome (SJS). Design160 patients with pSS, IgG4-RS, RTDM, or SJS and their age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. The whole saliva flow rates and MSG flow rates were measured in four locations, including the upper labial, lower labial, buccal, and palatal mucosae. The degree of oral dryness was assessed in patient groups using the summated xerostomia inventory (SXI). ResultsThe flow rates of whole saliva and most MSGs in patient groups were significantly lower than the flow rates in healthy control groups (P<0.05). The mean relative percentage of decrease in saliva flow rates was smaller in MSGs than in whole saliva in patient groups (P<0.05), indicating that these disorders have less impact on MSGs. Among the four MSG locations (the upper labial, lower labial, buccal, and palatal), buccal glands showed the highest flow rates in patient groups (P<0.05). SXI scores were significantly higher in pSS and RTDM patients than in IgG4-RS and SJS patients (P<0.05). The degree of xerostomia varied among different patient groups (P<0.05) and there was no clear correlation between MSG flow rates and SXI scores (P>0.05). ConclusionsMSG function is significantly reduced in pSS, RTDM, IgG4-RS, and SJS patients, but this reduction is more pronounced in the major salivary glands.

Microbiota in the Oral Subgingival Biofilm Is Associated With Obesity in Adolescence

To test the hypothesis whether microbiota in oral biofilm is linked with obesity in adolescents we designed this cross-sectional study. Obese adolescents (n = 29) with a mean age of 14.7 years and normal weight subjects (n = 58) matched by age and gender were examined with respect to visible plaque index (VPI%) and gingival inflammation (bleeding on probing (BOP%)). Stimulated saliva was collected. They answered a questionnaire concerning medical history, medication, oral hygiene habits, smoking habits, and sociodemographic background. Microbiological samples taken from the gingival crevice was analyzed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique. The sum of bacterial cells in subgingival biofilm was significantly associated with obesity (P < 0.001). The link between sum of bacterial cells and obesity was not confounded by any of the studied variables (chronic disease, medication, VPI%, BOP%, flow rate of whole saliva, or meal frequency). Totally 23 bacterial species were present in approximately threefold higher amounts, on average, in obese subjects compared with normal weight controls. Of the Proteobacteria phylum, Campylobacter rectus and Neisseria mucosa were present in sixfold higher amounts among obese subjects. The association between obesity and sum of bacterial cells in oral subgingival biofilm indicates a possible link between oral microbiota and obesity in adolescents.

Association Between Obesity, Flow Rate of Whole Saliva, and Dental Caries in Adolescents

In a cross-sectional study design, we test the hypothesis whether childhood obesity is associated with reduced flow rate of stimulated whole saliva and dental caries. Obese adolescents (n = 65) with a mean age of 14.5 years and normal weight subjects (n = 65) with a mean age of 14.2 years were clinically examined with respect to dental caries, visible plaque accumulation (visible plaque index (VPI%)), gingival inflammation in terms of bleeding on probing (BOP%) as well as answered a questionnaire concerning medical history, medication, oral hygiene habits, smoking habits, and sociodemographic background. The flow rate of stimulated whole saliva (ml/min) was determined. BMI was calculated and adjusted for age and gender (BMI-sds). The obese subjects exhibited higher number of decayed surfaces (DS), 0.7 vs. 0.1 (P = 0.008) and lower flow rate of stimulated whole saliva 1.2 vs. 2.0 ml/min (P < 0.001). Of obese patients, 17 subjects had VPI% >25 and 21 had BOP% >25, both compared to only 5 subjects of the normal weight with P values of 0.005 and <0.001, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression model BMI-sds was significantly associated with the flow rate of stimulated whole saliva less than the median value 1.5 ml/min (P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR) 1.36) as well as with DS (DS >0) (P = 0.002; OR 1.31) and the associations were not found to be confounded by any of the studied variables. The results indicate that childhood obesity is associated with reduced flow rate of stimulated whole saliva and dental caries and further strengthens obesity's negative effect on children's oral health.

Small salivary gland size in patients with xerostomia of unknown etiology

Objective We have recently reported that flow rates of whole saliva in young healthy humans correlate positively with salivary gland sizes. The low rate of salivary secretion in xerostomia patients may be related to the small size of the salivary glands. To investigate this possibility, relationships between salivary secretions and salivary gland sizes were investigated in unknown-etiology xerostomia patients and healthy controls. Design The sizes of the three major salivary glands in seven xerostomia patients and seven age- and gender-matched healthy controls who have no previous disease history and prescription medication related to xerostomia, were measured by use of a magnetic resonance imaging technique. The salivary glands of all subjects failed to show any pathological aspects in magnetic resonance images. The flow rates of unstimulated and chewing-stimulated whole saliva were also measured. Results Flow rates of unstimulated and chewing-stimulated whole saliva and the sizes of the parotid and submandibular glands were significantly lower and smaller in xerostomia patients of unknown etiology when compared with healthy controls. In addition, salivary flow rates per size of the combined three major salivary glands were also significantly lower in the xerostomia patients of unknown etiology. Conclusions The smaller salivary gland size in xerostomia patients of unknown etiology may be one of the causes of the reduced salivary secretion. The secretion rates as a function of gland sizes were also lower, and so it is likely that functional impairments of the salivary gland are also present in patients with xerostomia of unknown etiology.

Evaluation of palatal saliva flow rate and oral manifestations in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

The purpose of this study was to describe the oral properties of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), including the determination of palatal saliva (PS) flow rate. Forty-nine SS patients and 43 healthy controls participated. Subjective symptoms were recorded and clinical assessments of the oral mucosal, dental and periodontal status were made. Unstimulated whole saliva (WS) and PS flow rates, the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMF-T number), the gingival bleeding index (GBI) and the periodontal probing depth (PPD) were determined. Despite the decrease in the flow rate of WS in SS patients, PS was not different from those of the controls (1.57 +/- 1.02 and 1.35 +/- 2.5 microl cm(-2) min(-1), respectively). GBI (20.0% vs. 10.5%, respectively), DMF-T (27.1 +/- 6.12 vs. 23.0 +/- 6.99, respectively) and PPD (2.28 +/- 1.09 mm vs. 1.82 +/- 0.73 mm, respectively) were higher in SS compared with the controls (P < 0.05). DMF-T and PPD showed a positive correlation with anti-SSA and/or anti-SSB antibody positivity in the serum (P < 0.05). Data of the present study suggest that the subjective feeling of xerostomia in SS patients is the result of a decrease in the volume of the whole saliva, and not of the viscous PS. Correlation of DMF-T and PPD with autoantibody positivity reveals that the oral health status of SS patients may be associated with the general autoimmune process.

Individual difference in the number of chewing strokes and its determinant factors

This study was carried out to clarify the distribution and individual variation of the number of chewing strokes before last swallowing (NCS), as well as to assess the factors that affect NCS, when dentulous adults masticate the same type of food. NCS was measured in 75 dentulous adults using gummy candies. Measurements were repeated five times to obtain the average and variation. Moreover, the correlation of NCS with various physiological factors (lateral width and vertical distance of chewing loop, angle of opening and closing path, opening and closing time, occlusal time, masticatory performance, number of occlusal contact points, occlusal contact area, occlusal force, flow rate of whole saliva and viscosity of whole saliva) and 28 personality factors were analysed by both of the single variate analysis and the multivariate analysis. The results showed that the average NCS was 41.0 +/- 16.0, and the coefficient of variation was 0.090 +/- 0.040. Additionally, the correlation between NCS and each factor was investigated, and found that any of these factors did not function as a single determinant for NCS. Following, determinant factors were further examined by the stepwise method of linear multiple regression analysis. From these analysis we found that when opening and closing time and four personality factors were combined, they were significantly involved in determining NCS (P < 0.01). Therefore, we conclude that individual NCS until last swallowing is not determined by a sole, specific physiological factor but is affected by multiple factors including personality.

Effects of Sucking Acidic Candy on Whole-Mouth Saliva Composition

Limited information is available on the effects of sucking acidic candies on saliva composition and the protective role of saliva in this relation. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine salivary effects of sucking acidic candies in vivo in relation to individual variations in whole-saliva flow rate (WSFR) and buffer capacity (WSβ). Ten healthy young males (24 ± 2 years) sucked a rhubarb-flavoured acidic hard-boiled candy with tartaric acid available on the Danish market. The whole saliva was collected into a closed system, regarding CO₂, at different times as follows: firstly, unstimulated saliva for 5 min (baseline), secondly stimulated saliva for 4 min upon sucking the candy, and finally post-stimulated saliva for 10 min. Saliva pH was determined on a blood gas analyser and WSβ was estimated from the saliva bicarbonate concentration obtained by the analyser and by ionic balance calculation. The erosive potential of the candy in saliva was estimated from the saliva pH values and degree of saturation with respect to hydroxyapatite (DS_HAp). The results showed that saliva pH dropped from 6.5 (baseline) down to 4.5 at the fourth minute of sucking the candy, and returned to pH 6.5 five minutes after stimulation (post-stimulated). DS_HAp decreased upon sucking the candy and saliva from all subjects became undersaturated with respect to HAp. Significant positive correlations were obtained between pH and WSFR (r_s = 0.47; p < 0.05) and between pH and WSβ (r_s = 0.65; p < 0.01). In relation to WSβ we found that 70% of the buffer capacity originating from the bicarbonate buffer system upon sucking the candy was exerted as phase buffering. We conclude that sucking this type of acidic candies changes whole-mouth saliva composition so that it may have erosive potential and that high WSFR and WSβ have protective effects against these salivary changes.

Preferences and saliva stimulation of eight different chewing gums

Chewing gums have been studied for clinical use to stimulate the salivary flow rate in healthy and diseased individuals. However, differences in preferences of chewing gums may influence patient compliance during long-term use. Therefore, we compared the effect of several chewing gums on the flow rate of whole saliva and pH, and investigated the preferences of these gums. 83 healthy subjects participated in the first part of the study. Both parafilm-stimulated and chewing gum-stimulated whole saliva from 8 different chewing gums was collected and salivary flow rate and pH were determined. In another group of 112 healthy subjects, we investigated the preferences for the chewing gums with a 10-item questionnaire. All gums had comparable effects on salivary flow rate and pH. The average increase in flow rate was 187% during the first minute of chewing compared with parafilm stimulation. After 10 minutes of gum chewing, the amount of saliva was equal to parafilm stimulation. The questionnaire showed differences in preferences for the chewing gums, which were related to taste and gum shape. Gender interactions were observed for sparkling taste (p = 0.019), total judgement (p = 0.047) and the willingness to use the gum for several weeks (p = 0.037). Although all chewing gums stimulated the salivary flow rate equally, the observed differences in preferences may influence long-term compliance. Therefore, we recommend that chewing gums are tested before the start of clinical studies, to identify the most accepted chewing gum for specific groups of patients.

Correlation between salivary flow rates and masticatory performance

The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of saliva flow on chewing efficiency by means of measurements of salivary flow rates as well as of parameters of masticatory performance. For this reason, 26 patients (13 xerostomic and 13 controls) with similar individual characteristics (14 females aged 41·3 ± 12·2 years; 12 males aged 38·0 ± 10·9 years) without CMD were encouraged to chew different foods (jelly bears, peanuts and rusk). Resting and stimulated flow rates of whole saliva (WHL) were ascertained after the method of Dawes (1987); resting and stimulated flow rates of palatal saliva (PAL) were determined with the help of the method of Niedermeier and Huber (1989); time of mastication (TM) as well as the number (NC) and duration (DC) of chewing cycles and time for swallowing (TS) were assessed using video recording. The mean resting WHL was 0·12 ± 0·05 mL min−1; the mean stimulated WHL was 0·24 ± 0·09 mL min−1; the mean resting PAL was 8·29 ± 7·88 µL cm−2 min−1 and the mean stimulated PAL was 8·96 ± 8·34 μL cm−2 min−1. Statistical analysis (Pearson method) revealed a strong correlation between resting or stimulated PAL and TM (R=0·808 or 0·834 for rubber bears; R=0·877 or 0·900 for peanuts; R=0·840 or 0·882 for rusk), DC (R=0·763 or 0·785 for rubber bears; R=0·836 or 0·867 for peanuts; R=0·749 or 0·779 for rusk) and TS (R=0·877 or 0·902 for rubber bears; R=0·860 or 0·918 for peanuts; R=0·822 or 0·864 for rusk). Only for rusk, resting and stimulated PAL correlated fairly with NC (R=0·697 and 0·736). No sufficient correlation was found between resting or stimulated WHL and parameters of mastication. The results clearly demonstrate that mucous saliva flow rates significantly bias measurements of masticatory performance.

Assessment of whole saliva flow rate in denture wearing patients.

It has been suggested that salivary flow rate decreases with age. As is known, the presence of a thin salivary film layer is essential for the comfort of the mucosa beneath a denture base and for denture retention. The purpose of this study was to determine the flow rates, viscosity and the pH of resting and stimulated whole saliva before and after prosthetic treatment in complete denture wearing patients. Saliva was collected under clinical conditions between 08.00 and 10.00 hours. The flow rates of whole saliva were measured at three stages: (i) resting and stimulated saliva before prosthetic treatment; (ii) immediately after the first wearing of the complete denture; and (iii) resting and stimulated saliva after 2 or 3 months of wearing the complete denture. Saliva production was stimulated by chewing paraffin wax. Flow rate was calculated as collected volume/collection time. It was found that there was a significant difference between resting and stimulated whole salivary flow rates before and after complete denture wearing.

The effect on human salivary flow rate of the temperature of a gustatory stimulus

In the first study, whole saliva was collected from ten adults during stimulation with sour, carbonated, sweet and water stimuli in the form of 5-ml of ice at about −10°C or of liquids at 0, 8, 20 or 37°C. Parotid saliva was also collected in response to ice or infusion into the mouth of the liquids at different temperatures. Another group of ten adults also collected whole saliva in response to water at 20°C, with or without the presence in the mouth of an acrylic cube of dimensions similar to those of the ice. In a second study, 20 adults collected whole saliva in response to stimulation with 5 ml of water and of an astringent stimulus at 0, 8, 37 and 70°C. In the first study, flow rates fell in the order sour, carbonated, sweet and water and flow rates in response to stimuli in the form of ice were very significantly higher than in response to the corresponding liquids at the four different temperatures. With the sour stimulus, liquids at 0 and 8°C elicited higher flow rates than liquids at 20 or 37°C. Although the presence in the mouth of the acrylic block increased the flow rate of whole saliva, the increase was only about 30% of that achieved with ice. In the second study, the astringent stimulus was a more effective salivary stimulus than water; flow rates were significantly higher in response to liquids at 0 and 8°C than at the higher temperatures and flow rates in response to liquids at 37°C were significantly lower than with the other temperatures. In summary, stimuli in the form of ice were the most effective and liquids at 37°C were least effective in stimulating salivary flow.

Pilocarpine hydrochloride relieves xerostomia in chronic graft-versus-host disease: a sialometrical study.

Bone marrow transplantation is considered to be the treatment of choice for various hematological and solid malignancies, as well as for bone marrow failure syndromes and some genetic diseases. Unfortunately, a great number of patients who receive allogeneic BMT suffer from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following the procedure. Xerostomia is considered to be one of the most annoying complications of chronic GVHD (cGVHD), and the rapidly growing number of BMT patients with prolonged survival renders GVHD-related xerostomia a major clinical problem. As pilocarpine hydrochloride has been shown to relieve xerostomia in other disease categories, we administered pilocarpine hydrochloride 30 mg/day to six cGVHD patients and measured their whole saliva, parotid and submandibular-sublingual flow rates in both resting and stimulated conditions. Mean values of flow rates of whole saliva in resting conditions at 2 weeks, 2 months and 6 months following administration of pilocarpine hydrochloride 30 mg/day were 0.71 +/- 0.12 ml/min, 0.59 +/- 0.07 ml/min and 0.56 +/- 0.11 ml/min, respectively. In stimulated conditions, mean values were 1.7 +/- 0.3 ml/min, 1.0 +/- 0.17 ml/min and 0.94 +/- 0.21 ml/min, respectively. The mean values of whole saliva flow rates under both conditions represented an increase of 224-284% and 134-247%, respectively (P < 0.01). The pattern and magnitude of parotid and submandibular-sublingual flow rate increases following pilocarpine hydrochloride administration were similar. Patients were followed for 6 months and demonstrated increased levels of secretion, with some reduction after the initial peak values. The medication was discontinued at 2 months and reinstated after 2 weeks in three patients. This resulted in rapid flow rate reduction followed by another profound increase. Contrary to the sialometrical analysis, the subjective scoring showed no fluctuations during the study period. We discuss these results in the context of the clinical experience of xerostomic patients in whom even a minute increase in secretion may be significant. Our results demonstrate that objective and subjective relief from xerostomia in cGVHD patients can be achieved with the routine oral administration of pilocarpine hydrochloride.

The effect of ammonium glycopyrrolate (Robinul®)-induced xerostomia on oral mucosal wetness and flow of gingival crevicular fluid in humans

The antisialogogue, ammonium glycopyrrolate (Robinul®), was used to reduce the salivary flow rate in healthy individuals with normal salivary function to determine whether the dry-mouth symptoms and reduced amounts and patterns of oral mucosal wetness found previously in hyposalivators could be induced by this means. After baseline measurements, the drug was given to 10 healthy volunteers and their resting whole-saliva flow rate was measured at 0, 15, 60, 105 and 150 min thereafter. At the same times, the thickness of the layer of residual mucosal saliva (a measure of residual mucosal wetness) at each of 22 intraoral sites was also determined. The saliva flow rate fell from a mean of 0.45±0.07 ml/min to a mean of 0.05±0.02 ml/mm by 1 h and slowly thereafter to a mean of 0.02±0.01 to 0.03±0.01 ml/min for the remainder of the experiment. Onset of dryness symptoms was observed approx. 30 min after giving the drug. Simultaneously, the residual saliva at each of the 22 sites teted decreased to a thickness level previously found in patients with hyposalivation and who exhibited an intense feeling of dry mouth. Despite these decreases in thickness, the pattern of residual mucosal wetness throughout the mouth remained more or less unchanged. As in earlier studies, wetness was least on the hard palate and highest on the posterior dorsum of the tongue. An altered taste of the residual saliva in the mouth and an increased feeling of roughness as the tongue was passed over labial and buccal mucosal surfaces were noted. The amount of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in 12 gingival sites in each of the participants was also measured. Unlike the reduction in salivary flow, changes in GCF over the 150 min of the study were negligible. From this it was concluded that GCF could contribute much more to the oral fluids in dry-mouth than in normal individuals, especially when there is greater gingival inflammation.

Investigation of the clinical value of total saliva flow rates

The symptom of dry mouth was correlated with unstimulated (UWSFR) and stimulated (SWSFR) whole-saliva flow rate on chewing medical paraffin in 62 patients with dry-mouth complaints (30 with Sjögren’s syndrome, 32 with sialosis) and 23 controls. The symptom of dry mouth was classified into grades 0,1,2,3,4 according to a Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). UWSFR and SWSFR were determined after fasting in the morning. UWSFR was 0.070±0.089 ml/min in Sjögren’s syndrome, 0.175±0.115 ml/min in sialosis, 0.330±0.188 ml/min in controls. SWSFR was 0.709±0.720 ml/min in Sjögren’s syndrome, 1.561±0.867 ml/min in sialosis, 1.894±0.661 ml/min in controls. A highly significant correlation was found between TESS score and UWSFR and between TESS score and SWSFR. Only UWSFR was decreased in the patients with a TESS score of 1 or 2, while both UWSFR and SWSFR were significantly decreased in the patients with TESS scores of 3, 4. It is concluded that UWSFR is more sensitive in relation to dry-mouth complaints than SWSFR, and that a mild dry mouth is mainly related to decreased UWSFR.

The effects of blindfolding and blindness on the unstimulated and chewing-gum-stimulated flow rates of whole saliva

In the early 1970s, Shannon and his colleagues reported that blindfolding caused a reduction in the flow rate of unstimulated and stimulated parotid and submandibular saliva. A study in three parts was now made to investigate the effects of blindfolding or blindness on the flow rate of whole saliva. For the first study, unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) was collected for 5 min from 34 individuals and then eight samples of chewing-gum-stimulated whole saliva (SWS) over a 20-min period. This was carried out on four separate occasions, on two of which, in random order, the individuals collected the saliva immediately after being blindfolded. For the second study, 33 of the individuals repeated the saliva collection protocol on two occasions, with and without blindfolding, but with an accommodation period of 20 min after blindfolding before beginning collection of UWS and with only three samples of SWS being collected over a 4-min period. The flow rate of UWS while blindfolded was significantly ( p < 0.0001) reduced (to 64 and 71% of the flow rate while sighted, in the first and second studies, respectively), as was the flow rate of SWS (to 81–86%, p < 0.0001; and 91–95%, p = 0.0014, respectively). For the third study, UWS and SWS were collected from 24 blind individuals, ranging in age from 13–73 years, and from 24 age- and gender-matched controls. The flow rates of UWS and SWS were not significantly different in the blind participants and controls. DMFT values were 11.1 ± 1.4 and 12.3 ± 1.5 (mean ± SE) in the blind and the controls, respectively, and these values were not significantly different. Thus this study provides no evidence that blind people have lower salivary flow rates or are more susceptible to dental caries than are people with normal sight.

Effect of marginal ascorbic acid deficiency on saliva level of cortisol in the guinea pig

Male guinea pigs subjected to prolonged marginal ascorbic acid deficiency developed moon facies and oedema, features of functional adrenal hypercorticism. Compared with age- and sex-matched controls fed an adequate diet for a similar period, ascorbate deficiency had no effect on submandibular gland weight but elicited a significant ( p < 0.005) reduction in stimulated whole-saliva flow rate. Plasma cortisol concentration (nmol/L) was significantly increased ( p < 0.005) in the deficient animals (998.21 ± 57.19 compared to 254.66 ± 15.62 for the controls). Associated with marked hypercortisolaemia in the deficient animals was a significant ( p < 0.01) but less prominent increase in the whole-saliva cortisol level, resulting in a mean saliva/plasma cortisol ratio of 46% for this group compared to 72% for the controls. Increased corticosteriod levels suppress immunological and inflammatory responses, particularly neutrophil function, impair production of some cytokines, inhibit collagen synthesis, and impair wound healing and bone matrix formation. Numerous conditions such as ageing, stress, smoking, ionizing radiation, ingestion of drugs, protein malnutrition, diabetes, and several other pathological states, which are among the risk factors for xerostomia and periodontal.oral mucosal lesions, promote tissue depletion of ascorbate. This study suggests that increased salivary and blood levels of glucocorticoids in these conditions may be important in reducing the ability of the host to mount an effective immune response to oral pathogens.

Influence of age on the secretory rates of the human minor salivary glands and whole saliva

This investigation comprised two studies of healthy, unmedicated individuals. The first measured the effect of collection time on the volume of secretions of the minor salivary glands at four specified areas of the lower lip of 13 individuals before and after a mild gustatory stimulus. The second ( n = 51) monitored the influence of age and gender on the secretory rates of unstimulated labial, buccal and palatal salivary glands. Also, unstimulated and stimulated flow rates of whole saliva were monitored to provide a point of reference. Volumes of minor gland secretions were measured with a Periotron unit. Results of the first study indicated a linear increase in volumes with collection time (15, 30, 45 and 60 s). Flow rates were similar among the four labial sites, approx. 1 μl/cm 2/min, and were not influenced by mild citric acid stimulation. Results of the second study indicated that flow rates differed significantly ( p = 0.0001) among the anatomical sites, with similar rates on the right- and left-hand sides. Gender exerted no influence on flow from the minor salivary glands. Similarly, age exerted no influence on flow from the buccal or labial glands. However, the secretory rate for the palatal glands decreased significantly with age ( r = −0.44; p < 0.005). As for unstimulated whole saliva, secretory rates were not influenced by age nor gender; rates for stimulated whole saliva increased with age ( r = 0.31; p < 0.05). No association was detected between the flow rates of the whole saliva and that of the minor salivary glands.

The Study on Mastication in Children 2. A Comparison on the Effects of Tasting and Chewing Foods on the Flow Rate of Whole Saliva

The Study on Mastication in Children 2. A Comparison on the Effects of Tasting and Chewing Foods on the Flow Rate of Whole Saliva

Gingival health and salivary function in head and neck-irradiated patients: A five-year follow-up

Gingival health and salivary gland function were evaluated for a period of 5 years in 14 patients who received head and neck irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (seven patients; total dose >60 Gy, nasopharyngeal field) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (seven patients; total dose <50 Gy, “mantle” field). Plaque index (PII), bleeding index (BI), gingival recession (GR), whole saliva flow rate (WSFR), left parotid sialographic morphology, and salivary gland radioisotopic activity were assessed immediately before radiotherapy and annually thereafter. The nasopharyngeal group had perfect correlation between postradiation depression of WSFR and the sialographic and scintigraphic scores ( R = −1.00 and −0.96, respectively). The degree of gland dysfunction correlated negatively with BI and the BI/PII ratio ( r = #x02212;0.497) and with GR ( r = 0.681). The same correlations were noted in the group with Hodgkin's lymphoma during the first 3 years of follow-up. However, recovery of parotid gland function (WSFR and scintigraphic scores) and morphology (sialographic scores) and return to the preradiation relation between WSFR and both BI/PII ratio ( r = 0.75) and GR ( r = −0.71) were noted in the fourth year. The differences between the nasopharyngeal and Hodgkin's lymphoma groups are attributable to the delineation of the radiation field employed in each group.