Stimulated Saliva Secretion Research Articles

Swallowing Problems in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Twenty-nine female patients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 30 controls were investigated in order to evaluate oral symptoms, particularly xerostomia, and swallowing difficulties in RA by means of a questionnaire, physical examination, stimulated saliva secretion, labial salivary gland biopsy, esophageal manometry and laboratory blood tests. Xerostomia was reported by 6 patients (21%), compared with no-one in the control group. Four of these 6 patients had decreased stimulated saliva secretion, compared with 2 of the remaining 23 patients. Dysphagia was experienced by 8 patients (28%), compared with one control subject. Dysphagia was associated with disease severity. Esophageal manometry revealed a decrease of the amplitude of the peristaltic pressure complex in the proximal part of esophagus in the RA group, indicating dysfunction of the striated muscles. No correlation was found between dysphagia and esophageal manometry results.

Late effects of radiation treatment of tongue and floor-of-mouth cancer on the dentition, saliva secretion, mucous membranes and the lower jaw

The purpose of this study was to determine retrospectively any changes in the dentition, saliva secretion, mucous membranes and the lower jaw resulting from the radiation treatment given to patients with cancer of the tongue or floor of the mouth. The study covers 29 patients treated at the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology of Helsinki University Central Hospital between 1972 and 1981. 23 of the patients were treated for cancer of the tongue and the remaining 6 for cancer of the floor of the mouth. The radiation doses ranged from 5300 to 6700 rad. Clinical examination revealed that the number of carious teeth doubled as a result of radiotherapy, while the incidence of cervical lesions increased by a factor of 10, both compared with the controls. About 70% of the patients studied were found to have either moderate or extensive fungal growth. Stimulated saliva secretion had fallen to about 20% and resting saliva secretion to about 30% of the values for the control group. Radiography revealed pathological changes in the mandible in 34% of the patients. Clinically, 2 patients were found to have extra-oral fistulae. In 1 of these, the spontaneously fractured end of the mandible was visible for several cms. 3 of the patients had undergone hemimandibu-Iectomy because of osteoradionecrosis.

Saliva secretion rate and saliva composition in relation to extraversion

In this study of 20 healthy volunteers, relationships were sought between degree of extraversion (as determined by means of the EPI) and saliva secretion rate and composition. A significant negative correlation was found between both unstimulated and stimulated saliva secretion rates and extraversion. The correlation was most pronounced in the morning. In the morning introverts had significantly higher unstimulated secretion rates than extraverts. The differences were less pronounced in the afternoon. Introverts had higher concentrations of proteins and glycoproteins in their saliva than had extraverts. The results seem to support theories about a higher cortical arousal and a higher sympathetic activity in introverts than in extraverts.

Saliva Secretion Rate and Saliva Composition as a Model to Determine the Effect of Antidepressant Drugs on Cholinergic and Noradrenergic Transmission

Three principally different antidepressant drugs--amitriptyline (with effects on both noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake), maprotiline (a selective inhibitor of reuptake of noradrenaline) and zimelidine (a selective inhibitor of reuptake of serotonin) were tested after a single dose and, as concerns maprotiline and zimelidine, after long-term use in healthy volunteers as regards the effects on saliva secretion rate and saliva composition. Amitriptyline gave a strong decrease in both unstimulated and stimulated saliva secretion rate, indicating a strong anticholinergic effect, and a strong increase in the activity of amylase and the content of protein, fucose and hexose in saliva, indicating a strong agonistic effect on noradrenaline transmission. Maprotiline gave an intermediate decrease in saliva secretion rate, and the effect remained after 14 days of treatment. Single doses gave increases in saliva amylase activity and protein content. After 14 days this effect was increased, and there was also a pronounced increase in fucose and hexose content indicating a strong agonistic effect on noradrenaline transmission. Zimelidine gave a low decrease in saliva secretion rate, indicating a mild anticholinergic effect. No certain effect on the saliva composition could be settled after a single dose, but after 14 days there were consistent increases in amylase activity and protein, fucose and hexose content, indicating a facilitation of noradrenaline transmission. Zimelidine as well as its active metabolite, norzimelidine, are selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake. The action of zimelidine is discussed in view of recent hypotheses about a modulating serotoninergic influence on the noradrenergic system.

Saliva secretion rate in a group of drug addicts (short communication).

Stimulated saliva secretion rate was measured in 40 parenteral drug addicts who had a preference for opiates. Illicit drug abuse or intake of legally prescribed medicine within the last 24 h were recorded. Mean saliva secretion rate for the whole group of drug addicts was 1.51 ml/min with no statistical difference from a control group (P greater than 0.30). However, drug addicts who had taken legally prescribed tranquillizers or sedatives had a reduced saliva secretion rate (1.01 ml/min), whereas no decrease was found among the individuals who had taken opiates within the last 24 h (1.42 ml/min, P greater than 0.10).