Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0043352 (xerostomia)
 4,250 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Two mechanisms are discussed regarding etiology and pathogenesis: the direct mechanism by radioeffect on teeth, lying in irradiation field, and the indirect mechanism by alteration of the secretion from salivary glands (hypo- and dyssalivation, xerostomia), alteration of the physiological mouth-flora (dominance of Streptococcus mutans) and deficient mouth and tooth hygiene by the patients. Clinically four types of radiogenic tooth defects are discerned: the superficial carious destruction of the necks of the teeth, the change of the tooth-colour to brown-black, an early gradual fuse of the edges and occlusal plane of teeth and generalised superficial defects. With the tumor diagnosis and before the beginning of radiotherapy a total dental examination of the whole mouth-cavity is to do. The therapeutic measures conform to the dimension of dental caries and the bone reduction in consequence of parodontopathies. On principle as many teeth as possible are restored and preserved, only all teeth, that can not be restored in fact and have an uncertain prognosis, are extracted selectively considering a most careful atraumatic surgical technique. The programme for mouth hygienics and tooth prophylaxis carrying out during and for many years after radiotherapy includes a careful and routine cleaning of teeth of films and tartar, frequent rinsing of the mouth with Bepanthene-, Subcutin- or sodium chloride-sodium bicarbonate solution, daily fluoride-dose by mean of fluorine gel or gel carrier, a thorough instruction and motivation of the patients and an after-care in short intervals, to recognize a reduction of cooperation, to diagnose complications as soon as possible and to begin a suitable therapy. Extraction of teeth after radiotherapy was contraindicated absolutely in the past because of the risk of following osteoradionecroses. Recent reports however show, that the risk of a postradiotherapeutic tooth extraction is not so high as suspected primarily, if the indication is paid attention to and the extraction is done according respected technical regulations. Special care has to be given to manufacture and fitting in artificial teeth. It has not to be done until all essential therapeutic effects are eased off, that usually occurs 1 to 1 1/2 years after the end of therapy.
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PMID:[Radiation caries]. 267 77

Taste loss is a major cause of morbidity in patients undergoing head and neck irradiation. In a prospective study, 26 patients undergoing radical head and neck irradiation at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, were assessed for taste loss and xerostomia. Taste was tested using a subjective questionnaire and by objective taste testing with a series of solute solutions (sucrose, sodium chloride, urea and hydrochloric acid) at increasing concentrations, to determine the threshold level of taste sensation, both before and after radiotherapy. Xerostomia was assessed using a patient questionnaire. The volume of tongue and parotid contained within the high dose volume of the radiation treatment field was determined for each patient and correlated with the degree of objective and subjective taste loss as well as the degree of xerostomia. The results have shown that both objective (r = 0.59; P = 0.0016) and subjective taste loss (r = 0.78; P = 0.0001) was significantly associated with the proportion of tongue, but not parotid, contained within the radiation treatment field. The data gave no evidence to suggest any relationship between recovery of taste loss and volume of parotid or tongue irradiated. However, recovery of subjective taste loss, 1 month after completing radiotherapy was seen in two patients, both of whom had been treated using a wedge pair technique to avoid the contralateral area of the tongue. Changes in xerostomia were significantly correlated with the proportions of both tongue (r = 0.54; P = 0.004) and parotid (r = 0.82; P = 0.0001) within the radiation treatment fields.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The effect of head and neck irradiation on taste dysfunction: a prospective study. 754 20

Saliva substitutes and/or lubricants are commonly employed to lessen dry mouth symptoms by stimulating and/or substituting for the secretion of saliva. In this study, a novel artificial saliva containing inorganic salts, including sodium chloride and potassium chloride, and bactericidal agents, including potassium thiocyanate and lactoperoxidase, was formulated in the form of a solution (DM-sol) or gel (DM-gel). Those in vivo therapeutic efficacies were assessed in terms of saliva secretion and anti-inflammatory activity in rats and mice, respectively. Salivary secretion was promoted by mucosal application of DM-formulations in normal rats. In particular, DM-gel resulted in 2.5- and 1.9-fold greater salivary flow rates compared to normal saline and DM-sol, respectively. In an in vivo efficacy evaluation in diabetic mice with salivary hypofunction, repeated application of DM-formulations alleviated histopathological changes in the buccal mucosa in terms of atrophy and thinning of the epithelium, compared to vehicle, after 4 weeks. Moreover, the DM-sol and DM-gel were comparably effective for relieving periodontal gingivitis, reducing infiltration of inflammatory cells, and normalizing the neutrophil level in the gingival gingiva, after 4 weeks. Therefore, the novel artificial saliva is expected to facilitate salivary secretion and restore physiological conditions in the mouth of patients with salivary hypofunction.
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PMID:Facilitated saliva secretion and reduced oral inflammation by a novel artificial saliva system in the treatment of salivary hypofunction. 2813 22