Marinka Baričević

The Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Salivary Glands in Patients with Xerostomia

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser irradiation on the secretory function of salivary glands in 34 patients with xerostomia (dry mouth). BACKGROUND DATA Xerostomia, a common complaint of oral dryness within the elderly population, is caused by a reduction in normal salivary secretion due to different causes. Treatment is aimed at increasing salivary flow, although in most cases it remains palliative. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, laser light from a pulsed Ga-As laser operating at 904 nm was applied bilaterally on each salivary gland area: extraorally on the parotid and submandibular gland areas and intraorally on the sublingual gland area. The operational probe distance from the irradiated area was 0.5 cm resulting in an irradiance of 246 mW/cm(2). The exposure time was 120 sec per daily treatment during 10 consecutive days. The average energy density per exposure was 29.5 J/cm(2). The control group consisted of 16 patients who were treated with 15 mL of a 2% citric acid solution applied as a mouth rinse for 30 sec. RESULTS The average difference in the amount of salivation (dQ-sal, mL/min) before and after laser therapy increased linearly from dQ-sal = 0.05 mL/min on the first day, up to dQ-sal = 0.13 mL/min on the last (10th) day of therapy. In the control group, the average dQ-sal initially demonstrated a gradual increase, with a reversal of the trend toward the end of the therapy period and eventually yielding no correlation between the duration of therapy and dQ-sal. CONCLUSION The results of our study indicate that the effects of low-level laser therapy on salivary glands are not only stimulating, but also regenerative to a degree since the glandular response to the same amount of applied laser energy increased linearly over time.

Oral mucosal lesions during orthodontic treatment

BACKGROUND Oral mucosal lesions can result from irritation caused by orthodontic appliances or malocclusion, but their frequency is not known. AIM To examine the frequency of oral mucosal lesions in wearers of orthodontic appliances in comparison to children with malocclusion. DESIGN This study comprised 111 subjects: 60 wearers of orthodontic appliances and 51 controls (aged between 6 and 18 years). Type and severity of mucosal lesions, their topography, gingival inflammation, and oral hygiene status were determined by using clinical indices. RESULTS Mucosal lesions were more present in wearers of orthodontic appliances than in children with malocclusion. Gingival inflammation, erosion, ulceration, and contusion were the most common findings in orthodontic patients. The severity of gingival inflammation was in correlation with oral hygiene status; the poorer oral hygiene, the more severe gingival inflammation was. Better oral hygiene status was found in children during orthodontic treatment than in children with malocclusion. CONCLUSIONS Orthodontic treatment carries a higher risk of mucosal lesions and implies greater awareness of better oral hygiene as shown by the results of this study. Oral hygiene instructions and early treatment of oral lesions are important considerations in better patients motivation, treatment planning, and successful outcome.

Different Protocols of Photobiomodulation Therapy of Hyposalivation

OBJECTIVE Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has proved to be effective for a wide range of oral pathologies including oral dryness, but the literature still lacks reports of clinical trials and protocols. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of different wavelengths of PBM on salivation in patients suffering from hyposalivation aiming at determination of optimal treatment protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 30 patients whose major salivary glands were treated with low-intensity diode laser BTL2000 (Medical Technologies, s.r.o., Czech Republic) during 10 consecutive days. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups, each of 15 patients, and treated with PBM of 830 nm and PBM of 685 nm, respectively. The whole unstimulated and stimulated saliva quantities were measured each day during 10 days, before and after laser treatment, and at 10th day after treatment was ended. RESULTS Results have shown that the laser treatment significantly improves salivation (p < 0.0001) in both groups after 10 days treatment. The salivation also remains improved 10 days after the end of treatment. The patients treated with PBM of 830 nm have had continuously higher values of quantity of saliva. CONCLUSIONS Our results have shown that both laser wavelengths were effective in increasing salivary flow rate, and the improvement in salivation was statistically significant. The effect of treatment could be observed 10 days after the completion of treatment, thus providing evidence not only of stimulative effect but also indicating regenerative potential of PBM therapy.

Acquired rhinophyma as a paraneoplastic manifestation of non-small cell lung cancer

SummaryWe report a case of a 58-year-old man who developed rhinophyma caused by non-small cell lung cancer. To the best of our knowledge, rhinophyma as paraneoplastic syndrome associated with non-small cell lung cancer has not been previously reported.ZusammenfassungWir berichten über einen 58 Jahre alten Mann, der ein Rhinophym entwickelte, das durch ein nicht-kleinzelliges Lungenkarzinom ausgelöst wurde. Unseres Wissens wurde ein Rhinophym bisher noch nicht als ein mit einem nicht-kleinzelligem Lungenkarzinom assoziertes paraneoplastisches Syndrom beschrieben.