No abstract

Hyposalivation is a common adverse effect of anti-neoplastic therapy of head and neck cancer, causing impaired quality of life and predisposition to oral infections. However, data on the effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on salivary secretion are scarce. The present study determined stimulated whole-saliva flow rates in HSCT recipients in comparison with a healthy control group. Stimulated whole-saliva flow rates of 228 allogeneic HSCT recipients (134 males, 94 females; mean age, 43 yrs) were examined pre-HSCT and 6, 12, and 24 months post-HSCT. Healthy individuals (n = 144; 69 males, 75 females; mean age, 46 yrs) served as the control group. Stimulated saliva flow rates (mL/min) were measured and analyzed statistically, stratifying for hematological diagnoses and conditioning therapy. Hyposalivation (≤ 0.7 mL/min) was found in 40% (p < 0.00001), 53% (p < 0.00001), 31% (p < 0.01), and 26% (n.s.) of the recipients pre-HSCT, and 6, 12, and 24 months post-HSCT, respectively, whereas 16% of the control individuals had hyposalivation. Severe hyposalivation (≤ 0.3 mL/min) was found in 11%, 18%, 4%, and 4% of the recipients pre-HSCT, and 6, 12, and 24 months post-HSCT, respectively. Additionally, conditioning regimen and sex had an impact on saliva flow. In conclusion, hyposalivation was observed to be a common but generally reversible complication among HSCT recipients.

Based on more than 8000 autopsies of male and female patients without brain diseases the normal brain weight of adult males and females in relation to sex, age, body-weight, and body-height as well as Body Mass Index were calculated. The average brain weight of the adult male was 1336 gr; for the adult female 1198 gr. With increasing age, brain weight decreases by 2.7 gr in males, and by 2.2 gr in females per year. Per centimeter body height brain weight increases independent of sex by an average of about 3.7 gr. Body Mass Index is of minor importance and only relevant in males. Based on these data the independent variables, age and height, were for the first time combined in a nomogram for the calculation of brain weight. The mathematical functions were integrated in a computer program which facilitates the calculation of normal brain weights in individual cases.

All HSCT recipients should be considered to be at high risk of hyposalivation and consequent oral diseases, and they should be treated accordingly.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are crucial components of host defense against microbial challenge but the associations of HLA types with oral infectious diseases have not been studied in detail. This prospective cross-sectional study examined associations of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 types with common oral diseases in a healthy Swiss adult population. 257 subjects (107 m, 150 f, mean age: 43.5 yr; range: 21–58 yr) with known HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 profiles and comprehensive medical records were included. A thorough anamnesis was followed by oral examinations including saliva flow measurements, the DMFT score for cariological status, complete periodontal status with plaque and bleeding indexes as well as assessment of mucosal alterations and temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Student’s t-test and Pearson chi-square test were utilized to compare the oral diseases between HLA positive and negative subjects. Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used and PBonf<0.05 was considered statistically significant. HLA types -B15 (PBonf = 0.002), -B51 (PBonf = 0.02) and -DRB1*12 (PBonf = 0.02) were associated with less periodontal disease manifestations. HLA-A32 had a positive association with TMD dysfunction (PBonf = 0.012). No other statistically significant associations were observed. In conclusion, HLA types may contribute to the development of oral diseases in generally healthy Caucasian adults.