Introduction Previous studies on the glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC) have largely focused on the application of immunohistochemistry for determining how the GOC lining epithelium compares with that of other odontogenic cysts. Studies on the histochemical composition of the mucous cells in the GOC are, however, lacking. This study therefore aimed to determine the mucin phenotype of the mucous cells in the GOC and compared these findings with the mucous cells in the epithelial linings of other odontogenic cysts and with normal salivary gland mucous acinar cells. Materials and Methods Twenty-seven cases made up of 10 GOCs, 9 dentigerous cysts (DC) with mucous cells and 8 radicular/residual radicular cysts (RC) with mucous cells were stained using the combined alcian blue pH 2.5-PAS (AB-PAS) histochemical technique. AB-PAS allows for differentiation between acidic- (type I mucous cells), neutral- (type II mucous cells) and mixed mucin-containing cells (type III mucous cells). Submandibular, sublingual and palatal salivary gland tissue was also subjected to AB-PAS staining. The odontogenic cysts and salivary glands were evaluated for the frequency of type I, II and III mucous cells in these tissues. Results There were significant differences between the level of type I, type II and type III mucous cells within each of the three cyst types; GOC (p=0.006), DC (p=0.0004), RC (p=0.0017). There were no significant differences in the cell counts for each mucous cell type between the 3 cyst types;type I mucous cells (p=0.54); type II mucous cells (p=0.73) and type III mucous cells (p=0.97).All 3 odontogenic cysts showed a predominance of type III mucous cells and this mirrored the mucin phenotype of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Conclusion The mucin phenotype of the GOC is shared by DC and RC with mucous metaplasia. The overlapping mucin phenotypes of the different odontogenic cysts unfortunately does not support the use of the AB-PAS stain as a potential histochemical marker to distinguish between the GOC and other odontogenic cysts with mucous metaplasia. Similarities in the mucin phenotype between odontogenic cysts, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands may suggest a common ectodermal histogenetic origin for the mucous cells in odontogenic cysts and major salivary glands.

This study investigated some functional and biochemical characteristics of a bacteriolytic protein in the salivary glands of adult Aedes aecupti. A method for the isolation of this protein from other mosquito salivary gland components is also described. Based on some of its biochemical properties, this bacteriolytic protein can be classified as a lysozyme. This protein is strongly-linked to mosquito sugarfeeding activity because there is a statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in the levels of lytic activity six hours before mosquitoes start to sugar feed. By its bacteriolytic action, it may function as a protective mechanism against bacteria-contaminated sugar meals. Preliminary work suggests that mosquitoes exposed to lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeikticus in their sugar meal respond by increasing the lytic activity in their salivary glands. The levels of bacteriolytic activity are apparently not affected by bloodfeeding. In the absence of feeding, as in teneral and bloodfed mosquitoes, salivary bacteriolytic activity increases to a maximum, then levels off. This suggests a regulation of the synthesis of this salivary protein that is independent of the feeding state of the adult mosquito. A combination of centrifugation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (non-denaturing and denaturing), cation exchange chromatography and gel filtration, was used to isolate the protein from other mosquito salivary gland components. This salivary protein is lysozyme-like in several aspects: 1) it lyses bacterial cell walls of M. lysodeikticus, 2) it is a basic protein with a pI between 7.47 and 8.89, 3) it is thermostable at low pH, and loses its activity at high pH, and 4) it is composed of one polypeptide chain. Its molecular weight is twice that of hen egg white lysozyme. This salivary bacteriolytic protein is the first insect exocrine lysozyme to be characterized. / Graduation date: 1992

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Buffalo, 1971. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-194).

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

Head and neck cancer is diagnosed in more than 50,000 Americans each year, resulting in roughly 11,000 deaths. For this disease, a typical therapeutic regimen involves cisplatin, a radiosensitizer, given alongside targeted irradiation. While technological advances such as IMRT have been useful in sparing normal tissues from radiotherapy, the salivary glands occupy much of the head and neck and surround several lymph nodes, and thus, non-diseased salivary glands are often damaged. This causes reduced salivary output, damaged oral mucosa, dysphagia, malnutrition and tooth decay. Often, these side-effects are so severe that patients discontinue treatment, however, in many cases, salivary gland damage is permanent, and treatment options are palliative. Specifically, muscarinic-cholinergic agonists are used to enhance secretion from remaining salivary cells, although due to non-specific action, these drugs have a number of ill-effects. It is clear that therapies are needed to prevent radiation-induced salivary gland damage, as well as to restore glandular function in patients who are already suffering.Previous work from our group has shown that salivary gland dysfunction results from loss of acinar cells to radiation-induced apoptosis. Importantly, a single intravenous dose of IGF1 can prevent apoptosis and preserve salivary output when given immediately prior to irradiation. Because of its broad effects, however, IGF1 may never be a viable clinical option. Instead, our goal is to identify signaling events that mediate the radioprotective effects of IGF1 downstream of Akt. Because radiation-induced apoptosis in salivary glands is p53-dependent, we assessed the contributions of the p53 homologs p63 and p73 to the DNA damage response. Here, we show that IGF1 enhances cell cycle arrest following irradiation by reducing inhibitory binding of deltaNp63 to the p21 promoter. We hypothesize that IGF1-induced cell cycle arrest may allow time for DNA repair, thus preventing apoptosis and maintaining salivary function. In addition, we indicate chronic signaling events downstream of p63 that may contribute to permanent loss of salivary function by blocking differentiation of salivary progenitor cells. Together, these results indicate that p63 may be a valid therapeutic target for both prevention of damage and restoration of function in irradiated salivary glands.

Introduction: Salivary gland obstructive conditions are common and may necessitate imaging of the glands for diagnosis and management purposes. Many imaging options are available but all have limitations. Sialography is considered the gold standard for examining obstructive conditions of the parotid and submandibular glands but it is largely influenced by the imaging technique to which it is coupled. Cone beam computed tomography (cbCT) is a relatively new and very promising imaging modality that has overcome many of the inherent limitations of other imaging modalities used in the past for sialography. Materials and methods: A RANDO®Man imaging phantom was used to determine the effective radiation doses from the series of plain film images that represent the current standard of practice for sialography. Similar experiments were then undertaken to determine the effective radiation doses from cbCT when varying the field-of-view (FOV) size and center, x-ray tube peak kilovoltage (kVp) and milliamperage (mA). Next, cbCT image quality, measured using the signal-difference-to-noise-ratio (SDNR) was used to determine those technical factors that optimized image quality. Finally, using the optimized image acquisition parameters, a prospective clinical study was conducted to test the diagnostic efficacy of cbCT sialography compared to plain film sialography. Results: Effective radiation doses were comparable between the plain film image series and cbCT examinations of the parotid and submandibular glands when a 6” FOV was chosen, and when the x-ray tube was operating at 80 kVp and 10 mA. We also found that these exposure settings optimized the image SDNR. Finally, we demonstrated that the diagnostic capabilities of cbCT sialography were superior to plain film sialography with regards to detecting sialoliths and strictures, and when differentiating normal salivary glands from those with changes secondary to inflammation. Conclusion: We have successfully developed a three dimensional (3D) sialography technique for imaging the parotid and submandibular salivary glands using cbCT that balances radiation effective dose with image quality. We also demonstrated the superior diagnostic capabilities of the new technique in a clinical setting.

Introduction: Salivary gland obstructive conditions are common and may necessitate imaging of the glands for diagnosis and management purposes. Many imaging options are available but all have limitations. Sialography is considered the gold standard for examining obstructive conditions of the parotid and submandibular glands but it is largely influenced by the imaging technique to which it is coupled. Cone beam computed tomography (cbCT) is a relatively new and very promising imaging modality that has overcome many of the inherent limitations of other imaging modalities used in the past for sialography. Materials and methods: A RANDO®Man imaging phantom was used to determine the effective radiation doses from the series of plain film images that represent the current standard of practice for sialography. Similar experiments were then undertaken to determine the effective radiation doses from cbCT when varying the field-of-view (FOV) size and center, x-ray tube peak kilovoltage (kVp) and milliamperage (mA). Next, cbCT image quality, measured using the signal-difference-to-noise-ratio (SDNR) was used to determine those technical factors that optimized image quality. Finally, using the optimized image acquisition parameters, a prospective clinical study was conducted to test the diagnostic efficacy of cbCT sialography compared to plain film sialography. Results: Effective radiation doses were comparable between the plain film image series and cbCT examinations of the parotid and submandibular glands when a 6” FOV was chosen, and when the x-ray tube was operating at 80 kVp and 10 mA. We also found that these exposure settings optimized the image SDNR. Finally, we demonstrated that the diagnostic capabilities of cbCT sialography were superior to plain film sialography with regards to detecting sialoliths and strictures, and when differentiating normal salivary glands from those with changes secondary to inflammation. Conclusion: We have successfully developed a three dimensional (3D) sialography technique for imaging the parotid and submandibular salivary glands using cbCT that balances radiation effective dose with image quality. We also demonstrated the superior diagnostic capabilities of the new technique in a clinical setting.

Radiotherapy of malignancies in the head and neck often involves the major and minor salivary glands in the radiation field. Adverse effects, such as dry mouth symptoms, are common after such therapy. The aim of this thesis was to study longitudinal effects of fractionated irradiation to the head and neck on salivary gland function in man and in the rat and to test radioprotection from antioxidant vitamins (retinol, a-tocopherol and ^-carotene). A sharp decrease in parotid saliva flow rate was seen after one week of irradiation in cancer patients, but in some patients recovery was seen two months after completed treatment. Loss and recovery of salivary gland function were dependent on the total dose given. Irradiation with doses of &gt;65 Gy to the parotid glands led to permanent loss of function in the majority of parotid glands, while recovery could be seen after irradiation with doses of &lt;52 Gy. Concentrations of some proteins and electrolytes in saliva were increased during irradiation but no changes remained 18 months after radiotherapy. However, large inter-individual differences were seen. The irradiation effects observed in rats did not greatly differ from those seen in humans, but no recovery of salivary gland function was seen. On the one hand the impairments of saliva flow and composition w ere dose and time dependent, but on the other hand the response pattem differed between salivary components. Morphological alterations were not seen in the rat salivary' glands after tw'O or five weeks but 26 weeks after irradiation. No single model seems to be optimal for studying all parameters. Therefore, to study effects on salivary glands after irradiation the rat model must be adjusted to meet the questions addressed. Supplementation with vitamin A provided no radioprotection, whereas it w'as found that supplementation with a-tocopherol (3.4 mg/day) and ß-carotene (6 mg/day) during irradiation reduced the degree of inflammation and partly preserved salivary gland function. It did not, however, lead to morphometrically detectable differences in proportions of acinar or ductal cells or stroma.Keywords: Irradiation, salivary glands, saliva composition, antioxidants / <p>S. 1-82: sammanfattning, s. 85-152: 6 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.