Reviving the Salivary Cells – Pathway to New Horizon.

The ability to speak, swallow, masticate, taste food, and maintain a healthy oral cavity is heavily reliant on the presence of saliva. Hyposalivation underlying xerostomia after radiotherapyis still a major problem in the treatment of head and neck cancer. As saliva possesses self-cleansing and antibacterial capability, hyposalivation is known to deteriorate periodontal status and increases dental disease. Furthermore, hyposalivation causes mastication and swallowing problems, burning sensation of the mouth and dysgeusia. Currently available treatments for dry mouth are prescription for artificial saliva, moisturizers, and medications which induce salivation from the residual tissue.2 Such management techniques do not address the source of the problem that is a lack of functional saliva-producing acinar cells. This review focuses the restoration of functional salivary glands with advancing modalities such as gene therapy, tissue engineering, and stem cells.

Preparation and biocompatibility of acellular trachea matrix / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To prepare an acellular matrix from trachea of rabbits and SD rats, and to investigate its biocompatibility.Methods: A modified detergent and enzyme link extraction procedure was performed to remove cells from the trachea of SD rats and rabbits. The histology, topography of inner-surface and biocompatibility were studied by morphological observation,cell culture and in vivo transplantation respectively.Results:The acellular trachea matrix did not inhibit the growth and amylase secretion of allogenic salivary gland cells cultured on it.The allogenically transplanted acellular trachea matrix did not result in inflammation reaction of the host tissue,could integrate with surrounding tisses.Conclusion:The acellular trachea matix is biocompatible.