Brushing Methods for Patients Unable to Use a Mouthwash: A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Moisturizing Gel and Povidone-Iodine in Healthy Volunteers.

INTRODUCTION:  Brushing older adults or intubated patients who are unable to rinse can transmit bacteria from dental plaque into the oral cavity and increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, this study examined brushing methods to prevent the spread of bacteria in the oral cavity.  Methods: Three types of brushing methods were performed on five volunteers by dental hygienists (water group: brushing with toothbrush bristles soaked in water; gel group: brushing with a moisturizing gel placed on the toothbrush; PV-I group: brushing with toothbrush bristles dipped in povidone-iodine). Neither group spat out the saliva or gargled during brushing but brushed while wiping the water/gel/PV-I solution with a sponge brush. The same five volunteers served as subjects for the three methods. Saliva was collected before and after brushing, and the number of colonies was determined using bacterial culture.  Results: The water group demonstrated a significantly increased number of bacteria in the saliva owing to the spread of bacteria from the dental plaque. The gel group prevented the spread of the bacteria. The PV-I group showed a significant decrease in the number of bacteria in the saliva after brushing. CONCLUSIONS:  Brushing with toothbrush bristles dipped in a povidone-iodine solution is recommended for intubated or older adult patients who cannot gargle.

Interventional Prospective Studies on Xerostomia in Patients Undergoing Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Scoping Review.

Patients undergoing palliative care often develop debilitating oral conditions, including xerostomia. These conditions may significantly impact patients' quality of life. Despite the high prevalence and adverse impact of xerostomia, effective management strategies remain unclear. This scoping review was performed to elucidate effective interventions for xerostomia in patients undergoing palliative and end-of-life care. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant studies up to August 2023. Full-text primary articles focusing on xerostomia in patients receiving palliative care were included in the review. Eleven articles were selected for analysis, and data were extracted by six reviewers. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Among the 11 studies, interventions ranged from oral care to saliva substitutes and methods to stimulate saliva secretion. The primary method of assessing xerostomia was the performance of subjective evaluations using visual analog scale scores or numerical rating scale scores. Various interventions including oral care regimens, topical treatments, and mixed efficacy outcomes were reported. Notably, only one study directly measured the saliva volume, highlighting a reliance on subjective endpoints in most studies. Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the most effective intervention, oral care was a preferred option for managing xerostomia in patients undergoing palliative care. Additionally, adjunctive treatments such as ice cubes, saline, and moisturizers showed promise but require further investigation. Objective measures should be incorporated into future intervention trials to complement subjective assessments and provide a comprehensive evaluation of xerostomia management strategies in this patient population.

Factors affecting the number of bacteria in saliva and oral care methods for the recovery of bacteria in contaminated saliva after brushing: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral care is important in preventing aspiration pneumonia in older adults. However, it is not clear what kind of oral care can reduce the number of bacteria in saliva. The purposes of this study are to clarify whether there is a relationship between plaque amounts and salivary bacterial counts, and how bacteria dispersed into the oral cavity by brushing can be reduced. METHODS: First, saliva samples were collected from 10 healthy adult volunteers after 30 h of unbrushing and after thorough brushing, and the total bacterial count was determined by real-time PCR. Next, 40 older adults attending an outpatient dental clinic were randomly assigned into two groups: a wiping group (20 patients) and a mouthwashing group (20 patients). Saliva was collected before and after brushing, and after wiping in the wiping group and after mouthwashing in the mouthwashing group, and the total bacterial count was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: In a study of volunteers, there was no association between plaque amounts and salivary bacterial counts. In a study of older adult patients, salivary bacterial counts were significantly higher in patients with higher oral hygiene index and fewer remaining teeth. Brushing increased salivary bacterial counts. Wiping did not significantly reduce the number of bacteria, while mouthwash returned the increased number of bacteria after brushing to the pre-brushing level. CONCLUSIONS: There is no direct relationship between the amount of plaque and the number of bacteria in saliva. Brushing disperses bacteria into the oral cavity, resulting in a marked increase in the number of bacteria in saliva. Wiping does not collect the dispersed bacteria, and it seems essential to rinse the mouth after brushing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000045854.

Relationship between Tongue Pressure and Salivary Bacteria in the Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care.

INTRODUCTION: Aspiration pneumonia, an important issue for the older adults, is caused by an increase in pathogenic microorganisms in the saliva, aspiration, and weakened host immunity. Recently, decreased tongue pressure has been reported to be associated with dysphagia. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between decreased tongue pressure and the number of bacteria in the saliva of the older adults requiring long-term care. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 95 older adults requiring long-term care in a facility or at home, eating orally, and who could understand the instructions for measuring tongue pressure. Sex, age, slowness, weakness, shrinking, exhaustion, low activity, number of teeth, functional teeth unit, denture use, oral hygiene, tongue coating index, dry mouth, tongue pressure, and number of bacteria in the saliva were examined. Bacterial counts were analyzed by real-time PCR for total bacteria, total streptococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Candida albicans. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that poor oral hygiene and decreased tongue pressure were independent risk factors for increased bacteria in the saliva. Decreased tongue pressure is significantly correlated with an increased number of total bacteria and the presence of P. gingivalis. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that tongue pressure not only maintains the swallowing function but also prevents the increase of bacteria in the saliva of older adults requiring long-term care.

Number of Bacteria in Saliva in the Perioperative Period and Factors Associated with Increased Numbers.

Perioperative oral management is performed to prevent postoperative complications, but its indication and management method are unclear. This study aimed to investigate salivary bacterial counts pre-and postoperatively, and factors related to increased bacterial count postoperatively. We included 121 patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia and perioperative oral management. The bacterial count in saliva was determined preoperatively, and first and seventh days postoperatively using the dielectrophoresis and impedance measurement methods. The relationships between salivary bacterial count and various variables were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. The salivary bacterial count increased significantly on the first day postoperatively but decreased on the seventh day. Multivariate analysis showed that age (p = 0.004, standardized coefficient ß = 0.283) and xerostomia (p = 0.034, standardized coefficient ß = 0.192) were significantly correlated with increased salivary bacterial count preoperatively. Salivary bacterial count on the day after surgery was significantly increased in patients with a large number of bacterial counts on the day before surgery after preoperative oral care (p = 0.007, standardized coefficient ß = 0.241) and postoperative fasting (p = 0.001, standardized coefficient ß = -0.329). Establishing good oral hygiene before surgery and decreasing salivary bacterial count are necessary in patients with a high risk of postoperative surgical site infection or pneumonia, especially in older adults or postoperative fasting.

Efficacy of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in cleaning tongue coating before and after surgery: a randomized phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Increased bacterial presence in the tongue coating and thereby, the saliva, may be a risk factor for postoperative complications such as surgical site infection or postoperative pneumonia after cancer surgery. However, no method for cleaning tongue coating has been established experimentally. The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of brushing with 3% hydrogen peroxide on suppression of the number of bacteria in tongue coating. METHODS: Sixteen patients with gastric cancer or colorectal cancer undergoing surgery were randomly allocated to control and intervention groups. In the control group, the tongue was brushed for 30 s with a water-moistened toothbrush, while in the intervention group, the tongue was brushed for 30 s with a toothbrush moistened with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Bacterial counts on tongue coating were measured before and 30 s after cleaning the tongue coating using the Rapid Oral Bacteria Quantification System. RESULTS: In the control group, the number of bacteria on the tongue did not decrease significantly after tongue cleaning on the day before surgery, but did on the day after surgery. In contrast, in the intervention group, the number of bacteria on the tongue decreased significantly after tongue cleaning both on the day before and the day after surgery. Furthermore, when comparing the control and intervention groups, the intervention group had a greater reduction effect. CONCLUSIONS: Tongue brushing with 3% hydrogen peroxide is a useful method to reduce the number of bacteria on the tongue in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing surgery. Trial registration jRCTs071200020 (July 3, 2020).

Dental needs in palliative care and problems in dental hygienist education: survey study of palliative care ward homepage, university syllabus, and academic conference abstracts.

BACKGROUND: Although end-of-life patients have a variety of oral-related symptoms, the involvement of dentists and dental hygienists in the palliative care teams is limited. This study investigates the current state of palliative care education in universities that train dentists and dental hygienists and the need for dentistry in the clinical setting of palliative medicine in Japan. METHODS: First, we investigated the involvement of dentistry in hospitals with palliative care units from a website. The number of reports on palliative care presented by dental hygienists at academic conferences around 2016, when the public medical insurance system in Japan covered oral care for patients with terminal illnesses, were examined. We also surveyed the syllabuses of the university that trained nurses, dentists, and dental hygienists to determine their education regarding palliative care. RESULTS: Of the 376 hospitals with palliative care units, 176 (46.8%) had dentistry in the hospital. Additionally, 321 hospitals (85.4%), which included those without dentistry, responded that they provided oral care by dentists and dental hygienists in the palliative care unit. There were only two presentations on palliative care in the annual meetings of the two major academic societies by dental hygienists between 2012 and 2016. However, this number increased rapidly to 47 between 2017 and 2020. The syllabus surveys showed that, compared to nursing universities, universities that trained dentists or dental hygienists had lesser education in palliative care. Furthermore, education in the universities that trained dental hygienists was mostly related to the oral care of patients with terminal illnesses, while the physical and mental conditions of end-of-life patients were not well educated. CONCLUSION: Considering that society requires the involvement of dental hygienists in the field of palliative care, it is necessary to enhance basic and clinical education of palliative care in universities that train dentists and dental hygienists to provide good oral care to patients with terminal illnesses and contribute to improving their quality of life.

Risk factors for osteoradionecrosis of the jaw in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer: Verification of the effect of tooth extraction before radiotherapy using propensity score matching analysis.

Background/purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORN) often occurs in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy (RT). It has been recommended to extract the tooth before RT that may become source of infection, but in recent years, some investigators have reported that tooth extraction before RT increase the risk of developing ORN and therefore should be avoided. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the risk factors for ORN including tooth extraction before RT. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study of 366 patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer who underwent RT of 50 Gy or more at six university hospitals, with follow-up of at least six months post-RT. The relationship between each factor and ORN incidence was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Periapical lesions, more than 50% loss of alveolar bone, and tooth extraction after RT significantly correlated with ORN. Intensity-modulated RT showed a lower incidence than three-dimensional conformal RT, although not statistically different. Tooth extraction before RT significantly reduced ORN incidence, after adjusting the background factors using propensity score matching. Conclusion: In patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer who underwent RT, periapical lesions, more than 50% loss of alveolar bone, and tooth extraction after RT significantly increased the risk for ORN. Infected tooth extraction before RT significantly reduced the risk.

Effect of decreased tongue pressure on dysphagia and survival rate in elderly people requiring long-term care.

Background/purpose: Tongue pressure plays an important role in swallowing function. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether decreased tongue pressure is associated with dysphagia and the development of pneumonia in the elderly requiring long-term care. Materials and methods: Tongue pressure measurement and swallowing videoendoscopic (VE) examination were performed in 60 hospitalized elderly people (33 males and 27 females, with an average age of 84.3 years) to investigate the relationship with the clinical course. Factors related with dysphagia was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and one-way ANOVA, followed by multivariate logistic regression. The relationship between each variable and survival were analyzed by cox regression. Results: Twenty-one patients had dysphagia by VE examination. Multivariate analysis showed that smaller BMI and reduced tongue pressure were significantly correlated with dysphagia. Smaller number of remaining teeth and dysphagia were significantly related to pneumonia-related death. No patients with tongue pressure of larger than 20 kpa died by pneumonia within one year, while in those with tongue pressure of smaller than 20 kpa, one-year cumulative survival rate by pneumonia was 44.3%. Conclusion: Decreased tongue pressure was significantly associated with dysphagia and may increase the risk of pneumonia-related death in the elderly requiring long-term care.

A preliminary study of suppression of candida infection by miconazole mucoadhesive tablets in oral or oropharyngeal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Elevated numbers of candida in the oral cavity often lead to oral candidiasis development in patients undergoing radiotherapy for oral or oropharyngeal cancer. This study aimed to verify the effect of miconazole mucoadhesive tablets on suppression of oral candida infection during radiotherapy. For this preliminary interventional study, miconazole mucoadhesive tablets were attached to the oral mucosa for 14 days from when grade 2 oral mucositis appeared in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer receiving radiotherapy, and the incidence of oral candidiasis was investigated. Various clinical factors were examined; univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to investigate and compare the efficacy of this drug in preventing oral candidiasis with results of our previous study as historical control. Miconazole mucoadhesive tablets were administered to 18 patients, and oral candidiasis was observed in one patient (5.6%) after treatment completion. Among 144 historical control patients, 43 (29.9%) developed oral candidiasis. Multivariate Cox regression showed that miconazole mucoadhesive tablets significantly reduced oral candidiasis development during radiotherapy (p = 0.049, Hazard ratio 0.136, 95% confidence interval 0.019-0.994). This preliminary study suggests the efficacy of miconazole mucoadhesive tablets in preventing oral candidiasis in oral or oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.Trial registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT), jRCTs071190023. Registered 3 September, 2019.

Preventive effects of betamethasone valerate ointment for radiation-induced severe oral mucositis in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer: protocol for a multicentre, phase II, randomised controlled trial (Bet-ROM study).

INTRODUCTION: This is a randomised, multi-centre, open-label, phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of betamethasone valerate ointment on radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concomitant radiotherapy with cisplatin or cetuximab. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The trial will take place at seven hospitals in Japan. Patients will be randomised (1:1) into betamethasone and control groups after the occurrence of grade 1 oral mucositis. In the betamethasone group, patients will use betamethasone valerate ointment five times a day, in addition to usual oral hygiene guidance. The primary endpoint is the incidence and onset time of grade 3 oral mucositis. The secondary endpoints are the incidence and onset time of grade 2 oral mucositis, incidence and onset time of oral candidiasis, completion of radiation therapy and adverse events. Target accrual is 102 patients with a two-sided type I error rate of 5% and 80% power to detect an 80% risk reduction in the incidence of grade 3 oral mucositis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board of Nagasaki University (No. CRB20-009). All participants will be required to provide written informed consent. Findings will be disseminated through scientific and professional conferences and peer-reviewed journal publication. The datasets generated during the study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: jRCTs071200013.

Effects of a miconazole oral patch on preventing development of oral candidiasis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy: results of a preliminary study quantifying the prevalence of Candida albicans in saliva.

PURPOSE: Serious oral mucositis develops during radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, but there is no effective preventive method. We have used a steroid ointment to prevent oral mucositis during RT, but the use of steroid ointment is discontinued when oral candidiasis develops. Therefore, prevention of oral candidiasis is important. The purpose of this study was to examine whether administration of a miconazole oral patch reduced the amount of Candida albicans in saliva and prevented the development of oral candidiasis during RT. METHODS: Participants were patients with head and neck cancer receiving RT ≥ 60 Gy. Patients in the intervention group received miconazole oral patches for 14 days after the appearance of grade 2 oral mucositis. The control group received oral care only. Total bacteria and C. albicans counts in the saliva were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The incidence of oral candidiasis was compared between the groups. RESULTS: Total bacterial counts did not change throughout RT in either the intervention or the control group. However, C. albicans count significantly increased at 30 Gy and 60 Gy in the control group but was suppressed in the intervention group. The saliva pH did not show a significant change throughout RT in either group. The incidence of oral candidiasis in the intervention group tended to be lower than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that prophylactic use of a miconazole oral patch was effective in suppressing the growth of C. albicans count in saliva during RT for head and neck cancer.

Risk factors for severe radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with oral cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer often causes severe oral mucositis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to further examine the risk factors for developing severe oral mucositis in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy as a compliment to a previous study performed by our group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 181 patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy were enrolled in the study. The association between a number of potential risk factors and grade 3 oral mucositis were analyzed using the cox proportional hazard model and a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Grade 3 oral mucositis occurred in 56 patients. The cox proportional hazard model analysis revealed that those with lower hemoglobin levels, concurrent cisplatin and cetuximab administration, and a larger number of teeth showed a significantly higher incidence of severe oral mucositis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients who had lower hemoglobin levels, received concurrent cisplatin or cetuximab treatment, and were not administered pilocarpine showed a significantly higher incidence of severe oral mucositis. The presence of teeth may stimulate the oral mucosa and become a risk factor for mucositis, and the administration of pilocarpine might reduce the risk. CONCLUSION: This study describes the risk factors of severe radiation-induced oral mucositis in oral cancer patients and shows the possibility of risk reduction by pilocarpine. This information could help patients avoid painful mucositis.

Relationship between tooth extraction and development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients.

Tooth extraction has been avoided since it has been considered a major risk factor for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). However, MRONJ may also develop from tooth that is an infection source. This study aimed to clarify whether tooth extraction is a risk factor for the development of MRONJ in cancer patients receiving bone-modifying agents (BMAs). This retrospective observational study included 189 patients (361 jaws) from two hospitals. The risk factors of MRONJ were identified by comparing patient characteristics between those who did and did not develop MRONJ. Furthermore, the effect of tooth extraction during BMA therapy was analyzed after adjusting for confounding factors using the propensity score matching method. MRONJ occurred in 33 patients jaws. A longer duration of BMA administration, fewer number of teeth, presence of symptoms of local infection, and infected teeth were independent risk factors of MRONJ. However, tooth extraction during BMA therapy did not increase the risk. Propensity score matching analysis showed that tooth extraction significantly lowered the risk of MRONJ development. Teeth that can be an infection source increases the risk of MRONJ, and thus, they need to be extracted even during BMA administration.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Three Types of Disinfectants Approved for Oral Use in Japan in Reducing the Bacterial Count of Tongue Coating: A Randomised-Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: Tongue coating is one of the primary causes of halitosis and some diseases such as aspiration pneumonia. However, to date, an effective method for reducing the bacterial count of tongue coating has not been established. We conducted a randomised-controlled study to compare the efficacy of three types of disinfectants approved for oral use in Japan in reducing the bacterial count of tongue coating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to the following four groups according to the solution used: 1. benzethonium chloride; 2. povidone iodine; 3. hydrogen peroxide; 4. tap water (control group). Tongue cleaning with the three test disinfectants and water was performed using a toothbrush, and the bacterial count on the tongue dorsum before and after tongue cleaning was measured using the Rapid Oral Bacteria Quantification System. RESULTS: The bacterial count decreased statistically significantly after tongue brushing using povidone iodine and hydrogen peroxide solutions (both p = 0.012), but not after brushing using 0.2% benzethonium chloride and tap water. CONCLUSION: Tongue brushing with povidone iodine or hydrogen peroxide was the most effective method for reducing the bacterial count of tongue coating.

Effect of Cancer Treatment on the Worsening of Periodontal Disease and Dental Caries: A Preliminary, Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of cancer treatment on the worsening of dental caries and periodontal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three adult cancer patients who underwent panoramic radiography before cancer treatment and 1-2 years later were enrolled in this study. They received professional oral care, including oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing, professional mechanical tooth cleaning, and dental treatment or extraction of any tooth with the source of infection. Age, sex, smoking habit, probing pocket depth, alveolar bone loss, oral hygiene, number of teeth, leukocytes, haemoglobin, and albumin counts, cancer treatment, the administration of immunosuppressants, worsening of dental caries, and alveolar bone loss after 1-2 years were examined. Factors related to the worsening of dental caries and alveolar bone loss were analysed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Dental caries and periodontal disease worsened in 20.8% of the patients. Smoking habit and chemotherapy were independent risk factors for the worsening of dental caries, while alveolar bone loss greater than 1/3 and chemotherapy were independent risk factors related to worsening periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: Anticancer drug treatment is an exacerbating factor for dental caries and periodontal disease.

The Relationship between Dental Findings and Tongue Pressure: A Survey of 745 Community-Dwelling Adults and Elderly Persons in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Reduced tongue pressure is one of the causes of dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental findings and tongue pressure, and whether prosthetic treatment prevents reduced tongue pressure. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 745 community-dwelling adults and elderly persons in the Goto Islands in Nagasaki, who underwent a health checkup for residents in 2015 and 2016. Data were collected on gender; age; grip strength; hemoglobin; Creatinine (Cr); glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c); history of stroke; smoking, drinking, exercise, and walking habits; number of teeth; wearing of removable dentures; functional units of natural teeth (n-FTUs), fixed prostheses (nif-FTUs), and removable dentures (t-FTUs); and tongue pressure. The associations between each variable and tongue pressure were examined using multiple regression analysis. Next, those with 3 or fewer n-FTUs were selected, and differences in tongue pressure were compared between those with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs and those with 4 or more nif-FTUs, using a propensity score matching method. RESULTS: Male gender, weak grip strength, low HbA1c, no drinking, and a low number of teeth were independent factors significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. Among participants with 3 or fewer n-FTUs, the 43 with 4 or more nif-FTUs showed significantly higher tongue pressure than the 43 with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs after propensity score matching, although the number of t-FTUs was not associated with tongue pressure. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Tooth loss was significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. It was suggested that fixed prosthesis treatment might prevent the reduction of tongue pressure, but removable dentures did not have such an effect.

Effects of a bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid on pain due to radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: A randomized crossover, preliminary study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid, is a recently developed medical material for the management of pain caused by oral mucositis associated with cancer radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this liquid in relieving pain resulting from radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, crossover trial investigated the analgesic effects of bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid using dexamethasone ointment as a control. Fifteen patients with mild or moderate pain due to radiation-induced oral mucositis were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A applied dexamethasone ointment once on day 1, had a wash-out period on day 2, and used bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid once on day 3. Conversely, group B used bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid on day 1, had a wash-out period on day 2, and applied dexamethasone ointment once on day 3. The effectiveness in relieving pain was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: One patient reported nausea immediately after the application of bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid and was therefore excluded from the analysis. Dexamethasone ointment and bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid relieved pain in 85.7% and 71.4% patients, respectively (p = 0.682). Nine patients wished to continue dexamethasone ointment after the study, while only five wished to continue bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the analgesic effect of bioadhesive barrier-forming oral liquid is comparable or inferior to that of dexamethasone ointment in patients with radiation-induced oral mucositis. Further studies are needed to verify these findings.

Evaluation of the efficacy of low concentration fluoride gel using custom trays to prevent radiation-related dental caries in patients with head and neck cancer: protocol for a randomised controlled phase III trial (FluCar study).

INTRODUCTION: The present study is a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase III study, to evaluate the efficacy of low concentration of fluoride gel, applied using custom trays, in preventing radiation-related dental caries in patients with head and neck cancer who have undergone or are undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Patients will be randomised into fluoride and control groups (1:1 ratio). In the fluoride group, patients will wear custom trays loaded with 0.145% fluoride gel after brushing every night while sleeping. In the control group, patients will receive oral hygiene instructions as usual. Patients in both the groups will be followed up every 3 months for 1 year. The primary endpoint is the incidence of newly developed dental caries. Target accrual is 80 patients with a two-sided type I error rate of 5% and 80% power to detect 80% risk reduction. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board in Nagasaki University The protocol of this study was registered at Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT) and University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN). The datasets generated during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: jRCTs 072190039 and UMIN000041426.

Topical povidone iodine inhibits bacterial growth in the oral cavity of patients on mechanical ventilation: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Topical 0.12% chlorhexidine has been used widely to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. However, it is not approved for mucosal application in Japan. The aims of this study were to investigate if topical povidone iodine (i) inhibits bacterial growth and (ii) disrupts the balance of the oral microbiota. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial included 23 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the intervention group (n = 16) and the control group (n = 7). All patients received oral cleaning with 3% hydrogen peroxide, followed by irrigation with tap water. The patients in the intervention group received 10% povidone iodine applied topically to the oral cavity. The concentration of total bacteria in the oropharyngeal fluid were determined before, immediately after, 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h after oral care using the Rapid Oral Bacteria Quantification System, which is based on dielectrophoresis and impedance measurements. The number of streptococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Candida albicans before, immediately after, 1 h, and 3 h after oral care were estimated based on real-time polymerase chain reaction data. RESULTS: After irrigation of the oral cavity, the number of bacteria decreased, but increased again at 1 h after oral care in the control group; however, in the intervention group, the concentration of bacteria was significantly lower than that in the control group at 1 hour (p = 0.009), 2 h (p = 0.001), and 3 h (p = 0.001) after oral care. The growth of all bacterial species tested was inhibited in the intervention group at 3 h after oral care, suggesting that povidone iodine did not disturb the balance of the oral microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of povidone iodine after cleaning and irrigation of the oral cavity inhibited bacterial growth in the oropharyngeal fluid of patients on mechanical ventilation while not disrupting the balance of the oral microbiota. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospitals Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), UMIN000028307. Registered 1 September 2017.