The Efficacy of a Dietary Supplement with Carnosine and Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. (AqualiefTM) in Patients with Xerostomia: a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial.

The purpose of this study was to test the safety and efficacy of AqualiefTM in patients affected by xerostomia. The main ingredients of AqualiefTM are carnosine and dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (karkadè) for their buffering effect at pH 7 as well as for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and lenitive properties. In a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial, sixty patients with xerostomia (RTOG/EORTC grade 1-2) were randomly assigned to receive either placebo, or AqualiefTM tablets (three times/day after meals) for 6 consecutive days. A questionnaire was used to evaluate dry mouth symptoms before and after 6 days of AqualiefTM or placebo application. Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates and pH were measured before and after application. Treatment with AqualiefTM for 6 days induced a significant increase in saliva pH from 6.2 ± 0.5 to 6.4 ± 0.6 (P < 0.05) while placebo was ineffective (from 6.2 ± 0.5 to 6.3 ± 0.5). AqualiefTM also induced a significant increase in the pH of stimulated saliva from 6.3 ± 0.5 to 6.6 ± 0.5 (P < 0.01). Placebo was ineffective also in this setting (from 6.2 ± 0.5 to 6.3 ± 0.5). Besides an expected normalization of the saliva pH value, AqualiefTM treatment for 6 days greatly increased (56%, P < 0.0001) saliva production. Placebo induced a 19% increase (P < 0.05), which was likely due to mechanical stimulation. AqualiefTM also increased stimulated saliva production (27% increase with respect to day 0, P < 0.05), while placebo was ineffective. AqualiefTM was effective in regulating the saliva pH, in increasing saliva production and improving dry mouth symptoms in xerostomic patients.

[Rehabilitation, using prosthetic implants, in patients with cancer of the oral cavity]. / Riabilitazione implanto protesica in pazienti trattati per neoplasia del cavo orale.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients treated for neoplasms of the oral cavity (by surgery and/or radiotherapy) requiring prosthesis rehabilitation using osteointegrated implants is increasing greatly. The objective of this research is to examine the correlation between prosthesis rehabilitation using osteointegrated implants, radiotherapy and the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in order to reduce the risk of osteoradionecrosis. METHODS: Research was carried out on 13 patients with 58 implants. The patients were divided into three sample groups: group A patients underwent radiotherapy (10 implants), group B patients did not undergo radiotherapy (29 implants) and group C patients first underwent radiotherapy and then hyperbaric oxygen treatment (19 implants). The group C patients first underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment at 2.5 atmospheres. The osteointegrated implants were then applied and hyperbaric oxygen treatment was carried out again over 20-30 postoperative sittings without any other treatment between the sittings. The whole test period lasted 24 months. RESULTS: Only two implants were lost out of the 58 implants and they were in the group that had undergone radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results show how pre and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen treatment improves the success rate of osteointegrated implants in mandibular areas that had previously undergone radiotherapy. Moreover, the stability of the prostheses that are fixed to the implants is greatly improved compared to conventional methods.