Examining the secretor status in the saliva of patients with oral pre-cancerous lesions.

It has been demonstrated in a number of earlier studies on the aetiology and pathogenesis of certain diseases that the patients' secretor status (ABO (H) blood group antigens) may possibly be a factor influencing the development of systemic oral diseases. This likelihood has prompted the present study, to examine the differences in the saliva secretor status by comparing patients with oral pre-cancerous lesions on the one hand, and the healthy population on the other; (i) in relation to the intensity of the clinical manifestation of diseases and (ii) in relation to the intensity of epithelial dysplasia of patients with oral pre-cancerous lesions. In total 122 subjects were examined, half of whom suffered from oral pre-cancerous lesions (excluding Candida albicans in oral smears), while the other half were the healthy control group. All were subjected to clinical oral examinations and standard evaluation tests in order to establish the secretor status of their saliva. In the group of patients with oral pre-cancerous lesions (experimental group), a pathohistological examination of the oral mucosa was performed. The results have demonstrated that the large majority of the people examined in both groups were secretors and no significant difference between secretors and non-secretors was found in the comparison between the experimental group and the healthy control group. However, (i) we found a higher intensity of oral disease in the non-secretor group, and (ii) the occurrence of epithelial dysplasia was found exclusively in the non-secretor group.

Clinical oral test for the assessment of oral symptoms of glossodynia and glossopyrosis.

Subjective oral symptoms of a burning sensation and pain in the tongue may exist in the absence of any pathological changes in the oral mucosa. Owing to different treatment approaches and the lack of any specific therapy, it appeared potentially useful to identify these subjective symptoms by means of a test for an improved therapy evaluation. In this study, we have attempted to develop a method for the objective assessment of oral symptoms of glossodynia and glossopyrosis, by recording the local temperature. The temperature of the tongue was determined using a DT-1 electron thermoesthesiometer, that was highly sensitive to temperatures between 36 degrees C and 38 degrees C. Measurements were performed in topographic areas recommended by the World Health Organization in 1980. The study sample consisted of a group of 50 patients with glossopyrosis and glossodynia, without any clinically manifest pathological changes in the oral cavity, who were compared with a group of 50 age- and sex-matched subjects free of these oral symptoms and with normal oral mucosa. Statistically significant temperature differences were observed between the patients and the controls, as measured in seven different areas. The lowest temperatures (33 degrees C) were measured in the apex linguae area. The minimum temperature was significantly lower in the study group. Significant differences in temperature were also observed between the sexes. It was concluded that glossodynia and glossopyrosis, both inflammation and diminished circulation without any visible clinical signs, can be diagnosed using the thermoesthesiometry test. Such an objective test allows appropriate therapeutic treatment to be selected for patients with the above-mentioned symptoms.