Photobiomodulation minimizes taste changes during hematopoietic cell transplantation: A randomized clinical trial.

Prevention and treatment protocols for taste changes observed during hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are not well-established. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) in relieving taste changes and preventing lingual papillae atrophy. HCT patients received PBM (n = 42) on the tongue dorsum using an InGaAIP laser (660 nm, 100 mW, 1.1 W/cm2, 8.8 J/cm2). During the HCT conditioning (T0), severe neutropenia (T1), and after neutrophil engraftment (T2), taste acuity for sweet, bitter, sour, and salty solutions, and clinical appearance of lingual papillae were compared with those of a placebo group (n = 43). PBM significantly reduced hypogeusia, ageusia, and parageusia at T1 and T2, and also successfully prevented papillae atrophy during all the analyzed HCT periods. In conclusion, PBM enhanced taste acuity during HCT. The decrease in papillae atrophy indicated a potential regenerative effect of this therapy on tongue mucosa.

Self-collected unstimulated saliva, oral swab, and nasopharyngeal swab specimens in the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVES: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the saliva of patients infected with COVID-19 has been confirmed by several studies. However, the use of saliva for the diagnosis of COVID-19 remains limited, because of the discrepancies in the results, which might be due to using different saliva sampling methods. The purpose of this study was to compare the consistency of SARS-CoV-2 detection using two different saliva sampling methods (oral swab and unstimulated saliva) to that of the standard nasopharyngeal swab. METHODS: Fifty-five subjects were recruited from a pool of COVID-19 inpatient at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE), Brazil. Nasopharyngeal swab, oral swab, and self-collected unstimulated saliva samples were examined for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR. RESULTS: Self-collected unstimulated saliva demonstrated 87.3% agreement in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus as compared with the nasopharyngeal swab, while oral swab displayed 65.9% agreement when compared to nasopharyngeal swab and 73% when compared to self-collected unstimulated saliva. CONCLUSION: Unstimulated self-collected saliva samples have shown a higher agreement with the nasopharyngeal swab samples for SARS-COV-2 detection than that obtained when using oral swab samples. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study compares the accuracy of COVID-19 test using different saliva sampling methods to that of nasopharyngeal swab. Given the need for a simple self-applied test that can be performed at home, our findings support the efficacy of self-collected unstimulated saliva samples in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, alleviating the demands for swab supplies, personal protective equipment, and healthcare personnel.

Oral care and photobiomodulation protocol for the prevention of traumatic injuries and lip necrosis in critically ill patients with COVID-19: an observational study.

It is well reported that severe cases of COVID-19 frequently need critical care in the ICU to manage respiratory complications, often requiring orotracheal intubation (OTI). Due to complex systemic conditions, the patient may remain intubated for a long period of time and be placed in prone position. This positioning and the pressure of the intubation device on the lips may lead to the development of traumatic injuries. Oral care and the use of photobiomodulation (PBM) can be successfully implemented to promote oral mucosa healing and prevent soft tissue necrosis. We describe the outcomes of the management protocol that was routinely used by the ICU oral medicine team, leading to the implementation of a preventive protocol for the OTI-related oral injuries. We retrospectively analyzed the records of 472 patients with COVID-19 in the ICU from May 2020 to February 2021. 60/472 patients developed traumatic injuries and were managed with the oral care protocol and PBM, to prevent the progress to lip necrosis. When appropriated, in addition to oral care and PBM, other measures were taken to prevent further local trauma (lip hydration, changes in tube fixation). The proposed oral care protocol associated with PBM successfully prevented the progress of traumatic lesions, ulceration, necrosis, and loss of tissue associated with IOT. The quality of life of patients in the ICU and after their recovery was preserved.

Is Salivary Busulfan the Cause of Oral Mucositis and the Changes in Salivary Antioxidant Enzymes After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation?

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the busulfan (Bu) present in saliva during hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) conditioning correlates with oral mucositis and the changes in salivary antioxidant enzymes. METHODS: Bu levels in the plasma and saliva of 19 patients who received HCTs were quantified. Salivary flow and salivary superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were measured during HCT. For the toxicity analysis of salivary Bu, an in vitro assay was conducted by exposing human keratinocytes to artificial saliva containing Bu. RESULTS: Plasma and salivary Bu concentrations were very similar (rho = 0.92, P < 0.001). Salivary Bu concentration correlated with the degree of oral mucositis severity (rho = 0.391, P = 0.029) and was inversely proportional to salivary superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (rho = -0.458, P = 0.036; rho = -0.424, P = 0.043, respectively). Cells exposed to Bu-containing saliva had fewer viable cells (P < 0.01) and more apoptotic cells (P = 0.001) than those exposed to non-Bu-containing saliva. CONCLUSIONS: Bu found in saliva during HCT conditioning was correlated with severe oral mucositis and the reduction in salivary antioxidative activity. Furthermore, Bu can be toxic to keratinocytes.

Association of oral toxicity and taste changes during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize the taste changes and taste bud atrophy observed in the period of neutropenia of HCT and to determine the influence of transplantation toxicity on these changes. METHODS: Autologous and allogeneic HCT patients (n = 51) were selected to perform taste acuity tests prior to conditioning (T0) and during neutropenia (T1). The frequency and time duration of oral mucositis, presence of tongue depapillation, and salivary flow rate were also evaluated. Quality of life was assessed using specific questionnaires. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in hypogeusia (66.6%, p = 0.001) and dysgeusia (21.4%, p = 0.013) at T1, compared with T0. Bitter taste was the most altered, mainly when the patient underwent conditioning with melphalan (OR = 4.47, p = 0.049). Prolonged oral mucositis (≥ 8 days) (OR = 5.62, p = 0.039) and autologous transplantation (OR = 4.08, p = 0.033) were predictive factors for tongue depapillation. Changes in sour taste (OR = 10.70, p = 0.045) and reduced salivary flow (OR = 21.00, p = 0.013) were associated to body weight loss at T1. Taste changes significantly reduced the quality of life at T1, compared with T0. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency of hypogeusia was high in the neutropenia period of the HCT. None of the taste changes was determined by oral mucositis, tongue depapillation, or reduced salivary flow, but melphalan conditioning reduced the bitter taste sensation. Loss of body weight and poor quality of life were associated with taste changes and reduced salivary flow. Further studies are necessary to elucidate this association and the risk factors for taste changes in HCT.

Minor salivary gland biopsy for the diagnosis of familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

The diagnosis of Val30Met familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is based on genetic tests, clinical manifestations, familial history and biopsy of peripheral tissues (e.g. rectum, abdominal fat pad, sural nerve, and minor salivary gland) to confirm the presence of amyloid deposits. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of amyloid deposits in minor salivary glands biopsied from FAP patients and to investigate whether an association exists between the presence of these deposits and clinical features. Seventeen patients with FAP were submitted to minor salivary gland biopsy to confirm the presence of amyloid deposits. The histopathology of the salivary glands confirmed glandular amyloid deposits in nine symptomatic patients (sensitivity of 75.0%). In general, FAP patients who tested positive for glandular amyloid deposits exhibited significantly higher frequencies of sensorimotor and dysautonomic dysfunctions (p = 0.001) compared with those who tested negative. None of the patients reported xerostomia. Minor salivary gland biopsy may help confirm the diagnosis of FAP in symptomatic cases, as it is noninvasive, easy to execute, and causes minimal discomfort to patients.

Efficacy of cryotherapy associated with laser therapy for decreasing severity of melphalan-induced oral mucositis during hematological stem-cell transplantation: a prospective clinical study.

Melphalan followed by hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the standard treatment for multiple myeloma and other hematopoietic neoplasms. However, high doses of melphalan cause severe oral mucositis (OM). The objective was to verify the efficacy of cryotherapy plus laser therapy on reduction of OM severity. HSCT patients undergoing melphalan chemotherapy (n = 71) were randomly divided into two groups according to OM treatment: oral cryotherapy performed with ice chips for 1 h 35 min followed by low-level laser therapy (InGaAIP, 660 nm, 40 mW, 6 J/cm(2) ) (n = 54) and laser therapy alone with the same protocol (n = 17). A control group (n = 33) was composed of HSCT patients treated with melphalan who received no specific treatment for OM. OM scores and clinical information were collected from D0 to D + 11. The cryotherapy/laser therapy group showed the lowest OM scores (maximum Grade I) and the lowest mean number of days (8 days) with OM in comparison with the other groups (p < 0.001). OM Grades III and IV were present with high frequency only in the control group. The association of cryotherapy with laser therapy was effective in reducing OM severity in HSCT patients who underwent melphalan conditioning.

Cost-effectiveness of the introduction of specialized oral care with laser therapy in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the side effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), resulting in major morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of the introduction of a specialized oral care program including laser therapy in the care of patients receiving HSCT with regard to morbidity associated with OM. Clinical information was gathered on 167 patients undergoing HSCT and divided according to the presence (n = 91) or absence (n = 76) of laser therapy and oral care. Cost analysis included daily hospital fees, parenteral nutrition (PN) and prescription of opioids. It was observed that the group without laser therapy (group II) showed a higher frequency of severe degrees of OM (relative risk = 16.8, 95% confidence interval -5.8 to 48.9, p < 0.001), with a significant association between this severity and the use of PN (p = 0.001), prescription of opioids (p < 0.001), pain in the oral cavity (p = 0.003) and fever > 37.8°C (p = 0.005). Hospitalization costs in this group were up to 30% higher. The introduction of oral care by a multidisciplinary staff including laser therapy helps reduce morbidity resulting from OM and, consequently, helps minimize hospitalization costs associated with HSCT, even considering therapy costs.

Effect of laser phototherapy on recurring herpes labialis prevention: an in vivo study.

Alternative treatment for recurrent labial infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) have been considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser phototherapy in prevention and reduction of severity of labial manifestations of herpes labialis virus. Seventy-one patients, divided into experimental (n = 41) and control (n = 30) groups were followed up for 16 months. Patients in the control group were treated topically with aciclovir and patients in the experimental group were subjected to laser phototherapy (one session per week, 10 weeks): 780 nm, 60 mW, 3.0 J/cm(2) or 4.5 J/cm(2) on healthy (no HSV-1 infection) and affected (with HSV-1 infection) tissues. Patients in the experimental group presented a significant decrease in dimension of herpes labialis lesions (P = 0.013) and inflammatory edema (P = 0.031). The reduction in pain level (P = 0.051) and monthly recurrences (P = 0.076) did not reach statistical significance. This study represents an in vivo indication that this treatment should be further considered as an effective alternative to therapeutic regimens for herpes labialis lesions.

Influence of different power densities of LILT on cultured human fibroblast growth : a pilot study.

The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze the influence of different power densities of low-intensity laser therapy (LILT) on the biomodulation of human gingival fibroblasts. The cells were cultured in nutritional deficit. Laser irradiation was carried out with a GaAlAs diode laser (lambda-660 nm, 2 J/cm2). The irradiation was done twice with 12-h interval using the punctual technique, at continuous mode and in contact. The experimental groups were: I, control, nonirradiated; II, power of 10 mW and intensity approximately or equal to 142.85 mW/cm2; III, 29 mW and 428.57 mW/cm2. Growth curves were obtained by using the trypan blue dye exclusion assay. The cell growth of the irradiated groups was significantly higher than control group (P