Comparative study of oral and salivary parameters in patients with and without loss of bone mass

Abstract Osteoporosis is an insidious and increasingly prevalent disease that can cause fractures and affect patients' quality of life. The current study comparatively evaluates patients with and without loss of bone mass in terms of salivary calcium, viscosity, and pH. A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted in two groups of 32 postmenopausal women subjected to a bone densitometry scan and later referred for dental management at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The patients were assigned to two groups: Group 1 - patients with low bone mineral density (BMD) and Group 2 - patients without bone mineral changes. The following salivary parameters were evaluated: calcium concentration, flow rate, viscosity, pH, and average total protein. An oral examination was performed for assessment of DMFT variables and tongue coating. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adopting a p-value < 0.05. The patients' mean age was 60 years (± 7.35). Salivary flow, pH, and viscosity were similar among the groups. Average total protein was 14.8 mg/mL and 19.0 mg/mL in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Tongue coating and salivary calcium levels were significantly higher in Group 1 (p < 0.001). Salivary calcium is an important screening tool and may eventually be used for the diagnosis of bone mineral changes.

Implementation of a standardized out-of-hospital management method for Parkinson dysphagia

Summary Objective: Our objective is to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of establishing a swallowing management clinic to implement out-of-hospital management for Parkinson disease (PD) patients with dysphagia. Method: Two-hundred seventeen (217) voluntary PD patients with dysphagia in a PD outpatient clinic were divided into a control group with 100 people, and an experimental group with 117 people. The control group was given dysphagia rehabilitation guidance. The experimental group was presented with the standardized out-of-hospital management method as overall management and information and education materials. Rehabilitation efficiency and incidence rate of dysphagia, as well as relevant complications of both groups were compared after a 6-month intervention. Results: Rehabilitation efficiency and the incidence rate of dysphagia including relevant complications of patients treated with the standardized out-of-hospital management were compared with those seen in the control group. The differences have distinct statistics meaning (p<0.01). Conclusion: Establishing a swallowing management protocol for outpatient setting can effectively help the recovery of the function of swallowing, reduce the incidence rate of dysphagia complications and improve the quality of life in patients with PD.