title: The preparation of an autologous saliva for use with patients undergoing therapeutic radiation for head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  At the present time there is no general agreement about how to prevent the symptoms and clinical signs that accompany therapeutic irradiation for head and neck cancer. Because saliva is the principal protector of the oral tissues, it is logical to assume that many of these changes are due to the radiation-induced damage to the salivary glands. We have observed that the flow and composition of saliva is normal in most patients before their irradiation. Theoretically, it should, therefore, be possible to collect their saliva before they commence their course of radiation, store it in a "saliva bank," and give it back to them when they undergo radiation. The key to the use of such an autologous saliva is the fabrication of a technique that disinfects or sterilizes the saliva yet preserves its protective properties. The objective of this study was to prepare an autologous saliva that would be used by patients during their irradiation for head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stimulated saliva was obtained from healthy subjects; none of the subjects consumed any medications. The saliva was treated by a variety of techniques. Included among them were heat, radiation, filtration, centrifugation, and an antibacterial agent. The samples were analyzed for total protein, amylase, viscosity, and sterility; individual salivary proteins were assessed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that beta radiation (> 2.5 kGy) and lyophilization + chlorhexidine (0.03% to 0.12%) could be used to prepare a sterile autologous saliva that retained most of its protective properties.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-8702.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sreebny
authors.forename: W X
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Meek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000681:Amylases / Q000528:radiation effects; D001610:Beta Particles; D002498:Centrifugation; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D004203:Disinfection; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014783:Viscosity; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D000681:Amylases; D002710:Chlorhexidine