title: Standardization of clinical protocols in oral malodor research.
abstract: The objective of this study is to standardize protocols for clinical research into oral malodor caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). To detect VSCs, a gas chromatograph (GC) using a flame photometric detector equipped with a bandpass filter (at 393 nm) is the gold standard (sensitivity: 5 × 10(-11) gS s(-1)). The baselines of VSC concentrations in mouth air varied considerably over a week. When the subjects refrained from eating, drinking and oral hygiene including mouth rinsing, the VSC concentrations remained constant until eating. Over a 6 h period after a meal, VSC concentrations decreased dramatically (p < 0.01). These results point to optimal times and conditions for sampling subjects. Several portable devices were compared with the measurements by the GCs. Portable GCs demonstrated capabilities similar to those of the GCs. We also applied the recommended protocols described below to clinical research testing the efficacy of ZnCl(2) products, and confirmed that using the recommended protocols in a randomized crossover design would provide very clear results. Proposed protocols include: (a) a short-term study rather than a long-term study is strongly recommended, since the VSC concentrations are constant in the short term; (b) a crossover study would be the best design to avoid the effects of individual specificities on each clinical intervention; (c) measurements of VSCs should preferably be carried out using either a GC or portable GCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health, Nippon Dental University, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan. yaegaki-k@tky.ndu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaegaki
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brunette
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tangerman
authors.forename: Yong-Sahm
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Edwin G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Winkel
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitano
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ii
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calenic
authors.forename: Nikolay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishkitiev
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013457:Sulfur Compounds