title: Clinical evaluation of BIOXTRA in relieving signs and symptoms of dry mouth after head and neck radiotherapy of cancer patients at Seyed-al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiotherapy of head and neck cancers causes acute and chronic xerostomia and acute mucositis. Xerostomia increases risk of radiation caries and affects on oral comfort, fit of prostheses, speech, swallowing, and the growth of caries-producing organisms. Salivary flow rate can be measured by asking patients some questions. There are different types of commercial synthetic saliva such as BIOXTRA, but until now, no one can effectively relieve xerostomia. We tried to design a clinical research on BIOXTRA efficacy for treating xerostomia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this research, 58 patients with head and neck cancer (except salivary gland cancers) treated in Seyed-al-Shohada Hospital. The patients received at least 40-50 GY; and after 2 months of compilation treatment, they were evaluated by asking about having xerostomia. Before and after treatment with the BIOXTRA, the PH of the oral cavity, candida albicans, and lactobacillus counts measured and documented in laboratory. We used BIOXTRA for 2 weeks, 3 times daily, and then re-evaluated patients with some questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The counts of candida albicans and lactobacilli statistically significant decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xerostomia for most patients improved clinically during the day and night while PH of the oral cavity increased.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Gookizadeh
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Emami
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Najafizadeh
authors: Mahnaz
authors: M
authors: Roayaei
keywords: BIOXTRA; radiotherapy; xerostomia