Characterisation of human saliva as a platform for oral dissolution medium development

Human saliva is a biological fluid of great importance in the field of dissolution testing. However, until now, no consensus has been reached on its key characteristics relevant to dissolution testing. As a result, it is difficult to select or develop an in vitro dissolution medium to best represent human saliva. In this study, the pH, buffer capacity, surface tension, viscosity and flow rate of both unstimulated (US) and stimulated (SS) human saliva were investigated in order to provide a platform of reference for future dissolution studies using simulated salivary fluids. Age and gender related differences in a sample size of 30 participants for each parameter were investigated. Significant differences were established between US and SS for all characteristics except surface tension. Therefore, the requirement for using two simulated salivary fluids should be considered when developing an oral dissolution model

ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDER IN YOUNG-ADULTS

Background. The effectiveness of different assessment procedures for determining prevalence rates of psychiatric disorder in young adults was investigated. Method. In a two-stage multi-method procedure, the Young Adult Self-Report, the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), the Structured Interview far Personality Disorders (Revised), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were used to assess prevalence rates in 706 19-24-year-olds from the general population. Furthermore, individuals' subjective perception of distress and referral to mental health services were assessed. Results. The prevalence of any SCAN/DSM-III-R disorder was 19.3% (95% confidence interval: 11.2-27.4%). Most subjects who received a SCAN/DSM-III-R diagnosis were only mildly impaired. The highest prevalence rates of dysfunctioning (GAF score below 61) without referral to mental health services were for dissociative disorder (2.3%), sleep disorder (2.1%), alcohol dependence (1.3%) and affective disorder (1.8%). Conclusion. Instruments that assess functional impairment in addition to DSM-III-R diagnoses are indispensable in prevalence studies

Treatment of xerostomia with polymer-based saliva substitutes in patients with Sjogren's syndrome

Objective. To determine the efficacy of 3 types of polymer-based saliva substitutes in reducing oral dryness in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Methods. Subjective efficacy of 3 different saliva substitutes (determined by self-administered questionnaire) was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 43 patients with primary and secondary SS. High-viscosity versus low-viscosity xanthan gum-based saliva substitutes were also compared in 33 SS patients, Salivary flow rates (SFR) were determined to examine correlations between the SFR and the subjective efficacy of the saliva substitute. Results. Neither the saliva substitutes nor the placebo was truly effective. Preference for a particular saliva substitute over placebo was equally distributed among the 3 types of substitutes. The SFR of patients who preferred polyacrylic acid-based saliva substitutes was lower than that in patients who preferred the porcine mucin-based substitute (P <0.05). Patients whose oral dryness was reduced by low-viscoelastic substitutes had a low stimulated SFR (<0.20 ml/minute; P <0.05). Conclusion. The optimal properties of a saliva substitute are not the same for all patients with SS, but are dependent on such parameters as the individual SFR. Thus, to determine the best saliva substitute for a particular patient, it is necessary to have the patient try a number of substitutes of different viscoelastic properties

ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDER IN YOUNG-ADULTS

Background. The effectiveness of different assessment procedures for determining prevalence rates of psychiatric disorder in young adults was investigated. Method. In a two-stage multi-method procedure, the Young Adult Self-Report, the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), the Structured Interview far Personality Disorders (Revised), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were used to assess prevalence rates in 706 19-24-year-olds from the general population. Furthermore, individuals' subjective perception of distress and referral to mental health services were assessed. Results. The prevalence of any SCAN/DSM-III-R disorder was 19.3% (95% confidence interval: 11.2-27.4%). Most subjects who received a SCAN/DSM-III-R diagnosis were only mildly impaired. The highest prevalence rates of dysfunctioning (GAF score below 61) without referral to mental health services were for dissociative disorder (2.3%), sleep disorder (2.1%), alcohol dependence (1.3%) and affective disorder (1.8%). Conclusion. Instruments that assess functional impairment in addition to DSM-III-R diagnoses are indispensable in prevalence studies