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Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a rare salivary gland tumor which shares its histologic, immunohistochemical, and genetic features with the secretory carcinoma (SC) of breast. In this case report, we describe a case of MASC in a young adolescent male with swelling in the right angle of mandible which is a relatively rare site to present along with its correlation of cytological, histological, and immunohistochemical features. A 16-year-old male came with the complaint of swelling in the right angle of mandible since 2 years. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) neck revealed differential diagnosis of nerve sheath tumor, pleomorphic adenoma, and adenoid cystic neoplasm was kept, and subsequently fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done. FNAC was done in which differential diagnosis of myoepithelial neoplasm, acinic cell carcinoma, and SC was given. Surgical excision was done followed by histopathological examination. Immunohistochemistry panel was also applied, and final diagnosis of SC was rendered. SC has distinct cytological, histological, and immunohistochemical features which should be recognized by the pathologists for the appropriate management of the patient., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Cadmium (Cd), an element categorized as a non-essential transitional metal, has potential hazards to the health of both human beings and animals. Spirulina platensis (SP), a type of blue-green algae, possesses a high concentration of essential antioxidants. The present study aimed to explore the possible defensive role of SP against Cd-induced submandibular gland injury in rats by assessment of biomarkers related to both oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, which were further explored through histopathological examination of submandibular gland tissue. Consequently, the study included 32 mature rats, subdivided into four different groups as follows: control, SP, Cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ), and CdCl 2 /SP. The duration of the study was 24days. The results revealed that CdCl 2 induced submandibular gland injury as shown by the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and increased inflammatory reactions, in addition to, histopathological changes and overexpression of BAX immunostaining. Concurrent SP administration to CdCl2-treated rats significantly improved all these effects. We concluded that concurrent SP supplement improved the submandibular gland injury provoked by CdCl 2 ., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) dermal filler has been increasingly used in facial aesthetic procedures., Objective: To investigate clinical and histological changes associated with calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) dermal filler in the orofacial region., Materials and Methods: Forty-eight female Wistar rats were divided into CaHA and control groups. The material was applied in the ventral tongue and the submandibular region; the animals were euthanized after 7, 30, and 90 days., Results: After 7 days, yellowish nodules with a firm consistency were observed on the tongue. In 2 animals, the material migrated to the base of the tongue. Histopathological examination revealed CaHA spheres surrounded by an infiltrate, predominantly composed of macrophages. In the CaHA group, the percentage of collagen in the tongue and dermis was higher compared with the control group ( p < .05) at both 30 and 90 days. The thickness of the epidermis/dermis was also higher in the CaHA group ( p < .05). In 5 submandibular glands containing material, areas of edema and hyperemia were observed, along with infiltrates of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Changes in the morphology of ducts and acini in adjacent regions were evident., Conclusion: CaHA exhibits satisfactory properties for filling and collagen biostimulation in the tested regions. Further studies are required to explore the potential for migration and the glandular alterations., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Intermittent fasting exerts a profound beneficial influence on a spectrum of diseases through various mechanisms including regulation of immune responses, elimination of senescent- and pathogenic cells and improvement of stem cell-based tissue regeneration in a disease- and tissue-dependent manner. Our previous study demonstrated that alternate-day fasting (ADF) led to alleviation of xerostomia and sialadenitis in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a well-defined model of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). This present study delved into the previously unexplored impacts of ADF in this disease setting and revealed that ADF increases the proportion of salivary gland stem cells (SGSCs), defined as the EpCAM hi cell population among the lineage marker negative submandibular gland (SMG) cells. Furthermore, ADF downregulated the expression of p16 INK4a , a cellular senescence marker, which was concomitant with increased apoptosis and decreased expression and activity of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the SMGs, particularly in the SGSC-residing ductal compartments. RNA-sequencing analysis of purified SGSCs from NOD mice revealed that the significantly downregulated genes by ADF were mainly associated with sugar metabolism, amino acid biosynthetic process and MAPK signaling pathway, whereas the significantly upregulated genes related to fatty acid metabolic processes, among others. Collectively, these findings indicate that ADF increases the SGSC proportion, accompanied by a modulation of the SGSC property and a switch from sugar- to fatty acid-based metabolism. These findings lay the foundation for further investigation into the functionality of SGSCs influenced by ADF and shed light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which ADF exerts beneficial actions on salivary gland restoration in SS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To establish an inflammation grading system for radioactive iodine-induced sialadenitis (RAIS) based on spiral computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography and sialography., Methods: In all, 120 RAIS patients (18 males and 102 females) were retrospectively included. Spiral CT, ultrasonography and sialography appearances were analysed and categorized as follows: grade I, approximately normal or mild sialadenitis; grade II, moderate sialadenitis; and grade III, severe sialadenitis. Adenitis severity was analysed relative to sex, age, RAI treatment sessions and cumulative doses., Results: Spiral CT showed heterogeneous (78.9%) and atrophic changes (36.8%) in the parotid glands (PGs) and duct ectasia (24.8%) in the submandibular glands (SMGs). Ultrasonography showed heterogeneous echogenicity (54.3%) and diminished gland size (30.2%) in PGs and duct ectasia in SMGs (34.7%). Sialography showed duct obliteration in 25.3% PGs and 3.2% SMGs. Statistical analysis showed good consistency among the three imaging grading results. The incidence and severity of PG lesions were significantly higher than that of SMGs (p < 0.001). As for PGs, adenitis severity was associated with both treatment sessions and cumulative doses; but in SMGs, disease severity was only related to treatment sessions., Conclusions: A grading system for severity of RAIS was established based on spiral CT, ultrasonography and sialography appearances., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aims: Radiotherapy inevitably causes radiation damage to the salivary glands (SGs) in patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs). Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and imbalanced mitochondrial homeostasis are serious consequences of ionizing radiation in SGs; however, there are few mitochondria-targeting therapeutic approaches. Glycyrrhizin is the main extract of licorice root and exhibits antioxidant activity to relieve mitochondrial damage in certain oxidative stress conditions. Herein, the effects of glycyrrhizin on irradiated submandibular glands (SMGs) and the related mechanisms were investigated. Results: Glycyrrhizin reduced radiation damage in rat SMGs at both the cell and tissue levels, and promoted saliva secretion in irradiated SMGs. Glycyrrhizin significantly downregulated high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Moreover, glycyrrhizin significantly suppressed the increases in malondialdehyde and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels; elevated the activity of some critical antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione (GSH); and increased the GSH/GSSG ratio in irradiated cells. Importantly, glycyrrhizin effectively enhanced thioredoxin-2 levels and scavenged mitochondrial ROS, inhibited the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, improved adenosine triphosphate synthesis, preserved the mitochondrial ultrastructure, activated the proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α)/nuclear respiratory factor 1/2 (NRF1/2)/mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) signaling pathway, and inhibited mitochondria-related apoptosis in irradiated SMG cells and tissues. Innovation: Radiotherapy causes radiation sialadenitis in HNC patients. Our data suggest that glycyrrhizin could be a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant for the prevention of radiation damage in SGs. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that glycyrrhizin protects SMGs from radiation damage by downregulating HMGB1/TLR5 signaling, maintaining intracellular redox balance, eliminating mitochondrial ROS, preserving mitochondrial homeostasis, and inhibiting apoptosis.

Proton therapy gives less dose to healthy tissue compared to conventional X-ray therapy, but systematic comparisons of normal tissue responses are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate late tissue responses in the salivary glands following proton- or X-irradiation of the head and neck in mice. Moreover, we aimed at investigating molecular responses by monitoring the cytokine levels in serum and saliva. Female C57BL/6J mice underwent local fractionated irradiation with protons or X-rays to the maximally tolerated acute level. Saliva and serum were collected before and at different time points after irradiation to assess salivary gland function and cytokine expression. To study late responses in the major salivary glands, histological analyses were performed on tissues collected at day 105 after onset of irradiation. Saliva volume after proton and X-irradiation was significantly lower than for controls and remained reduced at all time points after irradiation. Protons caused reduced saliva production and fewer acinar cells in the submandibular glands compared to X-rays at day 105. X-rays induced a stronger inflammatory cytokine response in saliva compared to protons. This work supports previous preclinical findings and indicate that the relative biological effectiveness of protons in normal tissue might be higher than the commonly used value of 1.1., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Xerostomia, a common complication of type 2 diabetes, leads to an increased risk of caries, dysphagia, and dysgeusia. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies, such as ranibizumab (RBZ), have been used to treat diabetic retinopathy, their effects on the salivary glands are unknown. This study evaluated the effects of RBZ on salivary glands to reduce inflammation and restore salivary function in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes., Methods: Male KK-A y mice with type 2 diabetes (10-12 weeks old) were used. The diabetes mellitus (DM) group received phosphate-buffered saline, while the DM + RBZ group received an intraperitoneal administration of RBZ (100 μg/kg) 24 h before the experiment., Results: Ex vivo perfusion experiments showed a substantial increase in salivary secretion from the submandibular gland (SMG) in the DM + RBZ group. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were considerably lower in this group. In contrast, those of aquaporin 5 were substantially higher in the DM + RBZ group, as revealed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Furthermore, the number of lymphocyte infiltration spots in the SMG was notably lower in the DM + RBZ group. Finally, intracellular Ca 2+ signaling in acinar cells was considerably higher in the DM + RBZ group than that in the DM group., Conclusion: Treating a type 2 diabetic mouse model with RBZ restored salivary secretion through its anti-inflammatory effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Japanese Association for Oral Biology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Iguratimod (T-614) is a compound widely used as anti-rheumatic drug. This study investigated the effect and underlying mechanism of T-614 on experimental Sjögren's syndrome (ESS). ESS mice model was established by injection of submandibular gland protein. Mice were randomly divided into control, experimental Sjögren's syndrome (ESS), ESS + T-614 (10 mg/kg), ESS + T-614 (20 mg/kg), and ESS + T-614 (30 mg/kg) groups. Human submandibular gland (HSG) were cultured with 0, 0.5, 5, or 50 μg/ml T-614 in the absence or presence of interferon-α (IFN-α). Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and cytokine levels were used to detect immune cells activation in submandibular glands. Apoptosis in submandibular glands tissues and cells was determined by TUNEL and flow cytometry. Apoptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins were detected by western blotting. T-614 treatment attenuated submandibular gland damage in ESS mice. T-614 administration inhibited submandibular gland cell apoptosis in ESS mice. Furthermore, T-614 blocked inflammatory factor levels and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the submandibular glands. In vitro, results corroborated that T-614 could protect HSG cells from IFN-α-induced cell apoptosis and inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our results expounded that T-614 alleviated ESS by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Canonical transient receptor potential channels play a crucial role in cancer cell proliferation. While TRPC6 subtype detection in submandibular glands and the relevance of some TRPC channels in this gland have been shown in animal models, its histological detection in human lacrimal and submandibular glands, as well as related tumors, lacks systematic study. Studying TRPC6 in humans could lead to new therapeutic options. This research aimed to immunohistochemically detect TRPC6 in human samples of physiological lacrimal and submandibular glands and of adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma., Methods: Seven fixed body donors and samples of six cancer patients were examined. The ten tissue samples collected from the submandibular and lacrimal glands were then processed into histological slides and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Tumor samples were provided as sections. TRPC6 presence was determined by immunohistochemistry, which was performed by indirect detection with a primary TRPC6 antibody, a secondary HRP-conjugated antibody and the chromogen diaminobenzidine., Results: Results confirm TRPC6 expression in all ten physiological gland samples: all samples showed a immunohistochemical signal with varying intensity. No significant gender-specific differences could be observed. TRPC6 was detected in four of six submandibular adenoid cystic carcinoma and the mucoepidermoid carcinoma samples, especially in tumor cells' cytoplasma and nuclei. Excretory ducts consistently showed TRPC6. Mucous tubules, their nuclei and the nuclei of adipocytes generally showed no signal while serous acini and their nuclei showed a weak TRPC6 signal., Conclusion: The discovery of TRPC6 in glandular tissue indicates a role in salivary gland function and calcium homeostasis is a basis for further research into its significance for tumor development in adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary glands. TRPC6 could be used as a target for treatment of these tumors. However, the correlation between TRPC6 and submandibular and lacrimal gland diseases requires further exploration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

In Sjögren's disease (SjD), the salivary glandular epithelial cells can induce the chemotaxis of B cells by secreting B-cell chemokines such as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13). Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a major transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) predominantly expressed on epithelial cells that binds to and regulates heparan sulfate (HS)-binding molecules, including chemokines. We aimed to determine whether SDC-1 plays a role in the pathogenesis of SjD by acting on the binding of HS to B-cell chemokines. To assess changes in glandular inflammation and SDC-1 concentrations in the submandibular gland (SMG) and blood, female NOD/ShiLtJ and sex- and age-matched C57BL/10 mice were used. In the SMG of NOD/ShiLtJ mice, inflammatory responses were identified at 8 weeks of age, but increased SDC-1 concentrations in the SMG and blood were observed at 6 weeks of age, when inflammation had not yet started. As the inflammation of the SMG worsened, the SDC-1 concentrations in the SMG and blood increased. The expression of the CXCL13 and its receptor C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CXCR5) began to increase in the SMG at 6 weeks of age and continued until 12 weeks of age. Immunofluorescence staining in SMG tissue and normal murine mammary gland cells confirmed the co-localization of SDC-1 and CXCL13, and SDC-1 formed a complex with CXCL13 in an immunoprecipitation assay. Furthermore, NOD/ShiLtJ mice were treated with 5 mg/kg HS intraperitoneally thrice per week for 6-10 weeks of age, and the therapeutic effects in the SMG were assessed at the end of 10 weeks of age. NOD/ShiLtJ mice treated with HS showed attenuated salivary gland inflammation with reduced B-cell infiltration, germinal center formation and CXCR5 expression. These findings suggest that SDC-1 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SjD by binding to CXCL13 through the HS chain.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to show how sodium nitrite alters the histology of submandibular salivary glands and livers of Albino rats, as well as how chlorogenic acid may have therapeutic benefits., Methods: A sample size of thirty male Sprague Dawley Albino rats weighing between 100 and 150 g (5-6 weeks old) was randomly allocated into 3 equal groups. Group I: rats were used as controls and were given phosphate buffer solution, whereas Group II: rats were given an 80 mg/kg sodium nitrites (SN) daily dissolved in distilled water. The rats in Group III were given a daily dose of 80 mg/kg SN dissolved in distilled water and after 6 hours each rat received 50 mg/mL freshly prepared chlorogenic acid (CGA) every other day. For 12 weeks, all treatment modalities will be administered orally, every day. After the experiment, all rats were euthanized. Samples from salivary glands and livers were processed and stained with H&E and interleukin 6 (IL 6). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes were detected using an ELISA assay., Results: Groups III had nearly comparable findings to Group I regarding histological pattern with normal submandibular glands and livers features. Group III salivary gland treated with CGA exhibited higher SOD levels (20.60±4.81 U/g) in comparison to the SN group, and lower MDA levels (111.58±28.28 nmol/mg) in comparison to the SN treated samples. In comparison to the SN group, CGA treatment significantly reduced MDA levels in liver samples (167.56±21.17 nmol/mg) and raised SOD (30.85±6.77 U/g)., Conclusions: Chlorogenic acid has a protective effect against salivary gland and liver toxicity induced by SN in rats. This was mediated via the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of CGA and the restoration of oxidant/antioxidant balance in rat salivary gland and liver., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder of glucose metabolism that threatens several organs, including the submandibular (SMG) salivary glands. Antox (ANX) is a strong multivitamin with significant antioxidant benefits. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the beneficial roles of ANX supplementation in combination with insulin in alleviating diabetic SMG changes. For four weeks, 30 rats were divided into equal five groups (n = 6): (1) control group; (2) diabetic group (DM), with DM induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (50 mg/kg i.p.); (3) DM + ANX group: ANX was administrated (10 mg/kg/day/once daily/orally); (4) DM + insulin group: insulin was administrated 1U once/day/s.c.; and (5) DM + insulin + ANX group: co-administrated insulin. The addition of ANX to insulin in diabetic rats alleviated hyposalivation and histopathological alterations associated with diabetic rats. Remarkably, combined ANX and insulin exerted significant antioxidant effects, suppressing inflammatory and apoptotic pathways associated with increased salivary advanced glycation end-product (AGE) production and receptor for advanced glycation end-product expression (RAGE) activation in diabetic SMG tissues. Combined ANX and insulin administration in diabetic rats was more effective in alleviating SMG changes (functions and structures) than administration of insulin alone, exerting suppressive effects on AGE production and frustrating RAGE downstream pathways., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The salivary glands are often damaged during head and neck cancer radiotherapy. This results in chronic dry mouth, which adversely affects quality of life and for which there is no long-term cure. Mouse models of salivary gland injury are routinely used in regenerative research. However, there is no clear consensus on the radiation regime required to cause injury. Here, we analysed three regimes of γ-irradiation of the submandibular salivary gland. Transcriptional analysis, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry was used to profile DNA damage, gland architecture and immune cell changes 3 days after single doses of 10 or 15 Gy or three doses of 5 Gy. Irrespective of the regime, radiation induced comparable levels of DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, loss of glandular architecture, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and a reduction in tissue-resident macrophages, relative to those observed in non-irradiated submandibular glands. Given these data, coupled with the fact that repeated anaesthetic can negatively affect animal welfare and interfere with saliva secretion, we conclude that a single dose of 10 Gy irradiation is the most refined method of inducing acute salivary gland injury in a mouse model., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Objective: MicroRNA-23b-3p has been demonstrated to act as a safeguard against several autoimmune diseases. However, its role in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) remains unclear., Methods: In order to investigate its role in SS, we administered agomiR-23b-3p or agomiR-NC to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice via tail vein weekly for 6 weeks. The study examined the saliva flow rate, histological changes in submandibular glands, and levels of autoantibodies. Additionally, the levels of several cytokines, cell apoptosis, and NF-κB signaling were evaluated. The protective effect of miR-23b-3p was confirmed in a cell model., Results: The results demonstrated that miR-23b-3p overexpression improved salivary flow rates, inhibited lymphocyte infiltration, reduced cytokine levels, and suppressed cell apoptosis in NOD mice. Moreover, NF-κB signaling was inactivated following miR-23b-3p overexpression. In a cellular model of SS, overexpression of miR-23b-3p protected submandibular gland epithelial cells exposed to IFN-γ against apoptosis and inflammation by targeting SOX6., Conclusions: The study concludes that miR-23b-3p alleviates SS by targeting SOX6 and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. The miR-23b-3p/SOX6 axis represents a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for SS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumour of the salivary glands characterised by distant metastases, mainly to lungs and bone. Isolated metastasis to the liver is unusual. We present the case of a woman with an ACC of the submandibular gland (pT1N0) who underwent radical submandibular gland excision and selective neck dissection. Preoperative imaging identified a liver lesion with features suggestive of a haemangioma. Two-year postoperatively, a surveillance CT neck/trunk showed an increase in size of the left liver lobe lesion. Subsequent MR liver and US-guided biopsy confirmed the lesion to be metastatic ACC. The patient underwent a successful left lateral liver sectionectomy. She remains disease-free 2.5 years after her liver resection. A literature search revealed only four other similar cases. This report highlights that even early-stage ACCs of the salivary gland may present with synchronous solitary liver metastasis which can be effectively treated with curative surgery., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Leiomyoma is a benign tumour of smooth muscle origin. Leiomyoma arising in major salivary gland is under-reported. We report a case of a woman in her 40s with a submandibular gland tumour which represented a diagnostic challenge during preoperative assessment. The core needle biopsy of submandibular gland tumour revealed a spindle cell tumour suggestive of an undifferentiated tumour. As a malignancy could not be excluded, the submandibular gland tumour was removed en bloc with surrounding lymph nodes in level Ib of the neck. Leiomyoma may be included in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell salivary gland tumours, particularly when there are no signs of infiltration and preoperative investigations are inconclusive., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Abstract: Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a recently defined entity among salivary gland tumors. MASC bores a striking resemblance to secretory carcinoma of breast along with the characteristics of ETV6-NTRK3 translocation. Hence, the entity was designated as MASC and was formally included in the 4th edition of World Health Organization classification of head and neck tumors in 2017. To the best of our knowledge, around 12 cases of MASC have been described in the Indian literature. MASC commonly involves parotid gland (70%). Involvement of submandibular gland is still rarer (7%). Prognosis of MASC is comparable to other low grade salivary gland malignancies; however, aggressive behavior has also been reported in few cases. This case is one of the very few reported cases describing MASC with detailed clinical, cytology, and microscopy findings along with special stains and immunohistochemistry., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics.)

Objective: The current treatment and mechanism of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) are unclear. The purpose of the present study was to potential molecular mechanisms of SS., Methods: Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques reveal the targets and therapeutic approaches of SS., Results: We found through molecular biology techniques such as immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation that USP5 is a novel regulator of NLRP3 involvement in the pathological process of SS. USP5 was significantly downregulated in submandibular gland tissue of SS. Meanwhile, it was found that USP5 is a negative regulator of NLRP3 via ubiquitination NLRP3. In addition, SalvianolicacidB (SaB), a natural USP5 agonist, can alleviate ss by regulating the USP5/NLRP3 signaling pathway., Conclusion: Therefore, this study provides a new mechanism for SS and also provides new therapeutic targets for treating SS., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Although SARS-CoV-2 induces mucin hypersecretion in the respiratory tract, hyposalivation/xerostomia has been reported by COVID-19 patients. We evaluate the submandibular gland (SMGs) pathogenesis in SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice, focusing on the impact of infection on the mucin production and structural integrity of acini, ductal system, myoepithelial cells (MECs) and telocytes. The spike protein, the nucleocapsid protein, hACE2, actin, EGF, TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by immunofluorescence, and the Egfr and Muc5b expression was evaluated. In the infected animals, significant acinar hypertrophy was observed in contrast to ductal atrophy. Nucleocapsid proteins and/or viral particles were detected in the SMG cells, mainly in the nuclear membrane-derived vesicles, confirming the nuclear role in the viral formation. The acinar cells showed intense TNF-α and IL-1β immunoexpression, and the EGF-EGFR signaling increased, together with Muc5b upregulation. This finding explains mucin hypersecretion and acinar hypertrophy, which compress the ducts. Dying MECs and actin reduction were also observed, indicating failure of contraction and acinar support, favoring acinar hypertrophy. Viral assembly was found in the dying telocytes, pointing to these intercommunicating cells as viral transmitters in SMGs. Therefore, EGF-EGFR-induced mucin hypersecretion was triggered by SARS-CoV-2 in acinar cells, likely mediated by cytokines. The damage to telocytes and MECs may have favored the acinar hypertrophy, leading to ductal obstruction, explaining xerostomia in COVID-19 patients. Thus, acinar cells, telocytes and MECs may be viral targets, which favor replication and cell-to-cell viral transmission in the SMG, corroborating the high viral load in saliva of infected individuals.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can compromise the functioning of various organs, including the salivary glands (SG). The purinergic system is one of the most important inflammatory pathways in T2DM condition, and P2X7R and P2X4R are the primary purinergic receptors in SG that regulate inflammatory homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate P2X7R and P2X4R expression, and morphological changes in the submandibular gland (SMG) in T2DM. Twenty-four 5-week-old mice were randomly assigned to control (CON) and diabetes mellitus (DM) groups (n = 12 each). Body weight, diet, and blood glucose levels were monitored weekly. The histomorphology of the SMG and the expression of the P2X7R, and P2X7R was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) at 11 and 13 weeks of age. Our findings indicate a significant increase in food consumption, body weight, and blood glucose levels in the DM group. Although a significant increase in P2X7R and P2X4R expression was observed in the DM groups, the receptor location remained unchanged. We also observed a significant increase in the acinar area in the DM13w group, and a significant decrease in the ductal area in the DM11w and DM13w groups. Targeting purinergic receptors may offer novel therapeutic methods for diabetic complications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the histopathological immunohistochemical features of chronic sclerosing sialadenitis, emphasizing the IgG4-related disease., Methods: Seventeen cases of chronic sclerosing sialoadenitis were examined for histopathological aspects, (inflammation, fibrosis, glandular parenchyma, and lymphoid follicles) and immunohistochemistry (BCL2, CD3, CD20, CD34, CD163, p63, cyclin D1, mast cell, SMA, S100A4, IgG, and IgG4) which were scored. IgG4-related disease features were investigated. Demographic and clinical data were also collected., Results: Males predominated (10:7), with an average lesion size of 3.9 cm. Common histopathological findings included reduced acinar parenchyma, lymphoid follicle formation, and ductular proliferation. CD3-positive T lymphocytes and CD34- and SMA-positive stromal fibroblasts were abundant. Nine cases (53%) showed sialoliths and three cases met the criteria for IgG4-related disease., Conclusion: CSS of the submandibular gland represents a reactive pattern rather than IgG4-RD as only 3 cases seemed to be related to IgG4-RD. The immunohistochemical profile revealed an abundant population of CD3-positive T lymphocytes, as opposed to regulatory proteins such as cyclin D1, demonstrating that populations of CD34- and SMA-positive stromal fibroblasts contribute to the fibrosis characteristic of CSS. In addition, our results provide a comprehensive insight into the study of CSS and its relationship with IgG4-RD., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Lithiasis and stenosis may cause salivary duct dilatation due to the increased pressure in the duct upstream of the obstruction. Idiopathic dilatations, also called megaducts, with no associated increase in pressure, have only been described in the parotid gland. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of submandibular duct dilatation unrelated to lithiasis, stenosis, or an imperforate duct, to report the existence of submandibular megaducts. This retrospective single-centre study included patients treated at La Conception University Hospital, Marseille, France, between 2007 and 2019. Patients with submandibular duct dilatation of ≥4 mm confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging sialography (sialo-MRI), who also underwent sialendoscopy to identify any associated stenosis, were included. Patients with lithiasis, stenosis, an imperforate ostium, or a history of trauma or surgery to the floor of the mouth were excluded. Five patients (three female, two male) aged 30-76 years with idiopathic duct dilatations in nine submandibular glands were included. The most commonly reported symptoms were submandibular swelling, pruritus, and discomfort, mostly outside mealtimes. Recurrence of symptoms after treatment was frequent. This study is novel in describing submandibular megaducts as opposed to dilatation caused by high pressure associated with stenosis, with confirmation by sialo-MRI and sialendoscopy., (Copyright © 2023 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is an immune-mediated disorder that commonly manifests in the salivary glands. As a recently described disorder, the description and classification of IgG4-related disease is an ongoing process. Diagnosis of IgG4-related disease requires integration of clinical history, histopathology, and radiographic findings, including ultrasonography and sialography. In this case report, we correlate parotid ultrasonographic and sialographic findings in a patient with proven IgG4-related disorder confirmed from analysis of previous submandibular gland resections. We aim to highlight the utility of multimodality imaging in the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the behavior and treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) in the pediatric and young adult population and to identify factors affecting overall survival (OS)., Materials and Methods: The study analyzed salivary gland malignancies in patients aged 0-21 with AdCC histology using the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2018., Results: A total of 72 patients (59.7% parotid, 36.1% submandibular, 1.4% sublingual, 2.8% unspecified) met criteria. Median age was 18 years [range: 0-21]. High-grade dysplasia was present in 67% of cases. Therapy consisted of primary surgery for all cases, regional lymph node dissection (LND) (74%), radiotherapy (71%), chemotherapy (8%), and chemoradiation (7%). The 5-year OS rate was 93.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 86.9%-99.9%], respectively. Patients who underwent associated LND had improved OS (p = .0083, log-rank test) with a 5-year OS at 82.4% [95% CI: 66.1%-100%] versus 97.6% [95% CI: 93.0%-100%]. A significant difference in OS was found with unfavorable outcomes after positive marginal status: 5-year OS 84.1% [95% CI: 71.0%-99.7%] versus 100% [95% CI: 100%]; p < .001. Adjuvant therapy did not seem to impact the outcome., Conclusion: This study confirms that AdCC in children and young adults has an overall good prognosis despite frequent high grade. It suggests that cervical LND may be of importance, but the value of systematic adjuvant therapy is not confirmed. These findings emphasize the importance and relevance of population-based studies in shaping clinical practice and informing the design of future prospective investigations., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a complex systemic autoimmune disease. This study aims to elucidate a humanized NOD-Prkdc scid Il2rg em1 /Smoc (NSG) murine model to better clarify the pathogenesis of SS. NSG female mice were adoptively transferred with 10 million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) through the tail vein from healthy controls (HCs), primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients on D0. The mice were subcutaneously injected with C57/B6j submandibular gland (SG) protein or phosphate-buffered saline on D3, D17 and D31, respectively. NSG mice were successfully transplanted with human PBMCs. Compared with NSG-HC group, NSG-pSS and NSG-SLE mice exhibited a large number of lymphocytes infiltration in the SG, decreased salivary flow rate, lung involvement, decreased expression of genes related to salivary secretion, and the production of autoantibodies. Type I interferon-related genes were increased in the SG of NSG-pSS and NSG-SLE mice. The ratio of BAX/BCL2, BAX, cleaved caspase3, and TUNEL staining were increased in the SG of NSG-pSS and NSG-SLE mice. The expressions of p-MLKL and p-RIPK3 were increased in the SG of NSG-pSS and NSG-SLE mice. Increased expression of type I interferon-related genes, PANoptosis (apoptosis and necroptosis) were identified in the SG of this typical humanized NSG murine model of SS.

Background: Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is also known as autoimmune exocrine gland disease. Previous studies have confirmed that adaptive immunity plays an important role in the development of this disease. But less is known about the role of the innate immune system., Methods: To identify the core pathways, and local infiltrated immune cells in the local immune microenvironment of SS. We verified the activation of these core genes and core signaling pathways in SS model mice by in vivo experiment and transcriptome sequencing., Results: Finally, we identified 6 core genes EPSTI1, IFI44L, MX1, CXCL10, IFIT3, and IFI44. All the 6 genes had good diagnostic value. Based on multi-omics sequencing results and experimental studies, we found that cGAS-STING signaling pathway is most relevant to the pathogenesis of SS. By in vivo experiments, we verified that autophagy is the key brake to limit the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway., Conclusions: Maladaptive activation of autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling pathway are central contributors to the SG pathogenesis of pSS patient. Regulating autophagy by rapamycin may be a possible treatment for Sjögren's syndrome in the future., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Objectives: To analyze the clinicopathological features, locoregional or distant metastasis, and prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of submandibular gland (SMG-AdCC)., Methods: The clinicopathological data of 80 patients with SMG-AdCC from January 2005 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively, and the relationships between different parameters of SMG-AdCC and its locoregional or distant metastasis or prognosis were analyzed., Results: As of December 2019, 41 patients (51.25%) were tumor-free, while 20 patients were found to be living with tumors. The locoregional metastasis rate of grade II-III SMG-AdCC were found to be significantly higher than that of grade I. The five-year DFS and OS rates were 70.8% and 87.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that clinical size, extraglandular extension, pathological grade, pathological node (pN) status, and perineural invasion were correlated with DFS. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that pathological grade and extraglandular extension were independent prognostic factors for DFS; pN status and extraglandular extension were independent prognostic factors impacting OS., Conclusion: The pathological grade is a risk factor for locoregional metastasis of SMG-AdCC. Pathological grade, pN status, and status of extraglandular extension are independent prognostic factors for DFS/OS in SMG-AdCC patients., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in immunomodulation on non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, as the model for Sjögren's syndrome (SS)., Methods: Carbon quantum dots were generated from Setaria viridis via a hydrothermal process. Their toxic effects were tested by cell viability and blood chemistry analysis, meanwhile therapeutic effects were investigated in NOD mice in the aspects of saliva flow, histology, and immune cell distribution., Results: Carbon quantum dots, with rich surface chemistry and unique optical properties, showed non-cytotoxicity in vitro or no damage in vivo. Intravenously applied CQDs alleviated inflammation in the submandibular glands in NOD mice after 6-week treatments. The inflammatory area index and focus score were significantly decreased in CQD-treated mice. Besides, the levels of anti-SSA and anti-SSB were decreased in the presence of CQDs. The stimulated saliva flow rates and weight of submandibular glands were significantly increased in CQD-treated mice by reducing the apoptosis of cells. The CD3 + and CD4 + T cells distributed around the ducts of submandibular glands were significantly decreased, while the percentage of Foxp3 + cells was higher in CQD-treated mice than that in the control group., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CQDs may ameliorate the dysregulated immune processes in NOD mice., (© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

A 73-year-old man was presented with painless, bilateral swelling of the submandibular salivary glands and unilateral swelling of the parotid gland on the right side, and complaints of dry mouth. A parotid biopsy was taken and a serologic exam was carried out, resulting in the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease. IgG4-related disease is a rare systemic disorder that can cause symptoms in the head and neck region. Usually there are complaints of bilateral, painless swelling of the submandibular, parotid and/or lacrimal glands, with or without complaints of dryness of the mouth and eyes.

Background: The submandibular gland (SMG) is sacrificed during neck dissection in patients undergoing curative surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This may cause a decrease in the production of saliva and result in xerostomia., Purpose: This study aimed to determine the incidence, invasion patterns, risk factors, and prognosis of SMG involvement in OSCC., Methods: The primary predictor variable in this study was SMG involvement, and the secondary predictor was prognosis., Main Findings: The primary outcome variables were patient characteristics and pathological results for extranodal extension (ENE), perineural invasion (PNI), and pN stage. Four out of 173 patients (2.23 %) showed SMG involvement. Of these cases, one (25 %) was from the primary lesion and three (75 %) were from the metastatic neck lymph nodes (LNs). The primary lesion was located on the lower gingiva, and the other three were from level-Ib LNs with ENE. The pathological PNI was observed in three of the four patients, and ENE was observed in three of the four patients. Preoperative CT and MR revealed SMG invasion and contact in two patients. There were significant differences in the ENE and pN stages between patients with and without SMG involvement (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the overall survival between patients with (25.0 %) and without (71.5 %) SMG involvement (P = 0.011)., Conclusions: SMG involvement was associated with ENE, pN stage, and poor prognosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We report an unusual case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) in the submandibular gland. The mass had a unique calcification. Panoramic tomography revealed sponge-like calcification. The central portion displayed heterogeneous high signal intensity on T1-weighted image (T1WI) and T2-weighted image (T2WI), and heterogeneously moderate signal intensity on a short-TI inversion recovery (STIR) image. The ADC was low (0.78 × 10 -3 mm 2 /sec). After surgical excision, a pathological examination revealed that the mass contained CXPA as a minor component. Tumor cells with large hyperchromatic nuclei and eosinophilic or clear cytoplasm proliferated in irregular small tubule formations or cribriform or Roman-bridge structures in hyalinized or focally ossified stroma. The entire mass was calcified, particularly in the central region. Taken together, the reduced T1 relaxation times were related to the surface effects of diamagnetic particles, which were observed at calcium particle concentrations of up to 30%. We report a CXPA with unusual sponge-like calcification, which appeared unusually hyperintense on T1WI due to a surface effect., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.)

Objective: To explore the protective effect of human urine-derived stem cell exosomes (hUSC-Exos) on radiation-induced salivary gland (SG) injuries in Sprague Dawley rats., Methods: Fresh adult urine was collected, and primary hUSCs were isolated and identified. The hUSCs were hypoxia-pretreated with 1% oxygen for 24 h and then transferred to a normoxic culture environment for 24 h. The hUSC-Exos were collected and identified for exosomes. A radiation-induced injury model was established in the rats, and exosomes were introduced by local injection in the SG and tail vein. The submandibular gland was excised for morphological observation 1 week later. Immunohistochemical detection of the glandular tissue was conducted by α-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), stem cell growth factor receptor (c-Kit) staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Qualitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were adopted to detect the gene and protein expression of Wnt3a, GSK3β, and Axin., Results: In both the normoxic and hypoxic hUSC-Exo groups, microvesicular structures with bilayer membranes of approximately 80 nm in diameter were detected, and the expressions of CD9 and CD63 were detected by nanoflow cytometry. Compared with the control group, in the radiation-induced injury model group, the expression of a-SMA was significantly higher, the expression of c-Kit was significantly lower, and the expressions of Wnt3a, GSK3β, and Axin were significantly upregulated; the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Compared with the model group, in the normoxic and hypoxic hUSC-Exo groups, the expression of a-SMA was significantly decreased, the expression of c-Kit was significantly increased, and the expressions of Wnt3a, GSK3β, and Axin were significantly upregulated; the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Hypoxia-pretreated hUSC-Exos could repair radiation-induced SG injuries by activating the Wnt3a/GSK3β pathway to suppress the expressions of a-SMA and c-Kit., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease. Its mechanism and treatment methods are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rutin (Ru) on SS. Proteomics was used to detect differential proteins in the submandibular glands of normal mice and SS mice. Salivary secretion (SAS) and salivary gland index (SGI) were detected. Oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine in submandibular glands were detected. The levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and p-NF-κBp65 in submandibular gland tissues and submandibular gland cells of overexpressed calcium-sensing receptor (over-CaR) mice and overexpressed CaR primary submandibular gland cells (over-CaR-PSGs) were detected. In total, 327 differential proteins were identified in the submandibular gland tissues of SS mice compared to control mice. CaR was one of the most differential proteins and significantly increased compared to control mice. Ru could significantly increase SGI and SGI, and inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine in submandibular glands. In addition, Ru was shown to further improve SS via regulation of the CaR/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signal pathway. Overexpression of CaR counteracted partial activity of Ru. CaR may be an important target for the treatment of SS. In addition, Ru improved the SS via the CaR/NLRP3/NF-κB signal pathway. This study provides a basis for the treatments for SS., (© 2024. The Society for In Vitro Biology.)

Background: Peripheral tissue biopsy in Parkinson's disease (PD) may be valuable for clinical care, biomarker validation, and as research enrollment criteria., Objective: Determine whether submandibular gland pathologic alpha-synuclein (aSyn) density is symmetrical and whether previous needle biopsy caused tissue damage., Methods: Thirty autopsy-confirmed PD cases having fixed submandibular gland tissue from one side and frozen submandibular gland tissue from the contralateral side were studied. Tissue was stained for phosphorylated aSyn and density (0-4 semiquantitative scale) was determined. Three previously biopsied cases were also assessed for tissue damage at subsequent autopsy., Results: Mean (SD) age was 80.9 (5.5) years and disease duration 12.5 (9.3). Submandibular gland aSyn staining had a mean score of 2.13 for both the initially fixed and the initially frozen submandibular glands. The correlation between aSyn density of the two sides was r = 0.63. Correlation of aSyn density, in the originally fixed submandibular gland, with disease duration was good (r = 0.49, p =.006). No permanent tissue damage was found in the three previously biopsied cases., Conclusions: This study found good correlation between aSyn density in both submandibular glands of patients with PD and found no evidence of significant tissue damage in previously biopsied subjects., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology, affecting single/multiple organ(s). Pathological findings include the infiltration of IgG4-producing plasma cells, obliterative phlebitis, and storiform fibrosis. Although immunological studies have shed light on the dysregulation of lymphocytes in IgG4-RD pathogenesis, the role of non-immune cells remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the demographics and characteristics of non-immune cells in IgG4-RD and explore potential biomarkers derived from non-immune cells in the sera., Methods: We conducted single-cell RNA sequence (scRNA-seq) on non-immune cells isolated from submandibular glands of IgG4-RD patients. We focused on fibroblasts expressing collagen type XV and confirmed the presence of those fibroblasts using immunohistochemistry. Additionally, we measured the levels of collagen type XV in the sera of IgG4-RD patients., Results: The scRNA-seq analysis revealed several distinct clusters consisting of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, ductal cells, and muscle cells. Differential gene expression analysis showed upregulation of COL15A1 in IgG4-RD fibroblasts compared to control subjects. Notably, COL15A1-positive fibroblasts exhibited a distinct transcriptome compared to COL15A1-negative counterparts. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed a significant presence of collagen type XV-positive fibroblasts in IgG4-RD patients. Furthermore, immune-suppressive therapy in active IgG4-RD patients resulted in decreased serum levels of collagen type XV., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that collagen type XV-producing fibroblasts may represent a disease-characterizing non-immune cell population in IgG4-RD and hold potential as a disease-monitoring marker., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Dysgenetic polycystic disease, also known just as polycystic disease, is a very rare developmental abnormality affecting the salivary gland duct system. This entity has been reported in only 21 patients previously, although a careful review suggests only 16 patients have histological evidence of the disease. In previously reported cases, this lesion most commonly presents as either an incidental finding or as a swelling affecting the parotid glands bilaterally, or rarely the submandibular glands bilaterally. This case report details the first time dysgenetic polycystic disease is found affecting the minor salivary glands of the tongue in a 55-year-old male. Histochemical and immunohistochemical stains are presented and include positivity for AE1/AE3 and p63, and negativity for progesterone receptor, androgen receptor, mammaglobin, S100 and BRAF V600E. PAS-D and Congo Red highlight special microamyloid spheroliths structures intraluminally., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (CSS), currently included in the group of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related diseases, is an under-recognized inflammatory lesion that afflicts mostly the submandibular gland of 40-60 years adults. To our knowledge, only one case of CSS located in the submandibular gland has been reported in childhood to date. We present a case of CSS in a 5-year-old male child. He presented with bilateral submandibular swellings that clinically resembled discrete lumps, suspected to be tumors. The completely resected tumors composed predominantly of dense lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive cells [77-90 IgG(+) cells per high-power field; IgG4(+)∕IgG(+) cells ratio of 42.77%]. We discuss the peculiarities of this case, and we also review the literature on CSS.

Inflammatory response is one of the essential parts of various pathogenic mechanisms of radiation-induced salivary dysfunction. The effect of decreasing the levels of inflammatory cytokines on alleviating submandibular gland injuries after irradiation is unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of the antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, infliximab, on radiation-induced submandibular gland dysfunction in rats. Male Wistar rats received a single 20 Gy dose to the right submandibular gland region or sham irradiated. Meanwhile, the irradiated group was divided into infliximab treatment groups or untreated groups. Animals were euthanized at 1, 6, and 12 weeks postirradiation, and the irradiated submandibular gland was dissected for subsequent detection. Submandibular gland exposure caused obvious pathological changes. The increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, represent an aggravated inflammatory response. The results of the western blot, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence staining showed upregulated levels of claudin-1, claudin-3, and aquaporin 5 and downregulated levels of claudin-4. Moreover, nuclear factor kappa-B phosphorylation levels were also up-regulated. In subsequent experiments, we found that infliximab alleviated inflammatory response, up-regulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 levels, and improved claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-4, and aquaporin 5 expression. Our results indicate that infliximab might improve the para-cellular pathway and trans-cellular pathway destruction by reducing the inflammatory., (© 2024 by Radiation Research Society.)

Background: Lymphomas affecting the submandibular glands are very uncommon and few reports are currently available in the literature. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to describe the clinical and microscopic features of an original series of lymphomas affecting the submandibular glands., Material and Methods: The pathology files of two institutions were searched for lymphoma cases affecting the submandibular glands. The original hematoxylin and eosin, and immunohistochemical slides were revised by a pathologist for diagnosis confirmation following the revised 4th edition of the World Health Organization classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Clinical data regarding age, sex, clinical manifestation, treatment, follow-up and status at last appointment were retrieved from the patients' medical charts., Results: During the period investigated, 16 cases were included in the study. Females predominated (10:6) with a mean age of 57.8 years-old. Tumors usually presented as asymptomatic swellings. MALT lymphoma represented the most common subtype, followed by diffuse large B cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Three patients died, one of them affected by plasmablastic lymphoma, one by DLBCL and one by MALT lymphoma., Conclusions: Low-grade B cell lymphomas predominate in the submandibular glands, but DLBCL and other subtypes may also be rarely diagnosed in this salivary gland.

Salivary gland hypofunction adversely affects the oral environment and daily life by causing dry mouth (xerostomia). Senescence-related atrophy of salivary gland tissues is one cause of xerostomia, and it is particularly common among the elderly. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood, and no treatment has been established. Therefore, we examined age-related changes in senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors, which regulate stemness and cellular senescence, in mouse submandibular glands. We analyzed the submandibular glands of 6-week-old (young group, n = 6) and 82-week-old mice (aged group, n = 6). We performed salivary flow rate measurements, histological analysis including immunohistochemistry, and quantitative real-time PCR. The salivary flow rate was significantly lower in the aged group than in the young group. In addition, immunostaining and quantitative real-time PCR illustrated that aquaporin-5 and α-amylase expressions were significantly decreased in aged mice, indicating salivary gland hypofunction. c-Kit and cytokeratin 5 expressions were also significantly decreased in this group, suggesting that the regenerative abilities of the submandibular glands were reduced because of decreased stem and progenitor cell counts. Furthermore, the levels of p16 INK4a and p21 (the senescence markers) and TGF-β1 and IL-6 (SASP factors) were significantly increased in mice, suggesting that senescence had been promoted. The decreased numbers of stem and progenitor cells and increased levels of SASP factors might be associated with age-related changes in mouse submandibular glands. These results might facilitate the development of treatments for senescence-related submandibular gland hypofunction., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Society of The Nippon Dental University.)

Abstract: A 47-year-old woman presented to our emergency department with a 10-day history of pain, halitosis, and swelling below the left jaw. The patient was diagnosed with left sialadenitis and left submandibular abscess by tissue biopsy. An otolaryngologist performed transcervical incision and drainage of the abscess 1 day after admission. Postoperatively, the patient complained of a sensation of fluid leakage from the mouth, and a continuous purulent discharge was observed. One month postoperatively, a salivary gland scan and SPECT/CT were performed to investigate the sialorrhea and the cause of the discharge. Salivary gland SPECT/CT images localized the saliva leakage site., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Aim of this study was to explore the survival predictive factors and treatment outcomes in a cohort of SGC patients treated at a single center over a period of 25 years., Materials and Methods: Patients who had received primary treatment for SGC were enroled. Outcomes evaluated were: overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS), recurrence free survival (RFS), locoregional recurrence free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis free survival (DFS)., Results: A total of 40 patients with SGC were enroled in the study. The most common tumor was the adenoid cystic carcinoma (60% of cases). Cumulative OS for 5-and 10-year follow up period was 81% and 60%, respectively. Thirteen patients (32.5%) developed distant metastases during follow-up. Nodal status, high-grade histology, tumor stage and adjuvant radiation-therapy (RT) were significant variables on multivariate analysis for survival and treatment outcomes., Conclusions: Submandibular gland carcinomas represent rare and heterogenous tumor group regarding histological appearance and locoregional and distant metastatic potential. Tumor histological grade, AJCC tumor stage and nodal status were the strongest predictive factors for survival and treatment outcomes. RT improved OS and locoregional treatment outcome, but not DFS. Elective neck dissection (END) could be beneficial for selected cases of SGC. Superselective neck dissection of levels I-IIa may be the level of dissection for END. Distant metastases were the main cause of death and treatment failure. Prognostic factors for poor DMFS were AJCC stage III and IV, high tumor grade and nodal status., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors declare that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: To investigate the prevalence and predictive factors of xerostomia during induction chemotherapy (IC) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)., Methods: We prospectively enrolled NPC patients who received IC between October 2020 and October 2021. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Xerostomia Inventory (XI) were used to evaluate the condition of xerostomia. The volume of the submandibular gland (SMG) was also calculated before and after IC., Results: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 32.7% (n = 17) experienced xerostomia before IC. There were 32 (61.5%) patients suffered from xerostomia after IC, including 21 (40.4%) patients with newly diagnosed xerostomia after IC and 11 (21.1%) patients complained their xerostomia aggravated in those with xerostomia before IC. The median XI scores increased from 11 (standard deviation [SD], 2.930) to 18 (SD 3.995), 16 (SD 3.605), and 17 (SD 4.331) after the first, second, and third cycles of IC, respectively. The median score of VAS also increased from 0 to 4 during the following three cycles of IC. In those with IC-related xerostomia, the SMG volume after IC was significantly decreased compared with those without IC-related xerostomia (P = 0.001). The reduction of the SMG volume after IC was the independent risk factor for xerostomia (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: Approximately two-thirds of NPC patients suffered from IC-related xerostomia and patients with a reduction of SMG volume after IC had a higher risk of xerostomia., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: The therapeutic regimen of submandibular gland carcinoma (SGC) has not reached consensus, especially for the neck treatment of patients with cN0., Materials and Methods: Patients with SGC were identified from the medical database of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital. Kaplan-Meier analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression were employed to evaluate the survival and independent prognostic factors., Results: Two hundred and fifteen patients with SGC were retrospectively reviewed. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 71.5% and 77.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that histological grade, cT classification, cN classification, and perineural invasion (PNI) were independent prognostic factors for DFS, while histological grade, cT classification, cN classification, and age were those for OS. The neck dissection showed no significant survival benefit for patients with cN0. Lung was the most common site of distant metastasis (16.7%)., Conclusions: Histological grade, cT classification, cN classification, age, and PNI were independent prognostic factors of patient with SGC, which should be the main considerations for making therapeutic regimens. Our study also verifies the neck dissection of patient with cN0 is unnecessary, and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is vital for patients with pN+., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)