Recurrent sialoliths after excision of the bilateral submandibular glands for sialolithiasis treatment: A case report

Microbiomic association between the saliva and salivary stone in patients with sialolithiasis

Salivary stones, known as sialoliths, form within the salivary ducts due to abnormal salivary composition and cause painful symptoms, for which surgical removal is the primary treatment. This study explored the role of the salivary microbial communities in the formation of sialoliths. We conducted a comparative analysis of microbial communities present in the saliva and salivary stones, and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene in samples obtained from patients with sialoliths and from healthy individuals. Although the diversity in the saliva was high, the essential features of the microbial environment in sialoliths were low diversity and evenness. The association of microbial abundance between stones and saliva revealed a positive correlation between Peptostreptococcus and Porphyromonas, and a negative correlation for Pseudomonas in saliva. The functional potential differences between saliva and stones Bacterial chemotaxis and the citrate cycle were negatively correlated with most genera found in salivary stone samples. However, the functions required for organic compound degradation did not differ between the saliva samples. Although some microbes were shared between the sialoliths and saliva, their compositions differed significantly. Our study presents a novel comparison between salivary stones and salivary microbiomes, suggesting potential preventive strategies against sialolithiasis.

[Narrative review of imaging studies of calcifications of the submandibular gland]

Sialolithiasis is one of the most common pathologies of the major salivary glands and occurs more frequently in the submandibular glands. Between 80 and 95% of sialoliths develop in the submandibular glands, between 5 and 20% in the parotid gland, and only 1% in the sublingual gland. Sialoliths form within the parenchyma and associated duct systems. In Wharton's duct (80-90%) and only 15% in the gland. Sialolithiasis is the cause of pain and inflammation of the salivary gland by obstructing the duct and preventing salivary secretion, before, during and after food.The objective of this article was to review the different diagnostic imaging methods used for the study of calcifications of the submandibular gland, based on different studies reported in contemporary scientific literature, in order to establish the correct diagnosis. A search of the literature was carried out in the main information sources including Medline (via PubMed), SEVIER, SCIELO, and LILACS, using the search terms with a date limitation of the last 5 years on average. The selected articles included information regarding the calcifications of the salivary glands. Imaging studies of salivary gland calcifications can be obtained with conventional radiographs, Sialography, Ultrasonography (US), Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR).

Development of a 3D-Printed Drug-Eluting Stent for Treating Obstructive Salivary Gland Disease

Most studies of obstructive salivary gland disease have reported only statistical aspects, surgical operations, and prescriptions and have simulated the phenomena occurring in the salivary glands and ductal tissues. However, no direct lesion treatments involving drug-eluting stents have been used to reduce salivary pooling induced by inflammation. In this study, a biodegradable polymer polycaprolactone (PCL)-based antibiotic-eluting stent was developed to treat recurrent obstructive salivary gland disease. The structure's diameter was designed after consideration of the human anatomical structure, and the data were processed in a form suitable for three-dimensional (3D) printing via computer-aided design and manufacturing. After the proper mixing conditions of the antibiotics and PCL were ensured, the optimized printing conditions were secured and the stent was successfully printed with the original lumen size diameter maintained. Amoxicillin and cefotaxime, the antibiotics loaded in this study, did not lose their original antimicrobial activity under the 3D printing process and were effectively released from the constructs for verification of the antimicrobial activity against the causative bacteria according to their concentrations. In addition, antibiotic-eluting stents fabricated in a mesh-like network form were proven stable and capable of sustained release, thereby demonstrating the possibility of treating recurrent obstruction salivary gland disease.