Dental News
Researchers at the University of Louisville announced this past week that they are one step closer to helping millions of people who suffer from dry mouth because their salivary glands no longer work or because of disease. The salivary glands are essential for lubrication, defense and beginning digestion in the mouth.
The scientific discovery could form the basis for advanced therapies for patients whose salivary glands are damaged or no longer function due to radiation therapy, prescription drugs or Sjogren's Syndrome - a disorder often defined by its two most common symptoms - dry eyes and a dry mouth.
The scientific finding of Douglas Darling, PhD, professor, Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, UofL School of Dentistry, and his team identified a protein sorting mechanism used by the salivary gland. The National Institutes of Health supported study published on-line first this past week in the Journal of Dental Research.
No comments:
Post a Comment