Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands and usually presents as persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes due to functional impairment of the salivary and lacrimal glands [1, 2]. The common histolopathological feature of all organs affected is a potentially progressive lymphocytic infiltration. Salivary glands are the most studied organs b...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the expression of IL-34 in labial salivary glands (LSGs) of patients with primary SS (p-SS) and its role in inducing a pro-inflammatory monocyte phenotype. METHODS LSG biopsies were obtained from 20 patients with p-SS and 10 patients with non-Sjögren's sicca syndrome (n-SS). The expression of IL-34, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-23 was assessed by real-time PCR. IL-34 e...

Objectives. To investigate the expression of IL-34 in labial salivary glands (LSGs) of patients with primary SS (p-SS) and its role in inducing a pro-inflammatory monocyte phenotype. Methods. LSG biopsies were obtained from 20 patients with p-SS and 10 patients with non-Sjögren’s sicca syndrome (n-SS). The expression of IL-34, IL-1b, TNF-a, IL-17 and IL-23 was assessed by real-time PCR. IL-34 e...

OBJECTIVE This study proposes a revision of the literature on the current techniques employed in salivary gland biopsy. METHODS A systematic review of the literature between January 1990 and January 2010 was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search terms were: 'biopsy AND parotid AND Sjögren'; 'biopsy AND sublingual salivary gland AND ...

The labial gland secretions from males of the bumble bee Bombus (Pyrobombus) perplexus Cresson were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the electron impact and positive ion chemical ionization mode. The major compound of the complex mixture of alkenols, alkenals, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, wax type esters and steroids is 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,6,10-hexadecatrien-1-ol (g...

We report the case of a 22-year-old woman who is suspected of having primary Sjögren s syndrome. She complaining of bilateral swelling of eyelids and the parotid glands of three weeks duration. Physical examination revealed a bilateral enlargement of both parotid glands, which were solid and painful. Sjögren s syndrome was suspected at that stage, and the serologic and specific analysis were do...

Sir, In 1870, von Volkmann (1) introduced the term cheilitis glandularis (CG). He described a distinct, chronic inflammatory condition of the lower lip characterized by mucopurulent exudates from the ductal orifices of enlarged labial salivary glands. Historically, CG has been classified into three subtypes: simplex, superficial suppurative, and deep suppurative. However, it is now believed tha...

SIR, We read with interest the report of Pijpe et al. [1] comparing parotid gland with labial biopsy in 35 patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS). We agree with the authors about the difficulties arising from the use of labial gland biopsy in the diagnosis of SS, particularly related to the histological evaluation of focus score (FS), requiring skilled pathologists. Although Greenspan and Daniel...