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Open research questions in Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions

191 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,234 Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Explicit definition of the target quantity and temporal relationship is required, - Analytical and statistical evaluation of the saliva-to-circulating-insulin relationship is needed, - Assessment of fixed-model performance in independent data is required, - Characterization of individual prediction error is necessary, - Independent external validation is required

    Salivary Versus Circulating Insulin in Humans: Quantitative Evidence and Validation Requirements · 2026 · DOI

  • One challenge is the lack of standardization in salivary biomarker measurement. Another challenge is the potential for substantial inter-individual variability in salivary biomarker levels. A third challenge is the need to evaluate the effect of age on the relationship between salivary and serum biomarker levels.

    Salivary and serum levels of NT-proBNP, troponin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with heart failure · 2026 · DOI

  • investigate the use of salivary biomarkers in other cardiovascular diseases, - compare the performance of different non-invasive methods for heart failure diagnosis, - explore the potential of salivary biomarkers for monitoring heart failure treatment

    Salivary and serum levels of NT-proBNP, troponin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with heart failure · 2026 · DOI

  • The sample size was limited to three participants, - The study was a pilot feasibility study, - Emphasis was placed on functional validation rather than statistical generalizability

    Development of a device for continuous salivary pH measurement at two locations in the oral cavity · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate the results, - Investigation of the sensor system in different populations and environments, - Development of more advanced sensor systems for intraoral pH measurement

    Development of a device for continuous salivary pH measurement at two locations in the oral cavity · 2026 · DOI

  • heterogeneity in the study designs, populations, and outcome measures, - limited evidence from a single retrospective cohort study for fixed restorations, - case reports and case series with fewer than 10 cases were excluded, - studies not published in English were excluded

    Dental prosthetic treatment outcomes in patients with xerostomia and hyposalivation: A scoping review · 2026 · DOI

  • investigating histone lactylation in SjD salivary gland pathology, - examining how current and emerging SjD therapeutics may intersect with the metabolic-epigenetic pathways, - preclinical strategies targeting lactylation

    Histone lactylation: a metabolic-epigenetic bridge linking glycolysis to salivary gland fibrosis in Sjögren’s disease · 2026 · DOI

  • further studies are needed to investigate the association between xerostomia and/or hyposalivation and prosthetic treatment outcomes, - research on the effects of radiation dose at the implant site on implant survival is needed, - studies on the use of denture adhesives in patients with hyposalivation are required

    Dental prosthetic treatment outcomes in patients with xerostomia and hyposalivation: A scoping review · 2026 · DOI

  • direct evidence in SjD is currently lacking, - no drug specifically designed to inhibit histone lactylation has yet entered clinical trials for SjD

    Histone lactylation: a metabolic-epigenetic bridge linking glycolysis to salivary gland fibrosis in Sjögren’s disease · 2026 · DOI

  • Although an immediate salivary response following CD insertion is biologically plausible, the magnitude and persistence of changes in salivary flow, pH, and biomarkers after treatment remain incompletely understood.

    Salivary Parameters Before and After Removable Complete Denture Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Although BMS' impact on patients is documented, family member impact remains poorly understood.

    Family Impact of Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Cross‐Sectional Study Using FROM ‐16 · 2026 · DOI

  • Current evidence supports irradiation protocol standardization but remains insufficient to define an optimal protocol.

    Photobiomodulation Irradiation Protocols for Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Protocol-Level Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials · 2026 · DOI

  • Attributing CNS manifestations to direct SjD involvement or coexisting conditions remains unclear and cannot be assumed to be causally linked.

    A Scoping Review and Meta‐Analysis of Proportions of Central Nervous System Manifestations Reported in Patients with Sjögren's Disease · 2026 · DOI

  • OBJECTIVES: Topical capsaicin is widely used for managing peripheral neuropathies; however, its impact on gustatory perception following prolonged oral use remains unclear.

    Effects of Oral Topical Capsaicin Gel on Taste Perception in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study · 2025 · DOI

  • However, it remains unknown whether sex hormones contribute to changes in the nerve fiber density in the tongues of patients with BMS.

    Effects of ovariectomy of rat on tongue neuropathy: Relevance to burning mouth syndrome · 2025 · DOI

  • However, a detailed understanding of the single-cell transcriptional profiles and cell-cell communication networks in this context remains elusive.

    Single-cell genomics reveals transcriptional heterogeneity and cellular crosstalk in salivary gland fibrosis · 2025 · DOI

  • However, few studies have examined its association with dry mouth, salivary viscosity, and lifestyle factors.

    Association Between Self-Perceived Oral Health, Stress, and Oral Symptoms in South Korean University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study · 2025 · DOI

  • Despite its clinical importance, the underlying pathogenesis remains poorly understood, and effective therapeutic strategies are limited.

    Establishment of a mouse model of Sjögren syndrome–related interstitial lung disease · 2025 · DOI

  • Despite increased researches and studies recently focusing on this area, it remains to be fully elucidated.

    Genetic insight into dissecting the immunophenotypes and inflammatory profiles in the pathogenesis of Sjogren syndrome · 2025 · DOI

  • However, few studies have investigated the association between the oral microbiome and orofacial pain, such as BMS.

    Distinctive salivary oral microbiome in patients with burning mouth syndrome depending on pain intensity compared to healthy subjects · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the type of oral care that can reduce the salivary bacterial load remains unclear.

    Comparison of the inhibitory effects of tooth brushing and povidone-iodine mouthwash on salivary bacterial counts in patients undergoing surgery for malignant solid tumors other than head and neck cancers · 2024 · DOI

  • The underlying mechanisms that govern this sexual dimorphism, however, remain poorly understood.

    Tlr7 drives sex- and tissue-dependent effects in Sjögren’s disease · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: The results of observational studies indicate a potential link between Helicobacter pylori infection and Sjogren's syndrome (SS), but the causal relationship between them remains unknown.

    Causal association between Helicobacter pylori infection and Sjogren’s syndrome: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis · 2024 · DOI

  • Despite extensive studies, no single cause and treatment have been determined for burning mouth syndrome. Most researchers agree that there is a central and/or peripheral neuropathic underlying disturbance in BMS patients, however psychological component in these patients is also very present.

    ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SCORES IN PATIENTS WITH BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME · 2108 · DOI

  • Extreme heterogeneity was observed for both primary diagnostic indices, - Limited to specific biomarker types in previous meta-analyses, - Study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2, - Potential publication bias was examined using Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test

    Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Utility of Salivary Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis · 2026 · DOI

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191 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,234 Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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