Quantitative proteomics in rat saliva stimulated with pilocarpine and isoprenaline.

Objective: Saliva is increasingly being recognized as a convenient and informative reservoir of proteins that could serve as indicators of various diseases. As the literature remains taciturn with regard to saliva collection methods in rodents, our objective was to provide the protocol for a comprehensive quantitative proteomic assessment of stimulated rat saliva.

Design: We applied the next-generation proteomic methodology (directDIA) to compare qualitatively and quantitatively stimulated rat saliva specimens obtained from pilocarpine alone and pilocarpine in combination with isoprenaline.

Mucormycosis in head and neck area - the emerging health problem in COVID-19 pandemic. The perspective of a dental practitioner.

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal disease caused by saprophytic molds and is characterized by a fulminant course and high mortality. Reported increase of disease cases and more frequent mucormycosis superinfections in COVID-19 patients are of a serious concern. Head and neck area is the most typical location of mucormycosis and often the first symptoms are eminent in oral cavity, therefore a dentist may be the first healthcare practitioner to recognize signs of this dangerous and potentially fatal disease.