119 Salivary film thickness and MUC5B levels Fig. 1 Flow chart showing the reason for exclusion of some volunteers and the characteristics of the included volunteers Sialometry, salivary pH, dry‑mouth experience and palatal surface area measurement Table 1 reports the salivary secretion rates and pH, the overall dry-mouth experience as measured with XI and the palatal surface area measurement. The median UWS salivary flow rate for all participants was 0.25 ± 0.16–0.37 mL/min, while the median CH-SWS flow rate was approximately 5 times more than that of the UWS. The median salivary pH for the CH-SWS (pH = 7.14) was higher than the UWS (pH = 6.60). Female and male participants did not show any significant difference with regard to the salivary flow rate and pH of both UWS and CH-SWS (Mann–Whitney U test p > 0.05). The median XI score was 19.5 out of the maximum of 55 (Table 1). The XIvalues for female and male participants also did not differ significantly (Mann– Whitney U test p > 0.05). The intra-oral regions with the highest RODI scores were the upper lip (M = 1.68 ± 0.86, Mdn = 1.00 ± 1.00–2.00), the posterior palate (M = 1.63 ± 0.74, Mdn = 1.50 ± 1.00–2.00), the lower lip (M = 1.60 ± 0.78, Mdn = 1.00 ± 1.00–2.00) and the pharynx (M = 1.60 ± 0.67, Mdn = 1.50 ± 1.00–2.00). In contrast, the floor of mouth had the lowest RODI score (M = 1.10 ± 0.30, Mdn = 1.00 ± 1.00–1.00). The RODI scores for all intra-oral locations were < 2, indicating that the volunteers did not experience any intra-oral dryness. Females and male participants did 6
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