120 Chapter 6 not differ significantly in RODI scores for each of the intra-oral regions (Mann– Whitney U test p > 0.05). The median palatal surface area was 2138.0 ± 1975.5–2247.6 mm2. The ICC for the surface area measurements was 0.96, which is in the excellent range. The palatal surface area showed significant differences for both sexes (Mann– Whitney U test p < 0.05), whereby male participants had a significantly larger palatal surface area than females (Table 1). Salivary film thickness and MUC5B levels at various intra‑oral locations The salivary film thickness showed considerable differences by intra-oral location. For example, the salivary film at the anterior tongue was six times thicker than that at the anterior palate (Table 2, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests: p < 0.05). Moreover, the salivary film thickness of the floor of the mouth differed significantly from all other intra-oral locations (Wilcoxon signed-rank tests p < 0.05). Besides, there was a significant difference in film thickness between the anterior and posterior palate, as the saliva film on the posterior palate was 2.6 times thicker than the film on the anterior palate (Table 2, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests: p < 0.05). The salivary film thickness differed significantly between males and females only for the anterior palate and the inside cheeks, whereby the salivary film in these two regions was thicker for male participants. Total unstimulated saliva contained the highest levels of MUC5B, i.e. 0.345 ± 0.177–0.716 AU/mL. The MUC5B levels in total saliva of female participants (0.369 ± 0.176–0.762 AU/mL, N = 18) did not differ significantly from male participants (0.331 ± 0.171–0.555 AU/ mL, N = 22) (Mann–Whitney U test p > 0.05). Significant differences in MUC5B levels between the intra-oral locations were found (Table 3). The MUC5B level at the anterior tongue was 42 times higher than at the anterior palate, where the lowest level was measured. MUC5B level at the anterior palate showed significant sex differences, with female participants having lower MUC5B level than male participants (Mann–Whitney U test p < 0.05) (Table 3).
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