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Hypothesis

Hydrogen-rich saline may be an effective and specific novel treatment for osteoradionecrosis of the jaw

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Pages 1581-1585 | Published online: 14 Oct 2015
 

Abstract

Hydrogen, a therapeutic medical gas, can exert antioxidant activity via selectively reducing cytotoxic reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals. Hydrogen-rich saline is an alternative form of molecular hydrogen that has been widely used in many studies, including metabolic syndrome, cerebral, hepatic, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, and liver injuries with obstructive jaundice, with beneficial results. Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw is a serious complication following radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. It has long been known that most radiation-induced symptoms are caused by free radicals generated by radiolysis of H2O, and the hydroxyl radical is the most reactive of these. Reducing the hydroxyl radical can distinctly improve the protection of cells from radiation damage. We hypothesized that hydrogen-rich saline might be an effective and specific method of managing and preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaw.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funds from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81202150/H2201).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.