Evidence mapPaperPMID 41827840Full record

ReviewCells2026

Oral Cellular Homeostasis and Occupational Wellbeing in Healthcare Professionals Under the Lens of Salivary, Immune, and Microbiome Mechanisms.

Maria Antoniadou, Theodoros Varzakas

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cells, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Maria AntoniadouDepartment of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-7333-3066
Theodoros VarzakasDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 241 00 Kalamata, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-3927-9056

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare professionals experience continuous biological and psychosocial stressors that may disturb oral and systemic homeostasis. Alterations in salivary secretion, mucosal immunity, and microbiome composition reflect adaptive cellular responses to chronic occupational stress. Understanding these mechanisms may provide a biological framework for resilience and wellbeing in everyday clinical practice.

objectiveTo narratively review the evidence linking oral cellular and molecular mechanisms-salivary biomarkers, epithelial and immune cell activity, and microbiome dynamics-with stress, fatigue, burnout, and wellbeing outcomes among healthcare professionals.

methodsThis narrative review employed a PRISMA-guided literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Oral Health to enhance transparency and coverage across databases. Given the heterogeneity of study designs and outcomes, data were synthesized thematically without quantitative pooling or formal meta-analysis. Methodological strength was evaluated qualitatively, focusing on biomarker validity, sampling conditions, and conceptual relevance. Eligible designs included observational, experimental, and interventional studies.

resultsEvidence from 99 studies suggests that chronic occupational stress elevates salivary cortisol, oxidative stress markers, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), while reducing protective salivary immunoglobulin A and microbiome diversity. Balanced oral immune and microbial profiles were associated with better psychological adaptation and lower fatigue indices.

conclusionsOral cellular homeostasis offers a promising window into the biological underpinnings of occupational stress and resilience in healthcare professionals. Systematic integration of salivary and mucosal biomarkers into workplace wellbeing programs could enhance early detection of dysregulated stress physiology. Future interdisciplinary research should bridge oral biology, occupational medicine, and mental health to strengthen sustainable wellbeing strategies across the health workforce.

Indexed as

Health PersonnelHomeostasisMicrobiotaSalivaBiomarkersHumansOccupational StressBiomarkersbiopsychosocial modelsepithelial–immune crosstalkhealthcare professionalsimmune regulationmicrobiomemucosal homeostasisoccupational stress responseoccupational wellbeing indicesoral homeostasisoxidative stressresiliencesalivary biomarkerssalivary diagnostics in workplace medicine

Identifiers

PMID41827840
PMCPMC12984415

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.