Association between geographic tongue and psoriasis: A systematic review and meta‐analyses

Geographic tongue (GT) has been described as a predictor of psoriasis. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of GT in psoriatic and non‐psoriatic patients. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The search and selection process was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) criteria. Only case‐control studies were selected, and the prevalence of GT in both groups was compared. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria, and the frequency of GT was statistically associated with psoriasis in ten studies. The pooled odds ratio (OR) was 3.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.56‐4.86). There were no significant differences between the presence of GT and the clinical form. However, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was statistically higher in patients affected by GT in three of four studies. Psoriatic patients with GT also exhibited less improvement in the PASI score after treatment. One study found an association between GT and a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Nevertheless, age, gender, toxic habits, psoriasis onset and duration of the disease were not clearly associated. The results support the concept of GT as a manifestation of psoriasis. Future research should focus on the repercussions of GT in psoriatic patients, due to the negative consequences on severity and treatment response.     

The adjunctive use of platelet concentrates in the therapy of gingival recessions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

This systematic review aims to evaluate the adjunctive efficacy of platelet concentrates in surgical treatment of gingival recessions. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for entries up to January 2014. Only clinical randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a follow‐up ≥3 months that evaluated recession areas (Miller Class I or II) were included. Outcome variables include changes of recession depth (RD), keratinised tissue width (KTW), clinical attachment level (CAL) and wound healing index. Data were adjusted for a meta‐analysis. Nine researches were included in meta‐analysis. With the adjunctive use of platelet concentrates, there was statistically significant reduction in RD and KTW improvement while no significant effect was found in CAL. The adjunctive use of platelet concentrates also showed better healing in gingival recessions. Platelet concentrates might exert a positive effect on treatment of gingival recessions. It could accelerate early wound healing and reduce post‐surgery complications in recession defects. However, more high‐quality, long follow‐up and large‐scale RCTs are still needed in future.     

Efficacy and safety of miconazole for oral candidiasis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of miconazole for treating oral candidiasis. Twelve electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials evaluating treatments for oral candidiasis and complemented by hand searching. The clinical and mycological outcomes, as well as adverse effects, were set as the primary outcome criteria. Seventeen trials were included in this review. Most studies were considered to have a high or moderate level of bias. Miconazole was more effective than nystatin for thrush. For HIV‐infected patients, there was no significant difference in the efficacy between miconazole and other antifungals. For denture wearers, microwave therapy was significantly better than miconazole. No significant difference was found in the safety evaluation between miconazole and other treatments. The relapse rate of miconazole oral gel may be lower than that of other formulations. This systematic review and meta‐analysis indicated that miconazole may be an optional choice for thrush. Microwave therapy could be an effective adjunct treatment for denture stomatitis. Miconazole oral gel may be more effective than other formulations with regard to long‐term results. However, future studies that are adequately powered, large‐scale, and well‐designed are needed to provide higher‐quality evidence for the management of oral candidiasis.