Guidelines for periodontal care and follow-up during orthodontic treatment in adolescents and young adults

Aggressive periodontitis is characterized by non-contributory medical history, rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation of cases. Aggressive periodontitis (both localized and generalized) is usually diagnosed in a young population. This is frequently the age that an orthodontic care is provided to this population. The aim of the present paper is to draw guidelines for periodontal evaluation and monitoring prior to and during active orthodontic treatment. Strict adherence to these guidelines as a routine protocol for periodontal examination prior, during and following orthodontic treatment may dramatically decrease the severity and improve the prognosis of patients with aggressive periodontitis in orthodontic clinics.     

Stromal myofibroblasts in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: Oral leukoplakia (OL) is the main potentially malignant disorder and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral mucosa. Stromal myofibroblasts play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis, due to its ability to modify the extracellular matrix. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of stromal myofibroblasts in OL and OSCC. Differences in the presence of myofibroblasts among OL with distinct grades of epithelial dysplasia as well as between histologically high- and low-invasive OSCC were also assessed. Study Design: A total of 30 OL and 41 OSCC from archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were evaluated. 10 samples of normal oral mucosa were used as a control. Myofibroblasts were identified by immunohistochemical detection of alpha smooth muscle actin and its presence was classified as negative, scanty or abundant. Differences in the presence of myofibroblasts among OL with distinct grades of epithelial dysplasia as well as between high- and low-invasive OSCC were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: Myofibroblasts were not detected in normal oral mucosa and OL, whatever its histological grade. In OSCC, the presence of stromal myofibroblasts was classified as negative in 11 (26.8%), scanty in 15 (36.6%), and abundant in 15 samples (36.6%). The presence of stromal myofibroblasts was statistically higher in high-invasive OSCC than in low-invasive OSCC (p<0.05). Conclusions: Stromal myofibroblasts were not detected in OL, indicating that these cells are not important during oral carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, stromal myofibroblasts were heterogeneously detected in OSCC and its presence was higher in tumors with a more diffuse histological pattern of invasion. These findings suggest that myofibroblasts are associated with the creation of a permissive environment for tumor invasion in OSCC. Key words:Leukoplakia, oral squamous cell carcinoma, myofibroblast.     

The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: preliminary findings

A survey was administered to 55 homeless adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 28 years who presented for care at a community health center in Seattle, Washington in 2005. Forty‐five valid surveys were analyzed. The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with self‐reported oral health. The most common self‐reported dental problem was sensitive teeth (52.6%), followed by discolored teeth (48.6%), toothache (38.5%), or a broken tooth (37.8%). Dental problems were associated with lower self‐reported oral health, while non‐high school graduates, mixed race youths, and methamphetamine users had significantly higher self‐reported oral health. Among homeless youths, addressing dental problems with direct dental care may improve self‐perceived oral health. The relationships between methamphetamine use and education level, on the one hand, and self‐reported oral health, on the other, are complex and may be modified by age.     

Dental treatment under general anesthesia in a group of patients with cerebral palsy and a group of healthy pediatric patients

This is a comparative study between two groups, one of healthy children and the other of children with cerebral palsy, which underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona. The purpose of the study was to compare and determine oral pathology, frequency, severity and postoperative complications in pediatric patients with and without an underlying disease which undergo a dental treatment under general anesthesia. Key words:General anesthesia, cerebral palsy, pediatric patients.     

Association of -1082 interleukin-10 gene polymorphism in Peruvian adults with chronic periodontitis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess association of the -1082 IL-10 gene polymorphism with chronic periodontitis CP in a Peruvian population.Study Design: Samples of venous blood and DNA were obtained from 106 Peruvian subjects: a) 53 periodontally healthy; and b) 53 with CP. The association of the -1082 IL-10 promoter sequences was assessed by Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorfism (PCR-RFLP). Student’s t test were used to assess the clinical parameters, as well as the χ2 test and the odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI) used performed for estimates regarding genotype and allele frequencies.Results: There were statistically significant differences between groups regarding the mean bleeding on probing, mean attachment level and mean probing depth (p < 0.00001) indicating that the matching based on the evaluated groups was adequate. The χ2 test found a statistically significant imbalance of genotypes between groups (p = 0.0172). The prevalence of CP was significantly higher in subjects harboring at least one A allele at position -1082 (AA and GA genotypes) in comparison to patients with the GG genotype (OR = 2.96; CI: 0.52; 5.41; p = 0.0099). Equally, subjects with the AA genotype were significantly associated to a diagnosis of CP (OR = 2.71; CI: 0.38; 5.04; p = 0.0231). On the other hand, subjects presenting a healthy periodontal status presented at least one G allele in comparison with the AA genotype (OR = 0.37; CI: 0.05, 0.69; p = 0.0231). For subjects with the GG genotype, the same positive association was observed (OR = 0.34; CI: 0.06, 0.62; p = 0.0099). There were no significant differences between groups amongst subjects with the GA genotype (OR = 1.19; CI: 0.22, 2.16; p = 0.6774). Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, IL-10 gene polymorphism at position -1082 does not appear to be associated to CP. Conversely, subjects with AA genotype seem to be at an increased risk of developing CP. Key words:According to MeSH documentation, chronic periodontitis, cytokines, genetic polymorphism, interleukin-10, periodontal disease.     

Serum vitamin D levels of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and expression of vitamin D receptor in oral precancerous lesions and OSCC

Background: Resistance to programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a crucial factor for the carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Vitamin D (calcitriol) may overcome apoptosis resistance in tumor cells of OSCC. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in oral precancerous lesions of OSCC has not been analyzed and serum vitamin D level seems to be a predictor of cancer development.Material and Methods: Expression of VDR was analyzed in normal oral mucosa (n=5), oral precursor lesions (simple hyperplasia, n=11; squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, SIN I-III, n=35), and OSCC specimen (n=42) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Moreover, serum vitamin D levels were measured by 25(OH)D3 (calcidiol) in patients with OSCC (n=42) and correlated with IHC results.Results: Expression of VDR was significantly increased in precancerous and OSCC compared with normal tissue. Compared with SIN I-III lesions VDR expression significantly decreased in OSCC. Severe vitamin D deficiency was detected in our OSCC patient cohort but there was no significant correlation analyzed between serum vitamin D levels and corresponding immunohistochemically detected VDR expression in OSCC. Conclusions: Our survey provides the first evidence of VDR expression in precancerous lesions of OSCC. Apoptosis induction of VDR+ cells in oral precancerous lesions and OSCC by natural vitamin D or synthetic vitamin D compounds could be useful for chemoprevention. Moreover, systemically and/or locally applied, these compounds may act as sensitizers for apoptosis mediated by radio-, and chemotherapy treatment in OSCC. Key words:Oral cancer, oral precancer, lichen planus, leukoplakia, apoptosis, serum 25(OH)D3, vitamin D receptor, chemoprevention, multistep carcinogenesis.     

Evaluation of pretreatment serum interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha as a potential biomarker for recurrence in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes 3 percent of all cancers with predominant occurrence in middle aged and elderly males. Tumour recurrence worsens disease prognosis and decreases quality of life in patients with OSCC. Proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) have been suggested to play a certain role in variety of tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of pretreatment serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels on tumour recurrence in patients with OSCC in order to identify potential biomarkers for the early detection of disease recurrence.

Material and Methods

The patients with newly diagnosed OSCC were treated and followed from the first visit from November 2006 until January 2008. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were measured. The records of the patients were re-examined in July 2012 and data were recorded about cancer characteristics and tumour recurrence. Disease free survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

Serum IL-6 was shown as an independent risk factor for tumour recurrence.

Conclusions

Pretreatment serum IL-6 concentration may be a useful biomarker for identification of OSCC patients with increased risk of the disease recurrence. Key words: Serum IL-6, serum TNF-α, oral cancer, recurrence.     

P53 and bcl-2 immunoexpression in patients with oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine by immunohistochemistry the presence and significance of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Study Design: We used 21 cases diagnosed as OLP 16 diagnosed as OSCC and four normal gingival biopsies taken from healthy patients were used as controls. Slides were processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-p53 and anti-bcl-2 monoclonal antibodies. Results: We found p53 immunoexpression in 71.4% OLP cases and 68.7% OSCC cases, with no immunoexpression in control cases. Bcl-2 was negative for all OLP and OSCC cases, and mild positivity was observed in normal tissue. We found significant correlation among p53 expression and OSCC malignancy. Conclusions: Our results suggest that TP53 system mainly promotes a hyperproliferative state by cell cycle arrest of the OLP epithelial cells for repairing damaged DNA nor apoptosis and that anti-apoptotic action of bcl-2 is not important in this disease. Key words:Oral lichen planus, oral squamous cell carcinoma, p53, Bcl-2, carcinogenesis, malignant transformation.     

Cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid of adolescents and young adults

Background/aim:  The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of the cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-4, and IL-8 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of adolescents and young adults.
Methods:  Twenty-five adolescents aged between 14 and 16 years (Group A) and 20 periodontally healthy young adults aged between 25 and 35 years (Group B) were selected from two private dental clinics limited to pedodontics and periodontics respectively in Piraeus Greece. All subjects were systemically healthy. Clinical examination included probing pocket depth (PPD), presence or absence of plaque, and bleeding on probing (BOP). GCF was collected from four sites per subject. IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-8, measured as total amounts (pg/30 s), were evaluated in 180 samples using a commercially available sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:  IL-1β mean levels of Groups A and B were adjusted for BOP and PPD. Differences of IL-1β mean levels between the two age groups were statistically significant ( F  = 50.245, P  < 0.001) in favour of Group A. Adolescents showed statistically significantly lower mean levels of IL-4 than young adults in the presence of BOP ( F  = 10.690, P  = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between adolescents and adults for the means of IL-8 adjusted for BOP and plaque presence ( F  = 2.032, P  = 0.161).
Conclusions:  Within the limits of this study the differences reported in mean levels of IL-1β and IL-4 may be attributed to the different age status.     

Characterization of muscle alteration in oral submucous fibrosis-seeking new evidence

Background

The aim of the study was to assess the progression of Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) by investigating the correlation between clinical mouth opening and muscle-epithelial distance in tissue sections. Characterization of changes involving muscle was ascertained.

Material and Methods

50 cases and 10 controls were included in this case-control study. Inter-incisal mouth opening was measured and classified according to Lai et al. as Group A (more than 35mm), Group B (30 to 35mm), Group C (20 to 30mm), Group D (less than 20mm). Histopathological sections were graded as very early, early, moderately advanced, advanced OSF. Muscle-epithelial distance was calculated using image analysis software. The four most common degenerative changes observed in muscles, namely fragmentation, highly eosinophilic areas with loss of striations, nucleus internalization and multiple pyknotic nuclei were also assessed.

Results

Comparisons of muscle-epithelial distance were made between the clinical and histopathological groups to those of controls. The mean muscle-epithelial distance was: Group A-626.8±309.36 µm, B-827.5±549.72 µm, C-673.2±321.93 µm, D-439.9±173.84µm, Controls-1222.19 ±441.7µm. Post-hoc Bonferroni Test revealed a statistically significant reduction in the muscle-epithelial distance in Group C (p-value = 0.001) and D (p-value = 0.001) as compared to controls. The mean muscle-epithelial distance in very early, early, moderately advanced and advanced OSF was 732.73±232.81µm, 726.54±361.63 µm, 548.36±273.13 and 172.40±58.41 µm respectively. Highly significant difference in muscle-epithelial distance was seen between controls as compared to early (p-value =0.002), moderately advanced (p-value = 0.001) and advanced OSF (p-value = 0.001. Fragmentation and highly eosinophilic areas were invariably noticed in advanced OSF. Multiple pyknotic nuclei were variable with no specificity.

Conclusions

Reduction in muscle-epithelial distance may prove to be a significant predictor of OSF progression. Degenerative changes must be noted while observing OSF cases, irrespective of the histopathological grade. Key words:Oral submucous fibrosis, muscle changes, muscle-epithelial distance.     

Etiology,distribution, treatment modalities and complications of maxillofacial fractures

Purpose: This study evaluated the trends and factors associated with maxillofacial fractures treated from 1997 to 2007 in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. Material and Methods: This study included 364 patients of which 82% were men and 45%, 20-29-years old. The etiology, anatomical distribution, treatment modality and complications of maxillofacial fractures were examined. Results: Overall, interpersonal violence, traffic accidents and falls were the most common mechanisms of injury. There was a decreasing trend in traffic accidents and increasing one in falls as a cause of fracture over the 11-years period of this study. Young male patients were preferentially victim of interpersonal violence and traffic accidents, while middle-aged ones were of falls and work-related accidents. Middle-aged female patients were preferentially victim of traffic accidents and interpersonal violence, while older ones were of falls. And the number of fractures per patient varied according to the mechanism of injury: low after work-related accidents and high after traffic accidents. About two-third of fractures involved the mandible. Most of these mandibular fractures were treated by osteosynthesis with or without intermaxillary fixation, with the proportion of the latter increasing over time. There were very few postoperative infections and only in mandible. Conclusions: Maxillofacial fractures predominantly occur in young men, due to interpersonal violence. There is nevertheless an increasing trend in falls as a cause of fracture, especially in female patients, consistent with the increasing trend in presentation of older people. Most maxillofacial fractures involve the mandible and there is an increasing trend in treating these fractures by osteosynthesis without intermaxillary fixation. Antibiotic prophylaxis associated with dental hygiene care can be indicated to prevent postoperative infections. Key words:Maxillofacial fractures, Epidemiology, Trends, Influencing factors, Fall, Age, Gender, Antibiotic prophylaxis.     

Association between general and oral health-related quality of life in patients treated for oral cancer

Background

Less is known about the association between general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral HRQoL (OHRQoL) among patients with specific diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between patient-centered outcome measurements (HRQoL and OHRQoL) of oral cancer patients at least 6 months after treatment.

Material and Methods

HRQoL was measured with the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12); OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP).

Results

Higher OHRQoL scores were associated with lower SF-12 domains scores. The OHIP-14 explained 16.5 % of the total variance of SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the OIDP explained 16.1 %. In the SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS), the total variance explained was 23.9 % by the OHIP-14 and 21.8 % by the OIDP.

Conclusions

There was a significant association between long-term OHRQoL and HRQoL in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. These results may help to carry out new interventions aiming to improve patient´s life overall. Key words:Mouth neoplasms, quality of life, health status, oral health.