The effects of up to 240 days of tacrolimus therapy on the gingival tissues of rats--a morphological evaluation

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplantation, has been reported not to induce gingival overgrowth. However, prevalence studies are limited, and the methods used for assessing gingival overgrowth varies among studies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of up to 240 days of tacrolimus therapy on gingival tissues of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were treated for 60, 120, 180 and 240 days with daily subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg body weight of tacrolimus. After histological processing, the oral and connective tissue, volume densities of fibroblasts (Vf), collagen fibers (Vcf) and other structures (Vo) were assessed in the region of the lower first molar. RESULTS: After 60 and 120 days of treatment with tacrolimus, gingival overgrowth was not observed. The gingival epithelium, connective tissue, as well as the values for Vf, Vcf, and Vo were similar to those of the control rats (P>0.05). After 180 and 240 days of the treatment, gingival overgrowth was associated with a significant increase in the gingival epithelium and connective tissue as well as an increase in the Vf and Vcf (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the experimental study, it may be concluded that the deleterious side effects of tacrolimus on the gingival tissues of rats may be time-related.     

Patterns of missing occlusal units and oral health-related quality of life in SDA patients

Summary  The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between patterns of missing occlusal units (OUs) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in subjects with the shortened dental arches (SDAs). Subjects with SDAs were recruited consecutively for 1 month from six university-based prosthodontic clinics. In total, 115 SDA subjects participated (mean age, 58·5 ± 10·0 years; 71% female). The location and number of missing teeth were examined and the number of missing OUs was calculated. To evaluate OHRQoL, the Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-J) was administered and the summary score of OHIP-J was calculated. The SDA subjects were categorized depending upon the anterior-posterior lengths of the missing or remaining OUs. Regression analyses were performed to investigate the OHIP-J differences between groups of subjects with various anterior–posterior SDA lengths. The analyses revealed that subjects who only lost the second molar contact exhibited significantly better OHRQoL than those who lost more teeth [coefficient: 11·1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2·8–19·2, P  = 0·02]. Furthermore a statistically significant group difference was observed between the groups with and without the first molar occlusal contact (coefficient: 12·8, 95% CI: 1·4 to 24·1, P  = 0·03). In conclusion, although our results are of exploratory nature and need validation, patterns of missing OUs are likely to be related to the OHRQoL impairment in SDA subjects with the presence of first molar contact having a particularly important role.     

Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa: Correlation with the expression of Ki67 and histologic grading

Background  

Squamous cells carcinoma is the most important malignant tumor with primary site in the oral cavity and, given the great exposure of mucosa and lips to the etiologic factors of this neoplasm, its incidence is high. Investigation of the prognostic determinants is significant for the expectations of treatment proposal and cure of the patient. The local immune response represented by peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate is a possible prognostic factor.     

Hypohyperdontia: literature review and report of seven cases

Hypodontia in combination with hyperdontia (hypohyperdontia) is a condition of mixed numeric variation in the human dentition. A comprehensive review on the hypohyperdontia literatures reported prevalence ranges from 0.002% to 3.1%. Our seven cases of hypohyperdontia involved both the maxillary and the mandibular arches. A traditional narrative review is included to describe the prevalence, etiology, and previously reported cases on hypohyperdontia. Furthermore, we opine that comprehensive clinical and radiographic examinations are essential for recognizing such rare dental anomalies. Judicious use of radiographs not only enhances the detection of hypohyperdontia, but also leads to changes in the course of management.     

Recurrent melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: a proposal for treatment protocol with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy

The case of a 4-month-old male infant treated with combined surgery and chemotherapy for an aggressive recurrent melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) on the top of the alveolar process of the mandible with a long-term follow-up is presented. Initial treatment comprised conservative local excision and curettage of the mandible. After several local recurrences and because radical surgical excision would give gross functional and aesthetic mutilation, finally complete, long-lasting remission was achieved with adjuvant chemotherapy, according to a neuroblastoma protocol (10-year follow-up). The reason for this protocol was because molecular genetic studies of this tumor showed loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 1p and gain of chromosome 7q analogue to neuroblastomas. A combination of surgery and chemotherapy should be the preferred treatment in case of a recurrence MNTI because optimal functional and aesthetic outcome.