Evaluation of remote teaching in master programs in the Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brazilian multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: With the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need to adopt online teaching methods in a generalized and sudden way, a situation that led to unprecedented changes in the routine of post-graduate students and research development. This study aimed to analyze the evaluation of remote teaching by graduates of master's degrees and advisors in master's programs in the Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine who needed to adapt to a remote teaching methodology in the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This quantitative study evaluated the remote teaching in the perception of master's graduates and advisors from postgraduate programs in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine. Data were collected through an online Google forms® questionnaire. RESULTS: Participated in the study 14 master graduates and 14 master's advisors. Master graduates evaluated that the professors had a good performance (p=0.001), that the duration of the classes was adequate (p=0.015), that the interaction with professors was satisfactory (p=0.007), that they had good interaction with the advisor (p=0.001), that they were satisfied with the remote guidance process (p=0.038) and that face-to-face practical activities were missed (p=0.002). Master's advisors reported satisfaction with remote teaching, good adaptation (p=0.018) and motivation for remote teaching (p=0.016), they evaluated that students were cooperative in activities (p=0.019) and that face-to-face practical activities were missed (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the difficulties, remote teaching proved to be an effective alternative to face-to-face teaching.

Persistent dysgeusia post-halitosis treatment: How does it impact the patients' quality of life?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and the presence of anxiety and depression in patients with dysgeusia post halitosis treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into three groups: Dysgeusia group (DG); Halitosis group (HG) and Control group (CG). The following instruments were used: Medical results study Short form health research of 36 items (SF-36), State-state anxiety inventory (STAI) and Self-report questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20). RESULTS: Of the 60 subjects studied, 85% were female and 15% were male. The evaluation of SF-36 indicated a statistically significant correlation between some domains for DG and showed low scores for Mental Health. In relation to HG, low scores were obtained for Bodily Pain, Vitality and Emotional Role. The CG showed low scores for Bodily Pain, General Health and Vitality. STAI was significant when DG was compared to HG and CG. The mean SRQ-20 score was higher in DG compared with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent dysgeusia post-halitosis treatment impacts on QoL generically in the Mental health domain, and specifically in trait and state anxiety. Symptoms of depression were also seen in this group of patients.

Evaluation of the expression of p53, MDM2, and SUMO-1 in oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the expression of proteins p53, MDM2, and SUMO-1 in oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions, epithelial dysplasia, and squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of the following five groups of cheek mucosa lesions: normal mucosa (NM), inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH), lichen planus, epithelial dysplasia, and squamous cell carcinoma. The tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and submitted to immunohistochemistry using anti-p53, anti-MDM2, and anti-SUMO-1 antibodies. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrated similar expression of p53 and MDM2 between OLP, oral epithelial dysplasia and, to a lesser extent, between OLP and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, for SUMO-1 a similar expression was observed in OLP, NM, and IFH. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated overexpression of important proteins (p53 and MDM2) related to regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis in OLP, suggesting that there is a favorable environment for malignant transformation. The expression of SUMO-1 in OLP was similar to NM and IFH, suggesting that alterations of this protein occur at later stages of carcinogenesis, because important overexpression occurred in oral epithelial dysplasia and OSCC.