ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and uric acid levels on pulp stone formation. Materials and Methods: Patients who were admitted to the Mugla Sitki Koçman University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology for dental complaints were registered. Among these patients, individuals who had routine biochemical tests at the same period in the Outpatient Clinics of Mugla Sitki Koçman University Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. The patients with at least 1 pulp stone on panoramic radiographs recorded as the "pulp stone group" while patients without any pulp stones were the "control group". Demographic data and serum levels of calcium, PTH, vitamin D, and uric acid were retrospectively evaluated in both groups. Student t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate the differences between the groups. Results: Among 151 patients, dental pulp stone was detected in 53.6% of patients, and 82.7% of these patients were female. Female sex and pulp stone formation were significantly associated (p = 0.001). The mean age of the pulp stone group was 43.9, while it was 39.9 in the control group, without any significant correlation between age and pulp stone (p > 0.05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in serum levels of PTH, vitamin D, uric acid and calcium between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: According to the present study, the effect of dental factors rather than systemic factors should be considered primarily in pulp stone formation.
ABSTRACT
The impact of Candida sp. in the development of oral cancer remains uncertain and requires sensitive analytical approaches for clarification. Given the invasive capabilities of these microorganisms in penetrating and invading host tissues through hyphal invasion, this study sought to detect the presence of five Candida sp. in oral biopsy tissue samples from non-smoker patients. Samples were obtained from patients at varying stages of oral carcinogenesis, including dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, OSCC, and histologically benign lesions, and analyzed using Real-Time PCR. Oral tissue samples from 80 patients (46 males and 34 females) were included. Significantly higher C. albicans presence was detected in the mild/moderate dysplasia group compared to the healthy (p = 0.001), carcinoma in situ (p = 0.031) and OSCC groups (p = 0.000). Similarly, C. tropicalis carriage was higher in tissues with mild/moderate dysplasia compared to healthy (p = 0.004) and carcinoma in situ (p = 0.019). Our results showed a significant increase in the presence of C. albicans and C. tropicalis within the mild/moderate dysplasia group compared to other cohorts. Coexistence of these two microorganisms was observed, suggesting a potential transition from a commensal state to an opportunistic pathogen, which could be particularly linked to the onset of oral neoplasia.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To qualitatively investigate whether a prototype brush composed of metal bristles collects oral epithelial cells effectively for cytological evaluation of oral mucosal lesions. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with suspicious oral mucosal lesions were enrolled. Patients were asked to gargle with saline and to deposit the oral rinse into specimen cup. Then, oral mucosal cell samples were collected using a metal oral brush, via sweeping motion. Punch biopsy was performed for histological examination. All samples were evaluated with liquid based cytology (LBC) according to the cellularity, the depth of the epithelial layer, cellular integrity by an oral pathologist. Results: Oral rinse provided samples with 100% cellular integrity and cellularity, mostly from the intermediary layers. With metal brush, both inadequate cellularity and cellular integrity was observed in 25% of the cases. Cellular integrity was adequate in 65%, cellularity was adequate in 45% of the lesions. Samples were dominantly from the intermediary layers, but in one case, metal brush collected cells from the parabasal layer. Conclusion: The narrow spiral pitch and width of metal bristles may have resisted to release the cellular samples collected. With adjustment of the spiral pitch and diameter of metal brush bristles, its' efficacy could be enhanced.
