The effect of low-level laser therapy on human leukemic cells.

INTRODUCTION: Laser phototherapy is used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with leukemia, although there are limited data supporting the safety of this method. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of low-level laser on proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line (KG-1a) in vitro. METHODS: A plastic flask containing 5,000,000 KG-1a cultured cells was provided by Iran Pasteur Institute. KG-1a cell line has been produced from the bone marrow aspirate of a 59-year-old white male with acute myelogenous leukemia. Upon completion of the proliferation steps of KG-1a cell line, 7×10(4) cells were placed in 96-well tissue culture plates. All the surrounding wells were filled with Wright-Giemsa stain in order to prevent laser from scattering to the neighboring wells. In total, 28 plates were prepared using this method. After a forty-eight hours incubation period, irradiation was performed in continuous mode with an infrared laser of 810nm wavelength. After 24 hours, cells cultures were exposed to one, two, or three applications of laser irradiation. Irradiation exposures were performed at energy densities of 5, 10, and 20 J/cm(2) . Each experiment included 18 replicates for each application of laser and 6 replicates of negative/untreated controls. For experiments with two and three repeated exposures, the irradiation applications were separated by 48 hours. All the culture plates were incubated for seven days. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay after seven days. Spectroscopy (620nm) was used to determine the optical density (OD) of both irradiated and control samples. RESULTS: Significant increase in cell proliferation was seen only after two exposures at energy density of 20J/cm2 (P=0.021). CONCLUSION: Although LLLT is commonly used to treat radiotherapy- or chemotherapy- induced mucositis, as long as further studies demonstrate that different wavelengths and doses of laser phototherapy are safe and effective in treatment of mucositis, clinicians should remain cautious regarding the use of this treatment modality to treat patients with malignancies.

Comparison of aloe vera mouthwash with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% on oral lichen planus: a randomized double-blinded clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Corticosteroids are the mainstay for treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP) and have their own side effects. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic effects of aloe vera (AV) mouthwash with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% (TA) on OLP. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with OLP were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Each group was treated with received AV mouthwash or TA. The treatment period for both groups was 4 weeks. The basement data were recorded for each patient. Patients were evaluated on days 8, 16 and after completing the course of treatment (visit 1-3). The last follow-up was 2 months after the start of treatment (visit 4). Visual analogue scale was used for evaluating pain and burning sensation and Thongprasom index for clinical improvement and healing. In addition, lesion sizes were measured and recorded at each visit using a grid. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, including pain and burning sensation score, size and clinical characteristics of the lesions according to Thongprasom index, were not different between the 2 treatment groups. Both AV and TA significantly reduced visual analogue scale score, Thongprasom score and size of the lesions after treatment (P < 0.001) and after 2 months of discontinuation of the treatment (P < 0.001). In the AV group, 74% of patients and in the TA group 78% of patients showed some degrees of healing in the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: AV mouthwash is an effective substitute for TA in the treatment of OLP.

Oral lesions in kidney transplant patients.

INTRODUCTION: Oral hygiene in kidney transplant recipients contributes to maintenance of the transplanted organ and its function. Thus, an investigation of oral lesions could be counted as a notable work. These patients have the potential to be involved with lesions developed as a result of the administration of immunosuppressive drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate oral lesions in a group of kidney transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional research on 100 patients with a kidney transplant for at least 3 months. Oral mucosa was assessed clinically for any lesion. Additional data on systemic diseases, transplant duration, and medications were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of the patients had at least 1 oral lesion. The most common lesion was oral candidiasis in 16% of the participants (13 cases of acute pseudomembranous and 3 cases of chronic oral candidiasis). Gingival enlargement was seen in 7% of the kidney transplant recipients, and 2% had a coated tongue. CONCLUSIONS: Elimination of oral fungal lesions in kidney transplant recipients is highly recommended. We hope this study can shed light on this particular aspect of healthcare in kidney transplant recipients.

Assessment of salivary and serum antioxidant status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the possible association of oxidant/antioxidant status and recurrentaphthous stomatitis (RAS).Study design: The study consis ted of thirty-one patients with RAS and thirty-two healthy controls from whom salivaand blood samples were collected. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase(CAT) were measured in erythrocytes and total antioxidant status (TAS) was measured in plasma and saliva.Results: Erythrocyte SOD activity was significantly lower in RAS patients in comparison to healthy controls(P=0.012). No significant differences were found in erythrocyte GSHPx, CAT activities, and salivary and plasmaTAS between RAS patients and control subjects (p>0.1).Conclusion: Changes in SOD activity may be important in the inflammatory reactions observed in RAS, but othertested defense systems such as CAT and GSHPx do not seem to play a primary role in the aetiopathogenesis ofRAS. Moreover, the antioxidant system in saliva and plasma is not as affected as in erythrocytes in RAS patients,and therefore it may not be considered an appropriate indicator of the body’s total antioxidant status (AU)

Comparison of colchicine versus prednisolone in recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common ulcers of the oral cavity with a reported prevalence of 5- 50%. There is still no definitive treatment for RAS; however, immunosuppressive and immunomodulant agents have been proposed. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of 5 mg/d prednisolone with 0.5 mg/d colchicine in the treatment of RAS. METHODS: In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 34 patients with RAS were randomly divided into two groups for treatment with prednisolone or colchicine. All patients took the medication for three months and were assessed at two weeks intervals. The groups were compared for size and number of lesions, severity of pain and burning sensation, duration of pain-free episodes and any side effects of the prescribed medicines. Both colchicine and prednisolone treatments significantly reduced RAS (p < 0.001). No significant differences in size and number of lesions, recurrence and severity of pain and duration of pain-free period were seen between the two treatment groups. Colchicine (52.9%) had significantly more side effects than prednisolone (11.8%). CONCLUSION: Low dose prednisolone and colchicine were both effective in treating RAS. Given that the two therapies had similar efficacy, yet colchicine was associated with more side effects, , 5mg/d of prednisolone seems to be a better alternative in reducing the signs and symptoms of the disease.

Assessment of salivary and serum antioxidant status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the possible association of oxidant/antioxidant status and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). STUDY DESIGN: The study consisted of thirty-one patients with RAS and thirty-two healthy controls from whom saliva and blood samples were collected. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase (CAT) were measured in erythrocytes and total antioxidant status (TAS) was measured in plasma and saliva. RESULTS: Erythrocyte SOD activity was significantly lower in RAS patients in comparison to healthy controls (P=0.012). No significant differences were found in erythrocyte GSHPx, CAT activities, and salivary and plasma TAS between RAS patients and control subjects (p>0.1). CONCLUSION: Changes in SOD activity may be important in the inflammatory reactions observed in RAS, but other tested defense systems such as CAT and GSHPx do not seem to play a primary role in the aetiopathogenesis of RAS. Moreover, the antioxidant system in saliva and plasma is not as affected as in erythrocytes in RAS patients, and therefore it may not be considered an appropriate indicator of the body's total antioxidant status.

The efficacy of a paste containing Myrtus communis (Myrtle) in the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common, painful, and ulcerative disorder of the oral cavity with unknown etiology. Treatment is a highly controversial topic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel paste containing Myrtus communis (Myrtle) in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Myrtle is a particular herb used in some cultures as treatment for mouth ulcers. The study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled before-after clinical trial. Forty-five patients with RAS randomly participated in this study. The subjects were treated with placebo paste and myrtle oral paste in two consecutive episodes. The paste was applied by subjects themselves four times a day for 6 days. Five parameters (size change, pain scale, erythema and exudation level, oral health impact profile, and patient overall assessment of their treatment) were recorded both before (baseline) and during each episodes of treatment (on the morning of days 2, 4, and 6). There were no statistically significant differences between baseline parameters (p > 0.05). The data indicated a statistically significant reduction of ulcer size (p < 0.001), pain severity (p < 0.05), and erythema and exudation level (p < 0.001). Oral Health Impact Profile improved significantly in the treatment group (p < 0.001). Patient overall assessment of their treatment improved after applying paste containing myrtle (p < 0.05). No side effects were reported. This study has shown myrtle to be effective in decreasing the size of ulcers, pain severity and the level of erythema and exudation, and improving the quality of life in patients who suffer from RAS.