Salivary aquaporin-3 as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease and the effects of xerostomia on oral health-related quality of life.

Xerostomia is a subjective condition of dryness of the oral cavity that may lead to several oral problems deteriorating oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of xerostomia, (2) compare the general health status, unstimulated salivary flow rate, and oral health-related quality of life in xerostomics and non-xerostomics, and (3) investigate the potential of salivary aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease. Demographics and systemic health data were collected from 109 healthy participants, 20 to 55 years old, with Community Periodontal Index (CPI) score ≥ 3. For subjective assessment of xerostomia, Shortened Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) was used. For objective assessment of xerostomia, unstimulated salivary flow rate was measured. Shortened Oral Health Impact Profile (S-OHIP) was utilized for oral health-related quality of life assessment. The collected saliva samples were processed and stored at -80°C. Quantification of salivary AQP-3 protein was done with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Xerostomia was reported in 78% of the subjects based on SXI score. Median concentration of AQP-3 was significantly higher in xerostomics compared to non-xerostomics, p = 0.001. Moreover, oral health-related quality of life was significantly poor in xerostomics compared to non-xerostomics, p = 0.002. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between AQP-3 and SXI (r = 0.21, p = 0.025), AQP-3 and S-OHIP (r = 0.2, p = 0.042), S-OHIP and SXI (r = 0.37, p < 0.001), unstimulated salivary flow rate and random blood glucose level (r = 0.32, p = 0.001), and body mass index and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that body mass index, CPI score 3, and salivary AQP-3 were suitable predictors for presence of xerostomia. AQP-3 could be a potential screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease for its early identification may help improve oral health-related quality of life of the individuals.

Salivary and imaging-based biomarkers of radiation therapy-induced xerostomia.

Biomarkers are anatomical characteristics or naturally occurring measurable molecules indicating physiological or pathological state of an individual. These biomarkers have the potential to detect or predict diseases at an early stage, which is particularly beneficial in timely management of common complications of radiation therapy done in head and neck cancer treatment regime. Xerostomia is one of the most common oral complaints of radiation therapy. Saliva has an abundance of protein biomarkers; however, those related to post-radiation therapy xerostomia need to be explored further. Textural and imaging-based biomarkers are helpful in predicting xerostomia in such patients. This narrative review provides an account of salivary protein and imaging-based biomarkers of radiation therapy-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

Local recurrence of giant cell tumour of bone after intralesional treatment with and without adjuvant therapy, a single institution case series.

BACKGROUND: Giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone is generally a benign tumour composed of mononuclear stromal cells and characteristic multinucleated giant cells that exhibit osteoclastic activity. It usually develops in long bones but can occur in unusual locations. The typical appearance is a lytic lesion with a well-defined but non-sclerotic margin that is eccentric in location, extends near the articular surface, and occurs in patients with closed physes. OBJECTIVE: The current study was planned to summarise our experiences with GCTB, and to evaluate individual effect of bone cement, high-speed burring and hydrogen per oxide (H2O2) on local recurrence. GCT can mimic or be mimicked by other benign or malignant lesions at both radiological evaluation and histological analysis. In the past, the mainstay of treatment was surgical, primarily consisting of curettage with cement placement, with recurrence rates of 15%-25%. Recurrence is suggested by development of progressive lucency at the cement-bone interface. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients who started the study, 4(19%) were lost to follow-up, and 17(81%) represented the final study sample. Of them, 16(94.11%) patients underwent the curettage procedure with adjuvant therapy and reconstruction with bone grafts taken from iliac crest. In 3(26.3%) patients, no adjuvant was used. Total of 6 (42.1%) patients had local recurrence and 3(50%) of them were those who were treated without any adjuvant; 2(33.3%) with phenol and 1(16.6%) with PMMA. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that an "aggressive curettage" with the use of adjuvant reduces the recurrence rate in a disease whose aggressiveness is not easy to predict.

Glomus tumours: Outcome based on tumour location in hand.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcome of patients with glomus tumour in nail matrix and nail bed that were excised with transungual approach. METHODS: The case series was conducted at the Allied and District Headquarter Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan,from January 2012 to June 2014, and comprised patients with glomus tumour at finger tipswhose diagnosis was confirmed with biopsy results. Variables noted were the location of the tumour in the nail i.e. either nail matrix or the nail bed. RESULTS: Of the 8 patients in the study, 5(62.5%) had tumours located in the nail matrix and 3(37.5%) in the nail bed. Three (60%) patients with nail matrix tumour had prolonged pain sensation, whereas none (with nail bed lesion had prolonged pain sensation. CONCLUSIONS: There was no recurrence but anatomic location of the subungual glomus tumour at initial presentation can predict postoperative prolonged pain.