Comparative Efficacy of Aloe vera and Benzydamine Mouthwashes on Radiation-induced Oral Mucositis: A Triple-blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of an Aloe vera mouthwash with a benzydamine mouthwash in the alleviation of radiation- induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients using a triple-blind, randomised controlled trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six eligible head and neck cancer patients who were to receive conventional radiation therapy at the radiation oncology department were randomised to receive an Aloe vera mouthwash or a benzydamine mouthwash. Mucositis severity was assessed during the course of radiation therapy using the WHO grading system. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no difference in the distribution of mucositis severity between the two groups. The mean interval between radiation therapy and onset of mucositis was similar for both groups (Aloe vera 15.69±7.77 days, benzydamine 15.85±12.96 days). The mean interval between the start of radiation therapy and the maximum severity of mucositis were was also similar in both the Aloe vera and benzydamine groups (Aloe vera 23.38±10.75 days, benzydamine 23.54±15.45 days). Mean changes of mucositis severity over time in both groups were statistically similar and the effect of both treatments did not change signficantly with time (p=0.09). CONCLUSION: Aloe vera mouthwash was as beneficial as benzydamine mouthwash in alleviating the severity of radiation-induced mucositis and showed no side effects. The Aloe vera mouthwash could be an alternative agent in the treatment of radiation-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers.

Conventional versus Papanicolaou-stained cytobrush biopsy in the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

AIMS: Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequent malignancy of the oral cavity which is known to have a high mortality rate. Early diagnosis of this cancer has a major role in the prevention of its progression and can help increase patient survival. Conventional biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of oral SCC. However oral brush biopsy is less invasive, quicker and easier than surgical method. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity of oral brush biopsy in patients with oral SCC. METHODS: Thirty-five oral SCC subjects underwent. Cyrtobrush sampling followed by conventional biopsy and the latter was used as gold standard to determine the sensitivity of the brush biopsy technique. Papanicolaou and hematoxylin/eosin staining were used for cytopathologic and histopathologic assessments, respectively. RESULTS: Only one patient was excluded due to inadequate sample material. A total of six of cytobrush specimens had the same diagnosis as their conventional biopsies (20.6% true positive), while 27 samples (79.4%) showed false negativity. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained in the present study, sampling with cytobrush followed by Papanicolaou staining may not be a good alternative for conventional biopsy in oral SCC cases.

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)

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.

Human papillomavirus in saliva of patients with oralsquamous cell carcinoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in saliva rinses ofpatients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)and to analyze the possibility of using saliva as a diagnosticmethod for screening high-risk patients. Study design: The saliva sample of 22 patients with oral squamous cellcarcinoma and 20 age-sex matched healthy controls were obtained. The presence of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: In 40.9% of the patients and in 25% of the controls,the saliva was shown to be positive for HPV. In 27.3% of the patients and in 20% of the controls, the saliva wasshown to be positive for HPV16; and none of the controls, except one patient was shown to be positive for HPV 18.Neither patients nor controls were positive for HPV 31 and 33. These differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions: The results of this study were unable to support the detection of HPV in saliva rinses as a diagnosticmethod for OSCC (AU)

Human papillomavirus in saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in saliva rinses of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and to analyze the possibility of using saliva as a diagnostic method for screening high-risk patients. STUDY DESIGN: The saliva sample of 22 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 20 age-sex matched healthy controls were obtained. The presence of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33 was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: In 40.9% of the patients and in 25% of the controls, the saliva was shown to be positive for HPV. In 27.3% of the patients and in 20% of the controls, the saliva was shown to be positive for HPV16; and none of the controls, except one patient was shown to be positive for HPV 18. Neither patients nor controls were positive for HPV 31 and 33. These differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study were unable to support the detection of HPV in saliva rinses as a diagnostic method for OSCC.

Salivary concentration of TNFalpha, IL1 alpha, IL6, and IL8 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 alpha, 6, and 8 in the saliva of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with control group. STUDY DESIGN: In this study 18 subjects were involved, nine patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas and nine age-sex-matched healthy individuals that were matched for gingival conditions too. Active dental abscesses, collagen vascular diseases, and infectious diseases during one month before saliva sampling were considered as exclusion criteria. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and after processing the samples were analyzed by Enzyme Linked Immune Assay. RESULTS: The concentration of salivary interleukin 6 in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients was higher than control group and it was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The concentration of salivary tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 alpha and 8 in case group was higher than control group but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results shows that more studies are needed to accept the utility of these cytokines in predicting or diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma or evaluation of treatment.

Salivary concentration of TNFalfa, IL1alfa, IL6, and IL8 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1α, 6, and 8 in the saliva of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with control group.Study design: In this study 18 subjects were involved, nine patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas and nineage-sex-matched healthy individuals that were matched for gingival conditions too. Active dental abcesses, collagenvascular diseases, and infectious diseases during one month before saliva sampling were considered as exclusioncriteria. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and after processing the samples were analyzed by Enzyme Linked Immune Assay.Results: The concentration of salivary interleukin 6 in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients was higher than control group and it was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The concentration of salivary tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1α and 8 in case group was higher than control group but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Conclusions: These results shows that more studies are needed to accept the utility of these cytokines in predicting or diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma or evaluation of treatment (AU)

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Effects of Low-level Laser in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Muscular pain in the facial region is the most common cause of facial pains. Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is one of the most important facial muscle disorders comprising of signs and symptoms including pain during function, tenderness in the muscles of mastication and restricted jaw movement. Due to the lack of an accepted therapeutic approach, the purpose of this paper was to find an effective treatment to decrease the pain of such patients. Considering the analgesic and anti-inflammatory action of laser therapy, the effects of low level laser (Ga-Al-As) in the treatment of MPDS patients referred to Tehran University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Dentistry, were investigated in the present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental research. Twenty-two MPDS patients were selected from those referred to Department of Oral Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Dentistry. Clinical examination was performed at six stages in the following order: prior to the treatment, at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, and monthly thereafter for a 3-months follow-up. All patients underwent low-level laser therapy for 4 weeks (12 sessions). Variables such as pain severity, pain of cheek region, pain frequency, tenderness of masticatory muscles, click, and mouth opening were evaluated at each stage. Numerical variables were investigated using Analysis of Variance test for repeated measures whereas ranking variables were studied by non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: At the end of treatment period, pain severity, pain of cheek region, pain frequency, tenderness of masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid muscles showed significant improvement as compared with the commencement of any treatment which continued during the 3-months post-treatment (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was shown that low-level laser (Ga-Al-As) therapy had the efficacy to alleviate pain and decrease the tenderness of masticatory muscles among MPDS patients through a continuous and regular therapeutic program.