Association between autoimmune rheumatic diseases and head and neck cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Personal history of autoimmune rheumatic diseases has been implicated in the development of malignant neoplasms. Our aim was to assess the risk of head and neck (H&N) cancers in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. METHODS: The articles search included PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with no language restrictions for studies published from inception of the databases to August 20, 2022, assessing the risk of H&N cancer in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Studies were included if they reported the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The primary outcome was risk of H&N cancers in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases compared with the general population. Pooled summary estimates were calculated using a random-effects model, and subgroup analyses were done to establish whether risk of H&N cancers varied according to study site. RESULTS: Our search identified 5378 records, of which 32 cohort studies were eligible for systematic review and 24 for meta-analysis (including 273 613 patients). A significant association was found between H&N cancer and autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SIR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.57-3.50; p < 0.01, I2  = 94%). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases had a significantly increased risk of H&N cancer compared with the general population, including thyroid, oral, and nasopharyngeal cancers. These findings have implications for the individualized screening of these patients and the planning of oncology units. The protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42020197827.

Effect of S. mutans combinations with bifidobacteria/lactobacilli on biofilm and enamel demineralization.

The present study evaluated the ability of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species associated with streptococci to increase insoluble extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production and initial caries lesion progression. Bovine enamel blocks (n = 190; 4 mm x 4 mm) were prepared, selected according to initial surface hardness (SH), and divided into two groups: a) double combinations: S. mutans with Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus, and b) triple combinations: S. mutans and S. sobrinus with Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus species. The blocks were exposed to the bacterial associations for 7 days. Subsequently, quantity of EPS from biofilms and caries lesion depth were determined by means of colorimetric and cross-sectional enamel hardness (ΔKHN) analysis. The data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance, followed by the Bonferroni test (p < 0.05). S. mutans with B. animalis or B. dentium produced a higher quantity of EPS; S. mutans + B. animalis led to the highest ∆KHN. S. mutans + S. sobrinus + B. longum induced greater EPS and ∆KHN values. In conclusion, associations of B. animalis and B. longum with streptococci promoted EPS production and caries lesion progression.

Effect of S. mutans combinations with bifidobacteria/lactobacilli on biofilm and enamel demineralization

Abstract The present study evaluated the ability of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species associated with streptococci to increase insoluble extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production and initial caries lesion progression. Bovine enamel blocks (n = 190; 4 mm x 4 mm) were prepared, selected according to initial surface hardness (SH), and divided into two groups: a) double combinations: S. mutans with Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus, and b) triple combinations: S. mutans and S. sobrinus with Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus species. The blocks were exposed to the bacterial associations for 7 days. Subsequently, quantity of EPS from biofilms and caries lesion depth were determined by means of colorimetric and cross-sectional enamel hardness (ΔKHN) analysis. The data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance, followed by the Bonferroni test (p < 0.05). S. mutans with B. animalis or B. dentium produced a higher quantity of EPS; S. mutans + B. animalis led to the highest ∆KHN. S. mutans + S. sobrinus + B. longum induced greater EPS and ∆KHN values. In conclusion, associations of B. animalis and B. longum with streptococci promoted EPS production and caries lesion progression.

Genotypic diversity and phenotypic traits of Streptococcus mutans isolates and their relation to severity of early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is an aggressive condition that can affect teeth of young children. This study aimed to evaluate genotypic diversity and phenotypic traits of S. mutans isolated from dental biofilms of children with different caries status in comparison with caries free (CF) children. METHODS: Streptococcus mutans strains were isolated from supragingival biofilm samples of CF, ECC and severe-ECC (S-ECC) children and genotyped by arbitrary-primer polymerase chain reaction - AP-PCR. S. mutans genotypes were tested for their ability to reduce the suspension pH through glycolysis, to tolerate extreme acid challenge and by their ability to form biofilm. Response variables were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey or Kruskal-Wallis/Mann-Whitney tests at a 5% of significance. RESULTS: There was an increase in the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans in biofilms with the severity of dental caries. No differences in genotypic diversity and in acidogenicity of genotypes were found among CF, ECC and S-ECC children. S mutans strains with genotypes more characteristic for ECC and S-ECC children formed more biofilms than those identified in CF children. The strains isolated from S-ECC children were highly acid tolerant. CONCLUSION: Although S. mutans genotypic diversity was similar among the groups of children, phenotypic traits of S. mutans, especially the acid tolerance response, could explain the severity of early childhood caries.

Comparative in vitro investigation of the cariogenic potential of bifidobacteria.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the in vitro cariogenic potential of some Bifidobacterium species in comparison with caries-associated bacteria. DESIGN: Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium dentium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Actinomyces israelii, Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans were tested for acidogenicity and aciduricity by measuring the pH of the cultures after growth in glucose and bacterial growth after exposure to acid solutions. Biofilm biomass was determined for each species either alone or associated with S. mutans or S. mutans/S. sobrinus. Enamel hardness was analyzed before and after 7-days biofilm formation using bacterial combinations. RESULTS: B. animalis and B. longum were the most acidogenic and aciduric strains, comparable to caries-associated bacteria, such as S. mutans and L. casei. All species had a significantly increased biofilm when combined either with S. mutans or with S. mutans/S. sobrinus. The greatest enamel surface loss was produced when B. longum or B. animalis were inoculated with S. mutans, similar to L. casei and S. sobrinus. All strains induced similar enamel demineralization when combined with S. mutans/S. sobrinus, except by B. lactis. CONCLUSION: The ability to produce acidic environments and to enhance biofilm formation leading to increased demineralization may mean that Bifidobacterium species, especially B. animalis and B. longum, are potentially cariogenic.

Gram-negative periodontal pathogens and bacterial endotoxin in metallic orthodontic brackets with or without an antimicrobial agent: an in-vivo study.

INTRODUCTION: High levels of periodontal pathogens can cause periodontal alterations. The presence of endotoxin might be responsible for the occurrence and progression of tissue inflammation and bone resorption. The aims of this study were to use checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization and limulus amebocyte lysate assay to evaluate in metallic orthodontic brackets (1) the presence of 16 gram-negative periodontal pathogenic microorganisms of the orange complex and red complex +Treponema socranskii, (2) the amount of bacterial endotoxin, and (3) the efficacy of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash in reducing bacterial contamination and endotoxin amount. METHODS: Thirty-three patients (ages, 11-33 years) under orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances had 3 new metallic brackets bonded to 3 different premolars. Sixteen patients used a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash (Periogard, Colgate-Palmolive, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil) (experimental group), and 17 patients used a placebo mouthwash (control group) twice a week. After 30 days, the brackets were removed, and the samples were obtained. The data were analyzed statistically by Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate group accumulated significantly lower levels of microorganisms than did the placebo group (P = 0.01). When each microbial complex was analyzed separately, a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups was found for the orange complex (P = 0.04). A greater amount of bacterial endotoxin was detected in the 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate group than in the control group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinses can be useful to reduce the levels of gram-negative periodontal pathogenic microorganisms in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Considering the increased amount of bacterial endotoxin after chlorhexidine gluconate use, further research is necessary to develop clinical procedures or antimicrobial agents with action against bacterial endotoxin adhering to metallic brackets.