Self-reported dental student stressors and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the student reported outcomes among dental students reading/studying different courses offered in the only dental school in Malta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 13 closed-ended and open-ended questions was sent to all students (n = 97) at the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the University of Malta. Emergent themes from open-ended questions were identified and tallied. Since data were classified as categorical ranks, nonparametric tests were used to compare variables among the different courses, years of study, preclinical/clinical students, and gender categories. RESULTS: Dental technology students were significantly less stressed about contracting COVID-19 (P = 0.005) and regarding lack of preparation due to inability to physically go to the library (P = 0.019). Female students reported significantly more anxiety for the following factors: "feeling anxious all the time" (P = 0.033), "worried about contracting COVID-19'" (P = 0.012), "worried that a family member may contract COVID-19'" (P = 0.048), "more anxious about exams this year because of the challenges we are facing" (P = 0.029), and "concern about losing manual dexterity skills" (P = 0.038). Qualitative data gathered show considerable stress reported by students regarding changes in examination processes and formats and lack of timely communication. CONCLUSION: Students were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and this caused fear of losing their manual dexterity skills, anxiety related to its consequences on their long-term plans, and anxiety related to the examinations. Dental schools in turn should adapt rapidly and customize changes that are specific to the individual student cohort and their stage of training.

Angina bullosa hemorrhagica, an uncommon oral disorder. Report of 4 cases.

Angina bullosa hemorrhagica (ABH) is a rare oral disorder characterized by blood-filled bullous lesions in the oral cavity and the oropharynx in the absence of an underlying systemic, haematological or mucocutaneous condition. The presentation of the lesions is acute and located on the lining mucosa, mainly on the soft palate. Often, these lesions are single and rupture easily leaving an ulcerated area. In this study, we present 4 ABH cases in 3 women and 1 man and we discuss the main clinicopathological characteristics. The characteristics of this disorder are important to recognize in order to differentiate the lesions from other oral bullous conditions of the oral cavity such as mucocutaneous disorders or blood coagulation disorders. Key words:Angina bullosa hemorrhagica, angina bullosa haemorrhagica, oral blisters.

Validation of microRNA expression profile in Oral Lichenoid Disease through cytological samples

Background: To validate oral exfoliative cytology in the analysis of the microRNA expression profile in Oral Lichenoid Disease (OLD).Material and methods: The expression of 13 microRNAs identified and presented by our group in a previous study was analyzed in 26 cases, 16 diagnosed as OLD and 10 controls with no oral mucosal pathology. Cytological samples from the oral mucosa obtained using an Orcellex toothbrush were analyzed using RT-qPCR and TaqMan microRNA assays. Results: The aberrant expression was validated for 2 microRNAs (miR-146a-5p and miR-7-1-3p) of those previ-ously recognized in the biopsy study.Conclusions: This is the first time that oral exfoliative cytology is validated in a study of the alterations of the expression of microRNAs in OLD. The alteration of miR-146a and miR-7 compared to controls was validated. These microRNAs are associated with both inflammatory and carcinogenic phenomena that are involved in the etiopathogenesis of this potentially malignant oral disorder

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Toll-like receptor 2 rs4696480 polymorphism and risk of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorder.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the possible association between TLR polymorphisms and an increased risk of developing head and neck cancer, including oral (OSCC) and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and oral potentially malignant disorders, such as oral lichenoid disease (OLD), including oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL). DESIGN: This case-control study included 40 OSCC, 35 LSCC, 175 OLD (129 OLP and 46 OLL) patients and 89 healthy controls, all of them from the Basque Country, Spain. Genetic polymorphisms in TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, TLR9, and TLR10 were genotyped by TaqMan® assays or pyrosequencing. RESULTS: The chi-square analysis showed that the variant A of the SNP TLR2-rs4696480 polymorphism significantly increased the risk of OSCC (p=0.03) and OLL (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The TLR2-rs4696480 polymorphism may be relevant to OSCC and OLL susceptibility in this population encouraging further studies on the TLR2 pathway and its possible association with this group of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer. This may also prove the use of TLR polymorphisms as risk markers for oral and laryngeal cancer.

Histopathological characterization of the oral lichenoid disease subtypes and the relation with the clinical data

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to analyze the histopathological characteristics of samples with a diagnosis of oral lichenoid disease (OLD) and their link with the location and the type of clinical lesion, and the clinicopathological subtypes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study on 85 consecutive patients diagnosed with OLD (58 women and 27 men, mean age of 57.7 years). Clinical and histopathological characterization of each case (modified WHO criteria). Collection of the clinical and histopathological data of the lesions. Descriptive and comparative statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: The 78.8% of the cases were considered clinically typical while the 21.2% were considered compatible. Histologically, 52.9% were classified as typical and 47.1% as compatible. Biopsies from 'plaque-like' lesions presented hyperkeratosis (p < 0.001) and epithelial dysplasia (p = 0.06) more frequently. Furthermore, acute inflammation was more evident in erosive-ulcerative lesions (p = 0.001). Differences regarding the location of the biopsy were statistically non-significant. However, 42.9% of the tongue biopsies showed epithelial dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The histopathological aspect of this disorder is not specific and does not allow us to differentiate between the main subtypes. Therefore, the main reasons to perform a biopsy in this disorder are to define the differential diagnosis and to rule out epithelial dysplasia or a carcinoma. The final histopathological result may be subject to the type of lesion that is biopsied

Assessment of CD-105 as an Angiogenic Modulator in Odontogenic Myxomas and Dental Follicles.

Aim Odontogenic myxoma is a benign intraosseous neoplasm of the jaws, with a locally aggressive behavior and a high recurrence rate. CD-105 is a homodimeric cell membrane glycoprotein and is a component of the TGF-ß1 growth factor receptor complex that modulates angiogenesis by regulating the proliferation, differentiation and cellular migration. The aim of this study is to quantify the microvascular density of the odontogenic myxoma based on the expression of CD-105. Materials and Methods The analysis included 18 odontogenic myxoma and 18 dental follicles as controls. A standard immunohistochemical procedure was performed with the CD-105 antibody. Five representative fields (40×) of the odontogenic myxoma and the dental follicles were selected to determine the microvascular density, which was then followed by a descriptive and comparative statistical analysis. Results Dental follicles presented a significantly higher microvascular density compared with odontogenic myxoma (P = .001). The odontogenic myxoma smaller than 3 cm showed a greater microvascular density than those larger than 3 cm in size (P > .05), and the microvascular density was lower in large odontogenic myxomas as compared with the dental follicles (P = .003). Conclusion A weaker expression of CD-105 in odontogenic myxoma might indicate a lower angiogenic activity, suggesting that vascular proliferation has a limited role in the growth mechanisms and in the aggressive behavior of this neoplasm.

Oral lichenoid disease as a premalignant condition: The controversies and the unknown

We grouped as oral lichenoid disease (OLD) a series of chronic inflammatory processes with autoimmune base that affect the epithelium of the oral mucosa. This disease is present in 2% of the population with a marked predilection for the female gender, especially perimenopausal women. Clinically, it is characterized by the presence of lineal reticular papules and histologically by liquefaction degeneration of the basal layer of the epithelium associated with an inflammatory infiltrate with a “band-like” disposition on the lamina propria, composed primarily of T lymphocyte cells. Its pathogenicity is associated with deregulation of the cellular immune system, where the activated cytotoxic CD8 and the CD4 T helper lymphocytes induce apoptosis of the epithelial cells. Classically it has been considered a precancerous condition, although the malignant transformation does not exceed 1% of the cases. In recent years the differentiation between oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) has become important, since the latter might have a greater malignant potential. In this paper, we analyse and update some controversial aspects of this frequent oral disease in relation to the diagnosis and malignant potential (AU)

Oral lichenoid disease as a premalignant condition: the controversies and the unknown.

We grouped as oral lichenoid disease (OLD) a series of chronic inflammatory processes with autoimmune base that affect the epithelium of the oral mucosa. This disease presents in 2% of the population with a marked predilection for the female gender, especially perimenopausal women. Clinically, it is characterized by the presence of lineal reticular papules and histologically by liquefaction degeneration of the basal layer of the epithelium associated with an inflammatory infiltrate with a "band-like" disposition on the lamina propria, composed primarily of T lymphocyte cells. Its pathogenicity is associated with deregulation of the cellular immune system, where the activated cytotoxic CD8 and the CD4 T helper lymphocytes induce apoptosis of the epithelial cells. Classically it has been considered a precancerous condition, although the malignant transformation does not exceed 1% of cases. In recent years the differentiation between oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) has become important, since the latter might have a greater malignant potential. In this paper, we analyse and update some controversial aspects of this frequent oral disease in relation to the diagnosis and malignant potential.