Antineoplastic therapy is an independent risk factor for dental caries in childhood cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the antineoplastic therapy (AT) as a risk factor for dental caries lesions independent of other risk factors such as income, family education, stimulated salivary flow rate, hygiene habits, frequency of sugar intake, and microbiota in childhood cancer (CC) patients. METHODS: 72 individuals were divided into CC patients (n=36) and healthy individuals (control group - CT n=36). Demographic data, hygiene habits, frequency of sugar intake, CC type, and AT were collected. Stimulated salivary flow rate was measured and the presence and concentration of Streptococcus mutans were assessed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. Clinical evaluations included plaque index (PI) and decayed-missing-filled-teeth index (dmft/DMFT). Descriptive statistics, T-test, Mann-Whitney test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and two-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis (p<0.05). RESULTS: At the time of oral evaluation, both groups exhibited similar ages with means of 12.0±3.9 years old for CC and 12.0±4.0 years old for CT patients. All CC patients underwent chemotherapy with nine also undergoing radiotherapy. Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of color/race, income, family education, and hygiene habits. However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups regarding the frequency of sugar intake, stimulated salivary flow rate, or the concentration of Streptococcus mutans (qPCR technique). For clinical parameters, the DMF (CC:1.80, CT: 0.75), decayed (CC: 0.88, CT: 0.19), missing (CC: 0.25, CT:0), and PI (CC: 30.5%, CT: 22.6%) were higher in the CC group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Childhood cancer (CC) patients undergoing antineoplastic therapy (AT) exhibit a higher prevalence of dental caries, regardless of income/education, frequency of sugar intake, stimulated salivary flow rate, and microbiota.

Black Ethnicity Influences Gingival and Bone Thickness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of the present study was to compare by cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) the influence of white and black ethnicity on the gingival and bone thickness. Eighty-four individuals, aged between 18 and 59 years old, of both genders, were divided into black (BG n=42) and white groups (WG n=42) and analyzed from June 2020 to April 2021. The gingival and bone thickness were measured using CBCT in all maxillary anterior teeth. T test, Mann-whitney, chi-square, Pearson's correlation and Spearman's correlation were used for comparisons and correlations with a 5% significance level. The black individuals had mean gingival (1.45mm±0.29) and buccal bone plate (1.07mm±0.21) significantly (gingival: p<0.0001, bone: p=0.0002) thicker than white individuals (1.17mm±0.28 and 0.91mm±0.17, respectively). The variables presented greater values for the male individuals. A positive correlation between the thickness of buccal bone plate and gingiva for was found in two teeth in WG (left and right central incisor) and one tooth in BG (left canine). Moreover, a correlation between BBPT and GT immediately below alveolar bone crest (0 mm landmark) was found in four teeth in WG (left and right lateral incisor, left and right central incisor) and BG (left and right canine, left lateral incisor and left central incisor). The black ethnic showed to significantly influence the gingival and buccal bone plate thickness, with black individuals presenting thicker structures than whites.

Antineoplastic therapy in childhood cancer patients presents a negative impact in the periodontal tissues: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of antineoplastic therapy (AT) in the periodontal tissues of childhood cancer (CC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two individuals were divided into CC (n=36) and healthy individuals (control group-CG, n=36). Demographics, hygiene habits, CC type, and AT were collected. Salivary flow and the presence and concentration of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were analyzed. Clinical evaluation included plaque (PI) and gingival indexes (GI), periodontal probing depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Patients were classified into periodontal health, gingivitis, or periodontitis. Descriptive statistics, T test, Mann-Whitney test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and two-way analysis of variance were used (p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was similar (CC 12.0±3.9 years and CG 12.0±4.0 years). In the CC group, all patients underwent chemotherapy and nine radiotherapy. Color/race, income, and family education showed significant differences between groups. There was no difference between groups in salivary flow. Higher levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum were seen in CC (p=0.02). Significant difference between groups was found for PI (CC: 30.5%, CG: 22.6%), GI (CC: 28.8%, CG: 17.3%), PPD (CC: 1.77 mm, CG: 1.61 mm), and CAL (CC: 1.77 mm, CG: 1.57 mm), periodontal health (CC: 3, CG: 7), gingivitis (CC: 16, CG: 24), or periodontitis (CC: 17, CG: 5). CONCLUSION: AT in CC patients presents a negative impact in the periodontal and microbiological parameters. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Childhood cancer individuals showed worse periodontal parameters and higher levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the saliva when compared to healthy individuals.

Gingival pigmentation: Concurrent assessment of distribution, intensity, and extent in a black population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prevalence, distribution, intensity and extent of physiologic gingival melanin pigmentation (GMP) in black individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, GMP was evaluated on digital images by three calibrated examiners, according to de Krom (distribution), DOPI (intensity) and Melanin Index (extent) classifications. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Two-way ANOVA, chi square, and K-means cluster analysis were used. RESULTS: Seventy participants were recruited. The most prevalent GMP categories were: de Krom category 2 (34.3%), DOPI heavy intensity (57.2%), and Melanin index Degree IV (50%). Significant inter-group differences were found for age (p < 0.05) but not gender (p > 0.05). Significant correspondence/overlap was observed between classifications (p > 0.05). Three GMP clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (27%; n = 19) had mild asymmetric and interspersed pigmentation; Cluster 2 (46%; n = 32) had heavy pigmentation in one long continuous ribbon, with pink marginal gingiva; and Cluster 3 (27%; n = 19) had heavy pigmentation in one long continuous ribbon, symmetric, and uniform. CONCLUSIONS: There may be overlap among GMP classification systems. In black individuals, the predominant GMP presentation is one of a broad zone of heavily pigmented attached gingiva, in a continuous strip from central incisors to canines, symmetrical across the midline, and with pink free marginal gingiva. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first study to analyze distribution, intensity, and extent of gingival melanin pigmentation in the same population and to integrate the various classification systems through cluster analysis. The novel findings provide a foundation for patient assessment and counseling and for future studies.

Prognostication for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients based on the tumour-stroma ratio and tumour budding.

AIMS: Previous studies have demonstrated that the tumour-stroma ratio (TSR) and tumour budding are of prognostic value for oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of those histological parameters, individually and in combination, for OSCC. METHODS AND RESULTS: The TSR and tumour budding (the presence of five or more buds at the invasive front) were estimated in 254 patients with OSCC. The clinicopathological association was investigated with a chi-square test, and the prognostic significance (cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival) was verified with Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model. The TSR (≥50%, stroma-rich) was significantly and independently associated with both shortened cancer-specific survival and poor disease-free survival, whereas tumour budding was significantly associated with reduced cancer-specific survival. The TSR/tumour budding model was independently associated with a high risk of cancer mortality and recurrence (disease-free survival). In patients with early-stage tumours (clinical stage I and II, n = 103), the TSR, tumour budding and the TSR/tumour budding model were significantly associated with both cancer-related death and recurrence, whereas, in advanced-stage tumours (clinical stage III and IV, n = 144), only the TSR and the TSR/tumour budding model were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: The TSR, tumour budding and their combination provide significant information on OSCC outcome, suggesting that their incorporation in the routine evaluation of histopathological specimens might be useful in prognostication for OSCC patients.