In Vivo Imaging of the Buccal Mucosa Shows Loss of the Endothelial Glycocalyx and Perivascular Hemorrhages in Pediatric Plasmodium falciparum Malaria.

Severe malaria is mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum, resulting in considerable, systemic inflammation and pronounced endothelial activation. The endothelium forms an interface between blood and tissue, and vasculopathy has previously been linked with malaria severity. We studied the extent to which the endothelial glycocalyx that normally maintains endothelial function is involved in falciparum malaria pathogenesis by using incident dark-field imaging in the buccal mucosa. This enabled calculation of the perfused boundary region, which indicates to what extent erythrocytes can permeate the endothelial glycocalyx. The perfused boundary region was significantly increased in severe malaria patients and mirrored by an increase of soluble glycocalyx components in plasma. This is suggestive of a substantial endothelial glycocalyx loss. Patients with severe malaria had significantly higher plasma levels of sulfated glycosaminoglycans than patients with uncomplicated malaria, whereas other measured glycocalyx markers were raised to a comparable extent in both groups. In severe malaria, the plasma level of the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid was positively correlated with the perfused boundary region in the buccal cavity. Plasma hyaluronic acid and heparan sulfate were particularly high in severe malaria patients with a low Blantyre coma score, suggesting involvement in its pathogenesis. In vivo imaging also detected perivascular hemorrhages and sequestering late-stage parasites. In line with this, plasma angiopoietin-1 was decreased while angiopoietin-2 was increased, suggesting vascular instability. The density of hemorrhages correlated negatively with plasma levels of angiopoietin-1. Our findings indicate that as with experimental malaria, the loss of endothelial glycocalyx is associated with vascular dysfunction in human malaria and is related to severity.

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica-like lesions in pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe a previously unreported association of oral pemphigus vulgaris with short-lived blood-filled painless blisters resembling angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of consecutive patients with Pemphigus vulgaris. All patients were examined for the presence of ABH-like lesions, and demographic, clinical and histopathological data were collected. Histopathological examination was performed when feasible. RESULTS: A total of 318 with pemphigus vulgaris were included (63.5% female, mean age: 46 years). ABH-like lesions were present in 82 (25.8%) patients, commonly observed in the buccal mucosa (47, 57.3%) followed by the palate (15, 18.3%). All patients had normal platelet counts with no evidence of bleeding diathesis. Biopsies of the ABH-like lesions showed suprabasal clefts in four of six samples. ABH-like lesions were significantly associated with partial remission of pemphigus vulgaris (47.5%, P = 0.002) and the use of intraoral steroids (P = 0.001, odds ratio: 5.9 [95% confidence interval: 2.5-13.6]). CONCLUSION: ABH-like lesions may represent a transient or abortive form of oral pemphigus vulgaris and tend to have a benign and self-limiting nature.

Asphyxial death related to postextraction hematoma in an elderly man.

We here report an autopsy case of a man in his seventies who died from asphyxia due to compression of the trachea caused by postextraction bleeding after extraction of his left mandibular third molar by a dentist in private practice. On the morning after the tooth extraction, he had complained of dyspnea and became unconscious at home. Although he was brought to the emergency room by ambulance, he died 7 days later without regaining consciousness. Autopsy examination revealed that the lingual side of the alveolar bone was fractured at the extraction socket. Moreover, subcutaneous bleeding that extended from the extraction socket to the thyrohyoid ligament in the cervical region and deviation of the epiglottis due to the bleeding were observed. Histological findings revealed liver cirrhosis; there were no significant findings in other organs. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that alveolar bone fracture occurred during the extraction and that the bleeding spread to the cervical region. Thus, the patient had died from asphyxia resulting from airway obstruction caused by cervical subcutaneous bleeding derived from postextraction bleeding. We emphasize that tooth extraction may cause fatal complications in patients with bleeding tendencies, particularly in the elderly.

Healing acceleration in hamsters of oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil with topical Calendula officinalis.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the potential of topical Calendula officinalis extract on the healing of oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in hamsters. STUDY DESIGN: Oral mucositis was induced in 60 male hamsters by 5-FU (60 mg/kg) on days 0, 5, and 10 of the study. The cheek pouch was scratched with a sterile needle on days 1 and 2. On days 12-17, 5% and 10% C. officinalis gel and gel base groups were treated and then compared with a control group. Macroscopic and microscopic scores and weights were evaluated. RESULTS: Microscopic and macroscopic scores of mucositis were lower in the 5% and 10% C. officinalis gel groups than in the gel base and control groups (P < .05). Weight gain was noted in the treatment groups compared with the gel base and control groups (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Calendula officinalis extract accelerated the healing of oral mucositis in hamsters.

Exfoliative cytology of the oral mucosa: comparison of two collection methods.

This study compared the sampling efficacy of a cytobrush and metal spatula for exfoliative cytology of the oral mucosa. Thirty students with no detectable oral alterations upon clinical examination were submitted to exfoliative cytology of the lateral border of the tongue, using a metal spatula on the left side and a cytobrush on the right side. The smears were stained using the Papanicolaou technique and evaluated for cellularity, cell type, cell distribution, homogeneity, and cellular distortion, as well as the presence of mucus, inflammatory infiltrate, and hemorrhage. A statistical test (Z-test) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) showed a significant difference between the metal spatula and cytobrush in terms of cellularity (p = 0.02) and homogeneity (p = 0.01). No difference between the two methods was observed regarding cell type (p = 0.4, Z-test) or cell distribution for the 95% confidence interval (p = 0.2, Fisher's test). Cell distortion and the presence of mucus were observed in five cases that used the metal spatula and in two cases that used the cytobrush. No hemorrhage or inflammatory infiltrate was detected in any of the slides. Based on the results of this study, the cytobrush produced qualitatively better smears in terms of cellularity and homogeneity compared to the metal spatula.

[Salivary gland tumor of the hard palate]. / Speicheldrüsentumor des harten Gaumens.

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic adenomas of the small salivary glands are very rare and usually arise from the hard palate. CASE REPORT: We present a female patient who was referred to our Department because of a bleeding enoral tumor, which persisted for 35 years. Histopathological examination after complete tumor excision showed a pleomorphic adenoma. CONCLUSION: Pleomorphic adenomas are an important differential diagnosis for tumors of the hard palatine. The therapy of choice is surgical excision.

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the tongue.

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy of uncertain histologic origin with a propensity for vascular invasion and distant metastasis. This neoplasm may mimic benign vascular neoplasms or malformations but careful evaluation of the unique imaging features on CT scans, MR images, and angiograms lead to the correct diagnosis. We present a case of alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the tongue and emphasize its radiologic and clinical features.

Massive bleeding from an ectopic lingual thyroid follicular adenoma during pregnancy.

Ectopic thyroid is a rare developmental anomaly. It can be found anywhere between the foramen cecum and the normal position of the thyroid gland. Massive bleeding from an ectopic lingual thyroid is unusual and occasionally fatal. We present a case of a 22-year-old woman who had a large mass at the base of the tongue for over 6 years. In the sixth month of pregnancy, the patient experienced massive bleeding from the tongue base mass. A thyroid scan revealed that this mass was the only functioning thyroid tissue. Because of massive bleeding and her shock status, the patient received an emergent embolization of the bilateral lingual arteries. Then the huge lingual thyroid was subsequently excised via a mandible swing approach to prevent further episodes of bleeding. Pathology analysis indicated ectopic thyroid tissue with follicular adenoma. She delivered without complications in the 36th week and had a normal baby. This case was a very rare one in our review. Although ectopic lingual thyroid usually is not managed surgically, excision of ectopic lingual thyroid can be life-saving when it is causing bleeding or airway obstruction.

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica: presentation of eight new cases and a review of the literature.

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH) describes the acute and sometimes painful onset of oral blood-filled vesicles and bullae not attributable to blood dyscrasia, vesiculo-bullous disorders, systemic diseases or other known causes. The haemorrhagic bullae spontaneously burst after a short time resulting in ragged, often painless, superficial erosions that heal spontaneously within 1 week without scarring. Although the pathogenesis is still unclear, ABH seems to be a multifactorial phenomenon: dental or functional trauma seems to be the major provoking factor. The lesions of ABH can be easily confused with other mucosal diseases. It is important that the presentation of this benign disorder is distinguished from other more serious disorders with similar presenting features. The aim of this paper is to report the clinical features of eight cases of ABH, in an attempt to distinguish ABH from other blistering diseases of oral mucosa and to describe their management.

Angina bullosa hemorrhagica.

BACKGROUND: In 1967, Badham used the term angina bullosa hemorrhagica (ABH) to describe an entity we already knew as traumatic oral hemophlyctenosis (TOH) (1933) and later renamed recurrent oral hemophlyctenosis (ROH) (1971). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to review and discuss the literature, and to report 54 new cases seen between 1989 and 1996. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients were thoroughly assessed to determine the clinical features, histology, etiology, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and therapy. RESULTS: In 35 patients (64.8%), the lesions predominated on the palate and in nine (16.6%) on the oral mucosa. The incidence was similar in both sexes (women, 52%; men, 48%) and the condition affected mostly the 51-70-year age group. ABH was never documented in children under 10 years of age. In 24 cases (44.4%), diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and/or a family history of diabetes was found. CONCLUSIONS: ABH is a disorder more common than the literature would suggest. Although the causes may be multiple (mucosal trauma, inhaled corticosteroids), the available data indicate that, in these patients, the presence of an alteration in glucose metabolism should be considered.

[Severe hemorrhage from rupture of an intra-oral arteriovenous malformation]. / Hémorragie grave par rupture d'une malformation artérioveineuse intrabuccale.

We report the case of a 47-year-old woman with a sudden, spontaneous exsanguinating haemorrhage from an arteriovenous malformation of the mandible. The diagnosis was obtained with a contrast enhanced CT-scan and a digital subtraction angiography. As arterial embolisation was not available the lesion was treated surgically.