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To explore active peptides against both opportunistic oral infection by Candida spp. and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A systematic review using MeSH/PUBMED and Scielo databases was conducted analyzing publications that observed the proposed objective, following the PRISMA statement. The descriptors "Candida", "oral neoplasm" and "antimicrobial peptides" were articulated to obtain the studies. From a total of 113 publications, 5 fulfilled the adopted criteria. Chronic hyperplasia caused by Candida spp. constitutes a potentially malignant lesion, which leads to carcinogenesis. OSCC, on the other hand, represents a risk factor for oropharyngeal candidiasis. Faced with the usual resistance demonstrated against drugs for the treatment of both conditions, dual-function peptides highlight, presenting a selective membranolytic potential, against which there is low or no resistance. Thereby, peptides such as CAMP/LL-37 and Hp-MAP3, despite inducing some hemolytic activity, showed off to be promising for the treatment of both diseases. Data suggest that CAMP/LL-37 and Hp-MAP3 appear as potential drugs to treat opportunistic oral infection by Candida spp. and OSCC. However, further work is needed to support its dual-function capacity. Our research group is redesigning, synthesizing and testing peptides, hopefully leading to new candidates to treat Candida spp. and OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is a progressive disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin due to the decrease in the number or the absence of melanocytes, often starting in the perioral region. This study aims to identify the main histopathological findings that support a better diagnostic-therapeutic approach. The search was performed in Pubmed database using descriptors: vitiligo, histopathology, pathology and inflammatory infiltrate. It resulted in 14 works published in the last 10 years, of which 3 were selected, observing the adopted criteria. The absence of melanocytes is one of the main findings that characterize vitiligo. However, immunohistochemistry showed that 12% of 100 biopsies had 7.68 melanocytes/mm², which were hypofunctioning, although viable. Compared to nevus depigmentosus, vitiligo has more hypopigmentation and lesional dermal inflammation compared to normal perilesional skin. Perifollicular lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates (PLIN) may indicate disease activity: patients with active disease and black hair within the lesion have dense infiltrates, whereas in stable cases when the Koebner phenomenon is absent, this site has slight inflammation. Histopathological findings can confirm diagnosis in dubious cases and clarify the use of topical corticosteroids as a therapeutic alternative. Furthermore, the density of the PLIN stratifies disease activity. Immunohistochemistry has shown to be promising, identifying remaining melanocytes and enabling new therapeutic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore studies on the uses and effectiveness of antimicrobial peptides in viral oral lesions. A bibliographic review was conducted in Pubmed, Web of Science and Scielo databases, using as descriptors "antimicrobial peptides", "virus", "treatment" and "oral". From a total of 64 publications, 3 studies published between 2000 and 2023 were selected. The use of peptides represents an important therapy, which acts in a targeted way to kill viral agents. Therefore, these active molecules can prevent the virus from binding to host cell receptors, inhibiting the viral cycle. It has proven been demonstrated that the use of defensins against enveloped viruses that lead to oral infections acts on glycoproteins, which are necessary for the membrane fusion process. Furthermore, it was seen that the HIV-1 virus promotes the expression of β-defensins in cells of oral epithelium, molecules that act to block viral replication through a direct interaction with virions and modulating the CXCR4 co-receptor. The application of antimicrobial peptides is a promising alternative for therapies against viruses, due to the difficulty in developing resistance to viral agents, and thus contributes to better results in oral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: in the face of scientific knowledge, membranolytic, antineoplastic peptides emerge, which can interrupt the cell cycle and induce the immune response. From this, the pharmacological potential of these substances has been increasingly investigated. to detail the use of antitumor peptides in patients with head and neck cancer. literature review in the "Pubmed" and "BVS" databases, with 5 selected articles, written between 2005 and 2022. The descriptors were: peptides, antitumors, oral cancer, and cells. studies prove the extension of the life of species, as well as a reduction in the severity of adverse effects induced by traditional treatment, via the use of the AMP-18 peptide. They provoked apoptosis in cells, mitochondrial oxidative stress, energy damage and activation of apoptotic pathways, capable of stopping the cell cycle and breaking the plasmatic membrane, by the use of NRC-03 and Lfn-p. Also, selective cytotoxic effects on human oral cancer cells are suggested by the use of BmKn-2. this possible treatment with peptides is capable of inhibiting external cells and cell invasion, as well as reducing the expression of transcription factors. Thus, the selective antineoplastic effect may be a candidate treatment for oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aims to detail the combination of antitumor peptides and herbal compounds, as antineoplastic agents. A literature review was carried out in online databases with free access, "Pubmed" and "BVS", between the years 2021 and 2023. From a total of 48 articles 5 of them were selected according to the descriptors: "peptides", "phytotherapy and antineoplastic agents", written in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The combined therapy of antitumor peptides and antineoplastic agents proved to be effective in all studies. Distinct cellular conformational changes were observed, induction of apoptosis in several ways, and induction of subcytotoxins capable of reducing the release of cytokines and chemokines released by cancer cells. However, the specificity of the antineoplastic action, as well as the possible side effects induced by this therapy, were not listed. the combined use of these compounds proved to be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of different types of cancer since they can induce apoptosis in different ways. However, there is a need for further studies of antitumor peptides, as well as new herbal compounds and their combinations, listing their specificities and possible cellular damage the cells normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When analyzing the general situation regarding neoplasms, it is observed that microbial infections play a crucial role in their prognosis, especially in the oral cavity, where the connection between them becomes more evident. Unfortunately, the current pharmacological arsenal to treat these conditions has a low therapeutic spectrum, several unwanted side effects and high levels of resistance. This work aimed to find dual-function peptides with potential antitumor and antimicrobial activity. For the selection of articles, a systematic search was carried out in PUBMED and Scielo databases, using "oral infections", "oral cancer" and "peptides" as descriptors. From a total of 77 papers, 10 were evaluated. There is no doubt that, with the increase in resistance against chemotherapy, antimicrobial peptides appear as potential new therapeutic agents, as they exhibit direct cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. In addition, some peptides such as CA-MA 2 (cecropin-magainin 2) and Chrysophsin-1 can eliminate also pathogenic microorganisms related to oral diseases. Membranolytic peptides allow the intersection between antibiotic and antitumor activity, configuring promising therapeutic agents for the prevention/treatment of oral cancer and infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the importance of the immune system in tumor progression and the need for new treatment options, this review highlights the major compounds evaluated as immunotherapeutic approaches in HNSCC. A narrative review was performed with a search in PubMed and Scielo with the keywords "natural compound", "immunotherapy" and "head and neck cancer". Relevant articles that describe the effects of natural compounds on the immune system of head and neck cancer patients were included. Several compounds, such as bitter melon, black raspberry, carnosic acid, Cordyceps militaris, curcumin, gamboic acid, Gan-Lu-Ying, green tea, honokiol, Operculina turpethum, Piper cubeba, resveratrol and Zheng-Sheng-Ping presented immunomodulatory properties in HNSCC, including changes in T cell infiltration, T cell function and cytokine release. The positive effects of the tested compounds lead to an increase in antitumor immune response. However, the majority of the compounds were evaluated only in vitro and in animal models. This review reinforces the potential use of herbal medicines in the context of antitumor therapy, which might be combined with conventional therapies. However, it is important to develop randomized clinical trials to assess whether the antitumor properties extend to the complex tumor microenvironment found in patients with head and neck carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To review the efficacy of anticancer peptide conjugation with cisplatin therapies in the treatment of oral cancer. The data search comprised the databases BVS, Scielo and PubMed, using the combination of the descriptors "anticancer peptides" AND "oral cancer" AND "cisplatin". Only 07 articles in English and Portuguese, published in the last 10 years, were approved after eligibility analysis. It was noted that there was more cytotoxicity and apoptosis, in addition to tumor regression, with the use of various peptides and binding proteins, associated with cisplatin in oral cancers. The peptide-drug conjugation may be established only after observing which oncogenes promote cell survival, proliferation and motility in tumorigenesis. Therefore, the oncogenes MiR-15b, ELF5A2, BCL-2, and MDR1, were the ones that brought the highest results of protein inhibition and gene expression of multidrug resistance, without affecting the mesenchymal-epithelial transition of normal cells, and even a transient significant positive regulation, of systemic CD8 + T-cell antitumor. Tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin, reduces treatment efficacy, especially in advanced or recurrent cases. So, the association proposed above has a potential synergistic therapeutic effect in oral cancer. However, further studies with a significant sample are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to characterize the expression of Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and correlate it with histopathological findings of central giant cell lesion (CGCL) and peripheral giant cell lesion (PGCL) of the jaw. In total, 16 samples of CGCL and 16 PGCL were submitted to hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, CD4, and CD8. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26.0 with Mann-Whitney and Spearman Correlation tests. Significant analysis was considered when p < 0.05. No differences were found in clinical and histopathological parameters. CGCL presented more cases with CD4 expression when compared to PGCL, but no difference was found in CD8 and PD-L1 expression. Considering all the samples, a positive correlation was found between PD-L1 expression, inflammatory infiltrate, and CD8 expression. Considering both groups, PD-L1 expression had a positive correlation with CD8 expression and inflammatory infiltrate, which could indicate an immunoregulatory profile of these cells and the potential for the use of immunotherapy in these lesions. More studies should be developed to characterize the use of immune markers and immunotherapy in both types of giant cell lesions to highlight pathogenic and therapeutic aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the potential of stereological analysis in the prediction of tumor progression and aggressivity of potential malignant (actinic cheilitis - AC) and malignant (lip squamous cell carcinoma - LSCC) lip disorders. 27 samples of LSCC and 37 of AC were submitted to hematoxylin and eosin stain and histological analysis of gradation or dysplasia and stereological analysis of changed cells (tumor or dysplastic), inflammation, blood vessels, dyskeratosis, keratin pearls, necrosis, and solar elastosis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26.0 with Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney test, and a p-value < 0.05 was adopted as significance. LSCC samples presented significant percentages of morphological changes (tumor cells or dysplastic cells) and inflammatory cells when compared to AC. Stereological parameters were not correlated with dysplasia or tumor gradation. It was noted that LSCC presented higher levels of changed cells and inflammatory cells when compared to AC, reflecting the higher proliferative and immunogenic properties of malignant disorders when compared to potentially malignant ones. However, the stereological parameters were not correlated with markers of aggressivity in our sample, justifying the need for further evaluations to identify potential new biomarkers of aggressiveness in pathological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the heterogeneity of clinical and histopathological presentation of vitiligo and other depigmented lesions, this study aims to study the morphological criteria for diagnosing vitiligo in skin and perioral in a local cohort of patients. 25 skin and perioral biopsies diagnosed as suggestive of vitiligo, between the years 2009 and 2021, and performed by a private pathology laboratory in Southwest Goias, were analyzed. After histological processing, slides were analyzed considering morphological parameters described in the literature. Inflammatory infiltrate criteria, both perivascular and in the dermis and epidermis, can be used as indicative of the inflammatory nature of the depigmentation, helping to differentiate it from other entities such as nevus depigmentosus. Other findings such as degeneration of the basal layer, spongiosis, basal vacuolation, dyskeratosis, hyperkeratosis, thinned epidermis and absence of dermal papillae can also be used as criteria indicative of vitiligo lesions. Despite identifying criteria suggestive of the disease, the study demands the expansion of the sample for a better characterization of the findings. Furthermore, the importance of correlating anatomopathological findings with clinical information is reinforced to ensure greater data reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]