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The oral cavity may suffer from diseases and lesions of different natures that can result in changes to the underlying microvasculature. These changes are typically observed during the examination of biopsy samples, but there is still a need to investigate methods for characterizing them in live tissues. Capillaroscopy, a medical imaging technique using polarized light and magnification, has shown promise in providing enhanced imaging of the oral mucosa microvasculature in preliminary studies. The present work proposed to review the literature on what capillaroscopy is, its applications in the imaging of oral mucosa microvasculature, and its diagnostic and prognostic significance in various diseases and conditions. While there is the limited literature available, further research in oral capillaroscopy, particularly in the field of oral oncology, is needed to determine its potential benefits in diagnosing and predicting outcomes for potentially malignant oral disorders and cancers.

Psoriasis, a systemic autoimmune disorder primarily affecting the skin, manifests through erythematous plaques and scales, impacting approximately 2-3% of the global population. Chronic periodontitis, a prevalent oral disease characterized by the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues, affects roughly 10-15% of adults worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between psoriasis and chronic periodontitis, supported by epidemiological studies indicating a higher prevalence of periodontitis among individuals with psoriasis and vice versa. Both conditions are chronic inflammatory diseases marked by dysregulated immune responses and altered cytokine profiles, notably involving proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-17. Clinical studies highlight a reciprocal impact of treating one condition on the other, underscoring the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration between dermatologists and periodontists in managing patients with both conditions. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between psoriasis and chronic periodontitis, examining epidemiological associations, shared inflammatory pathways, genetic insights, microbial dysbiosis, environmental factors, and clinical implications. The review emphasizes the importance of integrated care approaches and the potential for targeted therapeutic interventions to improve both psoriatic and periodontal patient outcomes, advocating for further research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning the comorbidity of these diseases.

To assess (i) the prevalence of oral colonization by Candida spp. in patients with psoriasis and (ii) the prevalence of oral lesions associated with Candida spp. in patients with psoriasis and identify the risk factors for oral lesions. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA criteria. The PROSPERO registration code is CRD42019127178. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were used as search engines. Meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses were performed. Among the 5805 retrieved records, nine articles were included. Among 530 psoriatic patients, 255 patients had an oral Candida spp. colonisation with an odds ratio (OR) = 3.44 (95% CI:2.38-5.00). Among 490 psoriatic patients, 43 patients developed oral Candida spp. lesions with an OR = 5.31 (95% CI:1.04-27.23). Among the patients without the main predisposing factors for infections, psoriatic patients had a higher OR (3.48, 95% CI: 2.0-6.0) for Candida spp. colonization, but not for Candida spp. infection, when compared with healthy controls (p-value > 0.05). Meta-analysis showed a higher risk of Candida spp. colonisation in patients with psoriasis. Patients who received immunosuppressive therapies were also at higher risk of developing oral lesions. Further studies are needed to understand these associations., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Antibiotics have undoubtedly revolutionized medicine and the health and survival of patients with life-threatening infections, being nonetheless free from potential adverse effects, and the risk of intestinal dysbiosis, antimicrobial resistance, and the resulting consequences for the patient's health and the public purse. The present study narratively reviewed the epidemiological data on worldwide antibiotic consumption and administration in dental practice, patients' adherence to prescriptions, the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon in dentistry, and the evidence supporting and recommending appropriate antibiotic use in dental care. Eligible systematic reviews and original studies in humans published in the English language from January 2000 to 26 January 2023 were considered. A total of 78 studies, 47 on the epidemiology of antibiotic use and prescription in dentistry, 6 on antibiotic therapy in dentistry, 12 on antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry, 0 on adherence of dental patients to antibiotic prescription, and 13 on antimicrobial resistance in dentistry, were presently considered. Retrieved evidence revealed that antibiotics are frequently overused and misused in dental practice, dental patients frequently do not adhere to prescriptions, and antimicrobial resistance in dentistry is a still rising phenomenon also secondary to improper oral antiseptics use. The present findings highlighted the need to establish more evidence-based and accurate antibiotic prescriptions to sensitize dentists and dental patients to minimize and rationalize the use of antibiotics only when it is indicated and necessary, improve patients' adherence, and enhance knowledge and awareness of the antimicrobial resistance in dentistry.

Various clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infections and adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccination have been described in children. The present narrative review aimed to collect and synthesize reported findings on oral lesions detected in SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects following COVID-19 EMA-authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing-approved vaccine administration in the pediatric population to detail their clinical features and highlight possible pathogenic aspects of those lesions based on current evidence. Few and incomplete reports were retrieved from the literature, probably because most lesions belonged to a broad spectrum of systemic diseases and syndromes and were nonspecific or inaccurately described. The most common oral lesions in pediatric SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were erosive-ulcerative lesions and macules/petechiae, primarily erythematous. In the context of COVID-19 vaccination, oral adverse reactions were rare and typically presented as erosive-ulcerative lesions, with EM-like or unspecified patterns. Future studies should investigate oral lesions in SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects and after COVID-19 vaccination in the pediatric population, taking into account viral variants and newly developed vaccines. Deeper insight into oral lesions detectable in pediatric SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects and after COVID-19 vaccination may increase clinicians' ability to improve multidisciplinary pediatric oral and general care.

Oral Candidiasis (OC) is an opportunistic fungal infection of the oral cavity, frequently reported under local and systemic predisposing circumstances. While the recurrence of OC HIV-infected subjects has been well described and reported, the association between oral candidiasis and the SARS-CoV-2 infection is a recent finding that still is worthy of further study. The present paper focuses on this novel association, reporting the incidence and prevalence of OC occurring during and after COVID-19 and the possible etiopathogenic mechanisms underlying the onset of OC in COVID-19 subjects. The work found that the immune inflammatory hypo reactions and immunosuppression found in children and adults with COVID-19 could favor the proliferation colonization of Candida species and the following infection. At the same time, poor oral hygiene and iatrogenic causes seem to be the main risk factors.

Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection conventionally treated with antifungal drugs. However, the increasing number of fungal infections, parallel to the rising conditions sustained by non-albicans species, pose critical issues related to escalating drug resistances differently acquired by different species. Meanwhile, the knowledge of the interplay between oral microbiota and its host suggests alternative antifungal therapies based on the administration of probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms beneficial to the host, and literature reports consistent evidence for their use to treat gut diseases. The present work aimed to overview the primary mechanisms through which probiotics act against Candida species and the current status of knowledge on their use in clinical practice, particularly concerning oral candidiasis., Competing Interests: The author declares no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection of the oral mucosa sustained by fungi of the genus Candida. Various Candida species, with a predominance of C. albicans, normally a saprophyte of the oral cavity, may become virulent and infect the oral mucosa with variegated clinical presentation, in case of imbalance of the oral microbiota, the presence of local predisposing factors and systemic conditions that weaken the immune system. Conventionally, oral candidiasis eradication is done with the help of antifungal drugs. However, the growing phenomena of drug resistance and the increase in infections sustained by non-albicans species being less responsive to common antifungals have orientied researches towards the experimentation of alternative therapies. The present review considered the most promising alternative therapeutic proposals. The use of plant derivatives with phytotherapy is a promising option, such as probiotics, to rebalance the oral microbiota in case of dysbiosis. Finally, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), with highly selective fungicidal activity and free of side effects, is also being studied as a powerful alternative to drug administration. All these therapies are alternatives or supportive to the conventional treatment of recurrent and non-drug-responsive forms of oral candidiasis. However, further studies are needed to define the most active compounds, the efficacy of the therapies compared with the conventional ones, and the planning of regulated and standardized protocols., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

In addition to the direct impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the COVID-19 pandemic reports multiple effects on people's health and psycho-physical well-being. In the dental field, oral hygiene sessions, regular dental check-ups, and aerosol-generating procedures were commonly postponed, thus resulting in repercussions on oral health also favored by the changing eating and oral hygiene habits during the multiple lockdowns. Furthermore, dental settings and practices were generally perceived as at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, thus unsafe, and by general and pediatric dentists themselves. Last, the consequences of stress related to deprivation of social life and playful activities should not be underestimated in children, exposing them to the deleterious effects of bad oral habits, with repercussions on the balanced growth and development of the stomatognathic system. The present work intends to analyze the medium-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on pediatric oral and dental care provision, reviewing pediatric dentistry practice and oral and dental needs of pedodontics patients during the first peak and the various waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, and lessons learned.

Since smoking is considered among the main risk factors for the onset and progression of periodontitis and peri-implantitis, the present systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on clinical, radiographic, and gingival crevicular periodontal parameters around natural teeth and dental implants in ex-smokers compared to current and non-smokers. The study protocol was developed based on the PRISMA guidelines, the research question was formulated according to the PICO model, and the literature search was conducted through PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane library, and BioMed Central databases. From the 916 title/abstracts initially identified, seven articles were included in the present systematic review and assessed for quality through the ROBINS-I tool. Reported findings on clinical and crevicular periodontal parameters around natural teeth were contrasting when comparing ex-smokers to current and non-smokers; thus, individualized recommendations for previous smoker periodontal patients are currently lacking. No data on radiographic parameters were retrieved. Similarly, data on periodontal parameters around dental implants were not available, highlighting the need for focused investigations assessing the role of both smoking habit and cessation on peri-implant health status and responsiveness to treatment.

Increasing evidence relate anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations to orofacial adverse reactions, therefore, the present systematic review aimed to evaluate primary oral lesions diagnosed in adult subjects, following the WHO Emergency Use Listing approved and EMA authorized vaccines, also in relation to cases' age, gender, comorbidities, and history of COVID-19, and in relation to vaccine type and doses. The study protocol, registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022339032) and compliant with the PRISMA statement, included an electronic search across Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, BioMed Central databases, and PROSPERO, ended on 18 June 2022 and succeeded by a manual search, an independent data extraction, and arisk of bias evaluation through ROBINS-I tool. Qualitatively synthesized data from the 13studies included showed an overall low prevalence (16 cases), though higher in females (68.8%), of oral lesions, mainly erosions and ulcers (34.5%). Nine cases were diagnosed following Pfizer-BioNTech, two Moderna, and one AstraZeneca, Serum Institute of India, Sinopharm, and Johnson&Johnson vaccines, respectively; specifically, eight after the first dose and seven after the second. In one case, vaccine type and dose were not specified. Considering newly developing vaccines, presented findings may be updated and further studies needed to highlight factors affecting oral lesion occurrence and specific macro-microscopic phenotypes in relation to cases' and vaccines' characteristics.

Analyses of temporal partitioning and overlaps in activity rhythms are pivotal to shed light on interspecific coexistence between similar species or prey and predators. In this work, we assessed the overlap of activity rhythms between the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber and its potential competitors and predators through camera trapping in an area in Central Italy. Interspecific overlaps of temporal activity patterns were estimated for the beavers, potential predators (the red fox Vulpes vulpes and the grey wolf Canis lupus ), and a potential competitor, the coypu Myocastor coypus . The beavers showed a mostly crepuscular behaviour. Although high temporal overlap was observed between the Eurasian beavers and the red foxes and grey wolves, the activity of the beavers did not overlap with that of the predators. Accordingly, the beavers were more active on the darkest nights, i.e., avoiding bright moonlight.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of autoantibodies to desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 detected by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of oral pemphigus and to correlate the antibody titres with the severity of the disease., Materials and Methods: We report a retrospective cohort study of 22 patients with oral pemphigus and 64 controls from a single tertiary centre. Data about histopathological examination, direct immunofluorescence, indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA were analysed. Global validation of ELISA and IIF both alone and combined was established by calculating sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and both positive predictive value and negative predictive value. The relationship between Oral Disease Severity Score values and ELISA titres was analysed using Pearson's coefficient., Results: The best diagnostic performance was observed for anti-desmoglein 3 ELISA. The sensitivity was 75% and specificity 100% and positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92.5% and accuracy 93.9%. The level of agreement with histopathology + direct immunofluorescence was substantial (k = .758). Anti-desmoglein 3 titres showed a significant correlation with Oral Disease Severity Score (p < .05)., Conclusions: Serological tests are commonly employed during clinical practice as adjunctive tools. Anti-desmoglein 3 ELISA should be considered as a first-instance diagnostic test for oral pemphigus early detection., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Since the beginning in December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak appeared to affect mostly the adult population, sparing the vast majority of children who only showed mild symptoms. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the status on the mechanisms that give children and infants this variation in epidemiology compared to the adult population and its impact on therapies and vaccines that are aimed towards them. A literature review, including in vitro studies, reviews, published guidelines and clinical trials was performed. Clinical trials concerned topics that allowed a descriptive synthesis to be produced. Four underlying mechanisms were found that may play a key role in providing COVID-19 protection in babies. No guidelines are available yet for therapy due to insufficient data; support therapy remains the most used. Only two vaccines are approved by the World Health Organization to be used in children from 12 years of age, and there are currently no efficacy or safety data for children below the age of 12 years. The COVID-19 clinical frame infection is milder in children and adolescents. This section of the population can act as vectors and reservoirs and play a key role in the transmission of the infection; therefore, vaccines are paramount. More evidence is required to guide safely the vaccination campaign.

Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block injections are commonly used in clinical practice, but they are not free from complications. The aim of the present systematic review is to assess the nerve-related adverse effects of IAN block anesthesia. A structured and systematic search was performed on the major electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL) for studies published in English until 30 September 2021. A total of 131 articles were identified through database searching using combinations of keywords. Fifteen papers were included and assessed for eligibility. Overall, nerve damage following an IAN block anesthesia injection is a rare occurrence, probably due to the direct nerve trauma of the needle, a neurotoxic effect of the used anesthetic solution and/or a combination of them. From a medico-legal point of view, a balanced discussion prior to nerve block anesthesia should be pursued in order to avoid patients' reluctance to undergo necessary dental treatment due to the remote eventuality of nerve injury.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe an unusual case of intraoral juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) and to perform a systematic review to investigate the available literature regarding oral JXGs., Study Design: We present a new case of oral JXG arising in a 36-year-old Italian woman and conducted a systematic literature review in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, according to the PRISMA guidelines., Results: Our review of the English-language literature yielded 34 cases of oral JXG, which included our case report., Conclusions: JXG is a non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Oral JXG has been reported, but it is a rare manifestation. Because of the rarity of oral lesions and possible variations in the clinical and histologic presentation, the correct diagnosis can be challenging, requiring a careful clinical and histopathologic evaluation with adjuvant immunohistochemical studies., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Technological development has interested most of the dentistry's branches leading to the use of other medical technologies non previously involved in dental practice. This study aims to evaluate the potential role of non-invasive imaging techniques in oral pathology workflow. Optical coherence tomography has been described by several authors as a promising aid for differential diagnosis of autoimmune diseases and to detect epithelial subversion of the oral mucosa before the clinical manifestation of oral mucositis. High-frequency ultrasound offers the chance to assess lesional dimensions both in benign and malignant lesions with a high dimensional reliability compared with histopathology. Reflectance confocal microscopy seems to be helpful in the early detection of cytological changes due to its high resolution, suggesting a more interesting role in the analysis of malignant lesions. The study presented highlighted the potential role of noninvasive in vivo imaging although further studies are needed for the further validation of these techniques.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has involved a severe increase of cases worldwide in a wide range of populations. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate recent insights about COVID-19 infection in children, infants and pregnant subjects., Methods: a literature overview was performed including clinical trials, in vitro studies, reviews and published guidelines regarding the present paper topic. A descriptive synthesis was performed to evaluate recent insights and the effectiveness of therapies for SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, infants and pregnant subjects., Results: Insufficient data are available regarding the relationship between COVID-19 and the clinical risk of spontaneous abortion and premature foetus death. A decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 could be correlated to a minor expression of ACE2 in childrens' lungs. At present, a modulation of the dose-effect posology for children and infants is necessary., Conclusions: Pregnant vertical transmission has been hypothesised for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccines are necessary to achieve mass immunity for children and also pregnant subjects.

Background: Based on recent findings, we speculated the existence of the lung, heart, and kidney axis as the main pathway for the COVID-19 disease progression., Methods: This paper reports on an observational study conducted by a team of researchers and doctors of the 118-Pre-Hospital and Emergency Department of SG Moscati of Taranto City in Italy. The study was conducted on a totality of 185 participants that were divided into three groups. The study group included COVID-19 affected patients (PP n = 80), the first control group included patients with different pathologies (non-COVID-19 NNp n = 62) of the SG Moscati Hospital, and the second control group included healthy individuals (NNh n = 43). The core of the current trial was focused on assessing the level of the vitamin D (serum 25(OH) D concentration), IL-6, and the renal glomerular filtrate (eGFR) in COVID-19 disease and non-COVID-19 patients in both groups., Results: It was observed that the majority of COVID-19-infected patients showed a progressive multi-organ involvement, especially in regard to the lung, kidney, and heart. The majority of the COVID-19 patients exhibited preexisting comorbidities which include cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal disorders accompanied by a severely low level of vitamin D, extremely high level of IL-6, and low glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The significant overall damages exerted by the immune-mediated responses under the hyper-expression of proinflammatory cytokines and interleukins, such as IL-6, may be facilitated by either a decreased level of vitamin D or the ageing process. The reduced presence of vitamin D was often found together with a reduced functionality of renal activity, as revealed by the low eGFR, and both were seen to be concomitant with an increased mortality risk in patients with lung disorders and heart failure (HF), whether it is showed at baseline or it develops during manifestation of COVID-19. Therefore, the documentation of the modifiable risk factors related to SARS-CoV-2 and lung impairment in older patients with kidney and heart disease may help the clinician to better manage the situation., Conclusions: This paper addresses how a low level of vitamin D and older age may be indicative of systemic worsening in patients with COVID-19, with a goal of providing a broader context in which to view a better therapeutic approach.

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder associated with early-onset periodontitis and other periodontal diseases (PDs). The present work aimed to systematically review the scientific literature reporting studies in vivo on oral microbiota features in subjects with DS and related periodontal health and to highlight any correlation and difference with subjects not affected by DS, with and without PDs. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane were searched for relevant studies in May 2021. The participants were subjects affected by Down syndrome (DS) with and without periodontal diseases; the study compared subjects with periodontal diseases but not affected by DS, and DS without periodontal diseases; the outcomes were the differences in oral microbiota/periodontopathogen bacterial composition among subjects considered; the study design was a systematic review. Study quality was assessed with risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I). Of the 954 references retrieved, 26 studies were considered. The conclusions from the qualitative assessment of the papers revealed an increasing knowledge over the last years of the microbiota associated with DS and their periodontal diseases, in comparison with healthy subjects and subjects with other kinds of mental disabilities. Few data have emerged on the mycobiome and virobiome of DS, hence, further investigations are still necessary.

Background: marijuana, the common name for cannabis sativa preparations, is one of the most consumed drug all over the world, both at therapeutical and recreational levels. With the legalization of medical uses of cannabis in many countries, and even its recreational use in most of these, the prevalence of marijuana use has markedly risen over the last decade. At the same time, there is also a higher prevalence in the health concerns related to cannabis use and abuse. Thus, it is mandatory for oral healthcare operators to know and deal with the consequences and effects of cannabis use on oral cavity health. This review will briefly summarize the components of cannabis and the endocannabinoid system, as well as the cellular and molecular mechanisms of biological cannabis action in human cells and biologic activities on tissues. We will also look into oropharyngeal tissue expression of cannabinoid receptors, together with a putative association of cannabis to several oral diseases. Therefore, this review will elaborate the basic biology and physiology of cannabinoids in human oral tissues with the aim of providing a better comprehension of the effects of its use and abuse on oral health, in order to include cannabinoid usage into dental patient health records as well as good medicinal practice., Methods: the paper selection was performed by PubMed/Medline and EMBASE electronic databases, and reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. The scientific products were included for qualitative analysis., Results: the paper search screened a total of 276 papers. After the initial screening and the eligibility assessment, a total of 32 articles were considered for the qualitative analysis., Conclusions: today, cannabis consumption has been correlated to a higher risk of gingival and periodontal disease, oral infection and cancer of the oral cavity, while the physico-chemical activity has not been completely clarified. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate a therapeutic efficacy of this class of drugs for the promising treatment of several different diseases of the salivary glands and oral diseases.

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) role in oral potentially malignant lesions remains unclear. Aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection in a cohort of patients affected by oral lichen planus, to analyze the genotypes involved, and to compare the performance of two specimen collection methods: brushing and biopsy., Methods: Consecutive patients with oral lichen planus were enrolled. Each patient's clinical and anamnestic data were recorded before he/she underwent brushing and biopsy procedures. The collected samples were analyzed using RT-PCR. Prevalence of HPV infection was evaluated considering cytobrush and biopsy outcomes alone and combined. Correlation between HPV presence and sex, age, smoke, alcohol, kind of lichen planus, Hepatitis C virus, and involved mucosae was analyzed using chi-square test (significance at P < .05). Cohen's k coefficient was employed to compare brushing and biopsy., Results: Fifty-two patients affected by oral lichen planus were enrolled. Total HPV prevalence was 17%, when considering only the biopsy and the cytobrush the prevalence was 15% and 6%, respectively. None of the considered variables showed significant correlation with HPV (P > .05). The concordance between the two methods was "fair" (k = .305)., Conclusions: The biopsy appears more reliable than cytobrush to detect HPV in course of oral lichen planus. No statistical correlation emerged with the analyzed variables. The most frequently detected genotypes were HPV 6 and 11, while only two cases presented with HPV 16 and 53, known as human oncogenic., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In oral implantology, the success and persistence of dental implants over time are guaranteed by the bone formation around the implant fixture and by the integrity of the peri-implant mucosa seal, which adheres to the abutment and becomes a barrier that hinders bacterial penetration and colonization close to the outer parts of the implant. Research is constantly engaged in looking for substances to coat the titanium surface that guarantees the formation and persistence of the peri-implant bone, as well as the integrity of the mucous perimeter surrounding the implant crown. The present study aimed to evaluate in vitro the effects of a titanium surface coated with polylysine homopolymers on the cell growth of dental pulp stem cells and keratinocytes to establish the potential clinical application. The results reported an increase in cell growth for both cellular types cultured with polylysine-coated titanium compared to cultures without titanium and those without coating. These preliminary data suggest the usefulness of polylysine coating not only for enhancing osteoinduction but also to speed the post-surgery mucosal healings, guarantee appropriate peri-implant epithelial seals, and protect the fixture against bacterial penetration, which is responsible for compromising the implant survival.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent form of cancer of lips and oral cavity, and its diagnostic delay, caused by misdiagnosis at the early stages, is responsible for high mortality ratios. Biopsy and histopathological assessment are the gold standards for OSCC diagnosis, but they are time-consuming, invasive, and do not always enable the patient's compliance, mainly in cases of follow-up with the need for more biopsies. The use of adjunctive noninvasive imaging techniques improves the diagnostic approach, making it faster and better accepted by patients. The present review aims to focus on the most consolidated diagnostic techniques, such as vital staining and tissue autofluorescence, and to report the potential role of some of the most promising innovative techniques, such as narrow-band imaging, high-frequency ultrasounds, optical coherence tomography, and in vivo confocal microscopy. According to their contribution to OSCC diagnosis, an ideal three-step diagnostic procedure is proposed, to make the diagnostic path faster, better, and more accurate.

Various bi-directional associations exist between oral health and gastro-intestinal diseases. The oral microbiome plays a role in the gastro-intestinal carcinogenesis and fusobacteria are the most investigated bacteria involved. This paper aims to review the current knowledge and report the preliminary data on salivary levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum , Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida albicans in subjects with different gastro-intestinal conditions or pathologies, in order to determine any differences. The null hypothesis was "subjects with different gastro-intestinal diseases do not show significant differences in the composition of the oral microbiota". Twenty-one subjects undergoing esophagastroduodenoscopy or colonscopy were recruited. For each subject, a salivary sample was collected before the endoscopy procedure, immediately stored at -20 °C and subsequently used for genomic bacterial DNA extraction by real-time PCR. Low levels of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis were peculiar in the oral microbiota in subjects affected by Helicobater pylori -negative chronic gastritis without cancerization and future studies will elucidate this association. The level of C. albicans did not statistically differ among groups. This preliminary study could be used in the future, following further investigation, as a non-invasive method for the search of gastrointestinal diseases and associated markers.

The SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), which is believed to have originated in China towards the end of November 2019, has now spread across the globe, causing a pandemic in 192 countries. The World Health Organization has called it the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Rapid dissemination of the virus occurs mainly through the saliva (Flügge's droplets) and aerosol, together with nasal and lachrymal passages. The literature associated with the recent advancement in terms of rapid diagnostics and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has thoroughly studied the role of ACE2 receptors and Furin, as well as viral agent access into the host cell and its significant persistence at the level of the oral mucosa, which represents the main access to the virus. The purpose of this review was to underline the processes of SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and novel breakthroughs in diagnostics and vaccines. Different technologies, such as the RT-PCR molecular test and the antigenic test, have been developed to identify subjects affected by the SARS-CoV-2 in order to improve the tracking of infection geographical diffusion. Novel rapid and highly sensitive diagnostic tests has been proposed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 to improve the screening capability of suspected contagions. The strengthening of the vaccination campaign represents the most effective means to combat the SARS-CoV-2 infection and prevent severe manifestations of the virus-different classes of vaccines have been developed for this purpose. Further attention on the novel SARS-CoV-2 variant is necessary in order to verify the protection efficacy and virulence reduction of the infective agent in the recent vaccine campaign.

The SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a high-risk viral agent involved in the recent pandemic stated worldwide by the World Health Organization. The infection is correlated to a severe systemic and respiratory disease in many cases, which is clinically treated with a multi-drug pharmacological approach. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate through a literature overview the effect of adjuvant therapies and supplements for the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research has analyzed the advantage of the EK1C4, by also assessing the studies on the resveratrol, vitamin D, and melatonin as adjuvant supplements for long hauler patients' prognosis. The evaluated substances reported important benefits for the improvement of the immune system and as a potential inhibitor molecules against SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the use of sartans as therapy. The adjuvant supplements seem to create an advantage for the healing of the long hauler patients affected by chronic symptoms of constant chest and heart pain, intestinal disorders, headache, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and tachycardia.

Background: Saprochaete clavata infection is an emerging issue in immunosuppressed patients, causing fulminant fungaemia. The purpose of this systematic review of cases is to retrieve all cases of S. clavata infection and describe oral lesions as the first manifestation of S. clavata infection. Methods: We report the first case of intraoral S. clavata infection in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) affected subject, presenting as multiple grayish rapidly growing ulcerated swellings, and provide a review of all published cases of infection caused by S. clavata , according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, conducted by searching SCOPUS, Medline, and CENTRAL databases. Only articles in English were considered. Individual patient data were analyzed to identify risk factors for S. clavata infection. Results: Seventeen of 68 retrieved articles were included in the review reporting data on 96 patients (mean age 51.8 years, 57 males and 38 females). Most cases were disseminated (86) with a 60.2% mortality rate. Ninety-five were hematological patients, with AML being the most common (57 cases). Conclusions: S. clavata infection in immunosuppressed patients has a poor prognosis: middle-age patients, male gender and Acute Myeloid Leukemia should be considered risk factors. In immunosuppressed patients, the clinical presentation can be particularly unusual, imposing difficult differential diagnosis, as in the reported case.

Many different osteotomy procedures has been proposed in the literature for dental implant site preparation. The osseodensification is a drilling technique that has been proposed to improve the local bone quality and implant stability in poor density alveolar ridges. This technique determines an expansion of the implant site by increasing the density of the adjacent bone. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the osseodensification technique for implant site preparation through a literature review and meta-analysis. The database electronic research was performed on PubMed (Medline) database for the screening of the scientific papers. A total of 16 articles have been identified suitable for the review and qualitative analysis-11 clinical studies (eight on animals, three on human subjects), four literature reviews, and one case report. The meta-analysis was performed to compare the bone-to-implant contact % (BIC), bone area fraction occupied % (BAFO), and insertion torque of clockwise and counter-clockwise osseodensification procedure in animal studies. The included articles reported a significant increase in the insertion torque of the implants positioned through the osseodensification protocol compared to the conventional drilling technique. Advantages of this new technique are important above all when the patient has a strong missing and/or low quantity of bone tissue. The data collected until the drafting of this paper detect an improvement when the osseodensification has been adopted if compared to the conventional technique. A significant difference in BIC and insertion torque between the clockwise and counter-clockwise osseodensification procedure was reported, with no difference in BAFO measurements between the two approaches. The effectiveness of the present study demonstrated that the osseodensification drilling protocol is a useful technique to obtain increased implant insertion torque and bone to implant contact (BIC) in vivo. Further randomized clinical studies are required to confirm these pieces of evidence in human studies.

Nowadays, there is a considerable interest to study the biological and microbiological changes that accompany orthodontic treatment. Growing knowledge on oral microbiota allows, day after day, to identify and characterize the microbial arrangements specifically associated with oral and extra-oral conditions. The aim of the present work is to highlight any further correlations between orthodontic appliances and the qualitative and quantitative modifications of the oral microbiota, such as predisposing factors for the onset of caries, periodontal diseases, and other infections, which can impact the oral and systemic health of the orthodontic patients. When compared with subjects without orthodontic appliances, orthodontic patients reported significant qualitative and quantitative differences in supra- and subgingival plaque during the entire treatment period. Certain components of fixed appliances (mainly bonded molar brackets, ceramic brackets, and elastomeric ligatures) showed high risks of periodontal disease and tooth decay for patients. An unclear prevalence of Candida spp. and the paucity of studies on viruses and protozoas in the oral microbiota of orthodontic patients need to be further investigated. The evidence emerging from this study could guide clinicians in modulating the timing of controls and enhance patient motivation to prevent the formation of mature plaque, thus reducing the risks of oral-plaque-related diseases.

Objective: The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) is a questionnaire to elucidate the relationship between parental perception of the quality of life of their preschool children and their oral health status. Aim of the present work was to validate an Italian ECOHIS version and review the literature., Methods: After adapting the original ECOHIS questionnaire from English to Italian (I-ECOHIS), I-ECOHIS was administered to parents of children afferent to the Dental Clinic of the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," regardless of age. Children under 6 years of age underwent anamnestic survey and physical examination, to correlate the dmft index with the ECOHIS score., Results: 366 children have come to our observation. I-ECOHIS was administered to all parents to establish its comprehensibility. 87 children (44 females and 43 males) under 6 years (5.2 ± 1.4 years) underwent dmft evaluation to determine I-ECOHIS/oral health status correlation. Among the 87 children examined, the higher total score reached was 25/50. ANOVA analysis confirmed statistically significant correlations between ECOHIS score and dmft = 0 vs dmft equal/higher than 4., Conclusion: The present pilot study validated the I-ECOHIS questionnaire and revealed to be a good tool to distinguish children without caries experience from those with a high dmft. However, it was not correlated with the intermediate dmft level, thus confirming the importance of screening for caries., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S . Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)