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To evaluate the influence of Fixed (FOA) and Removable Orthodontic Appliances (ROA) on oral Candida colonisation.

Simple Summary: Head and Neck Cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in poor long-term prognosis. Additionally, this cancer is resistant to chemotherapy. This systematic review article aims to examine the literature on published methods to overcome resistance to chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. According to the "cancer stem cell" (CSCs) theory, tumors are a diverse and expanding group of malignant cells that originate from a small number of CSCs. Despite treatment, these cells can still become active and proliferate, which can result in distant metastasis and local recurrences. A new paradigm in cancer treatment involves targeting both CSCs and the cancer cells in a tumor. This review aims to examine the literature on methods published to overcome chemoresistance due to the presence of CSCs in head and neck cancers. The review was registered with PROSPERO (ID# CRD42024512809). After Pub Med, Scopus, and WoS database searches, 31 relevant articles on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were selected. Compounds that increased chemosensitivity by targeting CSCs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were divided into (1) natural products, (2) adjuvant molecules to traditional chemotherapy, and (3) CSCs targeting patient-specific fresh biopsies for functional precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among different therapeutic strategies proposed in the case of bone volume deficit, guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a consolidated surgical procedure. The objective of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the behavior of two bone grafts with different consistencies in the GBR procedure by measuring the volumetric tissue changes 1 year after surgery. For this retrospective analysis, 25 cases of GBR with simultaneous implant insertion were selected. A total of 13 were grafted with a porcine cortico-cancellous bone mix (CCBM group), and 12 were grafted with a pre-hydrated granulated cortico-cancellous bone mix of porcine origin blended with 20% TSV gel (Collagenated-CCBM). A collagen membrane was fixed to cover the bone defect. A total of 42 implants were placed with computer-guided surgery. Preoperative and 12-month postoperative digital impressions were used to evaluate dimensional changes. Student's t-test used for independent samples showed no statistically significant differences between the integrated distance (p = 0.995) and mean distance (p = 0.734). The mean integrated distance in the CCBM group was 41.80 (SD. 101.18) compared to a mean of 42.04 (SD. 66.71) in the Collagenated-CCBM group. Given the limitations of this study, in patients with peri-implant bone dehiscence, simple heterologous and collagenated heterologous cortico-cancellous bone grafts are suitable for filling the bone defect to promote bone regeneration, although further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cross-talk between the innate and adaptive immune response represents the first defense weapon against the threat of pathogens. Substantial evidence has shown a relationship between immune phenotype lymphocytes and COVID-19 disease severity and/or implication in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recently, belonging to ABO blood groups has been investigated as a correlation factor to COVID-19 disease. This pilot study investigated lymphocyte typing in a cohort of blood donors to understand the underlying mechanism in SARS-CoV-2 infection linked to the blood group. The study cohort consisted of 20–64-year-old subjects, without comorbidities, from both sexes, who were COVID-19 vaccinated with previous or no infection history. Whole blood samples, collected at A.O.R.N. Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital (Campania Region), were processed by multiparametric cytofluorimetric assay, to characterize CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T cell CD3+ subpopulations. The CD45RA, CCR7, CD27, CD28, CD57 and PD-1 markers were investigated to delineate the peripheral T-cell maturation stages. Differences were detected in ABO blood types in CD3+, CD4+ gated on CD3+, CD8+ and CD8+ gated on CD3+ percentage. These results contribute to identifying a memory cell "identikit" profile in COVID-19 disease, thus leading to a useful tool in precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Oral mucositis (OM) is considered one of the most common side effects of patients undergoing cancer therapy. OM prevention plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of cancer treatment and the patient's quality of life. Different preventive treatments have been proposed in clinical trials, however with inconclusive results.A systematic review search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database to answer the PICO question: in cancer patients, do specific topical agents compared to standard treatments or placebo reduce the onset and severity of oral mucositis? The risk of bias was assessed, and a network meta‐analysis was conducted.Of 2913 results, 30 randomized clinical trials were considered suitable for inclusion. A total of 2564 patients were analyzed, of which 1284 belonged to the test group and 1280 belonged to the control group. Natural products were the most used, followed mainly by antimicrobial agents, coating agents, and basic oral care measures. Topical sucralfate resulted in the most powerful intervention for the OM prevention (OR = 0.04, 95%C.I. = 0.01–0.25, p‐value = 0.001).Due to its cytoprotective action, low cost, ease of administration, and safety, sucralfate could become a potential ally to prevent the onset of OM during cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: MLH1 methylation status was accessed by a Pyrosequencing (PSQ) assay, and the results point to the efficacy of PSQ for evaluating MLH1 methylation. While unmethylation appears to be associated with a higher relapse rate, the survival rate does not seem to be influenced by methylation. Quantitative percentages suggest that elevated MLH1 methylation is linked to relapse and mortality, though a study with a larger sample size would be essential for statistically significant results. Background: In cancer care, the MLH1 gene is crucial for DNA mismatch repair (MMR), serving as a vital tumor suppressor. Evaluating MLH1 protein expression status, followed by analysis of MLH1 promoter methylation, has become a key diagnostic and prognostic approach. Our study investigates the complex link between MLH1 methylation and prognosis in endometrial adenocarcinoma (EA) patients. Methodology: MLH1 methylation status was accessed by a Pyrosequencing (PSQ) assay. Qualitative positivity for methylation was established if it exceeded the 11% cut-off; as well, a quantitative methylation analysis was conducted to establish correlations with clinicopathological data, relapse-free survival, and disease-free survival. Results: Our study revealed that 33.3% of patients without MLH1 methylation experienced relapses, surpassing the 23.3% in patients with methylation. Furthermore, 16.7% of patients without methylation succumbed to death, with a slightly higher rate of 17.6% in methylated patients. Qualitative comparisons highlighted that the mean methylation rate in patients experiencing relapse was 35.8%, whereas in those without relapse, it was 42.2%. This pattern persisted in disease-specific survival (DSS), where deceased patients exhibited a higher mean methylation level of 49.1% compared to living patients with 38.8%. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the efficacy of PSQ for evaluating MLH1 methylation. While unmethylation appears to be associated with a higher relapse rate, the survival rate does not seem to be influenced by methylation. Quantitative percentages suggest that elevated MLH1 methylation is linked to relapse and mortality, though a study with a larger sample size would be essential for statistically significant results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of intracellular and vesicular LGALS3BP in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and available cell lines to explore its potential as a target for antibody‐drug conjugate (ADC) therapy. Methods: Free and vesicular LGALS3BP expression levels were evaluated in cancer tissues from a cohort of OSCC patients as well as in a panel of OSCC cell lines through immunohistochemistry, qRT‐PCR, Western Blot analysis, and ELISA. Results: LGALS3BP resulted in being highly expressed in the cytoplasm of tumour cells in OSCC patient tissues. A strong correlation was found between high LGALS3BP expression levels and aggressive histological features of OSCC. Biochemistry analysis performed on OSCC cell lines showed that LGALS3BP is expressed in all the tested cell lines and highly enriched in cancer‐derived extracellular vesicles. Moreover, LGALS3BP high‐expressing HOC621 and CAL27 OSCC cell lines showed high sensitivity to the ADC‐payload DM4, with an IC50 around 0.3 nM. Conclusions: The present study highlights that LGALS3BP is highly expressed in OSCC suggesting a role as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ADC‐based therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge worldwide and is associated with a poor survival rate. Due to the variability in the efficacy of treatments for HNSCC, new predictive biomarkers of therapy outcomes are needed. Recently, we developed an algorithm that employs the mutational profile of TP53 as an independent prognostic factor in HNSCC. In this study, we investigated its role as a predictive biomarker of treatment outcomes in HNSCC patients. We also tested the usefulness of two classification systems for TP53 mutational landscapes. Materials and Methods: Clinical and genomic data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. We built a multivariate stepwise backward binary regression model to assess the role of TP53 mutations in predicting therapeutic outcomes. Results: Cases harbouring high‐risk‐of‐death mutations reported an odds ratio of 3.301 for stable or progressive disease compared to wild‐type cases, while no significant difference in treatment outcomes was found between cases with low‐risk‐of‐death mutations and wild‐type TP53. Our analysis found that older patients with a history of alcohol consumption had a higher risk of stable/progressive disease. Conclusions: This study improves current evidence on the role of TP53 mutations in treatment response in HNSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric thyroid cancer represents 2.3 % of thyroid cancers, and its long-term outcome data are sparse. There have not been studies in the UAE delineating its epidemiology, clinical and histological characteristics, and follow-up outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the clinical–pathological behavior, recurrence and survival rates in pediatrics with all types of thyroid cancer in the UAE. Multicentre retrospective chart review analysis of pediatric patients with thyroid carcinoma from January 2010 to December 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Thirty-four patients were included, 85 % being females. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was the commonest type of thyroid cancer (88 %) vs. follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) (11.8 %). Almost half of our patients had a multifocal disease, 26 % had lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and 21 % had extrathyroidal extension (ETE). There were no mortalities during follow-up. 85 % of patients exhibited complete remission, while 15 % of patients showed evidence of progressive residual or recurrent disease. One patient had metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs. There were similar trends of incidence, sex prevalence, and histopathological patterns as the ones observed internationally. Potential risk factors in our population include a family history of thyroid cancer and obesity. The lower rate of ETE, LVI, metastasis, and recurrence indicates a possibly less aggressive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate which salivary biomarkers are altered in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) compared to a control group (CG). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in four databases. Case–control studies evaluating salivary biomarkers in BMS patients were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa tool. RevMan was used for meta‐analysis. Seventeen studies were selected. The included studies collected 54 different biomarkers. Of these biomarkers, only three (cortisol, α‐amylase, and dehydroepiandrosterone) were analyzed in three or more studies. Dehydroepiandrosterone obtained contradictory results among the studies. However, cortisol and α‐amylase levels were found to be higher in BMS patients. Cortisol was the only biomarker which could be included for meta‐analysis. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the BMS group compared to the CG (Mean Difference = 0.39; 95% CI [0.14–0.65]; p = 0.003). In conclusion, different studies investigated salivary biomarkers in patients with BMS compared to a CG, with controversial results. Meta‐analysis, confirmed by trial‐sequential analysis, showed how cortisol levels were significantly higher in BMS. Cortisol emerges as an interesting salivary biomarker in BMS, but future properly designed studies are needed to evaluate its role in diagnosis and/or response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The cells of the immune system can exert a dual effect on cancer development and growth. On the one hand, the immune system can be activated by tumor antigens and can elicit an antitumor response. On the other, the inflammatory milieu in the tumor microenvironment can trigger immune effector mechanisms that promote tumor growth. In the oral cavity, the balance between protumor and antitumor immunity can influence the progression from premalignancy to carcinoma. In this article, we review the cells and mechanisms that are thought to be the most important immune determinants of oral cancer development and progression. A still unresolved issue surrounding tumor formation concerns the role that the immune system plays in preventing the formation and progression of neoplasia, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Antitumor immunity has historically been seen as a critical barrier for cancer cells to develop, grow and spread, and this can be modulated using immunotherapies to achieve antitumor clinical responses. However, it has recently become clear that tumor-associated immunity, particularly the inflammatory microenvironment, has the paradoxical effect of enhancing tumorigenesis and progression. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted function of infiltrating immune cells in suppressing or promoting premalignancy and cancer. In particular, we report on the evidence supporting a role for T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, and neutrophils in the development and progression of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and OSCC. We also draw attention to the clinical relevance of immune cell phenotypes and associated molecules for use as biomarkers and to the translatability of current research findings to improve classification systems and precision medicine in patients with OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]