Intestinal microbiota transplant - current state of knowledge.

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has induced a lot scientific interest and hopes for the last couple of years. FMT has been approved as a treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis. Highly sophisticated molecular DNA identification methods have been used to assess the healthy human microbiome as well as its disturbances in several diseases. The metabolic and immunologic functions of the microbiome have become more clear and understandable. A lot of pathological changes, such as production of short-chain fatty acids or components of the inflammatory cascade, caused by changes in microbiome diversity, variability and richness have been observed among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. The published clinical results are encouraging, but still there is huge demand for FMT controlled clinical trials.

Potentially Lethal But Rarely Considered. Risk of Developing Refeeding Syndrome in Primary Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Presurgical preparation and postoperative care are cornerstones of all surgical procedures. Surgeons should be especially vigilant with malnourished cancer patients. Refeeding syn-drome (RFS) is a serious, potentially fatal complication of initiating appropriate nutrition in malnourished patients or after a period of starvation, although no standard precise definition has been proposed. The rarity of its une-quivocally life-threatening course means that its risk may be underestimated in clinical practice. The study's main goal was to assess the degree of malnutrition and the risk of RFS in the presurgical status of patients with oral cavity cancer and to identify risk factors for the occurrence of RFS. This single-center prospective observational study included patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma. We investigated the relationship of RFS with age, BMI, features of the malignant tumor process selected internal medicine comorbidities, inflam-matory markers, renal and hepatic parameters, plasma levels of diverse electrolytes, and microelements were assessed. In the work, we utilized the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) criteria. The study included 90 patients: 35 women and 55 men, aged 64.2±10.5. A robust statistical correlation at a significance level of p < 0.05 was demonstrated between advanced age, lower BMI, lymph node metastases, and a relatively low LDH as positive predictors of the onset of RFS and confirmed the high predictive value of the NRS-2002 scale. This paper seeks to call attention to RFS and identify critical issues that may be useful for its prevention.

Relationship in development of malocclusions to polymorphisms of selected vitamin D receptors.

BACKGROUND: The development of malocclusion is related to various factor, many of which are still not fully explained. The steroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, has pleiotropic effects. It plays a key role in skeletal metabolism and the control of cell repair by attaching to the nuclear vitamin D steroid receptor (VDR). This vitamin affects bone turnover through the processes of bone tissue formation and resorption via its action on cells of the osteoblastic and osteoclastic lineage, exerts a modulating effect on the immune system, and is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. The role of vitamin D3 (VD3) and its receptor polymorphisms is a rarely studied topic in dentistry. Due to the proven influence on bone turnover processes and immune responses, the main research topic is its relation to periodontal diseases, but so far, its role in the formation and development of malocclusions has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the association of selected VDR polymorphisms: Cdx2 (rs11658820), TaqI (rs7975232), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232), and FokI (rs2228570) with the development of malocclusions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed. The examination consisted of a medical interview, intraand extraoral orthodontic diagnosis, alginate impression, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and venous blood sample to obtain genomic DNA and assess VDR polymorphisms. RESULTS: The rs11658820 polymorphism causes an almost 4-fold increase in the probability of the presence of a malocclusion. GT and TT genotypes of rs7975232 are also associated with a similar risk - almost 6 and almost 5 times higher, respectively. In turn, the effect of the rs2228570-AG and GG genotype polymorphisms on the occurrence of transversal anomalies was demonstrated (odds ratio (OR) = 8.46 and OR = 6.92, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The association of individual polymorphisms with specific malocclusions should be carefully assessed, especially since some trends have been indicated.

The Role of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading malignancy worldwide, with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Molecularly targeted therapies for HNSCC are still lacking. However, recent reports provide novel insights about many molecular alterations in HNSCC that may be useful in future therapies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers that may provide a better prediction of the disease and promising targets for personalized therapy. The poor response of HNSCC to therapy is attributed to a small population of tumor cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Growing evidence indicates that the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of head and neck tissues. The HH pathway is normally involved in embryogenesis, stem cell renewal, and tissue regeneration. However, abnormal activation of the HH pathway is also associated with carcinogenesis and CSC regulation. Overactivation of the HH pathway was observed in several tumors, including basal cell carcinoma, that are successfully treated with HH inhibitors. However, clinical studies about HH pathways in HNSCC are still rare. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and recent advances regarding the HH pathway in HNSCC and discuss its possible implications for prognosis and future therapy.

Oral cancer awareness among patients at 3 university hospitals in Poland and Germany: A survey research.

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of cancer (including oral cancer) is a growing public health and economic problem in the European societies. A high percentage of patients who come for the appropriate treatment are in the late stages of advancement, often with nodal and/or distant metastases. The literature on the public oral cancer awareness in Poland and Germany is limited. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the levels of public awareness about the early symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer, and to analyze the findings in the context of the socioeconomic profiles of the subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey consisted of a 20-item questionnaire divided into 4 sections: socioeconomic and demographic factors, the awareness of oral cancer, symptoms of oral cancer, and its risk factors. It was distributed to 465 adult patients in Poland (Wroclaw and Lódz) and Germany (Dresden). RESULTS: The response rate was 97.6%. Most of the respondents (65.4%) had heard of oral cancer. The sources of information were mainly the traditional mass media and the Internet, with only 23.8% of the respondents indicating doctors as a source of information about oral cancer. What is worrying, only about 1/5 of the participants in each of the 3 centers had an oral cancer examination last year. The awareness of oral cancer correlated positively with the age of the respondents and negatively with the size of the place of residence. Education level had no significant impact on declared knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey do not only show unsatisfactory levels of patients' awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of oral cancer but also emphasize the need to improve the level of healthcare concerning this disease, including screening programs.

Could Vitamin D3 Deficiency Influence Malocclusion Development?

The abnormal growth of the craniofacial bone leads to skeletal and dental defects, which result in the presence of malocclusions. Not all causes of malocclusion have been explained. In the development of skeletal abnormalities, attention is paid to general deficiencies, including of vitamin D3 (VD3), which causes rickets. Its chronic deficiency may contribute to skeletal malocclusion. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of VD3 deficiency on the development of malocclusions. The examination consisted of a medical interview, oral examination, an alginate impression and radiological imaging, orthodontic assessment, and taking a venous blood sample for VD3 level testing. In about 42.1% of patients, the presence of a skeletal defect was found, and in 46.5% of patients, dentoalveolar malocclusion. The most common defect was transverse constriction of the maxilla with a narrow upper arch (30.7%). The concentration of vitamin 25 (OH) D in the study group was on average 23.6 ± 10.5 (ng/mL). VD3 deficiency was found in 86 subjects (75.4%). Our research showed that VD3 deficiency could be one of an important factor influencing maxillary development. Patients had a greater risk of a narrowed upper arch (OR = 4.94), crowding (OR = 4.94) and crossbite (OR = 6.16). Thus, there was a link between the deficiency of this hormone and the underdevelopment of the maxilla.