Serum Concentration of Vitamin D in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus.

Objectives: The vitamin D receptor is involved in immunologically mediated diseases such as oral lichen planus. Some studies suggest an association between lower vitamin D concentrations and a higher risk of inflammatory conditions such as oral lichen planus. The aim of this study was to investigate 1) whether there is a difference in serum vitamin D concentration in patients with oral lichen planus compared to patients in the control group, 2) whether there is a difference in serum vitamin D concentration in patients with erosive compared to non-erosive forms of oral lichen planus, 3) whether there is a difference in serum vitamin D concentration in patients with developed oral cancer and those without cancer. Material and Methods: The study included 68 patients, 34 with oral lichen planus and 34 healthy controls. Fasting venous blood was taken from each participant to determine serum concentrations of vitamin D. Results: The T-test results confirmed a statistically significant lower serum vitamin D concentration in patients with oral lichen planus compared to the control group (p=0.001). According to the results, a statistically significant lower serum vitamin D concentration was found in patients with erosive form OLP. All five patients with oral cancer, which was developed from erosive OLP, had low serum vitamin D concentrations. Conclusions: Determination of serum vitamin D concentration could be important for monitoring OLP patients to prevent the development of severe clinical manifestations of erosive OLP and the conversion of symptomatic lesions to oral cancer.

Application of Inositol Hexaphosphate and Inositol in Dental Medicine: An Overview.

Phosphorylated inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a naturally occurring carbohydrate, and its parent compound, myoinositol (Ins), is abundantly present in plants, particularly in certain high-fiber diets, but also in mammalian cells, where they regulate essential cellular functions. IP6 has profound modulation effects on macrophages, which warrants further research on the therapeutic benefits of IP6 for inflammatory diseases. Here, we review IP6 as a promising compound that has the potential to be used in various areas of dentistry, including endodontics, restorative dentistry, implantology, and oral hygiene products, due to its unique structure and characteristic properties. Available as a dietary supplement, IP6 + Ins has been shown to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect associated with preventing and suppressing the progression of chronic dental inflammatory diseases. IP6 in dentistry is now substantial, and this narrative review presents and discusses the different applications proposed in the literature and gives insights into future use of IP6 in the fields of orthodontics, periodontics, implants, and pediatric dentistry.

Increased prevalence of oral potentially malignant lesions among Croatian War invalids, a cross-sectional study.

Background: The main objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and type of oral pathological changes, oral subjective symptoms and the knowledge about oral cancer in the population of Croatian military invalids from the Homeland War. Material and Methods: A total of 102 Croatian military invalids from the Homeland War participated in the study. Data were collected on the presence of subjective symptoms in the oral cavity, and a detailed clinical examination of the oral mucosa was performed. Results: Almost half of the participants, 46 (45.1%), reported being smokers, and 64 (62.7%) consumed alcohol daily. Subjective symptoms in the oral cavity were reported by 25 (24.5%) of them. Pathological changes were found in 35 (34.3%) participants, of whom 14 (13.7%) had potentially malignant changes. Pathohistological findings confirmed the diagnosis of a potentially malignant lesion in 10 subjects and indicated the presence of moderate dysplasia in two, carcinoma in situ in one, and invasive carcinoma in one. Conclusions: Participants didn't show adequate knowledge of risk factors. Forty-one changes in the oral cavity were found in 35 subjects, and as many as 14 were potentially malignant. According to the participants, most dentists and family physicians don't thoroughly and regularly examine their patients' oral mucosa. Key words:Oral cancer, oral lichen planus, leukoplakia, erythroplakia, actinic cheilitis, Croatian Homeland War invalids.