Oral leukoplakia and erythroplakia in young patients: a southern Brazilian multicenter study.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the frequency of oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia among young patients from three Brazilian reference centers in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. A retrospective study was carried out from 2011 to 2021 on 861 patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia. Demographic and clinicopathological data were evaluated. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the association among sex, age, anatomical location, and histopathological diagnosis. A total of 83 (9.64%) cases involved young patients (aged <40 years). Among these, biopsy records were included in 31 (37.34%) cases, all of which received a clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia. Seventeen (54.84%) patients were female, mostly in their fourth decade of life (n = 22/70.97%), and their mean age at diagnosis was 32.61(± 5.21) years. Among informed cases, seven (22.58%) patients were smokers. The lateral border of the tongue (n = 9/29.03%) was the most affected site. In 13 (41.94%) cases, oral leukoplakias showed a homogeneous appearance. The mean size of the lesions was 1.47 cm (0.2-3.0 cm) and the mean time of disease progression was 64.37 (± 65.90) months. The histopathological analysis showed that 11 cases (35.48%) exhibited some degree of epithelial dysplasia. Acanthosis and/or hyperkeratosis were observed in 20 cases (64.52%). No significant associations were observed between sex and anatomical location, age and anatomical location, nor between sex and histological diagnosis (p > 0.05). Oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia are uncommon diseases in young patients. In this population, oral leukoplakia shows a slight predilection for women aged between 30 and 39 years.

Gender inequalities in oral medicine and pathology research: Temporal trends of two decades.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze gender inequities and trends in the authorship of articles published in high-impact factor journals of the field of Oral Medicine and Pathology. METHODS: The gender and country of first and last authors were retrieved from original articles published between 2000 and 2022. Poisson regression models and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 6595 studies were analyzed for first authorship, and 6627 for last authorship. Only 39.2% (CI 95% 38.0-40.3) of the first authors and 24.1% (CI 95% 23.1-25.1) of the last authors were females. Females consistently faced underrepresentation throughout the 23-year evaluation. The only region where female first authors are not a minority is Latin America. Having a female as the last author increased the prevalence of females in the first author position by 42% (PR = 1.42, CI 95% [1.30-1.54]). The most important discriminant variable by CART was the first author region. CONCLUSION: Although a slight decrease in underrepresentation was noted over the period, after 2020, the gender gap tended to widen for both first and last authors. It is crucial to implement measures aimed at attracting, retaining, and advancing women in the field of science, while also actively monitoring advancements toward achieving gender equity.

Local anesthesia nerve block for managing burning mouth syndrome: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical scenarios in which nerve blocks are employed in the context of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). STUDY DESIGN: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR. A protocol was generated on Open Science Framework. Electronic searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, and Cochrane, in addition to the grey literature and citations from Grémeau-Richard et al. (2010). RESULTS: Nerve blocks were used for treatment purposes in all cases. The mandibular nerve and the stellate ganglion were both blocked in 50% studies, while the maxillary nerve and lingual nerve were blocked in 25% study each. The anesthetics used were lidocaine (50%) and bupivacaine (50%). Relief was generally reported after immediate block, and at a mean follow-up of 4.5 weeks, there was considerable improvement compared to the initial conditions when the mandibular and/or maxillary nerve were targeted. CONCLUSIONS: The use of nerve blocks has been employed in the treatment of patients with refractory BMS. Clinical studies with standardized methodology are necessary to validate and understand the potential role of mandibular and maxillary nerve block in this setting.

Patient communication protocols for sexually transmitted infections: A systematic review.

AIMS: We conducted a systematic review of post-test communication protocols and observational studies regarding counseling for a positive sexually transmitted infection (STI) result and also discuss the role of dental specialist (e.g., oral medicine) in this sense. METHODS AND RESULTS: The search process followed the parameters of PRISMA 2020 guidelines. MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and LILACS were consulted with a specific search strategy for each one. Additionally, the references of the included studies, grey literature, and experts were consulted. Four protocols and 18 observational studies were included in this systematic review, published between 1997 and 2022 in the Americas and Europe. The communication protocols emphasized the importance of conducting personal and private discussions with patients to address their fears and questions. Among the observational studies, 56% indicated that post-test counseling was either ineffective or absent. Furthermore, 22% of the studies used telephone communication to deliver results to patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the communication process of a positive STI result affects the patients in several aspects, as treatment adherence and their relationship with the community. Nevertheless, this process of STI post-test communication seems to be flawed, which brings potential negative effects to patients.

What is the effect of lactoferrin on oral and jawbone tissue repair? A systematic review.

Currently, there is growing interest in the potential use of lactoferrin (LTF), a member of the transferrin family, for the improvement of tissue healing. In this sense, a literature search was conducted to integrate data published on the effect of LTF on jawbone repair. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, and Cochrane databases were retrieved according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. Articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were recovered, with no year restriction. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies were selected. A total of 742 articles were retrieved, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria (5 in vitro and 5 in vivo studies, and one clinical trial). The included data demonstrated wide variations in study design and LTF therapy protocols. Cell proliferation and viability were the primary outcomes evaluated in the in vitro studies, all of which reported a potential effect of LTF on the repair process. Of three in vivo studies, one reported a reduction in the overall healing rate, whereas the other two showed that LTF inhibited bone resorption and increased bone formation. The clinical trial's findings showed that LTF is a potential promoter of wound repair in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws. Overall, data from the studies support a potential effect of LTF therapy on the process of jawbone repair.

Oral leukoplakia and erythroplakia in young patients: a southern Brazilian multicenter study

Abstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the frequency of oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia among young patients from three Brazilian reference centers in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. A retrospective study was carried out from 2011 to 2021 on 861 patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia. Demographic and clinicopathological data were evaluated. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the association among sex, age, anatomical location, and histopathological diagnosis. A total of 83 (9.64%) cases involved young patients (aged <40 years). Among these, biopsy records were included in 31 (37.34%) cases, all of which received a clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia. Seventeen (54.84%) patients were female, mostly in their fourth decade of life (n = 22/70.97%), and their mean age at diagnosis was 32.61(± 5.21) years. Among informed cases, seven (22.58%) patients were smokers. The lateral border of the tongue (n = 9/29.03%) was the most affected site. In 13 (41.94%) cases, oral leukoplakias showed a homogeneous appearance. The mean size of the lesions was 1.47 cm (0.2-3.0 cm) and the mean time of disease progression was 64.37 (± 65.90) months. The histopathological analysis showed that 11 cases (35.48%) exhibited some degree of epithelial dysplasia. Acanthosis and/or hyperkeratosis were observed in 20 cases (64.52%). No significant associations were observed between sex and anatomical location, age and anatomical location, nor between sex and histological diagnosis (p > 0.05). Oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia are uncommon diseases in young patients. In this population, oral leukoplakia shows a slight predilection for women aged between 30 and 39 years.

Oral pigmented lesions in syndromic individuals: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically integrate the available data published in the literature on oral pigmented lesions (OPL) associated with syndromes, summarizing the clinical and demographic features of the individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was undertaken in six databases. Eligibility criteria were articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese describing case reports or case series of OPL associated with syndromes. Data were aggregated and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: About 108 articles reporting 149 cases of individuals with syndromes were identified. Among the affected individuals, nine syndromes were reported. The mean age at diagnosis was 35.93 years (0.41 to 83 years), with a predilection for white (n = 85/85.86%) female (n = 102/68.46%) individuals. As regards the number of lesions, 109 (73.15%) were multiple and 40 (26.85%) were single. Lip represented the anatomical location more affected (122 cases/38.01%), followed by the buccal mucosa (100 cases/31.15%). Brownish lesions accounted for 82 (69.49%) cases. The mean time of evolution was 10.52 years (0.16 to 56 years). OPL preceding diagnosis of the syndrome was observed in 111 (74.50%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although these syndromes are uncommon, dentists should be able to recognize their manifestations, since oral manifestations can represent an important aspect in early diagnosis.