Exploring the prevalence and risk factors of benign and premalignant oral lesions in an adult population from Northern Spain: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to identify the lifestyle risk factors associated with benign and potentially malignant oral disorders. METHOD AND MATERIALS: The study enrolled first-time patients from the Oral Pathology Section, volunteers from Oviedo, and first-time patients from University of Oviedo dental clinic. Patients underwent a survey that included sociodemographic information, lifestyle habits, and medical history. Then, a comprehensive examination of the oral mucosa was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted using R software. RESULTS: Among the 183 participants, the most prevalent lesions were varicose veins (43.2%), cheek/lip biting (34.97%) and coated tongue (33.3%). Among the OPMDs (16.4%), oral lichen planus (OLP, 12.64%) and leukoplakia (3.3%). Tobacco was associated with melanotic pigmentation (OR 3.87, p= 0.001) and coated tongue (OR 5.90, p= 0.001). Longer intervals since last check-up were associated with traumatic keratosis (OR 2.05, p=035). Age and heavy smoking were found to have higher risk of developing an OPMD (OR 1.04, p=0.035 and OR 7.35, p=0.028 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data should be considered when organizing public health programs focused on the detection and screening of heavy smokers. It is also important to strengthen the oral pathology units in universities as reference centres for students to acquire the necessary knowledge for their diagnosis and treatment, while simultaneously promoting awareness of this risk factor for oral precancer among the general population.

Association of oral lichen planus and psoriasis: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether psoriasis disease constitutes a risk factor for OLP, by assessing the prevalance of psoriasis in a test group with OLP and the control group without. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A cohort of consecutive patients diagnosed clinically and histologically with OLP between 2014 and 2022 was analyzed. The results were contrasted with those obtained in control series matched for age and sex. The correlations between OLP and sex, age, tobacco, alcohol consumption, and psoriasis were assessed using Pearson chi-square test. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between psoriasis and OLP. For the assessment of the quality of the statistical models, the Akaike information criterion was used. RESULTS: The study involved 1,016 patients; 738 women (72.6%) and 278 men (27.4%). The average age was 59.38 ± 12.55 years. Of 508 patients with OLP, 16 (3.15%) had comorbid psoriasis, and this was 5 (0.98%) in the control group. Age, sex, smoking, and alcohol habits were not predictive variables in the relationship between psoriasis and OLP in these patients. There were statistically significant differences in relation to the number of locations, with greater extension in patients with OLP and psoriasis (P = .002). According to the multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of OLP for psoriasis was 3.13 (95% CI 1.20-9.68). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing the potential association between psoriasis and OLP, and the results should be considered to improve knowledge of comorbidity of OLP. Based on the results, it is recommended that clinicians collect data regarding history of psoriasis in patients with OLP, and consider possible multiple intraoral locations.

Public Awareness on Oral Cancer: A Population- Based Study in Asturias.

OBJECTIVE: Through awareness campaigns, we can change the patient's abilities to detect oral cancer at an early stage and their ability to seek help. To focus these campaigns, we need to know the level of knowledge of the population and its interest in learning about this disease. The aim of this study was to assess the level of oral cancer awareness in Asturias and the interest of the population in learning about this pathology. METHODS: A representative community-based survey was carried out online using Google Forms®. Responses were transferred to a Microsoft Excel and analysed using the R-program. The relationship between two qualitative variables was studied using Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine which factors are associated with knowledge of oral cancer. RESULT: We found that those having over 50 years and being health professionals are more likely to know about the existence of oral cancer. Almost 85.1% of participants mentioned tobacco as a risk factor, only 39.8% identified alcohol. The ulcer was the most frequently recognized alarm sign (70.6%). The primary care physician was chosen as the first option for consultation by the 56.5% of the sample. Only 12.4% of the participants reported knowing how to self-examine their mouth. The number of views of a video of how-to self-inspection oral cavity displayed at the end of the questionnaire increased in a 39.38% during our study period. CONCLUSION: This survey showed a worrying lack of awareness and knowledge about oral cancer among the population of Asturias, especially among those under 50 years old. The interest shown in increasing their knowledge, give us hope in the success of future awareness campaigns.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Early Diagnosis of Oral Cancer. A Scoping Review.

The early diagnosis of cancer can facilitate subsequent clinical patient management. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been found to be promising for improving the diagnostic process. The aim of the present study is to increase the evidence on the application of AI to the early diagnosis of oral cancer through a scoping review. A search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar databases during the period from January 2000 to December 2020, referring to the early non-invasive diagnosis of oral cancer based on AI applied to screening. Only accessible full-text articles were considered. Thirty-six studies were included on the early detection of oral cancer based on images (photographs (optical imaging and enhancement technology) and cytology) with the application of AI models. These studies were characterized by their heterogeneous nature. Each publication involved a different algorithm with potential training data bias and few comparative data for AI interpretation. Artificial intelligence may play an important role in precisely predicting the development of oral cancer, though several methodological issues need to be addressed in parallel to the advances in AI techniques, in order to allow large-scale transfer of the latter to population-based detection protocols.

Impacto de la salud oral en la calidad de vida de la gestante / Impact of oral health on the quality of life of pregnant woman

RESUMEN Objetivo Identificar los factores determinantes de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud oral (OHIP-14) en una población de mujeres embarazadas. Métodos En el estudio participaron 90 pacientes embarazadas, 45 inmigrantes y 45 españolas. Las participantes completaron el cuestionario de OHIP-14 (versión española) y se les exploró el índice CAOD (presencia de caries, ausencia de dientes por caries y dientes obturados) en el segundo trimestre de embarazo. Se realizó un estudio analítico bivariante y multivariante. Resultados La edad media de las participantes inmigrantes fue 30,2 años y de las españolas de 34,4. La puntuación media de OHIP-14 fue de 5,83±6,57, siendo en el grupo de inmigrantes de 8,15 y en las nacionales de 3,51, manifestando una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0.001). Las puntuaciones más altas del OHIP-14 se presentaron en los dominios de dolor (110), seguido del malestar psicológico (81). Tomando como punto de corte el valor de la mediana en la puntuación del OHIP-14 (≥3), el Odds ratio de sentir una salud oral que interfiere en la calidad de vida fue de 3,294 y este riesgo se potenció con el padecimiento de caries (4,323) pero no con la edad. Conclusiones Dado que la experiencia de caries, pudiera ser uno de los determinantes en la valoración de percibir una peor calidad de vida oral durante el embarazo, se necesitarían más estudios que lo corroborasen, y así ampliar las expectativas preventivas en el desarrollo de la salud oral por parte de la política sanitaria.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the factors that determine quality of life related to oral health (OHIP-14) in a population of pregnant women. Methods This study included ninety pregnant women, 45 immigrants and 45 from Spain. Participants completed the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14) -Spanish version- and the DMFT index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) was explored during the second trimester of pregnancy. A bivariate and multivariate analytical study was performed. Results The average age of immigrant participants was 30.2, and of Spanish women 34.4. The mean OHIP-14 score was 5.83±6.57 (8.15 in the immigrant group and 3.51 in the Spanish group), showing a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). The highest OHIP-14 scores were related to pain (110), followed by psychological distress (81). Considering the median value in the OHIP-14 score as a cut-off (≥3), the odds ratio for oral health that interferes with quality of life was 3.294, and this risk was increased by caries (4.323) but not by age. Conclusions Since the DMFT could be one of the determining factors for worst quality of life in pregnant patients, more studies to corroborate this information are necessary in order to expand preventive expectations in the practice of oral health in relation to policies.(AU)

Oral lichen planus: a clinical and morphometric study of oral lesions in relation to clinical presentation.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with different clinical presentations that can be classified as reticular or atrophic-erosive. Sixty-two OLP patients were studied to evaluate the clinical-pathologic characteristics of their OLP lesions and to investigate possible differences in their biological behavior. The most common clinical presentation was the reticular type (62.9% vs 37.1%). Atrophic-erosive presentations showed significantly longer evolution (chi square=4.454; p=0.049), more extensive lesions (chi square=16.211; p=0.000) and more sites affected than reticular ones (chi square=10.048; p=0.002). Atrophic-erosive OLP was more frequently found on the tongue, gingiva and floor of the mouth. No statistically significant differences could be identified between reticular and atrophic-erosive clinical presentations in terms of age, sex, tobacco habit, plasma cortisol level and depth of inflammatory infiltrate. We concluded that the classification of OLP lesions as reticular vs atrophic-erosive is a simple, easy to use classification that can identify clinical presentations with different biological behavior.

Oral lichen planus: a clinical and morphometric study of oral lesions in relation to clinical presentation

O liquen plano oral (LPO) é uma doença inflamatória crónica com diferentes apresentações clínicas que podem ser classificadas como reticuladas ou atrófico-erosivas. Sessenta e dois pacientes com LPO foram estudados para avalidar as características clínicas/patológicas das suas lesões de LPO e investigar possíveis diferenças no seu comportamento biológico. A forma clínica mais comum foi a de tipo reticular (62,9% vs 37,1%). As formas atrófico-erosivas apresentaram um tempo de evolução significativamente maior (chi quadrado=4,454; p=0,049), lesões mais extensas (chi quadrado=16,211; p=0,000) e afetaram a mais localizações em comparação com as lesões reticulares (chi quadrado=10,048; p= 0,002). A forma atrófico-erosiva de LPO foi encontrada mais frequentemente na língua, gengiva e pavimento da boca. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as formas reticular e atrófico-erosivas em termos de idade, sexo, hábito tabágico, niveis plasmáticos de cortisol e profundidade de infiltrado inflamatório. Concluímos que a classificaçao de lesões de LPO como reticular vs atrófico-erosivo é uma classificaçao simples e facil de usar, que pode identificar apresentações clínicas com diferentes comportamentos biológicos.