Efficacy of photobiomodulation in the treatment of oral mucositis in patients undergoing antineoplastic therapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation in the treatment of oral mucositis. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis encompassing in the electronic databases: LILACS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, and CINAHL and in http://clinicaltrials.gov . Eligibility criteria were randomized, non-randomized, and observational studies that used photobiomodulation for the treatment of oral mucositis. The endpoints were reduction in the severity of oral mucositis, duration of lesions, and pain reduction. For data analysis, the Review Manager 5.4 program was used. RESULTS: A total of 316 studies were identified, 297 in the electronic databases and 19 in http://clinicaltrials.gov . After removing duplicates, 260 studies were selected for title and abstract reading, of which 223 were excluded. A total of 37 studies were chosen for full reading, of which 6 were included in the review, totaling 299 patients. The treatment used was photobiomodulation. The patients were divided into two groups: the laser group used only photobiomodulation or associated with other therapies, and the control group did not use photobiomodulation. For the endpoint reduction in the severity of oral mucositis (OM), the chance of reduction of the OM was greater in the laser group as compared to the control group. For the endpoints duration of OM lesions and pain reduction, it was not possible to carry out a meta-analysis due to the high heterogeneity between studies. In the interpretation of the meta-analysis, the reduction in the severity of oral mucositis was greater in the group that received photobiomodulation. CONCLUSION: Photobiomodulation was effective in the treatment of oral mucositis.

Photobiomodulation for the management of xerostomia and oral mucositis in patients with cancer: a randomized clinical trial.

To evaluate the applicability of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-T) in the management of xerostomia and OM. Fifty-three patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were randomized into two groups: Sham and PBM-T. The Sham group received artificial saliva and laser simulation, while the PBM-T group received artificial saliva and PBM-T. Xerostomia-related quality of life (QoL), the presence or absence of OM lesions, the decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) index, and periodontal charts were evaluated. The results of the QoL questionnaire, DMFT index, and periodontal chart were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test, while OM findings were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. QoL scores significantly increased in the Sham group (p < 0.0001), denoting more severe xerostomia symptoms (p = 0.0074), and decreased in the PBM-T group, indicating no or very mild xerostomia. Higher grades of OM were found in the Sham group than the PBM-T group (p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in DMFT index or periodontal charts between the groups (p > 0.05). PBM-T improved QoL in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy, whether as radiation alone or as an adjunct to chemotherapy and surgery.

Does Photobiomodulation Affects CK10 and CK14 in Oral Mucositis Radioinduced Repair?

The mechanisms of action of photobiomodulation (PBM) in oral mucositis (OM) are not completely elucidated. To enlighten the role of PBM in the evolution of epithelial maturity in OM ulcers, the present study evaluated the effect of PBM with red (λ) wavelength of 660 nanometers (nm) and infrared of 780 nm in radio-induced OM wounds on the tongue of rats, eight and twenty days after irradiation with single dose of 20 Gy. The percentage area corresponding to positive staining for cytokeratin 10 (CK10) and 14 (CK14) proteins was evaluated in the epithelial area of the lesions, using an immunohistochemical technique (IHC), 8 and 20 days after the induction of lesions, and compared with an untreated control group. CK10 was significantly more expressed in the group treated with 660 nm PBM. CK14 did not show quantitative differences between the groups evaluated. However, whereas in the groups treated with PBM, CK14 was already restricted to the basal layer of the epithelium, as expected in healthy epithelia, in control group it was also expressed in upper layers of the epithelium. In this work, PBM was able to improve epithelial maturity of the repaired OM wound, especially in the 660 nm group.

Photobiomodulation modulates inflammation and oral microbiome: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Oral mucositis (OM) is a severe side effect in patients undergoing anticancer therapies, which negatively impacts on their quality of life often leading to either the interruption of the therapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is emerging as an effective strategy allowing a faster wound healing. OBJECTIVES: This pilot study aims at verifying whether PBM modulates the inflammatory response in patients and its effect on the oral microbiome composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Buccal swabs were collected from four patients affected by OM, both on ulcerated and clinically healthy areas, before and on the last day of PBM therapy, as well as on the first day after treatment discontinuation. The concentration of 38 cytokines and the composition of oral microbiome were measured. RESULTS: Most of the pro-inflammatory cytokines were reduced, whereas anti-inflammatory cytokines resulted up-regulated by PBM. In addition, PBM influenced the composition of oral microbiome, by decreasing the amount of pathogenic species and promoting the growth of commensal bacteria. These changes were even more evident when separately analysing patients who clinically responded to PBM and the only patient who did not respond. CONCLUSIONS: PBM reduces inflammatory burden in patients affected by OM and positively influences the composition of the oral microbiome.

Traditional Herbal Medicine Mediated Regulations during Head and Neck Carcinogenesis.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent neoplasms worldwide. It is well recognized that environmental challenges such as smoking, viral infection and alcohol consumption are key factors underlying HNSCC pathogenesis. Other than major clinical interventions (e.g., surgical resection, chemical and radiotherapy) that have been routinely practiced over years, adjuvant anticancer agents from Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) are proposed, either alone or together with conventional therapies, to be experimentally effective for improving treatment efficacy in different cancers including HNSCCs. At a cellular and molecular basis, THM extracts could modulate different malignant indices via distinct signaling pathways and provide better control in HNSCC malignancy and its clinical complications such as radiotherapy-induced xerostomia/oral mucositis. In this article, we aim to systemically review the impacts of THM in regulating HNSCC tumorous identities and its potential perspective for clinical use.

Protective Effects of N-Acetylcysteine against Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis In Vitro and In Vivo.

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced oral mucositis limits delivery of high-dose radiation to targeted cancers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a treatment strategy to alleviate radiation-induced oral mucositis during radiation therapy. We previously reported that inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation suppresses autophagy. Irradiation induces autophagy, suggesting that antioxidant treatment may be used to inhibit radiation-induced oral mucositis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined whether treatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) could attenuate radiation-induced buccal mucosa damage in vitro and in vivo. The protective effects of NAC against oral mucositis were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. mRNA and protein levels of DNA damage and autophagy-related genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Rats manifesting radiation-induced oral mucositis showed decreased oral intake, loss of body weight, and low survival rate. NAC intake slightly increased oral intake, body weight, and the survival rate without statistical significance. However, histopathologic characteristics were markedly restored in NAC-treated irradiated rats. LC3B staining of rat buccal mucosa revealed that NAC treatment significantly decreased the number of radiation-induced autophagic cells. Further, NAC inhibited radiation-induced ROS generation and autophagy signaling. In vitro, NAC treatment significantly reduced the expression of NRF2, LC3B, p62, and Beclin-1 in keratinocytes compared with that after radiation treatment. CONCLUSION: NAC treatment significantly inhibited radiation-induced autophagy in keratinocytes and rat buccal mucosa and may be a potentially safe and effective option for the prevention of radiation-induced buccal mucosa damage.

The efficacy of an ayurvedic preparation of yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on radiation-induced mucositis in head-and-neck cancer patients: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a common and debilitating painful side effect of many forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Mucositis may lead to dose reductions and unplanned interruptions of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (RT) and often affects patients' quality of life. AIM: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of the ayurvedic preparation in decreasing the severity of mucositis in head-and-neck cancer patients receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, the patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 patients received conventional mucositis treatment, whereas Group 2 patients received ayurvedic preparation Yashtimadhu in addition to conventional treatment. Group 3 patients received honey for local application in oral cavity as well as one tea spoon of honey twice daily orally in addition to routine conventional treatment. All the patients were assessed for mucositis at the end of every week during the RT for a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed between the groups at each time point. Nearly 42.85% of patients in conventional treatment arm developed Grade 3 mucositis, 20% of patients developed Grade 3 mucositis in group where honey was given, and only 15.5% of patients developed Grade 3 mucositis in Yastimadhu group. Unplanned treatment breaks and hospitalization of patients were reduced with the use of yashtimadhu as compared to other two groups. CONCLUSION: Yashtimadhu was observed to be effective and delayed the development of severe form of mucositis. The drug appeared to be more efficient in the management of radiation-induced mucositis.

Anti-inflammatory latex proteins of the medicinal plant Calotropis procera: a promising alternative for oral mucositis treatment.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Oral mucositis (OM) is an intense inflammatory reaction progressing to tissue damage and ulceration. The medicinal uses of Calotropis procera are supported by anti-inflammatory capacity. PII-IAA, a highly homogenous cocktail of laticifer proteins (LP) prepared from the latex of C. procera, with recognized pharmacological properties was tested to treat OM. MATERIALS AND SUBJECTS: Male Golden Sirius hamsters were used in all treatments. TREATMENT: The latex protein samples were injected i.p. (5 mg/Kg) 24 h before mucositis induction (mechanical trauma) and 24 h later. METHODS: Histology, cytokine measurements [ELISA], and macroscopic evaluation [scores] were performed. RESULTS: PII-IAA eliminated OM, accompanied by total disappearance of myeloperoxidase activity and release of IL-1b, as well as reduced TNF-a. Oxidative stress was relieved by PII-IAA treatment, as revealed by MDA and GSH measurements. PII-IAA also reduced the expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and Iba-1, two important markers of inflammation, indicating modulatory effects. Histological analyses of the cheek epithelium revealed greater deposition of type I collagen fibers in animals given PII-IAA compared with the control group. This performance was only reached when LPPII was treated with iodoacetamide (IAA), an irreversible inhibitor of proteolytic activity of cysteine proteases. The endogenous proteolytic activity of LPPII induced adverse effects in animals. Candidate proteins involved in the phytomodulatory activity are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy was successful in treating OM with the laticifer protein fraction, containing peptidases and osmotin, from Calotropis procera. The effective candidate from the latex proteins for therapeutic use is PII-IAA.

Severe toxic effects of low-dose methotrexate treatment for placenta accreta in a patient with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutations.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Low-dose methotrexate (LDMTX) has been widely used for many decades in clinical settings, with good safety profiles compared with those of high-dose methotrexate. LDMTX is also used as one of the off-label conservative therapies in treating placenta accreta (PA). Until now, only a few mild adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have been published after short-term use of LDMTX, and no severe cases have been reported. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a 30-year-old female who developed acute severe oral ulcerative mucositis with degree IV myelosuppression and degree III hepatic injury, after three doses of LDMTX to treat placenta accrete. The symptoms gradually improved after leucovorin rescue and supportive treatments. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The present case provides the first severe ADR report for the short-term use of LDMTX for treating PA, indicating that potentially life-threatening complications can also occur when using LDMTX. Early recognition and immediate leucovorin rescue could result in a favourable outcome.

Comparison of photobiomodulation using either an intraoral or an extraoral laser on oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy in rats.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of intraoral (IO) and extraoral (EO) diode laser irradiation on oral mucositis (OM) induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in rats. METHODS: Animals (n = 78) were divided into the following groups: negative control (NC), positive control (PC), IO 6 J/cm2, EO with 6 J/cm2 (EO 6 J/cm2), and 12 J/cm2 (EO 12 J/cm2). OM was induced with an intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU and scarification of the buccal mucosa. Over the following 14 days, animals received photobiomodulation (PBM) daily. Clinical and histological evaluation was done by scores at days 8, 10, and 14. The redox state was evaluated by reactive species levels, antioxidant network, and immunohistochemistry analysis. RESULTS: Clinically, on day 8, PBM groups showed lower scores of OM with EO 6 J/cm2 presenting a significantly lower degree compared to PC (p < 0.05). On days 10 and 14, all PBM groups exhibited improvement of OM compared to PC (p < 0.01). On day 8, all PBM groups exhibited an accelerated healing process compared to PC (p < 0.01) and reduction of reactive species (p < 0.001). Also, all PBM groups demonstrated higher levels of antioxidant GPx compared to PC (p < 0.001). Analysis of nitrotyrosine revealed that on day 14, this protein damage marker was significantly reduced in the EO 6 J/cm2 group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An EO diode laser protocol promoted positive effects in the clinical, histopathological, and redox state in OM induced by 5-FU in rats. Among the EO protocols, EO 6 J/cm2 showed the most encouraging results.

Photobiomodulation effects on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in an orthotopic animal model.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown efficacy in preventing and treating cancer therapy-induced mucositis and dermatitis. However, there is contradictory information regarding the effect of PBM on (pre)malignant cells, which has led to questions regarding the safety of this technique. We address this issue using an orthotopic mouse model (Cal-33) with human squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. METHODS: Mice with actively growing orthotopic Cal-33 head and neck carcinoma tumors were divided into 4 groups: control, PBM only, radiation therapy (RT) only, and PBM + RT. We performed three experiments: (1) PBM at 660 nm, 18.4 J/cm2, and 5 RT × 4 Gy doses delivered daily; (2) PBM at 660 nm, 18.4 J/cm2, and 1 × 15 Gy RT; and (3) PBM at 660 nm + 850 nm, 45 mW/cm2, 3.4 J/cm2, and 1 × 15 Gy RT. Mice were weighed daily and tumor volumes were evaluated by IVIS. Survival time was also evaluated. RESULTS: Animals treated with RT survived significantly longer and had significantly smaller tumor volume when compared with the control and PBM-only treatment groups. No significant differences were noted between the RT alone and PBM + RT groups in any of the experiments. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PBM at the utilized parameters does not provide protection to the tumor from the killing effects of RT.

Efeitos anti-inflamatório e antioxidante do extrato da folha de Spondias mombin em modelo experimental de mucosite oral / Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Spondias mombin leaf extract in an experimental model of oral mucositis

A Mucosite Oral (MO) caracteriza-se como uma condição inflamatória que se apresenta clinicamente como áreas eritematosas e ulceradas. É a complicação oral mais frequente nos pacientes sob quimioterapia e/ou radioterapia de cabeça e pescoço, e seu tratamento visa aliviar a sintomatologia dolorosa e induzir o processo de reparo da lesão. Spondias mombin é uma planta bastante utilizada no nordeste do Brasil e suas folhas são usadas na medicina popular para o tratamento de infecções orais e faríngeas. Objetivo: Avaliar os potenciais antioxidante e anti-inflamatório do extrato hidroetanólico da folha de Spondias mombin (HESM) em modelo experimental de mucosite oral. Metodologia: Foi realizado um ensaio pré-clínico, in vivo, cego, randomizado e controlado. A amostra foi composta por 42 hamsters machos, distribuídos em 6 grupos: Salina (S), Trauma mecânico (TM), 5-fluorouracil/Trauma mecânico (5-FU/TM) e experimentais do HESM nas doses de 50, 100 e 200 mg/kg, administrados diariamente, por dez dias. Os animais foram submetidos a análises bioquímicas e as amostras de bolsas da mucosa jugal foram submetidas a análises macroscópicas, histopatológicas e imuno-histoquímicas, com os marcadores Cox-2, iNOS, NF-kB p50 NLS e MMP-2. Os níveis de IL-1ß e TNF-α foram analisados por imunorreação ELISA e os níveis de estimativa de superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa (GSH) e malondialdeído (MDA) foram submetidos à análise espectroscópica. Resultados: O grupo tratado com HESM na dose de 200 mg/kg apresentou o melhor efeito cicatrizante, não mostrando evidência de ulceração na análise macroscópica (p <0,05). A análise histopatológica desse grupo mostrou reepitelização, infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear discreto e ausência de escore de hemorragia e edema de 1 (1-1) (p <0,05), além de uma grande quantidade de fibras colágenas. Imunoexpressão reduzida de Cox-2, iNOS , NF-kB p50 NLS e MMP-2; diminuição nos níveis de SOD (p <0,05), MDA (p <0,001), IL-1ß (p <0,05) e TNF-α (p <0,001); e aumento nos níveis de GSH (p <0,01) também foram observados nesse mesmo grupo. Conclusão: O HESM (200 mg / kg) reduziu o estresse oxidativo e a inflamação na mucosite oral induzida por 5-fluorouracil em hamsters (AU).

Oral mucositis (MO) is characterized as an inflammatory condition for clinically presenting erythematous and ulcerated areas. It is the most common oral complication in patients undergoing chemotherapy and / or head and neck radiation therapy, and its treatment aims to relieve painful symptoms and induce the injury repair process. Spondias mombin is a plant widely used in northeastern Brazil and its leaves are used in folk medicine to for the treatment of oral and pharyngeal infections. Aim: To evaluate the antioxidant and antiinflammatory potentials of the hydroethanolic extract of the leaf of Spondias mombin (HESM) in an experimental model of oral mucositis. Methods: A pre-clinical, in vivo, blind, randomized and controlled trial was performed. The sample consisted of 42 male hamsters, divided into 6 groups: Saline (S), Mechanical trauma (TM), 5 fluorouracil / Mechanical trauma (5-FU / TM) and experimental HESM doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg / kg, administered daily, for ten days. The animals were submitted to biochemical analyzes and the samples of pouches of the cheek mucosa were subjected to macroscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyzes, with Cox-2, iNOS, NF-kB p50 NLS and MMP-2 markers. The levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α were analyzed by ELISA immunoreaction and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were submitted to spectroscopic analysis. Results: The HESM-treated group at a dose of 200 mg / kg showed the best healing effect, showing no evidence of ulceration in macroscopic analysis (p <0.05). Histopathological analysis of this group showed reepithelialization, a mild mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and absence of a bleeding and edema score of 1 (1-1) (p <0.05), in addition to a large amount of collagen fibers. Reduced immunoexpression of Cox-2, iNOS, NF-kB p50 NLS and MMP-2; decreased levels of SOD (p <0.05), MDA (p <0.001), IL-1ß (p <0.05) and TNF-α (p <0.001); and an increase in GSH levels (p <0.01) were also observed in this same group. Conclusion: HESM (200 mg / kg) reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil in hamsters (AU).

Estudo comparativo do uso do gel de própolis e da geleia real no tratamento da mucosite oral induzida quimicamente? Estudo experimental in vivo / Comparative study of the use of propolis gel and royal jelly in the treatment of chemically induced oral mucositis? In vivo experimental study

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da própolis(P) e da geleia real(GR) em comparação a terapia de fotobiomodulação (FBM) com laser de baixa intensidadeem um modelo animal de mucosite oral (MO) quimioinduzida por 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Adicionalmente, verificar por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura o efeito da fitoterapia no tratamento da MO quimioinduzida 5-FU em modelo animal. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo in vivo, experimental, controlado e cego. Setenta e dois ratos Wistar foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos (n = 18): controle (C) (sem tratamento), terapia de fotobiomodulação (FBM) (laser intraoral 6 J/cm2 ), gel de própolis (P) e geleia real (GR). Nos dias 0 e 2, os animais receberam uma injeção intraperitoneal de 5-FU. Nos dias 3 e 4, a mucosa bucal foi escarificada. As terapias foram iniciadas no dia 5. Seis animais por grupo foram eutanasiados nos dias 8, 10 e 14. A análise fitoquímica da própolis e da geleia real foi realizada por Cromatografia em Camada Delgada (CCD). As análises clínica e histopatológica (baseada nos escores de reepitelização e inflamação) foram realizadas por fotografias e lâminas coradas em Hematoxilina e Eosina, respectivamente. Os estudos imuno-histoquímicos (pAKT, p-S6 e NFκB) e do estresse oxidativo (Superóxido Dismutase-SOD, Glutationa reduzida-GSH e Malonaldeído-MDA) foram realizados.Em seguida, uma busca sistemática da literatura foi realizada por meio da pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed/Medline, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), EMBASE e Web of Science, a partir dos registros iniciais até janeiro de 2020. Resultados: A análise da CCD revelou à presença de compostos como terpenos, saponinas, óleos essenciais e flavonoides no P e de alta quantidade de sacarose (Rf 0,34) na RG. Nos dias 8 e 10, os animais dos grupos FBM, P e GR apresentaram melhora clínica da MO e cicatrização acelerada com menores escores morfológicos, aumento da imunoexpressão das proteínas pS6 (exceto no dia 10), pAKT (ANOVA e teste de Tukey; p <0,05) e fator de transcrição NF-kB (teste de Mann Whitney; p <0,05) quando comparados ao grupo controle. No dia 14, o grupo P aumentou os níveis do antioxidante GSH quando comparado ao grupo controle (ANOVA e teste de Tukey; p <0,05). Treze artigos foram incluídos na revisão sistemática da literatura (todos utilizando o 5-FU para indução de MO em animais), de um total de 503 artigos. A formulação dos tratamentos variou de aplicação tópica de pomada, gel e extrato, até a ingestão de fitoterápicos. Todas as pesquisas investigadas exibiram resultados promissores no uso de fitoterápicos no manejo da MO. Conclusões: Nossos resultados evidenciaram que a P e a GR, assim como a FBM, são terapias eficazes no tratamento da MO. A presença de açúcares na GR e de flavonoides, terpenos e óleos essenciais na P justifica a excelente ação cicatrizante de feridas e seus efeitos antiinflamatórios. Adicionalmente, o grupo P, exibiu redução do estresse oxidativo tecidual, em comparação aos grupos FBM, GR e controle.Nas 13 pesquisas avaliadas, pôde-se observar excelentes resultados na cicatrização tecidual, ação antiinflamatória, antimicrobiana e antioxidante, com o uso de fitoterápicos no tratamento da MO. Diante disso, pode-se sugerir que o uso de fitoterápicos é uma alternativa promissora no tratamento da MO quimioinduzida (AU).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of propolis (P) and royal jelly (RJ) compared to photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) with low intensity laser in an animal model of oral mucositis (OM) chemically induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Additionally, to verify by means of a systematic review of the literature the effect of phytotherapy in the treatment of chemoinduced OM 5-FU in an animal model. Material and Methods: This is an in vivo, experimental, controlled and blind study. Seventy-two male and female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 18): control (C) (without treatment), photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) (6 J / cm2 intraoral laser), propolis gel (P) and royal jelly (RJ). On days 0 and 2, the animals received an intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU. On days 3 and 4, the oral mucosa was scarified. Therapies were started on day 5. Six animals per group were euthanized on days 8, 10 and 14. Phytochemical analysis of P and RJ were performed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The clinical analysis was performed using photographs and the histopathological evaluation (hematoxylin / eosin) was based on the reepithelization and inflammation scores. Immunohistochemical studies (pAKT, p-S6 and NFκB) and oxidative stress (Superoxide Dismutase-SOD, Glutathione reduced-GSH and Malonaldehyde-MDA) were performed. Then, a systematic search of the literature was performed, by searching the PubMed / Medline, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), EMBASE and Web of Science databases, from the initial records until January 2020). Results: The TLC analysis revealed the presence of compounds such as terpenes, saponins, essential oils and flavonoids in P and a high amount of sucrose (Rf 0.34) in RJ. On days 8 and 10, animals in the PBMT, P and RJ groups showed clinical improvement of OM and accelerated healing with lower morphological scores, increased immunoexpression of pS6 proteins (except on day 10), pAKT (p <0.05, ANOVA and Tukey test) and NF-kB transcription factor (Mann Whitney test; p <0.05) when compared to the control group. On day 14, the P group increased the levels of the antioxidant GSH when compared to the control group (p <0.05, ANOVA and Tukey's test). Thirteen articles were included in the systematic literature review (all using the 5-FU to induce OM in animals), out of a total of 503 articles. The formulation of treatments ranged from topical application of ointment, gel and extract, to the intake of herbal medicines. All investigations showed promising results in the use of herbal medicines in the management of OM. Conclusions: Our results showed that P and RJ, as well as PBMT, are effective therapies in the treatment of OM. The presence of sugars in RJ and flavonoids, terpenes and essential oils in P justifies the excellent wound healing action and its anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the P group exhibited a reduction in tissue oxidative stress compared to the PBMT, RJ and control groups. In the 13 studies evaluated, it was possible to observe excellent results in tissue healing, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant action with the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of OM. Therefore, it can be suggested that the use of herbal medicines is a promising alternative in the treatment of chemically induced OM (AU).

Photobiomodulation Therapy in Cancer Patients with Mucositis: A Clinical Evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-T) in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and affected by oral mucositis (OM). Background: Few clinical studies have evaluated PBM-T, particularly in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT), for the treatment of OM. Methods: Thirty-one patients were divided by convenience into two groups. One received PBM-T (n = 17) alone, consisting of low-intensity laser (LIL) irradiation (wavelength 660 nm, continuous mode, spot energy 4 J, energy density 142 J/cm2, irradiation time 40 s per spot), once weekly for 4 weeks. The other (n = 14) received a combination of PBM-T and PDT, with curcumin as photosensitizer. Patients were instructed to rinse their mouth with 20 mL of curcumin solution for 5 min. The oral cavity was irradiated with a blue light-emitting diode (power 1200 mV, wavelength 468 nm) for 5 min. LIL was applied as in the PBM-T group. After treatment, OM severity was reassessed. The results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Both PBM-T alone and PBM-T+PDT yielded significant reductions in OM grade (p < 0.01). PDT+PBM-T resulted in a significantly shorter healing time compared with PBM-T alone (p = 0.0321). Conclusions: Within the parameters of this study, PBM-T+PDT was an effective method to accelerate the OM healing process.

Comparison of the efficacy of low-level laser therapy and photodynamic therapy on oral mucositis in rats.

Cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy is associated with some side effects including in the oral cavity. One of the more significant oral complications is oral mucositis (OM) which induces severe pain and limits fundamental life behaviors such as eating, drinking, and talking. Although advancements in cancer treatment improved the survival rate, severe OM and opportunistic infection affect treatment adversely. Therefore, the control of OM is important for oral health quality of life and prognosis. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and photodynamic therapy (PT) are noninvasive methods that reduce inflammation and pain during wound healing. The aim of this study is to evaluate immunohistochemical and histological examination of the OM region of the PT comparing LLLT. In this study, 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups as control, LLLT, and PT groups. All groups received 5-fluorouracil intraperitoneally and a linear trauma to the mouth pouch with a needle. After the formation of OM in the mouth, the control group had no treatment; the LLLT group was administered LLLT, and the PT group had LLLT after indocyanine green application. Then all groups were sacrificed, and histological analyses and protein level detection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-ß), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) were evaluated in all groups. PT was determined to be more statistically significantly than LLLT with bFGF and PDGF-BB. However, regarding TGF-ß, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Within the limitations of this study, indocyanine green may accelerate the LLLT effect. However, further studies on this subject are required.

Efficacy of low-level laser for treatment of cancer oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Review effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the curative treatment of oral mucositis (OM) in patients receiving cancer therapy. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases according to PRISMA guidelines, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) on OM in patients during and/or after cancer therapy and in which the therapeutic approach was LLLT, with wavelengths between 632 and 970 nm. We considered grade of OM as a dichotomous variable (such as an improvement or not in severe OM on the seventh day of therapy), with the analysis of subgroups of adult patients or children and adolescents and as a continuous variable with determination of the time for the complete resolution and the subgroup analysis occurred with the strata of the samples by treatment only with chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This paper's protocol was registered a priori at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO . We found five RCT (total of 315 patients) with adequate methodology. LLLT was effective, presenting a 62% risk reduction of severe mucositis on the seventh day of evaluation (RR = 0.38 [95% CI, 0.19-0.75]). When we analyzed subgroups, RR was 0.28 (95% CI 0.17-0.46) in the adult studies and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.46-1.78) in the studies with children and adolescents. We demonstrated a mean reduction of 4.21 days in the time of complete resolution of OM (CI - 5.65 to - 2.76) in favor of LLLT. There is moderate evidence that LLLT is effective in resolving OM lesions in adult patients undergoing cancer therapy. LLLT demonstrates potential for decreasing the resolution time of OM lesions by approximately 4.21 days.

Randomized clinical trial of a mucoadhesive formulation containing curcuminoids (Zingiberaceae) and Bidens pilosa Linn (Asteraceae) extract (FITOPROT) for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis - phase I study.

Preclinical repeated-dose toxicity and efficiency studies developed by our group suggest the potential of FITOPROT in treating mucositis. This serious limiting side effect is observed at a rate of 40-100% in patients under antineoplastic therapy and despite different palliative measures and therapeutic agents have been investigated, still no therapy was completely successful. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the safety and recommended phase II dose of FITOPROT for the prevention and treatment of chemoradiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancer. Twenty healthy adult participants were randomized into two groups that received pre-established concentrations of the collutory: group 1 (FITOPROT A - mucoadhesive formulation containing 10 mg/mL of curcuminoids extract plus 20% v/v of Bidens pilosa L. extract) and group 2 (FITOPROT B - mucoadhesive formulation containing 20 mg/mL of curcuminoids extract, plus 40% v/v of Bidens pilosa L. extract). Participants rinsed their mouths with FITOPROT, three times daily, for ten consecutive days. No participant experienced toxicity or unacceptable discomfort and/or adverse reactions (CTCAE v5.0), with laboratory and clinical parameters under normal conditions. Side effects observed were low intensity and temporary mucosa/dental surface pigmentation (n = 7) and tooth sensitivity (n = 4), which disappeared after formulation use ceased. No significant cellular genotoxic effects were observed (p > 0.05), and micronuclei frequencies were not changed (p > 0.05). Biochemical assays reveled no altered levels of myeloperoxidase (p = 0.2268), malondialdehyde (p = 0.1188) nor nitric oxide (p = 0.5709) concentration, and no significant difference were found in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (p > 0.05). Thus, FITOPROT demonstrated to be safe and tolerable in both tested doses and is suitable for evaluation in a phase II trial as treatment against OM.

Effect of photobiomodulation therapy on reducing the chemo-induced oral mucositis severity and on salivary levels of CXCL8/interleukin 8, nitrite, and myeloperoxidase in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a randomized clinical trial.

Oral mucositis (OM) is the most common debilitating complication among patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) has shown beneficial effects in the treatment of OM, but few studies have evaluated its biological effects. This study evaluated the effect of PBM on the reduction of OM severity in patients undergoing HSCT and its relation to the modulation of the inflammatory response. Fifty-one patients were randomly assigned to two groups: PBM [submitted to PBM from admission (AD) to D+7] (n = 27) and control (n = 24) [received oral hygiene]. OM severity was assessed daily using the WHO scale. Saliva samples were collected on AD, D+7, and hospital discharge (HD) to measure CXCL8/interleukin 8, using cytometric bead array analysis and nitrite (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) using colorimetric methods. PBM significantly reduced the severity of OM from D+7 to D+11 (p < 0.05). All non-interventional patients (controls) who developed grade 2 or higher OM induced an increase of CXCL8 in saliva (n = 14) on D+7. PBM led to a decrease in CXCL8 on D+7 in 85% of patients, while 70.8% of patients in the control group presented an increase in this chemokine (p = 0.007). NO decreased from AD to D+7 in the PBM group (p > 0.05). MPO significantly decreased on D+7 in both groups (p < 0.05). PBM brought about a reduction in the severity of OM in patients undergoing HSCT, and this reduction was associated with a decrease in CXCL8 salivary levels.

Wound healing activity of Pluchea indica leaf extract in oral mucosal cell line and oral spray formulation containing nanoparticles of the extract.

CONTEXT: Pluchea indica (L.) Less (Asteraceae) is an herb used as a traditional medicine for wound healing. The chemical compounds found in Pluchea indica leaves are phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins and carotenoids. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effect of Pluchea indica leaf ethanol extract and its nanoparticles (NPs) on cytotoxicity, cell survival and migration of human oral squamous carcinoma cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability was measured using MTT assay to assess the effect of Pluchea indica leaf extract and NPs (1-500 µg/mL) on cytotoxicity and cell survival. The effect of Pluchea indica leaf extract and NPs on cell migration was determined by scratch assay. The % relative migration was calculated after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment. RESULTS: The sizes of Pluchea indica leaf extract NPs were in a range of nanometers. NPs possessed negative charge with the polydispersity index (PDI) smaller than 0.3. After the treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h, Pluchea indica leaf extract had IC50 value of 443.2, 350.9 and 580.5 µg/mL, respectively, whereas the IC50 value of NPs after the treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h were 177.4, 149.2 and 185.1 µg/mL, respectively. The % relative migration of cells was significantly increased when the cells were treated with 62.5 and 125 µg/mL of the extract and 62.5 µg/mL of NPs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: NPs increased cytotoxicity of the Pluchea indica leaf extract, increased the migration of cells at low concentration and increased colloidal stability of the extract in an oral spray formulation.

Protective effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge on 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis.

Oral mucositis is a common side-effect caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy occurring in the majority of cancer patients and is characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the oral mucosa. In the present study, we examined the protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) on oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human pharyngeal cells and golden Syrian hamsters. We investigated the proliferation and antioxidant abilities of SM using MTT, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays in vitro. Additionally, TUNEL assay was performed, and the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), caspase-3 and proinflammatory cytokines were assessed by immunoblotting. The results showed that SM increased the cell proliferation rate in human pharyngeal cells up to 128.97±9.7% compared with this rate in the untreated cells and exerted protective effects on mucosal injury caused by 5-FU treatment. In addition, all concentrations of SM increased DPPH scavenging ability and blocked ROS generation in the treated cells. Taken together, following SM treatment, expression of NF-κB and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly decreased followed by inhibition of cell death. These data suggest that SM could be used for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis caused by cancer therapies.