Oral Ulcers in Juvenile-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review of the Literature.

Oral ulcers are the most common mucosal sign in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). The ulcers are one of the key clinical features; however, the terminology of oral ulcers, especially in JSLE patients, is often vague and ill-defined. In fact, there are several clinical manifestations of oral ulcers in JSLE, and some lesions occur when the disease is active, indicating that early management of the disease should be started. Oral ulcers are classified as lupus erythematosus (LE) specific, where the lesional biopsy shows a unique pattern of mucosal change in LE, and LE nonspecific, where the ulcers and their histopathological findings can be found in other oral diseases. Here, the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management of oral ulcers in JSLE patients are reviewed.

Effect of daily drinking of Aloe vera gel extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity and oral pathogenic bacteria in healthy volunteer: a short-term study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Aloe vera gel extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and oral pathogenic bacteria in healthy volunteer. METHODS: Fifty-three healthy volunteers were participated and interviewed for history of allergy, current systemic diseases and medications. Participants were received 250 mL of A. vera gel extract daily for 14 consecutive days. At days 0 and 15 of the experiment, blood samples were collected and analyzed for biochemical markers. The plasma TAC was evaluated by ferric reducing ability of plasma technique. The biochemical markers, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), serum albumin (ALB), serum globulin (GLB), total bilirubin (TB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Cr) and creatinine clearance (CrCl) were measured. The antibacterial effect of A. vera gel extract against Lactobacillus spp. and Streptococcus mutans was also investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test to compare between baseline and 14 days post-intervention. RESULTS: Neither allergy nor side effects of A. vera gel extract was detected. After 14 days of A. vera gel extract consumption, plasma TAC was significantly greater than that of baseline (p = 0.001). ALP, TB, TP and GLB were significantly increased (p < 0.05) which were still within normal range. AST, ALT, ALB, BUN, Cr and CrCl were not significantly different. A. vera gel extract significantly reduced the number of Lactobacillus spp. (p < 0.05), not S. mutans. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that A. vera gel extract significantly increased plasma TAC, and decreased the number of Lactobacillus spp. without any clinical side effects.

Oral lichenoid lesions and serum antinuclear antibodies in Thai patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in Thai oral lichenoid drug reaction (OLDR) and oral lichen planus (OLP) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised 20 patients diagnosed with OLDR, 23 patients with OLP, and 24 healthy control subjects. Participants' blood samples were assayed for ANA staining patterns and serum ANA titer levels by immunofluorescence using human epithelial type 2 (HEp-2) as a substrate. The serum ANA titer levels were defined as low (1:40-1:80), medium (1:160-1:320), and high (>1:640). RESULTS: Serum ANA were detected in 73.9%, 70%, and 25% of OLP, OLDR, and control subjects, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of serum-ANA-positive subjects in the OLP or OLDR groups and the control group (P < 0.01), but no significant difference between the OLP and OLDR groups. The speckled pattern was the most commonly found staining pattern, present in 60.9%, 55.0%, and 20.8% of the OLP, OLDR, and control subjects, respectively. The number of subjects with low ANA titers in the OLP and OLDR groups was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). Medium ANA titers were found in 15%, 4.4%, and 4.2% of the OLDR, OLP, and control subjects, respectively, while high ANA titers were not found in any group. CONCLUSIONS: The number of serum-ANA-positive OLP and OLDR patients was significantly higher than the control group. Speckled pattern and low titer levels were the most common findings in both OLP and OLDR groups.