The global prevalence of oral leukoplakia: a systematic review and meta-analysis from 1996 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Oral leukoplakia(OLK) is a common oral potentially malignant disorder. The global prevalence of solely OLK was published in 2003, while the prevalence varied among different studies. In recent years, large-scale summary and definition-related analyses obtain insufficient attention. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of prevalence studies of oral leukoplakia and assess predisposing factors of its occurrence. METHODS: The search terms ("Oral leukoplakia" OR OLK OR leukoplakia) AND (prevalence OR incidence OR epidemiology) were searched in databases (Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) for OLK studies published from January 1996 until December 2022. The estimated prevalence calculation and risk of bias analysis used STATA 16.0. RESULTS: We obtained 69 studies, including 1,263,028 participants, from 28 countries, and 6 continents. The prevalence was 1.39%, varying from 0.12 to 33.33%. The overall pooled estimated prevalence of OLK was 2.23% for population-based studies, 1.36% for clinic-based population studies, and 9.10% for specific populations. The pooled prevalence in different continents ranged from 0.33 to 11.74% with a statistical difference in the population-based calculation. The estimated prevalence of OLK was higher in males than in females. Those who smoked and consumed alcohol had a higher prevalence than those who did not. CONCLUSION: Combining data from 69 published studies, the prevalence of OLK was determined as 1.39% and the pooling estimated global prevalence was 3.41%. The prevalence was relatively consistent and stable across different continents and different definitions. A higher pooled estimated prevalence was found among males, those aged over 60 years old, smokers, and alcohol consumers. The results from the included studies in this systematic review revealed that the prevalence was relatively consistent and stable across various definitions and continents, which may help in developing global treatment and prevention strategies for oral leukoplakia.

Rare mucocutaneous manifestations of ulcerative colitis: A case report of pyostomatitis vegetans and Sweet syndrome.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the digestive tract, and they involve systemic inflammatory diseases known as extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs). Timely and correct diagnosis of mucocutaneous EIMs could assist with detecting and monitoring IBD. We present a case of 52-year-old male patient of ulcerative colitis with 2 rare EMIs together at the same time: pyostomatitis vegetans in the oral cavity and Sweet syndrome on the skin. They presented as multiple small white or yellow pustules on the surface of the hyperemic fragile oral mucosa and abrupt appearance of painful, swollen, and erythematous papules on the skin, respectively. The final diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestations, skin and oral tissue biopsies, and the ulcerative colitis history. This rare case report may remind dentists of rare mucocutaneous EIMs of IBD that might be overlooked. Dentists and dermatologists could contribute to the early diagnosis and management of systematic diseases.

Enhanced Healing and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Chitosan-g-Polyacrylamide in a Rat Model of Gingival Ulcers.

Patients in dental hospitals often experience oral ulcerative lesions, which lead to pain and affect the patient's quality of life. At present, the goal of treating oral ulcerative lesions with drugs is to reduce inflammation and promote ulcer healing. However, very few antibacterial and hemostatic drugs are designed to be suitable for the microenvironment of gingival ulcers. Based on this, we have designed a natural therapeutic agent for oral ulcerative lesions that meets the various requirements of oral ulcerative lesion medication. The chitosan-g-polyacrylamide (CP) copolymer is composed of chitosan as the main chain and polyacrylamide polymers as the side chains. Antibacterial experiments show that this polymer can effectively inhibit the proliferation of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). In vitro cell experiments also show that the CP copolymer is non-toxic, which is conducive to ulcer wound healing. Coagulation experiments prove that the CP copolymer can accelerate blood coagulation to stop bleeding. In experiments using a Wistar rat gingival ulcer model, the CP copolymer significantly promoted ulcer healing and shortened the healing time. These results indicate that the CP copolymer may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for oral ulcerative lesions.