Expression of Mucin1 in saliva in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders (case control study).

OBJECTIVES: Overexpression of mucin1 is found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues compared with adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and higher levels are associated with metastasis and invasion. The expression level of mucin1 in saliva of normal individuals, oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and its correlation to clinical and histological variables was evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty oral potentially malignant disorders, 40 oral squamous cell carcinoma subjects, and 20 age matched-controls were included. Stimulated salivary samples were collected from all participants, and mucin1 expression was measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Mucin1 expression in saliva was significantly elevated in oral potentially malignant disorders when compared with controls. Similarly, mucin1 expression was significantly elevated in oral squamous cell carcinoma group when compared with oral potentially malignant disorders and controls. Mucin1 expression in OSCC patient showed significant positive correlations with T classification and distant Metastasis. Mucin1 expression in oral potentially malignant disorders patients showed significant positive correlations with degree of dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The expression level of mucin1 in saliva might be a potential biomarker for diagnosing oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Evaluation of the effect of probiotic lozenges in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to explore the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a randomized, controlled clinical study. Sixty adult (group A) and 60 children patients (group B) with diagnosis of minor RAS were included. Both groups were divided into two subgroups; AI and BI (test subgroups) and AII and BII (control subgroups). For test subgroups, probiotic lozenges were consecutively administered twice daily, for 5 days. The size and pain level of ulcers were recorded on treatment days 0, 3, and 5. The outbreak frequency of RAS within 6 months was investigated for all subgroups. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, an improvement was evident for all subgroups. However, for effectiveness in pain reduction, a statistically significant difference in favor of AI was observed for all evaluation periods when compared with control subgroup. Regarding effectiveness in ulcer size reduction, a statistically significant difference in favor of BI was observed at day 5 when compared with control subgroup. No significant difference was observed in the effectiveness index between subgroups AI and BI (test subgroups) except in effectiveness in pain reduction at day 3. The outbreak frequency decreased significantly in subgroup BI. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of probiotics decreased pain intensity and accelerates RAS healing. The effectiveness in pain reduction is more evident in adult patients while acceleration of healing is more evident in children. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Probiotics could be a well-tolerated, topical therapeutic agent in the treatment of minor RAS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04383236.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the masseter muscle in temporomandibular disorders patients with myofascial pain: A case-control observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate ultrasonographic changes of masseter muscle (MM) in patients with myofascial pain disorder (MPD) and possible correlations with clinical features. METHODS: The study included 20 MPD patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Masseter muscle thickness (MMT) and the echogenic pattern were ultrasonographically evaluated. The maximum interincisal opening (MIO), duration of symptoms, and pain level were evaluated for correlations with MMT. RESULTS: At relaxation, MMT was greater in the test group (p < 0.05); however, the percentage of increase in MMT from relaxation to contraction was greater in controls (p < 0.05). In MPD patients, the echogenic pattern differed significantly from controls. In MPD patients, a strong positive correlation was found between MMT and pain level, while a moderate negative correlation was found between MMT and both the duration of symptoms and MIO. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is an adjunctive method for complementing the assessment of the MM condition in MPD patients.

Mucin1 expression and gustatory function in postmenopausal females: A case-control observational study.

Background: Investigating possible relationship between Mucin1 expression levels in saliva, gustatory function, and taste perception in postmenopausal females. Material and Methods: Using whole mouth taste test, twenty-five post-menopausal females (51.35 ± 5.22 years) and twenty-five premenopausal females (39.65 ± 6.46 years) were prospectively evaluated for gustatory function. The expression of mucin1 was investigated; RNA was isolated from stimulated whole saliva samples and real-time PCR was used to determine mucin1 mRNA levels relative to bactin and GAPDH mRNA levels. Results: Significant difference was observed between postmenopausal and premenopausal women regarding intensity judgments of all tastants. The difference was more evident for sucrose taste perception (p<0.00001). Mucin1 expression levels were significantly decreased in postmenopausal females compared with premenopausal ones (p<0.00001). Mucin1 expression level had significant negative correlation with the salt taste sensitivity but did not correlate significantly with intensity judgments of the other tastants. Conclusions: Postmenopausal women have a reduced gustatory function, especially sucrose. Mucin1 expression was significantly decreased in postmenopausal females and had a significant negative correlation with the salt taste sensitivity. However, no correlation was found between mucin1 expression level and taste sensitivity of other tastants. Key words:Gustatory function, MUC1, taste, postmenopausal.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin for the Treatment of Intrabony Periodontal Defects in Patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

OBJECTIVE: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix in which platelet cytokines, growth factors and cells are embedded; therefore, it has the potential to be used as regenerative therapy. The aim of this randomized clinical study was to evaluate the regenerative capacity of PRF when compared to collagen membrane (CM) for the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). METHODS: Using a split-mouth design, sixteen GAgP patients with paired contralateral intrabony defects were randomly assigned to the test group (composite bone graft {autogenous bone mixed with xenograft} + PRF, n = 16 sites) and control group (composite bone graft + CM, n = 16 sites). Plaque index, papillary bleeding index, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and position of gingival margin (GML) were recorded prior to surgery and 6 months after surgery. The percentage of defect resolution (DR) was calculated radiographically at 6 months after surgery by intraoral periapical radiographs. Primary study outcome was change in CAL. RESULTS: Six-month results indicated that both treatment modalities resulted in a significant reduction in PPD, gain in CAL, and DR (p < 0.05). A statistically significant improvement in GML was recorded for the test group (p < 0.05) but not for the control. Intergroup comparison was insignificant for all parameters (p > 0.05) except for GML (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Platelet-rich fibrin has shown favorable results that are comparable to CM for treatment of intrabony periodontal defects in patients with GAgP. However, better results concerning GML have been reported when PRF was used.