Impact of the absence of dental support on cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study identifies the impact of the absence of dental support for patients with cancer whose clinical dental care was interrupted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: Individuals with oncologic diseases were selected from a telephone list of a Clinical Research Center (CRC) that specialized in the care of patients with cancer at the Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOB/USP). The convenience sample comprised 280 patients (aged > 18 years) with a history of cancer that underwent dental treatment at the FOB/USP CRC in 2019 and did not receive care in 2020 owing to the pandemic. The participants completed a questionnaire sent via email or a text messaging application. Individuals receiving treatment or who were already treated for cancer were divided into two groups for data tabulation. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Of the 280 patients, 104 answered the questionnaire, and 75 (72.1%) were women. Among the women, 45 (60.0%) were receiving antineoplastic treatment, and 30 (40.0%) had already been treated. Among the men, 15 (51.7%) were receiving antineoplastic treatment, and 14 (48.3%) had already been treated. Regarding oral problems that arose during the pandemic, dental pain when eating hot or cold food or drinks (57.0%), muscle pain (53.8%), and difficulties when chewing (51.0%) were the most common reported among patients. Furthermore, most individuals reported not having received any type of remote dental follow-up, before being contacted by our team, which could contribute to reducing these oral problems. CONCLUSION: It is impossible to say whether the absence of dental support in cancer patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a negative impact on oral issue rates.

Effect of phthalocyanine oral and nasal antiseptic solutions on the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In individuals with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load (VL) plays an important role in infectivity. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the reduction in the VL and infectivity induced by phthalocyanine mouthwash and nasal spray in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Patients with mild COVID-19 were recruited to participate in a triple-blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1, non-active mouthwash and saline nasal spray (SNS); Group 2, phthalocyanine mouthwash and SNS; and Group 3 phthalocyanine mouthwash and phthalocyanine nasal spray. VL was assessed in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs collected at the time of clinical diagnosis at baseline as well as 24 and 72 hours after starting the rinsing protocols. Findings: Forty-six participants were included in the analysis: 15, 16, and 15 in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. After 72 hours, the reduction in VL was significantly higher in Group 3 (mean cycle threshold (Ct) decrease: 11.21) than in Group 1 (mean Ct decrease: 5.53). Additionally, only the mean VL in Group 3 was reduced to a non-contagious level after 72 hours. Main conclusions: Use of phthalocyanine mouthwash and nasal spray is effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

Virucidal Activity of the Antiseptic Mouthwash and Dental Gel Containing Anionic Phthalocyanine Derivative: In vitro Study.

AIM: This research suggested an in vitro virucidal action of a dental gel and a mouthwash with phthalocyanine derivative. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report an in vitro study evaluating the virucidal capacity of mouthwash and dental gel containing anionic phthalocyanine derivate (APD). METHODS: The research followed the recommendations of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and adapted methodology, described in the standards EN14776: 2015; ASTM E1053-11 and the Robert Koch Institute - RKI, in addition to good laboratory practices (GLP). The determination of the percentage of inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particles was carried out by imposing the viral solution in contact with the respective tested products, with intervals of 30 seconds, 1 and 5 minutes, with subsequent submission of the aliquots, recovered in cell culture microplates following virus titration using the TCID50 (50% Median Tissue Culture Infectious Dose). RESULTS: The Mouthwash APD presented 90% of viral inactivation percentage, while the dental gel APD demonstrated 99.99% of viral inactivation. CONCLUSION: In vitro analyses showed that mouthwash and dental gel APD can reduce the viability of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles.

A Phthalocyanine Derivate Mouthwash to Gargling/Rinsing as an Option to Reduce Clinical Symptoms of COVID-19: Case Series.

AIM: This case series demonstrated that phthalocyanine derivate mouthwash is a promising alternative for reducing the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 and for clinical improvement of infected patients who presented mild and moderate symptoms. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report a case series of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 that used the phthalocyanine derivate mouthwash to reduce clinical symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients used 5mL of phthalocyanine derivate mouthwash gargling/rinsing for one minute, five times daily, over a fourteen day period. Two measurement scales were applied for each patient in different periods to verify sore throat - VAS - Visual Analogue Scale for Pain and the clinical conditions - PS - Performance Status. RESULTS: All patients presented a significant reduction in clinical symptoms with the use of the mouthwash for gargling/rinsing after few days of use, without hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The phthalocyanine derivate mouthwash protocol appears as a potential alternative for clinical improvement of COVID-19 infected patients. Daily use of this mouthwash rapidly reduced clinical symptoms such as sore throats, cough and mouth ulcers. Large, high-quality randomized controlled trials with larger sample size are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of this mouthwash protocol against COVID-19.

Beneficial effects of a mouthwash containing an antiviral phthalocyanine derivative on the length of hospital stay for COVID-19: randomised trial.

The risk of contamination and dissemination by SARS-CoV-2 has a strong link with nasal, oral and pharyngeal cavities. Recently, our research group observed the promising performance of an anionic phthalocyanine derivative (APD) used in a mouthwash protocol without photoexcitation; this protocol improved the general clinical condition of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The present two-arm study evaluated in vitro the antiviral activity and cytotoxicity of APD. Additionally, a triple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 41 hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID-19. All the included patients received World Health Organization standard care hospital treatment (non-intensive care) plus active mouthwash (experimental group AM/n = 20) or nonactive mouthwash (control group NAM/n = 21). The adjunct mouthwash intervention protocol used in both groups consisted one-minute gargling/rinsing / 5 times/day until hospital discharge. Groups were compared considering age, number of comorbidities, duration of symptoms prior admission and length of hospital stay (LOS). The associations between group and sex, age range, presence of comorbidities, admission to Intensive care unit (ICU) and death were also evaluated. The in vitro evaluation demonstrated that APD compound was highly effective for reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the 1.0 mg/mL (99.96%) to 0.125 mg/mL (92.65%) range without causing cytotoxicity. Regarding the clinical trial, the median LOS of the AM group was significantly shortened (4 days) compared with that of the NAM group (7 days) (p = 0.0314). Additionally, gargling/rinsing with APD was very helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms (no ICU care was needed) compared to not gargling/rinsing with APD (28.6% of the patients in the NAM group needed ICU care, and 50% of this ICU subgroup passed way, p = 0.0207). This study indicated that the mechanical action of the protocol involving mouthwash containing a compound with antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 may reduce the symptoms of the patients and the spread of infection. The use of APD in a mouthwash as an adjuvant the hospital COVID-19 treatment presented no contraindication and reduced the hospital stay period.Trial registration: The clinical study was registered at REBEC-Brazilian Clinical Trial Register (RBR-58ftdj).

Use of Chlorhexidine Bioadhesive Gel to Reduce Infection and Discomfort in Alveolar Bone Graft Wound: A Randomized Pilot Study

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to analyze the inflammation index, edema, bacterial plaque presence and postoperative discomfort, with the use of chlorhexidine gel. This is a randomized double-blinded pilot study, with 21 unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals, randomized into 2 groups: Test Group (TG), with 7 individuals who used 0.2 % chlorhexidine bioadhesive gel in the surgical wound after the bone graft; and Control Group (CG) with 14 individuals who used a placebo gel as the same way. The gel was applied on the surgical wound suture after alveolar bone graft. The evaluation criteria of the gel application effectiveness were the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain control and/or discomfor t and clinical evaluation of inflammatory condition and/or wound infection. The study showed promising results for postoperativel y use of the chlorhexidine gel, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el índice de inflamación, edema, presencia de placa bacteriana y molestias postoperatorias, con el uso del gel de clorhexidina. Se trata de un estudio piloto aleatorizado, doble ciego, con 21 individuos con fisura labial y palatina unilateral, aleatorizados en 2 grupos: Grupo Test (GT), con 7 individuos que utilizaron gel bioadhesivo de clorhexidina al 0,2 % en la herida quirúrgica posterior al injerto óseo; y Grupo Control (GC) con 14 individuos que usaron un gel placebo de la misma forma. El gel se aplicó sobre la sutura de la herida quirúrgica después del injerto óseo alveolar. Los criterios de evaluación de la efectividad de la aplicación del gel fueron la escala analógica visual (EVA) para el control del dolor y/o malestar y la evaluación clínica del estado inflamatorio y/o infección de la herida. El estudio mostró resultados positivos para el uso posoperatorio del gel de clorhexidina, aunque no hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos.