Assessment of saliva and oral candidiasis levels 12, 24 and 36 months after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Hyposalivation is a serious complication during radiotherapy (RT) and it is one of the major risk factors for the presence of candidiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the salivary hypofunction during the different stages of RT, analysing its connection with the presence of candidiasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 83 patients who had been diagnosed with head and neck tumours and who were undergoing RT treatment. Their salivary function was clinically analysed throughout the course of the RT treatment (before, during and after treatment) by means of the whole saliva test (WST), both unstimulated (WST-I) and stimulated (WST-II), and its relationship with candidiasis was evaluated using culture-based methods. RESULTS: The WST-I before RT was 37.24±17.36mm and the WST-II was 60.70±30.98mm, with 47% of patients testing positive for candidiasis. The prevalence of candidiasis increased up to 55.8% during RT and it returned to similar pre-RT levels at the end of treatment (45.2%). A statistical significant relationship was found between low WST-I and candidiasis in the 1st (13.58 vs 20.78mm), 3rd (18.06 vs 24.36mm), 6th (16.83 vs 24.5) and 12th (16 vs 28.74mm) months after RT; and this relationship was also detected for WST-II in the 1st (24.73 vs 41.26mm) and 3rd (27.71 vs 39.91mm) months after RT. Female sex was identified as an independent associated risk factor for mild hyposalivation before RT (OR=6.50, CI: 95% 1.77-23.93, p=0.005) and glandular hypofunction (OR=3.01, CI: 95% 1.12-8.10, p=0.029). DISCUSSION: There is a clear relation between hyposalivation and the presence of candidiasis during and after RT. Larger studies must be performed in order to further elucidate this effect.

Immunohistochemical localization of C1 subunit of V-ATPase (ATPase C1) in oral squamous cell cancer and normal oral mucosa.

The ATP6V1C1 gene encodes the C1 subunit of the vacuolar-ATPase (V-ATPase) proton pump. This gene is over-expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The aim of our study was to perform an immunohistochemical study of the distribution of the C1 subunit in normal epithelium of the oral cavity and in OSCC. We analyzed the expression of the C1 subunit in eight OSCC samples and two normal oral mucosa samples using polyclonal V-ATPase C1 antibody (clone H-300). In the normal oral mucosa samples, C1 subunit staining was observed in the basal and intermediate layers of the epithelium. No staining was visible in the keratinized superficial layers. More intense staining was observed in the OSCC samples, with the predominant expression at the periphery of tumor nests and absence of expression in dyskeratotic areas. C1 subunit expression in tumor cells was predominantly cytoplasmic, although there was perinuclear and nuclear expression in some samples. These findings demonstrate that V-ATPase is necessary for proper epithelial functioning and show its importance in the development of OSCC as evidenced by the over-expression of ATP6V1C1 in OSCC.

Therapeutic criteria in communicating childhood hydrocephalus.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of cerebral blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery measured by transcranial Doppler as criteria to therapeutic action in communicating hydrocephalic children. METHODS: In eight non-tumoral communicating hydrocephalic infants, ranging from five to 18 months of age, monitored from 18 to 36 months (mean time of follow-up: 24.25 months), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oxypurines (hypoxanthine and xanthine) and uric acid levels were compared by means of the Evans' index, the mean weekly increase in cranial circumference, and the transcranial Doppler measurements. RESULTS: Results indicate that clinical (mean weekly increase in head circumference), radiological (Evans' index), biochemical (oxypurines and uric acid in the CSF), and hemodynamic (transcranial Doppler) criteria have the same role in monitoring infantile hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: In conclusion the transcranial Doppler measurement can be done noninvasively and examinations can be repeated when needed, obtaining immediate RESULTS: Hence, it is the most adequate monitoring technique in clinical practice.

Alveolar distraction before insertion of dental implants in the posterior mandible.

We investigated the efficacy of alveolar distraction for reducing crown height:implant length ratio in the posterior mandible. Ten alveolar distractions were done in seven patients. The pre-distraction ratio of required crown height to bone height available for implantation was in all cases > or =1. Two implants were placed in each distracted area (total 20 implants). Before distraction, the mean (SD) predicted crown height was 12.8 (2.1) mm; mean bone height available for implantation was 7.8 (1.5) mm. After distraction and insertion of implants, mean crown height was 8.1 (1.9) mm, and mean implant length was 11.3 (1.9) mm. Before distraction, the mean required crown height:available bone height ratio was 1.7 (0.3); after distraction and insertion of implants, the mean crown:implant ratio was 0.7 (0.2) (P<0.0005). Alveolar distraction is effective for increasing the height of the alveolar ridge in the posterior mandibular region, and should be considered when the height of the predicted crown that is required is greater than or equal to the maximum height of bone available for implantation.