Assessing the Effect of Curcumin on the Oral Mucosal Cytomorphometry and Candidal Species Specificity in Tobacco Users: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Tobacco consumption is of major concern for public health. Compromised oral hygiene accentuated by tobacco leads to alteration in the oral mucosa and microbiome, including Candida, and its species can be identified rapidly using CHROMagar. Curcumin, a naturally available compound possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-fungal, and immunomodulatory properties. Hence, a comprehensive study was planned. AIM: To evaluate and compare cytomorphometric analysis and Candida colonization and speciation in tobacco users before and after the use of curcumin gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised a total of 120 participants (the study (tobacco habit) group, n = 60 and control (healthy) group, n = 60). The intervention was the application of curcumin gel over the lesion area three times daily for 2 months. All participants' oral health status was assessed, followed by cytomorphometric analysis and Candida colonization and speciation using CHROMagar. RESULTS: Cytomorphometric analysis showed statistically significant differences in the control and study group for cell diameter (CD), nuclear diameter (ND), CD:ND ratio, and micronuclei (p = 0.0001). Candida colonization had a significantly higher number of colonies in the habit group when compared to the control group. Candida tropicalis was predominant in the study group, whereas Candida albicans was predominant in the control group. In the study group, after intervention with curcumin, a statistically significant difference was seen in nuclear diameter, CD:ND ratio, and micronuclei. There was a reduction in the number of Candida colonies, and Candida albicans was the predominant species observed in the study group after the intervention of curcumin and discontinuation of habit. CONCLUSION: Curcumin was found to reduce the number of micronuclei and also decreased Candida colonization, along with the discontinuation of habit in tobacco users.

Comparative cytopathologic evaluation using acridine orange with Papanicolaou stain in psychoactive substances abusers with potentially malignant and malignant disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is a major health problem and its early detection is advantageous for therapeutic purposes. According to available evidence, the risks of oral malignancies increase with the usage of tobacco and other psychoactive substances (PSs). The present study showed expression pattern of nuclear and cytoplasmic changes from normal individuals without habit to oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in PS abusers with the help of fluorescence acridine orange (AO) stain and Papanicolaou (PAP) stain. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate and compare diagnostic efficacy of fluorescence microscopic evaluation of AO stain in cytological smears with PAP staining under light microscopy in PS abusers having oral potentially malignant and malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral smears from 120 individuals among which 40 from potentially malignant disorders, 40 from oral malignancy and 40 normal buccal mucosa smears were prepared. One set of smears was stained by AO staining and the other by PAP staining and examined under fluorescence and light microscope, respectively. The results of both the stainings were evaluated by grading cytology smears in class-I to class-V cytology. RESULTS: The AO fluorescence stain reliably demonstrated malignant cells based on the differential fluorescence. The efficacy of AO fluorescence stain was higher than PAP stain in screening of oral lesions suspicious of malignancy. The sensitivity of PAP staining and AO staining is 57.50% and 61.25%, respectively. CONCLUSION: As compared to PAP staining method, fluorescent AO method is more effective in screening of OPMD and OSCC in PS abusers.

Erythrodontia in congenital erythropoietic porphyria.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) is one of the rarest of porphyrias occurring worldwide. CEP is a very rare genetic autosomal recessive disease, with mutation in the gene that codifies uroporphyrinogen-III synthase, leading to porphyrin accumulation in many tissues, with marked skin photosensitivity, hemolytic anemia with splenomegaly and a decreased life expectancy. We report a case of Gü;nther's disease in view of its rarity along with a description of this interesting condition. An 18-month-old female baby with clinical, hematological and biochemical profile of CEP was reported with marked skin photosensitivity over face and hands. She had erythrodontia with delayed eruption of teeth. When evaluating erythrodontia of uncertain cause, we advocate maintaining a high degree of awareness for porphyria, especially for CEP as it is the rarest among porphyria and is a life-threatening condition.

Detection of Candida by calcofluor white.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of calcofluor white (CFW) is compared to Gram stain and periodic acid-Schiff in detection of Candida in oral precancer and cancer. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of patients with precancer (n = 45), cancer (n = 45) and control group (n = 45). Presence of Candida was confirmed by culture inoculation along with a germ tube and carbohydrate fermentation test. The cytopathologic smears were analyzed by Papanicolaou-CFW and Gram staining, whereas, tissue sections were stained by periodic acid-Schiff and CFW staining. RESULTS: Candida albicans was the predominant species identified. A highly significant association of Candida was seen more often in cancer than in precancer. Both in cytology and histopathology Candida detection by CFW was higher. In precancer it was 48.88% in smears and 40% in tissue sections, whereas, in cancer 60% in smears and 55.55% in histopathology. CONCLUSION: Among the various diagnostic tools used in the present study, the use of CFW is seen to be a simple, effective, rapid and reliable method, both in cytopathology and histopathology.