Is there an association between head and neck cancer diagnosis and self-reported dental fear? A dual-center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Mental distress is highly reported in cancer patients, resulting in anxiety and depression most of the time. Both conditions, in turn, are recognized to be related to dental fear in adults; however, there are no studies on patients suffering from head and neck cancer. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer are more prone to self-reported dental fear. Material and Methods: This dual-center cross-sectional study was conducted with 25 healthy outpatients and 25 patients with a recent diagnosis of head and neck cancer, all requiring dental care. The patients were informed at the first appointment about their dental therapy planning and the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) questionnaire was then applied after appropriate instructions. Results: The DFS total scores did not differ statistically between the groups (Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0,120) but the Cancer Group presented a slightly higher mean score (32.2 ± 10.0) than the Control Group (30.0 ± 14.2). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer and healthy individuals seem to experience similar self-reported dental fear.

Oral health-related quality of life in Brazilian children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing cancer treatment.

Introduction: Cancer is considered a major public health problem worldwide and may have an important impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Thus, the present study aimed to assess OHRQoL in Brazilian patients aged 3 to 21 years undergoing cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: In total, 121 patients receiving cancer treatment and 363 healthy individuals (control group) were evaluated. OHRQoL was assessed using an age-specific questionnaire, that is, the Brazilian versions of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ) 11-14-short version, the CPQ 8-10-short version, and the short-form of Oral Health Impact Profile Questionnaire-14 (OHIP-14). Results: Individuals from the control group who were evaluated by the ECOHIS presented more impact on the OHRQoL regarding the psychological and family function score, as well as those evaluated by CPQ 8-10, who presented more impact in general. However, considering CPQ 11-14, cancer patients had their OHRQoL more affected, as shown in both the total questionnaire score and oral symptoms score. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this Brazilian study, cancer treatment seems to be associated with decreased OHRQoL only in patients aged between 11 and 14 years. However, children without cancer aged between 8 and 10 years seem to experience worse OHRQoL.

Expression of connexin-43 in the cardiac muscle of children diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a Western blot and confocal laser scanning microscopy study.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome consists of several structural abnormalities in the left side of the heart and may be associated with a hereditary genetic cause, possibly related to the connexin gene GJA1; however, only a few studies have investigated it. The present study aimed to analyse the expression of connexin-43 in the cardiac muscle of hypoplastic left heart syndrome children by Western blot method and confocal laser scanning microscopy. For that, tissue samples were taken during corrective surgery to treat heart defects. Patients of control group (8) presented any type of heart defect not related to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, connexin-43, or its gene and those of hypoplastic left heart syndrome group (9) presented this disease singly, without any other associated congenital diseases. By means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, it was noticed no connexin-43 qualitative differences in positioning and location pattern between both groups. From Western blot analysis, the connexin-43 expression did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0571) as well. Within the limits of this study, it is suggested that cardiomyocytes of hypoplastic left heart syndrome children are similar in connexin-43 location, distribution, and structural and conformational patterns to those of children with heart defects not related to this protein and its genes.

Current status of dental implants survival and peri-implant bone loss in patients with uncontrolled type-2 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review summarizes recent evidence on the impact of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on implant dentistry, highlighting the behavior of peri-implant bone. RECENT FINDINGS: There is no definitive information on the development and course of peri-implant bone loss associated with T2DM; however, poorly controlled T2DM patients present worse outcomes. Nevertheless, dental implants may be a successful therapy for these patients in a manner similar to healthy individuals, when glycemic levels and oral hygiene are strictly maintained. SUMMARY: The most recent literature on the impact of T2DM on peri-implant bone loss was reviewed to evaluate the feasibility of dental implant therapy over the time for these patients.