The role of probiotic therapy on clinical parameters and human immune response in peri-implant diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical studies.

Background: Peri-implant diseases (peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis) are pathologies of an infectious-inflammatory nature of the mucosa around dental implants. Probiotics are microorganisms that regulate host immunomodulation and have shown positive results in the treatment of peri-implant diseases. The objective of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of peri-implant oral diseases. Methods: According to the PRISMA guidelines, the research question was established: Are probiotics able to favorably modify clinical and immunological biomarkers determinants of peri-implant pathologies? and an electronic search of the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, (until December 2023) was performed. Inclusion criteria were established for intervention studies (RCTs), according to the PICOs strategy in subjects with peri-implant pathology (participants), treated with probiotics (intervention) compared to patients with conventional treatment or placebo (control) and evaluating the response to treatment (outcomes). Results- 1723 studies were obtained and 10 were selected. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute for RCTs. Two meta-analyses were performed, one to evaluate probiotics in mucositis and one for peri-implantitis. All subgroups were homogeneous (I2 = 0%), except in the analysis of IL-6 in mucositis (I2 = 65%). The overall effect was favorable to the experimental group in both pathologies. The analysis of the studies grouped in peri-implantitis showed a tendency to significance (p=0.09). Conclusion: The use of probiotics, as basic or complementary treatment of peri-implant diseases, showed a statistically significant trend, but well-designed studies are warranted to validate the efficacy of these products in peri-implant pathologies.

Contact allergies to dental materials in patients.

BACKGROUND: Concerns regarding contact allergies and intolerance reactions to dental materials are widespread among patients. Development of novel dental materials and less frequent amalgam use may alter sensitization profiles in patients with possible contact allergy. OBJECTIVES: To analyse current sensitization patterns to dental materials in patients with suspected contact allergy. METHODS: This retrospective, multicentre analysis from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) selected participants from 169 834 people tested in 2005-2019 and registered with (i) an affected area of 'mouth' (and 'lips'/'perioral'), (ii) with the dental material in question belonging to one of three groups (dental filling materials, oral implants or dentures or equivalents) and (iii) with patch-testing done in parallel with the German baseline series, (dental) metal series and dental technician series. RESULTS: A total of 2730 of 169 834 tested patients met the inclusion criteria. The patients were predominantly women (81.2%) aged ≥ 40 years (92.8%). The sensitization rates with confirmed allergic contact stomatitis in women (n = 444) were highest for metals (nickel 28.6%, palladium 21.4%, amalgam 10.9%), (meth)acrylates [2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) 4.8%] and the substances propolis (6.8%) and 'balsam of Peru' (11.4%). The most relevant acrylates were HEMA, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and pentaerythritol triacrylate. Few men were diagnosed with allergic contact stomatitis (n = 68); sensitization rates in men were highest for propolis (14.9%) and amalgam (13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Allergic contact stomatitis to dental materials is rare. Patch testing should not only focus on metals such as nickel, palladium, amalgam and gold, but also (meth)acrylates and the natural substances propolis and 'balsam of Peru'.

Anti-inflammatory effect of L-cysteine (a semi-essential amino acid) on 5-FU-induced oral mucositis in hamsters.

Oral mucositis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa mainly resulting from the cytotoxic effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The literature shows anti-inflammatory action of L-cysteine (L-cys) involving hydrogen sulfide (H2S). In view of these properties, we investigate the effect of L-cys in oral mucositis induced by 5-FU in hamsters. The animals were divided into the following groups: saline 0.9%, mechanical trauma, 5-FU 60-40 mg/kg, L-cys 10/40 mg and NaHS 27 µg/kg. 5-FU was administered on days 1st to 2nd; 4th day excoriations were made on the mucosa; 5th-6th received L-cys and NaHS. For data analysis, histological analyses, mast cell count, inflammatory and antioxidants markers, and immunohistochemistry (cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs)/H2S) were performed. Results showed that L-cys decreased levels of inflammatory markers, mast cells, levels of COX-2, iNOS and increased levels of antioxidants markers and H2S when compared to the group 5-FU (p < 0.005). It is suggested that L-cys increases the H2S production with anti-inflammatory action in the 5-FU lesion.

Tissue Damage in Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis Is Mitigated by IL-17 Receptor Signaling.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a treatment-limiting adverse side effect of radiation and chemotherapy. Approximately 80% of patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancers (HNC) develop OM, representing a major unmet medical condition. Our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of OM is limited, due in part to the surprising paucity of information regarding healing mechanisms in the oral mucosa. RNAseq of oral tissue in a murine model that closely mimics human OM, showed elevated expression of IL-17 and related immune pathways in response to head and neck irradiation (HNI). Strikingly, mice lacking the IL-17 receptor (IL-17RA) exhibited markedly more severe OM. Restoration of the oral mucosa was compromised in Il17ra-/- mice and components associated with healing, including matrix metalloproteinase 3, 10 and IL-24 were diminished. IL-17 is typically associated with recruitment of neutrophils to mucosal sites following oral infections. Unexpectedly, in OM the absence of IL-17RA resulted in excessive neutrophil recruitment and immunopathology. Instead, neutrophil activation was IL-1R-driven in Il17ra-/- mice. Blockade of IL-1R and depletion of neutrophils lessened the severity of damage in these mice. Overall, we show IL-17 is protective in OM through multiple mechanisms including restoration of the damaged epithelia and control of the neutrophil response. We also present a clinically relevant murine model of human OM to improve mechanistic understanding and develop rational translational therapeutics.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans: a case report and review of literature.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans is a rare inflammatory dermatosis. There is a strong association between pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans and inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis. Herein, we report a case of pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans with positive direct immunofluorescence staining findings and review the literature for the past 18 years to characterize the disease, its epidemiologic characteristics, its associations, and the pathology and direct and indirect immunofluorescence findings. The total number of cases was 38, including 22 men and 16 women, with an average age of forty. Direct immunofluorescence staining had been performed for 32 patients, of which 12 had positive findings. Of those with positive direct immunofluorescence, 6 patients showed IgA cell surface staining. A recent approach suggests that these immunological findings may not be accidental and indicates a possible overlap with autoimmune bullous diseases discussed in this review.

Oral Mucositis: An Update on Innate Immunity and New Interventional Targets.

Oral mucositis (OM), a common debilitating toxicity associated with chemo- and radiation therapies, is a significant unmet clinical need for head and neck cancer patients. The biological complexities of chemoradiotherapy-induced OM involve interactions among disrupted tissue structures, inflammatory infiltrations, and oral microbiome, whereby several master inflammatory pathways constitute the complicated regulatory networks. Oral mucosal damages triggered by chemoradiotherapy-induced cell apoptosis were further exacerbated by the amplified inflammatory cascades dominantly governed by the innate immune responses. The coexistence of microbiome and innate immune components in oral mucosal barriers indicates that a signaling hub coordinates the interaction between environmental cues and host cells during tissue and immune homeostasis. Dysbiotic shifts in oral microbiota caused by cytotoxic cancer therapies may also contribute to the progression and severity of chemoradiotherapy-induced OM. In this review, we have updated the mechanisms involving innate immunity-governed inflammatory cascades in the pathobiology of chemoradiotherapy-induced OM and the development of new interventional targets for the management of this severe morbidity in head and neck cancer patients.

A Review of Zinc-L-Carnosine and Its Positive Effects on Oral Mucositis, Taste Disorders, and Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Zinc-L-carnosine (ZnC), also called polaprezinc known as PepZin GI™, is a chelated compound that contains L-carnosine and zinc. It is a relatively new molecule and has been associated with multiple health benefits. There are several studies that support ZnC's benefits in restoring the gastric lining, healing other parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, improving taste disorders, improving GI disorders, and enhancing skin and liver. Oral mucositis is a common complication of cytotoxic radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. It occurs in almost every person with head and neck cancer who receive radiotherapy. It is often overlooked because it is not considered life threatening. However, mucositis often leads to a decreased quality of life and cessation of treatment, ultimately decreasing positive outcomes. Therefore, solutions to address it should be considered. The primary mechanisms of action are thought to be localized and related to ZnC's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss the research related to ZnC and to explore its benefits, especially in the management of conditions related to damaged epithelial cells, such as oral mucositis. Evidence supports the safety and efficacy of ZnC for the maintenance, prevention, and treatment of the mucosal lining and other epithelial tissues. The research supports its use for gastric ulcers (approved in Japan) and conditions of the upper GI and suggests other applications, particularly for oral mucositis.

Oral immune-related adverse events associated with PD-1 inhibitor therapy: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize clinical and histopathological features, and management outcomes of patients with oral immune-related adverse events (irAEs) secondary to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors. METHODS: This was a case series of cancer patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor therapy who were referred to oral medicine for the development of oral irAEs. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data were collected from electronic medical records. RESULTS: There were 13 patients (7 males) with a median age of 68 years (range: 39-82) who were treated with nivolumab (n = 7) or pembrolizumab (n = 6). Oral irAEs included lichenoid lesions (n = 10), erythema multiforme (EM) (n = 2), and acute graft-versus-host disease reactivation (n = 1), with or without ulcerations (n = 8). Four patients (31%) presented with only oral irAEs. Oral biopsies showed lichenoid mucositis (n = 4). Management with topical and systemic steroids led to complete symptomatic response in most patients (n = 12). PD-1 inhibitor therapy was temporarily discontinued (n = 3) and discontinued indefinitely (n = 2) due to severe oral irAEs. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving PD-1 inhibitors may develop oral irAEs characterized by lichenoid lesions, ulcers, or EM. Topical and systemic steroids appear to be effective in managing oral lesions although the severity of irAEs may necessitate PD-1 inhibitor therapy dose modification.

Interleukin-10 and Interleukin-1ß Cytokines Expression in Leukocytes of Patients with Chronic Peri-Mucositis.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present research is to analyze the effect of polyphenols and flavonoids substrat (PFS) from plants Calendula officinalis, Salvia fruticosa, Achillea millefolium, and propolis as immunomodulatory in the production of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-10 in peripheral blood leukocytes medium (PBLM) in patients who were diagnosed with mucositis of peri-implant tissue compared to patients with healthy implant tissue. It was hypothesized that IL-1ß and IL-10 contribute to the inflammation processes noticed in the diseases of peri-implant tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty non-smoking patients were included in this study: patients with healthy implants (HP group) and patients with peri-implant mucositis (MP group). Peri-mucositis was diagnosed by radiologic and clinical examination. The PBLM from MP were treated with PFS at various concentrations. The levels of IL-10 and IL-1ß excreted by the PBLM stimulated and unstimulated with viable Porphyromonas gingivalis test-tube were committed by the enzyme amplified immunoassay sensitivity method. RESULTS Unstimulated and stimulated PBLM and treatment with 5.0 mg/mL or 10.0 mg/mL of PFS in the MP group produced significantly higher levels IL-10 (P<0.001) that analogous mediums of the HP group. The levels of IL-1ß decreased more considerably in the stimulated PBLM of the MP group than in those of HP group (P<0.001) after the treatment with PFS at only 10.0 mg/mL concentration. CONCLUSIONS Theses results suggest that the solution of PFS might offer a new potential for the development of a new therapeutic path to prevent and treat peri-implant mucositis.

Pemphigus-like hypereosinophilic syndrome with FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene: A challenging and uncommon clinical presentation.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is often associated with cutaneous manifestations, mostly pruritic lesions, urticaria and angioedema. Mucosal lesions are rarely seen in HES but, when present, are usually the first manifestation of the disease. The clinical presentation may be heterogeneous, including erosions, aphthae or ulcers, and can be easily confused with other mucocutaneous disorders. Here, we present the case of a 64-year-old man with severe chronic erosive oral mucositis simulating pemphigus in which the finding of persistent eosinophilia and elevation of B12 vitamin serum levels raised the suspicion of HES. The FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene (4q12) was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and the patient was treated with imatinib mesylate with complete response of the disease.

Gut microbiota: implications for radiotherapy response and radiotherapy-induced mucositis.

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy is a mainstay of solid tumor management but can be associated with unacceptable levels of off-target tissue toxicity which impact treatment outcomes and patients' quality of life. Tumour response to radiotherapy and the frequency and severity of radiotherapy-induced toxicities, especially mucositis, varies among patients. Gut microbiota has been found to modulate both the efficacy and toxicity of some types of cancer chemotherapies and immunotherapies but has yet to be investigated thoroughly in the setting of radiotherapy. Area covered: In this review, we discuss the potential role of gut microbiota on modulating radiotherapy-induced oral and gastrointestinal mucositis and the anti-tumor response to radiotherapy through modulation of immune responses. Expert opinion: The gut microbiota plays a major role in the modulation of systemic immune responses, which influence both radiotherapy response and gastrointestinal toxicities such as mucositis. Hence, investigating the gut microbiota link to the variation in radiotherapy responses and toxicities among patients is warranted. Future targeting of these responses with a patient-tailored restoration of optimal microbial composition could lead to a new era of mucositis prevention and enhanced tumor responses.

On inflammation-immunological balance theory-A critical apprehension of disease concepts around implants: Mucositis and marginal bone loss may represent normal conditions and not necessarily a state of disease.

BACKGROUND: Oral implants have displayed clinical survival results at the 95%-99% level for over 10 years of follow up. Nevertheless, some clinical researchers see implant disease as a most common phenomenon. Oral implants are regarded to display disease in the form of mucositis or peri-implantitis. One purpose of the present article is to investigate whether a state of disease is necessarily occurring when implants display soft tissue inflammation or partially lose their bony attachment. Another purpose of this article is to analyze the mode of defense for implants that are placed in a bacteria rich environment and to analyze when an obtained steady state between tissue and the foreign materials is disturbed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present article is authored as a narrative review contribution. RESULTS: Evidence is presented that further documents the fact that implants are but foreign bodies that elicit a foreign body response when placed in bone tissue. The foreign body response is characterized by a bony demarcation of implants in combination with a chronic inflammation in soft tissues. Oral implants survive in the bacteria-rich environments where they are placed due to a dual defense system in form of chronic inflammation coupled to immunological cellular actions. Clear evidence is presented that questions the automatic diagnostics of an oral implant disease based on the finding of so called mucositis that in many instances represents but a normal tissue response to foreign body implants instead of disease. Furthermore, neither is marginal bone loss around implants necessarily indicative of a disease; the challenge to the implant represented by bone resorption may be successfully counteracted by local defense mechanisms and a new tissue-implant steady state may evolve. Similar reactions including chronic inflammation occur in the interface of orthopedic implants that display similarly good long-term results as do oral implants, if mainly evaluated based on revision surgery in orthopedic cases. The most common mode of failure of orthopedic implants is aseptic loosening which has been found coupled to a reactivation of the inflammatory- immune system. CONCLUSIONS: Implants survive in the body due to balanced defense reactions in form of chronic inflammation and activation of the innate immune system. Ten year results of oral and hip /knee implants are hence in the 90+ percentage region. Clinical problems may occur with bone resorption that in most cases is successfully counterbalanced by the defense/healing systems. However, in certain instances implant failure will ensue characterized by bacterial attacks and/or by reactivation of the immune system that now will act to remove the foreign bodies from the tissues.

Evaluation of the efficacy of the subcutaneous low recombinant feline interferon-omega administration protocol for feline chronic gingivitis-stomatitis in feline calicivirus-positive cats.

We investigated the clinical effectiveness of subcutaneous (SC) administration of recombinant feline interferon-omega (rFeIFN-ω) at a dose of 1 M unit (MU)/kg body weight (bw) for the treatment of feline chronic gingivitis-stomatitis (FCGS) in cats infected with feline calicivirus (FCV). Among the 17 cats used in this study, there were 13 FCV-positive cats (FCVI group), which were subcutaneously injected with rFeIFN-ω. The remaining four FCV-positive cats (FCVC group) were treated with SC corticosteroid. SC injection of rFeIFN-ω was given once daily on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, and 21. Corticosteroid was subcutaneously injected at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg bw, at the same intervals as rFeIFN-ω. Clinical symptoms (salivation, pain at opening the mouth, halitosis, mandibular lymphadenopathy, and all four symptoms combined [defined as "total clinical symptoms"]) and stomatitis (the degree and extent of inflammation, bleeding from the lesion, and all three items combined [defined as "total stomatitis"]) were scored on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. FCV RNAs was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the percent increase in viral copy numbers was calculated using the values on days 0 and 28. In the FCVI group, significant differences were observed in the score for clinical symptom (salivation) score and in the total clinical symptom score within the group (P = 0.018 and 0.008, respectively). Significant differences within the group were also observed in the scores for the degree and extent of inflammation in stomatitis and in the total stomatitis score (P = 0.003, 0.007, and 0.003, respectively). The total score, defined as the clinical score plus the stomatitis score, was on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 than on day 0 (p = 0.006, .0003, 0.002 and 0.002, respectively). In the FCVI group, significant difference was observed between on days 0 and on 21 (p = 0.023). The percentage change in the number of polymerase chain reaction cycles required to amplify the viral RNA was positive (indicating viral reduction) in the FCVI group, but was negative in the FCVC group. These results demonstrate that SC administration of rFeIFN-ω under the current protocol improves stomatitis by inhibiting FCV proliferation in FCV-positive cats with FCGS.

CONDITION OF NON-SPECIFIC RESISTANCE OF ORAL MUCOUS MEMBRANE IN CHILDREN WITH VIRAL INFLUENZA STOMATITIS IN THE CONCEPT OF MALT-SYSTEM.

Mucous membrane of oral cavity is the first open section of the digestive system and respiratory tract, first mechanical barrier from penetration of infectious diseases pathogens and antigens, is always exposed to constant contamination and is forming the microecology of oral cavity and lower sections of digestive tract. Aim - to analyze the state of colonization resistance of the mucosa, microbiocenosis of the oral cavity, physico-chemical characteristics of the oral fluid in children with influenza stomatitis. Clinical and laboratory examination of 384 children with acute respiratory viral infections was made using clinical, microbiological, cytological methods of investigation. The conducted study allowed to distinguish 3 types of cytograms, each of which corresponds to the severity of disease. We found the relationship between the nature of microflora taken from the oral mucous membrane and the severity of acute respiratory viral infections, which shows signs of III-IV degree dysbiosis in patients with severe form of the disease. We diagnosed decrease of the stability indicators and the interval of pH waves indicating a decrease in the level of functional reserves of the oral cavity. Detected changes in the colonization resistance of oral mucous membrane and the microbiocenosis structure of oral cavity, acid-salt metabolism of the oral liquid in children with influenza stomatitis are the indicators of non-specific resistance of oral cavity mucous membrane.

The dentist's role in the prevention and management of necrotizing stomatitis in the immunosuppressed.

Advances in transplant medicine and availability of effective immunosuppressive regimens have dramatically improved survival for patients afflicted with end-stage organ failure. However, chronic immunosuppression predisposes transplant patients to infection caused by a wide spectrum of endogenous or exogenous pathogens as well as necrotizing periodontal conditions. This article reviews clinical features, diagnosis, and management of necrotizing stomatitis in the context of therapeutic immunosuppression and discusses the integral function of dentists in eliminating oral foci of infection in preparation for transplantation as well as life-long maintenance of oral health post-transplant. We also present a renal transplant patient who developed massive soft and hard tissue necrosis in the anterior mandible. Disproportionate periodontal destruction in relation to local factors raised suspicion of iatrogenic overimmunosuppression, and he was hospitalized for management of profound neutropenia.

Polyvalent immunoglobulins with vitamin D3 and vitamin B12 in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome in a vegetarian with stomatitis, glossodynia, xerostomia, and elevated antinuclear antibodies: Case report
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BACKGROUND: Sjogren's syndrome, involving sicca symptoms with xerostomia, stomatitis, and considerable pain is a difficult-to-treat autoimmune disease where the treatment options are limited and, as in the case of methotrexate, have a low therapeutic index. CASE REPORT: This case report concerns a male patient, aged 75 years and vegetarian, with Sjogren's syndrome subsequently confirmed by salivary gland biopsy. Serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were elevated (1 : 320). Low serum vitamin B12 and iron levels could be improved after 20 days using vitamin B12 and iron oral supplements. Despite symptomatic treatment, xerostomia, glossitis, and glossodynia were still present, at times marked, after 12 months when the ANA titer was unchanged. Following treatment with an anti-inflammatory polyvalent immunoglobulin formulation (Lactobin®N, 7 g daily), a bovine colostrum concentrate given orally in combination with oral vitamin D3 (2,000 IU daily), sicca symptoms and xerostomia progressively decreased and at day 750 were confined to occasional and minor glossitis of the upper lip. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates the satisfactory control of Sjogren's syndrome using oral polyvalent immunoglobulins with vitamin D3. In contrast to treatment options involving antimalarial drugs and methotrexate, there are no safety issues in patients tolerant to milk products.
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Analysis of CD15, CD57 and HIF-1α in biopsies of patients with peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the tissues surrounding the implant, bleeding on probing with or without suppuration, and bone loss. Peri-implant lesions contain a leukocyte infiltrate of plasma cells, lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. A survey of the literature did not show any studies reporting an association between hypoxia and peri-implantitis. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate histological changes and immunostaining for CD15, CD57 and HIF-1α in the peri-implant mucosa of patients with and without peri-implantitis. Mucosal biopsies were obtained from 18 patients with peri-implantitis and 10 control subjects without peri-implantitis at a private health care center between 2010 and 2012. The sections were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed and embedded in paraffin for histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Acanthosis, spongiosis and exocytosis were observed in both groups, with no significant difference between them. The peri-implantitis group showed increased immunostaining for CD15, a neutrophil marker, and HIF-1α, a tissue hypoxia marker, but no significant difference in immunostaining for CD57, a Natural Killer cell marker. The increase in neutrophil (CD15) and hypoxia (HIF-1α) markers in patients with peri-implantitis suggests an active participation of neutrophils and hypoxia in the pathogenesis of this disease. Since the present study was the first to evaluate the expression of CD15, CD57 and HIF-1α in peri-implant tissues, further studies should be performed to better understand the role of these molecules in peri-implantitis.

Probiotic therapy reduces inflammation and improves intestinal morphology in rats with induced oral mucositis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of systemic administration of probiotics (PROB) on the progression of experimentally induced oral and intestinal mucositis in rats immunosuppressed by chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil: 5-FU). Twenty-four rats were divided into the following groups (n=6): GC (control), GPROB, G5FU and G5-FU/PROB. Groups GPROB and G5-FU/PROB received 1 g of probiotic incorporated into each 100 g of feed (Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacilllus acidophilus), beginning 30 days before oral mucositis induction. Groups G5FU and G5-FU/PROB received 60 mg/kg of 5-FU on days 0 and 2. The left oral mucosa of each animal was irritated by mechanical trauma (days 1 and 2). On days 3 and 7, three animals from each group were sacrificed, and their oral mucosa and small intestine were biopsied and processed for histopathological analysis. Groups G5-FU and G5-FU/PROB showed ulcerated oral lesions at day 3, with progression in group G5-FU and regression in group G5-FU/PROB at day 7. Histologically, less severe signs of inflammation in the oral mucosa were observed in group G5-FU/PROB than in group G5-FU. Regarding the intestine, villus-related defects of lesser magnitude were observed in group G5-FU/PROB, compared with group G5-FU. Group GPROB showed greater villus height than group GC. It can be concluded that probiotic supplementation reduced oral and intestinal inflammation in immunosuppressed rats with experimentally induced mucositis, and may protect the intestine from changes induced by chemotherapy, thus contributing to overall health.

Review: allergic contact stomatitis.

Allergic contact stomatitis (ACS) is an oral mucosal immunoinflammatory disorder variably characterized clinically by erythematous plaques, vesiculation, ulceration, and/or hyperkeratosis and by pain, burning sensation, or itchiness. ACS is brought about by a T cell-mediated, delayed hypersensitivity immune reaction generated by a second or subsequent contact exposure of an allergen with the oral mucosa, in a genetically susceptible, sensitized subject. Lichenoid contact reaction is a variant of ACS brought about by direct contact with the oral mucosa of certain metals in dental restorations. The features of ACS are neither clinically nor histopathologically specific, so the diagnosis is usually presumptive and can only be confirmed by resolution of the inflammation after withdrawal or removal of the suspected causative allergen. When ACS is suspected but an allergen cannot be identified, patch testing is necessary. In persistent cases, topical corticosteroids are the treatment of choice, but for severe and extensive lesions, systemic corticosteroid and systemic antihistamines may be indicated. In this short review, we highlight the clinical, immunologic, and histopathological features of ACS, and provide some guidelines for diagnosis and management.