Periodontal diseases and risk of oral cancer in Southern India: Results from the HeNCe Life study.

Some studies suggest that periodontal diseases increase the risk of oral cancer, but contradictory results also exist. Inadequate control of confounders, including life course exposures, may have influenced prior findings. We estimate the extent to which high levels of periodontal diseases, measured by gingival inflammation and recession, are associated with oral cancer risk using a comprehensive subset of potential confounders and applying a stringent adjustment approach. In a hospital-based case-control study, incident oral cancer cases (N = 350) were recruited from two major referral hospitals in Kerala, South India, from 2008 to 2012. Controls (N = 371), frequency-matched by age and sex, were recruited from clinics at the same hospitals. Structured interviews collected information on several domains of exposure via a detailed life course questionnaire. Periodontal diseases, as measured by gingival inflammation and gingival recession, were evaluated visually by qualified dentists following a detailed protocol. The relationship between periodontal diseases and oral cancer risk was assessed by unconditional logistic regression using a stringent empirical selection of potential confounders corresponding to a 1% change-in-estimates. Generalized gingival recession was significantly associated with oral cancer risk (Odds Ratio = 1.83, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.10-3.04). No significant association was observed between gingival inflammation and oral cancer. Our findings support the hypothesis that high levels of periodontal diseases increase the risk of oral cancer.

Maternal and paternal contribution to intergenerational psychosocial transmission of paan chewing.

OBJECTIVES: Paan chewing is a recognized risk factor for oral cancer in the Asian population. However, there is currently little evidence about the intergenerational psychosocial transmission of paan chewing in South Indian families. We investigated the association between parental and participant's paan chewing in a South Indian population. METHODS: A subset of data was drawn from a hospital-based case-control study on oral cancer, the HeNCe Life study, conducted at Government Dental and Medical Colleges of Kozhikode, South India. Analyses were based on 371 noncancer control participants having diseases unrelated to known risk factors for oral cancer. Demographics, behavioral habits (e.g., paan chewing, smoking), and indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) of both participants and their parents were collected with the use of a questionnaire-based interview and a life grid technique. Unconditional logistic regression assessed odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations between parental and participant's paan chewing, adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: Over half of the participants were males (55.2%), and the mean age of participants was 59 (SD = 12) years. After adjusting for age, religion, parents' SEP, parents' education, smoking and alcohol consumption, and perceived parenting behavior, we observed that maternal paan chewing and paternal paan chewing were significantly associated with the participant's paan chewing ([OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.11-5.21] and [OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.48-6.27], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intergenerational psychosocial transmission of the habit of paan chewing could occur through shared sociocultural or environmental factors.

Antimicrobial properties of Cocos nucifera (coconut) husk: An extrapolation to oral health.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Brushing the teeth with fibrous husk of Cocos nucifera (coconut) is a common oral hygiene practice among people of rural areas of South India. However, the probable antimicrobial properties of this plant material against common oral pathogens have not been proved scientifically. Therefore, the present study was designed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alcoholic extract of the husk of Cocos nucifera was prepared and the antimicrobial properties against common oral pathogens like cariogenic bacteria, periodontal pathogens, and candidal organisms were performed by the Agar Well Diffusion Method. The results obtained were then subjected to statistical analysis using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD). RESULTS: The alcoholic extract of Cocos nucifera showed a significant concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity, expressed as a zone of inhibition with respect to all tested organisms except Actinomyces species. The inhibitory effect was more significant, with a majority of cariogenic organisms and Candida, with a zone of inhibition ranging from 4.6 mm to 16.3 mm. However, the effect was lesser with Cocos nucifera compared to chlorhexidine. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 50 mg/ml to 75 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: Cocos nucifera has a significant inhibitory action against common oral pathogens, indicating the presence of highly effective antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, it is proved that its use can contribute to oral health to a great extent. Identification of these active compounds provides the scope for incorporating it into a modern oral care system, so as to control oral diseases.

Clear cell variant of intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma: Report of a rare entity.

Intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma of jaw bones is a rare lesion. Abundance of clear cells in an intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma may complicate its histopathologic diagnosis. It becomes extremely important to distinguish this lesion from other clear cell lesions of jaw region. Here, we report a case of clear cell variant of intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the mandible.

Necrotizing sialometaplasia of tongue.

Necrotizing sialometaplasia, is a benign inflammatory lesion primarily involving the minor salivary glands of the hard palate. The lesion often presents itself as a deep-seated palatal ulcer with clinical and histological features similar to those of a malignant neoplasm. Here we report a case of necrotizing sialometaplasia in a 40-year-old female, present on the lateral border of the tongue, mimicking squamous cell carcinoma, clinically. A correct diagnosis to avoid mutilant surgical treatments is essential, considering that it is a self-limiting disease.