Taste sensitivity in healthy adults: gustatory test validation and observational study.

Gustatory sensitivity has important biological functions and taste disorders are generally difficult to diagnose and treat. The aim of this study was to investigate taste sensitivity on a sample of adult healthy patients through the validation and administration of a gustatory test, to describe a possible baseline of reference. A gustatory test was performed following a standardized protocol, using primary flavors solutions at 4 known increasing concentrations for a total of 16 sapid solutions. Taste sensitivity was investigated considering (a) the threshold of the flavor identification and (b) the intensity of stimulus perception. Seventy-one healthy patients were included in the study. Reliability measures were evaluated, supporting the validity of the test itself. Sweet, bitter, and salty flavors could be identified within the first concentration, sour flavor was detected within the second concentration in the majority of cases (p<0.05). Sour flavor showed the lowest value of perceived intensity for the less concentrated solution, sweet flavor showed the highest value. Regarding the most concentrated solution, bitter flavor showed the highest intensity value, while sour remained the lowest one. Both gender-based and age-based differences regarding threshold and intensity of perception were not statistically significant. However mean threshold averagely increased along with age. Within its limitations, this study validates a useful, easy-to-use tool for assessing taste function and it provides a possible baseline for perception of primary flavors in a healthy adult population, which can be used as a reference for future studies considering specific cohorts of patients.

Non-specific oral and cutaneous manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in children.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) seems to affect children only marginally, as a result, there is less knowledge of its manifestations in childhood. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to investigate the oral and cutaneous manifestations in children affected by COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the medical records of children with COVID-19 admitted to the Pediatric Clinic- ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia from March to April 2020 were reviewed. The following data were recorded: age, temperature, clinical presentation, oral mucosa lesions, taste alteration and cutaneous lesions. RESULTS: The medical records of twenty-seven pediatric patients (mean age 4,2 years + 1,7) were analyzed. The clinical presentation of the disease mainly included elevated body temperature and cough. The following oral lesions were recorded: oral pseudomembranous candidiasis (7.4 %), geographic tongue (3.7%), coated tongue (7.4 %) and hyperaemic pharynx (37 %). Taste alteration was reported by 3 patients. Six patients presented cutaneous flat papular lesions. CONCLUSIONS: As for our paediatric sample, COVID-19 resulted to be associated with non-specific oral and cutaneous manifestations.

Efficacy of ozonized water for the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Management of erosive Oral Lichen Planus (eOLP) is challenging. Currently, topical corticosteroids are widely used as first-line therapy, but they might be associated with side-effects and incomplete clinical response. Among non-pharmacological strategies, ozone at low medical concentration has proven to induce a mild activation of protective anti-oxidant pathways, thus exerting therapeutic effects in many inflammatory diseases. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effectiveness of ozonized water in association with conventional topical corticosteroids for the treatment of eOLP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients were included in the study and randomized into 2 groups: study group (n=26) included patients receiving ozonized water treatment; control group (n=25) included patients receiving placebo treatment (i.e. double-distilled water). Treatment protocol consisted of 1-minute oral rinses, repeated for 4 times, twice a week for 4 weeks. All patients received conventional corticosteroid topical therapy (betamethasone soluble tablets, 2 rinses/day for 4 weeks). Assessment of size of lesions, sign and pain scores was performed before treatment, after 2 weeks of treatment (T1) and at the end of 4-week treatment (T2). Efficacy Index (EI) of treatment, candidiasis and relapse rates were also recorded. RESULTS: All patients experienced significant improvement of sign and pain scores with a higher rate of improvement in ozone-treated group (T1 improvement rates: Thongprasom 92.2% vs 28%; VAS pain 76.9% vs 32%; p<0.05). Pain and size reduction were significantly higher in ozone-treated group both at T1 and T2 (p<0.05). Ozone-treated group showed a higher EI at every time point (T0-T2: 72.77% vs 37.66%, p<0.01). Candidiasis (32% vs 11.5%) and relapse (40% vs 34.6%) rates were higher in control group, however the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, ozonized water seems to be effective as an adjunct therapy, in combination with topical corticosteroids, for the treatment of eOLP.

Photobiomodulation therapy for the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis in children: clinical effectiveness and parental satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (MiRAS) in children, in terms of pain relief, lesion size reduction and the parental satisfaction of the therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized controlled study was carried out on 60 children with clinical diagnosis of MiRAS. Patients were randomized into two groups: group A receiving laser therapy and group B receiving sham therapy (placebo). Laser therapy (diode laser, λ: 645 nm) was administered on day 1 (T0) for three consecutive days. Patients were evaluated also on day 4 (T1), on day 7 (T2) and on day 10 (T3). Oral aphthous lesions size was assessed through a periodontal probe to measure the diameter length (mm); pain was evaluated through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); parental satisfaction was assessed through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The difference in the reduction of ulcers diameters between the two groups resulted statistically significant at T1 and at T2 (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference in pain reduction between two groups was found at T1 (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference between the two groups of parents was found as concerns the parental acceptance of the procedure and the discomfort for the need of multiple appointments. CONCLUSIONS: PBMT is to be considered effective in the treatment of MiRAS in children and well- accepted by the parents of the children themselves.

Mutation update for myelin protein zero-related neuropathies and the increasing role of variants causing a late-onset phenotype.

Mutations of myelin protein zero gene (MPZ) are found in 5% of Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients. In 2004, Shy et al. identified two main phenotypes associated with them: an early-onset subtype with mainly demyelinating features and a late-onset subgroup with prominent axonal impairment. We evaluated whether novel MPZ mutations described in literature during the last 14 years could still fit with this classification. We collected and revised reports of 69 novel MPZ mutations. Almost 90% of them could be alternatively classified as responsible for: (a) an early-onset phenotype, with first limitations starting before 3 years (2.5 ± 0.50 years), motor milestones delays, frequently severe course and upper limb MNCVs below 15 m/s; (b) late-onset neuropathy, with mean age of onset of 42.8 ± 1.5 years and mean upper limbs motor nerve conduction velocities (MNCVs) of 47.2 ± 1.4 m/s; (c) a phenotype more similar to typical CMT1A neuropathy, with onset during the 2nd decade, MNCV in the range of 15-30 m/s and slowly progressive course. The present work confirms that P0-related neuropathies may be separated into two main distinct phenotypes, while a third, relatively small, group comprehend patients carrying MPZ mutations and a childhood-onset disease, substantiating the subdivision into three groups proposed by Sanmaneechai et al. (Brain 138:3180-3192, 2015). Interestingly, during the last years, an increasing number of novel MPZ mutations causing a late-onset phenotype has been described, highlighting the clinical relevance of late-onset P0 neuropathies. Since the family history for neuropathy is often uncertain, due to the late disease onset, the number of patients carrying this genotype is probably underestimated.

Effectiveness of a spray containing 1% malic acid in patients with xerostomia induced by graft-versus-host disease.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a topical sialogogue spray (malic acid, 1%) in the treatment of xerostomia in patients with chronic Graft versus Host Disease (cGVHD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized double-blind clinical study. Twenty-eight patients with cGVHD suffering from xerostomia were divided into 2 groups: the first group (14 patients) received a topical sialagogue spray containing malic acid 1% (SalivAktive®) whereas the second group (14 patients) received a placebo. Both groups received treatment for 2 weeks. Dry Mouth Questionnaire (DMQ) scores and unstimulated salivary flows rate were collected before and after treatment. RESULTS: DMQ scores increased significantly from 1.3 ± 0.4 to 3.5 ± 0.4 points (p<0.05) after two weeks of treatment with malic acid, whereas in the control group DMQ scores increased from 1.2 ± 0.7 points to 1.4 ± 0.6 (p>0.05). The unstimulated salivary flow rate in patients treated with malic acid increased significantly from 0.15 ± 0.06 mL/min to 0.24± 0.08 mL/min, while that of the patients treated with placebo went from 0.16 ± 0.07 mL/min to 0.17 ± 0.09 mL/min (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Malic acid 1% spray can be considered effective in the treatment of GVHD induced xerostomia.

Absorption and diffusion of a 645 nm diode laser beam in the bone. An ex vivo study.

The present preliminary ex vivo study aims to assess the possible interaction between complex biological systems and laser light, through irradiation of different hard tissue samples. A 645 nm wavelength diode laser was adopted to perform the present evaluation. Due to known similarities to human tissues, swine tissue samples were used. Two samples of cortical bone measuring 4.4 mm and 4.7 mm of thickness and 2 samples of spongeous bone measuring 2.45 mm and 2.9 mm were harvested for the analysis of hard tissues. Mean absorption values were as follows: 128.82 mW standard deviation 8.74 for 2.45 mm spongeous bone sample; 132.34 mW standard deviation 7.66 for 2.9 mm spongeous bone sample; 140.59 mW standard deviation 5.97 for 4.4 mm cortical bone sample and 152.20 mW standard deviation 3.36 for 4.7 mm mucosa and cortical bone sample. Red-light laser with 645nm wavelength has the ability to reach cells in each layer of measured tissues.

Intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the treatment of unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Treatment of patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer using hepatic artery fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) has been reported to induce high remission rates but also a high incidence of limiting hepatobiliary toxicity. In an attempt to obviate the limiting FUDR toxic effects, a phase I-II study was undertaken to establish the efficacy and tolerability of intra-hepatic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when given in combination with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Patients with colorectal liver metastases (n = 17) received escalating doses of 5-FU as a 1 h infusion with a fixed dose (100 mg/m2) of intra-hepatic 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (4 h infusion) once a week. Dose limiting toxicity was hepatic and gastrointestinal (diarrhea) and occurred at doses > or = 350 mg/m2 5-FU. Other adverse effects included nausea/vomiting and cutaneous toxicity. One patient achieved a complete response and 2 a partial response (mean duration = 9 months) while 11 had stable disease. Patients with complete or partial responses had a mean survival of 17 months, while patients with stable disease survived 13 months and those with disease progression 5.5 months on average. These results suggest that this is a well tolerated regimen although with efficacy at the lower level of the range observed with fluoropyrimidines.