Implementation of a light therapy team to administer photobiomodulation therapy: A standardized protocol to prevent and treat oral mucositis in the pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant population.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is a painful and common complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The Children's Oncology Group recently published guidelines recommending photobiomodulation (PBM) for preventing and treating OM in pediatric HSCT patients. However, this is a rarely used intervention in pediatric hospitals. PROCEDURE: Patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT, or autologous HSCT for a neuroblastoma diagnosis, had PBM administered from the first day of conditioning to transplant Day +20. We successfully developed a standardized treatment protocol and workflow to ensure consistent and uniform delivery of PBM. In addition, clinical patient data were compared before and after PBM implementation. RESULTS: The administration of PBM at our center was feasible, but required dedicated staff. A registered nurse (RN) was determined to be the best fit to deliver PBM. Sixty-two patients received PBM from October 2022 to September 2023; patients from 2021 before PBM implementation were used for comparison. Patients receiving PBM were more likely (p = .03) to engage in teeth brushing (56/62 = 90%) compared to baseline (61/81 = 75%). Mean days of OM decreased from 11.3 to 9 days; patients who received PBM were less likely (p < .001) to be discharged on total parental nutrition (TPN) (11/62 = 18%) compared to baseline (50/82 = 61%). OM-related supportive care costs (TPN and patient-controlled anesthesia [PCA]) were lower (p = .02) for those who received PBM (median cost = $31,229.87 vs. $37,370.66). CONCLUSION: PBM, as the standard of care in the pediatric HSCT population, is safe, feasible, and well-tolerated. At our center, a dedicated RN was critical to providing standardized treatment and ensuring sustainability.

Oral Complications and Management Strategies for Cancer Patients: Principles of Supportive Oncology in Dentistry.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: It is recognized that patients undergoing cancer treatment experience different adverse effects depending on the type of therapy they received. The objective of this work is to provide a scientific evidence-based protocol for oral care in cancer patients. Cancer resection surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can cause important complications that impact patients' quality of life. RECENT FINDINGS: Cancer patients, from the moment of diagnosis to the end of treatment and subsequent follow-up, have diverse care needs, both from a systemic and local point of view. The implementation of oral care protocols before, during, and after cancer therapy is essential because it helps to identify risk factors for the development of predictable oral complications. It is essential to establish that all cancer patients, before starting treatment, undergo a systematic dental check-up to avoid limitations during treatment and also alter their quality of life. Regular professional oral care maintenance and follow-up programs are essential to maintaining a patient's long-term oral health.

Efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in the management of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Numerous studies have examined the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in reducing chemoradiotherapy (CRT)-induced oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite this, there is an urgent need to update the meta-analyses on this topic. This meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of PBMT on CRT-induced OM in these patients. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, and Web of Science from January 2000 to October 2023. This search focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effects of PBMT on CRT-induced OM. The study included a total of 14 RCTs encompassing 869 patients with HNC. The incidence of OM in the PBMT group was significantly lower from the second week onwards compared to the control group (RR = 0.49, CI = 0.25-0.97, I2 = 71%, p = 0.04), and this was present until the seventh week (RR = 0.77, CI = 0.61-0.99, I2 = 89%, p = 0.04). Furthermore, the occurrence of severe mucositis in the PBMT group decreased from the third week (RR = 0.51, CI = 0.29-0.90, I2 = 12%, p = 0.02) until the conclusion of the intervention (RR = 0.45, CI = 0.24-0.85, I2 = 80%, p = 0.01). Additionally, PBMT showed beneficial effects in alleviating OM-related pain (WMD = -1.09, 95% CI = -1.38 to -0.880, I2 = 13%, p < 0.00001). The use of He-Ne or InGaAlP lasers with a power range of 10-25 mW demonstrated the most favorable outcomes in preventing and treating OM. PBMT has shown considerable efficacy in reducing the incidence, severity, and pain associated with OM in patients with HNC. Future studies are encouraged to further investigate the most effective parameters for PBMT in the management of OM.

Nurses' knowledge on assessment and management of cancer therapy-associated oral mucositis.

AIM: This study aimed to explore baseline nursing knowledge on assessment and management of patients at risk for developing cancer therapy-associated oral mucositis (OM) at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. DESIGN: A descriptive generic qualitative study design was conducted. The study population were nurses who cared for patients diagnosed with cancer. METHODS: Participants were recruited using a purposive non-probability sampling technique. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured interview guide. Data collection and analysis were done concurrently. RESULTS: The study found that nurses had knowledge on the pre-treatment assessment of clients undergoing cancer treatment; however, they had insufficient knowledge on the standardized tool for the assessment of OM. They also lack a definitive approach to prevent and treat OM. Nurses provided general education on cancer treatment but paid little attention to the education on the possible side effect that includes OM. Additionally, insufficient knowledge level of nurses on cancer treatment-associated mucositis and lack of structured protocol for OM coupled with unavailable tools for assessing the oral mucosa were also identified as militating against the management of OM. Findings from this study will guide policy that will improve the care that clients who are at risk of oral mucositis receive.

Effectiveness of Cryotherapy on Cancer Therapy-Induced Oral Mucositis: An Umbrella Review.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) considerably affects the experience of patients with cancer during treatment. This study investigated the effects of cryotherapy on cancer therapy-induced OM. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically appraise evidence on whether cryotherapy can reduce the incidence and severity of OM. METHODS: We conducted an umbrella review to examine the effect of cryotherapy on cancer-related OM. The primary outcome was the incidence and severity of OM. We performed a subgroup analysis including solid cancers and hematological malignancies. RESULTS: Five meta-analyses were included. Cryotherapy could more effectively reduce the incidence of severe OM (risk ratio [RR], 0.37; 95% prediction interval [PI], 0.22-0.64). In the subgroup analyses of solid cancers or hematological malignancies, cryotherapy significantly reduced the incidence of grades 2 to 4 OM in patients with solid cancers (RR, 0.51; 95% PI, 0.34-0.78 and RR, 0.52; 95% PI, 0.36-0.74). However, no significant difference was observed in the incidence of OM in patients with hematological malignancies regarding any grade or grade 3 or 4 OM. Moreover, cryotherapy did not significantly reduce the OM duration (mean difference, -0.13; 95% PI, -20.89 to 20.63; mean difference, -2.99, 95% PI, -8.10 to 2.12). CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy can reduce the incidence of severe OM induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: We recommend the inclusion of this safe, simple, and convenient intervention in chemotherapy or radiotherapy plans. Additional clinical trials are warranted to extend the limited evidence on the effectiveness of cryotherapy in reducing the severity and duration of OM.

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis current concepts in clinical management.

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a debilitating disease for cats and a challenge for veterinarians and cat caregivers alike. Recent literature indicates that the disease is immune-mediated in nature and likely associated with a chronic viral infection in patients with higher alpha diversity of their subgingival microbiome. The immune-mediated nature of FCGS includes both local as well as systemic effects, and the transcriptomic analysis of affected patients supports these findings. TREATMENT OPTIONS: Localized therapy in the form of surgical extraction of all, or nearly all, teeth continues to be the mainstay of treatment. For cats that do not respond to surgical management, medical management, in the form of immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapy, remains an option. Analgesia is of fundamental importance. Immunomodulation utilizing mesenchymal stromal cell therapy provides an alternative treatment avenue for refractory patients and likely targets the chronic viral infection present in this disease. The potential for treatment stratification and use of novel systemic treatment options may be revealed as the molecular pathways involved in this disease are better described. AIMS: This review outlines current and emerging concepts linking available science pertaining to FCGS and clinical management of the disease. EVIDENCE BASE: The article draws on the best evidence base at this juncture and is also driven by the authors' collective experience of working on the disease for over a decade.

Stromal cell therapy in cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis: current perspectives and future direction.

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a painful, immune-mediated, oral mucosal inflammatory disease in cats. The etiology of FCGS remains unclear, with evidence pointing potentially toward a viral cause. Full-mouth tooth extraction is the current standard of care, and cats that are non-responsive to extraction therapy may need lifelong medical management and, in some cases, euthanasia. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (adMSCs) have been demonstrated to have advantages in the treatment and potentially the cure of non-responsive FCGS in cats. Therefore, adMSCs have attracted a series of ongoing clinical trials in the past decade. AdMSC therapy immediately after full-mouth tooth extraction was not explored, and we postulate that it may benefit the overall success rate of FCGS therapy. Here, we aim to summarize the current knowledge and impact of adMSCs for the therapeutic management of FCGS and to suggest a novel modified approach to further increase the efficacy of FCGS treatment in cats.

Treatment of Oral Mucositis Using Platelet-Rich-Fibrin: A Retrospective Study on Oncological Patients.

Oral mucositis is an inflammatory mucosal demolition frequently observed during treatments for neoplastic diseases such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The side effects of these treatments often drastically reduce patients' quality of life. Oral mucositis is the result of the systemic consequences of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which due to their cytotoxic and local effects, lead to pain and severe ulceration with a consequent decrease in the quality of life of affected subjects. Plasma rich in fibrin is often used to enhance soft tissue wound healing and fight bacterial sepsis through the presence of leukocytes within it. The retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the topic use of platelet gel in the clinical management of oral mucositis to improve the life quality of patients. The results of the study were promising even though the topical application of platelet-rich-fibrin is like a skin-care treatment. Future studies with a larger sample of patients will be needed to understand the real benefits of platelet-rich-fibrin.

Effectiveness of natural-based products for radiation-induced oral mucositis therapy: A systematic review.

Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is one of the common toxic reactions from ionizing radiation and normal tissue injuries as a complication of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is an option for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). The use of natural products is an alternative therapy for RIOM. This review aimed to describe the effectiveness of natural-based products (NBPs) in reducing the severity, pain score, incidence, oral lesion size, and other symptoms such as dysphagia, dysarthria, and odynophagia. This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Ebscohost-CINAHL Plus databases were used for article searches. The inclusion criteria were studies published from 2012 to 2022 with full text available, in English, a study in humans, and a Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) that evaluate the effect of NBPs therapy in RIOM patients diagnosed with HNC. This study's population was HNC patients who had oral mucositis after receiving radiation or chemical therapy. The NBPs were manuka honey, thyme honey, aloe vera, calendula, zataria multiflora, Plantago major L., and turmeric. Eight of the twelve included articles showed significant effectiveness against RIOM in various parameters, such as a decrease in severity, incidence rate, pain score, oral lesion size, and the other symptoms of oral mucositis such as dysphagia and burning mouth syndrome. This review concludes that NBPs therapy is effective for RIOM in HNC patients.

Efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in rodent models of radiation-induced xerostomia and oral mucositis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced xerostomia and oral mucositis are serious complications of radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. Current treatment options have limited efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown promising results in supporting the restoration of glandular secretion function and the regeneration of damaged tissues. This study aim to (1) assess the quality of evidence for MSCs treatment in rodent models of radiation-induced oral complications and (2) determine whether MSCs can improve the therapeutic effect of radiation-induced oral mucositis. METHODS: Intervention studies using MSCs in rodent models were comprehensively retrieved in the Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases on June 1, 2022. The quality of all in vivo experiments was assessed using SYRCLE, and this article is written following the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies were included in this systematic review. The study found that in animal models of radiation-induced xerostomia, MSCs could increase salivary protein secretion, improve SFR, shorten the salivary lag time, anti-apoptosis, etc. In animal models of radiation-induced oral mucositis, MSCs improve the micromorphology and macromorphology of RIOM. Moreover, the effect of MSCs on the modification of ulcer duration and latency may be related to the time of MSCs transplantation but further studies are needed. CONCLUSION: The results of our systematic review suggest that MSCs appeared to be effective in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia and oral mucositis.

Effect of Chamomile on the Complications of Cancer: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, many people across the world still suffer from this chronic disease and its complications. Chamomile as an herbal medicine has gained an increasing attention for relieving cancer complications. This study aimed to integrate and synthesize current international evidence regarding the effect of chamomile on cancer complications. METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken. Five online databases including Web of Science, PubMed [including MEDLINE], Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Embase were searched and articles published from inception to January 2023 were retrieved. All clinical trials and similar interventional studies on human subjects examining the effects of chamomile on cancer complications were included in the review and research synthesis. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies after quality appraisals using proper methodological tools. The review results were presented narratively given that meta-analysis was impossible. RESULTS: A total of 2240 studies were retrieved during the search process, but 18 articles were selected. The total sample size was 1099 patients with cancer of which 622 participants were female. Fifteen studies used an RCT design. Various forms of chamomile were used such as mouthwash, topical material, tea, capsule, syrup and aromatherapy massage. Chamomile effectively reduced oral mucositis, skin complications, depression, and vomiting and also improved appetite and quality of life among cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The use of chamomile as a non-pharmacologic and safe method can be helpful for mitigating cancer complications in patients with cancer. Therefore, it can be incorporated into routine care along with other therapeutic measures to reduce patients' suffering related to cancer. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER (PROSPERO): CRD42022307887.

Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation and Oral Cryotherapy on Oral Mucositis Among Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Conditioning Prior to Hematological Stem Cell Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: This review evaluated the best available evidence concerning the effectiveness of photobiomodulation compared to oral cryotherapy in oral-mucositis prevention among patients with hematological stem cell transplantation (HSCT) receiving chemo-conditioning. DATA SOURCES: An extensive search for published and unpublished studies was conducted in 11 electronic databases and reference lists. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Two reviewers independently screened relevant studies for eligibility, extracted data using a standardized data collection form, and appraised data using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and Grading Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Meta-analyses using a random-effect model was performed using Review Manager software. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the differential effect of interventions across subgroups and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Meta-analyses included 18 RCTs (involving 1,018 patients). Both photobiomodulation and cryotherapy were effective in reducing oral-mucositis severity, severe oral-mucositis incidence, duration, and pain with small to large effect sizes. No significant differences were detected between photobiomodulation and cryotherapy across all outcomes. Subgroup analyses showed significant differences for chemo-conditioning regimens. The overall Grading Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation quality of evidence was low. CONCLUSION: Both photobiomodulation and cryotherapy were effective nonpharmacological oral-mucositis prophylaxis and analgesia, with no significant difference in effectiveness. Chemo-conditioning regimens may influence their effectiveness. Future RCTs may directly compare the effectiveness of photobiomodulation and cryotherapy on the HSCT patients. Rigorous cost-effectiveness studies are also required. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Photobiomodulation and cryotherapy can be offered to HSCT patients in clinical settings. A clinical guideline of both interventions can be also developed.

Efficacy of Cryotherapy and Hangeshashinto for Radiation-induced Oral Stomatitis: Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Radiation-induced stomatitis is one of the main acute disorders in patients with head and neck cancer. Since its treatment is often delayed or discontinued, the control of perioperative oral function is necessary. It has been reported that Hangeshashinto (Japanese traditional herbal medicine) and cryotherapy (known as frozen therapy) alleviate oral stomatitis and the accompanying pain. In the present study, the combination effect of Hangeshashinto and cryotherapy on radiation-induced stomatitis in patients with head and neck cancers was investigated for the first time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with head and neck cancer were subjected to radiation therapy with concomitant administration of anticancer drugs. They were separated into two groups, matched according to age, stage of cancer progression, total radiation dose, and type of concomitant anticancer drugs. One group was orally administrated frozen Hangeshashinto, while another group was not. Oral mucosal damage was assessed by the grade classification CTCAE v4.0 of the National Cancer Institute of the United States (Japanese JCOG version). Duration time of radiation-induced stomatitis was determined by the appearance of grade 1 redness to its disappearance. RESULTS: Frozen Hangeshashinto significantly alleviated, delayed the onset, and reduced the duration time of the radiation-induced stomatitis. CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy in combination with Hangeshashinto can be used for the treatment of radiation-induced oral stomatitis.

Influência da via hippo no reparo da mucosite oral quimicamente induzida em modelo murino submetida a tratamento com laser, geleia real ou própolis / Influence of the hippo pathway on the repair of chemically induced oral mucositis in a murine model subjected to treatment with laser, royal jelly or propolis

A via hippo é uma via de transdução de sinal altamente conservada que está implicada no desenvolvimento, homeostase e regeneração celular/tecidual. A YAP tem papel fundamental na via hippo uma vez que junto com a TAZ ativam fatores de transcrição que levam ao crescimento, diferenciação e migração celular. O mecanismo de fosforilação da YAP/TAZ pela LATS1/LATS2 cria um sítio de ligação para manter a YAP no citoplasma (fosforilada) impedindo suas funções a nível nuclear. Diante das importantes funções desta via no reparo e crescimento tecidual, esta pesquisa avaliou se a via hippo exerceu influência na resposta ao tratamento da MO através da expressão das proteínas YAP e LATS2 em mucosite oral (MO) quimicamente induzida pelo 5- fluoracil (5-FU), em modelo murino, tratada com própolis (P), geleia real (GR) ou laser (L) comparadas ao grupo controle (C), sem tratamento. Foram utilizadas amostras de ratos machos wistar divididos nos seguintes grupos: C, P, GR e L (intraoral 6 J/cm2 ) separados em três tempos experimentais: dias 08, 10 e 14. O perfil de imunomarcação foi feito por escores padronizados entre 0 a 3 levando em consideração a marcação nuclear e/ou citoplasmática. Na análise de imunomarcação da YAP, no dia 08, o grupo controle obteve os escore 0 e 1 na maioria das amostras, já nos dias 10 e 14 a maior parte das amostras obteve os escore 2 e 3. Nos grupos experimentais (L, GR e P), o escore 2 prevaleceu em todos os tempos experimentais. Para LATS2 houve prevalência do escore 2 tanto no grupo controle quanto nos grupos teste em todos os tempos experimentais. Em relação a análise estatística da imunoexpressão da proteína YAP, verificou-se diferença estatítica significativa (p= 0,020), apenas no dia 08 entre o grupo controle comparado aos grupos experimentais (L, GR e P). Já para LATS2 nenhuma diferença estatística foi encontrada. Na avaliação estatística dos diferentes tempos experimentais dentro um mesmo grupo, só foi encontrada diferença estatística significativa no grupo laser e apenas para LATS2 (p=0,025). Adicionalmente foi realizada a correlação de spearman, entre YAP e LATS2 para todos os grupos, porém não houve associação estatística significativa. A maior imunoexpressão de YAP e LATS2 (escores 2 e 3) observada nos grupos experimentais, indica que a via hippo é ativada e parece influenciar o processo de reparo nas mucosites orais quimioinduzidas e tratadas pelos diferentes métodos (AU).

The hippo pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction pathway that is implicated in cell/tissue development, homeostasis and regeneration. YAP plays a key role in the hippo pathway since, together with TAZ, they activate transcription factors that lead to cell growth, differentiation and migration. The YAP/TAZ phosphorylation mechanism by LATS1/LATS2 creates a binding site to keep YAP in the cytoplasm (phosphorylated) preventing its functions at the nuclear level. Given the important functions of this pathway in tissue repair and growth, this research evaluated whether the hippo pathway exerted influence on the response to OM treatment through the expression of YAP and LATS2 proteins in oral mucositis (OM) chemically induced by 5-fluororacil (5- FU), in a murine model, treated with propolis (P), royal jelly (GR) or laser (L) compared to the control group (C), without treatment. Samples of male Wistar rats divided into the following groups were used: C, P, GR and L (intraoral 6 J/cm2) separated into three experimental times: days 08, 10 and 14. The immunostaining profile was performed by standardized scores between 0 to 3 taking into account nuclear and/or cytoplasmic labeling. In the YAP immunostaining analysis, on day 08, the control group obtained scores 0 and 1 in most samples, while on days 10 and 14 most samples obtained scores 2 and 3. In the experimental groups (L, GR and P), score 2 prevailed at all experimental times. For LATS2 there was a prevalence of score 2 both in the control group and in the test groups at all experimental times, showing a very heterogeneous expression. Regarding the statistical analysis of YAP protein immunoexpression, there was a statistically significant difference (p= 0.020), only on day 08 between the control group compared to the experimental groups (L, GR and P). As for LATS2, no statistical difference was found. In the statistical evaluation of the different experimental times within the same group, a statistically significant difference was only found in the laser group and only for LATS2 (p=0.025). Additionally, the Spearman correlation was performed between YAP and LATS2 for all groups, but there was no statistically significant association. The greater immunoexpression of YAP and LATS2 (scores 2 and 3) observed in the experimental groups indicates that the hippo pathway is activated and seems to influence the repair process in chemoinduced oral mucositis treated by different methods (AU).

Peri-implantitis as the consequence of errors in implant therapy.

Peri-implantitis is a plaque-associated pathologic condition occurring in tissues around dental implants, characterized by inflammation in the peri-implant mucosa and subsequent progressive loss of supporting bone. It is a highly prevalent disease, as extensively estimated by large-population, cross-sectional studies. As peri-implant diseases represent opportunistic infections, it is reasonable to assume that nonideal conditions, local and/or general, may favor the progression of peri-implant inflammation. Some of these conditions could be a result of poor planning and/or inadequate execution of any step of the entire process treatment. This article describes the major possible factors in implant therapy that may lead to peri-implantitis. For some of these (ie, inappropriate patient selection, insufficient periodontal therapy, lack of diagnosis and management of peri-implant mucositis, erratic supportive peri-implant/periodontal therapy) there is a good level of evidence, whereas for others (ie, wrong implant placement, poor postoperative care, inadequate prosthetic reconstruction, lack of assessment and management of peri-implant soft-tissue deficiencies) there is little scientific evidence. More research is therefore needed to clearly identify the errors and/or complications possibly leading to peri-implantitis, particularly over the long term.

Efficacy of adjunctive measures in peri-implant mucositis. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To answer the following PICO question: In systemically healthy humans with peri-implant mucositis, what is the efficacy of patient-performed or administered (by prescription) measures used adjunctively to submarginal instrumentation, as compared to submarginal instrumentation alone or combined with a negative control, in terms of reducing bleeding on probing (BOP), in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with at least 3 months of follow-up? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three databases were searched until April 2022. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and predictive intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Sixteen parallel RCTs corresponding to 14 studies with low/moderate risk of bias were included. Test groups showed greater reductions in BOP (%) than control groups (nstudies  = 16; npatients  = 650; WMD = 14.25%; 95% CI [9.06-19.45]; p < .001; I2  = 98.7%). The greatest WMD in BOP reductions (%) were obtained by antiseptics (ns  = 5; np  = 229; WMD = 22.72%; 95% CI [19.40-26.04]; p < 0.001; I2  = 94.8%), followed by probiotics (ns  = 6; np  = 260; WMD = 12.11%; 95% CI [3.20-21.03]; p = .008; I2  = 93.3%) and systemic antibiotics (ns  = 3; np  = 101; WMD = 5.97%; 95% CI [1.34-10.59]; p = .012; I2  = 58.1%). Disease resolution was scarcely reported (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: Significant clinical improvements can be obtained when professional submarginal instrumentation is combined with patient-performed or administered (by prescription) adjunctive measures, although a complete disease resolution may not be achieved.

Evaluating high power laser therapy (HPLT) as treatment for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in paediatric patients with oncohematological diseases.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. Among the current methods used in OM management, the feasibility of high power laser therapy (HPLT) has been proposed but not fully evaluated. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HPLT in the treatment of OM in paediatric patients. DESIGN: Fourteen oncohematological paediatric patients treated with chemotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and affected by OM at different grades were enrolled in this study. All patients were treated with a class IV laser device in four sessions for four consecutive days, OM was evaluated with the WHO-OTS scale. The perception of pain was assessed by the visual analog scale. Photographs of and information about lesions and patient questionnaires were taken and collected, respectively. Descriptive analyses and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (nonparametric test) were used, with a statistical significance of α = .05. RESULTS: After a week into the treatment, 57% of patients were completely healed, whereas the whole cohort experienced a drastic decrease in pain, from an average value of 5.8-1.1 (p = .0016). The average number of injuries per patient decreased from 7.4 to 3.1 (p = .008). CONCLUSION: High power laser therapy appears to be a safe and efficacious method for managing OM. It reduces pain and severity of oral cavity injuries. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal parameters useful in OM treatment and to evaluate the relative effectiveness of HPLT to other treatments like LLLT.

PREVLAR: Phase 2a Randomized Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of RRx-001 in the Attenuation of Oral Mucositis in Patients Receiving Head and Neck Chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSE: No Food and Drug Administration-approved intervention exists for oral mucositis (OM) from chemoradiotherapy (CRT) used to treat head and neck cancers. RRx-001 is a hypoxia-activated, cysteine-directed molecule that affects key pathways involved in OM pathogenesis. This phase 2a, multi-institutional trial was designed to assess the safety and feasibility of 3 schedules of a fixed concentration of RRx-001; a standard-of-care arm was included to identify potential signals of efficacy for further study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study enrolled patients with oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma receiving definitive or postoperative cisplatin-based CRT. Patients were randomized into 4 cohorts. In arms 1 to 3, RRx-001 was coinfused with patients' blood at differing intervals. Arm 4 was a control cohort of patients treated with CRT alone. Trained evaluators assessed OM using a standardized data collection instrument twice weekly during treatment and then until resolution. OM severity was scored centrally using World Health Organization criteria. Safety outcomes were assessed using National Cancer Institute - Common Terminology Criteriav4 benchmarks. Long-term tumor response was defined by Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors v1.1 criteria. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were enrolled, with 46 and 45 individuals contributing safety and efficacy data, respectively. There were no severe adverse events attributed to the study drug. Across all 3 active arms, the study drug was infused fully per protocol in 86% of patients. All 3 RRx-001 treatment cohorts appeared to demonstrate a similar or lower OM duration relative to control; arm 1 had the lowest median duration of severe oral mucositis (SOM), 8.5 days versus 24 days in controls among patients who developed at least 1 day of SOM. There were no locoregional failures in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the safety and feasibility of RRx-001 as an intervention to mitigate SOM. Additional studies are planned to confirm its efficacy.

The effect of cryotherapy on oral mucositis management in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cryotherapy on oral mucositis management in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is among the most common symptoms of stem cell transplantation. Cryotherapy may be an important treatment option in the oral mucositis process. DESIGN: A systematic review. DATA SOURCES: A literature review of studies published in the English language was conducted on Web of Science, Springer Link, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Ovid, EBSCOhost/CINAHL Complete and MEDLINE databases until April 2022. The studies reviewed covered the years between 2006 and 2020. The data were summarized narratively. REVIEW METHODS: This systematic review was organized in accordance with the Cochrane 2022 guidelines and reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in the systematic review. No significant publication bias was found in the main results. The results showed that the cryotherapy intervention had a positive effect on oral mucositis in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review of nine randomized controlled trials, the majority of the studies show that cryotherapy intervention can be an effective method for reducing oral mucositis in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.

Severe pediatric oral mucositis.

We initially suspected primary herpetic gingivostomatitis. But the patient's lab work, persistent fever, and cough led us in a different direction.