Search Results (38)

This review’s objective is to examine the findings from various studies on oral signs and symptoms related to vitamin deficiency. In October 2023, two electronic databases (Scopus and PubMed) were searched for published scientific articles following PRISMA principles. Articles eligible for inclusion in this review had to be published in English between 2017 and 2023, be original studies, and involve human subjects. Fifteen studies were included in this review: three examining oral symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency; one assessing vitamin B complex and vitamin E for recurrent oral ulcers; one investigating serum vitamin D levels in recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients; three exploring hypovitaminosis effects on dental caries; two measuring blood serum vitamin D levels; one evaluating vitamin B12 hypovitaminosis; three investigating hypovitaminosis as indicative of gingival disease; one focusing on vitamin deficiencies and enamel developmental abnormalities; one assessing vitamin deficiencies in oral cancer patients; one examining vitamin K as an oral anticoagulant and its role in perioperative hemorrhage; and one evaluating vitamin effects on burning mouth syndrome. Despite some limitations, evidence suggests a correlation between vitamin deficiencies and oral symptoms. This systematic review was registered in the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY) database (202430039). Full article

The systematic review assessed the efficacy and safety of propolis for treating recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The review adopted the PICO framework to examine the effects of topical and systemic propolis on RAS while also comparing it to established treatments, placebos, or no treatment. The main focus was on the healing time, pain levels, adverse effects, the likelihood of ulcer recurrence, and accompanying symptoms such as redness. The team included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomised trials, excluding case reports and studies on oral ulcers other than RAS. In May 2022, the review team comprehensively searched nine databases and trial registries following the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database under the registration number CRD42022327123. Two review authors conducted a comprehensive and autonomous search for pertinent papers and extracted essential data. Where data permitted, the team utilised Review Manager 5 to conduct a random-effects meta-analysis, assessing the risk of bias and heterogeneity of the included studies. Where possible, the GRADE Pro programme was used to assess the certainty of the evidence for all the outcomes. This review included 10 RCTs, comprising 825 participants aged between 18 and 69 years. Seven studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of propolis when applied topically, all of which used different formulations, concentrations, and carriers. The remaining three studies assessed systemic administration in tablet form. The duration of investigations ranged from 5 days to 3 years. The review team classified two studies as having an overall ‘high risk’ of bias, while the remaining studies were categorised as having an overall ‘uncertain risk’. The overall certainty of the evidence was ‘very low’. The results indicate that topical and systemic propolis may decrease the duration of healing, alleviate pain, and reduce redness in patients with RAS compared to a placebo. However, the certainty of the evidence is very low. These may be due to the high risk of bias, substantial heterogeneity, and limited sample sizes in the included studies. For these reasons, the results of this review should be interpreted with caution. Nevertheless, the limited number of adverse effects observed suggests that propolis may have a favourable safety profile when used for a short period in treating RAS. Full article

Approximately 59.4–100% of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or radio chemotherapy suffer from aphthous ulcers (AUs), which seriously affect the subsequent treatment. At the same time, AUs are a common oral mucosal disease with a high incidence rate among the population, often accompanied by severe pain, and affect both physical and mental health. Strategies to increase the ulcer healing rate and relieve pain symptoms quickly is a long-term clinical objective. Oral mucosal discontinuity is the main histological hallmark of AUs. So, covering the inner mucosal defect with an in vitro engineered oral mucosal equivalent shows good prospects for AU alleviation. Fibronectin (FN) is a glycopeptide in the extracellular matrix and exhibits opsonic properties, aiding the phagocytosis and clearance of foreign pathogens through all stages of ulcer healing. But native FN comes from animal blood, which has potential health risks. rhFN3C was designed with multi-domains of native FN, whose core functions are the recruitment of cells and growth factors to accelerate AU healing. rhFN3C is a peptide-fused recombinant protein. The peptides are derived from the positions of 1444–1545 (FNIII10) and 1632–1901 (FNIII12–14) in human native FN. We optimized the fermentation conditions of rhFN3C in E. coli BL21 to enable high expression levels. rhFN3C is thermally stable and nontoxic for L929, strongly promotes the migration and adhesion of HaCaT, decreases the incidence of wound infection, and shortens the mean healing time by about 2 days compared to others (p < 0.01). rhFN3C may have great potential for use in the treatment of AUs. The specific methods and mechanisms of rhFN3C are yet to be investigated. Full article

It has been 24 years since rapamycin (sirolimus) was approved to mitigate solid organ transplant rejection and 16 years since mTOR (mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin) inhibitors reached patients as a cancer therapy. While the clinical benefits of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) are robust, so too are their toxicities. Among the most common issues is the development of ulcers of the oral mucosa (mTOR-inhibitor associated stomatitis; mIAS). These lesions are distinct from those of other anti-cancer agents, occur with regularity, and impact patient outcomes. mIAS’ pathogenesis has been the subject of speculation, and its similar presentation to recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) has led to the hypothesis that it might serve as a surrogate to better understand RAS. Based on a review of the literature, the current manuscript provides a hypothesis regarding the mechanisms by which mTORis uniquely initiate mucosal injury and an explanation for the observation that steroids (also an immunosuppressive) are effective in its treatment through a non-immunologic mechanism. Unexplained unique features of mIAS are discussed in this review in the context of future investigation. Full article

Skin disease is a severe health issue that affects a lot of people in Africa and is vastly underreported. Because of their availability, affordability, and safety, medicinal plants represent a major source of treatment for various skin diseases in West Africa. This review presents the medicinal plants used in treating skin diseases in West Africa and their available biological activities that have lent credence to their skin care usage. A total of 211 plant species from 56 families are implicated to be used in West Africa for several skin conditions such as aphthous ulcers, burns, eczema, scabies, sores, and wounds. Fabaceae is the most-implicated family (30 species) for the treatment of skin diseases, followed by Combretaceae (14 species) and Asteraceae (13 species). Most of the medicinal plants used are trees (93); leaves (107) were the most-used plant part, and decoction (73) was the preferred preparation method for the medicinal plants. The biological activities related to the pathology of skin diseases, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of 82 plants, have been evaluated. Based on their minimum inhibitory concentration, the most active antimicrobial plant is Brillantaisia lamium. Among the isolated phytochemicals, betulenic acid and lespedin were the most active, while plants such as Kigelia africana and Strophanthus hispidus showed significant wound-healing activities. This review highlights research gaps in the ethnobotanical studies of many West African countries, the biological activities of plants used to treat skin diseases, and the cosmetic potential of these plants. Full article

Celiac disease (CeD) is a chronic gluten-sensitive immune-mediated enteropathy characterized by numerous intestinal and extra-intestinal signs and symptoms. Among extra-intestinal manifestations, otorhinolaryngological (ORL) complaints in CeD are relatively rare and their relation to CeD is frequently overlooked by physicians. Recent studies underlined that the prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, aphthous ulcers, geographic tongue, and xerostomia was significantly increased in CeD patients compared with healthy individuals. However, data about the other oral manifestations of CeD, such as atrophic glossitis, glossodynia, angular cheilitis, and salivary abnormalities, are scanty. Further ORL conditions associated with CeD include sensorineural hearing loss, nasal abnormalities, and obstructive sleep apnea. Moreover, several esophageal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitis have been associated with CeD. The pathophysiological link between both ORL and esophageal manifestations and CeD might be further investigated. In addition, also the role of gluten-free diet in improving these conditions is largely unclear. Certainly, otorhinolaryngologists can play an important role in identifying people with unrecognized CeD and may help prevent its long-term complications. The aim of this narrative review is to analyze the latest evidence on the association between CeD and ORL and esophageal manifestations. Full article

Licorice (Radix glycyrrhizae) is a plant root extract widely used in various applications, including cosmetics, food supplements, and traditional medicine. It has a long history of medicinal use in different cultures due to its diverse pharmacological properties. Licorice has traditionally been used for treating gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections, cough, bronchitis, arthritis, and skin conditions. In recent years, the potential therapeutic benefits of licorice for oral health have gained significant interest. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the effects of licorice extracts and their bioactive components on common oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, halitosis, candidiasis, and recurrent aphthous ulcers. The chemical composition of licorice has shown the presence of several bioactive compounds such as glycyrrhizin, glabridin, isoliquiritigenin (ISL), and licochalcone exhibiting various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory effects. Interestingly, in certain patients, licorice has shown a promising potential to inhibit the spread of viruses, prevent biofilm formation, reduce inflammation, boost immune responses, alleviate pain, and exert antioxidative effects. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the current understanding of licorice’s therapeutic benefits in the treatment of oral ailments, emphasising its potential as an alternative treatment option for oral diseases. Further research is warranted to explore its efficacy, safety, and clinical applications using placebo-controlled clinical trials. Full article

Recurrent oral ulcers, which are the first and most common manifestation of Behçet’s disease (BD), have several etiological causes but are often idiopathic and known as recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). In recent years, publications have drawn attention to the fact that whole-wall thickness (WWT) and intima–media thickness (IMT) measurements of the common femoral vein (CFV) may be useful in the diagnosis of BD, which are independent of organ involvement. In this study, the usefulness of the WWT and IMT of the CFV measured by venous Doppler ultrasound (US) was investigated in differentiating BD presenting with oral ulcers from RAS. Patients with BD (n = 84), patients with RAS (n = 85), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 70) were the three groups included. Both the right and left WWT of the CFV were significantly higher in the BD compared with the HCs and RAS groups (p < 0.001). The diagnostic cutoff values of ≥0.58 mm for the WWT of the CFV performed well against both the patients with RAS and HCs for the discrimination of BD (sensitivity = 79.8%, specificity = 64.7%). In patients with recurrent oral ulcers, the WWT of the CFV measurement may be a distinctive new diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis of BD and RAS. Full article

This study aims to formulate a buccal mucoadhesive gel containing prednisolone sodium metazoate-loaded quatsomes for efficient localized therapy of recurrent aphthous ulcers. Quatsomes were prepared using a varied concentration of quaternary ammonium surfactants (QAS) and cholesterol (CHO). A 2³ factorial design was conducted to address the impact of independent variables QAS type (X₁), QAS to CHO molar ratio (X₂), and sonication time (X₃). The dependent variables were particle size (PS; Y₁), polydispersity index (PDI; Y₂), zeta potential (ZP; Y₃), entrapment efficiency percent (EE%; Y₄) and percent of drug released after 6 h (Q6%: Y₅). Then, the selected quatsomes formula was incorporated into different gel bases to prepare an optimized mucoadhesive gel to be evaluated via in vivo study. The PS of the developed quatsomes ranged from 69.47 ± 0.41 to 113.28 ± 0.79 nm, the PDI from 0.207 ± 0.004 to 0.328 ± 0.004, ZP from 45.15 ± 0.19 to 68.1 ± 0.54 mV, EE% from 79.62 ± 1.44 to 98.60% ± 1.22 and Q6% from 58.39 ± 1.75 to 94.42% ± 2.15. The quatsomal mucoadhesive gel showed rapid recovery of ulcers, which was confirmed by the histological study and the evaluation of inflammatory biomarkers. These results assured the capability of the developed quatsomal mucoadhesive gel to be a promising formulation for treating buccal diseases. Full article

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a benign ulcerative condition, defined by the recurrent formation of non-contagious mucosal ulcers. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is secreted frequently at surfaces exposed directly to body fluids. This study aims to investigate the association of SP-D single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the onset of RAS. Blood samples from 212 subjects (106 cases/controls each) were collected during 2019 and genotyped for SP-D SNPs (rs721917, rs2243639, rs3088308) by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism followed by 12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Minor aphthous (75.5%) was the commonly observed ulcer type as compared to herpetiform (21.7%) and major aphthous ulcers (2.8%). A family history of RAS was reported in 70% of cases. RAS was found significantly associated with rs3088308 genotypes T/A (95% (Cl): 1.57–5.03, p = 0.0005), A/A (95% (Cl): 1.8–6.7, p = 0.0002), T-allele (95% (Cl): 1.09–2.36, p = 0.01), A-allele (95% (Cl): 1.42–3.91, p = 0.01), rs721917 genotype T/T (95% (Cl): 1.15–25.35, p = 0.03), and T-allele (95% (Cl): 1.28–3.10, p = 0.002). Female gender and obese body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with rs3088308 genotypes T/A (95% (CI): 1.89–15.7, p = 0.001), T/T (95% (Cl): 1.52–11.9, p = 0.005), A-allele (95% (Cl): 1.65–7.58, p < 0.001), and T-allele (95% (Cl): 1.4–10.1, p <0.001) and rs721917 genotype T/T (95% (CI) = 1.3–33, p = 0.02), respectively. This study describes the association of SP-D SNPs (rs721917, rs3088308) with RAS in the Pakistani population. Full article

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common disease in the oral cavity characterized by recurrent ulcers (RU). Usually, these cause acute pain without definitive treatment. The present study determines the efficacy of non-thermal plasma (NTP) for treating RU. NTP is applied to the patient’s RU using a radiofrequency generator connected to a point reactor. The power density applied to the ulcer is 0.50 W/cm², less than 4 W/cm², which is the maximum value without biological risk. Each patient received two treatments of three minutes each and spaced 60 min apart at a distance of 5 mm from the RU. From a sample of 30 ulcers in patients treated for RU with an average age of 37 years, they stated that the pain decreased considerably and without the need for ingestion of analgesics and antibiotics. Regeneration took place in an average of three days. The NTP proved to be an excellent therapeutic alternative for the treatment of RU since it has a rapid effect of reducing pain and inflammation, as well as adequate tissue regeneration. Full article

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is found among the most frequent diseases of the oral cavity. It is characterized by repeated formation of painful ulcers. The question has risen if due to potential tumor-promoting inflammation and sustaining proliferative signaling RAS may contribute to oral cancer. Accordingly, the aim of the study was to assess if an association of RAS and the development oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) could be found in a larger cohort. As recurrent aphthous stomatitis is not classified as an oral potentially malignant disorder, it was assumed that the risk of OSCC did not differ between patients with (cohort I) and without RAS (cohort II). Methods: Retrospective clinical data of patients diagnosed with and without RAS (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code K12) within the past 20 years and a body mass index of 19–30 kg/m² were retrieved from the TriNetX database to gain initial cohort 0. Subjects suffering from RAS were assigned to cohort I, whereby cohort II was obtained from the remaining individuals, and by matching for age, gender, as well as (history of) nicotine and alcohol dependence. After defining the primary outcome as “OSCC” (ICD-10 codes C00-C14), a Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed, and risk and odds ratios were calculated. Results: Of a total of 24,550,479 individuals in cohort 0, 72,845 subjects were each assigned to cohort I (females: 44,031 (60.44%); males: 28,814 (39.56%); mean current age (±standard deviation) = 35.51 ± 23.55 years) and II (females: 44,032 (60.45%); males: 28,813 (39.55%); mean current age (±standard deviation) = 35.51 ± 23.56 years). Among the cohorts I and II, 470 and 135 patients were diagnosed with OSCC within five years. The according risk of developing oral cancer was 0.65% and 0.18%, whereby the risk difference of 0.47% was highly significant (p < 0.0001; Log-Rank test). The RR and OR were calculated as 3.48 (95% confidence interval (CI) lower: 2.88 and upper: 4.21) and 3.50 (95% CI lower: 2.89 and upper: 4.24). Conclusions: Among the patients suffering from RAS, a significantly augmented risk of developing OSCC was found. However, it has to be emphasized that the recent literature does not provide any confirmatory evidence that supports the retrieved results. Furthermore, the findings need to be interpreted cautiously due to specific limitations that come along with the applied methods. It should thus far only be concluded that further research is necessary to evaluate hypotheses that may be retrieved from the obtained results. Despite this controversy, oral ulcers suspicious of OSCC should undergo biopsy. Trial Registration: Due to the retrospective nature of the study, no registration was necessary. Full article

Childhood diseases are a continuous source of interest in all areas of general and dental medicine. Congenital, developmental, and hereditary diseases may either be present upon birth or appear in early childhood. Developmental anomalies, although often asymptomatic, may become grounds for different infections. Furthermore, they can indicate certain systemic disorders. Childhood age frequently brings about benign tumors and different types of traumatic lesions to the oral mucosa. Traumatic lesions can be caused by chemical, mechanical, or thermal injury. Mucocele and ranula are, by definition, traumatic injuries of the salivary glands or their ducts. Recurrent aphthous lesions are the most common type of ulcerations in childhood, and their etiology is considered multifactorial. Oral mucosal lesions in children require different treatment approaches depending on etiological factors and clinical presentation. Clinicians should have adequate knowledge of oral anatomy in order to diagnose and treat pathological conditions. Full article

An ulcer that develops on the mucosal surface of the oral cavity is known as a mouth ulcer, also known as an oral ulcer or a mucosal ulcer. A mucus membrane ulcer is an open sore that is distinguished by the removal of inflammatory dead tissue. The most typical type of oral ulcer is aphthous stomatitis. This investigation focuses on temperature-sensitive in situ gel formulations, which change their phase in response to body heat from liquid to semisolid gel. These are easily administered into the buccal cavity at the ulcer site and are a free-flowing liquid at room temperature. Utilizing various polymers, a temperature-sensitive in situ gel comprising phytoconstituents was developed utilising the cold technique. To optimise various types and concentrations of polymers, including carbopol, Poloxamer 188 (P 188), Poloxamer 407 (P 407), and others, preliminary research was conducted. For the formulation, 20% P 188 and 15% P 407 were employed because there is a correlation between the amount of poloxamers and thermogelling transition temperatures (Tsol-gel). A blend of phytoconstituents found in the extracts of Glycyrrhizin glabra and Psidium guava is used in the formulation of mouth ulcers because, as we know, they have fewer negative effects than synthetic chemicals. The outcomes demonstrated improved homogeneity, stability, gelation temperature, and spreadability for the developed product, which was regarded as satisfactory. The created formulation can also lessen dose variation and treat oral ulcers in the most effective way, with improved patient compliance. Full article

Aphthous ulcers are very common disorders among different age groups and are very noxious and painful. The incidence of aphthous ulcer recurrence is very high and it may even last for a maximum of 6 days and usually, patients cannot stand its pain. This study aims to prepare a buccoadhesive fast dissolving film containing Corchorus olitorius seed extract to treat recurrent minor aphthous ulceration (RMAU) in addition to clinical experiments on human volunteers. An excision wound model was used to assess the in vivo wound healing potential of Corchorus olitorius L. seed extract, with a focus on wound healing molecular targets such as TGF-, TNF-, and IL-1. In addition, metabolomic profiling using HR-LCMS for the crude extract of Corchorus olitorius seeds was explored. Moreover, molecular docking experiments were performed to elucidate the binding confirmation of the isolated compounds with three molecular targets (TNF-α, IL-1β, and GSK3). Additionally, the in vitro antioxidant potential of C. olitorius seed extract using both H₂O₂ and superoxide radical scavenging activity was examined. Clinical experiments on human volunteers revealed the efficiency of the prepared C. olitorius seeds buccal fast dissolving film (CoBFDF) in relieving pain and wound healing of RMAU. Moreover, the wound healing results revealed that C. olitorius seed extract enhanced wound closure rates (p ≤ 0.001), elevated TGF-β levels and significantly downregulated TNF-α and IL-1β in comparison to the Mebo-treated group. The phenotypical results were supported by biochemical and histopathological findings, while metabolomic profiling using HR-LCMS for the crude extract of Corchorus olitorius seeds yielded a total of 21 compounds belonging to diverse chemical classes. Finally, this study highlights the potential of C. olitorius seed extract in wound repair uncovering the most probable mechanisms of action using in silico analysis. Full article