Deglutition is one of the basic physiological functions of humans. The surgical treatment of oral cancer can cause impairment in swallowing functions and even dysphagia in serious cases. Currently, there are many types of methods for assessing dysphagia, including bedside evaluation, scale evaluation, radiographic assessment, and stress or electromyographic evaluation during swallowing. However, each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages, and there is no uniform standard. This article briefly introduces the current status of methods for assessing dysphagia related to oral cancer.
Bone is a hierarchically structured and highly mineralized hard tissue composed of an organic phase (type I collagen and noncollagenous proteins) and an inorganic phase (nanohydroxyapatite). Intrafibrillar mineralized collagen is the basic structural unit of bone tissue and is of high significance due to its superior mechanical and biological properties. Thus, to truly understand the unique properties of bone, it is necessary to review the most basic structural level of bone. In this article, we review the recent advances in understanding the development of intrafibrillar mineralization and the prevailing theories in the formation of such intrafibrillar minerals. Understanding the mechanisms of intrafibrillar mineralization may facilitate the development of engineered bone for clinical applications and provide deeper insight into the nature of biomineralization.
Objective To research the expression levels of FEN1 and PCNA in carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and analyze their correlation. Methods Fresh specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and normal oral mucosal tissues excised during oral and maxillofacial plastic surgery were collected. Primary oral CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were obtained by tissue culture, identified by immunocytochemistry and divided into the CAF and NF groups. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of both FEN1 and PCNA in the oral CAFs and NFs. The correlation between FEN1 and PCNA expression in oral CAFs was analyzed. Results Oral CAFs and oral NFs were successfully cultured and identified from 12 samples. Both the protein and mRNA expression levels of FEN1 and PCNA were higher in the oral CAFs than NFs, but there were no significant differences (P > 0.05). In the oral CAFs, the linear correlation coefficient between FEN1 and PCNA was 0.677 (P = 0.016) at the mRNA level, indicating a strong positive correlation; however, at the protein level, no correlation was found (P > 0.05). Conclusion In primary cultured oral CAFs and NFs, there were no significant differences in the FEN1 and PCNA protein and mRNA expression levels. However, in the CAFs, the mRNA levels of FEN1 and PCNA had a strong positive correlation. The relationship and the regulatory mechanism of the two genes require further study.
Objective To investigate the cytotoxicity of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on oral keratinocyte monolayers. Methods TR146 human keratinocyte monolayers were exposed to SAEW pretreated with bovine serum albumin（BSA）. It was divided into 4 groups, BSA 0 mg/mL (SAEW stock solutsion), BSA 0.5 mg/mL, BSA 1 mg/mL and BSA 2 mg/mL. The relative growth rate (RGR) was measured using a CCK-8 assay at 1 min, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min and 1 h, and the survival rate was measured using a Trypan Blue exclusion assay at 1 h. Results The CCK-8 assay showed significantly different OD values in the SAEW and negative control groups at different times and FAC concentrations (P<0.05). With increasing FAC concentrations and observation times, the RGR in the SAEW group decreased, and the SAEW showed moderate to severe cytotoxic effects. The OD values in the BSA (0.5~2 mg/mL)-pretreated SAEW and negative control groups were not significantly different at different times or FAC concentrations (P > 0.05); the RGRs of the BSA-pretreated SAEW group all approached 100%, and no cytotoxic effects were observed in the BSA-pretreated SAEW group. The Trypan Blue exclusion assay showed significantly different survival rates in the SAEW and negative control groups at different FAC concentrations (P < 0.05). As the FAC concentration increased, the survival rate in the SAEW group decreased, and SAEW showed moderate to severe cytotoxic effects. The survival rates in the BSA-pretreated SAEW and negative control groups were not significantly different at different FAC concentrations (P > 0.05); the survival rates in the BSA-pretreated SAEW group all approached 100%, and no cytotoxic effects were observed. Conclusion SAEW showed no adverse effects on the viability of dental oral keratinocyte monolayers in vitro in the presence of BSA at concentrations equivalent to that of protein in saliva.
Objective To investigate the histone acetylation level and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP). Methods Twenty-three OLP patients were selected from August 2016 to January 2017 from the Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathology, and the lesions were divided into a nonerosive OLP group (11 cases) and an erosive OLP group (12 cases). Ten healthy sex- and age-matched volunteers served as controls. Immunomagnetic beads were used to separate CD4+ T lymphocytes, and histones and nucleoproteins were extracted. The global histone H3/H4 acetylation levels and HDAC activity of CD4+ T lymphocytes from all subjects were detected by ELISA. The differences between the OLP and control groups were statistically analyzed. Results Global histone H3 hypoacetylation was observed in the OLP group compared with the control group (u = -2.410, P = 0.012). However, there was no significant difference in the serum CD4+ T lymphocyte histone H4 acetylation level between the OLP and control group (u = -1.412, P = 0.158). HDAC activity was significantly higher in the OLP group than in the healthy control group (F = 5.749, P = 0.023), and much higher HDAC activity was observed in the erosive group than in the nonerosive (P = 0.014) and healthy control groups (P = 0.001). The degree of histone H3 acetylation correlated negatively with increased HDAC activity in the OLP group (rs = -0.771, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between the level of histone H3 acetylation and HDAC activity in the healthy control group (rs = 0.382,P = 0.276). The histone H4 acetylation level in the OLP group showed no correlation with HDAC activity (rs = 0.149, P = 0.498), and the histone H4 acetylation level in the control group also showed no correlation with HDAC activity (rs = 0.527, P = 0.117). Conclusion Abnormal histone acetylation of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with OLP was identified and could be related to HDAC activity, suggesting that the epigenetic modification of histone acetylation may play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP.
Objective To understand the expression of miR-155 in the periodontal ligament cell population of patients with chronic periodontitis. Methods Periodontal ligament cells from the teeth of patients (n = 11) with chronic periodontitis were isolated and cultured, as were periodontal ligament cells from intact teeth obtained from healthy patients (n = 13) who had been treated with orthodontic extraction (the control group). The expression level of miR-155 in the two groups of periodontal ligament cell populations was detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR. Results The periodontal ligament cell expression level of miR-155 was significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group (0.93 ± 0.12) than in the control group (0.76 ± 0.25) (P < 0.01). Conclusion miR-155 expression in periodontal ligament cells was obviously stronger in patients with chronic periodontitis.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the local injection of Salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone acetonide alone in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Methods A meta-analysis was performed by searching the related literature. Three randomized controlled trials meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Changes in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the degree of mouth opening were included in 172 cases (86 cases in the experimental group and 86 in the control group), and changes in the oral mucosal lesion area were included in 152 cases (76 cases in the experimental group and 76 in the control group). Changes in the VAS score, the degree of mouth opening and the oral mucosal lesion area were compared in the context of the local injection of Salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone acetonide alone. Results There were no significant differences between the treatment with Salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone acetonide alone in reducing the VAS score (P > 0.05). Salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide resulted in a greater increase in the degree of mouth opening than did triamcinolone acetonide (P = 0.05). The reduction in the oral mucosal lesion area induced by Salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide was significantly greater than that induced by triamcinolone acetonide alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion The local injection of Salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide is more effective than triamcinolone acetonide alone in the treatment of OSF.
Objective To compare the esthetic outcomes of peri-implant soft tissue conditioning with provisional restorations and healing abutments. Methods A total of 48 patients missing a single tooth in the esthetic zone were chosen for the present study and divided into two groups. Twenty-six patients in Group A used provisional restorations to condition the peri-implant soft tissue before final restorations, while 22 patients in Group B used healing abutments to condition the soft tissue. All patients were evaluated by pink esthetic scores (PESs) at the time of the final restoration and at a 1-year follow-up. Results A total of 26 implants in Group A and 22 implants in Group B showed good peri-implant soft tissue condition. PESs at the time of the final restoration and at the 1-year follow-up in Group A were 8.18 and 8.35, respectively, and 6.73 and 8.18 in Group B, respectively. PESs at the time of final restoration and at the 1-year follow-up were not significantly different in Group A but were significantly different in Group B. The PESs of the two groups were significantly different at the final restoration but were not significantly different at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions Provisional restoration in the esthetic zone can improve the pink esthetic effect when permanent restoration.
Objective To observe the clinical effect of combined treatment with Kangfuxin solution and dexamethasone on erosive oral lichen planus (OLPe). Methods One hundred OLPe patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=50). The experimental group was treated with 9.8% Kangfuxin solution along with dexamethasone solution three times a day. The control group was treated with dexamethasone solution three times a day. Before treatment and 1, 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and erosion area were measured, and the total effective rate was compared between the two groups. Results After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, the VAS score and erosion area were lower in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate in the experimental group was 92%, significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Compared with dexamethasone alone, Kangfuxin solution combined with dexamethasone is more effective for the treatment of OLPe.
Objective To study the distribution range of the color values of the upper anterior teeth of Uygur youth in the Kashi area of XinJiang as a reference for clinical applications. Methods Based on the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L*a*b* color system, the colorimetric values of the anterior teeth of 212 Uygur youths in Xinjiang, Kashi, were analyzed by digital camera colorimetry. There were 105 males and 107 females. The length of the neck to the cutting end of the tooth was measured, and the tooth was evenly divided into thirds. To determine the chromaticity values of the incisors, lateral incisors, cuspids, and middle teeth, 1/3 of the cervical, middle and incisal regions and 9 test areas were measured. Results The color of the cervical, middle and incisal regions of the same tooth position in Uygur youth in the Kashi area showed the following trends: L* value: middle regions > cervical regions > incisal regions; a* value: cervical regions > incisal regions > middle regions; b* value: cervical regions > middle regions > incisal regions, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The value of L* gradually decreased, and the value of a* gradually increased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the a* value of male and female maxillary anterior teeth (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the b* value between the middle teeth and the incisors, the middle and the incisal regions of the upper maxillary incisors, and the cutting end of the upper maxillary incisors (P < 0.05). Conclusions There was a significant difference in the color of the cervical, middle and incisal of the same tooth. The upper jaw gradually reduced from the incisors to the sharp teeth, and the color gradually became reddish. The maxillary central incisor was brighter in males than in females, and the middle and incisal regions of the maxillary front teeth were more yellow than in males than in females.
The microorganisms in a healthy child’s oral environment survive in certain proportions and form a stable dynamic balance with the host. If this balance is disrupted, some of the microorganisms become cariogenic microbes and cause early childhood caries (ECC). The changes of cariogenic microbes in this process could be used as biomarkers to assess the caries risk of children and forecast the development of ECC. The relative indices of Streptococcus mutans and the closely related Candida albicans, Bifidobacterium and Streptococci sanguinis may be used as biomarkers to diagnose the susceptibility of children to caries. The detection rate and detection level of Lactobacillus may provide a reference for judging the rate of ECC development.
It is difficult to avoid the shedding of brackets during orthodontic treatment, which may not only affect the orthodontic therapeutic effect but also prolong the orthodontic treatment duration. Sodium hypochlorite is a commonly used root canal irrigation agent in oral medicine and is seldom used in orthodontic treatment. Sodium hypochlorite on the enamel surface can strengthen the effect of etching by deproteinization to improve adhesion, which could reduce the probability of bracket shedding during orthodontic treatment. Therefore, this article reviews the effects of sodium hypochlorite on enamel.
Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease that occurs around dental implants and damages both soft and hard tissues, the characteristic feature of which is bone loss. The major etiology of peri-implantitis is dental plaque, including implant overload implants, a history of periodontitis, smoking and diabetes as risk factors. The standards for the clinical diagnosis of peri-implantitis are bleeding on probing, suppuration, a peri-implant pocket depth ≥5 mm, and X-ray evidence. Treatment includes mechanical debridement, drug therapy, laser treatment and surgical treatment. Regular supportive peri-implant therapy can be effective for curing and preventing peri-implantitis. In this paper, the etiology, clinical examination and treatment of periodontitis are reviewed.
Third molars, late-eruption permanent teeth in humans, have commonly been extracted in clinical treatments. However, with the development of oral medicine, the value of maxillary third molars in clinical treatments, as well as in oral prosthetics, orthodontics, and oral implant applications, has gradually become recognized. This paper summarizes the research on the morphology of the crown, root, root canal and root tip of the maxillary third molar in a review to facilitate related research and clinical treatments.
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
