The role of periodontitis-associated bacteria in Alzheimer's disease: A narrative review

The effect of photobiomodulation therapy in common maxillofacial injuries: Current status

The use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) may be used for treating trauma to the maxillofacial region. The effects of PBMT on maxillofacial injuries were discussed in this review article. The electronic databases Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science were thoroughly searched. This review included in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies describing how PBMT can be used in maxillofacial tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Some studies suggest that PBMT may offer a promising therapy for traumatic maxillofacial injuries because it can stimulate the differentiation and proliferation of various cells, including dental pulp cells and mesenchymal stem cells, enhancing bone regeneration and osseointegration. PBMT reduces pain and swelling after oral surgery and tooth extraction in human and animal models of maxillofacial injuries. Patients with temporomandibular disorders also benefit from PBMT in terms of reduced inflammation and symptoms. PBMT still has some limitations, such as the need for standardizing parameters. PBMT must also be evaluated further in randomized controlled trials in various maxillofacial injuries. As a result, PBMT offers a safe and noninvasive treatment option for patients suffering from traumatic maxillofacial injuries. PBMT still requires further research to establish its efficacy in clinical practice and determine the optimal parameters.

Cross Talk Between Cells and the Current Bioceramics in Bone Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review

The conventional approach for addressing bone defects and stubborn non-unions typically involves the use of autogenous bone grafts. Nevertheless, obtaining these grafts can be challenging, and the procedure can lead to significant morbidity. Three primary treatment strategies for managing bone defects and non-unions prove resistant to conventional treatments: synthetic bone graft substitutes (BGS), a combination of BGS with bioactive molecules, and the use of BGS in conjunction with stem cells. In the realm of synthetic BGS, a multitude of biomaterials have emerged for creating scaffolds in bone tissue engineering (TE). These materials encompass biometals like titanium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, as well as bioceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). Bone TE scaffolds serve as temporary implants, fostering tissue ingrowth and the regeneration of new bone. They are meticulously designed to enhance bone healing by optimizing geometric, mechanical, and biological properties. These scaffolds undergo continual remodeling facilitated by bone cells like osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Through various signaling pathways, stem cells and bone cells work together to regulate bone regeneration when a portion of bone is damaged or deformed. By targeting signaling pathways, bone TE can improve bone defects through effective therapies. This review provided insights into the interplay between cells and the current state of bioceramics in the context of bone regeneration.

The effect of photodynamic therapy in controlling the oral biofilm: A comprehensive overview

Several resistance mechanisms are involved in dental caries, including oral biofilms. An accumulation of bacteria on the surface of teeth is called plaque. Periodontitis and gingivitis are caused by dental plaque. In this review article, we aimed to review the studies associated with the application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to prevent and treat various microbial biofilm-caused oral diseases in recent decades. There are several studies published in PubMed that have described antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) effects on microorganisms. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the potential of APDT for treating endodontic, periodontal, and mucosal infections caused by bacteria as biofilms. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are activated in the presence of oxygen by integrating a nontoxic photosensitizer (PS) with appropriate wavelength visible light. By causing irreversible damage to microorganisms, ROS induces some biological and photochemical events. Testing several wavelengths has been conducted to identify potential PS for APDT. A standard protocol is not yet available, and the current review summarizes findings from dental studies on APDT.

Evaluation of Paxillin Expression in Epithelial Dysplasia, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Lichen Planus with and without Dysplasia, and Hyperkeratosis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Paxillin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in the pathogenesis of several types of cancers. However, the roles of paxillin in epithelial dysplasia (ED), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), oral lichen planus with dysplasia (OLPD), hyperkeratosis (HK), and oral lichen planus (OLP) have remained unnoticed in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate its attainable functions in the pathogenesis and malignant transformation of potentially malignant oral epithelium and benign lesions.

METHODS

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, paxillin expression was investigated in 99 tissue samples, including 18 cases of OSCC, 21 ED, 23 OLP, 21 OLPD, and 16 cases of HK. The tissue sections also underwent immunohistochemical paxillin staining using 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) chromogen. The intensity, location, and percentage of staining were examined across all groups. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, ANOVA, Pearson chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn's post hoc test.

RESULTS

The cytoplasmic percentage and intensity staining of Paxillin expression were evident in the central/suprabasal and basal/peripheral layers of all the obtained samples. The final staining score was significantly higher in OSCC and dysplasia compared to HK and OLP (p = 0.004). It was found that paxillin expression is associated with the grade of dysplastic samples (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present study provides evidence that paxillin may be involved in the pathogenesis of OSCC and the development and progression of dysplastic tissue, since the paxillin expression was higher than that of HK and OLP.