Clinical Evaluation of the Optical Filter for Autofluorescence Glasses for Oral Cancer Curing Light Exposed (GOCCLES®) in the Management of Potentially Premalignant Disorders: A Retrospective Study

Accuracy of special histochemical staining methods in diagnosis of oral pathology: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical decision-making and biomedical research heavily rely on imaging techniques to visualize tissue morphology. To examine tissues in detail, it is necessary to use special histochemical stains to enhance contrast. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of these stains in diagnosing oral pathologic specimens. We conducted a search in 8 databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Ovid, Cinahl, and Cochrane, up to June 2022. Of 87,393 studies, 41 articles were selected for inclusion in our study. The results revealed that the specificity and sensitivity of the special histochemical stains were 86% with confidence interval (CI) 95%: 80%-90% and 83% with CI 95%: 75%-89%, respectively. Among the stains evaluated, toluidine blue, Papanicolaou, silver stain, Giemsa, Gram, feulgen, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) were the most frequently used for the detection of malignancy, premalignant lesions, dysplasia, and candidiasis. The specificity and sensitivity of each stain were analyzed individually, considering the type of specimen. Toluidine blue was the most commonly utilized special histochemical stain, particularly effective, for detecting malignancy, with a specificity of 97% with CI 95%: 88%-99% and sensitivity of 76% with CI 95%: 56%-89%. In conclusion, special histochemical stains are effective in diagnosing oral lesions, exhibiting reasonable specificity and sensitivity, especially in cases of premalignant and malignant lesions. Based on the reviewed articles in our study, the silver stain was identified as highly sensitive, while Giemsa and Papanicolaou stain exhibited the highest specificity.

Effects of Thermoforming on the Mechanical, Optical, Chemical, and Morphological Properties of PET-G: In Vitro Study

The effectiveness of clear aligners in correcting malocclusions is closely linked to the properties of the materials used to make them. The polymers used in the manufacture of clear aligners have well-established properties. However, the process of manufacturing clear aligners, known as thermoforming, involves thermal and mechanical shocks that may alter these properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermoforming on the mechanical, optical, chemical, and morphological properties of sixty PET-G specimens. The study compared the thickness, weight, absorbance, chemical structure, surface roughness, elastic modulus, yield strength, and breaking load of thirty thermoformed specimens with thirty non-thermoformed specimens. The study introduces a new approach by using standardized samples to analyze both chemical and physical properties. The results showed statistically significant differences in thickness (-15%), weight (-11%), and surface roughness (+1233% in roughness average; +1129% in RMS roughness) of the material. Additionally, a correlation was found between reduction in thickness and increase in opalescence. There was no significant change in the functionality of the aligners after thermoforming, as no significant mechanical changes were found. However, the increase in surface roughness may lead to plaque and fluid accumulation and worsen the fit of the aligners.