Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy of Placental Extract with Dexamethasone and Hyaluronic Acid with Dexamethasone for Oral Submucous Fibrosis - A Retrospective Analysis

Comparative assessment of the efficacy of an intralesional injection of placentrex, hyaluronidase and dexamethasone in the management of oral submucous fibrosis: A randomized controlled trial

The prevalent symptoms of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) are a burning sensation and trismus. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of placentrex, hyaluronidase and dexamethasone, and their combination in the treatment of OSMF. For this purpose, 160 patients with OSMF were divided into four groups (each with 40 patients at a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio). The patients in group 1 (control) received only oral supplements, along with regular mouth-opening exercises; patients in group 2 received an injection of placental extract; patients in group 3 were injected with hyaluronidase and dexamethasone; and patients in group 4 received a combination of injections from groups 2 and 3. The injections were administered once weekly for 12 weeks and patients were followed-up for 12 months. The data of the patients (mouth opening ability and a burning sensation) were analyzed using ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The maximum increase in mouth opening (7.30±0.80 mm) was noted in group 4, and the lease increase was observed in the control group (0.37±0.16 mm), from baseline levels to the end of the 12th week. The maximum relapse in mouth opening of 1.62±0.45 mm was noted in group 2, and a minimum relapse of 0.20±0.08 mm was noted in group 4. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the intralesional injection of a combination of the three drugs (placentrex, hyaluronidase and dexamethasone) in addition to the use of oral supplements and mouth opening exercises has a high level of efficacy in improving trismus and burning sensation in patients with OSMF.

Antifibrotic effect of silymarin on arecoline-induced fibrosis in primary human buccal fibroblasts: an in silico and in vitro analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess silymarin's anticancer and antifibrotic potential through in silico analysis and investigate its impact on in vitro arecoline-induced fibrosis in primary human buccal fibroblasts (HBF).

METHODS & RESULTS

The study utilized iGEMDOCK for molecular docking, evaluating nine bioflavonoids, and identified silymarin and baicalein as the top two compounds with the highest target affinity, followed by subsequent validation through a 100ns Molecular Dynamic Simulation demonstrating silymarin's stable behavior with Transforming Growth Factor Beta. HBF cell lines were developed from tissue samples obtained from patients undergoing third molar extraction. Arecoline, a known etiological factor in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), was employed to induce fibrogenesis in these HBFs. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of arecoline was determined using the MTT assay, revealing dose-dependent cytotoxicity of HBFs to arecoline, with notable cytotoxicity observed at concentrations exceeding 50µM. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of silymarin was assessed at 24 and 72 h, spanning concentrations from 5µM to 200µM, and an IC50 value of 143µM was determined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the significant downregulation of key markers including collagen, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stem cell, hypoxia, angiogenesis and stress markers in silymarin-treated arecoline-induced primary buccal fibroblast cells.

CONCLUSION

Silymarin effectively inhibited fibroblast proliferation and downregulated genes associated with cancer progression and EMT pathway, both of which are implicated in malignant transformation. To our knowledge, this study represents the first exploration of silymarin's potential as a novel therapeutic agent in an in vitro model of OSMF.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas: state of the field and emerging directions

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) develops on the mucosal epithelium of the oral cavity. It accounts for approximately 90% of oral malignancies and impairs appearance, pronunciation, swallowing, and flavor perception. In 2020, 377,713 OSCC cases were reported globally. According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO), the incidence of OSCC will rise by approximately 40% by 2040, accompanied by a growth in mortality. Persistent exposure to various risk factors, including tobacco, alcohol, betel quid (BQ), and human papillomavirus (HPV), will lead to the development of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), which are oral mucosal lesions with an increased risk of developing into OSCC. Complex and multifactorial, the oncogenesis process involves genetic alteration, epigenetic modification, and a dysregulated tumor microenvironment. Although various therapeutic interventions, such as chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and nanomedicine, have been proposed to prevent or treat OSCC and OPMDs, understanding the mechanism of malignancies will facilitate the identification of therapeutic and prognostic factors, thereby improving the efficacy of treatment for OSCC patients. This review summarizes the mechanisms involved in OSCC. Moreover, the current therapeutic interventions and prognostic methods for OSCC and OPMDs are discussed to facilitate comprehension and provide several prospective outlooks for the fields.

Comparison Between Clinical Outcome of Intralesional Human Placental Extract Alone and Topical Application of Placental Extract Gel After Fibrotomy in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a premalignant condition prevalent in our country. Juxtaepithelial inflammation with progressive hyalinization of the lamina propria results in stiffness and fibrosis of the oral mucosa, characterised by trismus, ankyloglossia, and a burning sensation. Various methods of treatment have been tried in these cases, which include placental extract injections and the cutting of fibrous bands. In this study, we aim to compare the outcome of intra-lesional placental extract injection with fibrotomy and placental extract gel application in OSMF.

METHODOLOGY

This prospective interventional study included 58 patients clinically diagnosed with OSMF grades II and III at a rural tertiary care hospital between January 2021 and August 2022. The patients were randomised into two groups: group I received 1 ml of intra-lesional human placental extract injection in the submucosal plane of the buccal mucosa and retro-molar trigone (RMT) once a week for five consecutive weeks, and group II was subjected to a transverse division of fibrotic bands in the submucosal plane under general anaesthesia. The surgical wound was left open, and swabs soaked in human-purified placental extract gel were placed in the wound for two hours twice daily until the surgical wound was epithelialized and healed. The patients in both groups I and II were advised to do jaw opening exercises, and weekly follow-up was done. Findings with regard to maximum mouth opening, colour of mucosa, and burning sensation in the oral cavity based on a Likert scale were documented. At the end of five months, the pre-treatment and post-treatment results documented were compared.

RESULTS

All patients were between 20 and 60 years of age and were addicted to chewing areca nuts with tobacco. Bilateral involvement was present in all patients, with extension into the RMT and soft palate seen in 31%. Improvement in mouth opening was between 4 mm and 6 mm in group II, and relief of burning sensation and mucosal colour was better in group I.

CONCLUSION

Intra-lesional placental extract injections help in the improvement of the mucosa and relief from the burning sensation. Fibrotomy with placental extract gel application is better at relieving trismus in OSMF. Aggressive mouth-opening exercises may improve mouth opening following the above procedures.

Intralesional Agents in Dermatology: Pros and Cons

Since introduced in 1961, intralesional (IL) agent has become an essential part of the dermatological practice. The term IL referred to the direct delivery of agent percutaneously into skin lesions. This therapeutic approach is relatively safe, easy to perform and applicable for a broad range of dermatological conditions. On the other hand, immediate side effects, including pain during administration, bleeding, high risk of infection and allergic reaction, and subsequent side effects involving skin changes such as atrophy, telangiectasia, pigmentary changes, and striae are usually associated with this modality. This review paper highlights the pros and cons of IL agents in modern dermatology practice.

Research Achievements of Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Progress and Prospect

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a kind of chronic, insidious disease, and it is categorized into potentially malignant disorders (PMD), which poses a global and regional problem to public health. It is considered to be a multifactorial disease, such as due to areca nut chewing, trace element disorders, and genetic susceptibility. However, there is still no unanimous conclusion on its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Hence, this article provides a comprehensive review and prospect of OSMF research, providing scholars and clinicians with a better perspective and new ideas for the research and treatment of OSMF.

Efficacy of Spirulina along with Different Physiotherapeutic Modalities in the Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Context:

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is an insidious, chronic, disabling disease that mainly affects the oral mucosa. Spirulina is a freshwater microalga which is considered as superfood by the WHO. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating properties, spirulina has shown promising results in the management of OSMF. A wide range of treatment modalities have been tried ranging from medical, physical, or surgical interventions, but combinations of these have shown better results.

Aims:

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of spirulina along with different physiotherapeutic modalities in the management of OSMF.

Setting and Design:

The present comparative study was conducted in the Department of Oral medicine and radiology, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India. The block randomization technique was used in the present study to enroll patients into three different groups.

Methods:

The study consisted of 45 OSMF patients who were divided randomly into three groups. All patients were given spirulina 500 mg twice a day for 3 months. Group A patients were instructed to perform isometric mouth exercises for 20 min, twice daily. Group B patients and Group C patients perform exercises using threaded tapered screw and mouth stretching device (MSD), respectively, ten times bilaterally twice a day. Clinical parameters such as burning sensation, mouth opening, tongue protrusion, and cheek flexibility were assessed every 15 days.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Descriptive data that included mean, numbers, and percentages were calculated for each group and were used for analysis. For intra- and inter-group comparison, paired t- and unpaired t-test was used, respectively. For all the tests, P = 0.05 or less was considered for statistical significance.

Results and Conclusion:

All the groups have shown statistically significant improvement in burning sensation, mouth opening, tongue protrusion, and cheek flexibility (P < 0.05). Group C patients have shown better results followed by Group B and Group A patients. In the present study, spirulina along with different physiotherapeutic modalities was well tolerated by the patients, and significant improvement was seen in the MSD group.

Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Review on Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is characterized by abnormal collagen deposition. It is a precancerous disorder and transforms into a malignant tumor in 1.5–15% of all cases. Symptoms include submucous fibrosis, ulceration, xerostomia, a burning sensation, and restricted mouth opening. All of these greatly interfere with patient quality of life. The present review introduces OSF from a molecular perspective and summarizes what is known about its underlying mechanisms, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic interventions. In addition to the aggressive treatment of OSF, its prevention is also important. Future research should, therefore, focus on improving the oral health literacy of the patients susceptible to OSF.

A novel clinical protocol for therapeutic intervention in oral submucous fibrosis: An evidence based approach

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, progressive, debilitating, scarring and crippling disorder of the oral cavity. It is a potentially malignant oral disease which predominantly affects people of South and Southeast Asia, especially Indian subcontinent, where chewing of areca nut and its commercial preparation is rampant. However, due to increase in immigration of people from the Indian subcontinent, the health professionals in many developed countries do come across this disease very often. Since decades, many treatment modalities are suggested and studied using medicines, surgery and physiotherapy, with varying degrees of benefit, but none have been able to cure this disease completely, and hence, it has become a challenging condition. The present article emphasizes on various therapeutic interventions used till date to curb the menace of this disease and the principal author with his vast academic research and clinical experience in treating this disease has proposed the stage-wise treatment regimen for OSMF. The current article is an attempt to compile the available treatment, its current status and future perspectives, so as to assist early intervention of the disease with evidence-based approach. This article will ignite the research minds of dental clinician, oral medicine specialist, otolaryngologist and general physician in treating OSMF.