Expression of Aberrant MicroRNAs and p16INK4a Associated with HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 53, and 56) in Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

A few studies indicate that human papillomavirus (HPV) induces aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and correlate this with p16INK4a in oral dysplasia (OD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of miRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224 by q-PCR and the p16 INK4a by immunohistochemical (IHC) as markers for HPV-positive OSCC and OD in comparison to controls as miRNA expression can be altered by the HPV oncogenes and hence can be used as a biomarker for HPV positive cases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-two specimens were collected from archived paraffin blocks for patients aged between 19 and 88 (31 males and 21 females) from various oral sites. They were examined by IHC using p16 INK4a, by RT-PCR for the detection of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 53, 56), and by q-PCR for the expression of miRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224 in positive specimens.

RESULTS

Out of the 15 OD, three were positive by both techniques. Meanwhile, 17 out of all OSCC specimens showed intense nuclear and cytoplasmic staining by p16 INK4a, and only 16 were also positive by RT-PCR. However, all control specimens were negative. MiRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224 were overexpressed in 3 specimens of OD and 16 of OSCC.

CONCLUSION

MiRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224, besides p16 INK4a, could be used as indicators for HPV-associated OD and OSCC as their expression is attributed to the HPV oncoprotein. Further studies using follow-up data should be done to correlate it with miRNA overexpression.

The Potential Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Apical Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Recent literature has suggested a potential association between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and apical periodontitis (AP). The present systematic review and meta-analysis sought to analyse and appraise the available evidence regarding the reported association. Following 2020 PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of multiple online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) was conducted for all relevant studies published from the date of inception until 27 April 2023 using various relevant keywords. All observational studies that assessed the association between IBD and AP in humans were eligible for inclusion. The quality of the selected studies was carried out independently by two reviewers, and meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 2.2.064. Six studies (five case-control studies and one cohort study) were included. A total of 657 patients (277 with IBD) were included in 5 case-control studies, and 48,223 subjects (35,740 with AP) were included in the cohort study, where 188 developed IBD on follow-up. The pooled data from the five case-control studies revealed that IBD was significantly associated with a higher risk of AP (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.21-2.42; I2=10.337%, fixed-effect, p=0.002). The qualitative analysis also showed that most of the included studies found a higher mean number of teeth with AP in IBD groups than the healthy controls. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS)-based quality appraisal results demonstrated that five studies were of high quality, and one was of moderate quality. The results suggest a potential association between IBD and AP. Large-scale and prospective studies are required to further confirm and elucidate the nature of such an association.

Vitamin D deficiency and risk of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: updated meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

Background

Growing evidence suggests a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and RAS. Hence, the present meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis sought to investigate the potential association between low serum vitamin D levels and RAS.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched on December 1^st, 2022 to retrieve all relevant studies. The grey literature was also searched via ProQuest. All case-control studies on the association between vitamin D and RAS were considered. The quality appraisal of the included studies was done using Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RevMan 5.0 and trial sequential analysis (TSA) programs were used for analyses.

Results

A total of 14 case-control studies with 1468 subjects (721 RAS patients and 747 controls) were included. The pooled data revealed a significant association between low serum levels of vitamin D and the risk of RAS (mean difference = - 8.73, 95% CI: - 12.02 to - 5.44, I² = 94%, P < 0.00001). Additionally, TSA findings indicated that the current studies surpassed the required information size, confirming that the differences were reliable.

Conclusion

The available evidence suggests that Vitamin D deficiency may have a role in the pathogenesis of RAS. Therefore, evaluation of vitamin D should be considered in RAS patients. Additionally, the results support the possibility of using vitamin D supplements in the management of RAS patients with inadequate serum levels of vitamin D. Future interventional studies are required to evaluate the benefits of vitamin D replacement in prevention and treatment of RAS.

Efficacy of lycopene for management of oral potentially malignant disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the available evidence on the efficacy of lycopene in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs).

STUDY DESIGN

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ProQuest databases were searched up to April 20, 2022. All clinical trials that assessed the efficacy of lycopene (I) on the signs/symptoms (O) of patients with OPMDs (P) in comparison to either active control or placebo (C) were included. Meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan software (Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK).

RESULTS

A total of 27 clinical trials (20 on oral submucosa fibrosis [OSF], 5 on oral lichen planus [OLP], and 2 on leukoplakia) were included. Overall, lycopene was efficacious in reducing signs and symptoms of OSF, OLP, and leukoplakia. The pooled data revealed comparable efficacy of lycopene and prednisolone in reducing pain and promoting clinical resolution of OLP. Additionally, the pooled data reported comparable efficacy of lycopene and conventional controls in improving the mouth opening and tongue protrusion in patients with OSF.

CONCLUSIONS

The results reveal promising effects of lycopene in alleviating signs and symptoms of OSF, OLP, and leukoplakia. However, owing to the observed heterogeneity and short follow-up periods, further well-designed studies with long-term therapy and follow-up are highly recommended.

Bone Graft Osseous Changes After Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to evaluate computed tomographic scans for volumetric bone gain following lateral sinus floor augmentation of the atrophic posterior maxilla after the use of various bone-grafting materials using. The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and SCOPUS were used for a comprehensive search for all potentially eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), without language restrictions, from the beginning of each database until June 2021. The predictor variables for this review were autogenous bone (AB), allografts (AG), xenografts (XG), alloplastic bone (AP), which were assessed individually, and in combination with the inclusion of growth factors with XGs. The outcome variable was the graft volume on cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans. Seven RCTs with a short-term observation period were included. Topographical analyses of all graft materials identified a volumetric reduction at 6 months post-grafting, compared to values immediately after graft placement. The volumetric reduction occurred regardless of the type of bone-grafting material. The largest volumetric gain over baseline, pre-graft values, was found with the AG+XG group. Autografts, the present gold standard bone-graft, showed a high resorption rate and inferior volumetric increase when compared to alternative grafting combinations. AG and XG also showed a significant difference with less volumetric gain than AP and their combinations. No difference was detected between AP and AG+AP. However, there was significantly less volumetric gain for AP alone compared AG+XG and XG-growth factors combinations. As a result, these findings suggest significant advantages to new bone formation using grafting materials in combination. To achieve a better understanding of topographical variables related to various grafting materials, more clinically focused RCTs, with sufficient statistical power to control for confounding factors, are needed.

Khat (Catha Edulis Forsk) induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in cultured cells: A scoping review

Background

Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) leaves are chewed by people in certain regions of East Africa and the Middle East for their stimulating amphetamine-like effects. The purpose of this scoping review is to systematically map the current in vitro publications that investigated the toxicological potential effects of khat on cultured human or animal cells in terms of cellular viability and activity.

Methods

A comprehensive electronic database search was undertaken up to December 2020 without starting date or language restrictions in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping review guideline and methodological quality evaluation based on the guidelines for reporting pre-clinical in vitro studies on dental materials. All in vitro studies that investigated the effect of khat plant extract (Catha Edulis) on the cultured human or animal cells were included.

Results

The initial search yielded 599 articles and 16 articles were finally selected to be included. The treatment of cells with khat produced different degrees of cellular changes, including decreased cellular survival, induction of apoptosis, increased ROS production, alteration of cell phenotype, and of arrest cell cycle. In this contest, khat-exposed cells expressed higher levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and lower levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, up-regulated p38, p53, p16, and p21 proteins, as well as premature expression of differentiation markers.

Conclusion

Based on the current scoping review, khat induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in cultured human cells, including oral cells.

Tongue-coating microbiome as a cancer predictor: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

The tongue microbiome has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic and tracking prognostic tool in the detection of diseases mainly cancer. This scoping review aimed to identify the association between tongue microbiome and pre-cancer or cancer lesions.

DESIGN

A comprehensive electronic database search including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was undertaken up to March 2021, without language or date restrictions. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guideline. All observational studies that compared microbial community on the dorsal surface of the tongue between cancer or precancerous cases and healthy controls using NGS techniques were included.

RESULTS

Of 274 records identified, nine studies were eligible to be included. Despite the inconsistent observations in terms of diversity and richness, most studies reported alteration in bacterial communities between pre-cancer or cancer cases and control groups. The bacterial profile among cases was so far correlated at the phylum level with a noticeable diverse degree at the genus level. The majority of included studies reported a higher abundance of certain kinds of microorganisms as compared to healthy participants including Firmicutes, Fusobacteria and Actinobacteria at phyla level as well as Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Leptotrichia, Campylobacter, and Fusobacterium at the genus level.

CONCLUSION

The alteration of the tongue microbial community has been associated with several diseases mainly cancer. So, the tongue microbiome may serve as a promising diagnostic tool or as a long-term monitor in precancerous or cancer cases.

Qualitative ultrastructural analysis of the submandibular salivary glands after administration of khat: in vivo study

Objective

Khat (Catha edulis Forssk) plant has been widely chewed for its psychostimulatory effects in the African and Arabian Peninsula, particularly in Yemen. Considering the khat leaves are gradually chewed without swallowing, while its active constituents are extracted into saliva, studying the effect of khat on salivary glands is necessary. This work is an extension of the previously published work that studied the effect of khat extract on the rats' submandibular salivary glands in terms of histological and immunohistochemical evaluations. The current research note aimed to better understand this effect on the ultrastructure of submandibular salivary gland cells by using transmission electron microscope.

Results

Oral administration of khat extract produced degenerative changes in the secretory and ductal cells of rats' submandibular salivary glands. These changes involved irregular boundaries of variable sized-nuclei, dilated RER, cytoplasmic vacuoles as well as swollen and degenerated mitochondria.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05595-8.

The Therapeutic Potential of Inflamed Gingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Preclinical Studies: A Scoping Review of a Unique Biomedical Waste

Searching for considerable abundance, simple, and accessible sources in stem cell-based therapy opens the door for isolation of a new population of oral/dental stem cells known as inflamed gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells, which have recently come to light with promising therapeutic potential in tissue regenerative therapy. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, this scoping review is aimed at highlighting the possible therapeutic potential of inflamed gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells in preclinical studies carried out to date and presenting the current evidence depends upon their comparison to the healthy gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells or other mesenchymal stem cell sources. A comprehensive electronic search using (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) databases and a manual search of relevant references were conducted until June 2020. Included studies were assessed using a combination tool, including the guidelines for reporting preclinical in vitro studies on dental materials, which were based on the modification of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trial checklist and the guidelines for animal research: reporting of in vivo experiments. The initial research provided 360 articles, with 13 articles that met the inclusion criteria. While most of the included studies lacked randomization, blinding, and sample size calculation, they were designed accurately in other aspects of the guidelines. The results of this scoping review indicated that inflamed gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells could be effective in terms of osteogenic differentiation, collagen fiber formation, immunoregulation, migration capacity, and testing of dental material and may present a reliable alternative source for healthy gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Gingival mesenchymal stem cells as an alternative source to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in regeneration of bone defects: In vivo study

Healing of critical sized bone defects represents a challenging issue in clinical and research fields. Current therapeutic techniques, such as bone grafts or bone grafts substitutes, still have limitations and drawbacks. Therefore, stem cell-based therapy provides a prospective approach to enhance bone regeneration. The present study aimed to assess the regenerative capacity of Gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) as well as Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) loaded on NanoBone scaffold, in comparison to the unloaded one, in surgically created bone defects in rabbits' tibiae. To achieve this aim, critical sized bone defects, of 6-mm diameter each, were unilaterally created in tibiae of adult New Zeeland male white rabbits (n = 27). The rabbits were then divided randomly into three groups (9 each) and received the following: Group I: Unloaded NanoBone Scaffold, Group II: GMSCs Loaded on NanoBone Scaffold, and Group III: BMSCs Loaded on NanoBone Scaffold. Three rabbits from each group were then sacrificed at each time point (2, 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively), tibiae were dissected out to evaluate bone healing in the created bony defects; both histologically and histomorphometrically. The findings of this study indicate that both GMSCs and BMSCs exhibited fibroblast morphology and expressed phenotypic MSCs markers. Histologically, local application of GMSCs and BMSCs loaded on NanoBone scaffold showed enhanced the pattern of bone regeneration as compared to the unloaded scaffold. Histomorphometrically, there was astatistically insignificant difference in the new bone area % between the bony defects treated with GMSCs and BMSCs. Thus, GMSCs can be considered as a comparable alternative source to BMSCs in bone regeneration.