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Objective: To investigate whether genes in the Wnt pathway, which have been previously associated with both oral clefts and oral squamous cell carcinoma, are also associated with oral potentially malignant disorders (leukoplakia, erythroplakia and lichen planus). Materials and Methods: Case–control study: Dataset consisted of clinical information linked to DNA samples from affected subjects diagnosed with oral potential malignant disorders and oral cancer and their matched controls. Individual samples, clinical history, and potential risk factors were obtained through the Dental Registry and DNA Repository project of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. The rs1533767 (WNT11), rs9879992 (GSK3B), and rs3923087 (AXIN2) were tested. After genomic DNA had been extracted, genotyping was performed blindly to clinical diagnosis status. Representation of genotypes and alleles in affected subjects in comparison to the unaffected individuals was determined using PLINK. Additional analysis was performed to investigate associations between environmental (socioeconomic/lifestyle) risk factors and the oral pathologies studied using STATA. Results: Two of the SNPs tested (rs9879992 in GSK3B and rs3923087 in AXIN2) were statistically, significantly associated with the pathologies studied (p = 0.039 and 0.038, respectively). Conclusion: Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in genes in the Wnt pathway were associated with oral potentially malignant disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to explore the structural validity and internal consistency reliability of General Anxiety Disorder‐7, Patient Health Questionnaire‐8, 15 and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale‐20 in patients with chronic pain of temporomandibular disorders. Materials and Methods: Validity and reliability were assessed in 129 patients diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders. Structural validity was explored using factor analysis, and internal consistency by calculating Cronbach α. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a suitable 2‐factor model for Patient Health Questionnaire‐8, with Cronbach α of 0.89, and 0.86. One and 2‐factor models were suitable for General Anxiety Disorder‐7, with overall Cronbach α of 0.93 for the 1‐factor model, and 0.91 and 0.84 for both factors in a 2‐factor model. A 4‐factor solution was appropriate for Patient Health Questionnaire‐15, with Cronbach α of 0.72, 0.57, 0.71 and 0.73 for each factor separately. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to explore the factor structure of Jaw Functional Limitation Scale 20, and a 3‐factor solution was appropriate. Conclusions: This study provides positive evidence of structural validity and internal consistency of these questionnaires in patients with pain of temporomandibular disorders. However, additional testing is required to explore further psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To map oral health‐related standard of care in the context of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment across the European Union (EU). Materials and Methods: Six hundred and ninety centers across the European Union were contacted. The questionnaire contained questions focusing on the team/department structure, HNC treatment planning routines, and assessment and handling of dental treatment needs prior to cancer treatment. Results: Eighty‐seven centers across the EU responded. Department structure and number of HNC patients treated per year varied widely and dental professionals are included as part of the team in about 25% of the centers. Standard of care, in terms of dental assessment and preventive dentistry routines, such as recording an orthopantomogram, offering dental treatment, and providing a radiation protection splint and splint for fluoride application, differed significantly among the European regions. Independent of the region, these aspects are positively affected if dental professionals are part of the interdisciplinary treatment team and if dental treatment is offered within the center. Conclusion: Dental professionals are still only to a very limited extent included in interdisciplinary treatment planning teams of HNC patients. However, their inclusion and/or offering dental treatment within the same hospital/center appears to improve oral health‐related standard of care. Clinical Relevance: Inclusion of dental professionals in treatment planning teams of HNC patients appears to improve oral health‐related standard of care within HNC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the potential role of CARMN in odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp cells (DPCs). Methods: Laser capture microdissection was used to detect Carmn in DPCs and odontoblasts in P0 mice. After manipulating CARMN expression in odontogenic differentiation induced hDPCs, the state of odontogenic differentiation was evaluated by ALP staining, ARS, and related marker expression in qRT‐PCR and western blotting. The subcutaneous transplantation of HA/β‐TCP loaded with hDPCs was performed to verify CARMN's role in promoting odontogenic differentiation in vivo. RNAplex and RIP were employed to reveal potential mechanism of CARMN in hDPCs. Results: CARMN expressed more abundantly in odontoblasts than DPCs in P0 mice. CARMN expression boosted during in vitro odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs. CARMN overexpression enhanced odontogenic differentiation of hDPCs in vitro, while inhibition impaired the process. CARMN overexpression in HA/β‐TCP composites promoted more mineralized nodule formation in vivo. CARMN knockdown led to soared EZH2, while CARMN overexpression brought about EZH2 inhibition. CARMN functioned via direct interaction with EZH2. Conclusions: The results uncovered CARMN as a modulator during the odontogenic differentiation of DPCs. CARMN promoted odontogenic differentiation of DPCs by impairing EZH2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sjögren's disease (SjD) has a strong sex bias, suggesting an association with sex hormones. Male SjD represents a distinct subset of the disease, but the pathogenic mechanisms of male SjD is poorly characterized. The aim of this study is to identify initiating events related to the development of gland hypofunction and autoimmunity in male SjD patients. Materials and methods: Human minor salivary glands were transcriptomically analyzed with microarrays to detect differentially expressed genes in male SjD patients. Identified genes were tested on their involvement in the disease using conditional transgenic mice and gene‐overexpressing cells. Results: GPR78, an orphan G protein–coupled receptor, was overexpressed in the salivary glands of male SjD patients compared with male healthy controls and female SjD patients. Male GPR78 transgenic mice developed salivary gland hypofunction with increased epithelial apoptosis, which was not seen in control or female transgenic mice. In cell culture, GPR78 overexpression decreased lysosomal integrity, leading to caspase‐dependent apoptotic cell death. GPR78‐induced cell death in vitro was inhibited by treatment with estradiol. Conclusion: GPR78 overexpression can induce apoptosis and salivary gland hypofunction in male mice through lysosomal dysfunction and increased caspase‐dependent apoptosis in salivary gland epithelium, which may drive disease in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This cross‐sectional study investigated the association of periodontitis with the metabolic status and hepatic function in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Full‐mouth periodontal conditions, metabolic profiles, and hepatic function were assessed in 219 self‐reported healthy pregnant females. The association of periodontal status with the systemic parameters was evaluated by parametric and non‐parametric tests, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, periodontal status was positively associated with the metabolic profiles and hepatic function test results. The subjects with periodontitis exhibited higher levels of body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.01) and serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (p < 0.05), elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p < 0.05), and lower levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05) than those of the counterparts. The periodontitis severity was strongly correlated with BMI and AST levels, and the extent of periodontal inflammation was related to DBP (p < 0.01). The periodontitis patients at 34–36 gestational weeks showed higher blood pressure and AST levels than those of non‐periodontitis subjects (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings on the notable links of periodontitis to concurrent metabolic disorders and abnormal liver function in pregnant women highlight the need of proactive integration of regular periodontal screening and healthcare in maternal programs for promoting optimal health and wellbeing of mothers‐to‐be and newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To better characterize the histopathology of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions and to highlight the differences between them in order to support the clinician in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of such conditions. Subjects and Methods: Fifty‐five patients, clinically diagnosed with oral lichen planus (n = 25) or oral lichenoid lesions (n = 30), were consecutively enrolled in the present study. Subsequently, one blind pathologist reviewed all the biopsy specimens of enrolled subjects following a specific protocol to provide a detailed histopathological description. Demographic, anamnestic, and clinical data were also recorded from all the participants. Patients' data were analysed and compared using the chi‐squared test, to provide distinguishing features between the studied conditions. Results: We found a higher and statistically significant number of eosinophils in the oral lichenoid lesions compared with the oral lichen planus group (p < 0.01), an equally promising result was seen regarding plasma cells, which were more represented (p = 0.05) in the oral lichenoid lesions than in the oral lichen planus cases. No statistically significant differences were detected in demographic, anamnestic and clinical data. Conclusion: A mixed lichenoid inflammatory infiltrate, consisting of eosinophils and plasma cells, could be used as reliable histological features for the diagnosis of oral lichenoid lesions, as long as compared with findings obtained from the patients' history and clinical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify prognostic autophagy‐related genes and lncRNAs to predict clinical outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Subjects and methods: Differentially expressed autophagy‐related genes and autophagy‐related lncRNAs were identified by comparing pare‐carcinoma and carcinoma samples of HNSCC. And then, we constructed an ARG and an AR‐lncRNA signature risk score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the prognostic prediction capacity. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation were used to analysis the functions of ARGs and AR‐lncRNAs. Results: Six ARGs and thirteen AR‐lncRNAs were identified in the ARG and AR‐lncRNA signatures, and overall survival (OS) in the high‐risk group was significantly shorter than the low‐risk group. ROC analysis showed the ARG and AR‐lncRNA signatures have excellent ability of predicting the total OS of patients with HNSCC. What's more, GSEA and GO functional annotation proved that autophagy‐related pathways are mainly enriched in the high‐risk group. Conclusions: These findings indicated that our ARG signature and AR‐lncRNA signature could be considered to predict the prognosis of patients with HNSCC and provide a deep understanding of the biological mechanisms of autophagy in HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which evaluated the presence of taste dysfunction and the influence that predisposing factors have on subjects with gustatory impairment, with particular regard to those positive for SARS-CoV-2. Topics include evaluation of gustatory function, taste dysfunction according to SARS-CoV-2 status and differences between predisposing factors, and finding on the frequency of taste disturbances according to the results of the analysis.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between oral health status and thyroid dysfunction. Methods: A population‐based cross‐sectional analysis using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) was performed. We investigated the association between oral health‐related parameters and the prevalence of thyroid diseases. In addition, the relationship between oral health status and thyroid function test (TFT) results was analyzed. One‐way analysis of variances or chi‐square test was used for comparisons between oral health‐related parameters and presence of thyroid diseases. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between participants' characteristics including oral health‐related parameters and the abnormal results of TFTs. Results: A total of 18,034 adults were surveyed. Histories of thyroid diseases were found to be more common in people who brushed their teeth frequently or used oral hygiene products. However, histories of periodontitis and community periodontal index (CPI) did not show significant associations with histories of thyroid diseases. Among 14,860 participants without history of thyroid disorders, people having higher CPI values demonstrated higher probabilities of abnormal TFTs (OR 1.381, 95% CI 1.241‒1.537, p <.0001); however, statistical significance was not found after adjusting for the other variables. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that good oral health‐related behavior was associated with more frequent thyroid disease history. High CPI showed a significant association with TFT abnormalities; however, the significance of this association became lower when other variables such as age and sex were adjusted. Further studies will be needed to determine how the control of oral health‐related conditions actually has a causal relationship with thyroid disease/dysfunction through prospective cohort studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the impact of gustatory stimulants of salivary secretion (GSSS) on Sjögren's syndrome patients' self‐perception of xerostomia, oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) and salivary secretion. Methods: A total of 110 Sjögren's syndrome patients were randomly allocated to be treated with either a malic acid lozenge or a citric acid mouthwash and then crossed over. Before and after the interventions, the Xerostomia Inventory 5 (SXI‐5‐PL) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14‐PT) questionnaires (both in the Portuguese language) were administered to patients. Unstimulated, mechanical and gustatory‐stimulated salivary flows were determined. Repeated measures and between‐subject analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: After the intervention and within each group, both GSSS elicited a reduction in the SXI‐5‐PL and OHIP‐14‐PT scores and an increase in salivary output, significant in the malic acid lozenge group. The malic acid treatment resulted in a greater effect size and percentage improvement than citric acid mouthwash. The malic acid lozenge also produced a significant greater salivary output than the citric acid rising solution. Conclusions: In Sjögren's syndrome patients, lozenges containing malic acid increased saliva production and xerostomia relief, resulting in improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 37 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus 1 ( HIV), and more people than ever received lifesaving antiretroviral therapy worldwide. HIV-1 infection disrupts the intestinal immune system, leading to microbial translocation and systemic immune activation. We investigated the impact of HIV-1 infection on the GI microbiome and its association with host immune activation. The data indicated that the microbiome was different in HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. The initial sequence analysis of saliva indicated that there were major differences in the phyla of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and TM7. Phylum Tenericutes was only seen in HIV-positive saliva. At the family level, we identified differences in Streptococcacea, Prevotellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Neisseriaceae, whereas data from various sites in GI tract indicated that Prevotella melaninigencia, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Burkholderia, Bradyrhizobium, Ralstonia, and Eubacterium biforme were predominant but differentially present at various sites. Furthermore, there was a decrease in seven proteins associated with the alternative complement pathway and an increase in 6 proteins associated with the lectin and classical complement pathways. The correlation with a shift in complement pathways suggests that compromised immunity could be responsible for the observed dysbiosis in the GI microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]