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Abstract Background To systematically review the epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Four electronic databases were searched up until December 2018. The manual search included the reference lists of the included studies and relevant journals. Observational studies evaluating the relationship between T2DM and periodontitis were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA. Results A total of 53 observational studies were included. The Adjusted T2DM prevalence was significantly higher in periodontitis patients (OR = 4.04, p = 0.000), and vice versa (OR = 1.58, p = 0.000). T2DM patients had significantly worse periodontal status, as reflected in a 0.61 mm deeper periodontal pocket, a 0.89 mm higher attachment loss and approximately 2 more lost teeth (all p = 0.000), than those without T2DM. The results of the cohort studies found that T2DM could elevate the risk of developing periodontitis by 34% (p = 0.002). The glycemic control of T2DM patients might result in different periodontitis outcomes. Severe periodontitis increased the incidence of T2DM by 53% (p = 0.000), and this result was stable. In contrast, the impact of mild periodontitis on T2DM incidence (RR = 1.28, p = 0.007) was less robust. Conclusions There is an evident bidirectional relationship between T2DM and periodontitis. Further well-designed cohort studies are needed to confirm this finding. Our results suggest that both dentists and physicians need to be aware of the strong connection between periodontitis and T2DM. Controlling these two diseases might help prevent each other’s incidence.

Background In this study, a combination of recombinant adenoviral p53 (rAd-p53) gene therapy and intra- arterial delivery of chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma was evaluated. Methods In total, 99 patients with stage III or IV oral carcinoma who had refused or were ineligible for surgery were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase III clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to group I (n = 35; intra-arterial infusion of rAd-p53 plus chemotherapy), group II (n = 33; intra-arterial infusion of rAd-p53 plus placebo chemotherapy), or group III (n = 31; intra-arterial infusion of placebo rAd-p53 plus chemotherapy). Results The median length of follow-up was 36 months (range, 3 to 86 months). During follow-up, 16 patients in group I, 20 in group II, and 22 in group III died. Group I (48.5%) had a higher complete response rate than groups II (16.7%) and III (17.2%) (P = 0.006). The rate of non- responders in group I was significantly lower than that in groups II and III (P < 0.020). A log- rank test for survival rate indicated that group I had a significantly higher survival rate than group III (P = 0.019). The survival rate of patients with stage III but not stage IV oral cancer was significantly higher in group I than in group III (P = 0.015, P = 0.200, respectively). The survival rate of patients with stage IV did not differ significantly among the three groups. Or the 99 patients, 63 patients experienced adverse events of either transient flu-like symptoms or bone marrow suppression, while 13 patients had both these conditions together. No replication-deficient virus was detected in patient serum, urine, or sputum. rAd-p53 treatment increased Bax expression in the primary tumor of 80% of patients, as shown by immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions Intra-arterial infusion of combined rAd-p53 and chemotherapy significantly increased the survival rate of patients with stage III but not stage IV oral cancer, compared with intra-arterial chemotherapy. Intra-arterial infusion of combined rAd-p53 and chemotherapy may represent a promising alternative treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and therapeutic efficacy of malignant sublingual gland tumors. PatientsandMethods: From 1955 to 2005, the clinicopathologic data of 28 patients treated in our hospital were obtained from their medical records and histopathologic slides. Results: There were 16 males and 12 females, with a mean age of 50.3 years. Eighteen cases (64.3%) were adenoid cystic carcinoma; 16 (57.1%) cases were clinically staged as III–IV. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was mainly of the histologic type, and the other histologic classifications included mucoepidermoid carcinoma, myoepithelial carcinoma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma and malignant pleomorphic adenoma. Pulmonary metastasis and tumor recurrence were the main death reasons. Eleven patients remain alive and well 34–312 months (median 108) after treatment. Conclusions: Malignant sublingual gland tumors are extremely rare and most are adenoid cystic carcinoma. Surgery is the main treatment option. For adenoid cystic carcinoma, hematogenous spread is common, and pulmonary metastasis is a common pathway of the distant metastasis. For some patients having lung metastasis, regional control is also important as there are some examples of patients surviving many years with asymptomatic pulmonary metastases. Postoperative radiation therapy may be adjuvant for selected patients with high-stage and high-grade tumors, or when there is concern about the inadequacy of the resection. The effect of chemotherapy remains elusive. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor and a reply are presented in response to the article "Rapid palatal expansion effects on nasal airway dimensions as measured by acoustic rhinometry. A systematic review," by Jillian M. Gordon and colleagues in the 2009 issue.