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The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of e-learning in compliance with the new biosafety recommendations in dentistry in the context of COVID-19 applied to the clinical staff of a dental school in Brazil. A quasi-experimental epidemiological study was carried out by means of a structured, pre-tested online questionnaire, applied before and after an educational intervention, using an e-learning format. After data collection, statistical tests were performed. A total of 549 members of the clinical staff participated in the study in the two collection phases, with a return rate of 26.9%. After the e-learning stage, a reduction was found in the reported use of disposable gloves, protective goggles, and surgical masks. The course had no impact on the staff's knowledge concerning the proper sequence for donning PPE and showed 100% effectiveness regarding proper PPE doffing sequence. Knowledge about avoiding procedures that generate aerosols in the clinical setting was improved. Despite the low rate of return, it can be concluded that online intervention alone was ineffective in significantly improving learning about the new clinical biosafety guidelines. Therefore, the use of hybrid teaching and repetitive training is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral sarcomas from geographic regions of Brazil. Materials and methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on biopsies obtained from January 2007 to December 2016 at twelve Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology centres. Gender, age, evolution time, clinical aspects, tumour location, tumour size at diagnosis, radiographic aspects and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: From 176,537, a total of 200 (0.11%) oral sarcomas were reported, and the most prevalent were osteosarcomas (74 cases; 37%) and Kaposi's sarcomas (52 cases; 26%). Males were more affected than females at a mean age of 32.2 years old (range of 3–87 years). The most common symptoms were swelling¸ localised pain and bleeding at a mean evolution time of 5.14 months (range <1–156 months). The lesions were mostly observed in the mandible (90 cases; 45%), with a mean tumour size of 3.4 cm (range of 0.3–15 cm). Radiographically, the lesions presented a radiolucent aspect showing cortical bone destruction and ill‐defined limits. Conclusions: Oral sarcomas are rare lesions with more than 50 described subtypes. Osteosarcomas and Kaposi's sarcomas were the main sarcomas of the oral cavity in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may play an important role in inflammatory response. However, the involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of periodontitis is unclear. The present study aimed to compare the miRNA expression profiles in individuals with chronic (CP) or aggressive (AP) periodontitis. Materials and methods: Eighteen non‐smoker individuals (CP = 9 and AP = 9) without any history of systemic diseases or previous periodontal therapies were selected at the Clinics of Periodontology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Gingival tissue samples were collected during the initial periodontal therapy. miRNAs were isolated, and expression patterns of 754 miRNAs were assessed with a quantitative miRNA PCR array. miRNAs expression profiles were compared between CP and AP groups. Results: There were no differences observed in the miRNAs expression profiles between CP and AP (p > 0.05). According to the microarray analyses, the most expressed miRNAs in both groups were hsa‐miR‐1274b, hsa‐let‐7b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐24‐3p, hsa‐miR‐19b‐3p, hsa‐miR‐720, hsa‐miR‐126‐3p, hsa‐miR‐17‐3p and hsa‐miR‐21‐3p. Conclusion: Findings suggested no differences in miRNAs expression profiles between chronic and aggressive forms of periodontitis. The overexpression of specific miRNAs could provide insights into the pathogenesis of both forms of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Ameloblastic carcinoma ( AMECA) is an odontogenic malignancy that combines the histological features of ameloblastoma and cytological atypia. Because of its rarity, it poses difficulties in diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the socio-demographic data, histopathology, immunohistochemical features, treatment and outcomes of 17 cases. Methods and results Descriptive statistical analyses were used to portray the clinicopathological data collected, retrospectively. Log-rank tests were performed to determine new prognostic factors. Lesions were immunostained for Ki67, p16, p53, and cytokeratins ( CKs), and compared with solid/multicystic ameloblastomas ( n = 15). AMECA was mostly diagnosed at a late stage, affecting the posterior mandible of male patients in their fifth decade of life. Recurrence was diagnosed in nearly 90% of treated patients, and metastasis occurred in four patients. The mean number of Ki67-positive cells was 86.4 ± 66 per field. Tumours were focally positive for CK7, CK8, CK14, and CK18, and diffusely positive for CK19, p53, and p16. AMECA showed increased immunoexpression of CK18, CK19, p16, p53 and Ki67 as compared with benign cases. Conclusions Our study has contributed to the improved characterization of the epidemiology, prognostic markers, treatment options and outcomes of AMECA. Current criteria must be reviewed to simplify the diagnostic process for these neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The liver pretransplant phase requires the interaction of -multidisciplinary teams for optimal patient outcomes, including dental -professionals. In this study, we sought to estimate the prevalence of complications related to dental extraction in liver transplant candidates.Material and Methods: This study is a case series of patients eligible for liver transplants referred for dental treatment between 2012 and 2014. Eligible patients for this study underwent at least one tooth extraction, had a complete blood count at the time of the procedure, and were candidates for liver transplantation.Results: Forty-three patients, 12 women (28%) and 31 men (72%), with an -average age of 50.9 ± 11.4 years, had received a total of 116 dental extractions. The prevalence of postoperative complications was 1.7% including two bleeding episodes in the same patient. Seven patients presented a platelet count below 50 × 10³/μL and received platelet transfusions preoperatively.Conclusions: Postoperative complications following dental extractions in liver transplant candidates are unusual.Clinical Relevance: Low postoperative complications prevalence indicates that dental surgical procedures may be safety performed in patients eligible for liver transplantation after careful -preoperative evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The TP53 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1042522 encodes arginine (Arg) or proline (Pro). The Arg variant is more effective at inducing apoptosis than the Pro. Methods We assessed this SNP through direct sequencing of benign and malignant salivary neoplasms of Brazilian patients and compared the results with healthy controls' data. BAX, BCL-2, and CASPASE-3 mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a set of salivary tumors, and the results were correlated with the tumor genotype. Results We found a higher frequency of the Arg/Arg genotype in the malignant group. However, the SNP did not influence the age of onset in either benign or malignant tumors. The SNP was not associated with the transcription levels of apoptotic/antiapoptotic genes. Conclusion Malignant salivary neoplasms showed a higher frequency of the allele encoding Arg and a higher frequency of the Arg/Arg genotype. However, the different genotypes did not impact the transcription of genes involved in apoptosis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1685-1688, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a potent inflammatory mediator and an important polymorphism in the locus +3954 (C/T) of the human IL1B gene has been shown to affect the levels of this cytokine. This functional polymorphism has been associated with the establishment of inflammatory diseases, including periodontal disease, in European, Asian and North American populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the IL1B (+3954) gene polymorphism and the occurrence of different clinical forms of periodontitis in a sample of Brazilian individuals. This study employed a cross-sectional design involving individuals from the State of Minas Gerais in the south-eastern region of Brazil. Genomic DNA was obtained from oral swabs of 129 individuals and amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers flanking the locus +3954 of IL1B. PCR products were submitted to restriction endonuclease digestion and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, to distinguish alleles T and C of the IL1B gene, allowing for the determination of the genotypes and detection of the polymorphism. The chronic periodontitis group displayed a higher percentage of the T allele (28%) when compared to the aggressive periodontitis group (10.7%, χ2 = 5.24, p = 0.02, OR = 0.31, CI = 0.11–0.88) and to control group (8.7%, χ2 = 7.11, p = 0.007, OR = 0.24, CI = 0.08–0.73). Our data suggested that the polymorphism in the locus +3954 of IL1B gene could be a risk factor for chronic periodontitis in a sample of Brazilian individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a survey of oral biopsies in Brazilian pediatric patients. The total number of specimens surveyed was 1018. The most prevalent group of lesions studied comprised the cysts of the jaws and oral soft tissues. The most prevalent biopsies found in pediatric patients were follicular cysts, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia, mucoceles, dental follicles, radicular cysts.

Dominance of neotropical tree communities by a few species is widely documented, but dominant trees show a variety of distributional patterns still poorly understood. Here, we used 503 forest inventory plots (93,719 individuals ≥2.5 cm diameter, 2609 species) to explore the relationships between local abundance, regional frequency and spatial aggregation of dominant species in four main habitat types in western Amazonia. Although the abundance-occupancy relationship is positive for the full dataset, we found that among dominant Amazonian tree species, there is a strong negative relationship between local abundance and regional frequency and/or spatial aggregation across habitat types. Our findings suggest an ecological trade-off whereby dominant species can be locally abundant (local dominants) or regionally widespread (widespread dominants), but rarely both (oligarchs). Given the importance of dominant species as drivers of diversity and ecosystem functioning, unravelling different dominance patterns is a research priority to direct conservation efforts in Amazonian forests., (© 2023 The Authors. Ecology Letters published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To report the clinicopathologic features of acquired oral syphilis cases in South American countries., Materials and Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from the records of 18 oral diagnostic services in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Peru. Serologies of nontreponemal and treponemal tests were used for diagnosis., Results: The series comprised 339 cases of acquired oral syphilis. Secondary syphilis ranked as the most common stage (86.7%). Lesions were more frequent among males (58.0%) and young adults with a mean age of 33.3 years. Individuals aged 20-29 years were most affected (35.3%). The most commonly involved sites were the tongue (31.6%), lip/labial commissure (25.1%), and hard/soft palate (20.4%). Clinically, acquired oral syphilis usually presented as mucous patches (28.4%), papules (25.7%), and ulcers (18.1%). Skin manifestations occurred in 67.7% of individuals, while lymphadenopathy and fever were observed in 61.3% and 11.6% of all subjects, respectively. Most patients were treated with the benzathine penicillin G antibiotic., Conclusion: This report validates the spread of acquired oral syphilis infection among young adults in South America. Our directives include accessible diagnostic tools for proper disease screening, surveillance, and counselling of affected individuals, especially in low- and middle-income countries., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Lymphomas in the oral and oropharyngeal regions are relatively uncommon, and their diagnosis is challenging and complex due to the myriad histopathological subtypes. Herein, we report a large series of oral and oropharyngeal lymphomas and compare our data with the currently available literature., Methods: All cases diagnosed as lymphomas affecting the oral and oropharyngeal regions were retrospectively retrieved from seven Brazilian institutions. Clinicodemographic data and histopathological features were evaluated and described, while a comprehensive literature review was undertaken in order to compare our findings., Results: A total of 304 cases of oral and oropharyngeal lymphomas were obtained, mostly affecting individuals aged 60-69 years (n = 68) with a mean age at diagnosis of 54.2 ± 20.1 years. Males and females were equally affected. Mature B-cell neoplasms (87.2%) were the most common group, followed by mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms (11.2%) and precursor lymphoid neoplasms (1.6%). The most frequent subtypes in each group were diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified (n = 99), extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas, nasal type (n = 12), and B-lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphomas, not otherwise specified (n = 4). The most commonly involved sites were the palate (26.3%), mandible (13%), and maxilla (10.5%)., Conclusion: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, remains the most common subtype of lymphomas in the oral and oropharyngeal region. Older patients are the most affected, with no gender predilection and the palate and jaw are usually affected., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The forests of Amazonia are among the most biodiverse plant communities on Earth. Given the immediate threats posed by climate and land-use change, an improved understanding of how this extraordinary biodiversity is spatially organized is urgently required to develop effective conservation strategies. Most Amazonian tree species are extremely rare but a few are common across the region. Indeed, just 227 'hyperdominant' species account for >50% of all individuals >10 cm diameter at 1.3 m in height. Yet, the degree to which the phenomenon of hyperdominance is sensitive to tree size, the extent to which the composition of dominant species changes with size class and how evolutionary history constrains tree hyperdominance, all remain unknown. Here, we use a large floristic dataset to show that, while hyperdominance is a universal phenomenon across forest strata, different species dominate the forest understory, midstory and canopy. We further find that, although species belonging to a range of phylogenetically dispersed lineages have become hyperdominant in small size classes, hyperdominants in large size classes are restricted to a few lineages. Our results demonstrate that it is essential to consider all forest strata to understand regional patterns of dominance and composition in Amazonia. More generally, through the lens of 654 hyperdominant species, we outline a tractable pathway for understanding the functioning of half of Amazonian forests across vertical strata and geographical locations.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the clinicopathological, molecular, and prognostic features of oral/oropharyngeal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and high-grade B-cell lymphoma., Study Design: All cases were retrieved from 7 Brazilian institutions. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed to confirm the diagnoses and to categorize the tumors. In situ hybridization was used to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to identify gene rearrangements., Results: Most cases involved the oral cavity (76.8%). Males and females, with a mean age of 60 years, were evenly affected. Tumors mostly presented as painful swellings. Forty cases represented germinal center B-cell type (58%). Five cases presented double-hit translocation and 3 harbored rearrangement for MYC/BCL2/BCL6. EBV was detected in 3 cases (4.3%). The 5-year overall survival was 44.4%. Female sex, presence of pain and ulcer, microscopic "starry sky pattern" and necrosis, co-expression of c-Myc/Bcl2, and translocation of MYC were associated with a lower survival in univariate analysis (P = .05, P = .01, P = .01, P = .03, P = .05, P = .006, P = .05, respectively)., Conclusion: Patients affected by oral/oropharyngeal DLBCL have a low survival rate. High-grade B-cell lymphoma (17.7%) and EBV-positive DLBCL, not otherwise specified (4.3%) account for a small number of cases., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral sarcomas from geographic regions of Brazil., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on biopsies obtained from January 2007 to December 2016 at twelve Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology centres. Gender, age, evolution time, clinical aspects, tumour location, tumour size at diagnosis, radiographic aspects and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods., Results: From 176,537, a total of 200 (0.11%) oral sarcomas were reported, and the most prevalent were osteosarcomas (74 cases; 37%) and Kaposi's sarcomas (52 cases; 26%). Males were more affected than females at a mean age of 32.2 years old (range of 3-87 years). The most common symptoms were swelling¸ localised pain and bleeding at a mean evolution time of 5.14 months (range <1-156 months). The lesions were mostly observed in the mandible (90 cases; 45%), with a mean tumour size of 3.4 cm (range of 0.3-15 cm). Radiographically, the lesions presented a radiolucent aspect showing cortical bone destruction and ill-defined limits., Conclusions: Oral sarcomas are rare lesions with more than 50 described subtypes. Osteosarcomas and Kaposi's sarcomas were the main sarcomas of the oral cavity in Brazil., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Mutations in the patched 1 (PTCH1) gene are the main genetic alteration reported in sporadic and nevoid basal cell carcinoma-associated odontogenic keratocyst (OKC). Oncogenic mutations, including BRAFV600E, previously considered exclusive of malignant neoplasms have been reported in odontogenic tumors. Recently, a high frequency of BRAFV600E mutation has been reported in OKC. Because of the considerable recurrence rate of OKC, the identification of druggable genetic mutations can be relevant in the management of extensive lesions., Methods: A set of 28 OKCs was included in this work. Initially, 10 sporadic and eight OKC samples from four NBCCS patients (a pair of lesions from each syndromic patient) were submitted to targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 2800 different mutations in 50 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, including BRAF. Ten extra sporadic OKC samples were included to assess BRAFV600E mutation using TaqMan allele-specific qPCR., Results: The following missense mutations occurred in one case each: ATM p.Ser333Phe, SMO p.Gly416Glu, PIK3CA p.Ser326Phe, FBXW7 p.Ser438Phe, JAK2 p.Ser605Phe, PTEN p.Arg173His, ATM p.Cys353Arg, PTEN p.Ser294Arg, MET p.His1112Tyr. None of the 18 samples showed the BRAFV600E (or any other V600) mutation in the NGS. BRAFV600E mutation was detected by qPCR in one of the 10 OKC. Collectively, our results show BRAFV600E mutation in 1 of 28 OKC cases., Conclusion: On the basis of our results, OKCs do not present recurrent hotspot mutations in these 50 genes commonly mutated in cancer. In addition, BRAFV600E does not play a central role in OKC pathogenesis., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is associated with morbidity and mortality in the recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (allo-HSCTs). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a potent inflammatory mediator involved in different inflammatory conditions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of IL1B gene polymorphism in recipients and donors in cases in which acute GVHD (aGVHD) has been reported and the impact of this gene polymorphism on the level of cytokines in the blood and saliva. Fifty-eight consecutive allo-HSCT recipients and their donors were prospectively studied. Saliva and/or blood samples were obtained from the recipients and donors to identify the IL1B gene polymorphism, and cytokine levels were assessed by ELISA. Samples were collected weekly from 7 days before transplantation (day -7) to 100 days after allo-HSCT (day+100), for a total of 16 weeks or until death. aGVHD occurred in 27 individuals evaluated. A significant association was identified between the IL1B polymorphism in the donor and aGVHD development in the corresponding recipients. However, no significant association was detected between the IL1B polymorphism in recipients and the development of aGVHD. In the recipients who were diagnosed with aGVHD, the level of IL-1β in the saliva and blood were increased. In the saliva, IL-1β levels increased progressively from the time before the diagnosis of aGVHD until weeks after the diagnosis, whereas in the blood, IL-1β peak levels could be observed within the time allotted for diagnosis, followed by a decrease in the levels. In addition, we observed a significant association between the IL1B genotype of the recipient (CC) and high IL-1β levels in the saliva at week 13. In conclusion, IL-1β could be considered a useful predictor of aGVHD development.

Considerable evidence indicates that serotonergic mechanisms, particularly the serotonin transporter, are involved in alcoholism and tobacco use and are influenced by polymorphism of the promoter region of 5HTT (5-HTTLPR). As alcohol and tobacco consumption have been implicated in the pathogenesis of oral cancer, the purpose of this study was to investigate 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared with a control group in a sample of Brazilian patients. One hundred and three patients affected by OSCC and 103 volunteers without OSCC were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Both groups were matched for age, sex and tobacco use. The chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis (α=0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in 5-HTTLPR genotypes between case and control group (p= 0.408). In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated that serotonin transporter polymorphisms are not implicated in the OSSC development.

Objective: Previous studies have suggested that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is involved in the aetiology of aggressive periodontitis as well as chronic periodontitis. In addition, some authors have also reported that serotype-specific antigens of A. actinomycetemcomitans determine the severity of disease. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans and the distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes in Brazilian subjects with chronic periodontitis., Design: A total of 486 individuals were enrolled in this survey. All patients received clinical examinations that included periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, plaque, and gingival indexes. Subgingival samples were taken for microbial analysis. The genomic DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans was provided by PCR., Results: Out of 486 subjects examined, A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated in 85 (17.5%) individuals. Out of 85 positive samples, 68 were infected by at least 1 serotype, 7 by mixed infection, and 10 were non-serotyped. Serotypes d and f were not detected. Serotype c showed the highest prevalence (52.9%), followed by serotype a (31.8%)., Conclusions: Intragroup analysis revealed that, in slight/moderate periodontitis, serotypes c and a were significantly more prevalent than serotypes b and d-f; the prevalence of serotype c in severe periodontitis was significantly greater than that of serotypes a and b. Our data were similar in Asian and Eurasian populations., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of carcinogen-metabolizing enzyme genes have been associated with the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral leukoplakia. The overexpression of p53 protein is the most common genetic alteration in head and neck cancer. In the present study the combined or isolated presence of glutathione S-transferases GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and the cytochrome P450 oxidases CYP1A1 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms and oral leukoplakia development in a Brazilian sample of individuals was investigated, together with the effect of these polymorphisms on p53 overexpression in the lesions., Patients and Methods: The GSTM1, GSTT1 and CYP1A1 genotypes of 80 smoking patients with oral leukoplakia and 80 age and gender matched control subjects were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and CYP2E1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms by PCR and digestion. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed for p53 staining in paraffin embedded histological sections of oral leukoplakia lesions., Results: The GSTM1 null genotype was associated with an increased risk of oral leukoplakia development, independently of the other genes (OR 2.10). The simultaneous presence of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes was associated with an increased risk of oral leukoplakia development, independently of the other genes (OR 4.36). The oral leukoplakia lesions of patients with the GSTT1 null genotype showed a 6-fold increased risk of p53 overexpression (OR 6.61)., Conclusion: A positive association exists between the isolated or combined null genotype of GSTM1 and GSTT1 and oral leukoplakia development and the null GSTT1 genotype shows increased risk of p53 overexpression, in oral leukoplakia.

Objective: To determine the demographic profile of all histologically diagnosed odontogenic cysts (OC) and nonodontogenic cysts (nOC) over a 51-year period in the Brazilian population., Study Design: Case records of patients with OC and nOC from the files of the Oral Pathology Service, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, during the period of 1953-2003 were evaluated., Results: Among 19,064 oral biopsies, 2,905 (15.2%) presented criteria of OC and nOC. Of these, 2,812 specimens (14.7%) were diagnosed as OC and 93 (0.5%) represented nOC. The 3 most frequent OC diagnosed were radicular cyst (61.0%), dentigerous cyst (25.3%), and odontogenic keratocyst (7.2%). The most frequent nOC was the nasopalatine duct cyst (2.2%)., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that there is a wide range of OC and nOC, with some cysts having a predilection for age, gender, and localization. We also showed demographic aspects and clinical characteristics of these cysts. These could be used as baseline data to obtain more epidemiologic information about the OC and the nOC especially in the Brazilian population.

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the presence of Epstein-Barr virus type 1 (EBV-1) and of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in crevicular fluid samples from deep and shallow periodontal pocket sites of Brazilian patients with aggressive periodontitis. A total of 30 systemically healthy patients with aggressive periodontitis participated in the study. Paper points were inserted into 2 gingivitis sites (<3 mm) and into 2 periodontitis sites (>5 mm) in each patient. PCR assay was used to identify genomic copies of HCMV and EBV-1. Twenty-three patients (77%) were positive for EBV-1, while only 2 patients (6%) were positive for HCMV. The McNemar test revealed a positive association between EBV-1 and periodontal lesions (p=0.043). Thirty-four (57%) out of 60 periodontitis sites were positive for EBV-1, whereas 18 (30%) gingivitis sites were positive (p=0.01). Only two sites (6.7%) were positive for HCMV. No positive association was found between HCMV and periodontitis or gingivitis (p=0.479). The elevated occurrence of EBV-1 DNA in periodontal pockets of patients with aggressive periodontitis supports a possible periodontopathic role of this virus.

Background: Benign migratory glossitis (BMG) is a very common immunological oral disease of unknown aetiology., Methods and Subjects: Fifty-three consecutive subjects affected by BMG and 53 age- and sex-matched control subjects were genotyped for IL-1B, IL-6 and TNFA polymorphisms. Binary logistic regression models were fitted and values of P < 0.05 were considered significant., Results: A significant difference in the distribution of IL-1B genotypes was observed in the group with BMG in univariate analyses (P = 0.01). The multivariate analyses showed that the CT genotype of the IL1-B gene was significantly associated with a high risk to develop BMG (P = 0.02, OR 2.76). The combined presence of IL-1beta high and intermediate producers genotypes was also associated with BMG in multivariate analyses (P = 0.01, OR 3.05). IL-6 and TNFA polymorphisms were not associated with BMG in the univariate and multivariate analyses., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the polymorphism +3954 IL-1B is associated with an increased risk of BMG development and suggest a genetic basis for disease development.

Hemangioma, vascular malformation and varix are benign vascular lesions, common in the head and neck regions. Studies about the prevalence of these lesions in the oral cavity are scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and to obtain clinical data on oral hemangioma, vascular malformation and varix in a Brazilian population. Clinical data on those lesions were retrieved from the clinical forms from the files of the Oral Diagnosis Service, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 1992 to 2002. Descriptive analysis was performed. A total of 2,419 clinical forms in the 10-year period were evaluated, of which 154 (6.4%) cases were categorized as oral hemangioma, oral vascular malformation or oral varix. Oral varix was the most frequent lesion (65.6%). Females had more oral hemangioma and oral varix than males. Oral vascular malformation and oral varix were more prevalent in the 7th and 6th decades, respectively. Oral hemangioma and oral varix were more prevalent in the ventral surface of the tongue and oral vascular malformation, in the lips. Oral hemangioma was treated with sclerotherapy (54.5%), and vascular malformation was managed with sclerotherapy and surgery (19.4% each). The data of this study suggests that benign vascular lesions are unusual alterations on the oral mucosa and jaws.

Unlabelled: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain syndrome that encompasses all forms of burning sensations in the oral cavity when the oral mucosa is clinically normal. Neural, psychologic, and cytokine factors may be implicated in the pathogenesis of BMS. There are no studies of genetic factors associated with psychologic behavior and cytokine pain sensitivity in BMS patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a possible association between functional genetic polymorphisms, +3,954 (C/T) interleukin-1beta, and the polymorphic site on promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) in a sample of Brazilian patients. Thirty patients affected by BMS and 31 healthy volunteers were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR and IL-1beta gene. The chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis. There was no statistical difference in 5-HTTLPR genotypes between the case and control groups (P = .60), however a significant increase was observed in the IL-1beta high production genotype CT in BMS subjects (P = .005). In conclusion, the present study shows association between BMS and IL-1beta high producer genotype., Perspective: This article shows evidence that genetic polymorphisms associated with IL-1beta high production genotype are implicated on the pathogenesis of BMS. The modulation of IL1beta production may be an interesting tool in BMS management.

Background: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is a potent inflammatory mediator and an important polymorphism in the locus +3954 (C/T) of the human IL1 B gene has been shown to affect the levels of this cytokine. This functional polymorphism has been associated with the establishment of inflammatory diseases, including periodontal disease, in European, Asian and North American populations., Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the IL1 B (+3954) gene polymorphism and the occurrence of different clinical forms of periodontitis in a sample of Brazilian individuals., Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design involving individuals from the State of Minas Gerais in the south-eastern region of Brazil. Genomic DNA was obtained from oral swabs of 129 individuals and amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers flanking the locus +3954 of IL1 B. PCR products were submitted to restriction endonuclease digestion and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, to distinguish alleles T and C of the IL1 B gene, allowing for the determination of the genotypes and detection of the polymorphism., Results and Conclusions: The chronic periodontitis group displayed a higher percentage of the T allele (28%) when compared to the aggressive periodontitis group (10.7%, chi(2)=5.24, p=0.02, OR=0.31, CI=0.11--0.88) and to control group (8.7%, chi(2)=7.11, p=0.007, OR=0.24, CI=0.08--0.73). Our data suggested that the polymorphism in the locus +3954 of IL1 B gene could be a risk factor for chronic periodontitis in a sample of Brazilian individuals.