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Data Sources: There is a discrepancy in the databases and data sources mentioned by the authors. The abstract references four databases, which differ from those listed in the materials and methods section. According to the methods, the literature search was conducted across three databases: PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scielo. However, the abstract mentions four databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Wiley Online Database, Web of Science, and Scopus., Study Selection: All relevant articles were searched using specific keywords derived from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and text words (TW) related to the topic. Following the screening of titles and abstracts, the full texts of the selected studies were reviewed, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Any disagreements regarding study inclusion were resolved by consensus. Studies that reported data on antibiotic prescription patterns by dentists for the treatment of apical disease were included., Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction was carried out by three independent reviewers, with a fourth author resolving any disagreements. Extracted data included publication details (authors, year of publication), number of respondents, response rate, survey location, and prescriber type (general practitioner, endodontist, or dental surgeon). The primary outcome measured was the percentage of dentists prescribing antibiotics for each form of periapical endodontic disease., Results: The search strategy identified a total of 96 studies, of which 39 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. Dentists prescribed antibiotics in 25.8% of cases of symptomatic apical periodontitis (AP) and in 31.5% of asymptomatic AP cases. In instances of acute symptomatic apical abscess with swelling and moderate to severe symptoms, approximately 89% of dentists prescribed antibiotics, compared to nearly 100% of endodontists., Conclusions: Endodontists demonstrate more appropriate antibiotic-prescribing practices than general practitioners. Globally, dentists tend to over-prescribe antibiotics for managing apical disease. Therefore, there is a pressing need to enhance antibiotic prescribing practices in the treatment of endodontic infections., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to British Dental Association.)

The prevalence of diseases characterised by eosinophilia is on the rise, emphasising the importance of understanding the role of eosinophils in these conditions. Eosinophils are a subset of granulocytes that contribute to the body's defence against bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, but they are also implicated in haemostatic processes, including immunoregulation and allergic reactions. They contain cytoplasmic granules which can be selectively mobilised and secrete specific proteins, including chemokines, cytokines, enzymes, extracellular matrix, and growth factors. There are multiple biological and emerging functions of these specialised immune cells, including cancer surveillance, tissue remodelling and development. Several oral diseases, including oral cancer, are associated with either tissue or blood eosinophilia; however, their exact mechanism of action in the pathogenesis of these diseases remains unclear. This review presents a comprehensive synopsis of the most recent literature for both clinicians and scientists in relation to eosinophils and oral diseases and reveals a significant knowledge gap in this area of research.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck cancer. There is mounting evidence to suggest that several components of the coagulation system directly affect carcinogenesis. Our recent in vitro studies demonstrated, for the first time, that various anticoagulants have anticancer effects on OSCC. They also showed the need for the immediate translation of these experimental conditions from bench to preclinical animal models. Here, we carried out a systematic review to summarise existing evidence on murine models built around the interactions between anticoagulants and oral cancer. Only one preclinical murine study was included in our systematic review, investigating the role of heparins in tumour pathophysiology. The paucity of evidence regarding the interactions between oral squamous cell carcinoma and anticoagulants emphasises the urgency with which further preclinical research should be conducted., (© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)