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Objective: Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial in the progression and treatment response of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). TAMs infiltrate OSCC, adopting an M2-like phenotype that promotes tumour growth, metastasis and immune suppression. The current narrative review explored the roles of TAMs in OSCC, focusing on their impact on the tumour microenvironment, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, immunosuppression and potential therapeutic targeting., Methods: A comprehensive analysis of the current literature on TAMs in OSCC was conducted. Specifically, we evaluated the biological functions of TAMs, their interactions within the tumour microenvironment, and their influence on disease progression and treatment outcomes., Results: TAMs contribute to OSCC progression by secreting cytokines, such as IL-10 and TGF-β, that inhibit effector immune cells. They facilitate angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodelling and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which are essential for tumour invasion and metastasis. TAMs support cancer stem cells and recruit regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, enhancing resistance to therapies. Their presence correlates with advanced OSCC stages, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis., Conclusion: TAMs regulate OSCC progression and therapy resistance. Reprogramming them to an M1-like phenotype or depleting them enhances treatments. Understanding TAM-OSCC interactions is crucial for developing interventions against their tumour-promoting functions and restoring anti-tumour immunity., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents a challenging oncological entity with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Despite advances in conventional therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, the overall survival rates for advanced HNC remain suboptimal. In recent years, the emerging field of oncolytic virotherapy has gained attention as a promising therapeutic approach for various malignancies, including HNC. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of oncolytic viruses (Ovs) in the context of HNC treatment, including their mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical studies, challenges, and future directions. Future oncolytic virotherapy focuses on improving delivery and specificity through nanoparticle carriers and genetic modifications to enhance tumor targeting and immune response. Combining different OVs and integrating them with immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, could overcome tumor resistance and improve outcomes. Personalized approaches and rigorous clinical trials are key to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of virotherapy in treating HNC.

Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge worldwide and is associated with a poor survival rate. Due to the variability in the efficacy of treatments for HNSCC, new predictive biomarkers of therapy outcomes are needed. Recently, we developed an algorithm that employs the mutational profile of TP53 as an independent prognostic factor in HNSCC. In this study, we investigated its role as a predictive biomarker of treatment outcomes in HNSCC patients. We also tested the usefulness of two classification systems for TP53 mutational landscapes., Materials and Methods: Clinical and genomic data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. We built a multivariate stepwise backward binary regression model to assess the role of TP53 mutations in predicting therapeutic outcomes., Results: Cases harbouring high-risk-of-death mutations reported an odds ratio of 3.301 for stable or progressive disease compared to wild-type cases, while no significant difference in treatment outcomes was found between cases with low-risk-of-death mutations and wild-type TP53. Our analysis found that older patients with a history of alcohol consumption had a higher risk of stable/progressive disease., Conclusions: This study improves current evidence on the role of TP53 mutations in treatment response in HNSCC patients., (© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Oral lesions received increased attention as likely new signs or secondary manifestations of COVID-19. Therefore, we clinically examined oral cavity of patients with COVID-19 and investigated oral lesions and patient comorbidities as possible risk factors of COVID-19 disease outcome., Methods: From January to March 2022, a prospective study was conducted by recruiting all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and Respiratory Intensive Care Unit of Maxi-Emergencies Hospital in Bari, Italy., Results: From the enrolled 103 COVID-19 patients, 46.6% were females and 53.4% were males. Findings show that risk of presenting with severe COVID-19 disease was higher in patients who developed oral lesions related to COVID-19 than those with no oral lesions (RR = 7.998, p = .002). Next, patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases were at higher risk of a negative COVID-19 disease outcome than those without comorbidities (OR = 8.838, p = .026)., Conclusions: COVID-19-related lesions of oral mucosa should not be ignored as they can be early and easily detectable signs of severe COVID-19 disease condition, thus, serving as a prevention measure for any potential unfortunate event. Findings of this study, without implying causation, offer a direction for future investigations that aim to confirm the presence of specific oral lesions in COVID-19 patients as signs of severe disease progression., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: Historically, the prevalence of caries has undergone significant changes, particularly increasing with the industrialization of sugar consumption. When examining ancient populations, lower caries rates are discovered, attributed in part to dietary factors. These populations consumed abrasive foods, leading to occlusal wear and reduced non-axial occlusal forces, potentially influencing Non-Carious Cervical Lesions (NCCLs). Although some attribute NCCLs to abfraction, the mechanism remains debated. This systematic review aims to evaluate the presence of NCCLs in ancient populations, shedding light on the factors contributing to their occurrence., Materials and Methods: The present systematic review was registered on PROSPERO, and the manuscript was prepared following PRISMA guidelines., Results: After the literature search and article screening, data from 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis, with only 2 reporting NCCLs in ancient skulls, encopassing 17 subjects in 805 examined skulls, suggesting their presence even before the widespread use of toothbrushes. This finding indicates a potential etiopathogenic mechanism linked to abfraction, but the cause is complex and involves abrasive and erosive factors closely tied to dietary habits., Conclusions: In summary, NCCLs were present in ancient populations, albeit with a much lower prevalence. Their occurrence cannot be solely attributed to wear mechanisms but must be connected to abrasive factors related to diet or practices with religious and cultural significance, such as the use of labrets., Clinical Relevance: Th the knowledge of NCCLs presence in acient sculls is crucial today for better understand the associated risk factors. In this context, the analysis of ancient skulls allows us to discern the role that tooth brushing and diet played in the formation of NCCLs, over the past century., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background:  Oral Lichen Planus is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa. The prevalence in adults ranges between 0.5% and 2%, while in children is reported to be about 0,03%. Clinical features of Oral Lichen Planus could be variable in both adults and children, ranging from painless white hyperkeratotic lesions to painful erythematous atrophic ones. Actually, there are no systematic reviews in the literature on OLP in children, whereby this paper aims to summarize all the pathophysiological aspects and identify all cases described in the literature of Oral Lichen Planus in children, reporting their clinical characteristics., Material and Methods:  A systematic review of the literature was performed in online databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, EMBASE. In addition, in order to identify reports not otherwise identifiable, an analysis of the gray literature was performed on google scholar and in Open Gray., Results:  By literature analysis, it emerged that most cases were reported from India. The mean age at time of diagnosis of the disease was 11 years, ranging from 3 to 17 years. The most frequent pattern was the reticular pattern followed by plaque-like, erosive, atrophic, sclerosus, and bullous. The buccal mucosa was the most involved oral site, followed by the tongue, lips and gingiva., Conclusions: Although Oral Lichen Planus in children is rare, it may cause oral discomfort and need to be differentiated from other oral white lesions and/or chronic ulcers.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Breast cancer manifestations in the head and neck are relatively rare, and they are mostly bony metastasis to the mandible and maxilla. In this paper, we present a case report of a metastatic tumor in the mandibular angle originating from breast carcinoma. A 32-year-old female patient with a paresthesia/anesthesia in the left mandibular area was referred to us to aid in the differential diagnosis between osteonecrosis and metastasis. Her medical history revealed a radical bimastectomy 3 years ago for invasive lobular carcinoma of the breasts. Additionally, she received chemotherapy and radiotherapy 3 years ago, and intravenous zoledronic acid was administered every 3 weeks. Intraoral examination did not reveal any mucosal ulcer or fistula, and there was no radiological evidence of cyst. The patient demonstrated good oral hygiene. Palpable regional left submandibular lymph nodes and a few swellings on the lateral angular mandibular surface were observed. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and positron emission tomography (PET) were performed. CBCT showed small poorly diffused radiopacity in proximity to the mandibular angle on both medial and lateral surfaces. PET showed fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake in the mandible in the left angle surface area. Based on the patient's clinical history, signs, symptoms, and tomographic evidence, we were able to diagnose mandibular metastasis. This case also highlights the importance of proficiency in reading tomographic examinations, which can be carried out in dental clinics for various purposes. In the absence of symptoms, misdiagnosis can occur, underscoring the significance of accurate interpretation and diagnosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Francesca Spirito et al.)

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a worldwide health problem, accounting for over 5% of all types of cancers. Their varied nature makes it sometimes difficult to find clear explanations for the molecular mechanisms that underline their onset and development. While chemio- and radiotherapy are clearly not to be dismissed, we cannot undervalue the effect that polyphenols - especially dietary polyphenols - can have in helping us to cope with this medical emergency. By influencing several different proteins involved in numerous different metabolic pathways, polyphenols can have a broad spectrum of biological action and can hopefully act synergistically to tackle down head and neck cancer. Moreover, being natural molecules, polyphenols does not present any side effects and can even enhance drugs efficacy, making our clinical therapy against head and neck cancer more and more effective. Certainly, oxidative stress plays an important role, altering several molecular pathways, lowering the body's defenses, and ultimately helping to create a microenvironment conducive to the appearance and development of the tumor. In this regard, the regular and constant intake of foods rich in polyphenols can help counteract the onset of oxidative stress, improving the health of the general population. In this review, we highlight the role of polyphenols in managing oxidative stress, with such positive effects that they can be considered new tools to use in our anti-head and neck cancer strategy., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Approximately 50% of the adult global population is projected to suffer from some form of metabolic disease by 2050, including metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. At the same time, this trend indicates a potential increase in the number of patients who will be in need of implant-supported reconstructions of specific bone regions subjected to inflammatory states. Moreover, physiological conditions associated with dysmetabolic subjects have been suggested to contribute to the severity of bone loss after bone implant insertion. However, there is a perspective evidence strengthening the hypothesis that custom-fabricated bioengineered scaffolds may produce favorable bone healing effects in case of altered endocrine or metabolic conditions. This perspective review aims to share a comprehensive knowledge of the mechanisms implicated in bone resorption and remodelling processes, which have driven researchers to develop metallic implants as the cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) bioscaffolds, presenting optimized geometries that interact in an effective way with the osteogenetic precursor cells, especially in the cases of perturbed endocrine or metabolic conditions., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The progressive reappearance of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections since October 2013 and its circulation in >70 countries and territories (from French Polynesia to Brazil and other countries in the Americas, with sporadic spread in Europe and the East) has long been reported as a global public health emergency. ZIKV is a virus transmitted by arthropods (arboviruses), mainly by Aedes mosquitoes. ZIKV can also be transmitted to humans through mechanisms other than vector infection such as sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, and mother-to-child transmission. The latter mode of transmission can give rise to a severe clinical form called congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), which can result in spontaneous abortion or serious pathological alterations in the fetus such as microcephaly or neurological and orofacial anomalies. In this study, beside a succinct overview of the etiological, microbiological, and epidemiological aspects and modes of transmission of Zika virus infections, we have focused our attention on the pathogenetic and histopathological aspects in pregnancy and the pathogenetic and molecular mechanisms that can determine microcephaly, and consequently the clinical alterations, typical of the fetus and newborns, in a subject affected by CZS.

Introduction: Ineffective anticancer therapy can result in unnecessary toxicity and the development of resistant clones. Many types of solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, have been found to contain a small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that contribute to tumor propagation, maintenance, and treatment resistance., Materials and Methods: Selectively enriched CSCs from primary cancer cell cultures can be used in a chemosensitivity assay for a functional test (ChemoID) that uses patients' live tumor cells to indicate which chemotherapy agent (or "combinations") will kill not only the bulk of tumor cells but also the CSCs that are known to cause cancer to recur. This study aimed to show the potential of testing the sensitivity of CSCs enriched from oral cancer patients' biopsies to conventional chemotherapies. A case series of eleven patients affected by advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been included in this study. We compared the results of the CSC assay among all the patients and found that there was variability in the chemotherapy response predicted by the assay., Results: Variability in chemotherapy response was found by the CSC assay in advanced OSCC patients suggesting more precise and personalized therapies to the Oncologist., Conclusions: Variability in chemosensitivity for OSCC warrants the need to investigate further the use of the assay in larger cohorts to gain a broader understanding of the utility of the clinical test., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Drs. Claudio and Valluri reported ownership of intellectual property rights on the ChemoID technology. No other disclosures were reported for other authors., (© 2023 Universit a di Salerno.)