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BACKGROUND. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important roles in regulating gene expression pertaining to cell proliferation, survival, migration and genomic stability. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs is implicated in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. OBJECTIVES. Explore, map and summarize the extent of evidence from clinical studies investigating the differential expression of lncRNAs in oral/tongue squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were used as search engines. Clinical, full-length, English language studies were included. PRISMA-ScR protocol was used to evaluate and present results. The present scoping review summarizes relationships of the differential expression of lncRNAs with the presence of tumour and with clinico-pathological features including survival. RESULTS. Almost half of the investigated transcripts have been explored in more than one study, yet not always with consistent results. The collected data were also compared to the limited studies investigating oral epithelial dysplasia. Data are not easily comparable, first because of different methods used to define what differential expression is, and second because only a limited number of studies performed multivariate analyses to identify clinico-pathological features associated with the differentially expressed lncRNAs. CONCLUSIONS. Standard methods and more appropriate data analyses are needed in order to achieve reliable results from future studies.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) modulate gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and are involved in tumorigenesis. They can form complex secondary and tertiary structures and have been shown to act as precursors, enhancers, reservoirs and decoys in the complex endogenous RNA network. They were first reported in relation to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in 2013. Here, we summarise the functional roles and pathways of the most commonly studied lncRNAs in OSCC. Existing research demonstrates the involvement of lncRNA within pivotal pathways leading to the development and spread of OSCC, including interactions with key cancer-associated microRNAs such as miR-21. The number of studies on lncRNA and OSCC remains limited in this new field. As evidence grows, the tissue-specific expression patterns of lncRNAs should further advance our understanding of the altered regulatory networks in OSCC and possibly reveal new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Objectives The purpose of this multicentre study was to determine the incidence of oral candidiasis in patients treated with topical steroids for oral lichen planus (OLP) and to determine whether the application of a concurrent antifungal therapy prevented the development of an oral candidiasis in these patients. Materials and Methods Records of 315 patients with OLP seen at four Oral Medicine practices treated for at least 2 weeks with steroids with and without the use of an antifungal regimen were retrospectively reviewed. Results The overall incidence of oral fungal infection in those treated with steroid therapy for OLP was 13.6%. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of oral candidiasis development in those treated with an antifungal regimen vs those not treated prophylactically (14.3% vs 12.6%) (P = 0.68). Conclusions Despite the use of various regimens, none of the preventive antifungal strategies used in this study resulted in a significant difference in the rate of development of an oral candidiasis in patients with OLP treated with steroids.

The non-ossifying fibroma (NOF) is a benign, non-neoplastic lesion most commonly seen in the metaphyses of the long bones in children. While rare, the NOF has been reported in the mandible. The NOF in the extra-gnathic skeleton has a characteristic radiographic appearance, is typically asymptomatic and has a variable histologic make-up. Correlation of the radiographic appearance, clinical presentation and histopathology allows for differentiation of the NOF from odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts and tumors. We report a new case of this interesting entity and review the radiographic, clinical and histologic features of the gnathic NOF reported in the literature. A thorough search of the English language literature returned a total of 19 cases of NOF involving the gnathic bones.

An 11-year-old male presented with a localised erythematous gingival enlargement of the anterior maxillary gingiva and an associated deep facial pocket. Biopsy specimens were obtained. Histopathological examination of the submitted tissue showed a cystic lining consisting of proliferating odontogenic epithelium with spindle-shaped cells forming small ductules and well-formed duct-like structures lined by pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium. A diagnosis of peripheral adenomatoid odontogenic tumour (PAOT) was rendered. The PAOT is a rare entity that can present as an erythematous gingival swelling, similar to an epulis or fibroma. Dentists should be aware that unusual pathological entities can have a variety of presentations and that definitive diagnosis may require submission of tissue for histopathological examination.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has merged as a new adverse drug reaction ADR) related to treatment with bisphoshonates and possibly other drugs. Objectives: To assess the officially eported numbers of ONJ cases in he Nordic countries; Norway, Sweden, enmark and Finland. Secondly, to comare the figures with ONJ numbers eported in an e-mail survey to oral and axillofacial surgeons (OMS) in Norway. Methods: The study included ONJ ases reported to the national Medial Agency (MA) in each country from anuary the 1st 2003 to September the 0th 2010. A questionnaire regarding ONJ atients seen in practice during the same ime period was sent to all active members f the Norwegian Association of Oral and axillofacial Surgeons. Results: The included countries have he same reporting system of ADRs; health are professionals file pre-made forms to a ational MA. In total 253 ONJ cases were eported (per os/intravenous/unknown); 51 17/22/14) in Norway (4.8 mill citizens), 9 (8/18/15) in Denmark (5.5 mill citzens), 44 (3/41/0) in Finland (5.4 mill itizens) and 119 (57/88/0) in Sweden (9.3 ill citizens). Both intravenous and per os isphosphonate medication were used in ome of the reported cases. In the e-mail urvey 35 (65%) of 54 Norwegian OMS nswered the questionnaire, reporting 214 ases of ONJ. Conclusions: The results suggest that here is an underreporting of ONJ cases in he Nordic countries. To better understand he scope of this ADR, there is a need to ncrease the level of ONJ reporting among ealth care professionals. Conflict of interest: None declared.