Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Research Articles

Alterations of oral microbiome and metabolic signatures and their interaction in oral lichen planus

ABSTRACT Background Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic oral mucosal inflammatory disease with a risk of becoming malignant. Emerging evidence suggests that microbial imbalance plays an important role in the development of OLP. However, the association between the oral microbiota and the metabolic features in OLP is still unclear. Methods We conducted 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics profiling on 95 OLP patients and 105 healthy controls (HC).To study oral microbes and metabolic changes in OLP, we applied differential analysis, Spearman correlation analysis and four machine learning algoeithms Results The alpha and beta diversity both differed between OLP and HC. After adjustment for gender and age, we found an increase in the relative abundance of Pseudomonas, Aggregatibacter, Campylobacter, and Lautropia in OLP, while 18 genera decreased in OLP. A total of 153 saliva metabolites distinguishing OLP from HC were identified. Notably, correlations were found between Oribacterium, specific lipid and amino acid metabolites, and OLP’s clinical phenotype. Additionally, the combination of Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus and (±)10-HDoHE effectively distinguished OLP from HC. Conclusions Based on multi-omics data, this study provides comprehensive evidence of a novel interplay between oral microbiome and metabolome in OLP pathogenesis using the oral microbiota and metabolites of OLP patients.

Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases Using the Indonesian Version of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire-15 (COMDQ-15).

Chronic oral mucosal diseases (COMDs) can significantly impair the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals. Monitoring the overall disease's impact and the efficacy of treatments requires the use of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire-15 (COMDQ-15) as a standardized instrument for measuring QoL in these patients. This study aimed to assess QoL in patients with COMDs using an Indonesian version of the COMDQ-15. Seventy patients diagnosed with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), oral lichen planus, autoimmune blistering diseases (ABD), and cheilitis were included. Levels of QoL among different groups of disease were compared. Various potential factors influencing QoL were evaluated. Bivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with overall and specific aspects of QoL. The mean total COMDQ-15 score was 20.83 ± 10.07. The highest scores were in the physical discomfort domain (8.76 ± 4.65), while the lowest was in the medication and treatment domain (2.13 ± 1.99). Physical discomfort was significantly associated with gender, major RAS, and cheilitis. Social and emotional aspects were significantly associated with age and ABD, while patient support was linked to employment status, RAS types, and cheilitis. The Indonesian version of the COMDQ-15 is a valid and reliable tool for assessing QoL in patients with COMDs.

Factors Impacting Quality of Life in a Group of Iranian Patients in Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Following Treatment?

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of treatment on the quality of life of patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases. Specifically, the study aimed to determine how treatment affects the changes in the quality of life of these patients. This descriptive study involved 220 patients diagnosed with chronic oral mucosal lesions. Data were collected using the Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire, validated for use in Persian/Farsi. The study population was selected through convenience sampling. Data analysis employed descriptive statistical methods, including frequency and percentage distribution tables, graphs, measures of central tendency, and dispersion. Additionally, confidence intervals were utilized for the studied ratios and indices. Among the study population, 129 (58.6%) were male and 91 (41.4%) were female. The mean quality of life, as assessed by the utilized questionnaire, was 61.9 ± 13.2. The results indicated that females and unemployed individuals reported lower quality of life compared to males and employed individuals, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In the population studied the quality of life of patients with chronic mucous membrane diseases was influenced by various factors, including gender, income, employment, and place of residence.

New Progress in the Combined Treatment of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Oral Lichen Planus

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic oral mucosal disease, with a complex etiology and difficult treatment. [1] This article reviews the new progress of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment for oral lichen planus, including Western medicine treatment methods, traditional Chinese medicine treatment concepts, specific plans for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment, as well as their advantages and mechanisms of action. It also looks forward to future research directions.

Identification of the differentially expressed activated memory CD4+ T-cells-related genes and ceRNAs in oral lichen planus

BackgroundOral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic oral mucosal disease with 1.4 % malignant transformation rate, and its etiology especially immune pathogenesis remains unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the immune cells related molecular underlying the pathophysiology of OLP through bioinformatics analysis. MethodsThe dataset GSE52130 obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was conducted a comprehensive analysis in this study. The CIBERSORTx was used for investigating immune cells infiltration. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene ontology (GO) enrichment were performed for exploring the biological functions and gene annotation. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) were constructed by STRING database and visualized by Cytoscape software. The cytohubba plugin was utilized for screening hub genes. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed for evaluating diagnostic value of hub genes. The miRNAs, lncRNAs and drugs were respectively predicted by NetworkAnalyst, miRTarbase, ENCORI, and DGIdb database. ResultsThis study identified 595 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The GSEA indicated keratinization, innate immune system and biological oxidation were involved in OLP. GO analysis showed extracellular matrix and keratinocyte were mainly enriched. And we found the activated memory CD4+ T cells were lowly infiltrated in OLP. We identified 101 activated memory CD4+ T-cells-related DEGs. Three hub genes (APP, IL1B, TF) were selected. APP and IL1B were significantly up-regulated, whereas TF was down-regulated in OLP. The three hub genes show high diagnostic value in OLP. Additionally, they were involved in MAPK signal, NF-kappaB signal and iron metabolism in OLP. What's more, NEAT1/XIST - miR - 15a - 5p/miR - 155–5p - APP/IL1B signal axis was focused in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. In addition, 35 drugs were predicted for OLP. ConclusionThree activated memory CD4+ T-cells-related DEGs were identified by integrative analysis. It may provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of OLP and suggest potential therapeutic targets for OLP.

Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer in Saudi Arabia: An Epidemiological Review of the Literature.

Background: Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are a group of chronic oral mucosal diseases associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation. Multiple studies have investigated the prevalence of these conditions in multiple regions; however, there are limited data about the prevalence of OPMDs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This paper aims to review the prevalence of OPMDs in the KSA, to ensure better understanding of the population risk and propose a more standardised approach to the diagnosis and management of this group across the KSA. In addition, this review will discuss the prevalence of oral cancer in the KSA, considering independent risk factors for oral cancer development. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Medline, Medscape, ScienceDirect, StatPearls, BMC Oral Health and the Cochrane Library were searched with the keywords "Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders"; "Saudi Arabia"; and "Oral Cancer". Identified articles were reviewed independently by 2 reviewers against defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: 16 studies were included in this review. The prevalence of OPMDs in KSA varies significantly depending on age, gender, social habits, background disease and dental status. Conclusions: This review highlights the need for up-to-date data on the prevalence, distribution, and characteristics of OPMDs in KSA. The diverse prevalence rates and distinct characteristics of various OPMDs emphasise the necessity for targeted preventive measures. As the data on OPMDs in KSA remains limited, future research efforts should prioritise the establishment of comprehensive epidemiological studies to inform effective public health interventions in this region.

PDE12 disrupts mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and mediates mitochondrial dysfunction to induce oral mucosal epithelial barrier damage in oral submucous fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic oral mucosal disease. The pathological changes of OSF include epithelial damage and subepithelial matrix fibrosis. This study aimed to reveal the epithelial injury mechanism of OSF. A histopathological method was used to analyze oral mucosal tissue from OSF patients and OSF rats. The expression of PDE12 in the oral epithelium was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tight junction proteins in arecoline-treated HOKs were explored by western blotting. Epithelial leakage was assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance and lucifer yellow permeability. The expression of PDE12 and the mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) were evaluated in arecoline-induced HOKs. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes and ATP content were also explored in HOKs. The results showed significant overexpression of PDE12 in oral mucosal tissue from OSF patients and rats. PDE12 was also overexpressed and aggregated in mitochondria in arecoline-induced HOKs, resulting in dysfunction of OXPHOS and impaired mitochondrial function. An EMT, disruption of tight junctions with epithelial leakage, and extracellular matrix remodeling were also observed. PDE12 overexpression induced by PDE12 plasmid transfection enhanced the mtROS level and interfered with occludin protein localization in HOKs. Interestingly, knockdown of PDE12 clearly ameliorated arecoline-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and epithelial barrier dysfunction in HOKs. Therefore, we concluded that overexpression of PDE12 impaired mitochondrial OXPHOS and mitochondrial function and subsequently impaired epithelial barrier function, ultimately leading to OSF. We suggest that PDE12 may be a new potential target against OSF.

Does Pemphigus Vulgaris Affect Oral Health Related Quality of Life?

Abstract Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic disease affecting oral mucosa. Oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) is defined as a multidimensional construct that reflects comfort of people when eating, sleeping and engaging in social interaction, self-esteem, and satisfaction with respect to their oral health. The aim of this study was to measure OHRQoL and its correlation with disease severity of patients with PV. In this cross-sectional study, OHRQoL was measured by chronic oral mucosal disease questionnaire (COMDQ) in 72 patients (45.91 ± 11.45 years old) with PV include 45 (62.5%) women and 27 (37.5%). Finally, the obtained data were analyzed by statistical software. The mean total score of COMDQ in patients with PV was 72.41 ± 9.23. Moreover, mean daily dose of prednisolone corticosteroid was 0.619±0.395 mg/kg. COMDQ score in women was significantly higher than men (P&lt;0.001). COMDQ total scores significantly correlated with daily dose of corticosteroid (P&lt;0.001). Our study suggested that OHRQoL in patients with PV was not acceptable, and it was worse in the female gender that have more severe disease. Therefore, medical management of the underlying disease, as well as social and emotional care facilities seem necessary to improve OHRQoL in PV patients. Keywords: Pemphigus vulgaris, Oral health, Quality of life

IMPROVEMENT OF ORTHOPEDIC CARE FOR MILITARY PERSONAL DURING WARTIME

In the current situation of Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the dental health of military personnel is a key concern. Poor dental health impacts the overall well-being of the military, which in turn affects combat tasks and quality of life. Various studies show that 90% of military personnel require dental care. The aim of our study was to analyze reasons for military personnel to seek orthopedic dental care and to carefully select construction materials for dental prostheses, taking into account clinical presentation and accompanying diseases. We conducted an examination of 92 military personnel receiving treatment in a hospital and on rotation in the Poltava region from April 2022 to January 2023. Out of this group, 52 people sought orthopedic help for the first time, while 40 people had previously undergone prosthetic treatment with fixed dental appliences that were removed due to non-compliance with clinical requirements. Chronic periodontal and oral mucosal diseases were diagnosed in 84 participants, and teeth were extracted for 37 individuals due to complications of periodontitis and periodontitis. To address these issues, we selected thermoplastic material Acron, manufactured by Roko (Poland), as the ideal material for partial removable prostheses. This material is biologically inert to the tissues of the prosthetic bed and enabled us to produce high-quality removable prostheses in two clinical visits, which is relevant for military personnel who are on rotation and receiving treatment in the hospital. In conclusion, our study provides insight into the reasons for seeking orthopedic dental care among military personnel and highlights the importance of careful selection of construction materials for dental prostheses to prevent complications and enable effective treatment in a short time.

Complicated clinical variants of mucoperiodontal lesions: desquamative gingivitis

Objective. To study the frequency, clinical and topographic features, risk factors for development, quality of primary diagnosis and treatment of desquamative gingivitis in patients with chronic pathology of the oral mucosa.&#x0D; Materials and methods. A cohort cross-sectional clinical study with elements of sociological analysis of patients (n = 314; 99 males and 215 females aged 18 to 62 years), who visited the medical advisory center for oral mucosal diseases (OMD) was conducted. According to the results of clinical and laboratory studies, the diagnosis of the main oral mucosal disease was formulated, and patients with desquamative gingivitis were isolated into a separate group. Hygienic (OHI-S) and periodontal (PMA, BoP, PBI, CPITN) indices were evaluated, and impact of oral pathology on the patients quality of life using OHIP-49-RU index was assessed for objectification of periodontal status.&#x0D; Results. High (17.8 %) incidence of desquamative gingivitis was found in patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases of predominantly autoimmune origin (lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris, erythema multiforme, psoriasis). Desquamative gingivitis develops significantly more often (60.7 %) in women and affects the vestibular surfaces of the anterior-upper dentogingival segment, manifests clinically apparent edema, pain, hemorrhagic and sensory-paresthetic symptoms, which limit the functionality of the patient (chewing, speech, oral hygiene, social communication and professional realization), that significantly reduces the key parameters of patients quality of life.&#x0D; Conclusions. The main reasons for chronization of desquamative gingivitis and low effectiveness of its treatment are the following: low level of polyclinic diagnostics, problems of differential diagnosis, the predominant use of irrational, pathogenetically unjustified means and methods of treatment, as well as the lack of interdisciplinary approaches to the planning of complex therapy.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Oral Mucosal Diseases: Reliability and Validity of Urdu Version of Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ)

The aim of the study was to translate and validate the Urdu version of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ) and measure the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Pakistani patients with chronic oral mucosal disease. One hundred and twenty patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases were recruited for this study. Two types of reliability of the COMDQ were tested. First, the internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha, and second, test-retest reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Convergent validity was assessed for testing the validity of the COMDQ by examining the correlations with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and OHIP-14 using Pearson's correlations coefficient, and a t-test was used to compare the COMDQ domains and the socio-demographic characteristics. The most prevalent chronic oral mucosal disease (COMD) among the participants was recurrent aphthous stomatitis (47.5%), and the least prevalent was oral granulomatosis (6.6%). The total mean score for COMDQ was 43.5 (SD = 18.4). It showed a high level of internal consistency (Cronbach's a = 0.81), and test-retest reliability was also good (r = 0.85). The total score of COMDQ was strongly correlated with the total score of OHIP-14 and VAS (r = 0.86 and r = 0.83), which indicated good convergent validity. The score of pain and the functional limitation domain reported a significant difference with age (p < 0.021) and employment status (p < 0.034). The Urdu version of COMDQ is an accurate, valid, and reliable instrument that can be used to assess the OHRQoL in patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases in Pakistani and other Urdu-speaking populations of different age groups.

Вплив хронічних захворювань слизової оболонки порожнини рота на якість життя пацієнтів

Actuality. Oral health (dental health) is an important factor that affects the quality of human life. Deterioration of oral cavity health adversely affects speech, chewing and swallowing, and social activities. According to the literature, the prevalence of diseases of the oral mucosa ranges from 10.8 to 61.6% in various populations with clinically significant morbidity and high prevalence among young people. Purpose: analysis of the impact of oral mucosal diseases on patients' quality of life using the COMDQ questionnaire. Materials and methods. 90 patients aged 18–62 years with lichen planus, chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis, leukoplakia and other chronic diseases of the oral mucosa participated in the study. Patients' quality of life was assessed using the COMDQ questionnaire on chronic diseases of the oral mucosa.Statistical analysis was performed using the MedStat program and Microsoft Excel; using the Student's test, statistically significant differences between indicators were determined; the Shapiro- Wilk test was used to check the distribution of the variation series for normality. Spearman's coefficient was used to assess the relationship between indicators. Results. The mean age of the patients was 36.5±26. The mean scores for the COMDQ were 1.3±0.7 for «pain and functional limitations», 1.5±0.7 for «medication and treatment», 2.3±0.9 for «society and emotional state» and 2.3±0.6 for «patient support». Conclusion. The COMDQ questionnaire is a short and informative tool for determining the quality of life of patients with chronic oral mucosal disease. Key words: chronic oral mucosal disease, quality of life, COMDQ questionnaire, indicators, correlations.

Quality of life in patients with oral potentially malignant disorders: oral lichen planus and oral epithelial dysplasia

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare quality of life (QoL) parameters in patients with oral potential malignant disorders (OPMDs), namely, oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). A cross-sectional study was completed at the oral maxillofacial surgery/oral medicine practices at University of Pennsylvania. Patients with clinical and histopathologic confirmation of OLP or OED from January to June 2021 were included in the study. The primary predictor variable was the OPMD type. The primary outcome variable was the score of 3 separate surveys: the Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire-26 (COMDQ-26), Oral Potential Malignant Disorder QoL Questionnaire (OPMDQoL), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multiple linear regression was used to determine independent predictors of increased/decreased questionnaire scores. The final study sample consisted of 100 patients:53 patients had OLP (53.0%), 39 patients had OED (39.0%), and 8 patients had OLP with OED (8.0%). Relative to OED, OLP added 15.7 points to the COMDQ-26 survey score (P < .001). Relative to OED, OLP added 8.9 points to the OPMDQoL survey score (P=.003). Oral lichen planus shows significantly poorer QoL specifically within the COMD-26 and OPMDQoL questionnaires, compared with OED. Additionally, patients with OPMDs aged 40 to 64 years were independently associated with higher COMD-26 scores compared with older patients (>65 years).

Electrospun patch delivery of anti-TNFα F(ab) for the treatment of inflammatory oral mucosal disease.

Chronic ulcerative oral mucosal inflammatory diseases, including oral lichen planus and recurrent aphthous stomatitis, are painful and highly prevalent, yet lack effective clinical management. In recent years, systemic biologic therapies, including monoclonal antibodies that block the activity of cytokines, have been increasingly used to treat a range of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The ability to deliver similar therapeutic agents locally to the oral epithelium could radically alter treatment options for oral mucosal inflammatory diseases, where pro-inflammatory cytokines, in particular tumour-necrosis factor-α (TNFα), are major drivers of pathogenesis. To address this, an electrospun dual-layer mucoadhesive patch comprising medical-grade polymers was investigated for the delivery of F(ab) biologics to the oral mucosa. A fluorescent-labelled F(ab) was incorporated into mucoadhesive membranes using electrospinning with 97% v/v ethanol as a solvent. The F(ab) was detected within the fibres in aggregates when visualised by confocal microscopy. Biotinylated F(ab) was rapidly eluted from the patch (97±5% released within 3h) without loss of antigen-binding activity. Patches applied to oral epithelium models successfully delivered the F(ab), with fluorescent F(ab) observed within the tissue and 5.1±1.5% cumulative transepithelial permeation reached after 9h. Neutralising anti-TNFα F(ab) fragments were generated from whole IgG by papain cleavage, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE, then incorporated into patches. F(ab)-containing patches had TNFα neutralising activity, as shown by the suppression of TNFα-mediated CXCL8 release from oral keratinocytes cultured as monolayers. Patches were applied to lipopolysaccharide-stimulated immune-competent oral mucosal ulcer equivalents that contained primary macrophages. Anti-TNFα patch treatment led to reduced levels of active TNFα along with a reduction in the levels of disease-implicated T-cell chemokines (CCL3, CCL5, and CXCL10) to baseline concentrations. This is the first report of an effective device for the delivery of antibody-based biologics to the oral mucosa, enabling the future development of new therapeutic strategies to treat painful conditions.

MiR-155-5p modulates inflammatory phenotype of activated oral lichen-planus-associated-fibroblasts by targeting SOCS1.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease. Cytokines are closely associated with OLP development. In addition to immune cells, fibroblasts have been reported to induce regional inflammation. MicroRNA(miR)-155-5p is reportedly increased significantly in OLP and is known to regulate inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-155-5p in fibroblasts of OLP lesions. Normal mucosal fibroblasts (NFs) and OLP associated-fibroblasts (OLP AFs) were isolated from the oral mucosa of 15 healthy controls and 30 OLP patients. We detected the expression of miR-155-5p and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP-α) using quantitative RT-PCR and analyzed their correlation. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels were determined using ELISA. Expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 was analyzed by western blotting. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to investigate the interaction between miR-155-5p and SOCS1. MiR-155-5p and FAP-α were significantly increased and positively correlated in OLP AFs. Overexpression of miR-155-5p in OLP AFs augmented IL-6 and IL-8 release and decreased SOCS1 expression, whereas knockdown of miR-155-5p in OLP AFs decreased IL-6 and IL-8 release. The expression of SOCS1 was downregulated in OLP AFs, and SOCS1 silencing augmented IL-6 and IL-8 production in OLP AFs. Furthermore, miR-155-5p inhibited SOCS1 expression by directly targeting its 3'-UTR in OLP AFs. MiR-155-5p regulates the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 by downregulating the expression of SOCS1 in activated OLP AFs. Our results provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of OLP and identify a potential new target for OLP therapy.

Oral Health, Antimicrobials and Care for Patients With Chronic Oral Diseases - A Review of Knowledge and Treatment Strategies.

Periodontal and chronic oral mucosal diseases are significant life impacting conditions which may co-exist and synergistically act to cause more severe and widespread oral pathology with enhanced challenges in effective management. Clinicians regularly observe these effects and struggle to effectively manage both problems in many patients. There is limited understanding of many basic and applied scientific elements underpinning potentially shared aetiopathological features and management. Recent developments in translational science provide an opportunity to greater improve knowledge and subsequently care for patients with these problems.

Reliability and validity of the 15-item Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire in China: A short-form instrument to measure quality of life.

Chronic oral mucosal diseases have been a common problem, which affected individuals' health and social functions seriously. Although there has been a rigorous Chinese version of the Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire (COMDQ-26) to measure the quality of life of patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases, 26 items were so redundant to be a burden for patients. It was necessary to make a brief, practical, and easy-to-use tool in China. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the short-form Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire (COMDQ-15). A total of 165 respondents from a tertiary stomatological hospital were recruited in this study from July to December, 2020. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, criterion validity, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire-15. The total Cronbach's α of 0.841 and subscale ranging from 0.736 to0.965 revealed good internal consistency of the reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficients exceeded 0.80 indicated excellent test-retest reliability. Compared with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14, the criterion validity was 0.549. The confirmatory factor analysis results supported acceptable validity of the Chinese version of Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire-15, and the exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the 15 items were classified into four domains, with a cumulative proportion of 71.52%. The Chinese version of Chronic Mucosal Diseases Questionnaire-15 is a brief and low-burden tool, and has been proved reliable and valid to assess the quality of life of patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases in China (the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (no. ChiCTR2000031607).

Systemic immune inflammation index in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

ObjectivesRecurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) a chronic idiopathic oral mucosal disease. But yet the etiology and pathogenesis of RAS are not exactly known, it is thought that inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the role of systemic inflammation among the possible etiological factors of RAS and to find the possible diagnostic correlation between Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII). MethodsPatients who were consulted the otolaryngology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with RAS between 2019–2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and SII values were calculated based on the results of complete blood count. Demographic and hematological parameters between control and RAS groups were compared. The statistical significance level was considered as <0.05. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between the control and RAS groups in terms of sex and age distributions (p = 0.566 and p = 0.173, respectively). SII, NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in the RAS group compared to the controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). A very strong correlation between SII and NLR, moderately strong correlation between SII and PLR and moderate correlation between NLR and PLR values were detected (respectively ρ: 0.813, 0.719, 0.532; p-values <0.001). ConclusionSII, NLR and PLR has significantly higher levels in the RAS group compared to the control group, that it supports the role of systemic inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of RAS. In addition, the results show that SII is a valuable marker for inflammation. Level of evidence4.

Identification of Potential Key Biomarkers and Immune Infiltration in Oral Lichen Planus.

Background Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic autoimmune oral mucosal disease that seriously affects the life quality of the patients. But till now, the exact etiology and pathogenesis of OLP remain unclear. Our study is aimed at finding the key molecules and pathways involved in the pathogenesis mechanisms of OLP, providing more effective therapeutic strategies for OLP. Methods Data from GSE52130 were downloaded from GEO datasets for analysis. Then, we carried out enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses. Next, the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to assess immune cell infiltration in OLP patients. Furthermore, we also constructed a protein-protein interaction network using STRING and Cytoscape and simultaneously sought potential transcription factors plug-in including MCODE CytoHubba and iRegulon. In addition, ROC analysis was employed to assess the diagnostic performance of these hub genes. Lastly, we identified 6 promising novel drugs to treat OLP through Connectivity Map. Results We illustrated that 255 DEGs were mainly enriched in the focal adhesion pathway and metabolism pathways. Besides, Cibersort analysis showed that M1 macrophages, T follicular helper cells, and T regulatory cells are more infiltrated in OLP samples. In addition, ROC analysis demonstrated that these hub genes owned higher diagnostic value in OLP, in which SPRR1B had the highest diagnostic value. And we also predicted that SOX7 was the most relevant transcription factor of those hub genes. Lastly, through the CMap database, we identified 6 small molecules as possible treatment drugs of OLP. Conclusion Our research identified that SPRR1B could be used as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of OLP. In addition, as a chronic autoimmune oral mucosal disease, OLP has different infiltration types of immune cells. Furthermore, 6 small molecules were proposed as promising novel treatment drugs for OLP patients. Therefore, our research may provide new impetus for the development of effective OLP biological treatment options.

Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of oral lichen planus (revision)

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic and inflammatory oral mucosal disease that commonly affects middle-aged females. Most OLP cases might exhibit such symptom as pain, roughness and other discomfort, and more severe forms may show a high risk of developing oral cancer. Active preventive measure, precise diagnosis and standard therapeutic approach play a vital role in the management and prevention of OLP. This guideline is a revision on the base of trial in 2012, which mainly covers the following 8 aspects: etiology and medical records, clinical manifestations, pathological manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, laboratory examination, disease treatment and prevention, aiming at providing scientific evidence and guidance for the dental clinicians in diagnose and treatment of OLP.