Mouth Research Articles

Dysbiosis–NK Cell Crosstalk in Pancreatic Cancer: Toward a Unified Biomarker Signature for Improved Clinical Outcomes

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis, primarily due to its immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which contributes to treatment resistance. Recent research shows that the microbiome, including microbial communities in the oral cavity, gut, bile duct, and intratumoral environments, plays a key role in PDAC development, with microbial imbalances (dysbiosis) promoting inflammation, cancer progression, therapy resistance, and treatment side effects. Microbial metabolites can also affect immune cells, especially natural killer (NK) cells, which are vital for tumor surveillance, therapy response and treatment-related side effects. Dysbiosis can affect NK cell function, leading to resistance and side effects. We propose that a combined biomarker approach, integrating microbiome composition and NK cell profiles, can help predict treatment resistance and side effects, enabling more personalized therapies. This review examines how dysbiosis contributes to NK cell dysfunction in PDAC and discusses strategies (e.g., antibiotics, probiotics, vaccines) to modulate the microbiome and enhance NK cell function. Targeting dysbiosis could modulate NK cell activity, improve the effectiveness of PDAC treatments, and reduce side effects. However, further research is needed to develop unified NK cell–microbiome interaction-based biomarkers for more precise and effective patient outcomes.

Development and Evaluation of an Automated Multimodal Mobile Detection of Oral Cancer (mDOC) Imaging System to Aid in Risk-based Management of Oral Mucosal Lesions

Abstract Oral cancer is a major global health problem. It is commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage although often preceded by clinically visible oral mucosal lesions, termed oral potentially malignant disorders associated with an increased risk for oral cancer development. There is an unmet clinical need for effective screening tools to assist front-line healthcare providers to determine which patients should be referred to an oral cancer specialist for evaluation. This study reports the development and evaluation of the mobile Detection of Oral Cancer (mDOC) imaging system and an automated algorithm that generates a referral recommendation from mDOC images. mDOC is a smartphone-based autofluorescence and white light imaging tool that captures images of the oral cavity. Data were collected with mDOC from a total of 332 oral sites in a study of 29 healthy volunteers and 120 patients seeking care for an oral mucosal lesion. A multimodal image classification algorithm was developed to generate a recommendation of “Refer” or “Do Not Refer” from mDOC images, using expert clinical referral decision as the ground truth label. A referral algorithm was developed using cross-validation methods on 80% of the dataset, then retrained and evaluated on a separate holdout test set. Referral decisions generated in the holdout test set had a sensitivity of 93.9% and a specificity of 79.3% with respect to expert clinical referral decisions. The mDOC system has the potential to be utilized in community physicians’ and dentists’ offices to help identify patients who need further evaluation by an oral cancer specialist.

The Effect of Oral Microbiota on the Severity and Prognosis of Stroke

The microbiome of the oral cavity plays an important role in the development and progression of various somatic diseases, including stroke. Studies show that bacteria living in the oral cavity can enter the bloodstream and contribute to inflammatory processes, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. It was found that in 79% of the studied stroke-related blood clots, DNA of bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity, such as streptococci of the Viridans species, was found. Periodontal pathogenic microorganisms can cause chronic inflammation and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, which is one of the main risk factors for stroke. Dysbiosis of the oral cavity is also associated with an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines, which can worsen the condition of blood vessels and increase the likelihood of thrombosis. Thus, maintaining oral health and timely treatment of dental diseases can have a significant impact on reducing the risk of stroke. Understanding the relationship between the oral microbiome and the state of the cardiovascular system opens up new horizons for the development of preventive measures and therapeutic approaches to the treatment of patients at high risk of stroke.

Predictors of drooling severity in people with Parkinson's disease.

Drooling, defined as the unintentional loss of saliva from the anterior oral cavity, remains poorly understood in terms of the underlying clinical factors in people with Parkinson's disease (PwP). This study aims to clarify these factors by analyzing predictors and secondarily the correlates with the severity of drooling in PwP. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 42 PwP with drooling and 59 without drooling. Clinical assessments were performed, and the primary outcome was the item 2.2 Saliva and drooling of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare thedistribution differences in clinical variables between PwP with and without drooling. The Spearman test was used to examine correlations with drooling, and ordinal logistic regression was used to examine predictors of drooling. PwP with drooling showed significantly greater impairments in axial signs, posture, facial expression, speech, swallowing, oromotor, motor and non-motor domains than PwP without drooling. Longer disease duration, higher disease severity, levodopa equivalent daily dose, axial signs, unstimulated salivary flow rate, and impairments in speech, posture, facial expression, swallowing, oromotor, motor and non-motor domains were significantly correlated with a higher score on the item 2.2. Male sex, poorer swallowing, oromotor and speech functions were strong predictors of higher scores on the item 2.2 Saliva and drooling. Male PwP with swallowing disorders, oromotor and speech impairments are significantly more likely to have severe drooling. Targeted interventions aimed at these swallowing, oromotor, and speech impairments may offer promising approaches to reducing drooling severity in PwP.

Immune responses of cattle vaccinated by various routes with Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)

BackgroundMycobacterium bovis BCG is the human tuberculosis vaccine and is the oldest vaccine still in use today with over 4 billion people vaccinated since 1921. The BCG vaccine has also been investigated experimentally in cattle and wildlife by various routes including oral and parenteral. Thus far, oral vaccination studies of cattle have involved liquid BCG or liquid BCG incorporated into a lipid matrix. Lyophilization is an established technique used for stabilizing bioproducts such as vaccines.MethodsIn the current study, cattle were vaccinated in two phases. In each phase, cattle were divided into three groups. Group 1 received BCG injected SQ, Group 2 received liquid BCG delivered to the posterior oral cavity, Group 3 orally consumed lyophilized BCG contained within a gelatin capsule placed within a small amount of a commercial alfalfa product.ResultsNo vaccinated cattle were positive by an interferon gamma release assay. All but 4 animals were negative by tuberculin skin testing prior to vaccination: the 4 non-negative animals being categorized as suspects. Sixteen weeks post-vaccination all but 1 animal was negative, it being categorized as a suspect. An in vitro antigen stimulation assay and flow cytometry were used to detect antigen-specific CD4, CD8 and γδ T cell responses following vaccination. Oral vaccination of animals with lyophilized BCG did not result in any increases in the frequency of CD4, CD8 or γδ T cell proliferative or IFN-γ responses at any of the time points analyzed in either phase 1 or 2. In contrast, vaccination with BCG SQ and liquid BCG delivered to the posterior pharynx, resulted in an increase in the frequency of proliferating and IFN-γ-producing CD4 T cells with peak responses at 9–12 weeks post-vaccination. Similar to oral lyophilized BCG vaccinated animals, we did not observe any significant increases in the frequency of CD8 and γδ T cell proliferative and IFN-γ responses following SQ or oral liquid vaccinated animals.ConclusionsThese data would suggest that vaccination with oral lyophilized BCG does not induce a measurable, antigen-specific cell mediated responses in the periphery, when compared to BCG administered SQ or liquid BCG administered via the oral route. However, vaccination with either SQ or liquid BCG delivered to the posterior pharynx does induce measurable CD4 T cell responses in the periphery.

Deep Neck Infections. Review of 111 cases.

<b>Introduction:</b> Deep neck infections (DNI) are potentially life-threatening conditions. The infections are commonly polymicrobial, and develop as a result of oral cavity infections, tonsilitis, laryngitis, trauma, or malignancy. Timely diagnostics and management are essential to prevent severe complications such as airway obstruction, sepsis or mediastinitis. Our study highlights the clinical characteristics of DNI etiology, complications, and treatment outcomes.<b>Aim:</b> This study aimed to provide a structured overview of a cohort of 111 patients with deep neck infection, comprising patient characteristics, etiology, clinical imaging, and complications along with the prognosis according to the used therapeutic strategy.<b>Methods:</b> This is a retrospective analysis of 111 patients who were hospitalized with DNI. We evaluated the demographics, clinical presentation, microbiological findings, and treatment outcomes. Statistical analyses including Pearson's chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test, independent-samples Kruskal-Wallis test and binary logistic regression were used to asses our data.<b>Results:</b> There was a predominance of male patients (62.2%) in our cohort. We found an increased DNI incidence over life in the middle-to-older age groups. The median patient age was 53 for male patients and 55 for female patients. The median hospital stay in our study was 10 days. Odontogenic infections were the leading etiology (37.8%), followed by complications of tonsillitis (23.4%) and phlegmonous laryngitis (12.6%). As many as 38.7% of patients had the following complications: airway obstruction in 25.2%, mediastinitis 10.8%, and sepsis 5.4%. The most commonly used antibiotics were ceftriaxone + metronidazole (28.8%) and amoxiclav (13.5%). The most common bacterium found in swab cultures was Streptococcus constellatus, and complications were more common in patients with a positive culture for <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>. Antibacterial resistance was found in 28.8% of the specimens. There was a significant association between antibiotic resistance and complication rates (P<0.05).

Limosilactobacillus reuteri AJCR4: A Potential Probiotic in the Fight Against Oral Candida spp. Biofilms

Oral candidiasis is one of the most common infections in the immunocompromised. Biofilms of Candida species can make treatments difficult, leading to oral infection recurrence. This research aimed to isolate a Lactobacillus with anti-Candida effects from the oral cavity. An oral Lactobacillus was isolated in caries-free individuals. The best isolate was evaluated against Candida spp. planktonic and biofilm forms. The bacterial impacts on Candida biofilms’ adhesion to acrylic discs were analyzed through an in vitro test. L. reuteri AJCR4 had the best anti-Candida activity in the preliminary screening. Results were promising in both planktonic and biofilms, particularly with C. albicans SC5314 and C. tropicalis ATCC750, where no viable cells were detected when using the cell-free supernatant (undiluted). In C. glabrata ATCC2001 and C. parapsilosis ATCC22019 biofilms, reductions of 3 Log10 and more than 2 Log10, respectively, were noted when using a cell suspension of L. reuteri ACJR4 (108 CFU/mL). On polymethyl methacrylate acrylic discs, the cell-free supernatant reduced Candida adhesion, resulting in no viable cell detection on the surface. In conclusion, L. reuteri AJCR4 demonstrated notable antifungal activity against Candida biofilms. This oral isolate and its postbiotic can be a potential alternative strategy to oral candidiasis, especially to treat recalcitrant infections.

Review of Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12 in the Prevention and Modulation of Viral Infections

The discovery and application of bacteriocin-producing probiotics, such as Streptococcus salivarius K12 (BLIS K12), represent significant advances in the prevention and management of bacterial infections, particularly in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. Originally developed for its bacteriocin-mediated inhibition of the important bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, BLIS K12 has more recently also demonstrated potential in the modulation and prevention of viral infections, including COVID-19. Emerging evidence also suggests a broader role for BLIS K12 in immune regulation, with implications for controlling hyperinflammatory responses and enhancing mucosal immunity. Of particular interest is recent work indicating that BLIS K12 can modulate antibody responses against viral antigens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, positioning it as a unique adjunct in managing viral infections. This review chronicles the pathway of BLIS K12’s probiotic development, emphasizing its relevant bacteriocin mechanisms, oral health applications, emerging antiviral properties, and potential broader health benefits through immune modulation, all of which position it as a significant non-pharmacological adjunct in managing respiratory and immune health

Oral biomechanical feature recognition method and system for vocal pronunciation resonance

This paper discusses a vocal pronunciation resonance recognition method based on oral biomechanical features, aiming to collect the movement data inside the oral cavity through high-precision sensors, and combine support vector machines and convolutional neural networks to achieve precise recognition and optimization of pronunciation resonance features. First, by using high-precision sensors such as tongue position sensors and soft palate movement sensors, key biomechanical data such as tongue position, oral morphology and soft palate movement of singers during pronunciation are obtained in real-time. Then, feature extraction and analysis are performed to extract biomechanical features such as movement amplitude, frequency, and speed of oral organs, and a resonance feature recognition model is constructed using support vector machines and convolutional neural networks to recognize and optimize the resonance area during pronunciation. Finally, this paper designs and develops an automated recognition system that can provide real-time feedback on the singer’s pronunciation data, and provide personalized training suggestions based on the recognition results to optimize the pronunciation resonance effect. The experimental results show that the resonance recognition method based on biomechanical data can significantly improve the accuracy and personalization of pronunciation, and help improve the efficiency and scientificity of vocal training. The system has good stability, with a response time of less than 500 ms and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) usage rate of no more than 70%. This method provides effective technical support for the digitalization and personalized optimization of vocal pronunciation, and has high practical value and promotion potential.

The Prevalence and Intensity of Dental Diseases Among Workers with Dangerous Working Conditions, Depending on the Presence or Absence of Previous Oral Sanitation

Relevance: to substantiate programs for the prevention of dental diseases at nuclear industry enterprises with dangerous working conditions, comparative studies of the dental status of employees, depending on the presence or absence of previous oral sanitation, are relevant. The purpose of the study: clinical and radiological comparison of indicators of the dental status of nuclear power plant workers with hazardous working conditions (OT), depending on the presence or absence of previous oral sanitation. Materials and methods: 78 employees of the Kalinin nuclear power plant with dangerous working conditions in the key age group of 35–44 years, who underwent therapeutic and surgical sanitation of the oral cavity a year ago, were examined. For comparison, 69 workers with OT of an identical gender and age group who refused to sanitize the oral cavity during periodic medical examinations were examined. The sequence of clinical and radiological examination corresponded to the modified WHO Dental Status Assessment Map (1995). Results: the positive effect of oral sanitation due to the removal of destroyed teeth, treatment of caries and its complications, as well as periodontal diseases is to reduce the prevalence of signs of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint by 52.5 %, non-carious offspring 22.7 %, diseases of the oral mucosa 24.1 %, periodontal diseases 6.0 %. As a result of sanitation, the detection of poor oral hygiene is reduced by 54.7 %. The intensity of caries and periodontal diseases a year after sanitation is 12.8 and 27.8 % lower in comparison with workers with an unsanitized oral cavity. After rehabilitation, the prevalence of orthopedic treatment increases by 43.4 %. Conclusions: oral sanitation significantly improves the basic indicators of dental status for workers with dangerous working conditions at nuclear power plants. The positive effect of oral sanitation is largely preserved after a year in comparison with non-sanitized workers. Oral sanitation at the age of 35–44 years does not affect the prevalence of caries.

Spatio-Temporal Change of Skin and Oral Microbiota: A Longitudinal Study of Microbial Diversity and Stability.

The human skin and oral cavity harbor complex microbial communities, which exist in dynamic equilibrium with the host's physiological state and the external environment. This study investigates the microbial atlas of human skin and oral cavities using samples collected over a 10-month period, aiming to assess how both internal and external factors influence the human microbiome. We examined bacterial community diversity and stability across various body sites, including palm and nasal skin, saliva, and oral epithelial cells, during environmental changes and a COVID-19 pandemic. The skin microbiome was confirmed to display spatial and temporal stability compared to the oral microbiome, particularly the oral epithelium, which was susceptible to changes in the host's physiological state and immune response. Moreover, significant differences in the microbial community structure among the 4 sample types were observed, and 87 distinct bacteria biomarkers were identified. The random forest prediction model achieved an overall prediction accuracy of 95.24% across the four types of samples studied. Additionally, nasal skin samples showed significant promise for individual identification through profiling the skin microbiota. These findings highlight the potential of skin and oral microbiota as forensic markers for inferring body sites and identifying individuals. In summary, despite facing limitations such as a small cohort size and the need for broader validation, this research provides an overall perspective and initial insights for refining experimental designs and conducting in-depth research in various microbial research fields.

Development and Treatment of Radicular Cyst in Pediatric Patient—Case Report

Background: Inflammation in the periapical area of primary teeth can affect the development and eruption of permanent teeth. In an asymptomatic course, they are detected accidentally during routine examinations. In such cases, they often reach significant dimensions and cause irreversible changes. Methods: This report presents the case of a 9-year-old boy with a radicular cyst in the mandible, resulting in the displacement of both premolar tooth buds. To address the inflammation, facilitate the proper eruption of the impacted teeth, and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting, the primary molars were extracted. Marsupialization was performed under general anesthesia, followed by the fabrication and placement of an obturator. Results: Two months after treatment, the displaced tooth buds began aligning along the natural eruption pathway. By the 8-month follow-up, the premolars had successfully erupted into their proper positions in the oral cavity. Conclusions: Marsupialization combined with the use of an obturator is an effective first-line treatment for radicular cysts in pediatric patients, offering a conservative approach that promotes natural tooth eruption while preserving the surrounding dentition.

Incidence Trends in Head and Neck Cancer Subsites: A National Population-Based Study (2001-2020).

This descriptive epidemiological study aims to investigate trends in head and neck cancer (HNC) within the anatomical divisions of laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and oral cavity cancers over the past two decades. Retrospective population-based observational study. Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom, with a population of 5.5 million. Newly diagnosed HNC patients in Scotland registered in the Scottish Cancer Registry from 2001 to 2020. Trends in age-standardised incidence rates from 2001 to 2020 for each HNC subsite, anatomical division, and individual sociodemographic using joinpoint regression analysis and Poisson regression analysis. Overall, HNC incidence rates have remained stable, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 0.29% (p = 0.34). However, oropharyngeal cancer showed a significant increase in incidence rates with an AAPC of 3.76% (p < 0.001); the tonsils (C09) and the base of the tongue (C01) experienced the greatest increases in AAPC of 4.63% (p = 0.001) and 4.79% (p < 0.001), respectively. Conversely, laryngeal cancer rates declined significantly, with an AAPC of -2.56% (p < 0.001). This decline was primarily influenced by annual reductions of -2.40% (p = 0.09) in cancers affecting the glottis (C32.0). Incidence rates for oral cavity cancer remained mostly stable, with an AAPC of -0.60% (p = 0.08). This analysis highlights that behind a stable HNC incidence rate over the past 20 years, there are differential trends among various anatomical divisions with an overall increasing burden of oropharyngeal cancer and declining rates of laryngeal cancer.

Epidemiological Features of HPV-Associated Cancer in situ of Various Localization

Relevance. In Russia and abroad, the incidence of cancer in situ (CIS) of the breast and cervix is most widely represented, the epidemiological features of this neoplasia of other localizations have not been studied sufficiently. Among them, a significant place is occupied by a group of malignant neoplasms in situ associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which have common etiopathogenetic mechanisms of development.The aim of the study was to determine the structure, as well as the incidence and mortality rates from HPV-associated cancer in situ among the population of St. Petersburg.Material and methods. The research materials included cases of cancer in situ of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, anal canal, vulva, vagina, cervix and penis in St. Petersburg in the period 2001 –2023. The calculation of the indicators was carried out according to the data of form No. 7 «Information on malignant neoplasms» and archival materials of the Population Cancer Registry of St. Petersburg. The analysis included 1952 cases of the disease and 50 deaths from malignant neoplasms, initially registered as cancer in situ. Research methods: retrospective epidemiological analysis and statistical methods.The results of the study. In the structure of in situ cancer associated with HPV, among the male population, the largest proportion was occupied by CIS of the larynx and penis (36.4% each), among the female population – cervix (94.9%). The average long-term incidence of cancer in situ of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, anal canal, vagina and penis was less than 0.1 per 100 thousand of the population with the maximum incidence in the age group of 50-69 years. From 2001 to 2023 in St. Petersburg, the incidence of cervical CIS decreased significantly from 6.86 to 1.17 per 100 thousand. the female population (p = 0.001), while since 2004, the highest incidence rate has been recorded annually in the 30 –39 age group. From 2001 to 2023, 11 cases (31.4% of all CIS localities) among males and 39 cases (27.7% of all CIS cases) among the female population became the cause of death from HPV-associated ZNO, initially registered as cancer in situ of the corresponding localizations.Conclusion. As a result of the study, epidemiological features of morbidity and mortality from HPVassociated cancer in situ of various localization in the conditions of St. Petersburg were established.

FORDYCE GRANULES AS A POTENTIAL CHAIRSIDE CLINICAL PREDICTOR FOR HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Fordyce’s granules (FGs) are ectopic sebaceous glands commonly located in the oral cavity, appearing most frequently on the buccal mucosa, vermilion border of the lips, and occasionally in the retromolar areas. Owing to its lipid content, there has been conjecture regarding a potential connection between FGs and dyslipidemia, a disorder characterized by elevated lipid levels that may be linked to ectopic lipid deposits in different tissues. Aim: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to ascertain whether Fordyce's granules could be used as a chair side clinical marker to identify those who are at risk for dyslipidemia. Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out at Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals in Chennai over the course of a year, from June 2023 to May 2024. 100 adult dental patients between the ages of 18 and 60 were examined clinically by an oral medicine specialist to determine whether Fordyce granules were present. Every participant had their blood drawn in order to determine their lipid levels. Analysis was performed on the data to determine predictors for hypercholesterolemia. Results: Patients with detectable oral FG had a mean age of 50.2 ± 12.3 years. A mean total cholesterol of 250.3 ± 41.7 mg/dL (p &lt;0.001) and mean HDL cholesterol value of 42.0 ± 8.1 mg/dL (p &lt; 0.05) were seen to be associated with presence of FG with statistical significance. The odds ratio (1.083) indicates that for every unit increase in TC, the odds of FG increase by 8.3%. Conclusion: The presence of oral Fordyce granules may indicate increased total cholesterol predisposing individuals to hypercholesterolemia. Factors such as age, smoking, and diabetes mellitus showed no association between Fordyce granules and lipid profiles.Previously regarded as a normal anatomical variation, fordyce granules should be considered in conjunction with other risk factors to identify possible dyslipidemia.

Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of a complex herbal remedy for the prevention of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity

The article presents the results of testing the herbal-based mouthwash «Art-Dentale Expert» for compliance with regulatory requirements, including safety analysis, packaging, and labeling. The study aimed to evaluate the mouthwash’s safety and consumer satisfaction through a questionnaire survey. Findings. The «Art-Dentale Expert» mouthwash complies with the standards TRCU 009/2011 «On the Safety of Perfumery and Cosmetic Products». A survey of 70 patients with mild chronic generalized periodontitis showed significant reductions in gum bleeding and good tolerability of the product. However, 34 % of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the need to dilute solution the mouthwash before use. Conclusions. The product meets various regulatory standards, including requirements for appearance, pH, toxic element content, microbial safety, packaging, and labeling. It can be recommended for use in the comprehensive treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis. Positive attributes noted by respondents included taste (87.14 %), smell (63.16 %), a pleasant feeling after use (92.86 %), gum recovery (90 %), reduction in gum bleeding (100 %), tolerability (97.14 %), and rapid therapeutic effects (72.86 %). No adverse effects were reported, but the dilution requirement was a notable drawback for some users.

CYSTIC LESIONS OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS(Report of 3 cases)

At least one-third of cystic salivary gland lesions are neoplastic. Cystic lesion of the salivary gland requires only surgery, because regardless of the type and location, drug therapy is not possible with this diagnosis.. If the cystic neoplasm is localized in a hard-to-reach place and if it is localized in the parotid gland, the surgical manipulation is performed from the outside, it is removed simultaneously with the parenchyma of the salivary gland. The FNA specimens from salivary gland cystic lesions can be no informative very often, because FNA of these lesions demonstrates hypocellular mucinous material contents, possibly with inflammatory cells and also scant epithelial cells. For example, the presence of mucin and admixed lymphocytes in cyst fluid can be demonstrated both in the benign inflammatory cysts and cystic neoplasms. A definitive diagnosis of cystic neoplasms of the salivary glands is possible only through histological examination of the neoplastic tissue. Prevention of cystic neoplasms of the salivary gland consists of preventing injuries and inflammations of the oral cavity, careful hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. This article presents cases of the salivary glands cystic neoplasms, which are the clinical interest.

The Dermatologic Oral Examination and Biopsy: A Guide for Incorporation into Everyday Practice.

Many dermatologic and systemic disorders present with oral manifestations. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve patient outcomes. Medical, dermatology, and dentistry training in disorders of the oral mucosa is significantly lacking and has created a practice gap in diagnosing and treating oral mucosal disorders. Disorders of the oral mucosa fall under the purview of dermatology. It is the responsibility of dermatologists to incorporate oral examinations into the "complete" dermatologic exam to help bridge this gap. Part I of this two-part CME series reviews normal oral anatomy, provides a step-by-step dermatologic oral examination guide, and provides guidance in the performance of oral biopsies.

Inactivation of S. mutans dental biofilm by using Cold Atmospheric Plasma

Abstract S. mutans cells in oral cavity could adhere to surfaces of the teeth form the bacterial biofilm, strongly resist daily cleaning and brushing. The growth of the bacterial protected by the biofilm may lead to dental plaque formation and tooth decay. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) generated from a capillary-guided corona discharge is investigated for the inactivation of Streptococcus mutans biofilm associated with dental caries. The plasma device was optimised to generate a 4-mm plasma plume while maintaining a temperature near to ambient. The heat generated was not susceptible to thermal damage for the biofilm, as well as the oral cavity. Through experimental evaluations, the gaseous plasma plume from the CAP with a treatment durations of up to 15 minutes were responsible in reducing the S. mutans biofilm. The highest removal was achieved after 15-minute of CAP treatment. The results shown that a log-reduction of 3.08 of the cells in the S. mutans biofilm was killed during the treatment. The 10-minute treatment demonstrated a high value of log reduction at 1.79 compared to the control well. The efficacy is found to be strongly correlated to treatment duration whereby at the minimum duration of 1 minute treatment resulted a log reduction of 0.23. The outcomes of this research highlight CAP as a promising and safe approach for combating S. mutans biofilm. By offering a non-thermal alternative to traditional antimicrobial methods, CAP presents an opportunity to minimize harm to healthy tissues while effectively targeting biofilm.

Symptoms at population Eliciting Doses ≤ED05 for 11 priority allergenic foods are mild to moderate.

Insight into symptoms at low doses of protein from priority allergenic foods may support decision making and acceptance of harmonized reference doses for Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL). Symptoms were extracted from double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges underlying the full range Eliciting Dose (ED) distributions (Houben et al., 2020). Frequency and severity were analyzed at and below doses to which a maximum 10% of the allergic population is predicted to respond with objective symptoms (ED10). Detailed symptom descriptions at every dose were recorded for 1102 food challenges with 11 allergenic foods. At doses ≤ED10, generally, 1 to 2 symptoms, either objective or subjective, occurred per positive challenge (average 1.8±1.2, range 1-8). Symptoms were mostly (68%) subjective of nature. Most objective symptoms were in the skin (60-71%; e.g. flush, erythema), followed by eyes/nose and oral cavity (rhinorrhea, red eyes, lip swelling). Far less symptoms (approx. 5-8%) occurred in the gastrointestinal (vomiting) and respiratory tract (cough). Symptoms were graded mild to moderate, except for 2 cases of a severe symptom (wheeze, laryngeal edema), which occurred at a dose above the ED05 (approximately the ED08). Exposure ≤ED05 of priority allergenic foods resulted only in mild to moderate symptoms in a small proportion of the allergic population.