Reduction In Burning Sensation Research Articles

Aloe vera in the treatment for oral submucous fibrosis – a preliminary study

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa, mainly associated with the practice of chewing gutka and betel quid. The pathogenesis is obscure, and till date, no definitive therapy is available for the management of OSMF. Hence, this preliminary study was carried out to compare the efficacy of Aloe vera with antioxidants in the treatment for OSMF. Twenty study subjects with OSMF were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups. There were 10 patients in each group; group A subjects received 5 mg of aloe vera gel to be applied topically three times daily for 3 months and group B subjects received antioxidant capsules twice daily for 3 months. The results were analyzed with paired 't' test and unpaired 't' test. Aloe vera responded better in all the parameters assessed and responded in all the clinicohistopathological stages particularly in those with mild-stage clinically and early-stage histopathologically. Aloe vera showed a statistically significant reduction in burning sensation (P = 0.008), improvement in mouth opening (P = 0.02), and cheek flexibility (P = 0.01) on comparing with the antioxidant group. Overall assessment of the parameters depicted that Aloe vera group showed a better treatment response compared to the antioxidants group. It reduces the burning sensation and improves mouth opening thereby enhanced the patients' compliance. It proves to be a relatively safe, can be applied topically, easily available, economical, noninvasive, and efficacious in the treatment for OSMF.

A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Tacrolimus and Triamcinolone Acetonide in the Management of Symptomatic Oral Lichen Planus

Background and objectives: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common, chronic inflammatory condition, which frequently present with burning sensation. Only symptomatic OLP requires treatment and efforts are made in a continued searching for novel therapies for symptomatic OLP. Therefore, this study was aimed to compare the efficacy of treatment with topical tacrolimus ointment with that of triamcinolone acetonide ointment in subjects with symptomatic OLP. Materials and methods: This prospective randomized comparative study, included 30 symptomatic OLP subjects, divided into two groups as group A and group B to receive topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment and triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 % ointment application respectively, twice daily for four consecutive weeks. Burning sensation using visual analog scale (VAS), overall treatment response using Tel Aviv-San Francisco scale was recorded at every visit. The data obtained was analyzed statistically using Wilcoxson Rank Test, Mann Whitney and Fischer's Exact Test. Results: Subjects in both the groups showed a significant reduction in burning sensation; however, it was higher (98%) in tacrolimus group than in the triamcinolone acetonide group (72%). The overall treatment response was significantly better in tacrolimus group. Interpretation and conclusion Topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment induced better initial therapeutic response than triamcinolone acetonide 0.1 % ointment. However, relapses occurred in two subjects in group 'A' and three subjects in group 'B' after the cessation of the respective treatments. Nevertheless, at present topical tacrolimus may be a valuable addition to the already existing therapeutic modalities for treating subjects with OLP.

Lycopene in the management of oral lichen planus: A placebo-controlled study

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, and a lower level of lycopene has been reported in erosive and atrophic oral lichen planus (OLP) patients. However, its efficacy in the management of OLP has not been reported. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of systemic lycopene in the management of OLP. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was done in the Oral Medicine Department of a postgraduate teaching dental hospital in India. Thirty symptomatic OLP patients, randomly divided into two groups of 15 each, were administered lycopene 8 mg/day and an identical placebo, respectively, for 8 consecutive weeks. Burning sensation using visual analogue scale and overall treatment response using Tel Aviv-San Francisco scale were recorded at every visit. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using Wilcoxon Rank test, Mann-Whitney and Fischer's Exact test. A higher (84%) reduction in burning sensation was seen in lycopene than in the placebo group (67%). All 15 (100%) patients in the lycopene group showed 50% or more benefit and 11 (73.3%) patients showed 70-100% benefit, while this number was only 10 and 4 (26.7%), respectively, in the placebo group. Lycopene was very effective in the management of OLP, and oxidative stress may have a role in disease pathogenesis.

Levamisole and antioxidants in the management of oral submucous fibrosis: A comparative study

Background and Objectives: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic condition of the oral cavity which results in permanent disability. The pathogenesis is poorly understood and the disease is difficult to treat. OSMF is associated with immunological changes (altered levels of serum immunoglobulins) and the effect of treatment (especially antioxidants and levamisole) on serum immunoglobulins (Ig) is not known. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinical effects of levamisole (VERMISOL), and antioxidants (ANTOXID) and its effect on serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM. Meterials and Methods: Forty-five study subjects were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned into three groups. There were 15 patients in each group; group I patients received levamisole, 50 mg three times daily for three alternate weeks, group II patients received 2 capsules of antoxid daily for six weeks, group III patients received levamisole and antoxid. The results were analyzed with paired 't' test and unpaired 't' test. Results: The results indicated that levamisole, antoxid and the combination of levamisole and antoxid showed significant improvement in mouth opening and reduction in burning sensation. Significant reduction of serum IgG, IgA and IgM was seen in the levamisole group and combination group whereas in the antoxid group significant reduction was observed only in serum IgA and IgM. Interpretation and Conclusion: Levamisole can bring about clinical improvement and is better than antoxid and the combination regimen. The addition of antoxid to the treatment regimen does not seem to have an added advantage over levamisole alone.

Introducing solid foods: Strategies and response

To evaluate effect of ice-cream stick exercise regimen with or without a mouth-exercising device (MED) on mucosal burning sensation in oral submucous fibrosis.In total, 282 patients with oral submucous fibrosis were treated with topical corticosteroid and oral antioxidant and the ice-cream stick exercise regimen. Patients in subgroups A1, A2, and A3 were additionally given a new MED. Patients in subgroups A1 and B1 patients with interincisal distance (IID) of 20 to 35 mm were managed without any additional therapy; patients in subgroups A2 and B2 with IID of 20 to 35 mm were additionally managed with intralesional injections; and those in subgroups A3 and B3 with IID less than 20 mm were managed surgically. Subjective evaluation of decrease in the oral mucosal burning was measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple post hoc analysis were carried out to present the results.Patients using the MED, that is, subgroups A1, A2, and A3, showed reduction in burning sensation in the range of 64.8% to 71.1% and 27.8% to 30.9%, whereas in subgroups B1, B2, and B3, reduction in burning sensation ranged from 64.7% to 69.9% and from 29.3% to 38.6% after 6 months. The wo-way analysis of variance indicated statistically significant results in changes in initial VAS scores to 6-monthly VAS scores between MED users and non-MED users.The MED helps to enhance the rate of reduction of mucosal burning sensation, in addition to the conventional ice-cream stick regimen, as an adjunct to local and surgical treatment.