Unveiling the Hidden Links: Periodontal Disease, Fusobacterium Nucleatum, and Cancers

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Yellow Passion Fruit Bagasse Extract and Its Potential Role in Periodontal Wound Healing In Vitro

Background/Objectives: Periodontal disease involves chronic immunoinflammatory processes and microbial dysbiosis, making phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties potential therapeutic agents. This study aimed to assess the modulatory effects of yellow passion fruit bagasse extract (PFBE) on periodontal cells under microbial condition. Methods: A human periodontal ligament (PDL) cell line was exposed to F. nucleatum ATCC 25586 to simulate a microbial environment in vitro in the presence and absence of PFBE containing three different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 µg/mL) of piceatannol. Pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-8, CCL2), the antioxidant enzyme SOD2, and the protease marker MMP-1 were analyzed by real-time PCR. Protein levels were assessed via ELISA and NF-κB nuclear translocation by immunofluorescence. Cell viability was investigated using live/dead and alamarBlue assays, and in vitro wound healing was evaluated by an automated scratch assay. Results: PDL cells exposed to F. nucleatum significantly increased the gene and protein expression of all inflammatory markers. The stimulatory effects of F. nucleatum were significantly reduced when PDL cells were simultaneously exposed to PFBE. F. nucleatum triggered the NF-κB nuclear translocation while PFBE abrogated the F. nucleatum-stimulated NF-κB nuclear translocation at 60 min. Viability assays demonstrated that neither PFBE nor F. nucleatum were toxic or significantly affected PDL cell viability. In vitro wound closure was improved by the addition of PFBE to F. nucleatum. Conclusions: PFBE exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-proteolytic effects while improving in vitro wound healing, suggesting a potential modulatory role of PFBE in periodontal disease prevention and treatment.

Clinical correlation and survival analysis of hepatitis B virus infection in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study of 1373 patients

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global public health challenge and is found closely related to extrahepatic cancers, including head and neck cancer. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the major category of head and neck cancer. This retrospective study was conducted to explore the clinical correlation and survival analysis of OSCC patients with HBV.

METHODS

The study involved 1,373 patients with OSCC treated at the Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University from 2012 to 2022. Propensity score matching was used to analyze the clinical correlations and survival outcomes, specifically overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), in patients with or without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity. Subgroup analyses were conducted for both the early and advanced stages of OSCC. The benefits of neck dissection in OSCC patients with HBV infection were further investigated.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HBV infection in our cohort was 12.0%. The HBsAg (+) group had a higher percentage of individuals under 60 (73.3% versus 63.7%, p = 0.016). Post-matching for age, sex, pathological T category, pathological N category, and neck dissection, the OSCC patients with HBsAg (+) had lower 5-year OS and DFS rates rather than HBsAg (-) patients, especially those with advanced stage and cervical lymph node metastasis. HBsAg (-) was confirmed as an independent protective prognostic indicator for both OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34-0.79; p = 0.002) and DFS (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.50-0.96; p = 0.027). Notably, elective neck dissection was recognized as an independent protective factor influencing 5-year OS and DFS. While DOI and pathological N category were both confirmed as the risk factors for prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

HBsAg is a potential prognostic marker for OSCC. It is essential to screen for HBV infection prior to initiating tumor treatment. Additionally, serological testing, antiviral prophylaxis and therapy play crucial roles in preventing HBV reactivation during the course of tumor treatment. In cases of early OSCC associated with HBV infection, elective neck dissection has been shown to reduce the rates of recurrence and metastasis significantly.

Impact of oral flora in tongue coating and saliva on oral cancer risk and the regulatory role of Interleukin-8

BACKGROUND

Oral flora and inflammatory factors play a crucial role in oral cancer, but the relationship between them and oral cancer has not been clearly established.

METHODS

Oral flora served as exposure factor, oral cancer as outcome factor, and inflammatory factors as mediating factor. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to analyze the relationship between oral flora and oral cancer, and the potential mediating effect of inflammatory factors was explored through mediation analysis.

RESULTS

29 kinds of oral flora in tongue coating and 22 kinds of oral flora in saliva were associated with increased risk of oral cancer. 18 species of oral flora in tongue coating and 25 species in saliva were associated with a reduced risk of oral cancer. Interleukin-8 (IL8) played a mediating role in the relationship between oral flora and oral cancer, and it was associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. Granulicatella, Streptococcus mitis, Saccharimonadaceae and Haemophilus in oral flora caused oral cancer indirectly through IL8. IL8 expression increased in oral cancer, which has good diagnostic value. IL8-related genes in oral cancer are closely associated with immune cell infiltration. What's more, IL8 has potential medicinal properties.

CONCLUSION

Oral flora of tongue coating and saliva is closely related to oral cancer, and IL8 plays a mediating role in the causal relationship between oral flora and oral cancer.

Periodontitis and dental quality of life predict long-term survival in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to investigate oral health in newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients in relation to long-term survival. We assessed whether the level of alveolar bone loss due to periodontitis at diagnosis, measured from orthopantomogram (OPG), and reported dental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores obtained at diagnosis contain prognostic information for HNSCC patients.

METHODS

A total of 79 patients from a consecutive cohort of 106 diagnosed with HNSCC between November 2002 and June 2005 were included. All patients reported dental HRQoL, OPG-determined alveolar bone loss were measured in 79 patients at diagnosis. Reduced alveolar bone loss (≥ 4 mm) from cement-enamel junction on at least two molars or premolars registered both horizontally and vertically served as indicator of periodontal disease.

RESULTS

With alveolar bone loss, we determined increased mortality by univariate analysis (RR = 2.28, CI: 1.22-4.28, p = 0.01) and a strong trend by multivariate analyses adjusted for standard clinical information (RR = 1.95, CI: 0.98-3.87, p = 0.056). Reported lowered dental HRQoL scores predicted long-term survival in both univariate (RR = 3.58, CI: 1.99-6.45, p < 0.001) and multivariate adjusted for standard clinical information (RR = 2.17, CI: 1.17-4.01, p = 0.014). When analyzed with Cox regression, including alveolar bone loss and dental HRQoL, both factors, adjusted by clinical variables, were significant predictors of long-term survival: dental HRQoL (p = 0.007) and present alveolar bone loss (p = 0.034). Non-HNSCC disease-specific long-term survival predicted was also predicted when alveolar bone loss and dental HRQoL were analyzed simultaneously and adjusted for standard clinical information.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of alveolar bone loss, as determined by OPG, and dental HRQoL both obtained at the time of HNSCC diagnosis, predicted long-term survival. When analyzed simultaneously, both factors remained significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses, adjusted by pertinent clinical variables, highlighting their unique prognostic value.